Faraday & Comms
How to Build a Faraday Cage That Actually Blocks Signal
Two tested faraday cage builds — the trash can and the foil-wrapped box — plus the mesh-size rule, the leak test, and when buying beats building.
Heather Wisecarver
Research-driven, not staged
Heather Wisecarver spent 12+ years in distribution logistics and business continuity before founding Grid & Hearth. She reviews emergency gear the boring, reliable way: verifying certifications, tracking recalls, and cross-checking thousands of owner reviews — then telling you who each product is really for.
Articles by Heather Wisecarver
Gas Masks & CBRN
Best Gas Mask for Wildfire Smoke: What N95s Can't Filter
Do you need a gas mask for wildfire smoke or is an N95 enough? I ranked full-face respirators and filters by what each certification actually covers.
Power & Grid
Best Power Station for Refrigerator Backup, Ranked by Surge
Surge wattage, not watt-hours, decides whether a power station can start your fridge. I ranked the two best 1kWh units for refrigerator backup.
Faraday & Comms
Best Faraday Bag for Car Key Fob: What Stops Relay Theft
I ranked four key fob faraday bags on certified shielding, seal design, and durability — plus the NICB and ADAC data on how relay theft works.
Power & Grid
How Long Will a Power Station Run a CPAP?
A 1,000Wh power station runs a CPAP for 2 to 8+ nights — the heated humidifier decides which. ResMed lab numbers and the honest night math.
Gas Masks & CBRN
Do Gas Mask Filters Expire? Shelf Life, Dates, and Storage
Yes, gas mask filters expire — most last 5 to 10 years sealed. Here's how to read the date, store spares right, and why surplus filters are a hard no.
Go-Bags & EDC
Go Bag vs Bug Out Bag: The Real Difference (No Bunker)
A go bag gets you out the door for 72 hours; a bug out bag assumes no help is coming. Here's the real difference and which kit your family needs.
Power & Grid
How Long Will a Portable Power Station Run a Refrigerator?
A 1,000Wh power station will run a full-size fridge for roughly 12 to 18 hours. Here is the real math: watts, startup surge, and inverter loss.
Food Storage
ReadyWise vs Mountain House: Which Food Kit Fits the Job?
ReadyWise vs Mountain House compared by the label: real calories per day, cost per 2,000 kcal, sodium, shelf life, and which kit fits which job.
Water Security
AquaTru vs Berkey for Preppers: An Honest Comparison
AquaTru's claims are certified by IAPMO to five NSF/ANSI standards. Berkey's never were — and the EPA fight got messy. Here's which one fits your plan.
Faraday & Comms
Best Faraday Bag for a Laptop: What Actually Blocks Signal
I compared four laptop faraday bags on certified shielding, honest interior size, and seal design — and picked the one worth your family backups.
Faraday & Comms
Mission Darkness vs GoDark: Which Faraday Bag to Buy?
Mission Darkness vs GoDark compared on what each brand can prove: independent lab results, build quality, warranty terms, and who each bag suits.
Faraday & Comms
Do Faraday Bags Actually Protect Against EMP?
Very likely yes — for a small, unplugged device in a certified bag. Here is the plain physics, what dB ratings mean, and which myths to skip.
Guides
Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Apartments
The apartment emergency preparedness checklist nobody writes: water, food, power, documents, and a go bag that fit in one closet. No yard. No bunker.
Food Storage
How Long Does Mountain House Food Really Last?
Mountain House backs pouches and #10 cans with a 30-year taste guarantee. Here's the fine print, the storage rules, and what actually fades with age.
Gas Masks & CBRN 8.7
MIRA Safety CM-6M Review: A Specs Breakdown
The MIRA Safety CM-6M's EN 136 Class 3 certificate is public and verifiable. A specs-only breakdown: filters, fit, shelf life — and who should skip it.
Water Security
Sawyer Squeeze vs LifeStraw: Best for Emergency Water?
Sawyer Squeeze vs LifeStraw for your emergency kit: micron ratings, real flow rates, freeze risk, and what each brand can actually prove.
Food Storage
Best Long Term Food Storage for a Family of 4
I did the calorie math on Augason Farms, ReadyWise, Mountain House, and DIY mylar storage — here is what really feeds four people for 30 days.
Water Security
Best Water Filter for Emergency Preparedness: 4 Scenarios
The best emergency water filters by scenario — certified countertop, no-power gravity, go-bag, and glovebox backup — ranked on proof, not promises.
Faraday & Comms
Best Faraday Bags for Preppers
The best faraday bags by use case: phone and EDC, laptop, family duffel, and best value — ranked on lab-tested shielding, not marketing dB.
Gas Masks & CBRN
Best Gas Masks & CBRN Respirators for Preppers
The best gas masks and CBRN respirators for preppers, ranked by certification, fit, and filter shelf life — from verifiable EN 136 to NIOSH-approved.