Harvest Season

Yesterday was the first full day of autumn, so we have a couple of months before winter sets in. Autumn around here is the busy season; farmers still have plenty of time to plant crops, but they race the snow to get them harvested. Most of the growers in my area stick with corn and soy beans because we have large processing plants nearby, so the elevator that I work out of is gearing up for two months of frantic activity. Corporate has already handed down our working hours: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday-Saturday and 11:00AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday. That is, unless a customer asks us to stay later, which we will do. 

I don't deal with the grain side of operations as much as I did in years past, I'm mostly maintenance and "agronomy" (fertilizer and pesticides) now, but I do help the grain guys if they need help. As soon as a field is emptied, our customers want fertilizer applied so it has all winter to leach into the soil and get it prepared for planting. Maintenance is always a concern with 60-year-old equipment and a lack of proper maintenance in years past, and so I'm spending a lot of my time just trying to keep the moving things moving and the static things stationary.  Statutory inspections and testing of some of the hazardous materials equipment takes a lot of time to do right, and I don't skimp on safety. 

All of that is an explanation of why you may notice smaller posts from me for a couple of months, and maybe even a few missed weeks. I'm not quite as old as David, but I'm getting to the point where 80+ hour weeks without a day off leaves me exhausted and unable to do the level of research that I like to put into my writing. Rather than give you poor articles, I'll wait until I can write something that someone can benefit from. I don't want to waste your time or mine by writing drivel, even though I have plenty of practice writing drivel for corporate consumption.

Lean Times Ahead

In case you haven't been paying attention to the "other" news sites, our global supply chain is being stressed by various factors. The Covid-19 mess and some of the government (over-)reactions to it are slowing or stopping the flow of key components to our daily life. 

• Check the inventory at any new car dealership, and you'll see that the lack of certain electronics has curtailed the production of new cars and truck for a year now.  Used pickups are selling for more than they were worth last year because of the lack of new ones coming to market.
• Repair shops are having difficulty getting parts. I deal with a couple of parts stores that have always been able to find bearings and such for the old crap I have to fix at work, and their suppliers are having a hard time getting things. 
• I've noticed a shrinkage in the variety of brands on several store shelves, grocery stores especially. The food aisles are being replaced with sundries and seasonal crap. Even Wal-Mart is showing signs of slow or low supply, with empty shelves becoming more common,
• Every trucking firm within 100 miles is hiring and not getting enough drivers. I hate to say it, but >90% of everything you eat is delivered by truck. No drivers = no food on the store shelves. Time to check the pantry and add a few more day's worth of supplies.
• Fuel prices have gone way up this year. Between the politicians and the storms down south, our fuel infrastructure is not meeting demand and that means limited supplies will carry higher prices. Check your winter fuel supply and top it off ASAP.

On the brighter side of things, I did convince my wife that having a whole-house generator installed would be a good idea. I'm shopping for something that will keep the heat and some of the lights on for at least a couple of weeks of Midwest winter weather; I'll have more to tell as I get closer to spending the money I'm making on overtime right now. Diesel-powered, 10-20 kW, with 300+ gallons of fuel storage is the short list of requirements, but availability is the main concern. 

Winter is always a challenge, so it's time to get your warm clothes out of storage (that's a light jacket for Florida) and make sure you have things as ready as you can for the weather. 

Prudent Prepping: Summer Recharge

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

It's time for me to check all the smaller things in my car house and gear, starting with my Get Home Bag.

What's Next?
Previously I talked about swapping out winter clothes for lighter weight ones in my GHB; I am also looking at changing out the food I carry and the expiration dates on the OTC medicines. The result of checking all these dates is that, like tipping a domino, I end up checking on everything else in the bag, as well as my Every Day Carry pouch. Today I'll talk about the flashlights I carry.

Hatori Super Small Mini LED

I carry one in my EDC pouch, since it weighs next to nothing and puts out more than enough light for what is basically a miniature, emergency flashlight. 

From the Amazon ad:

https://amzn.to/3iM4Luu

• ♥♥Ultra Bright: This mini penlight gives out max 150 lumens. Super bright in a dark or lit room and lasts quite two hours with moderate use(keep on) on just one alkaline battery(not included), sufficient to light your way and light small dark spaces.
• ♥♥Pocket Size: This flashlight is small and light enough to slip into a pocket, backpack or purse. Super Mini size is lightweight and small enough for EDC and fits in the palm of your hand. Only weighting about 30g.
• ♥♥Clip on Flashlight: With a clip, the pen light could also be used as cap light for your convenience. Easy to clip to your belt, remove it if you don't need it.
• ♥♥Skid-Proof Water-Resistant Design: Suitable for cycling, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. Our flashlight set is made of high quality 6061T aluminum alloy with no worried using in rain, snow or emergency situations.
• ♥♥Safe and Warranty Guarranteed: High-Efficiency and Great Output LED Chip with over charging protection, short circuit protection and reverse connected protection. All of Hatori Flashlights has 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE and NO HASSLE 90-DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.

I changed out the AAA battery in it and rotated the 3 spare AAA's into the give-away pot.

Nitecore P12GT

https://amzn.to/3ejjASd

I originally bought a Nitecore P12 GT almost 2 years ago, and I reviewed it in this post from August 2018! Pictured is the Ultimate Package I purchased later so I could have a dedicated charger and two more batteries. 

From the Amazon ad for the Ultimate Bundle:

• Longer throwing upgrade to 350 yards from the 254 yard throw of the P12. Utilizes Cree XP-L LED, with 200% more intensity than the Cree XM-L2 in the P12
• Blasts up to 1000 lumens across four brightness levels. Three special modes of SOS, strobe, and beacon
• Tactical tail cap switch provides constant or momentary on, while side mode switch toggles through brightnesses
• Various functional purposes: military, law enforcement, hunting, search and rescue, and emergency preparedness

One sits in the driver door pocket of my car, Velcroed to the inside where I can reach it easily, and the other is on my night stand. 

After using these lights for 2 years, everything that is listed as a Like in my previous post continues to be a Like, and the Like Less items (which are certainly very minor personal quibbles and not a function complaint) are still the same: the light could possibly roll if the angled surface is steep and, like every other "All The Lumens" flashlights, this sucker gets hot fairly quickly. It won't burn your hand after 5 minutes, but it's definitely uncomfortable in your bare hand.

Etekcity Lantern CL30

Last, but certainly not least, the CL10 model was a Christmas gift from Erin Palette, our long-suffering and excellent Editrix. I reviewed that lantern in this post, but the gift was from at least two years before this. 

My review stands as written, but Etekcity has upgraded the lantern with some new features while keeping almost the same form factor.

https://amzn.to/2Oa5kjM

From the Amazon Ad:

• ULTRA BRIGHT: This lantern includes 30 individual low consumption LED bulbs carrying 360° of luminous light while saving energy
• LONG-LASTING: Light up at least to 30 hours of regular, continuous use with enough battery capacity (batteries pre-installed in the lantern).
• 4 LEVELS BRIGHTNESS CONTROL: Easily adjust the brightness with dimmer button to fit the environment for camping, reading, power outage, emergency, hiking, backpacking etc.
• MAGNETIC BASE: Effortlessly stick it to any metal frames for hand-free lighting in any working environment.
• DURABLE MATERIALS: Constructed with military grade ABS material; FCC Certified, RoHS Compliant.
• COMPACT & LIGHTWEIGHT: The extremely lightweight build allows you to take lanterns on the go with ease. When not in use collapse the lantern to a smaller size; taking up little space.
• TACTICAL STORAGE: The top lid of the lantern contains a small room for storing some small things like some change, yours keys, some spare batteries, etc.
• BUY WITH CONFIDENCE: Feel free to contact our California Support Team. We are always ready help if you have any question about our product.

Just the addition of the magnetic base makes this a very interesting lamp. I'm not necessarily against the dimmer switch; it's just that I haven't seen one in person to compare with the lantern I have now. I guess that may have to change!

Other Battery Devices
The property maintenance company came through this year and replaced all the smoke and CO2 detectors with new models. Unfortunately, they're not the sealed battery, 10 year lifespan models. At least they're new and we won't have to look at batteries until next year!

After buying bulk battery packages at the warehouse clubs, there are plenty of batteries available for the rest of everyone's toys like all the various remote controls. I looked and there are at least 7 different remotes in this house!

Recap And Takeaway

• As with all things related to prepping, have a plan and work it until it stops working or you have to modify it. 
• Checking on little used items that may be 'Out of sight, out of mind' by having them on a calendar reminder alert might help. I certainly helps me stay on track. 
• I purchased two Hatori Super Small Mini LED Flashlights from Amazon: $7.99 with Prime shipping. 
• Nothing else was purchased, but I think the improved lantern may be on the list. 

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Prudent Prepping: Repurposing Bags

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

Erin's post about redoing her GHB reminded me that I have been putting off redoing mine, both for the Summer Gear Swap and to better protect the gear inside. What I'd really like to do is make the everything fit into a series of dry sacks similar to these from Amazon. Unfortunately, my GHB has several compartments and I would only able to use the smallest bags, and not too efficiently either, so what I am doing instead is repurposing* some packaging from work to accomplish almost the same thing.

I've used dry sacks before when rafting and they work very well in protecting their contents. They are also buoyant, which makes them easy to find if you end up in the water. The downside is they are not clear, so it can be difficult to know what is inside, and they take some time to open when you need access to their contents. Instead of those, I'm using some industrial strength zip lock bags to sort my gear. I saved one or two of this type of bag a long time ago when I worked in a different area, and now it seems the same supplier is sending goods to where I am now. So far I have bags about the same size as store-brand sandwich bags, but larger volume orders come in what are supposed to be gallon equivalents.

I am also changing from all-black tools and gear to things that can be seen more easily in the dark and when digging gear out in a hurry. Not only will a very heavy gauge clear plastic bag help in this, the side benefit of being waterproof is a bonus. The downside is a shipping label that is pretty much permanently attached. I really don't want to try several of the chemicals which I know will soften most adhesives, because I'm afraid the bag will become brittle and crack sometime in the future.

When I get more of both sizes, I will show how they work in sorting my gear.

*I laugh when I read words like 'repurposing'. Why, back in the day we called it something else: dumpster diving. 




Recap And Takeaway

• Reusing something to make your life better is a great thing and when it works right out of the gate, even better.

* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Prudent Prepping: Checkup

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

The weather is finally changing here, just not as fast as some of you seem to be experiencing! Friends in Minnesota said they didn't have their normal two weeks of fall this year; it lasted a weekend, and then went right to winter. Reports from all over are saying if you normally have snow, expect some far sooner than normal if you don't already have some. Since the weather is changing, my preps will be changing too.

Changing Up
What is my normal winter gear? I add a wool sweater, rain gear and extra socks to my GHB. Water and food stay the same as last year, since I'm normally now a manageable one day walk from home. Rain gear and socks go in because it will rain here, eventually.

Checking Up
This is also the time I go over my car for winterizing fixes. I don't usually see temperatures below freezing, but I do travel to the mountains, so window washer fluid that is rated for just a little below freezing is on my shopping list.

Where I live now has very large pine trees that drop sap and pine needles pretty much all year, and so my car has little sticky droplets all over the body and the windows. I have to use a tar and pitch remover before washing and waxing or else I'm just covering up the mess. The windows are especially bad when sap is on them, since light hitting the drops wants to start a microscopic light show in my face. In the heat, the drops soften a little and just smear around: when it's cold in the mornings I don't get the smears, but the wiper blades take a beating trying to clear the mist over the hard sap.

Check Up
I went in to get myself looked over/at recently. It's been a while for a really thorough check up, so the doc went overboard (in my opinion) with what was done. I need to be in shape; not to look good, but to be a benefit to those around me. If you have ever flown, the boring Emergency Speech can be used as a wakeup call for me and others: the part about placing the oxygen mask on yourself and then others applies to life as well. I need to be able to help those close to me in an emergency, and If I'm not in as good a shape as possible, I'm failing what I think is my job.

So, the usual fluid was drawn and a probe was made in the usual uncomfortable place for men. Preliminary results say I'm doing quite well for someone my age: blood pressure is in the lower range, cholesterol is what they say is a little high but they don't want to listen to what I have as hereditary numbers -- my family runs well over 200, with a couple close to 250, and I can keep mine about 180 with a good diet and an OTC supplement. So far I'm blessed to be in fairly good shape, even after crashing motorcycles, Achilles tendon surgery, a dislocated shoulder, and bad thumbs from the crashes. What is important is checking on the diseases and health issues that seem to affect we men in particular. That's why I'm following a movement this month...

Movember
Yes, I'm growing a mustache this month. It's been most of 30 years since I've had a mustache and a friend challenged me to participate this year. There is more to this thing than just growing a mustache; the Movember movement is there to shine a light on more than just Prostate Cancer. Just a small sample from the website:

From the Men's Health sub menu:

At 50, talk to your doctor about prostate cancer and whether it’s right for you to have a PSA test. If you are African American or have a father or brother with prostate cancer, you should be having this conversation at 45. Know your numbers, know your risk, talk to your doctor.

Something that also affects men disproportionately is suicide. From the Mental Health page:

Globally, every minute, a man dies by suicide. In the United States, 75% of suicides are men. 

What can we do? 

Talk. 

Ask. 

Listen. 

Encourage action.

Check in.

Look at the video on the above page. Think about who you talk to and who you can share problems with. I know that most men try to be the Lone Ranger, fighting the good fight by themselves, but having a friend to talk to can make a real difference.

Please look over the entire website, apply what you can, and encourage the men close to you to read it also. Even if you get a late start like me, it's never too late to take care of yourself!

Takeaway And Recap

• Nothing was purchased this month, but I've saved maybe $0.10 in shave cream.
• Take care of yourself first, so you can then care for those around you.

***

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Prepping for Winter

It's once again that time of year to switch from shorts and T-shirts to wool socks and flannel shirts. Fall is here, and that means winter is not far behind.

Here in fly-over country, the temperatures went from 90 to 55 like they saw a state trooper. Older building will switch from heat in the mornings to air conditioning in the afternoons, and they're predicting the first frost for this weekend. Most of today's post will concern those of us who live in colder regions, so the folks down south can read it for entertainment purposes.

Winter means that most of us have to rethink our daily preps and “change gears” in our thinking about the short-term preps. Staying warm moves up on the list of importance and insects become less of a problem. The BOB/GHB will grow in size as the extra layers of clothes are added. It's time to take stock and see where changes need to be made.

Shelter

• Check your doors and windows, make sure they close and seal properly. Adding a doorsweep/draft stopper to outside doors is an easy project that will keep some of the cold air out of your house. Putting them on interior doors may be an option if you want to close off unused rooms and heat only the ones you're actually living in.
• Heaters need to be checked. If you have a furnace, either have it checked or do it yourself. Change to filters to improve airflow and at least look at the gas lines/ wiring to make sure they are still in good shape.
• If you use fuel to provide heat, it's time to make sure you have enough. Propane and fuel oil tank levels should be checked and wood piles need to be refilled and covered. Natural gas and electrical heat are at the mercy of your utility companies (see David's post from yesterday), so you should look at your backup heat sources.
• Years ago I lived in an old house with water pipes that were so poorly placed that they would freeze when the temperatures dropped down to about 10° F. Frozen pipes means no water and possibly busted pipes, so I had to insulate the vulnerable ones and place heat tapes on most of them. This is the time of year to check the heat tapes and insulation to ensure that vermin haven't destroyed them.
• It's also time to winterize the lawn mower and get out the snow shovels. I don't have enough sidewalk or driveway to warrant a snowblower, but if you have one it's time to get it serviced before everyone panics after the first snowfall. Shovels are simple tools, but they need to be kept clean and straight to work best. I use an aluminum grain shovel for snow and have to smooth out the nicks and dents every year.

Food

• I have a fairly high metabolism, so I change my diet with the weather. It's time to switch to high-calorie foods and warm beverages to stay warm.
• Fats and oils provide dense calories and store better than fresh vegetables, so my menus change with the seasons. As I get older, it takes my body a bit longer to adjust to changes in diet so I try to make the changes slowly.
• Harvest season is in full swing, so there are plenty of locally-grown foods to stock up on. The orchards and farmers markets are open and prices are better than they'll be in a few months. If you can your own food, you're already in full production by now.
• Cold weather and freezing temps means that I can't store water in my vehicles, so I switch to empty water bottles and a way to melt ice and snow.

Vehicles

• Winterizing a vehicle is an annual chore. The most common issue I've run into over the years is weak batteries; once the temps drop below freezing it takes more power to start an engine, so a battery that worked fine all summer will pick the coldest day to die on you. Have your battery tested at an auto parts store and replace it before it leaves you stranded somewhere.
• Modern technology has improved the coolant in most cars, but it still needs to be checked. Any auto parts store will sell you a hygrometer to check the density of your anti-freeze and most oil-change shops will check it for you as part of their service. Add or change your anti-freeze as needed; it's a lot cheaper than replacing a cracked engine.
• Tires have also been improving over the years, but you still need to make sure you have enough tread left to give you traction in mud/snow/ice. Check your tires now, before you need that extra traction.
• Those who live in mountainous regions or drive through them will know what tire chains are and how to use them. If you carry chains, it's time to pull them out and inspect them. Repair or replace worn chains, because having one fail while driving is a nerve-wracking experience that can do serious damage to your car.

Fall is busy for me. My day job is working with farmers, so I'm working long hours and don't get many days off between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. My preps are always a work in progress, so there are some that are closer to what I want to have than others. Keep improving what you have and try to get ready for what is coming -- that's the basics of prepping for me.

Prudent Prepping: Fall Is Here

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

It's finally cooling down here and two things are going to happen sooner or later: it will be cold enough to fire up the heater instead of the air conditioner, and there will be rain. I know many folks are already drying out for the third time, but it hasn't rained much here for months and I expect both things to happen soon. Very soon.

Check Your Heater
I'm lucky in that my landlord is a friend and keeps the property up reasonably well. He maintains everything and usually replaces things before they break, but how do you know if something is wearing out?

Inspect it and check it. There are too many different types of heaters for me to be able to recommend anything but general tips, but this information can be used as the starting point for having your system checked.

How often should you have your heater looked over? My friend the HVAC guy says "once a year for all systems", regardless of  whether it's new or not.

Some work is best left to the pros, but we can do our part in having clean air!

Change Your Air Filter
If you have a filter, change it now. If you have a central heating and cooling system, more than likely it's full of dust and pollen from the summer. Filters are as little as $4 for disposables, to as much as $30 and up for washable and reusable ones. Look for your filter either in the return air ducting or right at your furnace. Can't find it? Ask a pro.

Clean Your Element
Speaking of "ask a pro," here's an example. Having a trained technician go through the insides of your heater is more that just running a vacuum over things: they will also check for any damaged parts, gas leaks, bad motors and proper venting.

Having the heating system looked at should be anywhere from $50 to $100 depending on your type of heater. I often see discounts offered in some Big Box stores in my area for that service.

About that venting: the CDC estimates that on average, 430 people per year die from Carbon Monoxide poisoning, and many thousands more are sickened from exposure to it. Making certain that the supply of clean air going in is equal to the bad air going out is very important. 

This is also a good time to look at your CO2 detector. There should be one on each floor of your house or other occupied space.

Rain Is Coming Soon
More than likely in the first part of November, so it's time to clean your gutters so water can flow off the roof and away from your house. I see many people near me having their trees trimmed and doing gutters at the same time, since leaves and small branches end up on the roof. For those of you that freeze, having gutters clean along with proper insulation will prevent roof damage from water freezing on and in your roof.

I don't have that problem, just occasional very heavy rain. Since this house is a slab foundation, water will sometimes not flow away fast enough and often get into the garage. Several neighbors with worse drainage than this house resort to sand bags in order to keep the water out.

Something I saw recently in my wandering through a Home Depot looks interesting as a replacement for sand bags, or maybe as a complement to them:

Quick Dam

Quick Dam

This looks really interesting as it is a continuous piece of protection, instead of several smaller items like sand bags.

From the Quick Dam Amazon listing:

• Water Activated Flood Barriers, Rated #1 in Flood Control.
• Grows to 3.5in high in minutes, just get them wet.
• Long, flexible design creates all sorts of shapes.
• Use to control, contain & divert flood water.
• Ready to use, no sand or labor needed.
• Compact & Lightweight, stores away until needed.
• Use to protect doorways, garages, leaking hot water tanks, erosion control & more.
• Dual chamber design prevents unit from rolling out of place.
• Use indoors or out.
• Do NOT use with salt water, chemical reaction causes deflation.

Sorry coastal people! If you get salt water intrusion, this product is not for you.

There are multiple lengths available, so finding something useful for your situation should be easy. Look at the parent company, Quick Dams, for even more interesting flood control products.

The Takeaway

• A little prevention can keep everyone safe, healthy and alive.

The Recap

• Nothing was purchased by me this week, but the Quick Dam 15' Water Barrier for $24.98 with Prime sure looks like a very good thing to have if you experience flooding. 
• Here is a good buy on a Combo CO2 and Smoke Detector: $22.36 with Prime.

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Prudent Prepping: Gear Check

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

It's my scheduled time to look look over my junk, wherever I keep it.

Stored Gear Check
My calendar showed a notice that it is time to go through my emergency food to look for short "Use By" dates, and I found several one pound bags of pasta with six months left. I decided to donate them to the Food Bank and replace them with the identical brand from the local discount grocery store. Nothing else is close to going past the date until next year, but I will more than likely pull a bunch of those things out around Thanksgiving and make another donation.

While doing this, the stored water jugs were dumped, rinsed and refilled. It isn't necessary to change out water as often as this since it won't spoil, but I just do it since I have to get to the back of my closet anyway.

Related to stored gear, I had an opportunity to break out my suit last week only to discover it had been damaged by moths (first mentioned in this post). When I first discovered the moths everything was checked and cleaned, but the moth damage didn't show up as clearly as on my sweaters stored in that end of the closet. I now have a nice wool suit that has several pinholes in the pants and a small hole in the jacket, and fortunately you can't see them unless you really look for them. I don't need to wear a suit again until November, so there is still time to explore repair or replacement options.

Seasonal Gear Check
It's still very hot and dry here, but rain and cold (for California) weather is due, so I'm looking at all the things that will be rotated into and out of my GHB in the next few months. I pulled another snap out of my Goretex jacket this Spring, so before I need it it's going to Marmot to get a replacement installed... for free! I've had a zipper pull replaced before, and Marmot's Customer Service is amazing.

My GHB is lined with a plastic trash bag for waterproofing, but I'd like to get it out since the liner bag has to be moved around to find anything. There are several different water repellent products out now that compete with good ol' Scotchgard. I will look at treating the bag with the best rated and longest lasting water proofing.

This last isn't really a seasonal item, but I've been saving up for a pair of dedicated hiking boots to wear in place of the tennis-shoe-with-Vibram I wear now. I'm tired of buying a half size larger in a generic wide shoe just to be close to a shoe that fits! Due to the fact I wear a EEE (or EEEE, depending on the brand) shoe, and that several brands recommended to me like Danner do not have full-service stores close, I'm going to Red Wing. I haven't been there yet, but they had work boots in my size when I worked construction many, many years ago. A full report on the buying process and break-in will follow the purchase.

The Takeaway

• Looking after your gear well before you need it is not just prudent, it's necessary.

The Recap

• My good jacket taking a trip to the manufacturer for repair: $0.00
• Waterproof treatment for my GHB: unknown cost at the moment
• New hiking boots from Red Wing: final cost is also unknown, but estimated between $150- $200 

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Prudent Prepping: Seasonal Changes

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

It's finally warming up here and Summer is officially close, so I started swapping out the last of my cooler weather gear. What could possibly go wrong?

Road Trip
I spent last weekend in Reno for a graduation celebration. It was wonderful! I met some people that are now relatives by marriage, spent time with my son, and was caught a little short in my preps due to the weather. It wasn't really a bad error; I was just a little uncomfortable when the temperature dropped into the low 40's and high 30's at night. I had checked the forecast for the weekend and things seemed to be fairly mild, considering I was coming from ~50 ft altitude to ~4,500 ft in Reno.

What caused the problem? A not-so-unusual summer storm rolled in, and coupled with some strong winds and a little rain it made the evenings not fun. I had packed my normal GHB, a change of clothes for the event, and a windbreaker, but a light jacket or sweater and rain gear would have been useful. In my defense I tend to be a pack rat, so I was trying to keep the amount of gear I carried to a minimum.

What I did have in my gear was something that didn't see any use due to the unseasonably cool weather:

Mission Blue Microfiber Small Cooling Towel

https://tinyurl.com/ydyyuplo

There are neck wraps I have purchased in the past that were some sort of water-absorbing crystals inside a tube that kept you cool, but those were only sized and shaped to fit your neck. These are large enough to soak in water and wrap around your head AND neck!



From the Home Depot website:

Keep cool and feel refreshed in any condition with the original, durable Mission HydroActive Microfiber Cooling Towel. Ideal for any outdoor activity on a hot day so that you can stay cool when things heat up. Just wet, wring and snap the chemical-free towel, and the proprietary technology in our woven fabric cools to 30° below your average body temperature. The towel stays cool for hours when wet and is soft and absorbent when dry. From the toughest conditions to everyday use; the performance enhancing cooling towel helps you keep cool during training, working or exercising. The soft machine washable fabric provides you with years of reliable use. The Mission HydroActive Microfiber Cooling Towel is a simple solution to keep you cool and feeling comfortable in the heat, and on the go.

• Proprietary technology cools to 30° below average body temperature when wet
• Permanent cooling technology is re-usable, machine washable and dries soft
• UPF 50 protection from the sun
• Chemical-free
• Stays cool for hours

Despite these not getting a workout in Reno, I will be using them on an up-coming fishing trip to one of several local reservoirs.

The Recap

• One pair of cooling towels from Home Depot: $9.97

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

Storing Winter

Spring is attempting to appear where I live. It has been a rough winter; many areas broke records for cold and snow and I've heard several reports that it was one of the worst in the last 30 years. I can believe those reports, because most of the “kids” of that age had never seen snow like we got this year. I'll be glad when it's gone so I can finally put away the cold-weather gear that has been part of my daily life since the end of October.

The folks who live in the southern half of the country won't have some of the problems that we northerners face, and needing a large supply of warm clothing is one of those problems. I'm one of those accursed people with a high metabolic rate and almost no body fat, so I have a lot of clothes that I need to wear just to work outside:

• From some time in October to roughly the same point of March, I wear thermal underwear (long johns) every day; they vary from lightweight (35-40°F) to heavy duty (below 10°F), and I have several pairs of each weight. 
• I have at least a dozen pairs of each of three levels of socks to suit the daily winter temperatures. 
• I have formal, informal, and work coats suitable for whatever conditions the local winter may present. 
• Stocking caps, gloves, scarves, and miscellaneous extreme cold-weather gear have accumulated over the years (I have four warm, functional Santa hats, now). 
• Coveralls and overalls, from un-insulated to Arctic weight and boots to match are expensive, so I generally only have one set of each weight. 

All of that stuff has to go somewhere for the seven months of each year that I won't be needing it, so here's how I store my winter wardrobe.

Preparation

• Never store anything dirty! Always clean your clothes before putting them away. I've tossed dirty boots in a closet and hung up coats without cleaning them in the past, and it didn't work out very well.
• The presence of even slight amounts of corrosive chemicals will destroy them given time and humidity, and the presence of food, or even food odors, will attract rodents and insects.
• Wash what you can, send the delicates to the dry cleaner, brush off the boots and apply a fresh coat of waterproofing if needed. Leather should get a coat of neat's-foot oil or other softening treatment to keep it from getting stiff while in storage.
• Check your gear and make repairs and replacements as you get things ready for storage. 
• I wear out socks pretty quickly, so I make sure I check my stock as I'm storing them. Worn-out natural fibers (mainly cotton and wool, but a few silk) go into the rag bag for use as cleaning supplies; polyester and other man-made fibers go into the craft bag for use as stuffing for toys.
• Inexpensive coats tend to have low-quality zippers that fail, so I always check and lubricate (using a wax candle) the closures on my coats. Zippers are a PITA to replace, so a bad zipper is usually a death penalty for a coat. Patch the holes and use a comb to clean out the Velcro.

Storage

• Unless you're putting gear away for just a month or two, you're going to need a good container. If your warm season is that short, just hanging the warm clothes in a closet will suffice.
• Folding cloth organizers may look nice, but offer no protection from dust, pests, or damage. I can see these being used to organize clothing that is in the daily rotation, but not for storage.
• Cardboard boxes aren't much better. I know they're cheap or free, but cardboard is a poor choice for storing clothing since it does nothing to stop pests or moisture and may actually provide a breeding ground for insects. They also tend to collapse unless filled to capacity if any weight is put on them.
• Plastic bins with tight lids are a good choice. The weather-proof versions with latching lids will keep out dust, insects, and water, but won't stop a determined or bored rodent. I use 20 gallon plastic bins from a big-box store, they're fairly cheap and last for several years.
• Neither cardboard boxes nor plastic bins don't handle being stacked on top of each other very well. 
• The old-fashioned cedar chest was used for long-term storage of wool and linen goods. The cedar wood contains an oil that seeps out for decades, producing an odor that we find pleasant but repels insects that would feed on the stored items. If properly made, a good cedar chest will keep out most dust and moisture.
• For top of the line storage, look for metal or fiberglass storage containers. They'll stop most rodents (nothing is truly rat-proof; they'll chew through concrete given enough time) and insects, are generally water-proof, and are dust-tight. They're also better for raw stacking, but their weight makes them hard to sort through.

Organization

• The modern version of Schroedinger's Cat is the cookie tin that can contain either cookies or sewing supplies but you don't know which until you open it. Having multiple plastic bins stacked in a corner of the basement is a similar issue, especially if you bought them on sale and they are all the same color. My wife likes to shop after holidays to get the differing colors when they go on sale, so this is less of a problem for me.
• Keep your containers segregated by user. My wife and I wear different sizes, and she doesn't work outside as much as I do, so I keep her winter gear in a separate set of bins. This makes it easier for me to dig out my stuff without having to dig through hers. When I had kids around, it made it easier to donate the clothes they'd outgrown over the summer.
• Label your containers. This may sound simplistic, but after shifting a couple of dozen boxes around to get to the one on the bottom, unlabeled boxes will get confused.
• Use a sturdy rack. It will take up more space, but will allow you access to individual containers without disturbing the others. Wood planks and cement blocks make good storage racks; they're modular and can be adapted to differing sizes of containers. If you live in earthquake-prone areas, use a quality construction adhesive between the blocks and wood to tie them together. Metal store shelving is available if you look around, but it can be expensive.

Take care of your gear and it will take care of you when you need it.

Living in Flyover Country

The “important” people who live on the east and west coasts of the USA like to refer to the rest of the country as “flyover country”, because the only time they see it is when they fly over it while traveling from one coast to the other. That's not the kind of flyover I'm going to write about.

One of the common tropes of prepping and survivalism is the concept of hunting for your food after a major disaster. Some people think that they will be able to “live off the land” like the settlers did a couple of hundred years ago, while other people point out that everyone and their cousin is going to be out there shooting at Bambi at the same time, potentially leading to the decimation of all wildlife within a few hours' drive of any city. While I personally wouldn't mind seeing fewer deer on the roads (they kill about 200 people every year), I'd hate to see them exterminated. There are also other sources of protein worth hunting, if you know where and when to look for them.

Living not far from the Missouri River, I get to witness the annual migrations (spring and fall) of large numbers of geese and ducks. Large numbers means that I can walk about three miles and find 600-800 thousand Canada and Snow geese in one area. Yes, over half a million geese at any given time stop here to rest for a few day on their travels between nesting areas in Canada and wintering areas in Mexico. This happens every year and lasts for about a month each spring and fall, and has been happening for longer than people have lived here. Short of a nuclear war or asteroid strike, no disaster is going to disrupt the migratory patterns of waterfowl; it's literally hard-wired into their brains.

Here's a picture to give you an idea of what a field near any source of water around here looks like right now.

Photo courtesy of USFWS

I drove past several fields like this today. Twice a year, for about a month each, nature brings the game to us. In the fall it provides a good way to stock up for the winter months, and in spring it provides a much-needed change of taste from eating stored food. 

You don't have to be a hunter to get a meal out of something like that. I've seen idiots ticketed and fined for walking into a field at night armed with nothing more than a golf club, looking for a way to fill their freezers without jumping through the legal hoops (or they're prohibited from owning firearms). I have friends who do hunt legally with shotguns and decoys that can fill a pickup bed with birds in a day; if you get enough hunters together, the daily limits stack up. 30 years ago we had a rare spring tornado (or microburst) hit a migrating flock in central Nebraska in March. Driving down the Interstate was bizarre, seeing dead Snow geese scattered along the shoulders and in the ditches for miles. 

Other than waterfowl, there are dozens of other species of birds that migrate every spring and fall. Who hasn't looked for the first robin as a sure sign that spring has arrived? The Swallows of Capistrano are a West Coast phenomenon, but every region has something similar, even if it's just blackbirds or sparrows. Smaller birds in smaller numbers may mean you'll have to modify your hunting strategy, but food is food. Ducks and geese typically require fairly large shot to kill reliably: No. 2 through BB-sized back when we could use lead shot, and BBB or T sizes when using steel or other non-toxic shot. Smaller birds can and should be taken with smaller shot, all the way down to No. 7 ½ or No. 8 for any bird smaller than your fist.

I live on the edge of what is called the Central Flyway, which covers about half of the continental US and is used mostly by snow and Canada geese. A few hours west of here, the sandhill cranes make the news every year as they pass through. While it's illegal to hunt sandhills in the US (endangered species), Mexico has no such restriction and I understand that they are quite tasty. The variety of ducks has decreased in my lifetime, but we still see mallards, canvasback, wood ducks, teal, and ringtails come through in moderate numbers. Some of these birds stick around to form resident flocks over the summer, but most keep going further north. 

Modern farming techniques have reduced the amount of “wasted” ground that a lot of the migrating birds relied upon, but we're starting to see some of the marginal and poor-producing ground go back to grass and native species. The various government programs called Cropland Reduction Programs (CRP), and the slim profit margins of growing corn and beans around here, have restored some of the ground that migrating species need for foraging. Ducks Unlimited and a few other conservation groups are improving and recreating wetlands to make the flyways better for the birds, so keep an eye open for possible minor changes in migration patterns.

The Mississippi Flyway is the other major route for birds headed north every spring in “flyover” country, and from my experience is used by more ducks than geese. It starts on the other side of the state and I don't travel that way very often any more. The Atlantic and Pacific Flyways have their own populations of waterfowl, but I have not spent enough time in either region to get to know them. Perhaps some of our readers can fill in the gaps in my knowledge and help educate us all?

Get to know your area and the resources it offers. I know a lot of my friends shake their heads when they hear about the weather I live with up here -- below zero in the winter and over 100° F in the summer -- but there are so many other things around here that it all evens out. I'll take the snow, because that means that I have very few venomous snakes to deal with. I'll live through the heat, because that means that we can grow a wide variety of crops up here. I'm content where I am because I know the region and what it has to offer, but I realize that other people have other priorities and desires so they may be happier elsewhere.

Seasonal Fevers

The coming change of seasons from winter to spring has brought to mind two “fevers” that preppers need to be aware of and make plans for. While not actual, physical fevers caused by disease, the effects of “cabin fever” and “spring fever” will be more pronounced after a major disruption. While most of my examples are going to be based on my experience of living in the northern half of the US, those of you who don't normally see snow in winter may experience storms that can cause the same effects. We get blizzards; you get hurricanes.

Cabin Fever

Being cooped up in a small area (easier to heat that way) with too many other people and isolated from the rest of the world for months leads to stress-related mental conditions called cabin fever, which is defined as “extreme irritability and restlessness from living in isolation or a confined indoor area for a prolonged time”, and we need to recognize the dangers it can present. The key word in that definition is “extreme”.

• People who are restless and under stress can make bad decisions, like trying to get out before it's safe, or attempting to do too much and injuring themselves or others. 
• Children will get bored and want to do things, especially if their digital toys are dead. Either make sure you have plenty of batteries for the toys, or prepare for kids getting into things that they shouldn't; I see news stories every winter of house fires caused by bored children “playing” with a heater or fireplace, and that's without a major storm.
• Elderly people that won't accept their age and physical conditions will try to do the same things they did when they were young and end up hurting themselves (or having heart attacks), which causes more stress on everyone around them.
• Extreme irritability makes interpersonal interactions a mine field of emotions and will amplify reactions to everything. Keeping the peace in a situation like this is going to be a challenge. 
• Make plans for how you will deal with flaring tempers and fidgety children (not a good mix, trust me). 
• Angry, bored siblings will need to be overseen to keep disagreements from turning into violence. 
• Irritated, PMS-ing women are best handled with care. One friend suggested standing back and throwing chocolate, so make sure you have a supply of chocolate (or whatever helps her) on hand.

I think the worst that I've personally experienced was a blizzard 30+ years ago when I got snowed in for five days with no electricity. It took four days for the snow plows to make more than a one-lane path down the gravel road, because the wind kept blowing the snow back over the road as fast as they could clear it. Luckily, I was with family that had lived through worse and we had preps in place: battery-powered radios, kerosene lamps, and a well-stocked library and pantry got us through with minimal problems. It was actually quite peaceful and relaxing to me, but I acknowledge that I'm a bit weird.

We also didn't have cell phones or internet access back then, so we didn't have to deal with digital withdrawal. A prolonged power outage today would be a major disaster to someone who has grown up connected to the internet at all times. Coping skills should be taught before they are needed, parents.

Spring Fever

Spring fever is a bit different in that it can go two ways: people either want to get outside and laze in the sun, or they want to get out and do everything at once.

• Exposure to sunlight is one way our bodies get the vitamin D they need to function, so there may be a physiological cause for the desire to lie in the sun and soak in the early spring rays. I know it just feels good not needing to wear three layers of clothing to stay warm and that there is a psychological benefit to exposure to sunlight. 
• Accept that some of the time, people are going to need to be “lazy” and have some down time. I know there is going to be a lot of work that has piled up over the winter, but for the sake of everyone's sanity, allow a moderate amount of laziness. 
• Make sure the kids have a safe place to play and relax outside so you can have a bit of peace and quiet yourself.
• I've seen a lot of yard and field work get done as soon as the ground thaws out, only to be redone after the “surprise” frost or snow sweeps in at the end of winter. We have a few farmers and a lot of landscape artists that rush the planting season every year, resulting in replanting or poor performance.
• If you're limited to the seeds you have on hand, make sure you know the planting seasons for your local area and don't waste them by trying to get them in early. 
• I don't have a garden right now, but when I did I always made sure I had a back-up plan for late frosts. Covering the new growth with a sheet overnight is often enough to keep frost from killing them, but you need to have the sheets on hand and know if you're going to need them.

The world keeps turning and the seasons keep changing, so we need to keep planning for the future. I know a lot of preppers focus on immediate needs and emergencies, but I feel that preparing for things that we know are going to happen (but may be affected by an emergency or disaster) is important as well. If you have the known problems under control, it frees up resources for the unexpected problems.

Gun Blog Variety Podcast #114 - Erin Puts the Title Here Or She Gets The Hose Again

Would you listen to us? I'd listen to us. I'd listen to us so hard.

• Beth talks about teaching firearms classes for women, what she gets out of it, and why women come to her classes.
• Sean takes a closer look at the killer in a murder-suicide at Forsyth County Medical Center.
• Barron is back from his epic family vacation across the West. What tech tools did he use to make his trip easier?
• In the Main Topic, Sean and Erin discuss the intersection of depression and gun ownership, and why the "No guns for the mentally ill" argument can be used against non-crazy gun owners who just need to see a doctor now and then.
• Hurricane Tiffany is back home after a whirlwind tour of New York City and San Antonio, Texas. Strap in as she tells you of her amazing adventures being our best ambassador EVAR!
• Are you feeling SAD? Does less light in the winter months cause you Seasonal Affective Disorder? Erin talks about what you can do to fix it.
• It appears that Dan Savage likes getting smacked around by Weer'd. He's back for another Patented Weer'd Audio Fisk™.
• Our plug of the week the NSSF's website WhereToHunt.org

Thank you for downloading, listening, and subscribing. You are subscribed, right? We are available on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, and now on Google Play Music!

Listen to the podcast here.

Read the show notes here. 

Thanks also to Firearms Policy Coalition for their support.

BCP Segment Transcript:

Seasonal Affective Disorder

This past week has been pretty rough for me, Sean, and apparently for a lot of other people as well.

I don’t know if it’s the change in weather, or the poop-slinging crapfest that is this election, or something else entirely, but many of my friends have felt moody, irritable, and downright misanthropic lately.

Last weekend, I started getting one of my periodic cravings to withdraw from the world. It doesn’t happen often for me -- maybe every three to six months -- and for about 5 days I just want to be left alone and not deal with people at all. During these periods, which I see as a time of renewal like a field going fallow, I just keep to myself and catch up on my sleep and my reading. It’s basically a staycation, only inside my bedroom.

Everyone needs some alone time, and I wrote a great article about it on Blue Collar Prepping, which I encourage people to read. But just when I thought I had come out of it and was ready to face the world and deal with people again… it felt like depression crept up behind me and hit me with a knockout blow. I’m not sure what caused it, but since many of my friends are having similar issues and are blaming it on the change of seasons, I figured now would be a good time to talk about Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.

Very simply, SAD is a kind of depression that happens when the seasons change. It is most common during the fall winter, although spring and summer SAD also happen. About 5% of the US population suffer from some version of it. SAD usually manifests during puberty, like so many things, and it’s more common in women than in men.

The spring and summer version, which I’m not familiar with, has these symptoms: insomnia, anxiety, irritability, decreased appetite, weight gain or loss, social withdrawal, and decreased sex drive.

The fall and winter version is something I’m acquainted with, because my mother has it. The symptoms are: difficulty waking up in the morning, nausea, tendency to oversleep; a craving for carbohydrates, which leads to overeating and weight gain; a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating on or completing tasks, withdrawal from friends, family, and social activities, and decreased sex drive.

Now some of you may be wondering what this has to two with preparedness, and the answer is twofold: One, SAD is something that can be treated and possibly even prevented with a bit of foresight, so it’s something that can be prepared against. And two, during a long-term disaster depression IS going to be an issue, whether it is seasonal or otherwise, and it’s good to know these things because it might not be possible to see a doctor during a crisis.

So here’s what you can do to prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder, and possibly other forms of depression as well.

1. Exercise. You don’t even have to get sweaty or “feel the burn”, although if you want to do that, more power to you. But just a 30 minute walk outdoors will help; both the exercise of walking and the exposure to sunlight, even winter sunlight, will help boost your serotonin levels. I talked about Serotonin back in episode 87, but the short version is that it’s the chemical in your brain that creates feelings of happiness and well-being. 
2. Get plenty of vitamin D3. This is the vitamin which your skin creates via exposure to sunlight -- which is why I suggested a 30 minute walk during the day -- but if you’re trying to prevent SAD you might as well use a belt and suspenders approach. Also, if you’re suffering from summer SAD and you really dont’ want to be out in the sun, this is a good way to get a much-needed vitamin. I currently take gel capsules of D3 that I get from the Vitamin Shoppe, and they provide me with 5,000 IU daily. 
3. Find things that make you happy and do them. This might seem like a “Well, duh” solution, but I know from experience that when I’m feeling tired and grouchy I don’t go out of my way to make myself happy. Find something that brings you joy or laughter and indulge in it. Hanging out with friends, watching a comedy, getting a massage -- all of these are recommended ways to cheer you up. 
4. Finally -- and this is more for the winter SAD than summer -- you may need find you need a Light Therapy Lamp, aka a “Happy Light”. People with winter SAD need 24 times more light during the winter months than people without the condition, and therapy lamps provide a lot of light. Daily exposure to this light should help fight seasonal depression. 

Now, I don’t think I have seasonal affective disorder. It’s supposed to manifest during puberty, and I’ve always loved the fall and cooler weather and night time I also live in Florida where it’s sunny a lot, so I’m certainly not lacking for Vitamin D3 and sunlight exposure. But I’ve gone ahead and bought a happy lamp from Amazon -- it’s got 4.5 star rating and it’s only $50, and I’m going to see if it helps get me through this election funk. If it works, great. If not, I can always give it to my mother.

Heads, you win (part 2)

Back in July, I wrote a post about wearing a hat to keep the sun off of your head. Since I am expecting the first winter storm of the season this Friday, I thought it would be a good time to “cover” hats for winter wear. Brandon covered layering clothing earlier this week and mentioned his layering of head coverings, so consider this an expansion on his article.

About half of the staff here live in areas that experience winter; the other half don't see snow most years. The severity of your winter weather will influence which hat you'll need, but most of us should wear one once it starts to cool down. Even in moderate climates like Florida, a hat makes sense in December and January. If you're like me and lack hair on the top of your head, you'll be wearing a cap of some sort all winter long no matter where you live.

Keeping your head warm makes cold weather more bearable, and since ears and noses have lots of surface area and little blood flow, they tend to frost bite easily. Frozen flesh is dead and can get infected easily; if not prevented or treated, frostbite can lead to gangrene and eventually, death. A good hat will keep most of your head warm, which will keep the exposed parts a bit warmer. 

The following list will go from least to most insulated, and I suggest you find one at least one level heavier than your normal weather wear. If the power is out or you are outside for extended periods gathering food and fuel, you'll need better gear than would normally get you through a day.

Ball Cap

Any normal hat or cap is better than nothing, and a ball cap or cowboy hat will hold in some heat. If your winters are mild (no snow, light winds) this may be all you'll need.

Stocking Cap/Do-Rag

Actual stocking caps are made of the same material as nylon stockings. If you've never worn nylons, you'll not appreciate how much extra warmth they can provide. Living in the upper Midwest, our high school football players will often wear nylons under their uniforms to keep their legs warm during late season games. Do-rags and bandannas will cover your hair and let it provide a bit of natural insulation.

Scarf

A good, long scarf can be wrapped around the head and neck to hold in heat and keep out wind. You probably won't need the full Doctor Who 12 foot long scarf, but do get one that is made of material that will insulate.

Beanie/Toque/Watch Cap

Call them what you will, these are the most common and come in the widest variety of all the hats made. I personally don't care for the styles with the ball on top, but I have at least a dozen snug watch caps of varying materials and thicknesses to choose from in my cold weather gear. Late fall or early winter normally means a thin polyester cap, but as the weather gets colder I'll grab one that's a bit thicker and woven from thicker yarn. In January I'll wear either a wool cap or a polyester blend cap that has a Thinsulate liner in it.

An actual watch cap is barely long enough to cover your eyes, while a beanie can often be pulled down over your entire face. I have both: the watch cap style is used as a base layer if needed, and the “cuff” of a beanie's extra length allows me to regulate how much of my ears and nape of neck are covered.

Fudd Hat

Hunting hats or surplus Army hats often have a wool liner that can be unfolded to cover the ears and upper neck. Great for keeping the snow off of your neck when traipsing through the woods, they vary in quality and insulation value. The TV show M.A.S.H. showed Radar wearing his hat with the ear flaps down when it was winter in Korea.

Balaclava

When wearing a hard hat (wind tends to blow up under the hat) or when the weather gets icy, it's time to break out the full-head-covering balaclava. Usually knit (although the newer fabrics are sewn), these will cover your entire head except for your face and extend below your chin to cover your neck. Great for being outside in the snow as it is falling or blowing about, they get warm very fast if you're exerting yourself at all.

Ski Mask

Similar to a balaclava, with the difference being that they also cover your face with openings for eyes, nostrils, and often mouths. Best worn when dealing with extreme cold and high winds; you may need to look into a set of goggles to go with it.

Hoods

A proper winter coat will have a hood that is insulated at least as well as the body of the coat is. True winter parkas come with coyote fur trim around the hood (artificial fur doesn't work, it holds water and will freeze) and a drawstring to keep it close to your face. Hoods are nice because they are easy to take off as needed, without losing them.

A side benefit of wearing a hat in the winter, especially following a disaster, is that bathing tends to become less frequent as people stop sweating every day. A hat will cover and restrain hair that hasn't been washed for a few days, which can reduce the amount of water you'll need to find and purify.

A few notes on materials:

• Cotton is the least insulting material for a hat. Good enough for a ball cap; avoid it in anything heavier.
• Polyester is a fair insulator, it matches wool for retaining heat (but only when dry) and is usually less bulky.
• Wool is the one rare material that will insulate even when wet, but it is heavy and many people find it too irritating (itchy) to wear.
• Polypropylene is one of the newer materials that wicks moisture and sweat away from your body, and it insulates quite well.
• Regardless of what material you choose, it is the air trapped in the weave or against your skin that does the real work of insulating you. A wider knit will trap larger pockets of air, but is also susceptible to losing those pockets of warmth to wind unless covered.

Bundle up.