When things go sideways—a sudden storm on a hike, a car breakdown in the middle of nowhere, or even a power outage at home—you need shelter fast. Emergency tents aren’t your weekend campers; they’re compact, tough setups that pack small and deploy quick. Based on hands-on tests from outdoor experts and user feedback from thousands…
To hunt small game with a bow, you need a bow with 25-40 pounds draw weight, specialized arrow tips like blunts or judo points, arrows with proper spine (aluminum or carbon), and the ability to shoot accurately at 10-30 yards. The basics involve stalking or sitting near feeding areas, taking ethical shots at stationary targets,…
To make a basic survival chair from logs in the wild, gather four sturdy logs (about 3-4 inches thick and 2-3 feet long for legs and back), natural cordage like vines or paracord if available, and a flat log or branch for the seat. Drive two angled stakes into the ground near a tree for…
You’ve just brought down a deer after days of tracking, or maybe you stumbled on a fresh carcass while foraging. The meat feeds you for now, but those bones? Don’t toss them aside. In a pinch, animal bones become your workshop, churning out tools that could keep you alive longer than you’d think. Here’s the…
To make a bow drill for fire starting, gather these key parts: a curved bow stick (about 2 feet long), sturdy cordage for the bowstring, a straight spindle (8-10 inches long), a flat fireboard (12 inches long, 2-4 inches wide), and a handhold block. Carve a V-notch in the fireboard near the edge, drill starter…
To make a basic survival spear from wood, select a straight hardwood sapling 5-6 feet long and 1-1.5 inches thick, trim branches and bark, carve a sharp point on one end using a knife, and harden the tip by rotating it over low campfire flames for 5-10 minutes until it darkens slightly. This creates a…
To create a natural torch for light, you need three core components: a handle (preferably green wood), combustible material (wick), and fuel. The most reliable methods include: These methods work because they combine materials that burn at different rates, creating sustainable light through controlled combustion rather than flash fires. Understanding Why Natural Torches Matter When…
To make a survival raft for water, you need buoyant materials (logs, bamboo, or sealed plastic containers), strong cordage (rope or paracord), and basic tools (knife or axe). Arrange 8-12 logs of similar size parallel to each other, lash them together using square lashing knots, add cross beams for stability, create a deck surface, and…
The best way to store tinder dry is to use airtight, waterproof containers like ziplock bags inside metal tins or dedicated tinder boxes, kept in a cool, dry spot away from humidity, with regular checks to ensure no moisture sneaks in. Introduction Whether you’re gearing up for a weekend camping trip or preparing a survival…
You can improvise cutting tools (stone knives, axes, scrapers), cordage and rope (from plant fibers like dogbane, milkweed, yucca), fire-starting equipment (bow drills, hand drills), containers (bark vessels, shells), digging implements (sharpened sticks, bone tools), hunting and fishing gear (spears, hooks from bone or thorns), and shelter materials (branches, bark, leaves). The key materials include…