Rothco Tacticanvas Go Pack

 

Rothco's Tacticanvas Go Pack combines the tactical elements of our Medium Transport Packs but with a classic military canvas material. The tactical pack features a heavyweight canvas with polyester web straps. The tactical bag has one large main zippered compartment with a large interior mesh pocket, perfect for storing everything from books to essential survival supplies. There are also three additional zippered compartments, which make for great storage as well. The adjustable padded shoulder straps and padded back with breathable mesh backing make the pack ideal for heavy and or long trips. Also, the bag has a top carry handle, top Y-Shaped adjustable quick release cinch strap, and side cinch straps.

 Specifications:

My Observations:

I think this is a well-made backpack. Looking it over I was impressed with the quality of its construction. The stitching is good and doubled up in areas where extra pressure may occur. The zippers are heavy duty and of good quality. Plenty of pockets and internal mesh pockets as well. The shoulder straps are adequate with a chest strap between the two.

My Opinion:

 This pack is marketed as a medium size. I think it’s probably a little on the smaller side of the scale. While it is certainly big enough to carry the basic necessities, I think you would be pressed to get much more in it. That being said, I think that it would be ideal for a youth (10 - 16 years) or someone who just wants a quality bag to pack away for an emergency. It could also be used as an emergency car bag as its durable construction makes it ideal for the abuse these bags typically take in a car or truck.

 I think it’s a functional bag, however, if you’re someone who prefers a single compartment to a multi compartment bag this isn’t for you. Multi compartment bags do limit the size of items you can put inside. It really comes down to what do you plan to put inside it.

 I like the fact that it has M.O.L.L.E. webbing, however, on a pack this size I’m not sure how useful they would be. But they are there, and I’m sure you could attach some small pouches if you wanted to. For an explanation of the M.O.L.L.E. system please click here.

 I also like the fact that the bag expands and can really be stuffed full and that it has side and top cinch straps to stabilize the cargo. I also personally like chest straps especially if you are going to be hiking any distance with the pack and this backpack has one.

 This is not a lightweight pack, however, because of its size it’s not that heavy coming in around 2 ½ lbs.

 Overall, I like this backpack. It’s a quality item built to take a beating. I think it’s got a lot of great features at a responsible price point. If you would like to purchase this backpack you can either contact me or click here and it will take you to my store.

 (These are my personal observations and opinions, yours may differ. Also, I sell and recommend certain products and services here and might be compensated for such recommendations.)

Silver and Gold

 Just so we are clear, I am NOT a personal finance expert. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t talk about finance here. If you have been paying attention to the news you have undoubtedly noticed all the talk lately surrounding the recent failure of several banks and the uncertainty that has cast on the US banking system. Couple that with the recent developments regarding the expansion of SOC (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and their intentions to move away from the US Dollar. There is cause for some concern as it starts to call into question the dollar as the world’s reserve currency.

As a result, we are inundated with dire predictions about our financial system. Whether these predictions come true or not is anyone’s guess. The one thing we can agree on is that it is prudent to make plans financially for any disasters.

I’m not here to rant about the devastating effects on the dollar by going off the gold standard, (creating a Fiat Currency) or the disastrous effects that years of quantitative easing have had on the dollar. But what I would like to discuss is the value of strengthening your Financial Preparedness position with regards to disasters and emergencies.

Before you take the first steps to becoming financially prepared, you should have basic knowledge of your finances. Financial literacy is the ability to make informed decisions in managing your financial resources and making smart choices on how to spend your money, which can empower you to plan for emergencies and disasters.

The best way to plan for the unexpected expenses that may result after a disaster is to start saving today. Saving money can help you and your family avoid taking on more debt to respond to the costs of rebuilding your life after an emergency.

Where should you save that money is the question? In a Natural or Man-Made Disaster, you may not have access to ATMs, or Banks. Suppliers may not have an ability to conduct Credit Card transactions or electronic transfers. In certain instances, it would be advantageous to have ready access to Cash to conduct necessary business.

I believe the importance of having some physical silver and gold can’t be overstated here. In the event of a major collapse of global markets or the US dollar these commodities with continue to hold their value. Having silver and gold ETFs might be a good investment, however, when things go bad you will want the physical metals in your hand. 

That said, keep your cash and precious metals in a place that is easy to get to (close to home). Remember that you might not have access to your neighborhood bank, so keeping them in a safety deposit box could be a problem in time of emergency. Also, if you needed to evacuate your home in a hurry this is something you would not want to leave behind.

There are reputable companies from which you can purchase Silver, Gold, Platinum, Palladium and Rhodium. Do your research and decide the best strategy for you. 

You can access a free Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) by clicking here for more information.

(These are my personal observations and opinions, yours may differ. Also, I sell and recommend certain products and services here and may be compensated for such recommendations.)

The Go-Bag/Bugout Bag

Whether you call it a Go-Bag or Bug-Out Bag it all starts with the Bag. And depending on your age and physical limitations this might be something you carry or perhaps has wheels for ease of transport. Either way you must have something to put all your Disaster Preparedness gear in.

When it comes to carrying a bag there are a lot of options on the market. Will you go with a backpack or a handbag, perhaps with a shoulder strap? I personally use both, however there is a clear difference between the two. What factors should you consider when deciding which type to use? Cost Construction Material Durability Payload Capacity Adaptability

Cost – Backpacks have a wide range when it comes to price. You can purchase some as cheap as $20 all the way up to $250.00 and more. How much should you spend? Find a bag that meets all your needs and then price out comparable options. Remember that you get what you pay for, and that’s true here as well. Less expensive bags usually cut corners on construction materials, stitching and payload capacity. Construction Materials – Here’s a tip. Most bags are not waterproof. Remember that when purchasing a bag. Is the bag made from Nylon, Canvas, Cotton, or some other material? If the bag is not waterproof, then remember to put the contents into some kind of waterproof container i.e., plastic bag. You can purchase a bag cover as well. Durability – Not all construction materials are created equal. Nylon, Canvas, Cotton, all have their usefulness. Remembering the purpose of the bag and the conditions under which it will be used is important. The military generally uses a Canvas material because it can take a beating out in the field. This is the type of bag I generally use as well. However, Canvas can be heavy thus adding weight to the setup. Other materials might be lighter, which can be an important factor. Payload Capacity – At first you might think the more gear the better. However, all that gear comes at a cost, weight. How much weight can you reasonably carry and for how long? While bags come with varying payload capacity it’s wise to think this one through. Let’s say you are in your later 40’s or early 50’s, it not reasonable to think that you can carry the same amount of weight as someone in their 20’s or 30’s. Could you carry a 40 lbs. handbag or backpack for a mile or two? Bigger is not always better because it can add unnecessary weight, just ask any long-distance hiker.

Adaptability – I like things that are adaptable. Versatility is a word that might also be used here. How many pockets does the bag have? Is it M.O.L.L.E. compatible? Will it fit a hydration bladder? I want my bag to do as many things as possible for me. Having items that serve multiple functions ultimately makes things easier to manage. We have a great selection of bags on our website. Click here to check them out or contact us for some help in selecting a bag. Just a disclaimer here, I sell, and recommend certain products and services in my blog and might be compensated for such recommendations/purchases.

Risk Mitigation Strategies

There are many mitigation strategies that can reduce damage from hazards. 

 

·        Risk avoidance: Sometimes, the best risk response strategy is to eliminate the threat altogether. For example, if you are traveling into the path of an oncoming hurricane, canceling your trip would be risk avoidance.

 

·        Risk transference: You can share or transfer certain types of risk such that you wouldn’t bear the impact alone. Insurance is a form of risk transference, as you pay a fee to a third party to avoid the full financial brunt of things like car accidents or life and health protection.

 

·        Risk acceptance: When a risk is small enough, it might make sense to just live with it. For example, if you’re planning an outdoor event with a 10% chance of rain, accepting that small risk might make more sense than rescheduling. For threats that bring a higher potential impact, you need to determine your acceptable level of risk.

 

·        Risk mitigation: Many types of risk are neither avoidable nor acceptable. But you can mitigate safety and business risks by reducing their likelihood of occurring and/or the impact they could have. For example, an industrial bakery can’t avoid having massive heat sources active, but they can take steps to reduce the danger to employees and property.