You can never have too many pocket knives or multi-plier tools. The LEATHERMAN SUPER TOOL 300 will fix just about anything, but you will still need a hammer when it comes time to rebuild your house. It’s $80.85 at leatherman.com. The HEADLAMP by Princeton Tec. This flashlight is dimmable and waterproof and provides 165 lumens of light, which is enough help you find your way through a disaster zone. It’s $49.95 at princetontec.com. POWERMONKEY EXPLORER is a great charger for small personal electronics. Just lay it out on a picnic table, plug in an iPod and before you know it, you’ve got tunes. Durable and lightweight, this solar charger can fit in a glove compartment. It’s $99.99 at powertraveller.com. SAWYER MINI WATER FILTER. It filters water in four ways: as a straw, attached to a soft pouch to squeeze or drink from, attached to most plastic water/soda bottles to squeeze or
drink from, or added in-line on the tube of a hydration bladder. Great for personal use, this device will filter 100,000 gallons. Comes with straw, pouch and a syringe to backflush it when the filter gets dirty. It’s $24.99. The SAWYER ALL IN ONE is even better for family/home hurricane prep. The filter is bigger than the mini filter and is guaranteed to 1 million gallons. It can be used with squeeze pouches and most water/ soda bottles. Plus this kit also comes with an attachment for water faucets and all the items necessary to turn an ordinary 5-gallon bucket into a gravitystyle water filtration system for large amounts of water. It’s $69.99 at sawyer.com.
The battery-operated STREAMLIGHT SIEGE LANTERN, with three white-light as well as flashing red and steady red light settings, will run for 37 hours on the lowest setting, making it an excellent safety device. It’s $32.95 at streamlight.com. The MOTOROLA TALKABOUT two-way radio has a 20-mile range and will keep you in touch with loved ones when other forms of communication fail. It also tunes into NOAA Weather Radio for information. It’s $54.95 at motorolasolutions.com. Scuba divers, boaters and anglers have long known the value of a PELICAN CASE to keep electronics safe. This is also a great watertight choice for homeowners who want to protect important documents. Model 1450 sells for $121.95 at pelicancases.com. After any natural disaster, people are not always on their best behavior, so you might buy some SABRE PEPPER SPRAY for personal defense. The personal size sells for $14.95, while the Home and Away version sells for $21.95. It will deter looters, but might not work for zombies. Buy at sabrered.com.
Tampa Bay Times | Sunday, May 29, 2016 |
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