15 Pieces Of Gear To Survive The Apocalypse

Published on 07/06/2012

By Billy Brown

You don’t have to have a Mayan calendar in your living room to be a little freaked out about living in the year 2012. Epidemics, solar flares, global warming, economic collapse (not to mention the constant threat of zombie apocalypse) are all knocking on your doorstep. Luckily, you’re an outdoorsman, so you know a thing or two about what it takes to survive when civilization isn’t around to baby you. Over the last few months, the Active Junky staff looked in our closets and dug up some gear that could come in handy for the end of the world. Here is the complete list of Apocalypse gear you need to survive when shit hits the fan.

 

Buff Headwear Wool Buff

Buff Headwear’s Wool Buff is the multitool of headwear, with its insulating/ventilating merino wool and nearly endless uses. The Buff can act as a beanie, headband, facemask, balaclava, neck gaiter, pretty much anything that you can think to do with a tube-shaped piece of fabric.

Read the full review of the Buff Headwear Wool Buff

 

 

 

Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion Hiking Socks

With dense cushioning wrapping around the foot, the Micro Crew Hiking sock provides some softness without feeling squishy, and the merino wool/nylon blend wicks away sweat, keeping feet dry and blisters at bay. 

Read the full review of the Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion Hiking Socks

 

 

 

 

 

Revo Bearing Shades

Revo’s Bearing shades sport wide frames and high contrast polarized lenses that provide wraparound coverage to block out the sun’s blinding rays. The flush-mounted spring hinges provided a great fit, allowing for hours of comfortable wear.

Read the full review of the Revo Bearing Shades

 

Triple Aught Design Stealth Hoodie LT

This jacket is equipped with water- and wind-proof Schoeller c-change fabric that opens its pores to vent heat and moisture and closes down to lock in heat when the weather gets chilly. And if the sun comes out, the jacket’s coldblack treatment prevents the sun’s rays from heating up the jacket’s material.

Read the full review of the Triple Aught Design Stealth LT

 

 

 

 

First Ascent Uprising Jeans

Designed as a rock-climbing pant, the denim fabric is bolstered by Cordura for more durability with a dash of spandex thrown in for more mobility. The spandex material and gusseted crotch gives plenty of flexibility for stemming and high feet, while the straight leg fit kept material from bunching up. The Uprisings are versatile enough to head from the trails to the pub…literally.

Read the full review of the First Ascent Uprising Jeans

 

 

 

 

 

Icebreaker GT 260 Quantum Hood

Merino wool does it all: it keeps you warm when it’s cold, it breathes when you get hot, stays warm when it gets wet, and it never smells. On cold-weather hikes, the 260-weight wool fleece was much warmer than it’s light weight would suggest, and on morning runs, the material breathed well, preventing testers from overheating.

Read the full review of the Icebreaker GT 260 Quantum Hood

 

 

 

 

 

Polarmax AYG Undies

It’s hard to overstate the importance of good underwear – if your boys are happy, you’re happy. They’re cotton, so they’ve got that softness that comes with cotton, but they’ve been treated with XTRdry so they wick and dry like performance fabrics.

Read the full review of the Polarmax AYG Undies

 

 

 

 

 

 

MSR Miniworks EX Microfilter

The 1-pound filter is built for heavy use and abuse, and it can be maintained in the field without tools. The filter is said to last for about 2,000 liters, so when you’re out in the middle of the badlands, all you need to do is find some water and let the filter do the rest.

Read the full review of the MSR Miniworks EX Microfilter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hydrapak Reversible Elite Reservoir

No matter how the world ends, one thing that you’re going need every day is water. Hydrapak’s Shape Shift Reversible Reservoir sports an internal baffle that keeps it from poofing out and taking up extra space in your pack, and the hose features a quick-disconnect so you can pull the reservoir out of your pack without yanking the hose out with it.

Read the full review of the Hydrapak Reversible Elite Reservoir

 

 

 

 

 

Gerber Gear Survival Series Parang

The Parang’s 13.5-inch stainless steel blade sports a nice curve and its tang runs the length of the handle, balancing the machete’s 20-ounce weight. Testers loved the weight distribution of the Parang and the blade’s rubber grip, which prevented slippage during the sweatiest hackfests.

Read the full review of the Gerber Gear Survival Series Parang

 

 

 

 

 

Tactical Bacon

When the world ends, it’s going to be all about the things that remind you of better times. Bacon is one of those things. The bacon isn’t fully crispy (it’s in a can, for Pete’s sake), but there’s enough texture to pass as a soggier version of the magic meat, and it tastes like bacon should – pretty damn good.

Read the full review of the Tactical Bacon

 

 

 

 

 

Sierra Designs Pyro Maniac 15/30 Sleeping Bag

Thanks to a removable torso panel, the Pyro Maniac can adjust its temperature range from 15 to 30 degrees in seconds. While some testers either sweated in or opened up their 15-degree bags, the lucky tester in the Pyro removed the insulating panel and was resting comfortably in seconds.

Read the full review of the Sierra Designs Pyro Maniac 15/30 Sleeping Bag

 

 

 

 

 

Easton Mountain Products Kilo 1P Tent

Consider Easton Mountain Products Kilo 1p tent your new home. The three-season tent sports 39 inches of headroom and about 19 square feet of floorspace with an extra 8 square feet of vestibule space for all your gear, but it still packs down into a 5.5x16-inch package that weighs less than 3 pounds.

Read the full review of the Easton Mountain Products Kilo 1P Tent

 

 

 

 

Mile High Mountaineering Salute 34 Pack

Mile High Mountaineering’s Salute 34 pack is made up of rugged cordura material with burly zippers and a PackSlicker rainfly included. The most obvious upgrade from standard pack design is the Snake-Loader zipper system, an “S”-shaped zipper that runs from the top of the pack and snakes its way down to the bottom.

Read the full review of the Mile High Mountaineering Salute 34 Pack

 

 

 

 

 

Talus Cold Avenger Expedition Balaclava

The problem that we’ve found with most balaclavas, especially heavy-duty ones, is that they soak up condensation from your breath and get wet, then cold, then frozen. Cold Avenger’s Expedition Balaclava solves this issue with its polyurethane ventilator, which warms and humidifies the air that you inhale, keeping your lungs happy.

Read the full review of the Talus Cold Avenger Expedition Balaclava