Gear Reviews

Gear Reviews: Field-Tested Equipment for Real-World Preparedness

Gear Reviews: Field-Tested Tools for When Failure Isn’t an Option

Most gear reviewers spend more time taking pretty pictures in their living rooms than they do actually using the tools they recommend. That’s how you end up with a “survival” knife that snaps on the first log or a water filter that clogs after two gallons of Arkansas creek water. If a piece of gear hasn’t been beaten up, rained on, or pushed to its limit in the dirt, it doesn’t belong on your belt—and it definitely doesn’t belong on this site.

I’ve spent over 20 years breaking things so you don’t have to. On this page, I strip away the marketing fluff and the “predator-themed” branding to tell you what actually works. If it’s on this list, it’s because it earned its place through technical performance, durability, and value.

Notes From the Field: The Weekly Newsletter

“Cheap gear is the most expensive thing you’ll ever buy because you’ll have to pay for it twice—once with money, and once with your safety. Join me, and let’s get it right the first time.”

Notes From the Field: The Weekly Newsletter

Stop Buying Junk and Start Building a System

The biggest mistake preppers make is buying “stuff” instead of building a system. A basement full of gear is just a museum if you don’t know how to use it or if it fails the first time you need it.


Every week, I send out field updates on what I’m currently testing—from new 3D printed survival mods to the latest from brands like PSA and xTool. It’s 100% free, and I’ll never recommend a product just because it has a shiny logo.”

The Gear Roadmap

Don’t just browse. Build your kit based on the three pillars of preparedness.

1. Navigate: Orientation & Movement Tools

Tools designed to keep you on track when the satellites go dark.

👉 7 Best Compasses for Preppers in 2025 (Reliable Picks You Can Trust)
Field-tested compasses that stay accurate when everything else fails.

👉 Best Maps for Preppers: Topographic & Survival Maps You Can Trust
Paper navigation that never needs batteries.

👉 DIY Land Navigation Kit That Fits in Your Glovebox
A compact backup system for vehicles and bug-out bags.

👉 Best GPS Units for Preppers (When You Need More Than a Compass)
Modern navigation tools for layered redundancy.

2. Sustain: Life Support & Resource Tools

Infrastructure gear that keeps your home running and your family fed.

👉 Best Gravity Water Filters for 2026
High-volume filtration systems for families and long outages.

👉 Solar Generators for Beginners: Powering the Essentials
Jackery, EcoFlow, and real-world sizing guidance.

👉 Best Winter Emergency Equipment: What You Actually Need
Heating, lighting, and backup systems that matter.

👉 Top 25 Survival Items You’ll Regret Not Having in 2025
Top survival items you will need in 2025.

3. Protect: Defense & Hardening Tools

Equipment designed to detect, deter, and defend without turning your home into a bunker.

👉 Best Night Vision for Preppers: Seeing Without Being Seen
Entry-level to serious optics for nighttime awareness.

👉 Best Thermal Monoculars for Property Security
Spot movement through darkness, fog, and brush.

👉 10 Best Survival Watches In 2025
How will you keep time and protect yourself in SHTF.

👉 Vehicle Vitals: The Ultimate Winter Car Emergency Kit Checklist
Best gear you’ll need for hitting the winter roads.

The Adventure Wiser Review Philosophy

I don’t care about “unboxing” videos. I care about “ten months later” videos. Preparedness is about reducing dependence on fragile systems. If a piece of gear requires a constant internet connection or a proprietary battery that you can’t recharge in the woods, I’m going to tell you exactly why that’s a problem.

Buy once. Cry once. Stay Wiser.

Gear Reviews: Field-Tested Equipment for Real-World Preparedness