Hot Survival Training How-Tos
How To: Read a map and use a compass
Watch as "4-H Forestry Facts" shows you how to survive in a forest or any other environment using a map and a compass. When holding a compass the needle will always point to the direction of north because of the poles of the Earth and the magnetic pull of the compass. After knowing which direction is North you can then figure out what direction is South, East and West. Then looking at the map you can see where it is you need to go. Watch the rest of the video to learn all the tricks and never...
How To: Tie a Rorschach knot
If you have ever wondered how to create a Rorschach knot, this tutorial will show you how to do it in no time. A Rorschach knot is indicative to the blotchy silhouette of Rorschach inkblots, which are primarily used during psychological evaluations. A subject's perception of inkblots are recorded using these. This video is going to be walking you through the process of tying your Rorschach knot, as well as the ways in which it needs to be adjusted while being tied. You will also learn a bit m...
How To: Make your own compass
Matt Preye shows you how to make your own emergency compass. Here are two ways of making your own compass: If you have a sewing needle and a magnet you can magnetize the needle by running it down the magnet a few times. Find some stagnant water and set a leaf in it. Now set the pin down on the leaf, and the leaf will swing just like a compass. If you don't have anything other than the sun, you can do the following: Put a stick in the ground and then add more sticks at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm and ...
How To: Tie a rising sun knot
In this beautifully crafted video by Tiat presents the keyhole weave method of tying the rising sun. Grab about a yard of smooth decorative twine and you are ready to follow along. You will end up tying both the double coin and the ring of coin knots to make create the rising sun. But, fear not, the demonstration is clear and simple to follow.
How To: Cook under a tarp in rain
This is a video about shelter cooking. We are shown how people who are hammock camping in the rain are able to cook under their tarp. This is important because you have to have some way to cook under your shelter when it rains, and there's no way you can have a fire under there without getting smoked out. It makes life easier if you can set up a stove inside your shelter to cook on. We are shown two ways to do this, and both systems work well. One way is to use an alcohol stove. You can make ...
How To: Create an Ojibwa bird trap
The Pathfinder School offers bird enthusiasts this video tutorial that shows how to construct an Ojibwa Bird Trap. Using a series of sticks, anyone can learn how to create this bird trap, which works when a bird's weight triggers a snare. Learn the tips and techniques of what works and what doesn't in terms of materials to create a successful Ojibwa bird trap. The tutorial will explain what size sticks you need and how the trap should be constructed to successfully catch a bird.
How To: Build a fire in the snow
What to do if you're lost & freezing in Antarctica? Build a fire to keep warm! Yes, fires can be built successfully in cold and wet conditions with the right tools & preparation. In this eight-part series of short videos, Fitclimb survival instructor Ali teaches how to build a fire in the snow in 15 minutes. You can build this fire with just two tools: a knife and a metal match (magnesium stick). In part one, Ali talks about site preparation and how to choose and prepare the right site for a ...
How To: Start a fire with your cellphone
Ever wanted to know how to make a fire with your cell phone? All you need is a cell phone, a brillo pad, and material for tinder. First take the battery out of your phone and find the positive and negative contacts on the bottom of it. Next tear off a chunk of the brillo pad, roll it up until you have a twisted piece about an inch long. Bend the steel wool over and touch an end to the positive and the other end to the negative contacts on the battery. That causes the steel wool to smolder--no...
How To: Tie a diamond ring knot
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to tie the Diamond Knot. The diamond knot (or knife lanyard knot) is used as a decoration and joining knot in a cord with a loop. The Diamond Ring Knot is the fusion of an Overhand Knot and a tying technique called circling. The video contains a visual demonstration that allows viewers to have an example and easily follow along. This video will benefit those viewers who enjoy tying rope and to use knots to decorate.
How To: Create a spring spear trap
Kruder, from The Pathfinder's school, teaches you how to make a spring spear trap with almost all natural materials. This is a very dangerous trap so be warned and be very careful if you practice this. By using any springy tree (he uses a Maple), and a toggle tied to another tree, you can make a trip wire for any sized animal. Add a spear to make it more effective. You'll learn everything from the materials to construction in this video.
How To: Create a grip with paracord
When is a knot not a knot? When it's a grip. The knot outlined in this video isn't a knot per se but a way to wrap objects to increase their grip and also to store extra paracord. Specifically, this video demonstrates how to County Comm Micro Widgy Bar, which is a miniature pry bar. It’s made from hardened D9 steel and is around 3? in overall length.
How To: Use an ice lens to make fire
A classic demonstration on how to make a fire using Ice lens. Get a good block of ice from creek or pond. Cut and shave it to make a small square block. Shape it into a small ball about 2-3 inch in diameter. From a round shape, lightly shape it into a lens shape using the heat of Your fingers or tongue. Follow these instructions and You'll be able to make fire from lens.
How To: Make a Chinese paracord snake knot
The Chinese snake knot is a considered a representation of good luck, or its considered as an embodiment of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac. This Paracord Snake Knot can be used as a bracelet or another decorative piece. This snake knot technique would make a great time passer to have some fun in your leisure. In this video you will learn exactly how to make a Chinese paracord snake knot, and if you were born in '89 you should make one too.
How To: Tie the spinal sinnet
Quick easy steps to create a spinal spinnet by TyingItAllTogether. Using a good length of thick cord, create a small loop. Put one end of the cord on top of the other, bringing the top cord over and around the bottom cord and slipping a bit of the cord into the loop, creating another small loop. Pull on the bottom cord until the first loop closes into a knot. Slide the end of the cord into the new loop and pull on the cord to close the loop, creating a new loop. Twist the new loop and again b...
How To: Start a fire with a single match
This how-to video is about how to start a fire with a single match stick by Shannon Davis. This video is really helpful especially for those who are going for trucking. If we get struck in the middle of nowhere and if we are in a situation to spend the whole night in the forest definitely this video is very helpful. Before we begin to start a fire we need to gather wooden sticks of different sizes varying from tiny tender straws to hard wooden sticks having thickness of our wrist. First we ne...
How To: Tie a Turk's Head knot
There are many different types of knots and each has its own purposes. This video of "Knot of the Week" features the Turk's Head knot. The video explains and demonstrates each step in tying this knot. This knot is generally used to tie around an object of cylinder shape, but it can be deformed for other shapes. By the end of this video, if the viewers follow the instructions correctly, they should be able to tie their very own Turk's Head knot.
How To: Set a racoon snare
You will need a snare made of aircraft cable. Snares are relatively inexpensive. Remember that most likely you will only get one catch out of a cable as they kink when an animal is caught.
How To: Tie a guitar bar knot
This video from TyingItAllTogether, brings us yet another tutorial explaining how to create a unique type of knot, called the "guitar bar". This knot is so named for it's similarities to the neck and fret board of a guitar. To make this knot, you'll need several feet of rope. For every inch in length of the guitar bar, you will need an extra foot of rope. So 12 inches = 12 extra feet of rope to spare, to make this creation.
How To: Pitch a tent in the wild
From BackpackerMagazine comes a video tutorial about an essential skill: how to pitch a tent in the wild. The video takes us from scouting out an appropriate location for the tent, to actually erecting the structure. This is an invaluable skill while camping alone, but is also useful when with a group of fellow campers. The video also shows you how to properly anchor the tent to the ground, which is essential in a windy environment. Everyone should learn how to pitch a tent.
How To: Build and use an Osage bow
This five part video series brought to you by Pathfinder School shows you how to build and use the Osage bow. Step by step, from properly picking a piece of Osage wood, which is also known as Hedge Apple. You'll need an axe to trim your limps, so make sure your careful when taking on the task of building your own bow. This is a great video to watch when preparing for your camping or hiking trip. It's a very instructional and easy to follow video to make sure your properly prepared.
How To: Tie a bloody knuckle knot
A bloody knuckle knot is the result of a row of half hitches fused with a blood knot--this video teaches you how to tie one. Make two loops with your rope then loop them over your thumb. Take the tail of the rope and keep making loops and adding them to the others on your thumb, to produce a row of loops. When you have five loops, slide them off your thumb, take the end of the rope and pass it through the loops. Pull out the slack but do not tighten, then take the other tail and pass it throu...
How To: Prepare a winter emergency car kit
It is a compulsory work for every one who owns cars to arrange emergency kits for the car. For the first step, you should keep food items like water and food material. Keep the emergency book which contains what to do when a car goes into repair. Then carry a radium type object which will shine in the night during the repairing of the car. Then arrange the emergency lights near the back part of the car for repairing of the car.
How To: Cook bacon and eggs in a paper bag
It is very simple to cook. First you take one paper bag and bacon and eggs. Then keep the bacon in the bag and keep eggs in a normal water bottle to freeze it. After that you can keep both the bacon and eggs in the paper bag. Then put the bag onto a stick. The bag should stay over the heat with the help of the stick. This process should continue for 7-8 minutes. Then you are ready to eat bacon and eggs.
How To: Tie the caterpillar sinnet
Learn tot tie the caterpillar sinnet with this video tutorial. 1. To start the sinnet, place rope in hands with one piece in your left hand and the other in your right. 2. With the rope piece in your right hand, create a loop with the top of the loop being the piece from your left hand. 3. Take the piece of rope in your right hand and slip a small piece of rope through the loop. 4. Gently pull the rope in your left hand tight. This will have created a new loop and link below it. 5. To create ...
How To: Tie the Etyszkiety knot
Tying It All Together presents a video on the Etyszkiety knot, a decorative Polish knot worn by mounted brands. This knot also has connections to other cultures, where it is called the prosperity or the prolong knot.
How To: Make your own water filter
This video shows you how to make your very own water filter. 1. 20mm PVC pipe for upper section larger debris.
How To: Use water vines to get water in the wild
This video tutorial will show you how to use water vines to get water in the wild, if you fancy yourself the next Bear Grylls. There are different kinds of vines and not all vines are made equally. If you open them up they all contain water. Some vines produce bitter water and some are sweet.
How To: Tie the triple goddess knot
Learn to tie the triple goddess knot with this video tutorial. First you will need a nice size piece of string. Make a small loop with one side of the string close to the middle. Second, make a second loop with the other side of the string close to the middle. Third,cross the right hanging part of the string over the left string to form a small circle under and between the two bigger loops. Insert the end of the left string into the underside of the left loop to form a split loop. Do the same...
How To: Tie a single-strand ringbolt hitch
JD of Tying it all together, is the instructor. He has many instructional knot tying videos. This particular video is focused on tying a single strand ringbolt hitch, A.K.A. Coxcombing. This was a common knot used by sailors to decorate items and parts of their ship. However, actually creating this tie is much easier said than done.
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: 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: How to tie an eye splice with rope
The eye splice might sound like some horrible procedure from the lab of Dr. Frankenstein, but it's actually a very useful skill to learn for camping or disaster preparation. Eye splicing is a way to secure different strands of rope together so they're stronger than a knot. In this tutorial, the guys at ITS Tactical show us how to do an eye splice.
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.