Hi, everyone. I’m Norma Jean from Dashboard Destinations and today I’m going to be guest blogging for Lily from On The Go Survival Gear.
Dashboard Destinations is a Guide for all things Road Trip. I’ve been hiking and traveling my whole life and I love to share my experiences with other adventurers. I’ve arrived in places and made plans only to find out I didn’t have enough information and ended up making a lot of mistakes. And I want to help other from making those same mistakes.
One of those mistakes is buying the wrong gear, or buying multiple products that take up time, space, and weight in my pack that I could have avoided. I’m here to tell you about my favorite piece of survival gear.
I’m a long time backpacker, and the key to having an easy, stress free hike is packing properly. Bringing too much with you that weighs you down and drains your energy is the biggest mistakes new backpackers make. So finding lightweight products that have multiple uses is key.
The second mistake backpackers make is not bringing enough water and getting dehydrated which can be dangerous. This helpful little piece removes the weight of carrying extra water with you and is a sustainable source of hydration. This is a multitasking gladiator.
Meet the Wild Peak Filtration Straw.
This is an outdoor enthusiasts dream for limiting water weight but being able to stay hydrated and healthy. It’s Coconut carbon filtered and makes any water source safe to drink. The key to staying safe on a planned trip, or surviving a natural disaster is having access to safe, clean water.
According to the website the 0.01-micron filter effectively removes 99.9999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera, E.coli and removes 99.9% of all protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium.
This tiny filter has four stages of water purification.
1.) PP cotton which removes large contaminants.
2.) Hollow fiber UF membrane
3.) Anti-bacterial beads
4.) Finally, activated carbon filters made from coconut shell
When it comes to using the environment around you and really getting in touch with the area makes a big difference in how you feel when you return home. The Wild Peak filter also includes an 8.75in extension tube if you find yourself on an embankment and the water surface is just out of reach.
One of the many features that sets this filter apart from others is it’s adaptability. It can be used to fill small water bottles, or camelbacks if there’s going to be some distance between water sources. I’ve seen other survival straw that worked by sucking directly out of the straw only. Which means, you can only drink from the water source. Being able to fill mobile water carriers is ideal for long term hiking. This carbon filter is good for 4K liters. That’s a long hike and plenty of (H2O).
But don’t think water is the only resource this little device also has. There’s a mirror meant for distress calls in the event there’s a disaster or you get lost. It’s a distress call that’s visible to helicopters and search parties. Hopefully, you’ll never need it but it’s comforting to know it’s there. And if you know how to use it, it can also be used to start a fire. Reflecting the sun’s light onto small piles of tinder can catch and provide you with life-saving heat.
Even first timers, beginners, or people who want to learn how to follow maps, and read topographic maps could use a compass. It’s great tool to have when navigating through the wilderness and it’s nice having one built into a product that you have easy access to by clipping onto you bag instead of using up limited storage space within your pack. I love products I can hang off my pack to preserve space for items that aren’t water resistant and need to be sheltered.
A bear whistle is also included in this small, unique survival necessity. It’s another item, I hope is never needed, but it can prevent predictors such as wolves and bears from getting closer than is comfortable. You’ll likely never use it, but it’s a nice thing to have that you might not have thought of.
All of this and it’s under $20. Check out Wilk Peak Survival Straw and get your own.
Take it from me, this is one item I don’t leave home without. I have one in my short hike pack, my extended backpacking trips bag, and one in my car. I grew up in mountain country, and being in a car accident stranded out in the middle of nowhere is a possibility so I keep one available. It has more than one useful tool that could save your life.
Or it will simply give you a nice refreshing drink.
Thank you for reading, and as always.
Happy Travels
I hope to see you out there.
Thank you Norma Jean! If you enjoyed this guest blog and would like to be a guest blogger for On The Go Survival Gear, please Email lilyw@onthegosurvival with an article idea.
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