October 2015 Apocabox Unwrapped

Stacey Harris Cookbook
The recipes in this cookbook are basic enough that most anyone could master them and they use garden herbs and veggies or wild caught game.  The thing that I love about this so much is that it is FULL of yummy photos of the finished dishes.  She has also signed the book.

Not if but when patch

My favorite patch so far - by a long shot!  :)

Paracord Sling

This paracord sling has two metal swivel mount connections on each end.

The paracord sling can have a number of uses it uses a whopping 65 feet of 280 lb paracord.  It would be great for a rifle!  Creek would like you to post how you use yours on instagram using #Apocabox.

Brushfire Craft Kit

This months kit comes with a round leather looking pouch that has tie strips that bind it up. It is not real leather.  It's actually a faux leather which is preferable because it repels moisture in the field. 

Inside there are two rolls of what looks like a waxed dental floss had a baby with some hay.  This is actually called Wood Wool.  It's wood shavings covered in paraffin wax.  Save this to use when you can't find good tinder or when it's really wet.  It's an all weather tinder.

You will also find cotton tinder tabs.  They look like tiny tampons and are in a plastic bag, which also help protect from the elements. each one burns for several minutes and will ignite easily with just a spark.

There are also a couple of ferro rod toggles. They have holes through them so you can tie them into creative places as backups.  

Bug out Coffee Bar - 

Call Me Basic.  Call Me a Dumb Hipster.  But this is My FAVORITE thing in this Box!  I <3 <3 <3 my coffee.  And I NEED caffeine on the daily. This little bar packs a PUNCH.  Each bar is the equivalent of one cup of joe.  If you're like me and you need caffeine to function, You may want to pick you up some of these for your bug out bag in addition to your instant coffee. 

Adhesive wound closures

These are an important part of every first aid kit.  Sometimes a deeper cut needs a little extra help to stay closed, but in a bug out situation you may not always have the time - or supplies - for stitching. So wound closures can sometimes be a good bet.

Figure 4 Deadfall Trap Kit
Once again, the instructions are pretty crudely drawn. I really don't like that about these kits.  The handwriting does appear to be easy enough to read, though, so I guess that's at least one positive thing about it. 

This is the hand made item in this month's box and comes with everything that you need to make a deadfall trap.  

Deadfall Trap Bandanna

I haven't had the opportunity to make the deadfall trap, but when I do I will keep you updated on whether or not I was able to understand the instructions well enough to create it.

Until Next Time...

Happy Prepping.

August 2015 Apocabox Unwrapped

I apologize that August's review is getting out so late.  I had an issue with my laptop and had to get it replaced.  I've been quite busy lately.  

The first item in the Apocabox this month is the Ishwash Personal Eyewash.  It is small enough to easily fit in any bug out bag or first aid kit and attaches to any standard water bottle.  Flushing your eyes in case of an emergency can mean the difference between irritated eyes for a few hours and permanent loss of vision!  This is a great addition to this month's kit!

Ursa Major Face Wipes - Hygiene is incredibly important in a bugging out situation.  It's so easy to take hygiene for granted.  Use one wipe for your face, neck, armpits, and feet (in that order).  The other should be used where the sun doesn't shine... as my grandma would say  :)  front to back.

I HEART KNIVES Patch - 

My hubby has already commandeered it for his Deadpool costume.  It is currently on Deadpool's tactical gear. :)

Day Zero BowMaker's Guide-

The instructions are kind of crudely drawn and there are a lot better instructions available on the internet if you are interested in bowmaking.  However, in a pinch, it's better than having nothing at all.  It also came in a plastic pouch - which makes it a bit weatherproof. 

We all know the many uses of 550 paracord.  This simple pack leash is designed to clip on something you need to easily find on your pack, but it's length makes it ideal to be used for other things.

John Russell Sheath Knife:

This is a High Carbon Steel Knife so you'll need to oil it every so often, especially after you use it. The knife doesn't have a sheath.  The reason is because the skills challenge this month is to make your own knife sheath with improvised materials. 

End of Days Survival Card

Love this!  This is incredibly lightweight! There are so many tools Backed into this little card it's unbelievable! 

It's got an Awl, Arrowheads for small AND Larger Game, Sewing Needles, Small Saw, Large Saw, snare locks, tridents, tweezers, and you guys are creative, I'm sure you can see something else in there! 

Glow in the Dark Paracord-

The biggest benefit of having glow in the dark paracord is that you can actually use it to guide you in the dark.  You can use it as a path to guide you to the restroom area at night, or guide you around a tent at night.  A sprained ankle when you are bugging out can slow down or even stop the entire group while you are healing.  A glow in the dark leash on a flashlight could help you find the flashlight you need in the dark.  Or a glow in the dark leash on your pack if you need to grab and go under the cover of darkness.  The applications are limitless. 

Also, I bet they make pretty cool bracelets and necklaces. 

Speedy Stitcher Sewing Awl

It's really important that you be able to repair your backpack, tent, pants, whatever you need to when you're bugging out.  And a sewing machine is more than a little bit impractical. 

I have personally tried those handheld battery operated As seen on TV sewing machines, THEY DON'T WORK worth a FLIP!

Enter, the speedy stitcher.  It's a hand tool, yes, but it doesn't require batteries and it's versatile enough to work with even the toughest of fabrics. 

The makers of the product have been good enough to put together a tutorial page for us HERE so we can learn more about it.  It really looks like an easy product to use.  I will keep you guys updated when I get a chance to do it myself.