Hot Survival Training Posts
How To: Tie a round brocade or six-flower knot
In this handy knot-tying tutorial from JD of Tying It All Together, we learn how to tie a round brocade or "six-petal" knot. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started tying round brocade knots yourself, watch this video guide.
How To: Modify your machete for the bush
In this video, we learn how to modify your machete for the bush. First, you can sharpen your blade on a piece of wood. You will produce wood shavings that will produce fire as well. Push down on the sides of the knife as well as base and on the tip and middle. Make sure you slightly sharpen the back as well so you can use it to open up coconuts. Once you do this, you will have five useful edges on your machete that you can use for many different purposes while you are out traveling. You can a...
How To: Prepare your vehicle for winter weather
When winter rolls around, you get some pretty unpredictable weather: hail, snow, rain, ice, black ice, nasty stuff. Being properly prepared is extremely important because you never know what can happen to you while you're on the road. In this video you will learn how to prepare your vehicle for winter driving.
How To: Preserve tracks properly during your expedition
Whether it's research, a school project or term paper, going on an expedition, what have you, having to preserve animal tracks should be a part of your bag of tricks that you can do. But don't just grab some random plaster of paris and just start pouring. Check out this video first and learn how to properly preserve the animal tracks that you find in the wild.
How To: Make Welsh laverbread with seaweed (Porphyra umbilical), bacon and oatmeal
Porphyra umbilical. Most know it as laver, a type of edible seaweed found along the Wales coastline, and also other areas in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. Porphyra umbilical is best known for the Welsh delicacy of laverbread.
HowTo: Survive a Plane Crash (Demonstrated by Flight Attendant Hotties)
HowTo go viral or HowTo survive a plane crash... take your pick. A bunch of Philippines flight attendant cuties demonstrate flight safety procedures to the tune of Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. The company later stated:
News: Boob Support = Life Support
Dr. Elena Bodnar proposes a silly idea. Why not wear a bra that double as a gas mask? No point in being ill equipped (in the event of fires, terrorist attacks, dust storms or a swine flu outbreak). The instructions are simple: In the event of an emergency, remove bra.
How To: Tie a snake belly bar knot
The snake belly bar, in essence, is a product of multiple snake belly knots, tied together in series. This great bar makes a great bracelet or strap and is easy to make if you know the right pattern. In this video you will get an up close look at how to tie this knot from start to finish.
How To: Tie a genoese zipper sinnet knot easily
The Genoese Zipper Sinnet is actually a fusion of both the single Genoese Bar and the Zipper Sinnet, obvious reasons for the name. This knot can be great for making a strap, bracelet, or necklace. In this video you will learn how to tie the knot up close and personal, giving the video great detail and insight into the knot tying process.
How To: Harvest amaranth grain (aztec rice)
Amaranth grain is somewhat like rice and was a staple food of the Aztecs. But most seem to grow like weeds and they are tough to harvest as well. If you've found some Amaranth plants and are looking at how to harvest the grain out of them, check out this video. He gives you an explanation of what Amaranth is and how to harvest the grains from it.
How To: Make sign posts and marks for indicators and also trapping
When going into an area that you're unfamiliar with, the first thing you need to learn is where the animals are and what you can use to bring them in, trap them, and well, you know the rest. In this video you will learn how to create sign post traps that use visual and smell based attracts that will bring in curious animals giving you the time to strike.
How To: Tie a bent solomon bar on a line
The Solomon Bar is one of the more versatile ties in the paracording genre of knot tying. Although most prefer the straight line, in this video you will learn how to tie a bent line in your knot. You will get a full tutorial of the entire process with each step shown up close with extreme detail.
How To: Use a recurve bow and a beginners guide to bow hunting
Sure, you could start hunting with a rifle, but the true hunters do bow hunting. If you're interested in getting into bow hunting in general, this video has all the info you will need. You will learn the anatomy of a recurve bow and also the proper way to fire, hold, and knock your arrows. This video is designed with beginners in mind!
How To: Use a parang knife (Malayan machete) in the tropical wild
If you're ever stuck in the jungles of Southeast Asia, then your only hope for survival is the parang knife, which is a Malayan type machete. This is the ideal tool for the jungle, especially in Malaysia, where the typical vegetation is more woody, and needs something thicker for stronger chopping action. A parang has three different edges: the front is very sharp and used for skinning, the middle is wider and used for chopping, and the back end (near the handle) is very fine and used for car...
How To: Make an emergency fire with bamboo friction
In this video, you'll learn about friction fire lighting using wild bamboo sticks. So, if you're ever stuck out in Thailand on a cold and damp night, cut down some bamboo and light your own campfire to stay warm! This video shows you this very common technique in Southeast Asia, but takes a little work… and a sharp knife!
How To: Survive on a cold and snowy mountain with a storm shelter
If you can't find your way back from your hike up the snow covered mountain, and there's a winter storm brewing, you better hope you have your storm shelter in your sack! This video will show you what a storm shelter can do for you when stuck up high on a mountaintop with a windy snowstorm coming in. There's not much to it. Just have one on you, any size, rip it out of the bag and cover yourself up.
How To: Find wild food and wood in a city setting for urban survival
Forget surviving the wilderness— surviving the city is hard enough! This video talks about herbs, bushes, plants and trees that you can use in a survival situation in an urban environment. If you're down on your luck, forget about coins on the street corner and survive off your natural environment.
How To: Get a pattern for a wool blanket shirt
In order to pattern a wool blanket shirt, you'll need a blanket, scissors, a needle, and thread.
How To: Tie cylinder, mat and ball Turk's head knots
In this Disaster Preparation video tutorial you will learn how to tie cylinder, mat and ball Turk's head knots. To tie the cylinder, first tie the double coin knot as shown in the video. Then put it around a staff and make the 3-lead 4-bight Turk's Head. After you finish with this, tighten and trim the rope. To tie the 3L4B Turk's Head as a mat, remove the Turk's Head from the staff and follow the steps as shown in the video to make the mat. You can watch the video and learn how to tie the ball.
How To: Make a shirt out of a wool blanket
In this video, we learn how to make a shirt out of a wool blanket. This is great if you need something really warm to sleep in or wear out around. First, design the shirt so it's longer on the back than it is in the front. That way, when you sit down you will have extra wool to help keep you warm. You don't need to sew a collar on it,, because it will just take too much work. Make the arms extra long, depending on how large your blanket is. If it's too long, you can fold the ends over, or cov...
How To: Prepare yourself for a major disaster
In this video, we learn how to prepare yourself for a major disaster. If you haven't planned ahead for storing water, you are going to be in big trouble. Your first option is to go purchase liters of water from the grocery store. The recommended quantity to store is 1 gallon per person per day. If you don't want to spend money at the store, you just need to fill up empty bottles with water from the tap and store these after cleaning. You can also fill the water in a large jug, just make sure ...
How To: Make a cheap billy can out of an empty paint can
A billycan can be used as either a water tight container, or as a pot for cooking food or boiling water. You can make a billy can for less than three dollars using an empty and clean paint can, a drill and a few small pieces of hardware.
How To: Make an outdoors survival shelter out of mud, soil and clay
Oh no! You're lost in the wilderness without an adequate survival shelter! Protect yourself from inclement weather by using soil, clay, mud and other materials found in nature to build your own mud hut for protection from the elements.
How To: Be prepared for outdoor disaster
Whether it's a political or economic collapse, a natural disaster or even the zombie apocalypse, follow these outdoor survival tips to make sure you are prepared! Learn how to make a shelter in the wildnerness, proper preparation techniques for supplies, and become a better survivalist!
How To: Construct a survival shelter in the desert
If you're lost in the desert, this video will teach you the skills to make a survival shelter that will protect you from heat stroke during the day and freezing at night. Dig a trench with a shovel so you can stay safe in the great outdoors.
How To: Make a survival fishing float bobber from a plastic soda straw
Okay, so you're fishing and you forget the basic essentials… you're fishing pole and your bobber. How are you going to catch a fish with just some fishing line? The answer? Plastic straw.
HowTo: Drink Your Own Pee (Safely)
For my sake, for your sake, for everyone's sake: I hope it never comes to this, but you never know. Dire times call for dire measures.
News: Identify Edible Plants in the Wild: Tips from an Iraq War Veteran
Robert Xyster, submitter to Love.Earn, demonstrates the universal edibility test using vegetation of the Iraq desert as an example:
News: Build & Hide a Campfire from Your Enemies: Tips from an Iraq War Veteran
Robert Xyster, submitter to Love.Earn, shares another military-grade HowTo. Yesterday's deadfall trap tutorial laid out how to catch and kill common Iraq rodents. Today's lesson demonstrates how to make a fire in the wild, and most importantly, how to conceal it behind enemy lines.
Kill This (and Other Prey): Tips from an Iraq War Veteran
Robert Xyster, submitter to Love.Earn, shares a military-grade formula for avoiding starvation in the wild. There are several deadfall trap tutorials on the web, but this HowTo is particularly unique because of its context.
How To: Tie a paracord storage sinnet
In this video, we learn how to tie a paracord storage sinnet. First, coil up the paracord and then form a bight with the working part at the top of the coils. Next, create a loop from the bight and pull the loose part underneath this and pull it underneath the loop you created. Now, tighten the new loop up and then take the loose part and place it underneath to create a new loop. Push this through the other loop, then tighten with the loose end. This is a very difficult knot to do and is not ...
How To: Tie the longhorn knot
In this video, we learn how to tie the longhorn knot. First, make a spike with your rope, then push the rope around it and through it, making a circle. Then, push the loops on the bottom down and make a pretzel shape with it. Bring the left hand side string down and pull it through the loop, then do the same with the other side. Next, pull the strings on the top up to make larger loops, then pull the string through the left loop. Now, do this to the other side of the rope as well. To finish t...
How To: Easily survive in the woods
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to survive in the woods. When camping in the woods, users should always think about bring the essentials: water, food and clothing. It is recommended that users have a water bag store a large amount of water. Bring one or more coolers to preserve food and/or keep drink cool. Make sure to plan the foods that you will eat for the day. Bring a small portable grill to cook food. Dress in layers of clothing to endure hot or cold weather. This video will be...
How To: Make a neck knife survival kit
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a neck knife survival kit. This is good to have so you can use it for eating and making shelter as well as protect against wild animals. The neck knife should be a small kit and able to hide underneath a shirt. It should be adjustable with a paracord knot so you can make sure it doesn't snag against something. The knife should be a simple one that has a decent point on it. Make sure the pouch that the knife is in is thick enough not to let the knife poin...
How To: Tie the Celtic heart knot
In this video, we learn how to tie the Celtic heart knot. Start off with your rope and make a loop in the middle of it. Now, bring the working en on the right side into the loop so you have a circle. Now, bring that end back into the knot and braid it through the other loop. Next, push this through the bottom loop, then braid it through the lines that are on the shape. After this, you will see a heart shape start to form. Pull gently on the heart with both sides of the rope and shape the midd...
How To: Tie a square knot the right way
The square knot is also known as the reef knot. In this video, you'll learn the right and proper way to tie a square knot. Knowing how to tie a square know will be useful in many situations, especially in practical and emergency situations.
How To: Do useful survival knots
In this tutorial, we learn how to do useful survival knots. To make the sheet bend knot, you will join two different ropes together. First, make two loops, one on each end of the separate ropes. Next, take one of the ends and insert it into the other. After this, take the loose end and push it through the loops. After this, pull it tight and you have your sheet bend knot! The next knot is the bowline knot, which is a secure loop knot. First, make a loop in the rope, then take the smaller end ...
How To: Make a banded solomon bar fob
The Solomon Bar is one of the most popular ways to incorporate paracord into a tie. The following video shows how to generate the banded bar, a dual-colored Solomon bar design. This video will show you how it's done! It's easy. So easy, in fact, that this clip can present a complete overview of the process in about 5 minutes' time. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, take a look.
How To: Use a compass and map
This video tutorial is in the Disaster Preparation category which will show you how to use a map style compass. The first thing is to get your bearings by sight without a map. The arrow on the compass represents the direction of travel, the N on the compass dial is the compass North and the red needle points to the magnetic North. First align the compass N with the magnetic North. Now say you want to go 90 degrees East. Next you align 90 degrees with your direction of travel arrow. Rotate the...
How To: Perform an easy mod when setting up a hammock
If you find yourself out in the wild and need to find a way to keep yourself free of any moisture or animals, installing a hammock is s good idea. Not only does it give you a place to lay, but it can keep you safe from small critters and any kind of moisture from the ground.