Portable and handheld fans have been around for thousands of years, but have had significant improvements over just the past few years. The best camping fans now give us high air speed, low fan noise, efficient battery use, and are versatile for many applications. Portable fans have been evolving with battery technology, so there is a wide range of lightweight fans to consider from different brands.This is where we come in. We’ve tested a variety of camping fans, compared them, and now the results are in: the overall best, a highly portable option, and a solar fan ideal for tents.…

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Extracted is a TV series from Fox (streaming on Hulu) that takes 12 amateur survivalists with two teammates each out to British Columbia to compete for $250,000. The survivalists are monitored by their teammates from a command center, where the team attempts to help them with supply drops and instructions. The team can also hit the big red button, extracting the survivalist, which is where the show’s name comes from.Survivalism takes a backseat to drama in this series, since it pits teams against each other and relies on the struggles of the amateur survivalists for suspense. Still, despite the inexperience…

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Watch full video on YouTube

Oil lamps have been around for thousands of years, and they haven’t completely given way to modern lighting technology. Their low-tech appeal can bring ambiance to a table or provide lighting during power outages and emergencies. There is a range of sizes, brands, and features to consider when you’re looking for the best oil lamp.I bought several oil lamps to test and add to my collection, and I’ve been reviewing them for several years now. I measured their light output with a light meter, verified their oil capacity with measuring cups, and used them both indoors and deep in the…

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Typically, there haven’t been enough sales or compelling deals to put together a Memorial Day sale roundup for survival gear and prepping supplies. Times change, though, and now we have a whole slew of deals to explore that’ll help kickstart your summer preparedness projects.Memorial Day is on May 25th this year, but sales have already started, and a few run through the end of the week. Like most roundups, we’ll keep updating as sales come and go throughout the period, so check back periodically to catch new deals. Contents (Jump to a Section) Our latest update on Memorial Day Prepper…

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Independence Day sales are typically known for deals on grills, lawn equipment, coolers, and ways to stay cool through the summer, and all of those can relate to prepping and survival in some way. After checking out a slew of sales, we’ve rounded up the best gear for preppers to check out to augment their survival kits and preparedness plans.July 4th lands on a Saturday this year, but sales have already started and run through the weekend for the most part. Like most roundups, we’ll keep updating as sales come and go throughout the period, so check back periodically to…

Hurricanes pose a large threat to those who live near the coast. Between the high wind and massive amounts of rain, they can cause various types of damage that can exceed $150 billion each year.I’ve lived through several hurricanes of all categories and dealt with flooding, wind damage, power outages, and more. In North Carolina, we don’t have it quite as bad as Florida, but less prepared communities can have even tougher times with large storms.Many people around the world and in the US aren’t affected by hurricanes, so this list isn’t for everyone. But, if you live on the…

Two of the most common SHTF scenarios can catch you off-guard: house fires and home invasions. When something happens in the middle of the night, you don’t want to be fumbling around for your larger kits. Enter the WUSH Bag (Wake Up, Stuff’s Happening Bag). This kit is designed to be highly portable and address your immediate needs for evacuation and more.WUSH bags are still an extension or variant of everyday carry, even though they serve a specific objective. Below, we break down what exactly a WUSH bag is, how it is different than a bug out bag, and share…

There aren’t a ton of Veterans Day sales that apply to prepping supplies and survival gear. It’s close enough that many retailers just wait for the post-Thanksgiving holidays.Veterans Day is on November 11th, as always, which falls on a Tuesday this year. Sales have already started, and a few run through the end of next week. Like most roundups, we’ll keep updating as sales come and go throughout the period, so check back periodically to catch new deals. Contents (Jump to a Section) Check back through the Veterans Day period for updates. When you buy through our links, we may…

Water is a basic human need and key to survival. Methods to gather, store, and sanitize water are all important, but knowing how much water you may need is important as well. Water is heavy and takes up a lot of space when it is stored, so knowing exactly how much you need can help you plan for preparedness.That’s why we’re going over the gear that can help you store, filter, and sanitize water, as well as sharing a calculator (and the general math behind it) that will help you store the correct amount of water based on your needs…

Christmas is around the corner, and plenty of companies that sell prepping supplies and survival gear are running countdown sales leading up to it. They approach it differently- a few move the 12 days further out to account for shipping, if they do most of their business online. Either way, the winter sales are a good opportunity to get those last-minute gifts, use up FSA funds, or round out a survival kit before 2026 gets here.For the most part, the deals are on emergency food storage and tactical gear. They are usually flash sales on specific gear or supplies, designed…

The death of TikTok was exaggerated, and it continues to grow (under American ownership, now) beyond its dance-clip roots. Preppers are everywhere, and one of the main hallmarks of preparedness is information sharing, so it makes sense that TikTok has become a platform with thousands of preppers sharing videos.Some creators promote preparedness products, others share practical prepping advice, and even more do both. There are preppers out there sharing videos with their tens of followers, but the best accounts are resonating with hundreds of thousands. We’ll share more about TikTok preppers and the top 10 accounts to follow below. Contents…

Many survival kits and emergency plans rely on travel to escape threats. Having technology to guide you is always nice, but it’s not necessarily reliable during a disaster. This is why navigation gear and map-reading skills are important focuses for your preparedness.GPS is everywhere- in your vehicle, on your phone, and even in your watch (for some models). It’s great for convenience, but paper maps, compasses, and low-tech gear are more reliable if you know how to use them. Map reading can be simple with a bit of practice, and all low-tech navigation gear is relatively inexpensive.I’ve taught land navigation…

Sign up for the Outdoor Life Newsletter Get the hottest outdoor news from Outdoor Life. Into every life a little rain must fall, so offset it with epic hunting adventures. The North American continent retains wild beasts aplenty in open, wild country like the Mountain Men enjoyed 200 years ago. Towering mountains, gnarly canyons, expansive grasslands and deep forests. More than 440 million acres of public land are open to free exploration, camping and hunting. Why settle for the same 100-acre deer lease year after year? Dream big, lay plans, saddle up and grab your adventure. Note that these aren’t…

Disasters and emergencies can be dirty, stinky, hazardous messes where you’ll want to protect your hands, skin, eyes, and airway. PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment, can help you with that protection.PPE spans from typical everyday gear to safety gear and then to specialized equipment. It typically involves covering your body and protecting your vital functions critical to survival. Sometimes it’s rolled up into clothing or first aid gear because of this.I’ve taught PPE strategies and equipment use in the military, so I’ll share the gear you’ll need to be prepared and a few strategies to help you out when you…