High-tech vs. Low-tech, it’s all good!

In this world of modern day prepping, high-tech survival tools and gadgets are everywhere.  For example, the SteriPEN.  If you haven’t added one of these to your bug-out bag or camping gear, you really should check it out.  With the press of a button and a swirl of an ultraviolet-lit wand, you have water safe enough to drink!

image by Danny et Maryse

When you don’t want to carry around bleach for fear of leaks and don’t have time to boil water, the SteriPEN is worth the money.

Now, high-tech is great for some gadgets, but the Sun Oven is so low-tech, ya gotta love that, too.  Last week I traveled to Park City and beyond to teach classes at the Utah Honeyville Farm stores.  The Sun Oven was in the back of the Tahoe, and by the time we got home, it had been knocked around more than a few times.  All that abuse took its toll because yesterday I discovered that the glass door was slightly off center and unable to close completely.

Of course I panicked, but I shouldn’t have.  The Sun Oven’s very simple, very low-tech design allows the company to offer this warranty on their product:  fifteen years, based on daily use in third world countries.  I don’t think my little Sun Oven knows the first thing about abuse!  So, with a few quick twists of a screwdriver, that glass door was realigned, and my oven was as good as new.  Gotta love low-tech!

image by RJL20

So, which is better?  High-tech or low-tech?  I think they both have their place in survival and preparedness.  A tool like the SteriPEN simply makes the task of water purification easier than ever.  It would be a mistake to not have at least a couple of back-ups, but nevertheless, being able to purify water in thirty seconds is hard to beat.  A solar-battery charger would help insure its usefulness over the long haul.  If you’re more the mountain man type, don’t sneer too much at high-tech survival tools!  There’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of a really cool gadget that makes life easier.

Survival tools that are low-tech are usually more simple to maintain, use and repair, and are often less expensive.  I strongly recommend that every household have at least one way to cook food and heat water other than their kitchen stove.  The Sun Oven is useful for that purpose while having the advantages of solid construction and being easy to use.  When you’re thinking about survival, low-tech is the best choice as a back-up to your back-ups.

If survival and preparedness are your goals, high-tech and low-tech are all good.

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