FIVE ABOVE SIX BELOW - URBAN PREPAREDNESS AT A GLANCE

Urban Survival Water Filters: We're Not in Kansas Anymore

While there are countless systems providing full spectrum filtration at home, they leave much to be desired for the road. Whether a trip out of town or a prolonged outage at the municipal treatment plant, we're often pulled to a solution that covers the spread. As a pillar of preparedness, I would imagine you have something tucked away - but is it as simple as throwing a filter in your kit for urban survival?

WaterJHMay 9, 2023Urban Prepping, Urban Survival, Urban Preparedness, Water Filtration, SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, Apartment Prepping, City Prepping, Prepper Blog, Prepping Blog, SHTF Blog, SHTF Loadout

On Shotguns: Skipping Rounds When The SHTF

Ricochets are seldom spoken of in a positive light, and there's plenty of reason for the sentiment. Hard-earned wisdom tells us to stay close to the walls but never against them, as physics will carry most round projectiles and float them 6 to 10 inches above a flat surface. While this can be a serious problem at random, it becomes an interesting opportunity when intentional.

Civil Unrest, SHTF ShotgunsJHApril 30, 2023Urban Survival, Urban Prepping, Urban Preparedness, Prepping Shotgun, SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, City Prepping, Apartment Prepping, Civil Unrest, Shotgun, Prepper Blog, Prepping Blog, Prepping, SHTF Shotgun

Urban Survival Food: The Cost of Fuel, and a Case for Lentils

When looking for a long-term food option dried beans often come up as the leading response. Rich in protein and other nutrients, the humble legume provides a near perfect balance when combined with a carb like rice. While an idyllic choice in the best of times, there is one major drawback to the bean - cook time.

Food for ThoughtJHApril 27, 2023Urban Prepping, Food Storage, Long Term Food Supply, SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, City Prepping, Apartment Prepping, Prepping Blog, Prepper Blog, Urban Preparedness, Prepping

On Shotguns: Safety in Numbers for Urban Survival

While the romance with pump guns has long since moved on, the power and versatility of the shotgun still holds a place in my heart and my hands.

Civil Unrest, SHTF ShotgunsJHApril 27, 2023Urban Prepping, Prepping, Urban Survival, Urban Preparedness, Shotgun, Civil Unrest, SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, SHTF Shotgun, SHTF Loadout, SHTF Blog, Prepping Blog, Prepping Shotgun, Prepper Blog, City Prepping

Quick And Dirty

The winner is usually determined by the person who "brings the mostest the fastest."

Quick & Dirty, Self-DefenseJHApril 27, 2023

Beyond the Pocket

Whether a suit, shorts or skirt, you'd be hard pressed to find a more supportive place to carry a knife when wearing lightweight fabrics. Not only will this reduce the visable wear and tear on your apparel, but the reduction of travel will keep most knives from skipping around in unstructured pockets. To those of you who concealed carry, this isn't going to be a foreign concept. To the rest, however, I hope you'll come at this with an open mind.

EDC, KnivesJHApril 26, 2023Prepping, Urban Prepping, Urban Preparedness, Urban Survival, Every Day Carry, EDC, Knife, SHTF, TEOTWAWKI, City Prepping, Apartment Prepping

On Shotguns: Shotgun Breaching For Urban Survival

We've all encountered a locked barrier at some point in our lives. Locked keys in the car? Call roadside assistance. Late night as a teen? There's a basement window for that. At the end of the day, these are all easy fixes with ample opportunity. But in an urban survival scenario where self-rescue is required - and a locked door may hold you or your loved ones firmly in harm's way - a heavy-handed solution may be the only way to safety. If a lockpick or hard kick won't clear a path, perhaps it's time to knock a little louder. Enter the shotgun.

The Nail That Sticks Out Gets Hammered

During a period of civil unrest, you're either a number or a target. No matter how well equipped you or your small group may be for conflict, full battle rattle is going to draw a world of unwanted attention from the hoods and have-nots. That overt plate carrier and camo you're wearing? The city will eventually swallow you whole, thinking you're another cop, criminal, or loot drop. But at what point does our affinity for load bearing equipment or camo become a liability in urban preparedness? With big city problems, I figure it's sooner rather than later.

Your Daily Dose of First Aid For Urban Preparedness

While first aid holds an important place in urban survival, many of us continue to focus on the long game. We look solely to the horizon, building out full-scale solutions to face troubled times ahead. But with a world of misadventure just beyond our doors, it's important not to lose sight of the daily unknowns. Whether we like it or not, disaster usually crops up when we're least prepared.