Hot Survival Training Posts
How To: Tie the spiral knot
This video shows you step by step how to tie a spiral knot. In math, a spiral is a curve starting from a central point, getting further away as it revolves from the point. The ancient Chinese considered the spiral to be a symbol of the sun, the Celts and Greeks consider it a symbol of growth and evolution. Here you'll learn everything you need to do to tie this beautiful knot. It's quick and easy follow for you knot lovers.
How To: Tie the padlock knot
The padlock knot is designed to look like a padlock, but without the actual function of one. In order to tie this knot take your rope or string and fold it in half. After you have done that make a loop with both sides of the rope making sure you leave a loop at the top. Put the two loops together the one in the front turning clockwise and the one in the back counter-clockwise. Make sure to leave a hole in the center for the rope to pass through. Now wind each piece of rope through the hole in...
How To: Make a fire with binoculars
Colhane teaches us to prepare a pair of binoculars to make fire. If you prepare in advance it is much easier.
How To: Carve a net needle out of wood
Carving a net needle from wood is probably easier than you think as long as you have your trusty Swiss army knife at hand. It has a wide array of available tools in a small unit. First you will need a piece of balsa wood. It should be 1/8 of an inch thick by 3 inches wide and 8 inches tall. Using the sharp narrow blade of the knife, you will cut 3 reference holes in a triangular pattern. The points of the triangle should be 1 inch apart at the bottom and the triangle should be 2 inches high. ...
How To: Make a sun compass in the Southern hemisphere
This video gives you a quick and easy way to create a sun compass and how to use specifically in the southern hemisphere. With just the use of sticks, stones, and a shadow, you'll be able to get an accurate north/south line and determine your principle compass points. With the knowledge of course that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. This is a great alternative if you were to ever loose or break your compass when hiking, camping, or simply being adventurous outdoors.
How To: Tie a transport knot
Professional truck driver, Yesterday Irmani, teaches us how to tie a time honored, weight sustaining knot, for transportation purposes.
How To: Disable an attacker
Ever wanted to know how to disable an attacker? The trick to getting away from an assailant – even one who's bigger and stronger than you are – is to hit 'em where it hurts.
How To: Insulate your feet from the cold
Going hiking in the rough cold? You might want to watch this video first. Your toes are the most vulnerable part of your body when it comes to the cold. Keep them – and the rest of your feet – toasty with these steps.
How To: Make a solar charging bag
Sometimes it's more than just inconvenient when your electronics lose power. Sometimes, losing power could be dangerous. Never worry about a dead cell phone again! Charge your portable electronics by harnessing the power of the sun.
How To: Survive a school or office shooting
Despite all the tragic stories you hear on the news, you'll probably never be involved in a shooting. But you never know. Nobody thinks it’s going to happen to them – until it does. Be prepared to survive a shooting rampage, just in case.
How To: Escape from Dual Zip Tie Handcuffs
You are not having a good day. You've been abducted by sinister folks, and your hands are tied by a pair of zip ties bound together. How will you escape? In this tutorial, the guys at ITS Tactical show you how to escape from these bound cable ties, which are frequently used as makeshift handcuffs by police and military personnel, along with mischievous kidnappers. To break free, believe it or not, all you need is a little force.
How To: Tie a pitzen knot
The pitzen knot has various uses, but it's ideal for securing a hook to a fishing line. It's relatively easy to learn and quick to do once you know how. In this video the folks at ITS Tactical teach you how to tie a pitzen knot.
How To: Tie a trucker's hitch
The trucker's hitch is a good, strong knot with many uses. It's ideal for securing a load in a vehicle, and was used that way dating back to the days of wagons hauled by horses. In this video the folks at ITS Tactical teach you how to tie a trucker's hitch, quick and easy.
How To: Tie a snake knot
The snake knot is mostly decorative, not ideal for situations requiring a really strong knot. You can use it to make keychains and do all sorts of other things. In this video the folks at ITS Tactical teach you how to tie a snake knot quickly and easily.
How To: Tie a Swiss seat knot
If you want to rappel down walls like a Navy SEAL, the Swiss seat knot is an essential skill to learn. With it, you can quickly create a modified rappelling harness. The guys at ITS Tactical have got you covered in this video showing how to tie a Swiss seat knot.
How To: Slipping out of zip ties
You're a prisoner of some dangerous people, and they tell you to hold out your wrists so they can bind them together using zip ties. What you do next could mean the difference between life and death. This tutorial from the folks at ITS Tactical will teach you how to strategically get your wrists tied in a way that's easy to escape from.
How To: Escape from zip ties using the friction saw method
You've been captured, and your wrists are bound together with zip ties. Fortunately you prepared for this situation, and you have a bit of 550 cord in your shoe. Using the cord, you can escape the zip ties using the friction saw method. This tutorial from the folks at ITS Tactical will teach you how.
How To: Escape from zip ties using shims
The odds are that you'll never find yourself being held prisoner with your hands bound together with zip ties. But if you ever are, you'll be very grateful for the info you learned from this video. In this tutorial from the folks at ITS Tactical, you'll learn how to escape from zip ties using shims. You can use all sorts of things for shimming, from professional equipment to your own fingernails.
How To: Escape from zip ties tied behind your back
You're being held prisoner, and your hands are tied behind your back with zip ties. You're helpless to escape… Or you would be, if you hadn't watched this tutorial. The helpful folks at ITS Tactical explain how you can quickly escape from zip ties tied behind your back.
How To: Escape from zip ties
Zip ties are stronger than they look, and escaping from them is tricky. In this tutorial from the folks at ITS Tactical, you'll learn how to quickly escape from zip ties. If you should ever find yourself kidnapped by terrorists, held for ransom or kept prisoner in a serial killer's basement, you'll be very glad you watched this video!
How To: Tie useful knots in a survival situation
If you somehow find yourself stranded in the woods, you'll need to know how to tie strong knots. But it's actually just as important to know how to untie knots. You probably have limited rope, after all, and you'll need to re-use it. In this video Reggie Bennett from the Mountain Shepherd Survival School shows us how to tie and untie knots.
How To: Determine whether wild plants are edible or poisonous
In this video Reggie Bennett from the Mountain Shepherd Survival School teaches us a lot about finding edible plants in the wild. If you find yourself forced to survive in the woods, picking the wrong berry to eat could be deadly. Bennett goes over common misconceptions about foraging for food, and shows us the right way to do it.
How To: Create an A-frame shelter
If you were lost in the forest, how would you shelter yourself from the elements? In this video, Reggie Bennett from the Mountain Shepherd Survival School teaches us how to build an A-frame structure in the woods, even if you don't have standing trees or cord available. You never know, this info might just save your life someday!
How To: Survive in the woods
If you were lost in the woods tomorrow, would you know how to survive? In this video, Reggie Bennett from the Mountain Shepherd Survival School teaches us the skills for surviving in the wild. From how to start a fire to knowing which kinds of berries are safe to eat, this is the sort of info that it's vital to know in case of emergencies.
How To: Build a basic shelter out of plastic and cord
In this informative video, Reggie Bennett from the Mountain Shepherd Survival School shows you how to make a basic shelter in the woods. It's simpler than you'd think. Whether you're planning a campy trip or you're trying to prepare for any potential disasters, it's important to know to build shelter in a hurry.
How To: Build a lean-to
Reggie Bennett from the Mountain Shepherd Survival School demonstrates how to build a lean-to in the woods. One of the chief advantages of a lean-to structure is that one side remains open, so you can warm yourself by a fire. Knowing how to build a lean-to is a skill you'll be glad to have.
How To: Build a tepee
In this tutorial, Reggie Bennett from the Mountain Shepherd Survival School teaches us how to build a tepee. First used by American Indians, the tepee remains a useful way of providing shelter in a hurry. Whether you're lost in the woods or just spending a few days camping for fun, building a tepee is a good skill to know.
How To: World's Best Survivalism HowTo's
You're alone in the wilderness. Stranded. Hungry. Cold. What do you do? Naivety could be your downfall, but you don't need to be an Army Ranger to survive.
News: DIY Penny-Powered Stove
Light-weight, tiny, and easily doable, Mark Jurey's penny stove instructional demonstrates how to make a sleekly simple (and cheap) camping stove.
News: Make Fire With a Condom
From Wildwood Survival, how to make fire with a condom and water. Okay, so article author Rob Bicevskis doesn't use a condom (he suggests any kind of "plastic wrap"), but I think a condom makes it a little more fun. Nicely photographed how-to, click through for the text steps. Additional fire-condom How-To video further down.
How To: Tie a slip knot
The slip knot, also called a running knot, is a very diverse knot. It's practical application ranges wildly from crochet and knitting to building a noose. The basic function of a slip knot is to create a flexible knot, with one end tied to the middle for greater mobility. Check out this how to video and learn how to tie a slip knot, because you never know when you might need it.
News: Light fires with a waterproof DIY piston
The fire piston is a primitive device that many claim Rudolph Diesel used as a model for his namesake engine design. Both employ the use of compression ignition. The piston compresses the air to over 800 degrees Fahrenheit. This results in the ignition of the tinder in the tip of the bolt.
News: Make fire with a condom
Condom + Water = Fire Kinda. This is a quick 'survivalist' technique for makeshift solar fire-starting. Harness the power of sun. And at the same time you can make use of all those condoms* laying around.
News: AA battery + staple = fire
Creator Funditor claims right off the bat that this survival tip could save your life. We think that's slightly dramatic, but it shouldn't take away from his video's utility.
How To: Build a shelter in the forest
Watch this video tutorial to learn how to build a shelter in the forest. If you get stuck in the woods, you'll need to know how to protect yourself from the elements.
How To: Build an emergency igloo with snow
Temperatures plummet... a shelter, an igloo, can be built out of nothing but snow. It has to be the right kind of snow, cut from a well packed snow drift. The best snow is laid down in one single storm, it's hard and compact.
How To: Make fire with just steel wool and a battery
This video tutorial will show you a detailed way to make fire with steel wool and a battery. This is a great way to start fires on camping trips or for emergency situations. Just makes sure you carry some steel wool and a 9V battery on you at all times, or maybe just in your rucksack or glove compartment box in your vehicle, just in case. You never know when you're going to have to start an emergency fire with steel wool and a 9-volt battery!
How To: Make a bottle cap burner for cooking
It's amazing how simple a stove can be, using simple things that you already have, but in this case, using a surprising fuel...
How To: Tie a useful square knot
The granddaddy of all knots... the square knot. Watch this ViewDo video tutorial to learn how to tie a square knot. This is a very useful knot. It's strong, sturdy, and ideal for joining ends of rope together.
How To: Convert any pack into an avalung avalanche safety pack
Before this ski season, I decided to add one more avalanche mitigation tool to my arsenal: the Avalung. This breathing device has been proven for several years to increase chances of survival if buried in an avalanche. To be effective, the Avalung must be worn over all clothing so that the intake and exhale portions are in contact with the snow. For most backcountry skiers, this can be a true pain. I already have a beacon strapped to my chest along with a pack, and if I'm patrolling, a radio ...