Is “Better Than Nothing” Good Enough?

The past week or so in the Midwest (I live in the Kansas City area) has ben ridiculous. The cold weather is something else, and I still can’t believe that so many people braved the dangerous windchill to go to the Chiefs football game. Some people seem to have no common sense.

That said, I started to become interested in what everyone at the game was wearing–the fans, not the players or Taylor Swift–to see how they chose to stay warm for hours on end. Many people clearly had layers on, hoodies, face masks, and some even donned ski goggles…now those are my people. And I did see some lunatics, like this shirtless guy. I sure hope his nipples didn’t get frostbite.

Of course, I realize that we all tolerate the weather to varying degrees. My mother, for instance, loves the heat. I don’t. I prefer the cold weather these days because I can bundle up, but that got me to wondering: When it gets so cold, is “better than nothing” good enough?

With rare exception, I’ve long held that you’re better off having something when it comes to your survival than nothing at all. Sure, I’ve seen knives and saws that would barely pass as being called as much, and I absolutely wouldn’t want to bet my life on using them, but we’re not all made of money, either. Sometimes you just have to do what you can with what you’ve got and hope for the best.

But that’s the problem, too, isn’t it? Buying something–whatever it is–just to say you have it, and then thinking you’re fine could set you up for a disaster of your own making, which surely isn’t helpful.

Take the clothing you intend on wearing right now should worse come to worst. Let’s say, for example, that our heat went out for days on end right now and, let’s further assume that we could only keep warm with what we had around to wear. During most of the winter in the Midwest it can get below freezing, but will often warm up to respectable temperatures shortly, usually within a day or two, if not the same day. Given a hefty amount of blankets or sleeping bags, we could manage.

The fact is that such low temperatures are truly dangerous, and I’m currently questioning whether we not only have enough gear to keep us warm, but whether it’s the right gear. Yes, we have a variety of insulated jackets, stocking caps, wool socks, insulated boots (many of which are sizes too small for my son and me), and more.

But even that doesn’t feel like enough. Actually, it doesn’t even feel like the “right” stuff.

Regardless, I just recently purchased more ski masks because even being outside for a few minutes makes my nose hairs freeze, a truly unsettling feeling. I got more insulated gloves because I want to add some better ones to the vehicles for the rest of the winter. And I bought a few other cold-weather items. But, again, I started to wonder if it’s the right gear. Perhaps my concern is best demonstrated by somebody who knows how to survive in shockingly cold conditions:

What do you think? Could you survive in such an environment with what you have around the house? Maybe I could, but my fingers and toes would surely be numb.

And if you watched the video of his on 24 Tricks to Staying Warm that I posted about two weeks ago, then you would understand that not all gear is made to the same exacting standards, and certainly nothing like the “best” gear you can purchase.

No doubt, we all realize that the good stuff is exceedingly costly. Is it “worth your life” costly? Well, if you’re trekking into the Alaskan wilderness, then absolutely. But if you’re only concerned about surviving a bitterly cold Kansas City cold snap? I’m still unconvinced.

It’s not only about cold weather gear. Take anything related to off-grid survival–knives, axes, power inverters, stoves–and one could make an argument that it’s better to have one really good piece of gear than two or three average ones. Maybe. I could foresee instances where having more than one is a good choice, such as equipment being damaged due to a collapsed roof, water damage, or theft.

Again, I’m not made of money. I can’t purchase the best stuff even if I wanted to, and I certainly can’t afford to do so for the six people that live with me. I can’t buy duplicates of expensive items, like solar systems, and I can’t afford to prepare for every contingency. So, I gather what I can, when I can. I make do with what I’ve got. And I always hope and pray for the best.

Perhaps Mother Nature will change my mind for good if/when SHTF.