Ten Things to Know about Surviving

A Simple Lean-To Shelter. Courtesy of
Flickr User Erik Fitzpatrick

You've heard of the ten essentials. Here's a list of ten simple rules to always follow when in a survival situation. This list is mostly in order of importance, but of course situations will dictate if and when you will stray from these rules.

Every Day Carry Survival Gear

Although many people obsess over having a fully stocked Bug Out Bag, few consider survival items they should carry every day.

An Every Day Carry kit is just that, something that you'll carry with you at all times. The reason for this is simple: survival happens when you least expect it. Of course a hurricane or an earthquake can happen - and that's when your BoB comes in handy. 

But what if you're out on a day hike, and get lost. Or driving somewhere in the desert and your car dies (and you don't have your BoB in your car). Having a few items you can lightly carry can make the difference between life and death. 

Moisture Wicking Shirts & The Desert?

Cotton is generally a bad material to wear in a survival situation. It's cheap, it breaths well and it feels great. But when you get sweat in the cold, it'll absorb that moisture and you'll pay for it when the temperature drops. 

But what about in the heat? 

When I go camping in the desert I usually wear a moisture wicking undershirt, as well as a synthetic shell shirt during the day, and then switch to thermal underwear at night. This of course depends on the temperature. The key here is that both shirts (the hot weather shirt and the thermal shirt) are constructed out of moisture wicking materials. 

A Bug out Bag: What you Need

Being prepared for an emergency is something that everyone should do. It has nothing to do with being a doomsday conspiracy theorist, it's about planning for a natural disaster

A Bug Out Bag (BoB) or Get out of Dodge Bag (GooD) is another name for a 72-hour survival kit. What type of kit you build will depend on your area.

Best Survival Socks

Its finally getting cold in Southern California. It was still 80 degrees the first week of December but now, a week before Christmas, I've finally broken out my wool socks.

A Pair of Hand Knit Wool socks. Image courtesy of Flickr user AnnaKika

Keeping your feet both dry and warm in a camping/hiking/survival situation is paramount. You loose a lot of head through your extremities, especially your feet, and this can cause a serious problem when out in the wilderness.

Cotton socks are currently the king of footwear. They're cheap, and comfortable, and many people wear them every day without a problem, But they're not the best choice for winter survival.

Choosing the Best Survival Knife

A good knife is probably the most important tool you can have in the wilderness. Many people carry knives (usually pocket or multi-tool type knives) on a daily basis. But what is the best knife to have?
The answer depends on your situation. If you’re out in the woods for a weekend of camping, you can probably do well enough with a good Swiss-Army Knife or Leatherman. If you’re in a survival situation you’ll probably be wanting something more substantial.

Image courtesy of flickr user Bill Bradford

Before we get into the best options for each situation, lets go over some knife basics.

Should you Drink your own Urine in a Survival Situation?

Courtesy of flickr user Yaniv Ben-Arie

The short answer is no. The longer answer, is also no.

I was recently watching an episode of Man, Woman, Wild, my first and last. I'd never seen the show and decided to give it a try. I was severely disappointed.

The two were stranded in the middle of the desert in Mexico and the husband, who is supposedly a former US Army Special Forces Survival "Expert" suggested that the two drink their own urine. Netflix lists this episode as the first episode of the first season, but it was actually aired as the fifth episode, in case you wish to watch it.

I was shocked that a man supposedly trained by the US army would suggest such a thing. The Army's own Field Manual (FM 21-76 p. 176) clearly states not to drink urine. In this article I'll explain exactly why that is.