1. Tornado Safe
The Twister Pod by Survive-a-Storm is a practical above-ground storm shelter for up to four occupants. With a powder-coated finish, curved door, and welded-in seating, this storm shelter is the ideal solution to withstand a EF5 tornado. The Twister Pod Storm is engineered to easy install in an existing garage, carport, or on an outside patio. It has a keyed door, is made from heavy-duty galvanized hardware, and a large vent for ample ventilation.
Product: Twister Pod
SPECIFICATIONS
Six-feet of interior height
Neutral color
3/16-inch steel
Four feet in diameter
Interior: 75.4 cubic feet, 12.57 square feet
Manufacturer: Survive-a-Storm
MSRP: $2,997.00
2. Simple Chain Saw
The SaberCut chain saw is a simple hand-operated chainsaw that is compact and easy to use. It features a 24-inch flexible steel blade that is coated in black oxide and has the ability to cut through most any wood. The wrist straps are nylon and includes a nylon carry case with a quick clip buckle. The saw can be extended by simply adding rope/paracord to each strap. The saw cuts and clears in both directions, is self cleaning, and can be sharpened with a standard 1/8-inch blade sharpener.
Product: SaberCut Chain Saw
SPECIFICATIONS
24-in flexible blade
Nylon wrist straps
Self-cleaning
Weight: 6 ounces
Manufacturer: Ultimate Survival Technologies
MSRP: $16.57
3. Kindling Paracord
Available in black, olive drab or coyote brown, this appears and functions exactly like a regular length of 550 paracord, but the difference is that one of the seven strands of cord inside the sheath is made of jute cord, which is a soft fiber made from vegetables and makes great tinder to help start a fire. Comes in 100-foot lengths.
Product: Jute 550 Cord
SPECIFICATIONS
Comes in three colors
100-feet length
Manufacturer: JHL Supply
MSRP: $10.99
4. Simple Survival Secrets
Joey Green authors an entertaining and informative book called Last-Minute Survival Secrets, a 240-page collection of DIY tricks and methods that can help solve most emergency problems that crop up in a variety of survival situations using everyday items. Joey showcases a variety of handy and unusual uses for products commonly found in the pantry, garage, and medicine cabinet to assist those in avoiding perilous situations.
Product: Last-Minute Survival Secrets
SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 5.5 x 8.5 inches
240 pages
275 color photos
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
MSRP: $16.95
5. Trigger Knife Kit
The Trigger is a knife kit that enables kids ages seven and up to build their very own model of a folding lock-back knife. Just like Klecker Knives’ original Nathan’s Knife Kit, this is a great way for adults to teach kids about the functions and safe handling of a folding knife with the safety concerns of a real knife. Kids have fun building it and taking it apart again over and over. You mix colors from two or more kits to make a customized knife.
Product: Trigger Model Knife Kit
SPECIFICATIONS
Blade: 3.2 inches
Closed Length: 4.2 inches
Open Length: 7.3 inches
Weight: 0.8 ounces
Manufacturer: Klecker Knives
MSRP: $12.95
6. Warm and Bug-Free
Made from 100 percent polyester, the 56 x 74-inch blanket is infused with permethrin that is designed to repel mosquitoes, ticks, flies and fleas including those that can carry dangerous diseases such as Lyme and malaria. The repellent is odorless and long-lasting as long as you don’t dry clean it (machine wash only).
Product: Insect Shield Outdoor Blanket
SPECIFICATIONS
100% Polyester
Weight: 18 ounces
Dimensions: 56 x 74 inches
Do not dry clean.
Manufacturer: Insect Shield Int.
MSRP: $29.95
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared in the January 2015 print issue of American Survival Guide.