"How Prepared Are You?"

At Dan’s Depot I like to ask people one question… How prepared are you?

If you are unsure, it’s ok… Most people share your concern, and I can help. That's what I'm here for! The difference between you and most other people is that you want to do something about it and you've come to the right place!

What we call "survival" today is not a new concept at all. Hundreds of years ago, it was our ancestors' way of life. The problem has become that over time we have forgotten their way of life and their primitive yet very effective techniques to stay alive. Today, we have the added benefits of improved materials as well as nutrition and health education. It is my goal to focus on teaching these forgotten techniques and simplifying them with the latest advancements to provide you with all the tools you need to be prepared in most any survival situation.

At my depot, I offer a few different things: Survival Kits, Survival Training and Survival Food. These three areas are equally important and each should be considered carefully. Compromising in any area can easily reduce your chances of survival. Whether you are my best friend or a total stranger, I would give you the same following advice.

There are 100’s of survival scenarios to prepare for such as floods, hurricanes, tornados, economical collapse, nuclear attacks, emp attacks, etc… Many survival companies would like you to buy a kit for each scenario. This would cost you thousands of dollars. Honestly, that is both impractical and irresponsible. I don’t recommend getting all of those kits. It is much better to keep it simple. It will be hard enough to keep your cool; you don’t want to be overwhelmed and amplify that by having a bunch of kits to add to the equation.

I personally just have one kit that I am familiar with and can depend on, and I keep that kit close by wherever I go.

My survival kit is contained in a high quality, lightweight, military style backpack. You may have heard other people refer to this as a bug out bag. The idea behind it is that you can get out of any situation in a hurry and have all of your essential gear with you.

What you get with my kit:

First of all, let me tell you that I am proud of this kit. This is years of my research all wrapped up in one package. I figured out what is needed for survival and then found the best products at the best price. I then purchase these items in bulk directly from the manufacturer and cut out all the middlemen to save you money.

So here is what you get:

High Quality, Lightweight, Military Style Backpack - Compact, waterproof and rugged.

Legendary Scandinavian Knife - Built to take a beating and sharp as a razor.

Firesteel Fire Starter – Made to start thousands of fires.

High Quality Compass – Easy to use and navigate.

Water Filtration Straw – Filter up to 30 gallons.

Water Purification Tablets – Fill up your canteen and keep it clean.

Knife Sharpener – Mine is great for a beginner, but sharpens like a pro.

Military Issue Machete And Sheath – Super strong and heavy, built to last.

Emergency Blankets – Reflective blankets are always good for a variety of purposes but mainly for reflecting, preserving and directing heat.

Chow Utensils – It's always better when you don’t have to eat with your hands.

Military First Aid Kit – Don’t leave home without one of these; contains just about everything you can think of related to first aid.

Swiss Army Stove – Sturdy multi-functional stove. Contains canteen, cup and doubles as a stove.

9x9 Nylon Camping Tarp - This tarp is built exceptionally well so it lasts longer, packs down smaller and still weighs less than 2 pounds.

0 Degree, High Compression Mummy Sleeping Bag - If you get caught out in the cold you will be happy you have one of these.

100 ft of 550 Paracord – You can use paracord for a thousand purposes.

Every item in this kit has a particular purpose and should be thoroughly understood. I recommend to all my friends and customers to practice camping with this kit as much as possible so that you get an intimate understanding of each tool that it contains. That way, when you are put into a survival situation you know exactly how to use your kit. Don't worry, my kit can handle it and you don't have to worry about wearing it out.

Most survival kits that you will see online have a few less fortunate things in common:
My kit is built to last. My equipment will sustain you through multiple scenarios, environments and conditions. Over the years I have researched the essential tools that are needed and found the best quality items on the market.

Low Quality: Most pieces are practically disposable and carry a very low lifespan.

High Quality: Lighter weight, more durable, and proven to be the most reliable.

Filled With "Fluff": Packed with items you don't need and are unlikely to use.

Only Necessary Items: Designed for less storage space and lighter travel.

Short-Term Lifespan: Items in these kits are only made to last a few days at best.

Long Term Survival: Made to last for long term survival so you can start using it today and keep on using it for years.

Not Built For Major Emergencies: Containing items like tube tents and foil blankets, put you at risk for freezing in serious situations.

Your Life Is Covered: Contains high quality tarp and 0 degree mummy sleeping bag to protect against the elements.

Imagine camping in December with a trash bag tent and a tin foil blanket. That doesn’t sound like fun? Try betting your life on those items! This is what most kits would have you using in a survival situation and shows a blatant disregard for your safety.

Core body temperature is vital for your survival. If you cannot stay warm, you will not survive one night. That's why the coverings supplied in my kit don't skimp on quality. The key difference with my kit is it prepares you for any weather and is intended for repeated use. Besides, what good is a kit if you can only use it a couple times? My kit is intended to be used as much as possible so that you are familiar with all of its contents before an emergency situation arises. I take mine with me every time I go camping. This would be impossible with the "other guys' kits" as they are not intended to be used UNTIL you have a short disaster situation. In that event, you would simply be grabbing a strange bag heading into unknown territory. No thanks!

This brings us to our next survival offering.

Most survival websites will tell you to buy their survival kits and you are all set, but what good is a kit if you don’t know how to use it? Having the proper survival training is about more than just the kit you carry. In fact, with enough training you could even make do without a kit. Now we don’t recommend going without a kit as it sure makes things easier to have one and instantly multiplies your chances of survival, but it can be done.

Because survival training is so important I make sure to include a Wilderness Survival Basics DVD in each kit.

I teamed up with my friend Craig Caudill from Nature Reliance School and we put together an awesome foundational training video for you. Together, we go over some of the best survival tactics that are easy to remember and simple to do. Craig's STOPA tactic will help you assess your situation and keep your cool; we'll also teach you about the absolutely critical Law of 3 which will help you avoid the #1 mistake people make in prioritizing their needs in a survival situation.

Also, I go through the kit and explain what the gear is and how to use it. I love to give a way lots of free training on my website too, so your journey to become more self-reliant will continue!

The final thing that you want to think about is your food cache. The best way to go here is to find a good source for long-term food storage. The company that I like has a 15 year shelf life in optimal conditions and a 5 year shelf life in a variable temperature environment, like your trunk. I always recommend having a month supply of food that you keep in your survival kit and then also storing a larger cache somewhere that is climate controlled.

We’ve covered a lot of ground on this page, but initially, putting this together was about improving my own chances at survival should an emergency situation arise. Obviously, not something that I take lightly. In turn, I want you to understand why I’ve made the choices I’ve made as we’re now here discussing YOUR chance at survival and tipping the odds to your favor. I’m not ex-military and I don’t have my own “reality” show. I’m just a regular guy who’s put a lot of time and effort into being equipped and have found a passion in helping others be prepared.

I know I can survive, and I know you can too. Together, we can save you a lot of research and eliminate the most common (sometimes fatal) mistakes most people make. I want you to take advantage of the time and money I've already put into my own preparedness.

What I also can do for you is cut out a LOT of middlemen. Typically, “survival kits” are all sourced from just one or two companies that don’t actually specialize in any one area. I source all most of my supplies from multiple vendors, and buying in bulk is the best way to keep the cost down so I can pass those savings on to you.

I’ve gone to great lengths and through many camping trips to confirm my kits contain only the best of the best to ensure your safety and long-term survival.

My survival kit, training and food all rolled into one easy to understand and implement package continues to be my top seller.