This month’s “Survival Roundup” includes a plethora of topics, ranging from economics, sustainability, hygiene, and even security because survival is dependent on a practical knowledge of a wide range of skills. The people running the blogs/websites listed below work hard to bring you the information you need to survive and thrive, both in good times and bad, so if you like what you see, be sure to help them spread the word—share their posts on Facebook, Twitter,…
Between folklore and television, there is so much false survival information floating around today that most people will probably not make it through a true survival situation. I place a large portion of the blame for this on “couch commandos.” These are the guys (and gals) who own every survival book in existence, but have never applied the techniques in the real world, so their only experience is what “should” work, which they mindlessly repeat to anyone…
Are you a couch commando? One of those guys (or gals) like the tubby fellow to the left who has seen every episode of Man vs. Wild but never spent a night in the wilderness? If so, pardon my bluntness, but you will likely die in a survival scenario. Your bookshelf may be filled with every survival book written in the last twenty years, but without what I call the survival trifecta, your chances of walking away…
Part of preparing is acquiring adequate supplies to survive an emergency, but an equally important part is making the most of the supplies you already have. Every day we throw away valuable supplies that could be critical in an emergency; the key is knowing what to keep and what to throw away. Otherwise, you go from being prepared to being a hoarder. That’s both inefficient and unhygienic. Below, I’ve compiled a list of everyday items with multiple…
If you’ve read a few posts on this blog, you know the emphasis I place on the ability to start a fire. I believe it’s wise to master a variety of techniques and posses several tools to start a fire. Regardless of how you chose to start your fire, I strongly recommend something to aid the process, which is why I’ve developed a powerful and inexpensive fire starting gel from basic household chemicals. A knowledge of basic…
A natural disaster can disable our debit and credit card infrastructure, preventing you from purchasing basic necessities for day-to-day survival. The continued inflation and manipulation of our currency will eventually devalue the dollar to the point of worthlessness just as we’ve seen in countless countries over the last few years. And in a world of ever-increasing and unwarranted surveillance, you may want to keep the details of your finances away from the watchful eyes of the government….
The ability to start a fire can mean the difference between life or death, but even in the best of scenarios, it will mean the difference between relative comfort or absolute misery. Of all the elements needed to start a fire, tinder is the most critical because it allows you to make up for poor fuel, kindling, and ignition sources. Tinder is an easily combustible material that burns very hot. This allows it to ignite your kindling…
Spend a little time outdoors on nearly any continent, and you will eventually encounter a snake—likely sooner than later. The key to surviving this encounter is the ability to quickly and accurately determine whether you’re facing a minor annoyance or a deadly threat. You can often identify a venomous snake by looking for certain physical features, which unfortunately means you must be closer to them than you’d like. That’s never a good thing. This isn’t a fool-proof…
Hurricane Sandy and other recent hurricanes have taught us two things: 1.) the average American grossly underestimates the power and devastation that a natural disaster can bring, and 2.) the average American is shockingly unprepared for even a minor disruption to their soft, cushy lifestyle. Most people think of themselves as rugged and self-reliant, but when the power is out, they are being devoured by mosquitoes, and Starbucks is closed indefinitely, they tend to end up in…
Tarps are a versatile, lightweight, and inexpensive tool that should be a part of every emergency plan. I have one tucked in several locations: at the home, in our vehicles, and in our bug out bags. You should too. During a routine inventory and inspection of our gear, I was thinking about how to become more efficient and pack lighter by utilizing gear that can serve multiple purposes, so I began compiling a list of additional uses…
