Drones can serve so many purposes – it can be even be of help to you when you’re off the grid and also when it comes to emergencies in urban settings. Quadcopters are not just toys that you use for enjoyment and for photography. It can even help save your life in a worst case scenario.
Benefits of Having a Drone as a Prepper and as an Off-Grid Adventurer
Going off the grid means leaving your comfort zone behind, but you can always keep yourself safe with the help of a drone. If you want to survive any disaster that may come your way, a drone can be a great tool. How? Read here:
1. A drone is effective for security and surveillance
If you’re a prepper or an adventurer, the primary use of a drone for you is surveillance and security. Drones can give you an aerial view of surroundings, which is a great advantage for survival. With the help of a drone, you can have an eagle-eyed view of your surroundings with ease so you can gather information quickly. You can easily identify if there are disturbances nearby or if it’s safe to continue in your desired path.
Also, having a drone can help you inspect any damages caused by natural disasters like storms, hurricanes and earthquakes in your area, which would be dangerous to do by travelling by foot. So, even if there’s a connection or communication failure, you can still gather real-time intelligence about the situation.
2. A drone can be used for hunting games.
If you want to hunt in the wilderness, drones can be an awesome guide and hunting tool. It can help you spot games such as deer and hogs more easily and more discreetly than if you do explore the whole area. Drones can help you save time and energy, and can help you achieve a successful day of hunt. However, it’s illegal to weaponized drones, so you have to kill the game the old-fashioned way.
3. Drones can deliver both information and actual things.
Yes, you can fly a drone and it can send you information about your surroundings, thanks to its first-person view. But drones aren’t used only for that – it can deliver things to other places. Drones offer you the option to communicate when traditional communication becomes risky or non-operational, especially during crisis situations. Large drones can be used to carry important supplies to people, especially those in hard-to-reach areas and dangerous places. This way, you can help people you need without putting volunteer workers or helpers’ lives in danger.
4. You can control it from a distance.
The tactical advantage of having an eye from the sky will allow you to spot trouble even before it can get near you. It can warn you for the presence of intruders and can help you prepare for any conflict, which gives you the upper hand for protecting your home or protecting yourself when you’re off the grid. Through a drone, you can conduct reconnaissance in your environment without having to expose yourself to potential threats. Some drones can help you monitor flight paths and adjust settings through smartphone and tablet apps.
5. Drones have helpful features that can improve its functionality.
Users can modify drones and add other cool features to it to increase functionality. It’s also customizable to adjust according to your circumstances and situations. For preppers and survivalists, the detection software and safety features help greatly for them. Through these features, you can automatically send your drones to your desired location. Also, the proximity sensors can help you identify and avoid objects in its flight path. When the battery is low or if the controller is losing its connection to the drone, the return home function is always a great safety feature.
Best Drones for Off-Grid Living and Urban Survival
The great thing about looking for drones that will serve you well for off-grid living and urban prepping is you don’t have to spend so much. Drones below $500 with a decent camera and battery life will serve you well. Here are some of the best drones you can buy for these purposes:
DJI Mavic Mini
The DJI Mavic Mini was a game changer in the drone industry when it was released. It was a foldable drone under 250 grams, can fit in the size of the palms, and doesn’t need FAA registration. Plus, it’s one of the products of DJI, a leading drone manufacturer all over the world. The compactness of this drone makes it a great drone to bring for wilderness adventures.
The Mavic Mini offers a high-quality video resolution of 2.7K quad HD resolution with a 30fps frame rate. The camera is supported by a three-axis motorized gimbal for stability. Moreover, it can capture 12 MP images. It transmits live video in high-quality, offering the best FPV experience you can get on a drone within this budget. With this, you can enjoy 30 minutes of flight time at a full battery
The safety features of this drone is a winner, too. The integrated altitude limit prevents you from getting carried away with flying. It also has a return home function that automatically kicks in when the battery is critically low. Also, there are downward vision sensors that allow the drone to detect the ground for a safer landing and more stable hovering.
Pros:
- Foldable and easy to carry
- Easy to fly
- 12 MP camera, 2.7 K video
- 30 minutes flight time
- Class-leading specs
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with spare battery
Parrot Bebop 2
Are you looking for a drone that flies well and can take a good beating? Parrot Bebop 2 is for you. This is technically a high-end drone but you can buy it as a refurbished model for around $100. Like the original Bebop model, this version offers a simple, durable and enjoyable flying experience. There’s no learning curve needed – a beginner can fly it in a matter of minutes.
This drone has a 25-minute flight time, a 2,000 meter range and a 14 MP camera. The camera has an impressive wide field of view that allows users to tilt and pan the camera angle as if it was on a mechanical gimbal. It offers one of the best electronic image stabilization of the drones of its class. The photos are better than most drones in its price range and the HD video is great, but limited to 720p resolution.
It also comes with a fish-eye lens and a flashing LED on the rear for increased visibility in darker scenarios. It doesn’t make use of a traditional joystick controller – it can be controlled straight from your smartphone or tablet. The wireless connection offers a first person view of what the drone sees, and you only need to tilt your phone to steer the drone around.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Simple and durable
- Easy to fly
- 25 minutes flight time
- 14 MP camera, 720p video
Cons:
- Control is limited
Holy Stone HS720
Holy Stone products have been standing out from the competition in the drone market, and the HS720 has all that it takes to shine. With this quadcopter, you’ll feel like you’re controlling a high-end drone. It’s super responsive, highly maneuverable, and even capable of flying in windy conditions. If you don’t have a high budget and you need a decent drone to keep you safe and entertained, consider this one.
The HS720 will impress those who are into aerial photography and videography. It comes with a good, 2K FHD 5G camera with 12 MP. It’s capable of shooting 1080p video and can transmit it live via Wi-Fi directly to a smart device through a downloadable app.
This drone can fly as far as 1600 meters – flying way past your eyesight, and still can safely return to you, thanks to its auto-return feature. Each full-charged battery allows up to 26 minutes of flight time.
Pros:
- Easy to fly
- Feels high end
- Affordable
- 26 minutes flight time
- 12 MP camera, 1080p video
Cons:
- Long charging time