How many readers carry a slingshot in their Bug Out Bag? I keep one in my outdoor bag but rarely use it. The ammunition that I use are usually rough rocks that tend to curve out at their launching. A person can use marbles or steel shot for more accurate shooting but that can be expensive for ongoing practice sessions.

As I was traveling on a country road recently I noticed the abundance of acorns on the ground and it dawned on me that their near-round shape and density would make good material with which to practice shooting with my slingshot. I was able to collect quite a volume of acorns in a very short time to have on hand. I selected the acorns without the caps and with no splits down the side. Split acorns can come apart when shot and can be dangerous to anything along the sidelines down range.

Each acorn has a large dot at the top where it had been fastened to the cap. My best results come when I place that dot in the center of the leather pouch. The acorn shoots straight and I only need to adjust the elevation of my aim. The mass of an acorn is quite devastating.

So take advantage of this season and collect an abundance of acorns to help sharpen your slingshot skill. For shooting tips and inspiration you can watch “Carolina Camera: The Sling Shot Man” to witness some remarkable marksmanship.

My youngest son has literally traveled around the globe and I’ve been amazed at how little he packs as he travels. He only takes a backpack as his luggage that has a zip-off day-pack attached. As holiday weekends approach he often searches for exceptional air fares for a quick get-away trip on a budget. He found a ticket recently from Charlotte NC to Philadelphia PA for $37 but there was a catch… this airline required passengers to pay a fee for any carry-on or check-in luggage that exceeded the air fare price!

In many cases travel by plane can be a financial challenge, especially in an emergency situation. It may be necessary to think in terms of minimalism when dealing with a limited budget. The question is “what do you really need to carry with you during your flight?” and “what is the purpose of your trip?”. That will determine your luggage requirements.

I have heard stories of folks who at the check-in counter had encountered over-weight luggage fees. They stepped away from the registration desk and returned soon afterwards wearing some extra clothing that had been packed in their luggage resulting in a now lighter luggage weight that avoided the higher fees. That caused me to think that a person could wear items normally packed in carry-on luggage and avoid added fees.

I looked up the fees from the budget airlines that had this restriction and found that they allowed a “personal item” for free. They must be no larger than 14” x 18” x 8” in size and must fit under the seat in front of you on the airplane. That personal item could carry a second set of clothes that would allow you to wash one set while wearing the other and one set may be more formal for any occasion where it was appropriate. If I chose to wear the extra set of clothes I would also carry a compact folding ruck sack so that once I landed at my destination I could remove the extra clothes and carry them separately along with any sundries that I might purchase along the way.

Smaller items such as electronics, hygiene items, snacks, and personal items can be carried in coat pockets. Plastic bags are useful to keep all of the small items together and your pockets dry. It is a simple thing to lay the loaded coat into the TSA tray on your way through inspection. Extra needed items might be purchased upon arrival to your destination.

You may enjoy these links to other travel tips.

Cyanoacrylate (CA glue) has amazing strength in surface-to-surface bonding. Beyond everyday repairs, certain types are used for bonding skin for closing lacerations in emergencies and for other surgical procedures. One major factor of the glue’s effectiveness is the amount of surface contact. Originally produced as a liquid, CA glue is now also offered as a gel, enabling it to fill in small gaps in open cracks.

Recently I learned about a new application for CA glue that gives it a more third dimensional way for filling in larger gaps and forming better support for small points of contact. Recently I witnessed an auto repairman sprinkle a bit of powder on a broken part in my car then he added a drip of CA glue to it. The powder soaked the CA glue in immediately and in just seconds made a rock hard bond.

After doing a little research I found that baking soda can be used as the powder for this kind of bonding so I decided to try it out for myself. I broke apart a plastic beam from some window blinds to experiment with. As illustrated by the photo you can see how the two parts were joined and the missing gaps around the hole were filled in using a “build up” technique of successive CA glue applications. I also bridged the cracks inside the hollow beam to add more strength. To my delight the repair was incredibly strong!

The application of baking soda in combination to CA glue opens new doors for repairs. The ability to instantly close gaps and build points of support with rock-hard bonds is revolutionary. Caution should be taken when handling CA glue because it can bond your skin (such as your finger tips) together or to another surface. Acetone, often found in nail polish remover can be used as a solvent to loosen and separate bonded skin.

In a previous article (No hook… no problem…) I shared the use of an “S”biner as a hook for my bags on a restroom stall wall. On a recent trip I discovered another use. By connecting each of the luggage straps together with the “S”biner on my back side I was able to create a harness that kept them from sliding off of my shoulders while I controlled the front side with my hands.

This may seem simple but it made a huge difference. It not only helped my transit between terminals but continued to help after my arrival where I traveled a distance by train and then walked for a mile to my final destination.

I highly recommend acquiring an “S”biner for your “Bug-Out-Bag”, “Go-Bag”, or travel gear. It is very versatile and you will be glad it’s there when you need it.

I decided to create a “travel” BOB vs. an all-purpose BOB. Knowing that I would be traveling through various airports I had envisioned the need to keep my BOB or carry-on luggage off of the lavatory floor (for obvious reasons). I had purchased an “S” carabiner (S-biner) that would be large enough to use as a hook from which to hang my BOB on the stall wall. Generally there are hooks installed inside the stalls but not always. Sometimes they have been broken off.

When I entered the restroom all of the stalls were occupied, so I chose an alternate fixture for use. Without shelves for luggage I was delighted to have my S-biner with which to hang up my carry-on bag on the outside of the stall wall while my BOB had a sling so I kept over my shoulder. Problem solved to my relief.

This of course is only one application for an S-biner. I will also use it to attach both pieces of luggage while sitting in the terminal so it would complicate a potential theft attempt. Beyond that it could also be used to attach other items such as umbrellas, cups, bottles, coats, etc. I found that the S-biner should have a one inch gap in order to be large enough to fit over the stall wall or perhaps hang on a table or counter edge.

My source for purchase was on ebay. It was manufactured overseas and shipped from Chino California. I mention this for folks who are conscientious about their choice of manufactured goods and their origin. It shipped immediately and arrived 11 days later in North Carolina. It cost less than $16 with free shipping and handling.

Once it arrived it was like Christmas morning! I opened up the package and was impressed with the compact dimensions. I quickly assembled the kit to get the full effect of it’s clever design.

The next step was to try it out and experience it’s function in action. I have reviewed a different wood burning camp stove in a previous article entitled “Review – TrailStove“. It’s primary advantage over this stove is a side hole that allowed fuel to be added as needed without lifting the cooking vessel. However, this stove’s benefits are that it is a gasifier for more efficient combustion and that it collapses into a very small size for storage and transport. To sustain a fire during the cooking process the pot can be lifted momentarily as needed to add fuel. Another interesting feature of this stove is the adjustable pot supports on top; they can fold out to accommodate larger pots or folded inward to support a metal cup. It comes in a nice net bag that can isolate any soot when packed.

My next action is to acquire a stainless steel pot with lid that this stove can nest inside for storage. I certainly give this a ‘thumbs-up” on my initial inspection and operation. this might just be the best fit for your backpack, Bug Out Bag, or emergency car kit.

I carry this in my Bug-Out-Bag (BOB) along with a sheet of water intrusion barrier material that I use for a ground cloth. I don’t carry a mattress so I selected a spot that had a layer of leaves that I hoped would be sufficient to provide enough thermal insulation from the ground in addition to some degree of comfort to lay on. It was also quite flat as I try to avoid an inclined surface to sleep on.

For the most part I laid on my side with my knees bent as if sitting on an imaginary chair. Alternatively I would straighten my legs and sleep on my back. Because it wasn’t raining I knew that I could afford to poke my feet out from under the shelter if needed but I could have changed from a sitting position to a “V” position if needed to be completely covered.

The “X” frame inside provided a nice place to hang my key chain light, but my smart phone provided plenty of light when needed inside the shelter. I moved my pocket knife from my side to a more comfortable position in my shirt pocket with the added benefit of quick access if needed. I also used a bug net over my head at night, keeping it extended out from my face. As an added bug/critter repellant I rubbed tea tree oil on my ankles, wrists, neck, and forehead.

The only thing that I used that I don’t currently carry in my BOB was a down sleeping bag. This causes me to rethink my strategy and perhaps consider preparing different BOBs based on the circumstances that would necessitate my emergency egress.

The mechanical alarm is a fisherman’s clip-on bell that conventionally is attached to the end of a fishing pole to alert a fisherman that a fish has been caught on his staked-out fishing pole. My application is that I attach it to the B.O.B. so that when I set the B.O.B. down, for instance at a lobby, terminal, or restaurant, I can be notified if it gets moved or lifted.

The electronic alarm is a simple magnetic switch device purchased at a “dollar-store” that conventionally is mounted on a door or window frame with double sided tape. I use it unmounted, usually on the floor by a door so that when it is opened the alarm is shifted away from the magnet which then activates the shrill siren. This arrangement could be modified in the field by attaching some fishing line to the magnet and used as a trip-line. A trip-line can also be used on a mechanical device such as a mouse trap to trigger a loud sound.

I used to carry a motion detection alarm but have since switched to the small (and less expensive) magnetic alarm instead. An alternative to carrying alarms is to stack items like soda cans that will topple over if it is set in a pathway, by a door, or triggered by a trip-line.

For a creative mind there are many solutions for alarm systems but having a few reliable items on hand can make it a much easier task to achieve.

For starters, rip-stop material is really tough stuff and is not prone to tearing and if it should get a hole it will not grow in size. Because of this strength it can be adapted to function beyond it’s original intended use as a garment and into a tent-like structure by using fiberglass knock-down shock-cord rods as an “X-frame” being tied in the center with each end anchored at the corner grommets that are incorporated into the poncho design.

My poncho measures 54″x80″ and provides good coverage when configured as a tent. I am 6′ tall and have found a couple of positions to lay where I can be completely covered and yet stay somewhat comfortable. I can lay on my side in a sitting posture with my legs bent. When I feel a need to stretch my legs I remain on my side and form a “V” with my legs outstretched. While in this position there is plenty of room for my Bug-Out-Bag (B.O.B.) to lay beside me.

Should it happen to be raining, you could trench around the drip-line to divert water or build up a layer of insulation beneath you to keep you warm and comfy while at the same time separate you from the wet ground. If it’s not raining I suppose that body parts that protrude out from under the shelter wouldn’t really matter, but I prefer to be covered completely.

I carry my poncho in my B.O.B. along with an ENO double-sized hammock. I decided to try using the poncho as a rain-fly to cover the hammock. As you might see in the photo, it is slightly under-sized for rain but it could be used in a pinch with the sides held out with guy-lines. At the same time it covers the top opening of the hammock to help keep out bugs.

In either the tent or hammock rain-fly mode the camouflage pattern helps to provide a stealthy approach to camping which in some emergency circumstances could work in your favor unless you want to be highly visible in which case you would want to use a blaze-orange or other bright color to gain attention.

If I decide to upgrade yet another time, it would probably be for a larger size or a different camouflage pattern but I am quite pleased with what this poncho has delivered and look forward to testing it out in the field.

You can make your own cache by removing the cap of the lip balm and elevating the wax out completely. The cylinder of wax will have a plastic cup at the end and you can gently remove it. Then, fold your currency in half lengthwise. A hair pin can be slipped over the bill’s midpoint and rotated like a spindle to create a small tube which in turn can be placed into the empty lip balm container. When the cap is replaced, no one will see the contents or suspect your lip balm of being a cache of currency. For an even more hidden appearance you can cut off the wax just above it’s plastic cup and replace it in the tube over the currency so that it appears completely normal when the cap is removed.

In regards to the wax, in a hot environment it might melt and moisten the contents that are hidden, but it doesn’t invalidate the currency. It can also be used in a number of other ways such as for it’s original purpose, or to float an improvised needle compass, to enhance kindling for making a fire, or for any number of other things.

So consider taking that extra step of monetary backup. It takes very little space and could just save the day in an emergency.