PowerSwitch

Given that goods may become more expensive and scarce in the future I?ve been investing in some well made essentials which should hopefully last a long time.
Here are a few ideas.

Warm Clothes:

http://www.norsewear.penrith.net.au/

Norsewear must produce some of the warmest woollen hats, socks and gloves around. The great advantage of wool is that it still keeps you warm when it gets wet. It doesn?t smell as much as a fleece if you sweat in it and it doesn?t melt if a spark from a fire hits it.

http://www.denewear.co.uk/shop.cfm?cate ... RI%20COATS

Swandri are another great New Zealand company. Their boiled wool shirts and jackets really are something else. They are the only thing that I?ve been able to work in during a torrential downpour and still stay warm and dry in. As a long term investment ? better than gortex any day, and they don?t need re-waxing like other coats. In NZ they have lasted for generations and have become ?the stuff of legends? to quote their website.

I would like to hear from people who have bought a good ventile jacket. How does it fair in the long term?

Wind up gadgets


http://www.freeplayenergy.com/index.php ... b0025cec5b

There are some really cheap flimsy windup radios/torches out there but nothing but the best from Freeplay. I?ve just bought the DAB radio and it works a treat.

As soon as the ?Weza? portable power source comes out I?ll be investing in one of those. The Kirto Lantern looks good as well.

Sleeping Bag

http://www.raymears.com/

Old Ray is quite expensive on most stuff but I?ve bought his Woodlore Sleeping Bag - Golden Eagle Sleeping bag. If ever I was to get sick during a winter power cut or gas shortage I would retreat into this sleeping bag ? which is very, very, very warm.

Bicycles

If you wanted a low maintenance bike which would last a few lifetimes and you could load up with several bags of potatoes (should you wish) you may want to look at:

http://www.sjscycles.com/thornwebsite/

I agree completely with the ?steel is real? motto. And I love the Roholff gears.

I also think having a fold up bike opens up so many options as well. Once I?ve saved up enough I will go for a Brompton.

http://www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk/

As for trailers I?ve heard nothing but good things about the Y frame and want to invest in one of these:

http://www.foldingbikes.co.uk/carryfreedom.htm


Love to hear about what bits of kit others have bought.

Thanks Magnus.

This site, http://www.manufactum.co.uk , has good quality stuff. Some of it is insanely expensive, but other stuff just expensive because it costs more to make something well. A lot of items are made by people who've been making the same things for decades or centuries. Many of the items aren't necessarily useful in the context we're envisaging, but there are still plenty that are. And the Shadows in the Forest Game is just delightful; even the instructions make you go "aaaahhhhh"

Peaky,

Thanks for the link. Yup some good stuff and Shadows in the Forest game does look intriguing. Have you played it?

Magnus wrote:Shadows in the Forest game does look intriguing. Have you played it?

Yes, several times. It's unlike any other game I've ever played, more of a gentle experience. One player controls the 'curious light' (this is what I mean about the lovely instructions) and the other players have to hide their elves behind a number of trees in the shadows where the light doesn't touch them. You play in in a darkened room and the only light is that from the candle. It's definitely a 'journey being more important than the destination' sort of thing. I reckon kids would love it - I've only played it with grown-ups though

Before I found Powerswitch a friend and I started a PO wiki..

Lots of stuff on the preparing page, feel free to add to it...

http://peakoil.wikispaces.com/Preparing

item on ebay

A pallet of 10 75Ah 12v Batteries for Solar Panel Wind Turbine, a couple of months old... excellent value as you would pay at least ?1000 for this lot normally new.

Interesting selection of useful stuff above.... although I have the following thoughts...

The freeplay radio is lovely, I have one of their models also. Best to get a wind up radio with shortwave (sw) & FM or at least FM mediumwave/longwave(AM). DAB and FM will pick up local broadcasts/stations only and this might be very limiting in an emergency. Also the DAB part of the radio is very power hungry and not really very good on windup. Thus not so useful, when you really need it.

The Weza power source is very weak at only 7ah, and certainly wouldn't start anything other than a very small car (as it claims). Not much use for powering power hungry items (even the rechargeable power stations that Halfords sell are at least 18-20ah)... Is only of use for small applications like small tube lighting, laptops (most laptop batteries are 4ah so even this is limiting), radios/cd, mp3s, small 12v tv. Also keep in mind that it will need a lot of pumping to charge it up.

The Bicycle is lovely, but at ?1000 upwards this is a lot of dosh. Good bikes start at ?250-?300. Buy one now!!

The Batteries are mine...

Thank's Clive

HEHE, good for you! They looked like excellent value for what they are.
I have 4 AGM gel batteries myself, for powering some basic items. They also have a very long life (8 -10 years, long in lead acid battery terms). Car batteries would have failed very quickly in deep discharge use.
If anyone is interested in purchasing the latest (monocrystaline) solar panels try this,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/55-Watt-Monocryst ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/80-Watt-Monocryst ... dZViewItem

This is almost the trade price and no waiting for your panels either.
By them from a normal supplier and you will pay 2 or 3 times more and wait weeks for them too!

A few more links:

For some beautiful axes have a look at
www.gransfors.com
You can get them in the UK from
http://www.wealddown.co.uk/shop.htm
As well as some hand forged carving tools

Lots of useful goodies at
http://www.surplusandadventure.com/

Ballard - thanks for your site - I've ordered the 'ultimate wellie'

Clive - thanks for your thoughts, yes it is a shame the Weza is quite weak. At them moment I'm renting a small flat so buying solar pannels and batteries are not an option right now. Hopefully this may change soon.