Three old-school prepper and survivalist tricks that time has not erased

(Bugout.news) No doubt that high-tech gadgets and gear are alluring when it comes to prepping and survival, and why shouldn’t it be, given that you want to provide yourself with the best chance to make it through any SHTF scenario as unscathed as possible?

That said, it’s easy to forget sometimes that “new” doesn’t mean “the best,” and that old standbys are that for a reason – because they are as effective as they are timeless.

So, with that in mind, here are three tried-and-true survivalist must-haves:

Bed warmers: Before HVAC systems and electric blankets, folks adopted a number of creative ways to stay warm, even in the field, and one of the best ways was the bed warmer. Though there are different styles, basically the bed warmer is an object that can be heated and placed in your bedding to keep you remarkably warm for hours at a time.

A hot water bottle that is tightly sealed or a hot stone make very good bed warmers, no matter if your indoors during a major power outage in the winter or bugging out. You should try it at home – pour very hot water into a leak-proof bottle and slide it into a large sock. Shove it into the bottom of your sleeping bag and you’ll soon discover you’re at least 20 degrees warmer.

Woolen clothing and bedding: There is a reason why the U.S. military continues to issue woolen bedding – because it is highly effective at many things. While it can itch (though Merino wool is softer) there are few fibers that can outmatch wool in terms of wicking away dampness, durability and repelling flame.

Wool socks and long Johns, coats and sweaters will last for years and will give you much warmth and protection against Mom Nature.

Invest in Carbon: Are you concerned enough about an economic collapse that you’re a hard-core investor in silver and gold? Well, you’re not alone, of course, but make sure you add some carbon to “precious metals” investment (that likely includes brass and lead). In particular, consider a set of high-carbon steel knives.

Granted, high carbon steel does not come without drawbacks, chiefly that it rusts quickly. But if you can look past that disadvantage and look instead at the many benefits, we think you’ll come to our way of thinking that it’s an old-school solution but still an effective one. This type of steel can be very simple to sharpen in the field, and it’s also very tough as well, more than able to take the kind of abuse it is sure to get in a SHTF scenario. What’s more, if the tempering is right, you can create sparks with it, like you can with a piece of flint and a steel striker (or a piece of non-detergent steel wool and a 9 volt battery).

So there you have it – three survival tips and tricks that are just as important and useful today, in the “modern era,” as they’ve always been. As usual, you should test all gear and train using all tips and techniques prior to when you need them for real; you don’t want to learn “on the job” so to speak, in a SHTF situation.

(H/T Outdoor Life)