Products in R&D

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Ant Lab DNA's first product was the "I'm fine. You're fine. Everything's fine." Get Home Safe Bag. There were only two of the products curated for Mark and Pam Caster. Full details of contents and purposes to follow. 

After 5 weeks of research and acquisition, the original IFYFEF GHS/BOB ended up weighing 43 pounds without water. Studies suggest that, based on age and fitness, a GHS bag should weigh no more than 15-20% of an individual's weight to be carried safely and for long distances. Ant Lab DNA needed a more viable alternative that was lightweight, all-encompassing, portable, and affordable. Thus, the Ant Lab DNA Scout was created. The product was named Scout because the ant scout is the first one to venture out in search of resources. A scout needs a be prepared for anything and everything it may encounter. 

Dr. AmandaCaster was an avid mountain bike rider and adventurer of all things wild and unexplored. She spent nearly a decade working in labs and conducting research. A favorite product of hers was the Nalgene water bottle (wide mouth, non-graphic edition). The first edition of the product was conceptualized as an all-purpose "GHS" bottle with attached waterproof backpack. Contents were as follows:

Nalgene bottle (32 oz)

Explorer Torch  (butane lighter, windproof, waterproof, pre-filled)

Mini Tactical Flashlight (battery powered)

Swiss Army knife (mini)

Tactical compass

Sabre Pepper Spray gel

Vaseline (travel size)

Aleve (individual pack)

Benadry (25mg individual pack)

BandAid assortment

Triple antibiotic ointment (individually wrapped)

Coppertone Sunscreen (30SPF individual travel size)

Paracord (5 feet with carabiner)

Keychain Pill Holder (x2 stainless steel, waterproof, able to store $20.00)

Black Pen (mini size)

Large 4" Carabiner

Hand sanitizer (travel size)

D-ring attachable waterproof 20L backpack, foldable to pal size and attached to Nalgene bottle)

Major Problems: Cost prohibitive, not enough tools, lacked redundancy for reliability

The Scout needed to be more expansive but remain lightweight. Different products needed to be identified and additional potential hazards needed to be considered. Hence, the Ant Lab DNA Scout Beta was developed. Contents included:

Nalgene bottle (32 oz)

Bic Lighter (extended torch)

Matches (in waterproof bag)

Mini Tactical Flashlight (battery powered)

11-in-1 multifunction tool

Tactical compass

Sabre Pepper Spray gel

Vaseline (travel size)

Aleve (individual pack)

Tylenol (individual package)

Zyrtec (individually packaged)

Benadry (25mg individual pack)

BandAid assortment

Triple antibiotic ointment (individually wrapped)

Sunscreen wipes (individually wrapped)

Paracord (5 feet with carabiner)

Keychain Pill Holder (x2 stainless steel, waterproof, able to store $20.00)

Black Pen (mini size)

Large 4" Carabiner

D-ring attachable waterproof 20L backpack, foldable to pal size and attached to Nalgene bottle)

Canvas wallet (attachable with carabiner)

Poncho (inserted into canvas wallet)

Biodegradable compressed toilet paper 

Bug spray wipes (individually wrapped)

KN-95 masks

Bandana

Alcohol Prep Wipes

Sewing needle (pre-threaded)

Hard band

Bobbi pins (x3)

Safety pins (x4)

Crazy Glue (individual use size)

Miscellaneous (the Beta has yet to be finished)

When considering the type of individual who would benefit from the Scout Beta, we tried to be very broad. The main idea was that the bottle (and attached backpack) could be thrown in the trunk of a car with a gallon jug of water and anyone could rely upon it to get home safe and overcome multiple possible obstacles and situations. Perhaps an outdoor enthusiast would want it for camping... or maybe a parent would want a college-age student driving long distances to have the item to give them peace of mind... or perhaps it is the kind of item that anyone would want to have in stock but never want to use. The Scout Beta is considered a must-have for anyone who would like to be able to handle worst-case-scenarios. 

The Scout Beta is still in the fine-tuning process. Additions being considered include potable water solutions, duct tape (3 ft.), bungee cord, long-storage beef jerky, and life-straw type substitutes.