Duluth is an absolute mecca for outdoor winter sports. Gear up properly and you'll love your life in the 8 months of the Northland's winter!

If you're getting outside a lot in Eau Claire, you'll do fine in Duluth. If you plan on spending significantly more time outdoors in Duluth, then that's another story. Depending on where you live in town, you'll have different levels of need for snow tires; either way I'd strongly recommend them. PM me - I'm selling a set of snow tires in great condition over on the Online Rummage Sale for Duluth/Superior facebook group.

• Thermal regulation is the name of the game. Not enough protection and you're cold. Once you're cold, you're done. Too many layers and you start to sweat. If you can't wick the sweat away or stop overheating, you're done
  
  
• Cotton kills. You need 100% wool/poly/synthetic layers. Cotton absorbs moisture from your sweat, then freezes or just becomes a frigid sopping sponge against your skin
  
  
• Layer selection is important. Something like a North Face Thermoball is great as a mid-layer under a parka for those insanely cold days. I have a SmartWool Marino wool base layer that was expensive but it was essential for keeping me warm and dry. Otherwise, synthetic long sleeve Under Armor kinds of shirts are perfect base layers.
  
  
• Jeans are great at breaking wind and worked pretty well for me as a mid-layer. I usually just used synthetic long-johns to take care of wicking water from my skin. Roll both legs of the jeans up your shin to make room for boots and to keep the bottoms away from the snow or they will just get sopping wet. It's added warmth for your shins too. I'd finish off with a pair of snow pants that can go on and off easily
  
  
• I used solid boots that were comfortable and insulated, with 1-2 pairs of various smartwool/puffy wool socks. Don't over-do it with socks. If your boot is too tight, it'll cut circulation to your toes and then you'll be cold. That's a delicate balance between "it's literally too damn cold out" and "I don't have circulation and I feel like it's too damn cold out."
  
  
• A solid parka that goes below your butt is ideal. I got my North Face parka for around $300 and it was an excellent investment
  
  
• Consider a shell that can break the wind. If you're hiking in Lester/Chester/Munger/etc. it won't be too windy; and if you're geared up properly those super cold temps are really a cake walk
  
  
• Ice chains were important for my wife and myself. ICEtrekkers' Diamond Grip were my favorite. They really bite into glare ice where as coiled wire like basic Yak Trax were more slippery
  
  
• I have a stack of the cheapest bandannas I could find in every color and pattern available. They're usually on sale for a buck each. The problem is that they're cotton, so my breath would condense on them quickly and they would freeze solid within 10-15 minutes, but the point is to keep the wind off of your mouth and cheeks. Even when frozen, they worked very well, and at 32° it was easily 30-50° warmer than the ambient air temps! I usually had 2-3 on me at all times for face protection and to wipe my nose/forehead (in case I started sweating) and I was very happy with them considering how cheap they were. Wash them once or twice before you use them to soften them up. I'd be interested in seeing other options for face covering.
  
  
• Nothing beats a nice long wool knit scarf. Wrap it straight around your face and lay the tails flat against your chest or back for another insulating layer, or tie it in various ways for style and function around town
  
  
• Sunglasses are a must to keep sleet and ice out of my eyes. Consider a set of very lightly tinted shades for evening/dark walking. There was nothing worse than hiking at night when it was sleeting. I've been told snowboarding goggles were lame, but ya know, Lake Superior is fierce before it freezes over. Ha. I would snowbaord all the time with amber tinted wrap-around shades that were snug to my head, and I'd hike with light Wayfarer-style frames
  
  
• Finally, gloves are a real mystery to me. I'm not down with leather/animal skin, but it may be the only option to cut wind, and insulate the most efficiently. I usually used a thin woven wool base layer to wick sweat, a medium sized glove liner that usually comes with a decent set of gloves, and the thickest, heartiest, most beefy damn glove you can find. Pro tip: Make sure ALL gloves work with smartphones (capacitive touch). Never take a glove off to do something because you will never regain that heat without going inside
  
  
• Just get a case of hand warmers. They're good in your gloves; next to your Achilles tendon in your boots; and against your camera or smartphone to keep those batteries running longer
  
  FIY: I spent 3 years in Duluth as a Floridian with no experience with real winter. Gear up properly and you'll be outside all winter long! It's expensive, but it's TOTALLY worth the investment. Otherwise you'll be cold and miserable; and that is one hella long-ass winter.

1. An 8" dob is definitely a bit much for a 7 year-old, but as long as it's for both of you, it's a good purchase. The most complicated part of owning a dob is collimating the optics (just making sure they're all aligned properly). There are plenty of tutorials on how to do this online. It will take a tiny bit of practice, but once you do it a couple of times, it's easy.
   
   
2. Get this eyepiece set. Don't bother with a barlow. The 9mm that comes with that set will replace the 9mm Plossl that comes with the telescope. It's much, much easier to look through and offers a wider field of view. That set is a good spread of focal lengths for that scope, and will compliment the 30mm nicely.
   
   
3. Does that even matter? Yes. You will be fighting condensation on the finder scope like crazy. I recommend buying a pack of those chemical handwarmers and just strapping one to the underside of the viewfinder with an elastic band, and maybe also one to the eyepiece of the view finder as well. That will keep it above ambient and keep the condensation off it.
   
   
4. Yes, several things to know:
   
   

• Obviously, never ever point the thing at the sun unless you have a visual rated solar filter that sits over the FRONT of the scope. You cannot put a solar filter at the eyepiece, it must block the light before it enters the scope.
  
  
• The biggest limiting factor to seeing lunar and planetary detail is the atmosphere. It bends and distorts light just like water in a swimming pool does when trying to view items on the bottom. Some nights are steady and planets are super crisp with tons of detail, other nights are abysmal and the planet looks like an amoeba. It takes patience and some luck to get a night of good atmospheric "seeing" as it's called.
  
  
• You also need to make sure the telescope is thermally acclimated to ambient temperatures. If the mirror is warmer than the outside air temps for whatever reason (e.g. stored in a hot un-insulated shed all day), then the heat coming off the mirror will distort light on the way to the mirror, and again bouncing off of it. If you store the scope in a cool air conditioned space, when you bring it outside in the hot humid air, the mirrors will instantly fog up and the scope will be unusable.
  
  
• It's best to view the planets when they are the highest in the sky. This is known as their transit time - when they cross the southern meridian in the sky. If you try to view them when they're low on the horizon, atmospheric seeing will be worse, and the atmosphere will act like a prism and badly scramble the light, obscuring fine details.
  
  
• The full moon is the least interesting phase to view because lighting is very flat. Best to view near 1st or 3rd quarter so you can see the moon illuminated from the side, where you will see deep shadows on craters, mountain ranges etc.
  
  
• If you buy the eyepiece set I linked to, the 9mm and the 6mm will be your planetary and lunar eyepieces. The 9mm is at the low-end range of planetary magnification and can be used when the atmosphere is very turbulent. The 6mm will be useful when the atmosphere is steady. Eventually you can get something between 3mm and 4mm for very high magnification, but it will only be useful on very rare nights unless you have particularly stable air.
  
  
• I recommend getting the book Turn Left at Orion, which is a good guide to get familiar with the night sky and using the telescope.

There are a lot of really cool camping things! I'll be back to edit this post on my computer with some things that we like / are unique /cool

EDIT - these are things that we use that we love. These things all range in price, so hopefully you can find one or two to fit whatever budget you have.

• Collapsible Coffee Dripper : They can use this to make REAL coffee on the trail. They just have to heat water!
  
• Portable camping grill : This takes a little time to set up, but it's a very compact grill and makes it easy to cook food or even just balance your mess kit
  
• Nonstick camping mess kit : A nonstick kit is much easier to clean than a stainless steel one IMO. this set has a kettle, utensil, and scrubber which is awesome.
  
• Camp Suds : An environmentally safe soap so they can clean their gear but preserve the trail!
  
• Dry sacks : Dry sacks are just what they sound like... waterproof bags that keep your stuff dry. They can also double as a pillow if you stuff clothes in them!
  
• Portable camping stove : This little guy connects to a small fuel canister and gives you a nice little stove. These are great for heating water / soup as they provide a better heat source than a fire you'd build.
  
• Food dehydrator : This is not something they'd take camping, but it can really help them to save money on meals. If they are backpacking, they likely won't want to carry around cans of food and won't be able to carry around ingredients that would go bad. The dehydrator allows them to make their own backpacking meals that they will reconstitute with water.
  
• Pocket bellows : allows you to stoke the fire without having to get your face super close. Also this lets you target a small area.
  
• LED light bulb ; This does require a portable battery but it's really great to have this little guy. We use it in the tent at night or when we're hanging out but need a little light to chop food/etc.
  
• Pocket chain saw : Cut big pieces of wood! It takes some muscle, but it really does work and it's a lot smaller than a hatchet or actual chain saw..
  
• Literally the best backpacking chair : when you're backpacking, you have to carry EVERYTHING with you. So that means that stuff has to be light and small. These chairs are great, because (for chairs) they tick off both of those boxes. They have a back! And they are big enough to actually sit on!
  
  Other general items that are useful: Climbing/heavy duty carabiners (to clip stuff to other stuff. you can even get locking ones); water filters (if you get a Lifestraw, I recommend the water bottle. The actual Lifestraw is an interesting idea, but we've found in practice it's a little awkward); hammocks with nice straps; base layers; battery-operated lights of any kind (especially ones that clip or are hands-free); a set of waterproof cards (to pass the time on a break); nice, wicking socks; hiking poles; a camping knife.
  
  I haven't tried Cairn (the camping sub box) but they always look interesting.
  

Merino wool socks (Darn Tough or Farm to Feet are my go to) and the Noble Outfitters "Cold Front" muck boots. I love these boots, they're incredibly comfortable all year round and I've ridden in them hundreds of times as well. I've heard good things about the "Original Muck Boot Company" muck boots as well and I know they have an insulated variety. Basically, muck boots that neoprene based rather than just lined rubber will be way, way warmer. They have not failed me. Plus, if I'm teaching or out for more than a couple hours, I'll use the stick on toe warmers which really are lifesavers. Big bonus tip: putting on extra socks/etc. and cramming your feet into boots is a bad idea. Insulation works by trapping warm air, so you need some space for it to work. You will be infinitely warmer in one pair of socks that fit well into your boots than in two pairs that are crammed in. Some kids would wear plastic bags or bread bags over their socks, which works great but they don't breathe and once you're feet are sweaty, you're screwed.

For the rest of your body, base layers are fantastic. They come in many varieties, from Walmart dirt cheap to nice merino wool (my personal favorites, but expensive and I only invested after using them for hiking a lot). The cost doesn't matter as much, as the goal is to get sweat away from your skin to keep you toasty, but in general, stay the f*** away from cotton for socks or base layers. The instant it is wet from sweat or something else, it will suck your body heat away and it doesn't dry out. Synthetic or wool is your best bet for anything against your skin. Layers, layers. I wear my base layers (top and bottom), a pair of Kerrits winter breeches (the best I've found, one pair has lasted me two winters so far, too), a fleece athletic top of some kind (love Avalanche gear), a down vest, and then my trusty, rusty Mountain Horse winter jacket. Gloves are weird in a barn -- I've had my best success with a thin water repellent glove with good grip on the fingers and palm that I can stuff into bigger mittens after using my hands (usually complete with hand warmers). Anything thicker and I am taking them off so often to do things in the barn that it doesn't matter if I have gloves on or not, although Heritage makes an "Extreme" winter riding glove that I adore, each pair has lasted me at least three winters of constant use and are impressively mobile for their bulkiness and okay-ish to ride in.

And for when you're back, hot chocolate with whiskey/rum enjoyed in a shower really will warm you right back up. Start the shower just lukewarm or your feet/legs/hands will feel like they're on fire.

I don't think it is necessary to give a gift card for a lowkey care package, but if you know they are struggling financially or they have a favorite grocery store or clothing shop then it sounds like a great idea. You can utilize things like Groupon, Amazon home services for cleaning and home repairs, BlueApron or equivalent food prep boxes. I have heard that many people like those type of subscription boxes.

My personal favorite care package goodies are shared below. I would wrap a pretty scarf around a small bundle of goodies. And to make it all pretty, I would pin artificial flowers and a thoughtful card to the front.

HotHands Hand Warmers

[Nature's Approach Aromatherapy Neck Wrap Herbal Pack, Celestial Indigo] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027VH7GK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VuuYBbQY3GTYH)

Handcrafted Goat's Milk and Olive Oil Soap Bar with Attached Natural Organic Sea Sponge - Sweet Strawberry Scent

Tervis Sunflowers Tumbler

Power Thought Cards

But in terms of "adulting" you could give them Groupon vouchers for cooking classes or yoga/meditation. But if they are strapped for cash, I would definitely include a gift card to their local grocery store.

I buy the SOL blankets because they're only reflective on one side (so they don't reflect heat back in, just away), and they don't crinkle or tear the way regular mylar does. They fold up nice and compact so you can keep reusing them, I've had the same ones for a couple years. I keep them on my tent with binder clips. Two of these cover the entire top of my 4-person dome tent. The amazon description doesn't mention shade, but the packaging does specifically mention that as one of it's uses.

Ideally to stay cool, you want something that allows airflow between the shade and the tent, like a canopy... but for someone like me that often travels to fests, that often isn't possible, so this is kind of the next best thing since it's nice and compact. If you can bring a canopy, that's definitely better but... not always possible.

Just the shade really helps, it's like you can feel the temperature drop when the sun goes away. I've found that between this and a tent fan, I can get some sleep through the day. It's not a miracle worker by any means, but it's a big improvement over a sunny tent. I can literally put my hand up to the wall inside my tent and feel the heat radiating in where it's uncovered, while it's cool from under the shade.

Can't solve the air temperature, though.

I'm a college student, so I totally understand buying cheap stuff. Here are some of my personal finds.

I bought these cute rain boots for myself about a year ago, and they've held up well! They come in a lot of patterns; I have the argyle plaid just because I like plaid, but the polka dots are cute too. :)

I have this scarf in red. It's super warm and comes in multiple colors. :)

I'm pretty attached to my phone, so I have these gloves. I love the knitted pattern, and it's a must for me to still be able to do stuff on my phone while I have gloves on.

I have some heated purple slippers (battery operated) from Sears, and they're really nice since my floor is wood. I have my eye on these adorable slippers though because they're just so cute. I love food with cute faces on them. :D They're kinda pricy though.

Also, Hot Hands are a savior. I would buy them from Walmart or Target; it's cheaper, and you can get however many you want. These kept my hands warm when I was outside in freezing temperatures from midnight to 10 am!

Don't throw with gloves on. Put a nice warm insulated mitten (not a glove, mittens are FAR better for this) on your throwing hand. When it's time to throw, simply pull your throwing hand out of the mitten, throw, and then put your hand back in the mitten afterwards. If it's cold enough, stick one of these hand-warming packets inside your mitten and I guarantee that hand will be nice and toasty. Feel free to wear a glove on your non-throwing hand since you won't be constantly pulling that glove on and off. Why a mitten? Because they're just better insulated to start with, plus with a mitten you can ball your hand up inside the mitten to warm it faster. If you use a hand warmer packet inside the mitten you can grab onto it with your bare hand as well.

I played a round in the middle of Nebraska winter, when it was 18 degrees and windy, and my hand was actually so warm inside of the mitten with the warming packet that I had to pull it out occasionally even when I wasn't throwing just to keep it from sweating.

This is a scary situation. I would recommend involving law enforcement to the extent that you can, if you can do any more than you already have.

Besides that, first priority is perimeter hardening. Cameras may provide some deterrent but won’t protect you if someone comes for you. I know it’s a rental but maybe you could convince the landlord that these are upgrades done at your own expense. Or just don’t tell. Reinforced door jamb

Door Armor MAX - Complete Door Reinforcement Set For Jamb, Frame, Strike Plate - DIY Home Door Security - Aged Bronze https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E9ZGWH2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9J2FDbK66084S

Upgrade to steel door or similar if your door is not strong.

Add security film to the windows

BDF S4MC Window Film Security and Safety Clear 4 Mil (24in X 13ft) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FRLI2PC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_192FDbNYNR641

Next, I would also add a security system with door/window sensors that sets off a siren when triggered. There are many, Ring is a popular DIY currently

Ring Alarm 5 Piece Kit - Home Security System with optional 24/7 Professional Monitoring - No long-term contracts - Works with Alexa https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D7Q6CHB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rg3FDbYQSMX46

I would recommend paying for professional monitoring at least for a couple months so that it calls law enforcement for you

Next sleep with a pepper spray of your choice beside your bed. I like this one

SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Rp3FDbPZRWD5X

AFTER you have done these things, yes add a camera or two. Might provide some deterrent, might help you go after them if they do property damage. Wyze cams are cheap and decent. Will need an outdoor housing if installing outdoors.

Wyze Cam 1080p HD Indoor Wireless Smart Home Camera with Night Vision, 2-Way Audio, Person Detection, Works with Alexa & the Google Assistant https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076H3SRXG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3l3FDb2MGD3RM

Good luck, be safe

I went to Iceland this past February and took my Mavic Pro. Some tips I have for you are:

• Keep your batteries warm! The color temperature can really kill your battery life, or prevent the drone from turning on if the batteries are too cold. I put some of these hand warmers (https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Odorless-Activated/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=sr_1_3?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1536981832&sr=1-3&keywords=hand+warmers) into a sock and placed them next to my batteries in my backpack. They did wonders to keep things just warm enough to maintain charge, but didn't make me worried at all that the heat would damage the batteries or anything else in the bag.
  
• Be careful of the wind! The wind in Iceland can be super unpredictable, especially as you move over steep drops or cliffs. I saw someone lose their Phantom when they flew it up over a ledge (we were standing below a cliff). My best guess is the wind gust above the cliff was much stronger and took the drone in the opposite direction from where we were standing. He tried to throw it into sport mode (I think) and fly it back, but the wind was too strong up over the cliffside.
  
• Be prepared to bring your drone back from flight at a moments notice. Again, the weather is unpredictable and can change in minutes. I arrived at a landmark and it was bright/sunny with barely a cloud in sight. I took the drone up and no joke, ten minutes later it was full on snowing with sleet and the entire sky above me was overcast. Just be aware and be ready to bring the drone back when things change. In Iceland they say if you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes. This is 100% true of my experience in the winter.
  
• Be respectful to others. Icelanders are SUCH nice people. If there's a no drone sign I'd really encourage you to respectfully keep the drone in your bag and just enjoy the amazing scenery.

The tops of the MLD ultralight bivies are made from the same material as their quilt liner. The material is incredibly thin and light. You can read the text of their quilt liner page, where it says "Adds about 5 degrees to any sleep system." I have the bivy liner and I don't really count on it adding 5 degrees, it's more just something to have as a layer between my bare skin and the quilt, keep body oils from soiling the quilt.

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=169

So I would say the MLD ultralight bivy might add a few degrees of warmth, but I wouldn't really count on it for warmth at all. It's more just a lighter alternative to buying a bug nest for use under a tarp.

The SOL Escape Bivy is a lightweight solution to add 10 degrees, maybe for some people a bit more, to your sleep system. (Some people use it on its own as a sleeping bag down to, say, 50 degrees, seems like it would be a bit too cold for me, but with clothes I'm sure I could do it.) I have this SOL bivy and it would be way better choice to add warmth than the MLD ultralight bivy. You can do a web search for a lot of reviews/tests where people have endured fairly cold temps with it. It's not super-duper light, maybe 8-9oz, and it isn't super durable either. But light enough, durable enough, cheap enough, and works well enough that it's an interesting piece of gear.

Here's one review of SOL Escape Bivy on youtube. This guy uses it on its own as a sleeping bag, and uses it in colder temps than I think most people would want to (down to 32*), but gives you a good idea of what it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxFbGMjhHg4&t=104s


https://www.amazon.com/Survive-Outdoors-Longer-Escape-Bivvy/dp/B00EZEPCB4

(On Amazon link you can click to buy the orange color instead of green, which has sale price of $30, pretty darn good price for piece of equipment like this.)

If you're looking at outfitting a 72 hour kit first before building out into more standard preps, there are some low cost ways to get that done relatively quickly.

• Food: Go to Walmart. They have Mainstay 2400 bars for about $5 each. Each bar weighs about a pound, requires no water to prepare, lasts for up to 5 years, and is good in temperatures ranging from -40 degrees F to 300 degrees F. Throw each one in a gallon sized ziploc baggie as they are not individually wrapped. That's a day's worth of calories per bar, or two if you eat under your calorie requirements. Get three of them in the bag along with a few multivitamins and call food covered.
  
  
• Water: Pick up 2 flats of bottled water. That's like $3-$5 each. Drink from one of them, when that one empties, replace it and drink from the next oldest one. Your water will always be relatively new then, and a flat of water is more than you're going to carry on your back anyway. If you need to grab and go, you can do it easily. You'll also have excess water if you need to throw it in the car. Longer term, get yourself a Sawyer Water Filter. Stay away from Life Straws. The Sawyer allows you to refill bottles from contaminated sources and then filter them out into other bottles. This is critical for cooking and allowing movement away from water sources. The Life Straw does not do this. These are also available at Walmart for around $20.
  
  
• Self Defense: You have a Ka-Bar, so that's solid. Make sure you include a pocket knife of some sort, like the multitool that you mentioned or the swiss army knife (Multitool is the better add IMO), so that you're not hauling out a too-large-for-normal-life blade to do something trivial.
  
  
• Shelter: There are better options, but for staying cheap when getting started, grab some Mylar Blankets and maybe a Mylar Sleeping Bag. Both can be acquired inexpensively and give some options you might not have otherwise. The Mylar Blankets you should probably always keep around. Add some duct tape to the bag and they can make an easily constructable temporary shelter given a little resourcefulness.
  
  There. For less than $100, and maybe less than $50 depending on what you get or already have, your 72 hour kit will be at a base level, ready to get you out of the door. Of course first aid stuff is a smart call, and you can get as finely detailed and over packed as you like with a BOB, but as a base this will get you out and moving for a few days.
  
  As for what you already have... the Flint and Steel fire starter is alright I guess, but there's no reason to get needlessly complicated. Get a couple of $1 Bic's in there. If you actually have to use the bag you'll appreciate the simplicity. If you really want to help yourself out with getting a camp fire started, swab some cotton balls around in Vaseline and store them in an old pill bottle. They burn for 5 minutes on their own which is plenty of time to get a fire going and saves you from needing to put tinder together. You mention a small flashlight, but I'd recommend a good flashlight with two changes of batteries stored externally from the flashlight as well as a head lamp. Moving around in pure dark is no joke, so prep for that more seriously. I'm not sure what the chopsticks are for. If it's eating... something like this knife/spork combo will probably do better for you.
  
  For the rest of the wish list... the big questions are what are you preparing to run from, and where are you planning to run to? If you're bugging out, which should be the last possible option, then you're either fleeing something that is going to make staying at your present location unsafe or you're running away from a bad situation at home. I'd avoid planning on walking into the woods and planning on living there for a good while. If you had the skills to realistically do that well you wouldn't need advice from here. If you're fleeing home, it will almost guaranteed be toward another location where civilization is still present, so you'd want to be prepared for that. The hands down best prep you can toss in your bag at that point? Cash. The more of it you have stockpiled the more flexible you can be in reacting to situations. You'll also for sure want a spare phone charger in the backpack. If you know where you'll be heading in the event you have to run ahead of time then you can research the location a bit to find things like shelters, food banks, have a map/schedule of local public transportation, things like that.
  
  Not knowing the answers to those two big questions, the best general advice I can give you is this. Imagine the situation where you have to grab your pack and be out of the door in 5 minutes. Think through the journey toward your destination. Really get into the minute by minute, hour by hour. Imagine the pain points of that evacuation. Did it start out warm during the day but you're shivering at night? Did you get a random headache along the way? Maybe get a small cut or some bug bites? Are you hungry or thirsty? Is is raining? Are you bored? When you get where you're going are you just lost for next steps? Identify the pain points and plan to alleviate them with how you prepare.

Cheap and reliable is best for fire.

• Fire been sorted out for hundreds of thousands of years.
  
  Even more important when you need fire, sometimes you need it NOW! and delays, dead batteries etc are not okay.
  
  
• Get a combination of reusable fire starters like flint and steel or Fresnel lens (only daylight) and anytime fire (matches.)
  
  
• Get fire helpers like Magic biscuits, or saw dust and wax, or accelerates (like ether, gasoline, charcoal lighter fluid)
  
  
• Get an 8'5" x 11" frenzel lens. (for starting with sun light.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IITFX02/
  
  
• Matches
  
  
• birthday candles for kids / make your own fire starters from make-up remover pads and parifin wax. These are the best fire starter helpers you can have. (you can use crayon wax if you don't buy paraffin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCni8yLXR3w
  
  The only thing the above video fails to do is use a double boiler so what you want is to make a "cup" or the like with some tinfoil, put the wax in that, then set the cup into a pot of boiling water. In this way clean up is a breeze, whatever wax you don't use you can just wait to cool and harden and throw away with the tin foil.
  
  These "magic biscuits" style fire starters will stay dry forever, and you can "crack" them in half to expose cotton fibers for things like flint and steel starters or the focus point of your Fresnel lens, or a match. etc.
  
  

  Make use of the small fire you do start.
  

  
  

• Getting a flame is just the start. One of the VERY BEST things I've ever bought cost about 10 bucks. It was a collapsible tube used like a very long straw to blow air at a fire without having to have your face close enough to suck in a lot of smoke when you take a breath.
  
  Made in america version for $12 from amazon.
  
  Absolute cheapest version $4
  
  

  Skills
  

  
  Fire is great. You don't need to go out int he pouring rain to start a fire, but doing so once in a while will help. Same with the wind. Mostly you need to know how to build a stack of wood so that stuff burns. There are many ways to do this.
  
  

• most of the time building your fire (kindling and med sized wood.) before hand and then covering it with a tarp or plastic. is the best practice. Building on a slight hill or digging a trench around the fire area is also a good "prep" to do before hand.
  
  
• If you are going camping or want a few kits making easy to use fire starter kits from pine cones, dryer lint, wax, pop-sickle sticks, cardboard etc will help. Old pine wood scrap from two by fours or lumber mills or woodworker shops works well too. These are things you can make in your spare time, when it's dry and comfortable.
  
  

  Fire cups!
  

  
  

• Fast food cups that are the wax paper cups (down south and in warmer places use Styrofoam cups) are great for a kit. You can put Popsicle sticks, some matches, some magic biscuits (waxed cotton pads), some black paper (to better start with Fresnel lens / sunlight). Then you put the plastic lid on with a bit of tape over the straw hole and you have a "water proof" cup you can set out, and use when you see fit to start a fire.
  
  Edit corrected spelling.
  

Bag - I agree. I was a bit too short with my answer above. It was more to show that I did not care if it was military or civilian style.

Food - I have no real problem with anything. I just chose the bars to link because they seemed good on weight/calories. For 3 days in a row I figure I could choke down almost anything. Freeze dried is good in theory but I would rather have something I could eat on the go.

Tools - I was afraid someone would bring up the eating tool. It was the one piece I considered "gadgety" that I really liked the idea of so I cant argue.

Light - I was already considering dropping the first light so I agree there. The crank/solar light is also more for the radio and charging ability and a back up if the head lamp broke.

Clothing - There is about a 1 in 3 chance I will be wearing very little (since I sleep in the buff or just underwear) so the spare shirt and underwear were to reflect this.

Sleeping - I had not researched bivy sacks but I will be. It seems a good choice from first glance. I assume you mean something cheap like this. I could definitely see leaving the tarp out then.

Misc tools - Maybe... I do like that the twine can double as tinder. Especially after waxed to waterproof it. I dont know that I would want to burn paracord unless I absolutely had to.

Guns - This is more of a personal choice. I have several handguns but I was looking at something light and concealable I could keep in the bag. I felt the Glock 19 was not right for me while shopping around recently. The next one I buy will probably be the Shield despite the smaller magazine size because I could not get the Glock 19 to feel comfortable in my hands. Maybe the a gen 4 would feel better. I do seem to have a problem with gen 3s.

Thanks for the feedback. Especially the bivy sack. That looks like a great addition I had not seen before. I am also glad to see someone else packed a belt. I looked at dozens of posts here(and elsewhere) before making my list and I found only 1 that had a belt.

> I live in Michigan, in an area where -40 windchill isn't uncommon, and -20F is just average winter.

Are you in the UP? I'm in lower Michigan. I grew up in Northern lower Michigan. I'm now in West Michigan. I got pink insulation board and cut it to size for each of my windows and it works great. Just cut it so it fits snugly.

> In the case that it does, what are the most efficient blankets to use?

Wool. Or put a tough emergency blanket with a mylar layer under the wool layer. Sew them together if you can. Don't use the cheap thin myler blankets, they aren't worth anything. Get wool blankets at surplus stores online. Giant wool blanket $24.

> Wool is a good choice as well, but wool is also dry clean only.

Then make a cotton shell and clean the shell in your washer.

> Are some blankets about the same as others, but better to buy in bulk/cheaper?

I haven't seen thick blankets in Michigan stores in 10-15 years. Fluffy comforters? Yes. Thick blankets? No. Everyone seems to be selling super thin "fleece" blankets.

> Are sleeping bags (individual) a better choice?

Yes. Get ones designed for weather at 0F. I used them for camping outdoors in the winter with the Boy Scouts. Then if you are still cold (in a sleeping bag in your apartment) throw in a disposable heater for $1. They last 8 hours.

> That said - anyone have a good schematic for a DIY storage bed,

Just make sliding drawers, one big one or two smaller ones, that fit under the bed. I bought one just like this at the store.

• Keep one of these in your pocket, and always keep your hand in your pocket with it.
  
  
• Or get the much more bad ass Zippo version. It's more expensive up front, but after the initial purchase, the price drops dramatically. This are also warmer than a Hot Hands.
  
  
• There is a guy around here that makes this Mitten thing that is open on one end. It's hard to explain. It is a sheep skin mitten with an open end. You wear it on your left hand all the time, and when you are walking or standing around, you put your right hand in the front of it to warm it up. Kind of like a quarter back hand warmer, except you wear it on your left hand. The best part is that is has a thumb, so you can still use your left hand to pick up your bag or hold a disc. I have seen them sold at D-Town Disc Golf in Doylestown PA, and I think he sells them out of his trunk at tournaments, but I don't know if he has an online store or anything.

• These giro winterproof shoe covers have been lifesavers when I want to wear normal shoes/non-boots. I just wear them with my gym shoes and platform pedals and they work fine. They're not waterproof, but they're water-resistant enough and warm. I've found they're good enough that my shoes keep totally dry in snowfall. Just don't try except them to stave off heavy rain
  
• champion base layers from Target keep my legs just warm enough. I don't even wear the thermals, but I'm sure they'd be great
  
• Topside's helmet light is bi-directional (front and back) and really bright with steady and blinking modes. I find it's handy to have a light this high up when visibility is tough in winter
  
• Showerpass waterproof socks are fantastic if you think your shoes are going to get soaked. I've had days where my shoes are drenched from the rain but these keep my feet dry. The only downside is they get a bit clammy if your shoes are soaked
  
  I typically adjust my helmet so I can just put my hoodie or a normal winter hat under it, which keeps me pretty warm on my ears and head. Barring that, a balaclava is nice too
  
  I have yet to find gloves that are good enough to keep my hands from freezing so I often take the time at lights to rub my hands together. I really want to try out Bar Mitts or similar "pogies". I keep Hot Hands in my backpack in case of emergencies
  
  I've found that cheap light waterproof non-breathable jackets can be helpful because they're thin and really trap heat. Most rain shells are breathable so they don't suffocate you in warmer weather, but I've found that the crappy non-breathable ones are great for winter for that same reason. I can go with just a sweatshirt and one of those and I'm usually sweating by the end in freezing temps. The only problem is I have to keep moving. It's useless if my body's not doing work to keep the heat building up, which is problematic if you may get stuck somewhere remote.
  
  I want some clear glasses as well, for windy/snowy days when the precipitation stings my eyes. I think something like these would probably do the trick. REI sells, Tifosi, a brand of bike glasses, but I think these would be overkill for me

A few of my own:

• Expanding on /u/mc2222's field battery idea:
  
  A great many things...including things you might not otherwise think of...can be powered by a 12V DC power source, such as a car battery.
  
  Swing by Wal-Mart, and check out the Deep Cycle "marine" batteries. They're pretty low quality for marine needs, but they're perfect for ours. Even a mere 50AH of capacity will be PLENTY for what we do. You can pick one up for $40-$80 depending on size/capacity.
  
  Next, look for or build some sort of distribution panel/box/etc. It can be as fancy or plain as you want. All you're after is some central point so you can plug in all this stuff you never knew could be powered off 12V. Personally, I use this guy but there's lots of other methods of doing this.
  
  Now...there's all the obvious things you can power with it. Most motorized mounts, for example, plug right into the car lighter outlet. You can, of course, clip that connector and put some other connector (like the banana plugs my unit takes) on if you wish. But for these items, no further mods are necessary. Dew heaters and camera coolers are other common 12V devices.
  
  Now here's where we get cute...Got a DSLR? It probably has an AC Power Adapter available for it, right? Take a close look at the specs for it...you'll see that while its INPUT is 120VAC (plugs into a wall) it's OUTPUT is plain ole DC...PROBABLY 7.2V or so (a 2 cell LiPo, for the record). Grab yourself a little adjustable step down gadget, cut the cable on the CAMERA side of the converter that's inline, and just use the handy battery adapter piece. Solder it up to the output side of your step down supply, solder up some wires on the input side, set it to 7.2 (or whatever) output, and poof...12V power for your camera. :)
  
  You'll find there's a zillion devices that "plug into the wall", but if you check their OUTPUT, it's 12V DC (or less)...and thus, you can use this method to power them in the field off your field battery. :)
  
  
• Hand Warmers : Not only good for keeping hands toasty on cold imaging nights, but useful for keeping your guide scope or camera lens warmer to help ward off dew/frost.
  
  
• HobbyPartz (among many others, but these guys are amongst the cheapest I've found) has these slick Red LED strips that can be powered by as little as 3V, or up to 12V. They use insanely low amounts of power, so even a small battery pack will power them all night.
  
  What good are they? Well...they're adhesive on the back, AND you can cut them to your desired length, and solder new lead wires onto each strip. Viola...you've got night-vision safe lighting for your laptop, your telescope, your field table..whatever! They serve both to illuminate your work area, AND mark your equipment for others' safety.
  
  

I saw your reply to u/vedsten. Your friends should be understanding if you have to sit out for a little bit because of the heat. That's what friends are for. I went to see The NBHD a couple summers back and my friends and I got SUPER close to the stage. However, I couldn't take the heat like I used to. I told them I'd go stand in the back and meet them later. They came and stood with me, sat with me when I needed to sit... it was still a fun night. Your friends will probably surprise you, especially if you talk to them about your fears beforehand.

You can still do the things you love, you just may have to adjust a little bit. Will you still dance all night? Maybe you still can. Maybe not. Take care of yourself first. Never give up something you love for fear of what others are going to think.

Hydrate. Also, look into getting some cooling scarves. You could wear it while you're out and that might help keep you cooler while you're enjoying the show! Something like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Ergodyne-Chill-Its%C2%AE-6602-Evaporative-Cooling/dp/B001B5I57I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464378214&sr=8-1&keywords=cooling+neck+scarf

For the rehydration salts... I use RecoverORS. It's expensive for what it is.. but also the best I have found. More hydrating than even Pedialyte and more electrolytes than that and Gatorade or any sports drinks.

The SOL Bivvy weighs only 3.5 oz and packs pretty small. It looks bigger in pics then it is.

My favorite energy bars are Soldier Fuel - 3 year shelf life, ideal balance of protein, fat and carbs, give you TONS of energy, and also some of the best tasting out of all the energy bars (aside from maybe Clif, but those only have like a 6 month shelf life). They were designed originally for soldiers on the field that needed a quick boost (previously HOOAH bars), so you know they are loaded with nutrients, more so than the average bar.. and field tested by soldiers. They also have peanut butter flavor but I'm crazy for the chocolate. I have a problem saving them in my survival packs because I end up eating them as snacks. It's good they come by the case :). But then it's a good idea to actually LIKE the food you put in your survival kits. Nothing like food comfort in a bad situation. It's the little things.

Like I can suffer pretty bad from low blood sugar crashes. One of those things will keep me going for hours.

I mean no disrespect, but I also tend to be rather blunt: There is a lot of work that needs to be done to this bag. It seems really thrown together, out of an amalgamation of random stuff that's vaguely "outdoorsy".

Firstly, the bag itself. There's probably a reason it was in the trash, and my suspicion is that it wasn't because it was well built, durable, and comfortable. Good bags can be had for not much money and there are definitely used options on Craigslist and at outdoor store garage sales if you're on a shoestring budget. Your bag has to be able to take the abuse of multiple days and many miles of rucking.

FOUR knives? And they are all folders to boot? And you're trying to tell me this isn't "bloated"? Come on. Get one good multitool like a Leatherman, or keep the Gerber if you must (you don't need 87 bits for your Gerber in the woods, either). Maaaybe carry a fixed blade, too, if you really think you'll be needing it.

Mess kit: That looks bulky as hell, and aluminum has an incredibly low melting point (something like ~1200F) which is easily attainable in a mature fire. Hello melted mess kit. If you are really just bugging out you shouldn't need to cook anything. Calorie dense food bars, jerky, nuts etc. should be sufficient. Get a super small mess kit like this amazing one from GSI Outdoor and use this very cheap but decent backpacking stove and you have a lightweight, highly functional way to cook, boil water, and drink for under $25.

Blade sharpener? If you somehow manage to dull all four of your knives in a few days you're doing something wrong. Save the blade sharpener for the Zombies-Are-Attacking INCH bag or whatever.

Sunscreen and bug repellent are both great. that said, you are carrying almost as much sunscreen as you are water. Embellishing, of course, but that's a fucking lot of sunscreen.

I would also seriously work on flushing out that medical kit. If you don't have much first aid training, that's fine (though you should get some) but a basic boo-boo kit will be really functional. Gauze, small band-aids, some medium sized non-stick pads, alcohol wipes, burn cream and/or antibiotic cream, tweezers, rubber gloves, pain relievers, anti-diarrheals, generic antihistamines (for regular allergies and allergic reactions), etc. etc. Avoid pre-built medical kits and avoid things you don't know how to use.

The MSR filter is actually fantastic, can't fault you there. That said, something like a Sawyer Mini would be a fair bit lighter, and has integral water storage should you need more.

Metal water bottle: Looks like a thermos, which is great for keeping your coffee warm on the way to work but is single-use and heavy in the backwoods. I'd suggest changing it out for a widemouth single-walled metal container like those from Klean Kanteen because now not only do you have a way to store water, but you also have a way to boil it! And you can cook in it if absolutely necessary. And you can fill it up with hot water and add it to your sleeping bag to stay warm.

Wait...where is your sleeping bag? I know you mentioned having some miscellaneous camping gear in your car, but what if you need to abandon your car? Look at even a simple bivy sack like this one from SOL. Coupled with a lightweight tarp and you have a functional survival sleep system. Throw in a small inflatable pad for insulation from the ground and you can survive in all but the most inclement of weather.

Lose the rat traps and 200(!!!) fishing hooks in exchange for calorie dense food bars and other foods that need little or no preparation. Try to stay above 130 calories/gram and pay attention to things that are high in protein, fiber, and fat. You're bugging out, remember? Not sitting around camp all day with a cold one and your rod in the lake.

Substitute your few cheap (read: heavy and unreliable) flashlights for one good one. Something like a Four Sevens Quark AA2 or something from Fenix, Nitecore, or Olight. It will be reliable, well built, and powered by an efficient driver to produce multiple modes of light and provide for good run time. Get something that takes standard AA or AAA batteries. Avoid CR123As.

Noticeably lacking are things like a map and firestarters. You mentioned a ferrocerium rod. Instead of spending $7.00 on a decent one of those, get three BIC lighters and a pack of waterproof matches in a container. And save a couple bucks in the process. Ever started a fire with a ferro rod? It sucks. I've done it. I do it for fun and honing my skills occasionally. But a simple ass BIC will work 100 times better in almost any situation.

Add a high quality, water resistant topographical map of your region. Do you know how to use that compass? I'm not talking about pointing it north, but for things like triangulation or magnetic declination or navigating to a point on your map by finding a bearing. There are tons of Youtube videos out there that will help you in understanding these techniques if you don't already. A compass by itself is near useless.

How about things that you're more likely to encounter?

Throw in a charger for your phone, or maybe one of those $5 burner flip phones and a $10 minutes card in case yours dies. Take the battery out (should be removable on a cheap pay-as-you-go bog standard phone) and write important numbers on the inside.

How about wiping your ass? Go to your nearest Walmart and hit the toiletries section. You'll find bins of $1.00 miniature travel accessories. I'd recommend a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant bar, personal wet wipes (preferably biodegradable), Chapstick, and some baby powder or Gold Bond. Throw it all in a gallon Ziplock or a small pouch. Now you can survive in the woods AND survive overnight a friend's house after you get too drunk and can't drive.

I see nothing for cold weather gear. I know it's summer but depending on where you are night time can still be cold as hell. Add a beanie, wool gloves, a fleece underlayer, a poncho or rainproof hard shell jacket, and a change of GOOD wool socks.


Lose the 9 million feet of paracord. 50ft should be plenty sufficient (if that) especially considering the inner strands are strong enough for most applications.

I think that covers all my major gripes. Back to drinking and being an ass.

I guess Imgur isn't so friendly on links so I'll put them here as well:

1. GoRuck Echo, Black :: http://www.goruck.com/echo-black-rucksack/p/GEAR-000064
   
2. Morale Patch, "Regular Guy" :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014N0NK7M
   
3. MOLLE Grimloc caribiner, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LEEAMXA
   
4. Jogalite Reflective Band, White :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KGATL4
   
   ***
   
   
5. Batman button :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00273934C22
   
6. GoRuck Sternum Strap, Black :: http://www.goruck.com/molle-sternum-strap-black-/p/GEAR-0001023
   
7. Sharpie, Fine, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IFHD/
   
8. MOLLE Web Dominator, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LEEAMXA
   
   ***
   
   
9. Dell Inspiron 13" 7000 :: http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/productdetails/inspiron-13-7378-2-in-1-laptop/dncwsab5104h2
   
   ***
   
   
10. GoRuck Padded Field Pocket, Echo, Black :: http://www.goruck.com/padded-field-pocket-echo-black-/p/GEAR-000368
    
11. SanDisk Ultra Fit 3.0 flashdrive, 32G (x2) :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LLER2CS
    
12. Sea to Summit Dry Sack, Small (4L), Green :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001Q3KKCS
    
13. Rowkin Bit wireless earbuds, Space Gray :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KBQ6GQ4
    
14. Kindle Paperwhite, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OQVZDJM6. MOLLE Grimloc caribiner, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LEEAMXA
    
15. Dell AC Adapter, 45W, 19.5V (came with laptop) :: http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/productdetails/inspiron-13-7378-2-in-1-laptop/dncwsab5104h2
    
16. Building/server card keys, varied
    
17. Building/server room keys, varied
    
18. REV battery, 4,000mAh :: who knows
    
19. Anker PowerCore battery, 10,000mAh :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0194WDVHI
    
20. Tzumi PocketJuice Endurace battery, 6,000mAh :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TXBHT7Y
    
21. USB to Lightning cable, 4" :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/B010U3XJNG
    
22. USB to Micro-B cable, 4" :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YKX6WM
    
23. StarTech USB Ethernet adapter :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0095EFXMC
    
24. VanQuest FATPACK Gen2, 4x6, Black :: http://shop.skinnymedic.com/FATPack-4x6-Black-Gen-2-Bag-Only-fatpacksmallblk.htm
    
    ***
    
    
25. Uni-Ball Signo 207, Fine, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005HNZ5SW/
    
26. BIC Roundstic, Medium, Blue :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010DS4DK6
    
27. Sharpie, Fine, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IFHD
    
28. Toothpaste, travel :: Grocery stores
    
29. Toothbrush, travel :: Grocery stores
    
30. Contact lense case :: Grocery stores
    
31. SKYN condom, Original :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004TTXA7I
    
32. Renu soft lense solution :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016IZ4BO69
    
33. Planters NUTrition, Wholesome Mix :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C37SX70
    
34. Nail clippers, large :: Grocery stores
    
35. LARABAR, Cashew Cookie :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NMDY38
    
36. Visine for contacts :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00099E9D6
    
37. Advil, 200mg :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ZCT1M2
    
    ***
    
    
38. North American Rescue Compressed Gauze, 4.5" x 4.1 yard :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ED3H778
    
39. North American Rescue Pressure Bandage, 6" :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7OCCNC
    
40. North American Rescue Bear Claw gloves, Nitrile, Large :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L9W7T1A
    
41. Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA) Tube, 28Fr :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003950R2E
    
42. Sharpie, Fine, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IFHD
    
43. Benchmade 7 :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013QVC1Q
    
44. Mylar blanket :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007IYIYFE/
    
45. North American Rescue Compact HyFin Vent (x2) :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K533FB2
    
46. Alcohol prep pad :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MEE2MHK
    
47. North American Rescue CAT (tourniquet), 7th Generation :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LCJCBTA
    
    ***
    
    
48. Stealth Gear USA Ventcore, Appendix :: http://stealthgearusa.com/holsters.html
    
49. Kershaw Shuffle II :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TAD2P8S
    
50. Cardstack Slim Wallet :: https://www.etsy.com/listing/247503194
    
51. LAMY Al-Star, Graphite, Fine, Blue :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R309UQ
    
52. Field Notes, Graph :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006CQT2KU
    
53. Timex Weekender, original Blue/Gray stripe replaced with standard 20mm leather NATO strap :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VR9HP2, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012UTRAFG
    
54. Springfield Armory XD Mod.2 Sub-Compact, 3", 9mm, FDE :: http://www.springfield-armory.com/products/xd-mod-2-3-sub-compact-9mm/
    
55. Verizon iPhone 7 Plus, 128G, Black :: https://www.verizonwireless.com/smartphones/apple-iphone-7-plus
    8+. Otterbox SYMMETRY, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K6PBSK4
    
56. Xikar Allume Single, Black :: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KYK11W2
    
57. Lightning to 3.5mm adapter :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXJFMGF
    
58. Chapstick Classic, Medicated :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AIECQG
    
59. Transcend JetFlash, 128G :: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKATVM4
    
60. Car, House keys
    
61. SanDisk Cruzer, 32G :: Who knows

Replying to my own comment with some purchasing recommendations:


2. Next level folding chair. The locking feature is sick, most comfortable camp chair I've owned.

My goto folding table. I've got a bigger 8 foot one if I'm camping with a big group but this small one is perfect for 1-4 people.

3. Highly recommend this charger. Will charge a typical iPhone like 5 times and has QC 3.0 built in (quick charge, which is a nice feature at a festival). Currently on sale for $40 if you clip the coupon, I've seen it as low as $30, they'll probably go on sale for black Friday and Christmas too.

5. Bring a box of these babies and if it gets cold, you've suddenly made like 40 friends.

6. Something like this is a good choice for makeup. In case you have to go back to camp and freshen up, the light is a nice touch.

• For PIO - I got these little hand warmers. Then when I don't have time to sit on a hot pack after the PIO in the morning I can pop one of these in my pocket and go on my way. It also worries me less post-transfer when I don't want to heat up too much.
  
  
• I started wearing cloth pads/liners. My periods have always been super light so I generally can't wear tampons. During my stim cycles I had a lot of cervical mucus and wearing pantyliner all of the time was so uncomfortable. These are much better!! I haven't done suppositories, but I assume that they would be better for that as well. I got this idea from someone on this board and thought it was dumb but was willing to try it anyway. They are amazing!
  
  
• Arnica for bruises, especially the ones I get from repeat blood draws. It really helps the bruising to dissipate - I always get the blood draw from the same place and it really starts to hurt.
  
  
• I paid the extra $2.99 or whatever it is a month to have Visual Voice Mail on my cell phone. I don't have a job where I can answer my phone whenever the clinic calls and it stresses me out to not be able to talk to them or listen to the voice mail. But with the VVM I can read the message and get the gist of what's going on. It's not perfect (it doesn't get my doc's name right or 'blastocyst'...a few other things), but it's good enough. At least then I know right away whether things are OK or if there's a problem.
  
  
• I bake cookies for my clinic. I go to a satellite clinic, and on the last day that I see my RE before retrieval/transfer I bring her a plate of homemade cookies, and then I bring a plate on retrieval/transfer day to the main clinic. I find that a) it's good to feed the people who stick you with things and b) they remember it. I only see those nurses at the main clinic for procedures but they know my name and go out of their way to help out...which ended up being super important on my 4th retrieval. It's a little thing, but they all really appreciate it. Apparently this isn't super common, and I think it should be...they do so much, they can have cookies. You are all welcome to this hack as long as you don't see MY RE at MY clinic...that's my thing and she knows it!

Some camping supplies that I found to be HIGHLY valuable.


These things are not cheap but made everything way easier and you’ll have both hands free:

Black Diamond Spot Headlamp, Octane, One Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06W9HPY25/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_S7C3Cb7FKT5K6



These were one of my “bring things to give out” items ... super cheap lifesavers that can tend to make people call you a “hero”.

Primacare HB-10 Emergency Foil Mylar Thermal Blanket (Pack of 10), 52" Length x 84" Width https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DZ1NFSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_b.C3CbABFC3Q8


Another “bring things to give out” things ... you wont believe it but you will NOT NEED TO SHOWER ALL WEEKEND. These rock.

No Rinse Bathing Wipes, Microwaveable Hypoallergenic and Latex-Free (5 pack) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CBKLSF8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_HeD3Cb0XAQ5QY


I wish I had brought more breakfast food (I brought bacon, sausage, milk, coffee and pop-tarts). I kinda felt like an asshole while I was eating like a king right in front of all of my new friends, lesson learned. :)

This cooling towel was a life saver this summer. I haven't been able to afford a cooling vest yet, but I'm amazed at how effective this thing is. Just soak it in cool water and wrap it around your neck. I was able to get a lot more done this summer because of it.

By the way, I absolutely love this thread. Such a great idea for a post, and the comments have been very helpful.

Every single person, especially a living-alone female (and/or someone without a gun and trained) should have at the very least a large pepper spray can (not the tiny key chain model, but definitely have that on your key chain) in their home.

Ideally two of these: one by the bed and one in the living room (wherever you spend most of time while awake).

$40 ($80 for two) that may save your life.

This is the best in my opinion:
SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002368VJ6?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Of course, a lethal option is also best, but training along with it is crucial.

Also, a metal or ‘solid core door’ for your front door and bedroom. It will help / make it much harder for someone to get to you at night (and lock it at night). Couple that with replacing all of the screws for those doors with 3” screws and you have seriously helped your security setup.

Oh, and an alarm system...and swap out the cats for a dog ; )

Hey bud i like your little starting set up v tidy. But, like the others have said cardboard is rather flammable .

Maybe a 35/50 gallon plastic container might suite as a better containment solution.

35 Gal. Container:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sterilite-Latching-35-gal-Storage-Tote-in-Lapis-Blue-19451004/202097355

50 Gal. Container:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-50-Gal-189-L-Tote-Box-Titanium/15940602

Also instead of tin foil you can go to the dollar store and pick up an emergency blanket which is made out of mylar it is a much more thermally efficient material and way more reflective while still cost effective.

Emergency blanket/Mylar sheets:
Primacare HB-10 Emergency Foil Mylar Thermal Blanket (Pack of 10), 52" Length x 84" Width https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DZ1NFSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_s7UaBb7RNNG5W


When i did my first grow i used tinfoil too and i was told the emergency blanket (mylar) was the way to go. Also those reflectors for car windscreens work as well if you have one laying around. Pretty sure they’re made outta mylar too.

Good luck and happy growing 🤙🤙

Yay! I always look forward to this thread. Here are some of my go to gifts:

• S'well water bottles or tumblers. I know they're overpriced BUT they do keep my water ice cold all day and I think the new tumblers and travellers are really cute.
  
• Zippo hand warmers. I live in Ottawa so these really help for when I'm at the dog park or whatever, I have two that I keep in my coat pockets to keep my hands warm.
  
• Baggu shopping bags. I have like 6 of these and always get complimented on the cute patterns. They make grocery shopping a bit more fun.
  
• Fun socks. I can't be the only person who loves goofy socks right?
  
• Ugg Slippers. So comfortable and have lasted me years.
  
• Fossil Hybrid Watch. I’ve wanted something like this for a while but just found out they existed. It has all the features of a smart watch but with just a normal watch face.
  
• Roots sweatpants and hoodies. Really good quality sweats and they last forever.
  
  
  
  I'll add more as I think of them!

http://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Pair-Value/dp/B00D7H9LIA/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1406786257&sr=1-1&keywords=hand+warmer

Im sure any handwarmer will do but here is an example. You can also get the foot warmers which are nice because one side is sticky. When I did it I would get the urine right before I head to the test and then stick a handwarmer onto the bottle immediately to keep it warm. Im not a 100% sure about this but im guessing there is a range that the temperature needs to be, probably somewhere between 80-120 degrees Fahrenheit, I never had a problem with it being too warm but I did have a friend that was using the same method and his turned out too cold, I think its because he got the urine too early. The goal of the handwarmers is just to maintain the heat that is already there not actually warm the urine. Good luck, hope everything works out for you!

Snowboard clothing is overkill unless you plan on staying through a winter storm. Just remember: cotton kills and wool is your friend. If nothing else get yourself a pack of wool socks and some wool underwear and then wear your normal clothes over those. The coldest I've seen Yosemite get to (in the last ~7 years of visiting every winter) was about 30F in the day and ~0-10F at night (really easy to manage). A good wool hat also helps for staying warm at night.

I'm jealous; I just moved from SLO to Oregon and won't be able to do my normal yearly winter Yosemite trip :( I'll miss wandering around in a kilt and tshirt when it's 30F and making everybody think I'm insane, but I can give some misc advice on Yosemite winter camping:

• Bring snow chains appropriate for your car. Even if the road is clear up into the park it's not guaranteed to be de-iced the entire stretch into the valley, and for most of winter the park rangers will deny you entry if you say you don't have chains even if the road is clear. There's stores not far out of the park that sell them but they're far more expensive than your local car parts store.
  
• Use the bear boxes for all food, deodorant, hair spray, tooth paste, and anything with a scent you could imagine a pet animal trying to consume against all logic because the bears, coyotes, and racoons will try and are much larger and smarter (and I have watched them all try).
  
• Last time I was there sleeping in your vehicle was verboten. I'm not sure on the exact reason why, but I think it's because bears are known to break into (and ruin in the process) cars while looking for food. You're safer outside the car than in it.
  
• Good sleeping bags are great but don't forget to put an insulating layer between yourself and the ground. Air mattresses are okay but suck for temperature control; one of those thin roll-out insulating pads are seemingly worthless but great for staying warm through the night.
  
• For $25 you can get 40 chemical handwarmers -- activate two or three (or four if you're cold) at night and toss them into the bottom of your sleeping bag to stay warm at night. Wear a shirt with chest pockets and put another two there, then get a wool beanie and slip another one between it and your head (if there's a blizzard...)
  
• Don't go to bed wearing wet (including sweat) clothes! It will cool through the night and wisk away your body heat. Before going to bed change into a fresh suit of dry clothing.

They're expensive but I absolutely love my Lake winter boots. Got them used on eBay about 5 years ago for $180 in excellent condition. For gloves I use Pearl Izumi lobster gloves.

I've always had cold hands and feet and sometimes even the above isn't enough. When it's really cold I put Hot Hand hand warmers in my gloves, against the palm/base of fingers, and in my boots on top of my toes. They are very toasty.

Tip: The Hot Hands last quite a while and are still useable after a ride. They heat up with air contact so when I finish my ride I put the Hot Hands in a plastic bag and squeeze out as much air as possible. They can't stay in the bag forever but will stay in limbo for a few days. I've used one pair on three different rides. Another trick is that they get hotter the more you shake the package so the first time I only shake it a bit. That way I can be sure they'll be good for another ride.

The general dangers of running at high elevation notwithstanding, just speaking from a gear perspective:

If you're willing to spend some money you can put together a really lightweight kit that'd be sufficient for an unplanned overnight in reasonably wmnf-bad conditions. You'd need more than a vest to carry it, but there are some nice fastpacks at 20-30L that would be runnable (Osprey Rev series, Six Moon Designs Flight). I'd put together something like the following, but there are many other options.

A solid, but small shelter that can withstand reasonable wind like the MLD Solomid ~1-1.5lb w/ a (trekking or otherwise) pole ~$500

An Emergency Blanket / Ground Sheet ~3oz $6

A very warm quilt like the EE Revelation 0F Short/Slim (for survival, not comfort) 950fill ~24oz $425 You could probably get away with a less warm quilt, but even at 0 degrees the 950fill will compact enough to fit in a smaller fastpack.

A light down jacket like the Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer ~8oz $200-$300

Now you're at around 4lbs with a shelter that can handle some wind and snow loads, a 0 degree quilt, a decent jacket, and a general purpose groundsheet/extra blanket. This isn't a complete list obviously, and I wouldn't generally suggest super ultralight gear for winter backpacking... but it can be a great addition to a winter daypack kit for unplanned nights out.

I seem to suffer from cold hands a lot, so here's a few tips which may be obvious but are worth mentioning:

• When your body gets cold it focuses on keeping warm blood to the core, drawing heat from the extremities. If you are cold your hands and feet will feel the effects first. Clothing traps warm air produced by your body and will help prevent your overall body temperature from dropping, so layer up properly to stop heat loss in your hands.
  
  
• One of the better places to warm up your hands a little is under your armpits. You can do this without removing clothing/putting cold hands on skin which is an advantage.
  
  
• Hold a hot drink in your hands. The liquid and the heated mug will warm you up.
  
  
• You can also hold a loose fist and blow warm air into your hand to help a little. Obviously placing your hands near a fire or radiator will help to. I've heard that rubbing your hands together does not nothing but generate friction on the surface of the skin. Straightening and closing your hands in rapid succession is supposed to be more effective as it increases blood flow.
  
  
• Wearing layered clothing but still cold? Do some push ups/burpees/run around etc to build up and trap more body heat between the layers.
  
  
• You could consider using artificial means of generating heat such as hand warmers or heated gloves.

/r/Hammocks
/r/hammockcamping

I have 2 hammocks, a Grand Trunk Skeeter Beater for camping, and an ultralight one that stays in my backpack/bob. The Skeeter Beater is definitely more comfortable, but takes longer to set up (due to the ridgeline that holds up the bugnet).

The cheap one is good for naps or hanging out at work. I'd spend a night in it if I had to. Mostly in my bag for napping though. I also have an inflatable hiking pillow that works really well.

There are many shortcomings to hammocks though. You have to find somewhere to hang them, which sounds easy but can be hard sometimes. You get a cold butt without really warm temperatures (or an underquilt, or a sleeping bag). It takes a night or two to get used to sleeping in one, but holy hell is it better than the ground! You also need a rain-fly if it's going to be wet (which is a whole 'nother bag).

They're also useful for keeping the creepy crawlies off you.

I wouldn't use it for a primary long-term arrangement, but with proper planning they can make an effective system. 9 times out of 10 I'll reach for the hammock while loading up for a backpacking trip, and like I said I do carry one with me pretty much everywhere I go.

Another option to look into for BOB's/GHB's are simple Bivvy Bags. Smaller/lighter than a sleeping bag or hammock system, but still provide protection from the elements. Not great for sleeping in, but much better for surviving.

I made the mistake of subscribing to monthly camping box. The previous month's box looked awesome and came with a camping pillow (something I needed) and a bunch of other stuff for $25 so I signed up with the intention of getting one and canceling. I ended up with three months of the box before I was able to get the cancel function on the site to work. The second box I got came with pocket bellows.

When everything is damp and we're car camping we often used a lid from a tote box or an empty cardboard box to fan the fire but now we have this little thing and it works amazingly. It gets a lot of condensation in it by the end of the night but it's fun to use if you get past the spit. It's great for backpacking too and it's got a nice little carrying case so you don't have to worry about it getting bent in your pack. It's simple, it works. I love this stupid little thing.

I totally feel ya bro. I had a similar situation a number of years ago, though the ex bf wasn't a muslim, he was still a crazy. Buy a large Sabre pepper spray: https://www.amazon.com/SABRE-Red-Pepper-Gel-Strength/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493906371&sr=8-1&keywords=large+pepper+spray

and keep a firearm nearby. Buy some rubber bullets and keep the first 2 rounds loaded as less-lethal and the rest HP or self-defense oriented, it will help in a trial determination.

Also, regardless of this situation, but especially important in lieu of; buy a door reinforcement kit. Something that wraps around the door frame at the lock/jamb interface, such as: https://www.amazon.com/Prime-Line-Products-9590-Reinforcer-Stainless/dp/B005H3AN7A/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1493906690&sr=8-13&keywords=door+reinforcement

and install 3in screws at the latch, as well as at the hinges.

Your a good man for helping a woman in distress, but considering the risk you are taking, and in-order to protect her effectively you need to be 100% in charge of things. It's your way, or the high-way. She needs to comply with whatever provisions you deem necessary.

Best of luck

I love being in Florida for the winter. But trust me, we have weather problems here during the summer. The last thing you want to do is hike around in the humidity for too long.


Have you tried using hand warmers that go in your gloves? They are often found on the counters at stores like Walmart and Walgreens. Also any sporting goods store carries them for hunters and other people who do activities outdoors. They are pretty cheap since they are disposable. I pick them up during our cold snaps to hand out to the homeless. The portable, non disposable was mentioned as well, and amazon has a ton of those. Here's the link to the disposable.

Fans that small are generally VERY LOUD because they have to spin at a much higher RPM to generate air flow. So while it may keep your PSVR from fogging up, you probably won't be able to keep the sound from leaking to your ears.

As someone who has been snowbaording for years, i solved the PSVR fogging up the same way I do for my snowboard goggles. Warm it up before I use it to equalize the temperature of the goggles and my head. I usually do this by placing it within my jacket before I start my first run and anytime I take them off. With the PSVR, I do something different but the concept is the same.

I kept the PSVR box since it was already lined with foam and helps to retain some heat.

https://www.amazon.com/Hand-Warmers-HotSnapZ-Reusable-Pocket/dp/B004CV2YXE

With reusable hand warmers, I activate it, place it in the box on top of the PSVR HMD part and leave it for about 10 minutes. The hand warmer warms up with HMD where it's lightly warm but never hot since the warmers themselves never get hot enough to cause any pain anyway.

Never had fogging issues even here now in the PNW where it's getting a lot colder and more humid.

I live in Florida so I have very different thermal requirements than you do. My coldest winter camping only gets down to the mid 40s at night. That being said, I feel like using a quilt is closer to using a comforter in your bed than a sleeping bag is. The foot box largely keeps it in place when I change positions at night. As for the pad, odds are good that whatever pad you have now will suffice. Remember your sleeping bag is probably not providing any insulation on the bottom currently. So if the crappy foam pad you have now has a high enough R rating you would likely be fine with a quilt. The only concern is how it might feel on your skin if you don't cover it with something. Foam on skin is kinda bleh.

If you find you're cold a lot, here's a few things I've picked up over the years. To start off, the standard beginner camper stuff. Make sure you're wearing proper camping clothing in layers. Avoid cotton at all costs, you want polyester. If you don't already own UnderArmor type stuff I highly recommend getting some. I recently bought some other brand (Adidas I think?) at Ross for $20 for a pants and shirt set. I generally do not wear these during the day but wear them as pajamas at night when it's cold, adding more layers if need be. Speaking of at night when it's cold. You shouldn't be wearing the same clothes to sleep in that you wore during the day. Especially underwear and socks. Those trap lots of sweat which will keep you cold all night long. Also, invest in good wool socks if you haven't already. You probably already have one to wear during the day, but don't hesitate to get an additional thin merino wool beanie to keep your head extra warm at night (again, don't wear the one you were wearing during the day).

The next thing is check out the R-rating of your sleeping pad. Your standard cheap foam pad like this has an R value of only 1.4. An R rating of 1 is considered "minimally insulated." A better but still cheap model like this thermarest has an R value of 2.8 but is still only $20-30. An R rating of 5 is basically rated to around 0 degrees, here's an example from ThermaRest with an R rating of 5. I've seen R ratings as high as 8. I can only assume those pads set you on fire as soon as you touch them.

Don't forget, you can bring some heat with you. You may wish to invest in some of those Hot Hands products. You can get some designed to go in your gloves or your socks. I generally don't differentiate. Each one will put out a lot of heat for 8+ hours. You can either use them as recommended or just toss a couple loose in your sleeping bag. Yes, it'll cost you a buck or so per night of sleep and you have to pack them in/out, but that's not too bad compared to being miserable. I don't typically do this, but keep a few in my pack in case I get wet during the winter. If I get wet in the cold this is pretty much the only thing that really gets me warm again.

Get at least one of these SOL emergency blankets, use it as your ground cloth. It's similar to but much tougher than the standard mylar emergency blankets. It'll reflect your heat back towards you much better than the plastic sheets most people use. If you're feeling spunky, buy a 2nd, put some reinforcing duct tape or something on the corners and add rivets. Hang it above your tent or strap it in between your rain fly and tent to reflect rising heat back down to you. Fair warning, you will look like a giant dork for doing this one, but it does work surprisingly well. I personally use one for my ground cloth but never do the hanging over thing in conjunction with a tent. I have used one as a shelter though when practicing emergency survival. It kinda sucked as a shelter but it does keep in some heat.

Last but not least, you mentioned some frustration with sleeping bag liners. You could go the opposite route and get a thermal bivvy sack. I don't have much experience with them though so I don't have any real advice. I will say I tried using one of these as my only sleeping bag once and it SUCKED because it DOES NOT BREATHE AT ALL so I was soaking with sweat. I'm sure there are better options that do breathe though and you could slip your sleeping bag inside.

They make reusable hand warmers and they're fricking amazing!! They absolutely work, I was so skeptical but they're great. HotSnapZ Hand Warmers Reusable Round & Pocket Warmers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004CV2YXE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_NCk0BbBVEBBWH

[foam box, apply duct tape to hold shut] (https://www.grainger.com/product/12F276?gclid=CjwKCAiAwZTuBRAYEiwAcr67OYmFsxWbQPsZ6q6G2LcJL5M4zB0FDx7diAlZz8JqX1lQ9P6GeFZPjBoCnbAQAvD_BwE&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=CjwKCAiAwZTuBRAYEiwAcr67OYmFsxWbQPsZ6q6G2LcJL5M4zB0FDx7diAlZz8JqX1lQ9P6GeFZPjBoCnbAQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916733197!!!g!82129239837!)

just a thing to hold your electronics in to keep them insulated from the cold during flight, and cushioned for the impact of landing.

[piezo electric buzzer, attach to arduino to give an audible alarm to help track down your payload after landing] (https://www.adafruit.com/product/1536?gclid=CjwKCAiAwZTuBRAYEiwAcr67OVsUCcFPwRh9nBWLsDKDr9_VNEnteEJxQoZ5P8Z_j0ddqz6boPAyfRoCeLkQAvD_BwE)

not required but can be helpful when hunting down your payload

[hand warmer] (https://smile.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Odorless-Activated/dp/B0007ZF4OA?sa-no-redirect=1)

also optional, i've never used them, generally used to keep your batteries warmer as warm batteries perform better than cold.

[GPS Antenna] (https://store.uputronics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=72&search=gps)

gotta get GPS signals somehow, i highly suggest the MAX M8Qs from Ublox

[AA battery packs, i suggest using the energizer ultimate lithium batteries] (https://www.digikey.com/products/en/battery-products/battery-holders-clips-contacts/86?k=battery+holder&k=&pkeyword=battery+holder&sv=0&pv91=355996&sf=0&FV=-8%7C86%2C32%7C306832%2C1989%7C0&quantity=&ColumnSort=0&page=1&pageSize=25)

you'll likely use a 4-6 pack that has the batteries connected in serial to supply the 5v the arduino needs

[trackuino shield and guide] (http://hab.education/pages/trackuino.html)

this tells you where your payload is via sites like aprs.fi

[cheap external temperature sensor] (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/maxim-integrated/DS18B20/DS18B20-ND/956983)

the trackuino code already has provisions for this temp sensor so it requires very little modification to the code to use.

[antenna, no coat hangar required] (https://www.byonics.com/antennas)

Any antenna thats made to operate on 144.390 mhz (assuming you are in the US, other countries you'll have to check your band plan) will work. I make mine from 2 19" pieces of 20 gauge wire.

A Buff is a cool (warm) gift.

If you want something goofy to throw in the stocking pick up a Pocket Bellows. Always good for a laugh around a campfire, but surprisingly useful.

Premium GaiaGps membership.

A nice hat -- I really like my Tilley Airflow.

You and a hand warmer in a reflective bivvy bag, in a synthetic sleeping bag, under a cheap down quilt. You can probably put it together for near or under $100 (these links total $114.66), and you have options to adjust how warm you need it to be, so it works winter and summer.

I used this setup (with a different synthetic bag that was on sale at the time) for some very cold nights. The heat reflective bivvy is a little uncomfortable sometimes, but it makes things so much warmer (and it’s much more comfortable than a Mylar space blanket). I now have better down quilts and no sleeping bag at all. Synthetic bags often provide better insulation, but are also bulkier and heavier than down. I needed smaller, lighter insulation. I also now use a USB hand warmer instead. Never tried hot water in a Nalgene bottle. 🤷🏼‍♂️

This setup’s warm enough that I didn’t need to wear a lot of layers, just my base layer, wools socks, and a down jacket.

Given that guns are not a choice for you, there are still plenty of options. Professional security focuses on Layers. You should too:
-Driveway sensor or doorbell with video capabilities
-Door alarm and interior/exterior cameras
-Reinforced bedroom door

None of these options are permanent and all could be taken with you when you move.

Next, weapons- If you choose not to train with a specific weapon you should focus on something that can't be taken away and used against you. Pepper spray can have an effective spray pattern of up to 30 feet ( https://www.amazon.com/SABRE-Red-Pepper-Gel-Strength/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=sr_1_18?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1485379693&sr=1-18&keywords=pepper+spray+self+defense).

A taser gun (http://www.defenseproducts101.com/tasers_introduction.html) can also be a good choice especially when combined with pepper spray.

-Next, an escape plan. Can you get out of the house from your bedroom (access to the roof, rope ladder, etc.). Do you have quick and easy access to your cell phone? Can you call a neighbor or someone who may be closer than the police?

-Practice! Practice answering the door under a threatening situation. Practice deploying your pepper spray. Know when you'd resort to your next tools. Practice locking and securing your safe room door (One of those wooden triangle used to keep doors open will also keep them closed!).

-Finally, commit to your plan. If your plan is to fight, then practice that. If your plan is to escape, resist, or give in, know in advance what you want to do.

Security doesn't have to be expensive and a gun is only a good tool for those who educate themselves and train regularly. Being prepared and making yourself look like less of a victim is much more important.

You'll find renewed confidence in doing all of this. Best of luck!

Regardless of whatever you settle on for active heating, you want to capture as much ambient heat as possible.
Mylar sheets in addition to the vapor barrier you mentioned will help. Each pack of the link I shared will cover ~315 sq ft. Of course it would be best to line ceilings and walls, if you only do one, ceiling is more important.

Shrink your living area. Shrink your sleeping area. Move to the highest comfortable spot in your house.

I actually have had some limited success (regardless of bad reviews) with the terra cotta pot style heaters you see from time to time. They're obviously more successful in smaller areas that don't bleed heat.

HotHands Body & Hand Super Warmers - Long Lasting Safe Natural Odorless Air Activated Warmers - Up to 18 Hours of Heat - 40 Individual Warmers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007ZF4Q8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1SB1DbWJAAYKN

Used to use these for skiing :)

Gloves are amazing, but some people have trouble throwing with them on. I personally have a pair of underarmor gloves that have small grips on the fingertips that help a great deal. If that does not work, I would recommend having a stash of these: http://www.amazon.com/Little-Hotties-Hand-Warmer-Pack/dp/B000JJP0UM handy. Keeping one in a pocket, or tucked into your shorts and warming up your hands on those longer turnovers will help a great deal.

Ok so if DC doesn't get a lot of snow, you might not need all these, but I went to all the trouble of typing it up so here you go.

Some tips I hope will help you: The most important parts of your body to keep warm are your head, hands and feet. Layer your torso all you want, but if those parts get cold, so will the rest of you. Get some of these for days when you might need to be outdoors longer than usual, and keep an extra set in a pocket in case of emergencies.

Spray waterproof Scotchgard (or something similar) on the outside of your coat, gloves, hat and boots. Even if they are “water resistant,” under the right conditions (sleet, heavy snow in temperatures at or just above freezing, or simply the melting of snow once you are indoors) these items can easily and quickly become waterlogged. This will also help prevent salt stains.

You should probably have a pair of actual rain boots (some folks call them galoshes) that come up to at least mid-shin and will still fit with thick, warm socks for days when it’s slushy but still cold.

Personally, I prefer a long coat that covers my knees because they get stiff and sore if they are cold, but that’s just me. You might only need a coat that covers your butt. I would definitely suggest making sure it’s at least pea coat length, if for no other reason than to avoid snow and wind.

Write yourself a reminder of how to start a fire with the items within your car:

How to start a fire with your car battery

You know, in case you do not have a cigarette lighter working in your car.


It is REALLY. IMPORTANT. To stay dry. Get a slicker for each member of your family, as well as sturdy, water proof foot gear. If you can get a combo snow coat/water proof whatchmacallit, that is perfect. I personally take all items, and vacuum seal them in ziplock Space bags (including first aid, flashlights, flares, everything, to ensure they are protected from moisture before being placed into the duffle bag)

Handwarmers. A buttload of handwarmers. The can last up to 10 hours!


first aid kits, -40 degree sleeping bags, solar rechargeable/hand cranking latterns/flashlights, a simple manual on field survival (scavenging for food, simple traps, signaling for help, a small sum of money in case you need to purchase gas/towing/food, flares, freeze dried, high calorie foods (nuts work amazing))

Water. I am a bit miffed at the person that said he does not store water, but carries a water filter. ALWAYS. CARRY. WATER. A 24 pack of water bottles in the trunk with the tire is good, or a few liter bottles with some air space for expansion. Having a water filter does nothing if you do not have a source for water, or the means to melt snow/ice. Get a water filter as something supplementary. Pack a cheap multi tool and a good knife as well.

A fire starter (flint) and some simple kindling(a sandwich baggie of cotton balls) added tip--coat your cotton balls partially in vaseline, it will increase the flammability of the cotton, and help repel water.


Something I also include, is a pair of foot long 2x4 pieces. I name them the 'clackers'. Smacking 2x4's together is akin to a gun shot, and will get the attention of someone if you do the typical SOS morse code pattern. They also scare away wildlife. Although I always travel armed.

A typical portable jump starting battery
You can often find these little systems with ports which can charge your phone.

A tarp or tent in case your car is compromised and cannot provide adequate shelter

Maps, both local and national (in case you travel) and a compass.

A simple dig out kit for getting your car free (shovel, kitty litter, or a tin can and candle trick, ropes, tire chains, etc)

Where will this be? If Colorado, your setup seems way too warm for 3-season conditions. Maybe if you're up in the Wind River Range or somewhere else farther north this would make more sense. This seems too warm even for late october or april. I use the same sleeping bag and pad in January/February at those elevations (10k-12k feet). Temps dropping to 10F can certainly happen in 3-season conditions but it would be rare.

Softshell pants seem like overkill to me (way too warm). Even for full blown winter camping I've just used nylon pants and warm thermal bottoms.

For groundsheet: A mylar emergency blanket will add a bit of warmth and will protect bivy floor and inflatable pad. These are my favorite because they won't shred if they get a tiny puncture: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00266H5VI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Tyvek would be a more durable option but you won't stay as warm.

Requesting not for myself but for a small unit of 20 Marines currently in the Middle East in an area that has no power or heat; there are no working showers or toilets. PX is not at this site, nor will one come. They are using bottled water for hygiene and also for wag bags; burn barrels are used for waste disposal.

They have requested Under Armour cushioned Cold Gear boot socks
http://www.extremeoutfitters.us/socks-2.aspx

and hand warmers

http://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Body-Super-Warmer-count/dp/B0007ZF4Q8/ref=sr_1_6?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1418243431&sr=1-6&keywords=hand+warmers

They are living in unheated tents currently and the weather has dropped below 30 degrees.

If you would like to help, please let me know, and I can share their info with you for authenticity. I don't feel comfortable posting it on Reddit for a matter of security on their behalf.

Glinda :)

Not to rain on your parade here but....you're talking about just carrying a high-vis piece of fabric as a signaling device? Sure, great idea. I'll do you one better. Include in your survival kit a high-vis, mylar backed tarp shelter. This can be used as a shelter, signaling device, water gathering device, all kinds of things.

I really like my gear to be as multi-use as possible.

Also there are plenty of other compact signaling ideas as well. You can spin a glow stick on a string at night to create a large, visible sign. There's signal mirrors, signal fires, flares, all kinds of options.

Buy some hot hands they work miracles. I remember someone last year gave me one for my wife and I definitely made the cold bearable and they're pretty cheap for big pack maybe you can pass them out like I will be doing!!
HotHands Hand Warmers 40 Pair Value Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vq2hAb1GVX2GY

Just be aware when you're shopping, if you ask a Canadian for recommendations you're going to get stuff that is much lighter than you will probably want to get. Up to -10C many of us consider this light winter wear weather, but you will probably be wanting full on baselayer, gloves, boots and heavy jacket.

Calgary winters are fairly mild (averaging lows of -10 to -15C), but they come with wild swings due to our proximity to the mountains, you might go to work and it's -20C and when you leave its +10C so be prepared with layers as other have mentioned.

In the middle of Jan/Feb it's going to get real cold, often reaching -30C to -40C for a few days and a couple weeks below -20C. Be prepared for these days, if you have a vehicle make sure to plug it in (all vehicles sold in Canada have a block heater installed) if you take transit make sure to get some hand and feet warmers (like this). Wind chill is no joke it's not usually is listed as a "feels like" when looking at forecasts, if you're outside a lot pay attention to that number.

Also if you have a vehicle and street park at home or work make sure pay attention if you're in a snow route, they will ticket you if you're parked there during/after heavy snow fall.

I got you! Here’s a quick list of my absolute favorite products for maximum toastiness on the go (the shirt is the first one)


Winter Flannel Plaid Button Down Top with Sherpa Fleece Lining Navy Green S Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M8KTP5I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6epZDbW39FV4B


Heat Holders The Warmest Thermal Sock - Womens Comfy Wool Socks for Leisure, Outdoor Wear, and Cold Weather | Warm, Cozy Socks for Women Insulate Heat and Improve Circulation | US Size 5-9, Soft Navy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H9J193R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qgpZDbM78N9FQ


HotSnapZ Hand Warmers Reusable Round & Pocket Warmers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004CV2YXE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VjpZDbGQ2EF90


Electric Car Blanket- Heated 12 Volt Fleece Travel Throw for Car and RV-Great for Cold Weather, Tailgating, and Emergency Kits by Stalwart-BLACK/WHITE https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006A1PGDE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mmpZDb70855QF

Most of the responses will either be Hand Warmers or Gloves. I prefer hand warmers as they are the most convenient.

Zippo Hand Warmer, 12-Hour - Chrome Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013HLGTL2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4h26BbHH51JSR

These are refillable ones I have that last for 8-12 hrs. Get hotter than the disposable ones, and last longer. Also cost less over the span of a few months.

I would also throw in some hand warmers in cold climates.

I'm in Austin so it's not as cold but the few cold nights we get can really Suck since you don't have any exposure to come weather.

That's why when I know it's going to be cold at night. I bring a few extra hand warmers to pass around the bus stops that I know homeless people frequent.

For $20 you can get a nice box of 40.

HotHands Hand Warmers (40 pairs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_L.4myb4QDPH1A

Short answer: You need to move, this could escalate to violence including a murder. If taking a job in another state can keep everyone in your household alive then it is an action you need to seriously consider.

If for whatever reason you decide to stay then read on.

If you are the target then typical criminal deterrence will not be effective.

Cameras are good for collecting evidence for police, without evidence police won't do anything. Their job is to arrest criminals after they have committed a crime not protect you from a future crime.

You need to ensure the entries to your house are hardened, there are many resources online on how to harden your doors and windows. Here is a simple guide from the sidebar that has some good ideas: https://www.artofmanliness.com/2015/04/22/complete-guide-to-home-security/ . I personally have a stronger strike plate with 3" screws and a door jam on my external doors.

None of this protects you from someone burning your house down while you are inside. You need good fire detection and quality fire extinguishers as well as methods to escape through windows on upper floors is necessary. Create an escape plan for multiple scenarios and ensure your family does a regular walkthrough and everyone knows it by heart. Beware that the fire may be used to lure you outside to attack you with violence when you are no longer protected by the walls of your home. This is a fairly common carjacking technique where the criminals cause a small fender bender and when the person gets out of the car they steal it with violence or the threat of violence. I briefly cover personal protection below but you must be aware of that tactic so you can be prepared if that is the scenario you find yourself in

If you are the target then you need to take your personal protection and the protection of your family very seriously. Don't take this responsibility alone, your gf and her kids need to up their awareness. If something seems out of place do not ignore it, mitigate your risk by removing yourself/family from the danger that could surround that abnormality.

You also need a means to protect yourself if this harasser gets violent with you or your family. I'm a firearms person and live in Nevada where I can fairly easily obtain a concealed firearms permit. Where you live you may not be able to legally carry outside your home. A firearm and training are the best force multipliers civilians can use to defend themselves against unknown threats (we don't what this person is capable of, what tools he will use, or if he is acting alone). Personally, I believe an 5.56mm AR-15 rifle is the best home defense tool and a 9mm handgun is the best on person defense tool. You mentioned your girlfriend has 2 kids, regardless of age you must be 100% committed to ensuring any firearms you bring into a house with kids is behind a lock any time it is not on your person. In your situation I would recommend you have a handgun on your hip at all times you are awake. If you need more help with fireams advice/tactics/resources I can help you.

If firearms are not right choice for you (they aren't if you can't be 100% committed to ensuring it is impossible for the kids to get access) there are other less effective tools. I prefer pepper spray and carry it in addition to a firearm. Get some small canisters for on body carry and some of these larger canisters for in the home. Understand that when you deploy the spray everyone will be impacted and it will only buy some time to escape. I do not recommend stun guns as they are inconsistent and many people recover fairly quickly when they are done riding the lightning. Knives are effective at creating fatal wounds but not effective at stopping threats. A wounded attacker can still inflict damage for minutes after receiving a fatal stab wound. So I would not recommend those unless you have some knife defense proficiency already. Striking tools like batons and baseball bats can be effective medium range tools but can also be used against you if you are disarmed and rarely incapacitate in a single swing. These tools are only to ensure you and your household survive in the event you have to fight for your life, awareness and avoiding the fight is your most effective tool and only if your awareness fails should you have to resort to your fighting tools.

Hopefully your cameras can catch this individual doing something significant enough that the police will get involved and remove them from the general public. You can't depend on that though and have to have a layered approach to ensuring the safety of yourself and everyone in your household. Good luck!

edit: my phone bugged and I had to finish this from my computer, sorry for the originally cut off response.

In hopes of encouraging people to do what you said, just a little push to make it even easier... $6 for 10 pairs, prime eligible! http://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Pair-Value/dp/B00D7H9LIA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416406520&sr=8-1&keywords=hand+warmers

Thanks for the awesome idea<3

whenever my friend snowboards she brings these with her. it'll warm you up for a bit!! good luck surviving! brace yourself!

I do construction in Michigan and feel like I need extra warmth for my hands. I use the nitrile or rubber coated gloves that are insolated for winter. Then wear a knit or cotton glove inside the insolated one. On really cold days i add the small hand warmers in between the glove layers in my palm. I can hammer, carry stuff and never be bothered by the handwarmers. I use one set of both kinds of gloves in the morning and then put on a dry set after lunch. I use these hand warmers.... http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007ZF4OA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1418862991&sr=8-1&dpPl=1&dpID=51%2Bk8z12gRL&ref=plSrch&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

Sun Block.. A breathable hat (not a baseball cap) like a safari type hat.. drink plenty of water.. like everyone else said.. lots of sips instead of just downing a bottle every hour.. here is the deal once you get dehydrated you can't get out of it.. I know it's a a lot to ask but keep the dancing at a minimum. Once your lips get dry you know you're dehydrated.. seek medical attention if that happens because your brain will swell. We just had 2 deaths and 57 other people sent to the hospital at a Festival here. Oh one last thing.. Don't take 400mg+... Do your normal dosage plus your re-dose..

Get yourself a couple of these.. they are amazing
http://www.amazon.com/Ergodyne-Chill-Its®-6602-Evaporative-Cooling/dp/B001B5I57I

I swear by bentonite clay in a tub for 30 mins to soak. I use warm to hot water and afterwards you feel so refreshed. The clay helps with detoxing your body and the first few times your water will be black or purpleish. But after using it awhile it will only turn it light grey or alittle murky. The clay will clump up and i dont unclump it just stir it around the water. I run the water then put in clay once im in the water, swirl it around and then just close my eyes and relax.

Its like $10 for 2lbs and you only use 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time so it lasts a while. I started out every 3 days then when water stays grey i turned to once a week or when i start having pain/spasm/ feeling sick.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B011AJ5QRQ/

Hope this helps.

Oh and keep some hot hands on you they are great for when it gets freezing.

https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-10-count-pack-warmers/dp/B00PGBN11S/

Until you acclimate, try putting some [toe warmers] (https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Toe-Warmers-Odorless-Activated/dp/B0007ZF4PE) on top of your toes to keep you warm. CVS, Walgreens, Costco, REI, Scheels - they all carry some brand variation of the one I linked.

Also +1 for one pair of wool socks (I don't double layers on my feet until single digits.)

and +1 for a good pair of Sorels. My husband's are going on 20 years old and just as good as new. Mine are almost 10 years old and I love them.

Thank you for that, I just went through their line I was impressed. I think I'll keep looking however, I use a very small pack that is tight on space. The reason being that most backpacks I have used snag in the types of of tight saplings I go through snowshoeing. I like your idea adding down to mylar, such a good idea.

I used to use three of these, I wish it was still 5$: http://www.amazon.com/MPI-Weather-Emergency-Survival-Blanket/dp/B000CSJWWW/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1K7ZHPKY000BST0MWEBE

To cold weather games, i wear what i usually wear when i go skiing. Get a thermal undershirt, thermal leggings, some nice thick pants (jeans are ok), a t shirt, eitehr a sweater or a northface fleece, then a windbreaker jacket. I then put on a ski neck brace (the fleece kind that can go over the mouth) some backward ear muffs and a hat. Finish it off with gloves and some nice thick wool socks and you'll be set. You should also still be able to move around.

For heat warmers, get these. You can literally pick them up almost anywhere; warl mart, target, CVS, most convenience stores etc. You throw it in your gloves and break up and youll be warm. I use them a lot when i go skiing and they're amazing.

I don't see any kind of sleeping kit here.

YouR tradeoff is between "good and comfortable" and "Small and light."

At the very least, consider the SOL Escape Bivvy. It's small and light, of good quality, not too expensive, and is well reviewed. It will help you survive, but will probably not keep you comfortable.

A used Military Sleep System is much more comfortable, and will run you between $70 and $120 bucks. It is fairly bulky however. It won't fit in the pack you listed. Typically, people buy the Molle carrier for it and strap it to the top or bottom of their pack.

If you're doing a beginning-level hike, the good news is that there aren't many things you have to do. You're basically going on a walk in the woods. That being said, here are a couple of things I learned from trial and error:

• When you're looking up a trail to hike, and there are websites and blogs everywhere that will talk about nearby hikes, check out the difficulty level. You don't want your first hike to be a steep ascent with scrambles and switchbacks, necessarily.
  
• Go with someone else. What if you twist an ankle? And tell someone where you're going.
  
• You probably only need hiking boots for longer hikes/camping where you're carrying a big pack and need the ankle support. For day hikes a pair of good sneakers/trail shoes/whatever you call them will be fine. Durable soles, good arch support.
  
• Always bring more water than you'll think you need, a few snacks, some rain gear or something else waterproof. I always bring a flashlight, in case I get caught out after dark, some kind of knife (Swiss, leatherman, etc.) and usually one of these guys -- again, in case I get lost and need shelter. A lighter or weatherproof matches is also a good idea, and a basic first aid kit. Just throw all that stuff in your backpack and forget about it until you need it.
  
• Look up weather, sunset times, and trail conditions before you go.
  
• If you're bringing a dog, check out the leash laws for the park you're hiking.
  
• Bring toilet paper or something in case you're far away from a toilet when nature calls.
  
• Ziploc baggies are good for organizing stuff.
  
• Don't be a jerk... Take only pictures, leave only footprints.

These! Boot-specific versions exist and they stick onto your socks, but the hand ones work just as well and are easier to find. Plus they're usually bigger. Quality varies brand to brand.

I'm going to suggest something a bit more advanced than a traditional tent. Have you considered going with a flat-tarp and a bivy bag? It is certainly cheaper than a tent and significantly lighter. Take the following for example:

| Item | Weight (g) | Cost (AU$) | Notes |
|:-----------|:------------:|:------------:|:------------|
| Equinox Egret Tarp (8x10ft) | 766g| $49 | Will require either sticks or trekking pole to pitch
| SOL Escape Bivy | 156g (312g total) | $31 ($62 total) | This will actually work as a 10C sleeping bag. There is a bigger version to help accommodate a sleeping bag, if it's more appropriate. Obviously you'll each need one.
|Polycryo Groundsheet (6x8ft) | 104g | $10 | Cheap and lightweight waterproof floor.
|
| Total | 1026g (1184g)| $90 ($121) | Cheap and Light.

You will obviously need to do a little reading on how to pitch it. Here is an article to get you started. You'll probably find a better one if you google it.

I use hand warmers to remove and prevent due. Don't wipe the due off, you will only make it worse. I use an ace bandage to hold a hand warmer like these on. They will clear and prevent due https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Pair-Value/dp/B00D7H9LIA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1473213251&sr=8-3&keywords=hand+warmer

I know it's been a month, but you should get something like this, which is smaller than a water bottle and acts as an emergency sleeping bag that is easier to carry than the blanket if you need to go on foot. You should also get a life straw and some other methods of getting clean water and some more food like trail mix.

After the essentials, I'd honestly recommend a pocket bellows. I got it as a gift and I've used it to assist construction of every single fire I've made for the last several years.

It's definitely not an "essential" item. You can obviously start fires without it. But it's quite nice.

Thanks!

I think I might buy the hoodie, and buy a cheaper jacket to cover it since I work in concrete.

Are you familiar with these hand warmers? They work pretty well, but I am not sure if they would be so practical while on top of a tower lol.

The SOL Escape Bivy is relatively inexpensive and pretty durable. Couple with a Therm-A-Rest Z-pad and sleeping bag and it should be pretty comfortable.

I wore these when I was in Iceland in March 2016 (so. freaking. cold.) and they were great! I can't stand having my hands cold, so I bought some wool liners for the gloves and Hot Hands to stash in my jacket pockets too. Have fun in Iceland; it's an amazing place!

I haven’t tried it yet but I’m using some of these and some paracord to make some reflective curtains. Hopefully that will keep the canopy nice and cool

I use toe warmers inside my boots on particularly cold sessions. https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Toe-Warmers-Odorless-Activated/dp/B0007ZF4PE

I know a few people who love their boot gloves. https://www.northerniceanddance.com/boot-gloves-lights-boot-covers-p-928.html

You might be surprised what a difference something like simple leg warmers can make.

If you can find zip off or snap off warmup pants, it’s an extra layer you can shed when you get warm or add when you get chilly. I wouldn’t wanna wear them the whole time, but they’re nice for beginning and end of the session

I've seen a lot of comments on fuel choices and stacking, and that's all very important. But don't forget oxygen!

Blowing on a fire can take an ember into big flames very quickly. I recently bought a bellows on amazon, it looks a lot like a collapsible antenna but is about twice as fat. It did a great job of 1) keeping my face away from the flames and 2) focusing my breath into a really strong column of air. It's going on my short list of must haves for every camping trip.

Edit: I used a Pocket Bellows: Epiphany Outdoor Gear Pocket... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LDSW5BA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share This was also easy to get the fire re-lit the next morning. It looked dead, but a few puffs from the bellows and a flame popped right back up in the coals. We put new logs on top and cooked some eggs!

Hand warmers are great! HotHands hand warmers its probably to late to order them but you can find them at most camping out doors sports type stores. Or even in the camping isle of Walmart, target etc. I used two for the start of a colder marathon start. One I would switch between my hands and the other one I put in my sports bra lol. Once I warmed up around mile 2 or 3 I tossed them near a water stop.

Yikes! I'm sorry to hear that. Was it pretty serious (like amputations and shit?) or more like frostnip?

Try these. I've heard of people stuffing them in their gloves, back pocket, and socks. I can send you some Amazon links for my jacket, balaclava mask, thermal kit, and cycling overshoes. They're all pretty cheap, but effective.

Depende sa temperature. Kung naglalaro lang sa 0 C, yes. Otherwise, consider something yung may insulation.

However kung di ka naman masyado sa labas (and kung may car kayo), okay na siguro yun, just buy warm socks like yung Heat Holders or yung mga foot warmers which can provide heat up to 8 hours. Ang problem kasi with insulated boots is that it can be really warm pag nasa loob ka ng building, papawisan talaga paa mo, especially yung mga Sorel which are made for -20 C and below.

Though Timbs and Dr. Marten aren't really good at gripping slippery surfaces. For that, just buy cleats.

Source: I live in the Great White North.

Naproxen sodium, weed, masturbation. Also heat water bottles/heated pads/ect. Oh, LPT: if you live in a cold place, you can probably get these and put em near your uterus area (I stuffed em down the front of my leggings lmao) for days where you need relief fast and you're at work or out and can't do the aforementioned remedies. I was a bit desperate one day, and these brought me sweet, sweet relief.

I'm glad I don't face such extreme temps anymore, but when I did I found a Zippo Handwarmer to be a help.

Get the larger size. They're super finicky to get started until you get some practice; I use a Ronson Jetlite until the element is glowing. I also learned a trick - splash a bit of the fluid onto the element, then ignite that and keep it turning. Blow out the flame when the element is glowing red in a dark room.

It gets quite hot and then 'smolders' for many hours. It comes with a bag to limit air - less air means lower temperature but longer burn. I don't use the bag, just tuck it into an inside pocket, under my coat but over my sweater. You can use a couple, and there are plenty of sealable containers for taking along extra fuel.

They get much hotter than the trash disposable Grabber maxi pads, and you don't need to recharge them either. Mine have lasted me for several years.

This doesn't replace sealing around gloves and neck, etc. But it lets me get away with fewer layers.

Just one caveat - it's a flame. Small one, catalytic, relatively low temp, totally safe to keep in your pocket. But when I'm pumping gas or fixing a generator, I leave it a distance away. I don't feel like tempting fate or igniting vapors.

I've been to the islands a fewntimes since my diagnosis and didn't need one. I would rate my heat intolerance as moderate. Usually there are good breezes so it is often just the intensity if the sun. I was in the Bahamas in June once and the heat really varied. I bring a [cooling towel] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001B5I57I/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1463079471&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65) with me when traveling to Florida now. I feel like it works pretty well.

You might want to try something like this emergency bivvy. I have one but I've never used it in my hammock. It's amazing how warm it actually keeps you... I was sweating at about 10 F when I used it.

For feet I have these Smoko USB Foot Warmer

For hands maybe this would help you: Smoko Toast USB Handwarmers

Mittens are typically warmer than gloves.

Zippo hand warmers

Electric hand warmer if Zippo scares you

Something not much people do, but handwarmers really help and give me a sense of warmth in the cold!

I have the same problem. I started using hand warmers, slipping them into my boots and pockets, and it's been great.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-40-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA

Last winter was ridiculously cold so I tried to find the best gloves this year. I came to the conclusion that you need at least 2 pairs (maybe three) for the varying conditions.

For the super cold days I settled on Black Diamond Soloist finger gloves. I also bought a case Hot Hands for when the conditions change on the trail.

I like that these gifts are quality items and "general purpose", and by that I just mean that they are accessible to most people. Let's face it: those who want niche high end gear will be purchasing that themselves because they'll know exactly what they are looking for. This is the sort of stuff that almost anyone would be pleased with.

Here are a few random things off the top of my head I might add:
Mora Knife - $15.
Casio Pathfinder watch - $40
Light Tripod and phone mount $22 + $15 (added these because a lot of people use their phones as cameras out there
[Constellation Playing cards]( Night Sky Playing Cards https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591932424/) - $6
Anker 10,000 mah battery pack - $26
Chill-Its Cooling Towel - $8
Nite Ize S-Biner - $4

Emergency blankets are the best! Tape them to the outside of your tent and canopy to reflect sunlight and always good to have in case someone starts overheating! Im going weekend 1!

To carry (these aren't affiliate links):

nut butter packs (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ULUTF6/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1409096620&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40) they're like giant chocolate condiment packets which are very tidy to eat, very filling, and popular with hikers and politicians

Collapsible day bag (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FOHJF1Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?qid=1409096766&sr=8-17&pi=SY200_QL40) so much easier than a backpack for long hours

Cooling towel (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001B5I57I?pc_redir=1408940289&robot_redir=1) will drop your personal temp 10 degrees during the parade or just a hot day

Extra power for a phone, even after you turned the screen down, and turned the phone off during panels (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=867673&gclid=CJHDrJ6PssACFSgV7Aod8nkApw&Q=&is=REG&A=details)

http://us.moo.com/mobile/new.html if you're taking pictures, lots of little slips with you info to hand out to people you snap if you want to give them copies

I served in a cold-weather climate and one of the best things was those pocket warmers you can get.

Also, you can't go wrong with all kind of American candy or snack foods. Even if she doesn't like it, maybe her comps will, or she can share it with the people she meets there. People are always curious about treats from other countries.

1 yummy

2 I like zombies because its actually plausable.

3 you should buy this

4 warm bodies was amazing!

Reusable Zippo hand warmers for cold nights/mornings and those compressed towel coins to wipe your face/ass/tears are life savers in the field.

Links for reference:

Zippo Hand Warmer


Towel Coins

Space blanket, thats a good idea! They don't take up any space. Or you can get an emergency bivy, like this http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Medical-Kits-Heatsheets-Emergency/dp/B000WXX0JS They are a bit bigger and work like a sleeping bag make out of a sleeping blanket.

Also headlamp is a really good idea too. Or a small led pocket light.

I know the pros use hand warmers during tournaments. Though, that's probably not the most cost efficient way to keep your hands warm playing every day throughout the winter lol

> Is drying yourself too slow? Hate how damp and smelly common bath towels get? Be enlightened with space-age materials!

This really looks like the hook from a crappy 3am commercial, or the results of a 1000 level marketing course final project.

Instead of the campy product focused sales-pitch, focus on the results instead.

> LPT: Use PVA or Microfiber cloth as bath towels instead of Cotton.

The other day I used a PVA cloth like THIS instead of a regular bath towel and was amazed at how effective it was at drying me.

I've grabbed a few yards of PVA and microfiber cloth to experiment, but just wanted to share the discovery.

End result: Subtle product placement, without 1000 downvotes.

Gloves/mittens plus hand warmers. You can buy them at any sporting goods store or on amazon I'm sure. They last a long time. They also make ones for feet and toes. Here's a link!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D7H9LIA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1421242514&sr=1-1

Foot warmers are awesome since they have an adhesive on one side, allowing it to stay in place in your boot/glove/wherever. Also, what winter wish list is complete without a multicolored assortment of fuzzy socks!

Brace yourself.

My recommendation is to be prepared for very cold weather during the game. December highs during sunlight hours might be in the 40/50s, but it will likely be colder by game time. Be prepared to wear multiple layers, have thick socks and gloves. I personally always have hand and foot warmers as well.

Spare hiking socks

• in Ziploc bag
  
  Spare underwear
  
  
• in Ziploc bag
  
  Pants/shorts
  
  web belt (2)
  
  Jacket/rain jacket
  
  Pullover sweater
  
  Bandana/shemagh
  
  OR sunbucket hat
  
  Tyvek tarp (w/grommets)
  
  50' hanks para cord (2)
  
  
• with a couple of Figure 9 tighteners
  
  50' orange 3/8" rope
  
  Titanium tent pegs (6)
  
  Mylar emergency blanket
  
  GPS & spare batteries
  
  Digital FM radio & spare batteries (with headphones)
  
  SPF 30 sunscreen
  
  Lip Balm
  
  Headlamp & spare batteries (with red light)
  
  LED flashlight & spare batteries\
  
  Small IFAK
  
  
• mole skin
  
  
• Neosporin
  
  
• lavender oil
  
  
• Band-Aids (various sizes)
  
  
• gauze pads
  
  
• Clear tape
  
  
• cloth athletic tape
  
  
• antibacterial wipes
  
  
• latex gloves
  
  
• foldable scissors
  
  
• plastic tweezers
  
  
• Advil Liqui-gels (200 mg)
  
  Fire bundle
  
  
• Old man's beard, birch bark, etc
  
  Ferro rod, Bic lighter, etc
  
  Mora knife & sharpener
  
  Pocket knife
  
  Multi-tool
  
  50" roll, duct tape
  
  Pen/Notebook
  
  USB stick with scans of important docs along with other files, like a list of Internet bookmarks, etc
  
  Tupperware container (vital records)
  
  
• Birth certificate
  
  
• Passport
  
  
• Social Insurance card
  
  
• Family photos
  
  
• Insurance policies
  
  
• Mortgage/deed
  
  
• Vehicle titles
  
  
• Vaccination record
  
  
• Cash
  
  
• Bank info
  
  
• address book
  
  Food*
  
  KFS
  
  GSI cup
  
  Aluminum water bottles (2)
  
  Sawyer Mini kit
  
  Toilet Paper!
  
  
• in Ziploc bag
  
  Hygiene kit
  
  
• toothbrush/toothpaste
  
  
• soap
  
  
• baby wipes
  
  
• dental floss
  
  
• wooden toothpicks
  
  
• Black garbage bags
  
  
• Ziploc zipper freezer bags
  
  
• Hand Sanitizer
  
  Whistle
  
  Signal Mirror
  
  6" chemlights (4)
  
  Mechanix gloves
  
  Dust masks
  
  Permanent marker
  
  Sillcock key
  
  FuBar
  
  ------------------
  Food
  
  Cereal bars
  
  Dried soup mix
  
  Trail mix
  
  Mountain House meal
  
  ------------------
  Winter
  
  Synthetic long underwear
  
  Wool toque
  
  Gloves

I always make sure to pop 4 hand warmers in my pockets.

cheap on amazon - http://www.amazon.com/HeatMax-Hot-Hands-Handwarmer-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA

To start, I would recommend looking into something like a bivvy bag: www.amazon.com/Adventure-Medical-Kits-Emergency-Bivvy/dp/B000WXX0JS/

They fold pretty small and are lightweight.

Thank you for doing this! The children and teachers of Oakland deserve so much better from the district. i know it's scary. Talk to your veteran teachers if you're feeling anxious since some of them may have been on strike before. I second going to the rallies! It'll inspire you. We did a lot of parent education before and after school to let them know why we were striking. It also helped build solidarity.

As a practical matter, (1) wear comfortable shoes since you'll be on your feet a lot; (2) bring snacks and water; and (3) get some hand warmers since you know how cold it is on February mornings.

1. Let your Mavic sit out in the cold (without a battery) for a few minutes (at least 5) before you pop in a warm battery and take off.
   
   This helps reduce condensation frost from forming in your barometer. The barometer is the most sensitive instrument in your Mavic to moisture.
   
   
2. Slap Adhesive toe warmers on the back of your phone or tablet to extend its battery life in the cold. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007ZF4PE/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1485609578&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Little+Hotties+Adhesive+Toe+Warmers
   
   
3. The batteries warm themselves up in flight, but in extreme cold (-5 or colder) the same adhesive toe warmers could be used on the Mavic Battery. They don't add much weight. Disclaimer: I haven't tested this on the Mavic, but we've used this trick for years on DIY built drones with "naked lipos" (a lipo without a plastic case).

It appears that the 35 gram limit is for carrying with you. I would feel confident in bringing home or ordering a large canister for home use only. REI sells 230 gram bear spray. I like the look of this one;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002368VJ6?ref_=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza&redirect=true&pldnSite=1

EDIT: Home Security System

A hand warmer attached to the lens barrel should help with keeping any condensation on the glass at bay.

http://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Pair-Value/dp/B00D7H9LIA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395087929&sr=8-1&keywords=hand+warmers

• Main Weapon: a double edged, well forged Longsword. Something not too heavy that could sweep through a horde of oncoming walkers fairly easly (and while sticking in bodies as little as possible) and wouldn't break or need to be sharpened too often.
  
• Water Filtering Device (like Lifestraw but filters better and holds up better) (also comes with 4 filters, so thats 5000 bottles worth of water right there)
  
• Largest available flint firestarter that is still practical to carry
  
• Shotgun - In terms of Zombie survival, I'm a big proponent of weapons that can cover a large area. Obviously also effective against people, bears, etc.
  
• Special Forces Survival Guide (hardcover so it holds up)
  
• Survival Blanket

Those cooling cloths they sell are really great. You soak it in water, wring it out, and then it just stays cold all day. Doesn't even feel damp or wet, just cool! You can wear it on the back of your neck or keep it in the container (while wet, not dry) it comes in in a bag and use as needed. Using it on the back of your neck, inner wrists, back of your knees, etc.


Here's an example: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B5I57I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9lwhzbS8WGH5W

My local Academy sells some (l think a different brand) that has a full size one and also comes with a smaller travel size one, each in their own sized container. I'm getting one for my Disney vacation to keep in my bag.

I'm not sure either, but to stay safe anyway, I would recommend you a space blanket to shield you from all this electromagnetic bullshit.

Protip: If you are using a tent, put one of those mylar emergency blankets on top of your tent, it reflects the sun. I did this my third year, I slept in everyday. It was glorious. I just secured it to the top using clothes pins.

I bike year round in the prairies in Canada. I've tried different footwear and sock combos and nothing worked. I just have bad circulation I guess. The only thing that works for me is winter boots with these.

There are battery powered heated insoles that I will hopefully get for Christmas. That's the real solution I think.

Gloves don't cut it when it gets cold. I bought some good mitts for the cold days (my idea of cold is -25C/-13F). I haven't had problems with my hands getting cold.

I'm getting really excited to try my newish Farley in the snow. None yet though.

http://imgur.com/a/9UNfK

What do you do in a zombie apocalypse?

Make sure there's always one in the chamber.

Make sure you always have a second form of defense not less than one arm's length away from you.

And make sure there's someone covering your six.

EDIT: And get your hands on one of these.

Your fingers are what you really want to be worried about.

My suggestion would be to have some hand warmers in your sporran, and possibly have a pair of fingerless gloves on, if it's within uniform regulation in your band.

By tunic, do you mean a doublet? Because those are quite warm. When you're playing your body warms you up in your core, so mostly you just need to be worried about your extremities - feet and hands mainly. Thermal socks can help under your hose.

Also if it's below freezing I'd avoid playing pipes entirely.

Stock up now, you'll want them on the 21st

I already have my ticket, but I'm hoping that OSU will do $10 tickets again to drag some friends along.

Have you tried toe warmers, by any chance?

In the future, if you're in the market for some lined boots, give these a look. I have a pair, and easily they're my warmest boots. They frequently go on sale, too.

The hothands ended up burning me which sucked so I tried to put in a barrier(a paper towel). It was not strong enough because the heat is tight against your body. I only usually need heat the first few days of my period so I stopped using the hot hands but next month I'll try a stronger barrier for the heat. It's a less expensive solution to buying these every month for IBS and period pain. So I'm really going to try to make it work. I bought a 40 pack of hothands for $15 which is a pretty good deal considering how expensive thermacare is.

I vote for bar mitts and hand warmers. They work wonders. http://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Pair-Value/dp/B00D7H9LIA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421184080&sr=8-1&keywords=hand+warmers

They work by making rust. which is cool

Do you guys have those hand warmers that you can stick inside your gloves that warm your hands?
http://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-40-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=sr_1_2?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1453521957&sr=1-2&keywords=hand+warmers

I highly suggest you buy a gun. Preferably a hand gun or shotgun. Next time this guy does this, go outside with the gun and tell him to leave. I'd even take a few bullets or shotguns shells in your hand and throw them at the bum. Put on some boots too and give him a good kick too to get him moving. You can't let these dregs of society walk all over you. You have to be firm with them or they'll take everything. Even without having to deal with the bum. I suggest you buy a gun before governor moonbeam and the communist state legislature bans them.

If he attacks you, regardless of the law you have every right to defend yourself. Even with lethal force. That's God's law.

I've had to deal with plenty of bums and hippies squatting around my property and the property of friends/relatives. A good quality mace (not that $6 pepper spray crap) can also be helpful. Especially when used like in that video. Mace likely will only agitate the bum instead of stopping them. So be prepared to have a baton, bat, ax handle, etc ready to smack once they start shuffling over towards you. It's annoying, it's tedious. But if you live in certain parts of the Bay Area you get used to removing degenerates from property.

https://www.amazon.com/SABRE-Red-Pepper-Gel-Strength/dp/B002368VJ6?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002368VJ6&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&tag=seldefnin-20

Chemical heating packs above the toes solved this issue for me.

Amazon sells giant boxes of them. They glue in place onto your sock and don't cause any problems. Totally saved my winter riding.

Ear muffs - http://www.amazon.ca/Howard-Leight-R-01526-Electronic-Earmuff/dp/B001T7QJ9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415077477&sr=8-1&keywords=Howard+leight

Ear plugs - http://www.amazon.ca/Stanley-RST-63008-Pressure-Earplugs-80-Pack/dp/B001ULCHEA/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1415077621&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Ear+plugs

Eye pro - http://www.amazon.ca/Uvex-S3300-Genesis-Ultra-Dura-Hardcoat/dp/B001TONHB0/ref=sr_1_23?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1415077522&sr=1-23&keywords=Uvex

Hand warmer - http://www.amazon.ca/Zippo-Manufacturing-Company-40314-Warmer/dp/B00ABA0JEG/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1415078094&sr=8-6&keywords=Hand+warmer

I paid less than that, these work also(http://www.amazon.ca/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-40-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415078094&sr=8-1&keywords=Hand+warmer)

Gloves (if you must) - http://www.amazon.ca/Glacier-Outdoor-Lightweight-Shooting-Tactical/dp/B001OPH2B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415077960&sr=8-1&keywords=Shooting+gloves

I'd like to join the drunk shopping friends group. I have bought:

• A Chemistry Set - No not like in a box, like legit enough gear to make a small lab. Chemicals etc. Never used.
  
  
• Nike Sparq Glasses
  
  
• A violin
  
  
• Tons of pointless artwork
  
  
• This
  
  
• Actually a bunch of knives and weapons and also lots of paracord
  
  
• Multiple decks of cards for doing magic tricks
  
  
• Raspberry Pi which I haven't used WITH LED panel
  
  
• THIS??? and ill be honest im not even 100% sure what it is
  
  
• I drunk bought a guitar but that was in person and i use that but not all the recording equipment including an antares avp1 auto tuner, various audio interfaces, mixers and a mostly destroyed Pod XT Live
  
  
• A spy watch camera that broke immediately
  
  
• A wine refrigerator (Woot-off, had to cause we were playing woot off chicken where you MUST buy the next item or you are out)
  
  
• Oh and an Nvidia shield tablet that never worked right and then i got a new one and just gave it away
  
  
• A uke which I don't even remember
  
  
• Silk pajamas
  
  
• A mini projector
  
  
• A Hammock
  
  
• A 200 dollar red sox jersey as a gift to the owner of a bar i used to go to
  
  
• A 16 pound prosciutto de parma
  
  
• A 24 pack of chap stick as a gag gift
  
  
• Tyler Glamour Wash Laundry Detergent 32 Oz High Maintenance - actually this one I recommend
  
  
• A recumbant bike
  
  
• Leather working tools
  
  
• A galaxy tablet??? i dont even remember this one
  
  
• Another rasp pi which i gave away
  
  
• ANNNNND A therapearl Eye essential mask
  
  I know what you are saying "cal you are saying you were drunk when you ordered all that?"
  
  Yes, it was during a time when I filled boredom with drinking and online shopping. Also...I mean look at this crap, would you order any of it when you were sober??

A couple questions:

1. How much per night were the minshukus usually?
   
   
2. If you wouldn't bring a tent next time, would you bring something like a bivvy or an emergency bivvy like this (to go over a sleeping bag) in case of bad weather? I'm worried about no tent but would love to not have to carry the weight.
   
   

HotSnapZ Hand Warmers Reusable Round & Pocket Warmers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004CV2YXE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1tfOBb25S2G2J

10 pack for $6
https://www.amazon.com/Mylar-Mens-Emergency-Thermal-Blankets/dp/B007IYIYFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474998821&sr=8-1&keywords=emergency+blanket

54 inches x 84 inches so you could totally use the extra to make super cool space kites.

Sun shades for the window. Make sure the vents in the center and on the passenger side are aimed toward the back. You can even have someone sit back there while you adjust them to check on the air flow. If he's still in the infant carrier with the little canopy, make sure that's down.

There's also this cooling towel that could help.

> Basically the only really important factors are that it weighs less than 24 oz, can go to 30 or anywhere below that(20 degrees would be preferable just in case) and I can compress it in a stuff suck to less than 12x7.

Here ya go.

Technically, it meets your criteria in spades.

On the other hand, if you want to be comfortable, listen to xixor.

• I think if you are going to have gun stuff, you need some sharp things too just in case you run out of ammo :-)
  
  
• I would like this from my movie WL
  
  Thanks for the contest!

Yes, it sounds crazy but it is a bifl sort of thing. Zippo 12-Hour Hand Warmer, Chrome Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013HLGTL2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_I6FBwb08JEM32

Captialists try to get people to forget how things were done in a non-disposable fashion. (IMO)

This is better than drinking Lionshead.

Burntdoor twotoaster... say it fast and you get better toe toaster. My guess.

I am prepper and a FIL, here are some things I can never have enough of...

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NGYGCH2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GH501T2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O8OTNC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001H9N8B6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LGPD64/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WXX0JS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GAOIME/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014SRY5FG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WFXCSQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00345OMR0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
  Your FIL will be thrilled that you support his prepping no matter what you decide to give him!
  

Keep your core warm and your extremities will be warmer. It sounds like you have that covered though. Doing some light cardio exercise can also help get the blood pumping a bit and make you feel a tad warmer.

Those are some ideas to keep the root problem away, but it's likely you might still have cold fingers. I tend to submerge my hands into a basin of hot water and stretch them around a bit and then dry them with a warm hair dryer when I find them getting overly cold during practice sessions.

I also have a pair of hand warmers I'll sometimes use for cold, outdoor gigs, but that's probably not necessary for your situation.

freeze the water solid. it will gradually melt giving you ice cold water for a couple hours at the least.

maybe get something like this http://www.amazon.com/Ergodyne-Chill-Its%C2%AE-6602-Evaporative-Cooling/dp/B001B5I57I/ref=pd_sim_200_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51LPPeRfZ4L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0H3QA2ZBXF24WZGQE025

get some hand warmers maybe? I have some at my house for just that situation (doesn't happen a lot, just sometimes)

http://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-40-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=sr_1_4?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1457600572&sr=1-4&keywords=hand+warmers

A bottle of this https://www.soylent.com/product/drink/ which I usually end up drinking.

A small bag of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009L4VF28/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and I usually end up eating 3-4 of them 10 minutes before I land.

Yellow lens prescription sunglasses to switch to when clouds get heavy

Lot of stuff that I hope I never use:

An Inreach http://www.cabelas.com/product/DeLorme-InReach-Explorer-Satellite-Communicator-with-Navigation/1926518.uts?productVariantId=4039506&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=04052766&rid=20&gclid=CjwKCAjw3rfOBRBJEiwAam-GsKtsg5u-ch9G5ZCvazBt-k0IJKdDFfIuATcalF66r3rdYvPKvUlY4RoCZE4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

A SOLO escape bivvy sack https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0075ZS096/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

A whistle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q17CQY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A signal mirror

A handheld aviation radio

A compass

A flip phone with spare battery

About eight pounds of rain and cold weather gear.

Misc survival gear.

Do you mean besides using conventional methods (tea/coffee/warm water/a hot rice sock)?
My gf uses these and they get really hot really fast. (LCS players use similar hand warmers if not the exact same ones if it makes any difference to you)

I've been reading up on purchasing a cooling towel to help make falling asleep easier. Anyone have any experience with either of these? http://www.amazon.com/Chill-Its-6602-Cooling-Towel-Blue/dp/B001B5I57I/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1URYWNUI347QZ&coliid=IG89AE3J0FC3E & http://www.amazon.com/ProActive-Frogg-Togg-Chilly-Blue/dp/B003YF7W22/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1URYWNUI347QZ&coliid=I3MTVBT26U1R98&psc=1

Zippo 12-Hour Hand Warmer, Chrome Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013HLGTL2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UqorybX179BZE

Grab a cooling bandanna! Get it wet and it stays damp and cool for hours. Saved my life in the heat last year. I rock this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Ergodyne-Chill-Its%C2%AE-6602-Evaporative-Cooling/dp/B001B5I57I?ie=UTF8&keywords=cooling%20bandana&qid=1465344356&ref_=sr_1_4&sr=8-4

Can you feel your feet and get to them relatively quickly if the need arises? If so, these are awesome. I've never used them in my boots, but I use them in my gloves.

For a reusable option, these are good too, but they're a bit big for putting in boots.

Those toe heaters work wonders. I used them during a CX race and they worked great - plus no covers to collect frozen mud / complicate clipping / unclipping.

http://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Toe-Warmers-40-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4PE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416424733&sr=8-2&keywords=toe+warmer

Otherwise, thick woolies w/ winter cycling shoes + a set of the thicker Pearl Izumi shoe covers (http://shop.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&pc_id=76&product_id=2247717&outlet=&color_code=021) works well.

You telling me they couldn't fork out for a bulk order of hand warmers? They'd probably even get a significant mark down if they ordered a large quantity considering how fucking much retailers mark up prices.

• Emergency Blanket
  
• [Survivor Water Filter] (http://www.survivorfilter.com/)
  
• Bic Lighters
  
• Poncho
  
• Strike Anywhere Match
  
• Chapstick
  
• Flashlight
  
• Paracord
  
• Tarp
  
• Bandana
  
• Medical Kit
  
• [SOS Emergency Water Pouches] (http://www.amazon.com/SOS-Emergency-Water-Packets-Supply/dp/B006RBKP8I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1449170132&sr=8-4&keywords=emergency+water+pouch)
  
• Knife
  
• Food Bars
  
• Gun
  
  
  For the Car
  
  
• If budget allows - Blue Can Water
  
• Good Boots
  
• Wool Socks
  
• Good Jacket, Pants
  
• Mask
  
• Goggles
  
• Weather Appropriate Extra Clothing
  
  inx: Just recently here at my work, we celebrated a Bday Party for a co worker, when its time to light the candle, all my co-workers ( 16 people) don't have a match/lighter to light the candle. I don't think we have any first aid kits, flashlights, or most of the basic emergency stuff. SO when SHTF, looks like I'm the only one carrying the basics on me and in my car. It's kinda sad.

> Like can they go on facebook in picks and bans or draw in paint?

I think I've seen some players play OSU! as a warm-up once or twice, but I'm not sure if it was during LCS. I assume they have limited access to internet and the computer's software though.

> Also what is that squishy thing in their hands all the time?

They use it to keep their hands warm. As /u/CFThirty mentions, they are called "HotHands".

> And are those face cameras always on? or just when broadcasting?

It's another assumption I make, but I think they're always on. The LCS producer will probably tell what images are showed on stream.

> Can they hear the crowd or announcers?

Sometimes, because it is very hard to cancel out all sounds. The huge black things on their ears are meant to keep out the noise though.

> Is it illegal to remove their headsets?

Yep, unless the game is on pause and the referee needs to ask the player something. In that case communication is just easier by removing the headset ;-)

More information about all the LCS rules can be found here.

hand warmers

https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-40-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1483310241&sr=1-1&keywords=handwarmers

PS- I love these for thick injections. Wrap 'em in a washcloth and apply. Also, w the PIO, letting it run under hot sink water can thin it out a bit before injecting.

http://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-40-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA

I would suggest buying moisture-wicking clothes. This will make things a lot better and it is not heavy material. Also you can buy cooling towel (https://www.amazon.com/Ergodyne-Chill-Its%C2%AE-6602-Evaporative-Cooling/dp/B001B5I57I) to stay cool

These hand warmers.

The heat is killing me too! I had a friend recommend one of these cool towels (she is due in Oct too) and said it's completely worth it - she basically lives with it on her neck now.

http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-30-000601-Zombie-Apocalypse-Survival/dp/B00842AIX0 i know its expensive but DO IT. haha

Gloves AND mittens you say? How about convertible mittens!? You can find them at winter/outdoor clothing stores.

Another thing to consider would be the insulation of the gloves. I have gloves with 40 gram "thinsulate" insulation and they work fine for me. If you get them with insulation, make sure they're "breathable" otherwise it's going to be difficult to get them dry. There is nothing more disgusting than putting on gloves that are completely wet. Ugh...

There are also those air activated hand warmer things. They might be overkill for 40F temperatures, but might be appropriate for -40F.

Glove liners could be useful as well.

Two tips that might work for your friends' problem:

• Avoid putting on your gloves outside when your hands are already cold. Try to put them on before leaving your house or car, otherwise the gloves will be uncomfortable to wear and will take a while for them to warm your hands.
  
  
• For the same reason, avoid leaving the gloves outside (e.g. leaving them in your car overnight).

This helps keep you cool: Chill-Its 6602 Evaporative Cooling Towel, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B5I57I?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

You might want to consider other options as well, like the reusable ones that have a fluid inside and a little activator. You 'snap' a little disk inside it and they give off about two hours of heat. You reuse them by boiling them back to a liquid state.

http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Warmers-HotSnapZ-Reusable-Pocket/dp/B004CV2YXE

I rent a lot of planes, so I integrated the survival bag into the flight bag. Now it just comes with me everywhere. Here's what I have:

• Yaesu FTA-550 Handheld Air Band Transciever
  
  
• CAT Tourniquet
  
  
• Emergency blanket (tin foil)
  
  
• Handheld GPS
  
  It all fits in a small pocket in my pack, and gives me everything I need. I can communicate with other airplanes or rescuers. I can treat life threatening injuries. I can remain warm and build a shelter if needed. And I can tell precisely where I am, which I can communicate to my rescuers.
  
  That's the bare minimum basics. If I owned an airplane I'm sure I'd cram more into a dedicated kit, but since I'm only doing short day trips I don't anticipate being very far from civilization.

Cooling towels work similar to wet washcloths and might be a good alternative since they have re-useable, flexible stuff. $10 on amazon

Most of our trucks have these:

SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VT0-BbSNGNC77

I rather have this SABRE Red Pepper Gel - Police Strength - Family, Home & Property Defense Gel with Wall Mount Bracket https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002368VJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_YmBPwbVTT9DQW

You can purchase these small heat packs that you shake and they warm up for about 30 min. Only downside is that while they are reusable, they have to be boiled each time after use.

HotSnapZ Hand Warmers Reusable Round & Pocket Warmers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004CV2YXE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WGjRDbQTMCFFY

Find a better brand than that but it’s to give you an idea.

I hope Reddit doesn't frag me for posting an Amazon link: link

"Hot Hands" are my friend, and now maybe yours too.

https://www.amazon.com/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-Odorless-Activated/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=hot+hands&qid=1573576370&sr=8-4

http://www.amazon.ca/HotHands-Hand-Warmers-40-pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA

They are single-use chemical heating pads. You activate them by shaking them and they get very nice and warm. Handy to keep around.

http://www.amazon.com/HeatMax-Hot-Hands-Handwarmer-Pairs/dp/B0007ZF4OA/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1381453270&sr=1-1

just tape one to each finger and experience the glory.