Category: Survival Prepper

When writer and navigator Tristan Gooley journeys outside, he sees a natural world filled with clues. The roots of a tree indicate the sun’s direction; the Big Dipper tells the time; a passing butterfly hints at the weather; a sand dune reveals prevailing wind; the scent of cinnamon suggests altitude; a budding flower points south. To help you understand nature as he does, Gooley shares more than 850 tips for forecasting, tracking, and more, gathered from decades spent walking the landscape around his home and around the world. Whether you’re walking in the country or city, along a coastline, or by night, this is the ultimate resource on what the land, sun, moon, stars, plants, animals, and clouds can reveal—if you only know how to look!

The modern hunter-gatherer’s manual for learning important wilderness skills, surviving tough situations, and getting back to the land. Harvest nature’s bounty and turn it into a gourmet meal; hunt and fish in the wild, with weapons or with your own two hands; and prepare for any outdoor adventure or emergency, whether you’re lost in the woods or in need of herbal medicine. This book identifies it all, with step-by-step instructions and skills to make you a self-sufficient survivor—in your backyard and in the wild.

(Natural News) Depending on their needs, preppers rely on different tools for various survival applications. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a list of 12 items that can help you survive when disaster strikes. (h/t to SurvivalistPrepper.net)

This list doesn’t just include the kind of gear you need in your survival bag. Certain tools and skills can act as force multipliers and they can make your survival supplies even more effective and useful.

Before SHTF, you should learn how to use each tool in your possession. Otherwise, you could get hurt if you start using an item you’re unfamiliar with during a survival scenario.

There are more than 12 items in the list below since some categories require more than just one type of prepping gear.

Bug-out bag or go bag

Almost all of the items in this list will be stored in your bug-out bag (BOB). Survival gear can also be stored in your bug-in bags, get-home bags, or everyday carry (EDC) kits. (Related: These important items deserve a place in every bug-out bag.)

Force multiplying survival skills:

EDC items

EDC kits may vary, but most preppers rely on similar core tools. When preparing an EDC kit, you should at least include emergency cash, BIC lighter, flashlight, pocket knife, and a multi-tool.

Fixed blade knife

A high-quality fixed blade knife is the second most important survival tool in your bag. With your survival skills and a good knife, you can get or make anything you need. Select a knife within your budget with features that meet your specific needs.

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Force multiplying survival skills:

Water filtration and purification

A water filter is a must in your prepping gear because clean water is key to your survival when SHTF, especially outdoors. Aside from a water filter, you should also have access to alternate means of water purification such as boiling or water tablets.

Force multiplying survival skills:

Firestarting supplies

Firestarting is crucial because without fire, you can’t stay warm, cook food, and signal for help. Useful firestarting items include:

Force multiplying survival skills:

First aid kits and medication

You need a well-stocked first aid kit and medicine when SHTF. In case you run out of medicine, you also need to know how to find and use medicinal plants.

Keep painkillers, prescription medicine, and remedies for common complaints (e.g., diarrhea, fever, nausea, etc.) in your first aid kits.

Force multiplying survival skills:

Self-defense weapons

Since people have different skills and abilities, choose a weapon that’s suited to your own skill set. Self-defense can include your physical ability to defend yourself, using a weapon, or a combination of both.

Force multiplying survival skills:

When SHTF, cordage might just save your life. You can use various types of cordage to build a shelter, fishing, trapping, and other survival uses.

Force multiplying survival skills:

Multi-purpose supplies

Multi-tools are a great addition to any EDC kit or BOB. Multi-use survival gear will significantly reduce the number of supplies you need and the weight of your BOB, which is important if you need to evacuate immediately.

Other useful supplies include:

Footwear is an often neglected aspect of prepping and survival. If you wear cheap shoes, your feet will hurt if you need to bug out or hike to camp. If you can’t walk properly, how can you escape when SHTF?

Survival guides

While you can review various articles and resource materials, it’s impossible to remember everything you read. To ensure that you have access to information when the power grid goes down, set aside prepping and survival resources.

You may need books about knot-tying or first aid, along with the SAS (Special Air Service) Survival guide. Review these resources before SHTF and practice these skills so you know what to do during a survival scenario.

Alternatively, you can create your own preparedness and survival file with data that is relevant to your location.

Emergency cash

You may have no need for cash in certain survival scenarios, but it is important to have emergency cash on hand at all times. For personal emergencies, having a bit of extra cash is a must.

Regardless of the amount you carry, you should prepare cash in smaller bills.

The most important tool: A survival mindset

Your survival mindset can make all the difference during a survival scenario. Even if you have the most expensive tools and gear, they’ll be useless if you panic at the first sign of danger.

Your will to survive gives you the strength you need to protect yourself and your loved ones when disaster strikes, so keep calm, learn how to use your weapons, and stock up on survival supplies before SHTF.

Sources include:

The term “bugging out” has made it into the public consciousness. It’s a concept often marginalized to survivalists and conspiracy theory wingnuts. Really, it’s part of a sound strategy that every person who cares about their safety and well-being should be aware of.

Bug-Out Bag List

In addition to a good evacuation plan, bugging out requires a proper bug out bag (also known as an evac bag, a 72-hour bag, or a get-out-of-dodge bag). Bug out bags are self-contained kits that include all the essentials the average person needs to survive the first 72 hours after a natural disaster, zombie apocalypse, or attack from our alien overlords.

They’re so important that whole companies are dedicated to providing would-be survivalists with ready-made bug out bags. Assembling your own is a straightforward and inexpensive alternative, however, that requires common materials found in most tool sheds and garages. Here’s a list of everything you need for a proper DIY bug out bag.

First, and most obviously, you need the pack itself. It should be an actual backpack, although the exact model you choose is a matter of personal preference. The bag should be durable, water-resistant (ideally waterproof), and as lightweight as possible. You should also be comfortable carrying it fully-loaded for several hours over uneven terrain.

It’s worth noting that you’ll want to fly as under the radar as possible. Stealth is the name of the game here. You want a backpack that looks as low-key as possible — nothing flashy or ornate. Think drab, functional, and military issue. It should be capable of carrying everything you need to without looking like you’re stocked to the gills. Sociologists and preparedness experts agree the first 72 hours after a disaster are critical. If widespread power outages and food and water shortages last beyond three days, society can start to break down very quickly. You don’t want to become a target for the roving hordes of Mad Max-style bandits looking for guns, booze, and snacks.

Plan on one liter of water per person per day. In the case of a solo 72-hour bag, that means a minimum of three liters, although a gallon is ideal when you account for bathing, potential spillage, and other unforeseen circumstances. Divide your water stock among several different containers such as a military canteen (good for boiling water), a hard plastic Nalgene bottle, and a collapsible bottle that shrinks down to save space when empty.

Of course, you can’t possibly pack all the water you’ll need to survive a more long-term situation. In that case, you’re going to need to find and purify water along the way. There are three main types of water purification: boiling, filtration, and chemical. Your best bet is to plan for access to at least two of these. Boiling can be time-consuming (every batch of questionable water should be boiled for at least 10 minutes) and won’t filter out heavy metals, dirt, and chemicals. It is great, however, at eliminating bacteria, virii, and many pathogens. The best portable mechanical filtration systems are ideal for filtering out just about everything. Chemical purification tablets like those from Potable Aqua are a solid backup, and they take up little room in your pack.

Fire is among the most essential requirements in any survival situation which is why should plan for at least three different ways to make it. Fortunately, with some advanced planning, you’re all but guaranteed to always have fire-making kit on hand when you need it.

Pack a fire steel (capable of sparking in all weather conditions), several lighters, waterproof matches, and a bit of tinder. For the latter, a handful of cotton balls doused in vaseline work great, as does dryer lint. Both pack down small and allow you to start a fire almost instantly.

Most importantly, however, an emergency scenario is not the place to learn how to build a fire. Practice with your own kit at home — in your backyard if you have to — until you feel comfortable starting a fire, even in the rain.

Strictly speaking, you’re perfectly capable of surviving 72 hours without food. Sure, you’ll be hungry, but you won’t die. That said, anything you do eat should feel like a luxury. Here, it pays to think like a polar explorer: nutrient-dense foods that are portable and packable. Nuts, canned beans, and dehydrated camp meals (whether self-prepared or mil-spec MREs) are all solid options. Candy and energy bars are great supplements as well.

Companies like Huel sell nutrient-rich meal replacement powders that mix into cold water, eliminating the need for cooking. One cup of Huel powder, for example, provides an entire day’s calories, protein, fat, and carbohydrates, plus more vitamins and minerals than you’d typically find in over-the-counter multivitamins.

If you’re cool with forgoing taste in favor of an ultra-light pack, you can skip food prep tools altogether. If, however, you opt to bring anything that needs preparing, you’ll need to plan for cooking it. At a minimum, your mess kit should include a small metal pot, a lightweight spork, and a metal cup with collapsible handles. Ideally, all the pieces of your kit should nest inside one another to maximize packability. Lastly, you’ll want a lightweight stove —  the ultra-portable MSR PocketRocket 2 is a great choice — plus a couple of fuel canisters. Plan on relying on making and cooking over a fire whenever necessary, but having a camp stove is a wise backup.

Like your survival backpack, clothing is a matter of personal preference. No matter what, you’ll want to think like a backcountry hiker, and that means dressing in layers. At a bare minimum, pack:

Everything in the list above can be mixed and matched to keep you cool and comfortable in warmer climates, and warm in all but the most frigid regions. Remember the old adage that “cotton kills.” All the clothing in your bug out bag should consist of quick-drying fibers designed to keep you warm even when wet. Merino wool is a great all-around choice.

In terms of survival essentials, having a reliable shelter is on par with fire-making capabilities. At a minimum, you’ll want to keep dry even if you can’t keep warm. Ideally, you’ll be able to shelter in place at home, a friend’s house, or a backcountry shelter. However, it’s wise to pack a backup option in case things really go sideways.

The previously mentioned military-grade survival poncho should be designed with built-in grommets so it can double as a make-shift emergency tent in a survival situation. While you’re at it, throw a cheap, reflective emergency survival blanket into your bug out bag as well. They’re available at most dollar stores.

In a true survival scenario, the tools you carry will be just as important as your survival skills. A multi-tool is essential. Leatherman offers an extensive line of well-built products that, at a minimum, usually include pliers, screwdrivers, a folding knife blade, and wire cutters. This limited toolset should provide everything you need to tackle even complex mechanical tasks no matter where you are.

Another great tool is a fixed-blade survival knife. The exact model comes down to personal preference, but an overall length of 8-10 inches is versatile enough for splitting wood, chopping, cooking, and a host of other tasks. As a bonus, it comes in handy as a weapon if you need it.

Self-Defense

In a relatively short disaster scenario, odds are good that society will keep it together. After that, once food and water supplies start to run dry, civility can quickly turn to desperation. If things get really bad, you’re going to want some way to defend you and yours.

Again, a fixed-blade knife is a good starting point — it serves several purposes, but you must be confident (and hopefully trained) to wield it as a weapon, especially in self-defense. Beyond that, your preferred method of self-defense is up to you. Many survivalists prefer something compact and stealth like a .357 revolver or another lightweight handgun. For something more robust, shotguns and machetes guarantee a certain intimidation factor, even if you never actually need to use them. Again, please make sure that you are properly trained to handle any of these options.

A proper fire will provide most of the light you’ll need in a survival situation. However, it’s wise to pack several backup lighting sources. In addition to lighters and waterproof matches, a handful of small, nine-hour candles is a smart choice. Glow sticks, a proper headlamp, and tiny LED flashlights or keychain lights are also ultra-portable and guarantee focused task lighting when you need it.

It might seem obvious, but remember to pack your cell phone. Cell towers are likely to work — at least for sending text messages, if not for making calls — in all but the worst disaster situations. Be sure to pack two ways to charge it, plus a backup battery and solar/hand-cranked charger. Even better, pack a hand-crank emergency radio as most of these include a flashlight and built-in battery for charging your gadgets.

If you’re keen to spend a bit more, a satellite phone like those from Iridium can be an invaluable tool. Even in the case of regional cell network outages, a satphone will allow you to stay connected anywhere on earth.

First Aid Kit

It’s cheap and easy to prepare your own portable first aid kit, and most folks already have the supplies to do so in their home medicine cabinet. However, prepackaged first aid kits often include better quality — sometimes hospital-grade — equipment.

Adventure Medical Kits offers several great options for around $10-20. At the very least, be sure to pack adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes, butterfly closure bandages, gauze dressing, and rubbing alcohol. Standard household painkillers, anti-inflammatory medications, and any personal prescriptions are essential as well.

Miscellaneous Gear

Properly packing your bug out bag with the all of the gear above will prepare you for almost any situation. Some additional useful items include:

If you’re keen on staying comfortable as well, consider packing additional “luxuries” such as:

If you are preparing to shelter in place during an emergency situation, here’s everything you should have stocked inside your home. Or you can upgrade to a luxury doomsday bunker.

Article originally published on January 3, 2019.

“U.S. and Allied #SOF conduct joint sniper training at the International Special Training Centre (ISTC) Basic Sniper Course held in Hohenfels, Germany.”

This image of U.S. and allied Special Operations war fighters conducting sniper training was provided by the official U.S. Spec Ops Europe Twitter account. Follow U.S. Spec Ops Europe to learn more about the unique missions America’s Special Operations forces are tasked with, and the incredible ways they accomplish their objectives.

To learn more about U.S. Special Forces sniper training, watch the video below:

There are six venomous species to fear in the state, but it’s one of the nonvenomous categories that is unpredictable enough to count as a “zombie snake,” according to a June 6 post by the N.C. Department of Parks and Recreation.

The eastern hognose snake, which grows up to 4 feet, is “famous” for playing dead when the mood strikes it, the parks department said. They are nonvenomous and rarely bite, but could be brutal for the faint of heart when miraculously springing back to life.

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