Basic Survival Skills Everyone Should Know

Basic Survival Skills Everyone Should Know
When we talk about bushcraft, bugging out, or SHTF (S**t Hits The Fan) scenarios, one core principle stands out—survival. Mastering basic survival skills ups your odds of success in any challenging situation, whether you're exploring the wilderness or preparing for emergencies.

Basic Gear for Survival

To survive, you need the right gear. Here are the essentials:

Knife

A good quality knife is indispensable. Look for a sturdy, full-tang knife made from high carbon steel with a blade length between 4.5” and 6” and a 90-degree spine. This tool can perform multiple tasks, from fashioning other tools to cutting rope and preparing food.

Water

You can survive only about three days without water. Even mild dehydration can cause issues like headaches, lethargy, and mental confusion. Prioritize your ability to carry, locate, and purify water. Know the potential water sources in your area, and always have a purification method ready. Boiling water for 10 minutes is the safest bet, but modern filters, purification tablets, and even chlorine bleach or iodine work well. Ensure you have a storage method like a water bottle or hydration pack.

Fire

Fire is essential for sterilizing water, cooking food, staying warm, signaling for help, and boosting morale. Practice multiple fire-making techniques and keep at least three different methods in your gear. This can include a butane lighter, storm matches, ferro rods, flint & steel, magnifying lenses, and chemical fire starters. Always carry dry tinder and some form of fire extender.

Shelter/Cover

Your first line of shelter is the clothing you wear. Every survival kit should include some form of tarping material, like a mylar space blanket, and cordage. Familiarize yourself with the terrain and flora in your area, and practice building shelters using those materials. From simple lean-tos and tree pits to more involved snow caves or debris huts, getting out of the elements is crucial for both physical security and comfort.

Mastering the 5 Cs of Survival

To ensure you're well-prepared, always remember the 5 Cs of survival:
  1. Cutting Tools - Essential for a wide variety of tasks.
  2. Combustion Devices - For creating fire.
  3. Cover - To protect you from the elements.
  4. Container - To carry and store water.
  5. Cordage - Useful for building shelters and securing loads.

Call to Action

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In future articles, we'll break down each of these topics in more detail, providing you with in-depth discussions and practical tips. Stay tuned and stay prepared!

What are 3 main ways to purify water?

What are 3 main ways to purify water?

Discover Three Essential Ways to Safely Quench Your Thirst: The Water Purification Guide

Water, the elixir of life – so says the maxim. And yet, the liquid that's seemingly synonymous with vitality can often be teeming with invisible dangers that can put our health at risk. However, in our technological age, where every necessity and convenience has been optimized, something essential about water still eludes many—safety. In this guide, tailored for the health-conscious, the outdoor enthusiast, and the sustainability champion in you, we will deep-dive into three elemental methods that ensure that your gulp is as pure as it can be. 

Boiling: The Old Master's Test

Among the most ancient of purification methods, boiling is akin to the trial by fire for impure water. The process is straightforward enough – heat water to the point where it bubbles and holds at that state for 10 minutes. This time-honored technique guarantees a kill-off of nearly all microbial foes, be they bacteria, viruses, or even parasites.

The Science Behind It

The logic behind boiling water is beautifully simple. The energy in the heat causes the water to evaporate, and in the process, it leaves behind the bulk of the impurities. Once the water achieves a full, rolling boil, the minute organisms within are subjected to temperatures that no microbe can withstand, resulting in a clear, safe drink.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Inexpensive: You only need a heat source, a pot, and patience.
  • Effective: It's a virtually foolproof way to purify water.

Cons:

  • Time-Consuming: Requires waiting for water to boil then cooling down to drinkable temperatures.
  • Resource-Intensive: It demands a constant heat source that may not always be available.

Filtration: Nature's Best Engineer

Nature filters water through soil and rock over time, giving many the purest water known. You can mimic this process with modern water filtration systems, which work by passing water through a porous material, trapping undesirable elements.

The Science Behind It

Today's water filters use a range of components, from ceramic to activated charcoal. These materials consist of microscopic pores that stop larger contaminants, while others, like activated carbon, bind chemical components through a process known as adsorption.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Convenient: Portable filters can be used on-the-go.
  • Reliable: Many filters meet rigorous NSF International standards for water safety.

Cons:

  • Maintenance: Filters require regular cleaning and replacement to remain effective.
  • Selective: Some filters, like UV filters, may not remove certain types of contaminants.

Chemical Treatment: The Portable Purifier

For water purification on the move, nothing beats the portability and simplicity of chemical treatments. Tablets or drops that contain chlorine, iodine, or other substances can effectively neutralize harmful pathogens from your water source.

The Science Behind It

Chemical treatments are game-changers because they can disinfect water without heat, which makes them ideal for situations where boiling is impractical. The active chemicals work by impairing the organisms' ability to function – a bit like when you put a plastic bag over a fly to catch it.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Compact: Treatments come in small, lightweight packaging.
  • Rapid: Purification can sometimes be achieved in 30 minutes.

Cons:

  • Taste: Iodine treatments, in particular, can leave an undesirable flavor.
  • Resistance: Over time, some pathogens can develop a tolerance to certain chemicals.

The Best Method? It Depends

Water, as a living, adaptive force, often resists simple categorizations. Similarly, the most effective purification method is one that takes into account the source's peculiarities and the context in which we find ourselves. 
While boiling is the veritable standby, the inconvenience of waiting and the need for a heat source make it less than ideal for every situation. Filtration is a balanced approach, but one that demands consistent maintenance. Chemical treatments, though capable and portable, may leave a taste to be desired and cannot be used regularly due to the risk of microorganism resistance and long-term health effects of certain chemicals.

Conclusion: A Tale of Adaptation and Preparation

In the end, as with all things in life, adaptability is key. A traveler will cherish the convenience of chemical treatments, a homebody the steadfastness of boiling, and a naturalist the elegance of filtration. Remember, these methods are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they can complement each other beautifully, ensuring that no matter the circumstances, your cup runneth over with a drink that is both safe and satisfying. Choose wisely, and savor not just the water, but the wisdom in how you've chosen to purify it.

Until next time.
Brandon & Angela

The Importance of a Bushcraft Mindset

The Importance of a Bushcraft Mindset

Bushcraft has been the topic of conversation in our blogs lately. So we thought we should address what it takes to live this type of lifestyle.

What is mindset?

The dictionary defines it as:  1) a fixed attitude, disposition, or mood; 2) an intention or inclination.

So, what does mindset have to do with bushcraft?

In bushcraft, you want things simple. Your mindset must be set to a minimalistic attitude in order to do this. This world has become so accustomed to having things immediately and having them now. If you’re constantly thinking about the big, expensive, high tech things, we negate that whole mindset. $600 Springfield M6 O/U shotgun? Nah, we’ll go with the $150 NEF single shot & adapters.

The society we live in today says it’s ok to not work for things. It says it’s ok to find the fastest, easiest way to our goals. And that’s if we have goals at all.

You must set an intention and be willing to work toward it. In order to live a more simple way of life, you often have to put more physical work into it. The “I want it all and I want it right now” mindset won’t work. 

Pre-planning and forethought is a must. You must know how to use all your tools and techniques. Just having them won’t work. Develop a growth mindset and be willing to learn new things. 

That being said, you must also accept that there will be failure and be ready to adjust as necessary. In other words, have back up plans for your back up plans. 

Keeping a positive attitude will carry you far. Be willing to adjust your plans as needed and look for alternative ways to achieve your end goal. Be ready to put some work into it. Remember great things don’t come easy.

So, think you’ve got what it takes to live a bushcraft lifestyle? Ready to join us in the simpler way of life? Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all our latest and greatest!

*We will receive a small commission when you buy through the links found in our blogs.  FYI, it doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help fund our site. 

The 5 Cs

The 5 Cs

One of the first things I ever learned in the bushcraft arena is that your knife is probably the single most important tool to have. Using your knife you can collect & prepare shelter material, collect & process food sources, create fire and make other tools.

Needless to say, our cutting tools are very important, hence why they are one of the 5 Cs.

Knives

A fixed blade knife 4”-6” should be top of the list in this category. The blade should be flexible but not so thin as to be easily breakable. Your belt knife (EDC) should also have a 90 degree spine edge to be of best use with a ferro rod or for processing wood fiber. Stainless steel blades or corrosion resistant coated blades are usable, and obviously resist rust and corrosion, but they can hinder you a bit also. A stainless blade is harder to sharpen, and sometimes will not work as well with ferro rods. The same applies to a coated blade, you need to get the coating off the edge to maximize potential. A little more care care is required in a true high carbon steel blade (oiling, honing, etc) but I think it’s a good trade-off. Think back to your Grandma’s kitchen cutting block…..What was in it?

Saws

A saw is extremely useful in our craft, for two primary reasons. Firstly, less energy needs to be expended in a sawing motion during an operation like processing larger fuel. Secondly, more accurate cuts can be accomplished and less finishing work is needed to a cut end.

There are countless brands and types of folding saws out on the market, or you can fashion your own.

Axes/Tomahawks

Let’s all admit that when we think of outdoorsmen or our mountain man ancestors, one of the first images that comes to mind is either an axe or a tomahawk. The reason is simple. In the course of human evolution and development, the stone axe was probably the second cutting tool we ever developed.

An axe with a handle approx. 28” in length with about a 3lb head is perfect for felling and wood processing. This size of tool is very efficient in helping prepare and improve a camp. No need to go all Paul Bunyon!

The tomahawk as we know it today is really just a modern interpretation of those first stone axes our ancient primitive ancestors created. Small and light, with a narrow cutting face, the tomahawk lends itself to finer cutting work, and even food processing/skinning if you remove the head from the haft.

Machetes/Specialty blades

Machetes, parongs, kukri, etc all have a place for use. The thing to remember here is basically the terrain you’re in, and the most likely needed uses of the blade. A 2.5lb kukri blade is not going to be my best choice for skinning out and prepping a rabbit. Conversely, my 5” bushcraft knife wouldn’t exactly be the first choice for hacking through jungle thickets.

Basically, the right tool for the job is the rule here. 

Whatever cutting tools you pick, make sure they are of good quality, and remember to keep them sharp and oiled. 

*Be sure to click on the headings for products mentioned. As an Amazon affiliate, I will receive a small commission when you buy through these links.  FYI, it doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help fund our site.

Bushcraft Shotgun

Bushcraft Shotgun

In continuing with our “What to take with you” theme, this time we’re going to look at food gathering.

First and foremost, let me state for the record that we are talking about bushcrafting/survival/bugging out vs a planned hunting or fishing excursion. Laws differ in every state and jurisdiction, and we are NOT talking about a regular season hunt situation.

Like our Mountain Man/Longhunter ancestors, we are looking at providing food at the moment. Let’s start with the quickest & easiest food gathering method. Firearms.

There is no single, perfect firearm or setup in what we do. Needs and resources vary greatly. In our Truck Gun series, we talked about different truck guns for different needs. Same principle here. If simply putting small game or birds on the table is your need, a .22 or .410 shotgun rig may be the perfect thing for you. If larger game is on the menu, you’re going to need something slightly bigger than those options. Whatever you need, in combination with what you have or are willing to get will determine your set-up.

Let’s take a look at what I think is an all around great set-up for Angela and I.

I prefer a single shot break open 12ga shotgun as my base platform for woods running/bushcraft.

Light, durable, easy to use. 12ga shells are among the most prolific and easy to obtain rounds out there. (Current ammo & component shortages not withstanding)

I started with a straight from the factory New England Firearms single shot shotgun (12ga, 3in chamber). I left the original barrel length alone, opting for sight radius accuracy vs canoe gun maneuverability. The one modification I did make was adding rifle sights to the shotgun to aid in aiming slugs or using the sub-caliber adapters.

Angela uses a 12ga SxS. Slightly heavier but definitely capable of the same stuff the NEF is.

Ok. Now that we have a base platform, let’s look at some options.

Having a shotgun in 12ga gives me a huge range of options. Bird shot for birds and small game, buckshot for medium game and defensive use, slugs for large game and defensive use, any number of sub-caliber adapters to bridge any gaps in use coverage. (.22 is my go-to).

Oh, did I mention that there are adapters available to basically turn that SS break open into a muzzle loader? This idea really turns my crank, in so far as that if I for some reason find myself without 12ga rds., I can break out the BP or Pyrodex, some 209 primers and get to work. There are methods for reloading spent shotshells, or you can even get full length brass hulls for modifying to use the 209 primer and BP. With a  supply of BP/Pyrodex and some round ball, I am even able to take on larger game with pretty reasonable accuracy.

With a handful of assorted shells, along with my sub caliber adapter (and a few of those rounds), I can engage in a hunting foray, run a trap line, or flat out scrounge for a few days until I find 12ga rounds to continue the intended use of the shotgun.

Need a bag to carry all this stuff? Check out this one over at Field Supply.

Stick around guys, as next week we’re going to dig into the Cutting Tools aspect of bushcraft.

*As an Amazon affiliate, I will receive a small commission when you buy through these links.  FYI, it doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help fund our site. 

 
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