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Here is a review of R/Rick's survival necklace that I read awhile back from www.equipped.org.
This site rates alot of survival equipment and gives fair reviews. The review of the necklace is a little old but gives you a general overview. The dog tag/blade, mirror and fire starter have been replaced with newer items.
The reason I bought R/Rick kit was that some of the items in his kit was in McCann's book. It was cheaper to order his kit than to order from several sites.
Thanks, Mbarnatl - I've read Doug's work for a long time and have a lot of respect for him. He does know his stuff and you can trust his reviews to be honest and generally accurate. He missed one point on the review of the necklace that he does discuss elsewhere on his site; "Care should be taken when packing a compass in a kit that it is as far away from any materials, carbon steels and iron, that could attract the compass needle, potentially affecting its accuracy." I would think that could be a concern with the necklace.
http://www.equipped.com/devices26.htm
Scan down to TIPS:
Do either of you, or anyone else here have an opinion regarding his manuals? So far I'm sold on Dr. Ron Hood's instructions on building your own small & large kits yourself. As Rick has posted elsewhere, it's always cooler to build your own, & I totally agree with that.;)
Sarge, I've never read his manuals so I can't comment.
Thanks, "M", BTW, J. Wayne Fears sells a small "Survival" handbook at Wal-Mart for @ 5 bucks if anyone's interested. Look back by the hunting supplies.:cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
@Sarge: I have Digest 9 that has "how to make a survial vest", "Mini-Mag Lite survival kit", and "Anti-Frostbite Anti-Hypothermia Kit" in it's volume. Lots of tips in it. The contents of the vest is close to what McCann has in his book. As for Dr. Ron Hood's I had never read any of his work. Also, someone mention the stuff found in the Digest was from the Ranger Handbook... I don't know if it is because I never read it. Overall I found the Digest very interesting and have bought some items mention in it. I have really enjoyed the digest and will probably buy other Digest volumes.
Update: "As for Dr. Ron Hood's I had never read any of his work. "
I did a search and found it. The name did not stick... I have his DVD. If you like his stuff, then you will find R/Rick's stuff interesting.
@Rick: I personally do not like things around my neck. I made mine into the key chain kit. I will write my personal review of R/Rick's survival necklace/para cord/key chain kits in my blog and post the link here when I get it done.
The compass issue I have read about before. When I go on hikes, I have actually several compasses on me and/or my equipment. I learned that having a back-up compass or two is a good thing. Also, never rely on a GPS.
...about things hanging around your neck. Especially if they have the potential for decpapitation.:eek: Hope dlble "R" checked with his attorney on the "liability" potential there. The Key chain isn't a bad idea but here's my point. I want to use "quality gear" in my "survival" kit. The stronger, the better. My top compass is a "Silva Ranger", my folding knife is a "Buck Lumina LED" with a Victoinox swiss army knife that includes a small say. I've used the saw with great results. My top signal mirror is 3" x 5" similar to the one used by the USAF. Check out this bandana, then scroll down to find a similar signal mirror and you'll see what I'm talking about.Quote:
Originally Posted by mbarnatl
http://www.imsplus.com/ims24a.html
I know my gear and what it can and cannot do. I know it's stress points and condition. Although I think a lot of "Ranger Rick's" stuff would be great projects for the Boy Scouts. I have two of the older Fieldbooks and both have sections on "Survival" and making your own kits.:cool:
My daughters have that bandanna in their survival kits. I like the signal mirror. Remember in McCann's book and I think several others... buy the best quality equipment you can afford, Your life may count on it.. One point I like to bring up is that if you buy a kit or make your own... test every single item in it and practice till it become second nature using it.
I have bought three kits that was reviewed on http://www.equipped.org/prsnlkit.htm. Just curious to see how they worked, packaged and to see how accurate the reviews was written. That was before I got McCann's and Lundin's books. I personally would never buy another kit... I like making my own.Quote:
I know my gear and what it can and cannot do. I know it's stress points and condition. Although I think a lot of "Ranger Rick's" stuff would be great projects for the Boy Scouts. I have two of the older Fieldbooks and both have sections on "Survival" and making your own kits.
Check out the Belt Pro Survival Kit on the link... interesting kit idea.
I'm still star-struck over the fact that "Ranger Rick" actually showed up on our forum. The ironic thing about it was that he did it because some of us "dissed" his goods.:eek: We've all said nice things about Cody Lundin, John D. McCann, and Dr. Ron Hood, and they never show up. What if we dissed them....nah! Like them waaaaay too much!:D
After doing a ton of reading reviews on the Ranger Rick Survival Necklace, I am still not a big fan but have been convinced that it is about an 8 on a scale of 1-10 and would probably be good to have around for day hikes and the like. Also after reading the history of Rick Tscherne known as Ranger Rick I have to say he is a most impressive Ranger and survivalist. So to him I do owe an apology for the remarks, although I don't like how he came on here and said some of the things he said to some of the people. I did the same oh well, I also like how he stood up for his product as some merchants wouldn't.
"but I'm not one of those who hang out in forums 24-7-12. Unlike some of you here, I got a life and better things to do with my time than to hid behind a screen throwing rocks at others. And think you kicked someone's butt just because they posted a few comments on a forum and didn't return. So wrong and so immature." Well Ranger all I can say to this is I have life, I served my country, and now serve the State of Ohio as Deputy Sheriff, being on here is just another form of conversation and your own site proves you are on the internet a lot thus your life is boring like those you made fun of, I know I know when they award you the Ranger Tab they didn't give ya an issued set of ethics or morals for being a merchant and a personality either, your reply rants were as immature as mine were and are. Could be the Ranger drive instilled in you by the RIs.
Just some thoughts of mine.
Beo,
Dang I missed his postas someone point me in the right direction
It's a page or two back on this thread. Still would like "Cody, John, & Ron" to drop bi like there stuff better anyway.:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by beerrunner13
When I was a supervisor of sales back in my insurance selling days I learned that a person will project their bad doings on others to deflect attention from themselves. "RR" IS guilty of the same thing he's accusing others of. The income from his "Survival" gear and books obviously allow him to live in Italy where he can ski to his heart's content. Still, one has to respect what he's done with his life in the military. Like I said earlier; at the end of the day the odds are he'd get you back alive!:cool: Hope I didn't tick off his "fan club".:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Beowulf65
"Fan club" according to RR we have some weasels in the wolf pack, eh?? After all he says he recieved several emails from people here about what was said about his gear! Hope it wasnt our members,but he must be worried about his gear since he posted that he has a thread on his sight for members to post ..unkind remarks made about his gear from other sites.Sounds to me like he was looking for a fight or at least an argument anyway.jmho.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarge47
He came off as quite the braggart to me. Not a team player at all. That was what shocked me the most. As I said in my earlier rant, I think it would have been just fine to come on here and tell us how he tested the products, how long, under what conditions. Why he chose the components he did. Ask why some of us felt the way we did about the products, etc. I would have had a ton of respect for the man had he done that.
As for him getting emails, just his way of stirring the ....
From a retailer's perspective, some of the items on the necklace are just fine. None of them are very expensive at the wholesale level and it looks like he's limited his mark up on the individual pieces to make his money on the overall kit. No argument with that. Quality wise, there are some good items on there IMHO. The ferrocerium rod and the whistle are good items. I'm not crazy about the compass or the signal device but that's just my cut at it.
I do wear a necklace in the field. It has my dog tags, a P38 and a photon light. More metal than that and it feels cold when it gets cold.
To each his own but a pinch of professionalism, maturity, and humility would have gone a long way in my book.
Proud American was right on the mark when he said a product's quality should speak for itself. A profound statement. It should.
There is an old saying, "If you have a problem with another man, you need to look inside yourself for the answer." I have and RR is a non issue.
My thinking was that he had a perfect opportunity to imbed himself within the group, gaining our respect in the process. Then we'd obviously would have been more likely to purchase some of his stuff, especially the members who might not be as serious about their outdoors craft. He also had the perfect opportunity to encourage "Proud American" with his interest in the Rangers. I think that necklace idea might have the capacity for decapitation, and should be tested thoroughly. However his manuals look good. The "downer" is that I'm not at all impressed with the "Ranger's" attitude/personality. If his fans don't like it they can e-mail him their whiney complaints as well. :cool:
I agree with you Sarge.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarge47
I have to agree with Sarge also. I started to write my opinion on R/Rick's kit last night but had to stop because it was not fair to the product. It did piss me off what he said. I don't care if someone from the group or an outsider sent him emails... he should have joined and sent the individuals private messages or contacted Chris about it.
Here is my personal opinion/review of R/Rick's kits.
Very good reporting!:cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by mbarnatl
OK, not to "diss" R.R., but there is, what I view in my opinion, as a "down-side" to his little survival kits. 1st, however, I truly believe that any of his kits would be better in a real "Survival Situation" than no gear at all. IF, and that's a big "IF", I were to carry one I would never, ever carry it around my neck. Mbarnatl has linked a site that shows how the saw cuts through the plastic tubing. Think about it. You've used the necklace for awhile and the saw has cut through a significant portion of the tubing. as you walk through the woods you "mis-step", you're foot slipping down a 15' gourge, with you following. You probably would be OK if your necklace hadn't hung up on a tree limb right before you fell. The necklace doesn't break, instead it cuts right through your neck. i would probably carry the stuff in an Altoids tin in my BDU pocket. That is if I carried it at all. Compass experts always tell you to carry a compass with a maximum of two degrees per tick mark on the compass dial. Those "cute" little button compasses that look like they came out of a box of "Cracker-Jacks" just ain't gonna cut it. The best they can do, if they're reliable at all, is to point North. There are many ways to find North that don't even require a compass. Add to that the fact that you should always carry a Topo map of the area you're going to be traveling in and you're ahead of the game. (BTW, raise your hand if, like me, you already have Topo maps of any two counties that surround your home.) Forget that "Dog-tag" blade; too tricky to handle if your hands aren't able to grasp things normally. I suppose this is all "in the eye of the beholder". And any "Ranger Rick Groupie" will probably swear by his stuff, while others will swear AT it. The point is that, according to other experts like Dr. Ron Hood, Cody Lundin, John D. McCann, J. Wayne Fears, just to name a few, you're a lot better off making your own. I think that The Ranger's best product is probably his manuals. I haven't read any of them yet, nor have I read the "Ranger Handbook" to see if that's where the material originated. but, keeping an open mind I will check that all out at the 1st opportunity.:cool:
Sure wished you had endorsed that FINE???? equipment. I spent an hour or so going thru my junk drawer in the workshop making a dozen of those kits. NOW thanks to you I probably can't sell them on E-Bay. I sure could have used that extra $20. I was counting on.
I have come to the conclusion that it all boils down to personal preference, while I don't like the survival necklace personally others might, I like the key chain option better. It does have some flaws but show me a survival product that cover every single situation. I pack really lite going into the woods, everything fits into my snapsack and cross slung on my back. Of course the Survival Necklace would be better than nothing if that's all one has, and that is what its for emergencies. I have done a ton of reading by people and sites that rated the necklace and all said it was worth the money and (like all survival products) can be fitted to each individual. I apolgized to RR for my remarks because I was wrong in calling him dufis, actually he has made a good living using the skill he was taught and that he taught to others. Kudos to him I never thought of it (damn) that makes him pretty smart. I would make the wire saw capable of coming out of the sheath instead of cutting through it. I would put a better knife on it other than that I would leave it alone. Now many of you will say "why is Beowulf65 backsliding on what he said" well the answer is simple.
I gave an opinion on a product I had never tested myself, now since my neighbor and good friend has one we put it to the test and it seemed to work pretty well. The wiresaw cut through a two inch branch in pretty quick time and the wiresaw did not break on us, once through the plastic it may cut your neck but who would put a bare wiresaw back around their neck anyway.
The whiste glowed in the dark and was easy to find and the sound had a good range although I found the squeal to be spine racking for me (but that's just my hearing) although I would use it to signal help if it were in sight. The signal mirror worked well once we caught the light, the knife I just don't like (but for the price of the necklace you can't beat it, great price) the spark striker lit our tinder quickly and gave a good shower of sparks. Overall the necklace is pretty good in a pinch, and real good for day hikes, I would probably carry it in a pocket but that's just me. I put a better compass together but then again this compass is better than no compass. It did find north for us.
This just my opinion on the necklace, after testing it with a friend who had it for a year and had never used it and we tested it at night. So on this product I was... damn here I gotta say it again... I was wrong, it works fairly well. Sure we could all probably find the pieces somewhere in our homes but let not forget people buy these for handy quick survival options and some people who don't have survival skills can use them with a fair amount of ease.
Beo,
P.S. The manuals all got real good ratings on the web from companie and people that have read them. I haven't but was told the info was also in the Ranger Handbook along with even more info, while I have a Ranger Handbook I don't have any of the RR manuals.
"Also after reading the history of Rick Tscherne known as Ranger Rick I have to say he is a most impressive Ranger and survivalist. So to him I do owe an apology for the remarks" I meant this, his record is very impresive, so "Lead the Way Ranger Rick" and "fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though you be the lone survivor."
Beo - It's a wise man that can look back at his tracks and realize he has taken the wrong trail.
it still doesnt change RRs way of handling the situation though...
True, but I was just doing right by me. Made me feel better to be able say I tested the product and this is what I found out, right or wrong that I was. It was for my piece of mind.
Thaks Beo,
I guess I ow him a apolagy to. By the way Beo wered you find the read on RR.
Just googled reviews of his necklace.
My thinking is that it's just too bad it took "negative press" to bring "RR" to our forum. I would like to think that he would have been more interested in helping people here learn about Survival. Still, we could probably e-mail him if we need to know of any good ski resorts in the Alps.:D:D
You are correct on this, but ... I see people hiking and geocaching all the time without any survival kits. They go out with a bottle of water, a cell phone, gps, i-pods, maybe carry a stick they picked up. I would rather see them at least carry a RR kit than no survival kit at all... agree? If they know how to use it is a different thing.Quote:
The point is that, according to other experts like Dr. Ron Hood, Cody Lundin, John D. McCann, J. Wayne Fears, just to name a few, you're a lot better off making your own.
As I posted earlier, it's better than no Survival kit at all. Plus you make an excellent point about "knowing how to use it". If they never had any training or skill sharpening they could be in a world of hurt.:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by mbarnatl
Well , well I,m gone a couple days and look what you guys have gone and done :eek: .I started this poast about RR becouse I liked he's gear and I thought you would too and you go and make him mad .my my ,Bad Dogs, Bad Dogs no bisket LOL LOL:D:D
Carrying a survival kit that you do not how to use, is just as dangerous as not having one at all! :confused: :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by mbarnatl
I ressurected this old thread on "Survival Lists"; check out the cool "Survival Vehicle" on the 1st page.(scroll down) I've got a lot of "Lists" of things you can include in any SK, particularly from Paul Tarwell's 1st book: "Camping &
Wilderness Survival". However, while looking for info on "Fuzz- sticks" I came across this in my copy of the 1984 Boy Scout Field Book. It dedicated a whole chapter to Survival and this is what it suggested for a Boy Scout SK:
1.) Rescue Blanket; (I'd use the "All-Weather Sportsdman's Blanket by MPI.)
2.) 50' of nylon cord; (I'd make that 550 cord.)
3.) Hard candy, chocolate, meat bar; (I'd sub a full MRE.)
4.) Matches, Metal match, & 0000 Steel wool;(I'd add my flint & steel &/or my
Magnesium/flint block.
5.) Candle/fire starters.
6.) Plastic Whistle;(Fox 40, my choice.)
7.) Small glass signal mirror;(BSA has a "steel" mirror quite low-cost, but the
"Starflash" would be my choice.)
8.) Pen light with spare batteries.(maybe a "Beta" light?)
9.) Small, sharp pocketknife;(Swiss Army is what I'd go with.)
10.) Metal cup or plastic water bottle;(Nalgene bottle and a canteen cup.)
11.) Water purification tablets.
12.) Plastic sheet or an emergency shelter; (How about Duct Tape and some
55 gal. trash bags?)
Kinda skimpy, but would do in a pinch.:cool: Any thoughts?
oh yeah, Saskatchewan, hard to spell....easy to draw :DQuote:
Originally Posted by flandersander
I just say up north. To danged hard to spell.
I don't want to get all hung up on semantics but aren't we talking about a Bug Out Bag rather than a survival kit? I mean, my survival kit is itty bitty but my BOB is wedged into the back of the semi.
The only reason I mention it is because some of the less experienced folks on here might not understand the difference. If I'm pickin' fly poo out of the pepper, I'll go back to sleep.
And here's another question. It's all fine and dandy to have a BOB on the stand by but what is your better half and kiddies gonna do? I don't see anything relative to them on the post. And how about Bowser, Kitty, and Silver? What have you got in store for them? Answer me that one....
the basics always start with a knife, a whistle, and ussually a flint or matches