I do not know a single Prepper or Survivalist type that is not in love with paracord. Suffice it to say that paracord is to an emergency kit what lavender is to essential oils – a multi-purpose tool for getting you through all types of emergency rough spots.
The only issue with paracord, and really, it is a teensy issue, is that it is bulky and unwieldy to carry around. Up until now, I simply dealt with it but now I don’t have to. The nice folks at Life-Pod wanted some feedback on their product so they sent me their Life Pod Paracord Survival Kit to test.  Not only that, they reserved two Life-Pods for lucky Backdoor Survival readers.
So what is the Life-Pod (or simply “Pod†for short)? The Life-Pod paracord kit is a lightweight cup-like pocket of braided/knotted paracord that holds a variety of go-to-have emergency items. These are items that would be useful if you were out on a hike or day trip and unexpectedly became stranded or lost. Or, as an example, you had to make your way from point A to point B on foot yet you only had a small EDC on board.
The operative word here is small and lightweight. Because it is only 4 1/2 inches tall and wide, the Life-Pod can be tucked almost anywhere or, my favorite, clipped onto a pack or handbag using the included carbineer. The form factor is great!
Using the Life-Pod
While the items inside the Pod are handy and useful, what makes the Life-Pod unique is its 100 feet of Paracord. That is a lot of paracord and far more than you will find in most kits of this type.  Not only that, by design, if you need to use some of the paracord, it is a cinch to use.
Loosen the end, unravel what you need, and the rest of the pod stays intact. I asked John, one of the developers, about this.
“Paracord bracelets have you untying a series of really tight knots for a measly 7-15ft of cord. Our design allows you to remove the drawstring, and untie a single knot. Then you just unravel a single strand of 100ft of 550 Paracord.
Aside from our goal of making a positive impact on the world along with those who support Life-Pods, the design of the pod is like nothing else on the market today in respect to ease of use and the amount of cord it provides.â€
When I first got the kit, I struggled with getting t the stuff inside without tearing the entire pod apart. It took a moment to figure out that all you need to do is open it from the top where there is a small cable lock. You can pull the cable lock loose then, with a little pulling on the paracord, the pod will open up at the top. The cable lock allows it to be opened and closed so you can get to the contents without taking the pod apart.
Something to keep in mind is that if you don’t want, need or like the items in the kit, you can also get a basic pod with nothing in it. Called the Solo-Pod, you can fill it up with whatever you like: first aid supplies, a flashlight, water purification tabs, energy bars, you name it.
What am I going to do? I am going to add the items from my own Pocket Survival Kit to the Pod. A knife, whistle, flashlight, Band-Aids, and a bottle of lavender. Perfect!
What’s Inside the Life-Pod?
Aside from 100 feet of 550 paracord (more or less), the Pod includes the following items:
Carabineer that you can clip on anything so it is always within reach
Button compass for your direction
Flint and striker to make a fire
Cotton balls to catch a spark to start your fire
Storm proof Matches that will give you a fighting chance to start a fire in bad weather
Snare wire to make a trap
Wire saw to cut wood
Fishing Kit for providing a means of feeding yourself
Sewing kit with Safety pins to fix rips in emergency shelter covering, tent or clothes
Pencil for your emergency message
Adhesive dressings to keep small cuts from becoming big problems by protecting wound from infection
First aid instructions so you don’t have guess what to do to if you have to treat injuries
Survival instructions will save you precious time getting organized and will give you confidence of what to do in time of chaos
Foldable water bottle saves space, is light and easy to carry
And, just so you know, after taking everything out of the pod, Shelly (aka the Survival Hubby), was able to get everything back inside. How the heck did he do that?
The Blood: Water Mission
If you go to the Life-Pod website, you will read that for each Pod purchased, year of clean drinking water will be provided for two people in Sub-Saharan Africa. While I had his attention, I asked John to comment on that as well. Â Here is what he said:
I feel that people should think about preparedness and survival in emergencies, that almost goes without saying for a lot of us these days.
But I am also convinced that part of being prepared means that we make allowance for others needs. Not only in time of emergency but in day to day life as well. We should care for others, and if that means providing a basic human need, like water, little by little, then I’ll do whatever i can to make that happen.
With Life-Pods, we invite you to join us as we partner with the organization Blood:Water Mission to provide clean drinking water to the people of Sub-Saharan Africa a little bit at a time. How it works is simple – with each Pod purchased we donate a portion of the sale to Blood:Water Mission. Enough to provide clean drinking water for two people for a year, according to their statistics on donations.
And this is just a starting point. When production increases and costs go down, we hope to greatly increase our donation amount per Pod.
The Giveaway
Wouldn’t you love to win a Life-Pod of your own? I have two to giveaway – one each to two winners!
The deadline is 6:00 PM Pacific next Tuesday with the winner notified by email and announced on the Rafflecopter in the article. Please note that the winner must claim their prize within 48 hours or an alternate will be selected.
Speaking of Paracord and Lavender
If you are not familiar with paracord and its many uses, be sure to go back and read 44 Fantastic Uses of Paracord for Prepping and Survival. Or, if you are more a visual type, check out my infographic here.
And as for Lavender? Lavender is known as the “Swiss Army Knife†of essential oils and here is why: The Miracle of Lavender Oil: 25 Amazing Uses for Survival.
The Final Word
I have worked with a lot of portable kits in the past, many of which where, to be polite, overpriced junk aimed at the masses who did not know any better. The Life-Pod, because of its compact use of paracord, is a cut above the rest.
Will it take the place of of a comprehensive three-day kit? Of course not. Will it provide a easy to stow and use emergency items or an EDC for day-to-day carting around town and country?  Yes, absolutely!
Be sure to enter the giveaway; you are going to want a Life-Pod of your own!
One more thing. I learned from John that he, his wife Rachel and their business partner Eric, personally make each kit. It is no wonder that they are so nicely made. It apparent to me that a lot of love goes into each Pod.
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye
If you enjoyed this article, consider voting for Backdoor Survival daily at Top Prepper Websites! In addition, SUBSCRIBE to email updates and receive a free, downloadable copy of my e-book The Emergency Food Buyer’s Guide.
Bargain Bin: I carry my portable survival kit whenever I leave the house. The nice thing about it is that it fits neatly in a pocket, day pack, glove box, or handbag. If you are interested in more details or need assistance building your own kit, see 8 Essential Items: The Perfect Portable Survival Kit.
In the meantime, here are some items you should consider carrying with you as you travel near and afar.
BIC Classic Lighters (12): A dozen full size BIC lighters at a bargain price with free shipping. Don’t forget to test them to ensure they work!
Paracord Lanyard: I prefer a paracord lanyard over a bracelet because I can use it’s clip to attach my whistle as well as other items that I may want to add from time to time such as a second flashlight, a Swiss army knife, pepper spray, or a flash drive (thumb drive).
Paracord Planet Type III Nylon Paracord: An ideal all-around utility cord in the field, paracord is tough and long lasting. It is made from 550-pound test nylon and features a seven-strand core for maximum strength. Also, it is manufactured in the United States. Note that some colors may be more expensive than others. Need ideas? See 44 Really Cool Uses of Paracord for Survival.
Blocklite Ultra Bright 9V LED Flashlight: One of my readers (James) claimed that these work great. So I bought one. Then I bought another. All told, I have 8 of these spread out in drawers, in my emergency kits, the car, everywhere.
Kershaw OSO Sweet Knife: This “oh so sweet†knife is solidly built, stainless steel knife that comes razor sharp right out of the package. It will pretty much cut through anything the price is amazing.
Windstorm Safety Whistle
Lavender Essential Oil: This is the Swiss army knife of essential oils. My favorite lavender oil is from Spark Naturals. Enjoy a 10% discount with code BACKDOORSURVIVAL.
Rectangular Tin with Window: I found this tin that is very similar to mine on Amazon.com. Chances are you have something similar already that can be repurposed for free.
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SPARK NATURALS APRIL 2015 DEALS OF THE MONTH
For April, the “Deals†all center around plants that produce flowers. The oils are:
Clary Sage
Rose
Roman Chamomile
Lavender
Geranium
Helichrysum
In addition, everyone"s favorite, the mini roller 5-pack, is on sale. Lavender and Geranium to two of my go-to oils so I plan to order more for long-term storage. I am still learning abut Clary Sage and Roman Chamomile.
And the roller balls? I don’t need to tell you how much I love my my roller balls! Here is direct link for you: 5 Pack of Mini-Roller Ball Applicators.
SPARK NATURALS DEALS OF THE MONTH
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Need something from Amazon (and who doesn’t)? I earn a small commission from purchases made when you begin your Amazon shopping experience here. You still get great Amazon service and the price is the same, no matter what.
Amazon has a feature called Shop Amazon – Most Wished For Items. This is an easy tool for finding products that people are ‘wishing†for and in this way you know what the top products are. All you need to do is select the category from the left hand side of the screen.
Amazon Top 20 in Camping & Hiking – Perfect for Preppers!
Emergency Preparedness Items from Amazon.com
Shop Amazon Tactical – Great Selection of Optics, Knives, Cases, Equipment
Amazon Gift Cards
Help support Backdoor Survival. Purchases earn a small commission and for that I thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shop the Emergency Essentials Monthly Specials
April is STOCK UP month at Emergency Essentials with most products discounted when purchased in bulk. Fruits are discounted up to 61% off, veggies up to 55% off, dairy up to 58% off, and meats up to 59% off.
Emergency Essentials Stock Up Sale
Emergency Food Buckets are also on sale. All told, this month the sales at Emergency Essential are a real win!
Review: Life Pod Paracord Survival Kit + Giveaway by Gaye Levy first appeared on Backdoor Survival.
Review: Life Pod Paracord Survival Kit + Giveaway
Review: Life Pod Paracord Survival Kit + Giveaway
#survivalist
No comments:
Post a Comment