Survival Training How-Tos
How To: Tie the chain knot
This knot can be used to decorate a rope or shorten it. Just think, if you make it good enough, you can decorate your Christmas tree with rope.
How To: Tie the sheepshank knot easily
This is a good way to shorten a rope without cutting it, provided there is a load on each end. If there isn't, well, who knows what will happen.
How To: Tie the honda knot (also known as the lasso knot)
This is the same knot used for lassos. You can go wrangle some cattle or horses now, or if you not on a farm you can practice on your dog or cat, or better yet - you're neighbor's dog or cat.
How To: Tie the angler's loop knot for fishing
This is a good knot for all types of rope including fishing line. Don't you wish you were fishing right now? No, well that doesn't mean you can't try it anyway.
How To: Tie the tautline hitch knot
If you never were a scout, or you've forgotten all your skills, this how-to video is for you. If the loop is under weight, the knot will not slip, but you will still be able to adjust the size of the loop by pulling down on the knot by hand. Perfect for all of our tarp tying needs. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to tie the tautline hitch knot.
How To: Tie the double sheet bend knot
This "double sheet bend knot" is the same as the sheet bend, except that is has an extra turn to make it extra secure. Use this knot instead of the sheet bend if you have springy or slippery lines.
How To: Tie the spanish bowline knot
This is a great knot to use if you need two loops in the middle of a line, especially if you do not have access to the ends of the rope. If you need two loops at the end of a line, use the bowline on the bight, but don't bight to hard.
How To: Tie a slip knot
The slip knot is the easiest way to attach a line to a post or bar. Learn how to tie a slip know in this video tutorial.
How To: Tie the halyard hitch knot
The "halyard hitch knot" is a very tidy looking knot that binds tightly under a load.
How To: Tie the highwayman's hitch knot
This is a great knot to use if you need to release the knot quickly using one hand. This is great for magical tricks or for tying things that you would like released quickly, without the mess of a tight and tangled knot.
How To: Tie a reef knot (also known as the square knot)
The reef knot is one of the best knots for joining ropes, also known as the square knot. What more could you want?
How To: Use a soda bottle to make fire
Clear plastic bottles may have more uses than just holding soda. Whether you bring one on a picnic or find one in a trash can, you can use it to make fire on a sunny day. Watch and groove.
How To: Survive a tiger attack
Watch this trainer wrestle with two full grown tigers, while showing tips and tricks to survive a real tiger attack in the wild. It's amazing how tame these obviously domestic tigers are, even when full-grown!
How To: Make fire with steel wool and a 9 volt battery
Learn how to make a magical looking fire with steel wool and a 9 volt battery.
How To: Use dandelion tinder to make a fire
Need to make a survival fire, but don't have any matches and your lighter is out of fluid. Fear not, this how-to video can help. An empty flintwheel lighter can save the day when you need a fire. Dandelion seed puffs can be the perfect tinder for your spark. Watch this video tutorial to see how it works & learn a great survival tip.
How To: Make a stove for survival training out of a soda can
In 2 minutes you can make a stove from household materials that you probably already have. Learn this great survival trick by watching this how-to video. You will need rubbing alcohol, a soda can, a sharp knife, and a food tin. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to build a survival stove out of an aluminum can.
How To: Make a barometer and forecast the weather
If the indicator is showing high, the weather will be sunny and warm, if it falls down below the middle, the pressure in the air is low and it will probably rain. Make a barometer and forecast the weather.
How To: Use five points to improve your wilderness survival
Watch this long but entertaining video on five points that will help you to succeed in a wilderness survival situation.
How To: Make a survival bow
Mors Kochanski quickly demonstrates making a simple bow.
How To: Prepare for surviving in the desert
How far would you get if you tried to cross a desert on foot? Learn how to prepare for surviving in a scorching environment,including how to substitute a piece of parachute nylon for a headdress! Use what is at hand to protect your eyes.
How To: Make a tin can survival cook stove
This is a how-to on how to make a survival cook stove instead of spending $25 to buy one online. It is a simple projecting that requires an old can, a pair of scissors, and a knife. Be careful and pay attention to his excellent instructions! Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to build a cook stove out of a tin can.
How To: Make a spark by using flint and steel
This video shows how even the cheapest file can act as a striker. Use a standard micro file to make a spark. Do not prep it in any way and, in fact, don't even remove the teeth from the file. This a good, but short, closeup on the process.
How To: Do a flint and steel striking technique
Learn the proper method of striking a flint, how to hold the flint, and the angle of attack. Use a slow, downward scrape--make a spark even on a dull edge!
How To: Make a survival bush bow and arrow
Watch this how-to on making a survival bow and arrow using material you can find in any wooded area. Start with a branch and avoid dulling the knife by going around the piece and making cuts and grooves. For the arrow, use a hardwood. To learn more, check out the video!
How To: Survive when lost in the rain forest
Learn the first rules of survival and avoid panicking. Ray Mears from the BBC gives rain forest survival tips including how to use a machete and to build a shelter from available materials.
How To: Make improvisational snow shoes to survive in the snow
Ray Mears from the BBC demonstrates how to make a snow shoe and explains the vital importance of improvisation in making snow shoes. Any wood will work, as long as it is flexible. How far could you walk in deep snow?
How To: Build a fire in the desert with fire by friction trick
Watch Ray Mears from the BBC give you a how-to guide for making fire in the desert. (You don't even have to carry matches!) Put on your gloves to handle the fauna for cutting wood. Make a notch in the wood--good luck trying to make fire by friction!
How To: Use a car battery and wire wool to start a signal fire
Lost in the wilderness? Did you forget your emergency personal beacon (EPERB)? Learn from the BBC how to start a signal fire using your car battery and a piece of wire wool. Let's just hope you have a car . . .
How To: Survive when you are lost at sea
Learn what to do when you find yourself lost at sea, including how to gauge your rate of drift and make a sextant (a reflecting navigation instrument) in order to locate yourself and--hopefully!--find your way back.
How To: Open a can with a knife
Learn how to open a can with a knife. This is a very useful skill because, in many situations, there's often no can opener to be found. What did people do before can openers were invented? Watch and learn!
How To: Make fire with a flashlight
Start a fire using a flashlight a aloevera, hydrogen peroxide, and a magnifying glass. Super Easy!
How To: Make fire with flint & steel using tinder fungus
Using materials collected on Bois Blanc Island, Michigan you can create a fire quickly with the flint and steel method. Tinder fungus is common in North American woods.
How To: Build a shelter
Ray shows us how to make a strong shelter in wet forest, and the right and wrong ways to strike a match.
How To: Make mosquito repellent
Ray is in the outback making smudge fires out of termite mounds to ward away the creepy crawlies, bugs and mosquitos.
How To: Use and assemble an emergency preparedness kit
Description of contents and usage of Preparedness-In-a-Box Kit. Be prepared when disaster strikes with the right materials to survive.
How To: Survive interrogation
Andy McNab survived six weeks of torture and interrogation in Iraq. He gives us an exclusive guide on how to get through it and win the physical and psychological battle. Watch now! Survive interrogation.
How To: Make fire in an emergency using a hacksaw blade
Learn how you can use a hacksaw blade to start a fire in an emergency or survival situation.
How To: Make fire using an empty flintwheel lighter
You can make fire using an empty flintwheel lighter. Watch the video to see how.
How To: Make an emergency signal with a CD
If you plan to travel in a remote location, grab a CD before you go it could save your life. Here's how to use a CD to make an emergency signal.
How To: Make an emergency candle from a crayon
When you're without power, and, you don't have conventional lighting, you can use crayons for candles. See how it's done.