Firearms:
How well would you stay alive without being able to fend off your adversaries? This brings us to one of the most important topics of Zombie Survival. Weaponry.
For starters we all should know that the only way to kill a Zombie is to shoot them in the head. Well, what better weapon to do this at closer ranges than a shotgun, and what better shotgun than the very one the U.S. Marine Corps adopted as their own? I give you the Benelli M4:
It's semiautomatic, can take a wide variety of shells, and is configurable a couple different ways as far as the stock and grip are concerned. This shotgun's biggest downfall would be it's rather limited 4+1 cartridge capacity. However, that can be helped by adding a couple Shell Caddies to your belt for quicker reloading.
Next up we're going to pick a sidearm. For true life or death situations we're going to go for the reputable Kimber 1911 Tactical Entry II. Firing the widely available and powerful .45ACP, it should have no problem dropping zombies.
This particular model features a rail for mounting a flashlight that should come in handy during the inevitable "Stuck in the dark" situations that are common after the end of civilization. Or a laser for those of us who aren't regular Doc Holidays.
Lastly we'll need something that is fully automatic and capable of tearing through multiple Zacks in the event of needed crowd control. For this purpose we pick the FN SCAR-H.
This fully automatic rifle fires a beastly 7.62mm round that should have no trouble at all tearing through multiple half rotted Zed corpses and should deliver maximum stopping power whilst doing so. In addition, it's also a modular rifle so with a few parts changes it can be made to fire the less powerful 5.56mm round.
And ultimately when you're out of bullets or you just need to cut something, a good knife will always come in handy. For that I have picked the Graham Knives Razel SS5.
While not a traditional blade, this finely crafted knife is focused more on survival and utility than sheer killing ability. This however doesn't mean it's a bad blade to use to defend yourself. With the flat tip still holding an extremely sharp edge that boasts the ability to penetrate steel doors, it should have no problem stabbing into a skull.
Protection:
So you've got the guns to help keep the undead at bay, but with the chance of a brain-eater getting a little too close for comfort it's probably best not to chance it. And for that we're going to take a look at some protective gear.
The torso is quite a large target for some undead feasting, so it's important to protect it. That's where the Hatch CPX2000 comes in.
It's a padded foam cell body armor with upper arm protection and most importantly a large padded foam collar that will make it much harder for Zack to go all Tyson on your jugular. It's not bullet or stab proof, but it'll stop teeth and since that's your enemies main weapon, it's pretty much all you need. It's also rather lightweight. It's going to be rather warm though so it's a good idea to wear something like Under Armour underneath to keep body temps manageable.
Additionally you'll want to protect your hands. A good Kevlar reinforced glove is going to be your best friend here. They are almost always tactical so they won't get in the way of your trigger finger, and they are highly cut and puncture proof. Your hands are your biggest tool so keeping them safe is your biggest concern.
Good boots are also another thing to try and track down. You'll be hoofing it around a lot so having proper foot wear is a must. Plus a nice tall boot will help you stay safe in the event of a sawn in half ankle biter Z that could just be lurking under a car waiting to pounce.
Finally, and rather situationally, I'm going to recommend a Balaclava and a good pair of Goggles. Chances are contact with Z blood is enough to get you infected, and if you've got hordes of undead running around coughing up blood everywhere, why risk getting some of it in your mouth or eyes. If it's particularly noted that the only way to contract the disease is through direct blood transfusion, then these items can be left out.
Transportation:
Obviously the need to travel safely and rapidly is very important. In an ideal situation gas should be somewhat available for the first couple months so it's a good idea to stock up on it and only use it when you need it. My first preferred vehicle for this would be the all new Hennessey VelociRaptor.
It can seat up to eight, houses a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 good for a whopping 575 horsepower and is equipped with a suspension meant for rampaging through desert terrain at high speeds. The best part? It's armored to protect against small arms fire. That means no Zombie is smashing any windows and climbing in. There may be some other vehicles out there that are bigger and badder and more armoured, but honestly, this is still the size of a large truck and can most likely go more places than those larger vehicles can. All that comes at a cost however since it's a gas guzzler, which leads me to the next mode of transport.
Cannondale's Bad Boy Ultra, hybrid bicycle. It's meant for tearing through urban areas with a little off road capability on top.
Equipped with disk brakes for quick stops and several gears to make getting up to speed easier. It's relatively light, though it varies on its size, but the ability to agilely blast past crowds of Zed is invaluable. Toss it in the back of the VelociRaptor and bust it out when you need to do some recon.
Shelter:
Lastly, you need a place to call home, a place to hunker down and store your ammo/food/junk, and to eat at and sleep in. For this I recommend a town home, or smaller apartment building. Something with multiple stories, and is on a 3rd or 4th floor, also preferably with a balcony.
My reasoning for this is that being above ground makes it that much harder for Zombies to get to you, and also it puts you rather close to many other living establishments that can be looted for resources. Also, these kinda of buildings are generally built better than modern homes and are made from better materials such as brick or stone. The addition of a balcony gives you an alternate means of escape and also a place to be able to peacefully enjoy being outside, albeit not very open, but providing fresh air none the less. Finally, a complex allows for other survivors to live in close proximity to you, providing power in numbers and further increasing chances of survival. Companionship also helps keep one more mentally stable.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this and if a Zombie Apocalypse(god forbid) ever does come you find this information useful.
