A Survival Tips and Techniques Blog | UrbanWoodsman.com

Part 4 of our ongoing survival series is about the knife you carry — and why you should avoid being “gear obsessed.”

A review of our Falcon 2 Backpack from Maxpedition. Like all Maxpedition gear, the Falcon 2 is great quality, rugged gear, perfect for a day and a half pack. On the compact side for a bag of it’s price, but can be a great part of a carry system.

This is the first official video for PZ’s Survival 4 Christians. In this show we talk about the focus of this show and who we are making this show for. One aspect of our show is try to bring real world affordable gear reviews. So we start things off with our first quick gear review and that is for SMITH’S 2-Step Knife Sharpener. This is the best little knife sharpener I think that is out there for the money. This is the sharpener I use and I keep a razor edge on my knifes. Visit our site at www.prophezine.com Survival4Christians http Our How To / simple living site – Wisdom Farms www.wisdomfarms.com

I found this great review on Amazon, he goes kinda fast, but its a wonderful review of the Maxpedition Methuselah bag.  He says it’s, ”A range bag, work bag, tool bag. Short and squat and fills up a ton.  See it at www.maxpedition.com. Zippers all the way down to the ground from both sides and opens wide-mouth. Padded all the way around. Perfect for laptops or range gear.”

There’s something quite magical about sleeping under canvas. Closeness to nature, seeing the moon shining through the tent, hearing owls hooting in the trees and breathing nature’s earthy scent… these small things which we take for granted in our everyday lives are somehow more appreciated on a camping holiday.

But there are also practical reasons for choosing a camping holiday. The cost, for one; despite an initial outlay for a tent, sleeping bags and other gear, equipment will usually last for many years without needing replacement, so camping holidays will typically be reasonably priced. A night at a campsite can cost as little as £5, while a room in even a modest hotel can cost ten times as much.

Then there’s the flexibility and freedom of packing up and moving to another location, and deciding whether it’s a survival-style trip with only the bare minimum of equipment, or an altogether more luxurious holiday with a huge tent, inflatable beds and anything else that can be squeezed into the boot of the car.  Who can deny that there’s something extremely appealing about following your own schedule and experiencing more of the great outdoors? You can start your holiday in Snowdonia, finish it at Loch Ness, stop at the Lake District and the Pennines along the way – all the while, never having to sleep in someone else’s sheets…

Whatever form your camping trip is likely to take – hiking with everything squeezed into one rucksack, cycling with your gear squished into panniers, or driving with a packed trailer attached to the car – there are certain bits of kit that will make your camping holiday that bit easier.  Here’s a selection of our favourites.

Survival tools

One of the most useful things you can take with you on a camping trip is a multi-tool, which combines a variety of tools in one small package – much like a Swiss army knife.

The True DogTag Tool TU30 comes with a neck chain and a key chain to make sure it doesn’t get lost. Measuring just 5cm, the True DogTag Tool TU30 includes useful tools including tweezers, a bottle opener, a knife, a screwdriver and a bright white LED light – so finding your way back to your tent at night won’t be a problem.

If you’re planning a full-on survival experience then a useful tool to take on your trip is the hand powered chainsaw, which despite being light and compact and operated purely by hand, can cut through a three-inch diameter tree limb in 20 seconds.

Heat and light

Even during the summer, evenings can be cold and dark, so make sure you take reliable sources of heat and light on your camping trip.

The Cyba-lite LED Lantern is perfect for camping trips. Battery powered, the lantern weighs just 158g and is only 13cm high – yet with its convex lens and 0.5w bright white LED, the Cyba-lite LED lantern will provide ample light, either standing in its base or with the base inverted to create a hanging torch.

Lighting a fire to keep warm at camp is not always easy, especially if you can’t find any decent kindling. So why not take your own kindling with you? Maya Fire Lighting Dust is made from shavings of a fatwood pine which has an 80% resin content – just strike sparks into the dust to get flame. Maya Fire Lighting Dust is neatly contained in 7cm diameter waterproof packaging, produces an extremely hot flame, and is completely natural.

Cooking and eating

Even if you’re staying at a campsite with lots of amenities, you probably won’t want to eat at restaurants every day – it can be very expensive, for a start. But if you’re trying to travel light, cooking and eating utensils – and food – can very quickly weigh you down.

Thankfully, there are some excellent lightweight cooking and eating utensils and specialist foods which are ideal for travelling light, and which use very little space in your rucksack.

The Camping Meal Kit is a set of polycarbonate and polypropylene utensils, which all pack away neatly into the largest dish which measures just 19cm x 19cm x 5.5cm. Included in the kit is a spill-free cup with lid, two plates, a combined colander and cutting board, a small waterproof box, and a spork (a spoon-knife-fork combined into one handy tool).

If you’re likely to find yourself miles from civilisation, stock up on lightweight food before you set off, which will provide the nutrition and energy you need for your trip without weighing a ton in your backpack.  Backpacker’s Pantry has created an excellent range of freeze-dried meals in lightweight packets, which contain enough food for two people. Simply add boiling water and then enjoy a meal of spaghetti in sauce, Pad Thai, spicy chilli or a variety of other delicious recipes.

In part 3 of our ongoing survivalism series, we discuss what is perhaps the single most useful piece of daily carry gear that every single human being should carry every day.

Copyright (c) 2009 Jonathan Perez

Even though leaving the everyday constraints of a nine to five is always on the back of the nature lovers mind, regardless of how experienced they are it is always imperative that you’re properly equipped when you go. Probably one of the types of gear you must take with you that could prove to be a lifesaver when something unexpected occurs is emergency supplies and kits.

You have to take with you the proper climbing boots if you are planning on doing any kind of hiking when you’re out camping. If you do happen to get stuck in the woods, a pair of sneakers just won’t do. Now, durable footware will cost more, however it will give your tootsies stronger protection from blistering up, will keep them nice and dry, and will let air ventilate your feet. Have in mind the type of footware you take along and use since if you get to the point that your feet begin to experience pain even the littlest things and movements can really hurt.

Following, the true nature lover will have to have a reliable tent to sleep in at night. Whatever tent you choose to take with you has to be one that you can walk with for a good distance and that’s not difficult to have breakdown and set up. Practice carrying the tent around on your back before the trip to test if you can withstand the weight for a long period of time while on the go. One thing you definitely want to avoid is carrying that tent with you and then having to waste hours mantling.

I would have to say that two of the most important pieces of camping supplies to bring along on your hiking trip are a sharp buck knife and a rechargeable flashlight. Knives can help cutting up food, getting branches for fire, and for repairing or making other tools. Be sure to get a proper sheath for your knife and to make sure that the blade is sharp for every trip you make.

So the outdoorsman will be carrying a tent, extra clothing, food, white gas for fire, a knife and other equipment, therefore he will need a good backpack that will help him haul along whatever he needs. A backpack that you can rely on has to come with chest and waist straps, because if not you’ll be forced to manhandle the entire thing on your delts, and it will definitely feel a lot more difficult to take with ever move you make. To protect your back, the backpack should have support bars.

Pack your bare necessities because that’s all you’ll stand to carry for a long hike. Don’t forget, in addition to the previous items, you’ll need to bring emergency supplies as well. You’ll need a first aid kit, spare batteries, ropes and flashlights. For comfort you’ll want to have a sleeping bag and cooking supplies.

Without these items or a superior knowledge of outdoor survival, it would be difficult to spend extended periods of time out in the wilderness. Though you may not plan to be away for long, sometimes the worst can happen and therefore it is best to be prepared. Even the most rugged outdoorsman would agree.

The FIRST ionking100 outdoor/survival video. The tent is a swiss gear 2 man tent. The weight is not to light but is a good weight for a 15 year old to carry with all of their other gear. This is a winter review because finally my outdoor buddy got to come over and we were going to try to do this review out in the woods but that didn’t work out so we did it in my front yard. The tent is a ok tent for summer with all the vents and open areas but it proves horrible for winter or even fall. It was VERY cold in the tent but that wont stop us from using it in winter. If you would like to see more videos just send me a message and tell me what survival tips and outdoor info you would like to see. We are NOT experts but we have spent our fare share of time out in the woods.

If you are planning to have an outdoor adventure, you need to be prepared with your outdoor camping gear. It is not necessary to bring everything from your kitchen and bedroom to have a comfortable condition. All you need to have is the survival gear.

Depending on your adventure, you can have hiking gear and camping and hunting gear. For all outdoor adventures, you will need the essentials including footwear, clothing, backpacks, camping tents, campground cooking tools and accessories.

Most outdoor foot wear is camping boots and trekking and hiking shoes. For serious hikers and campers, REI has high-end products for backpacking boots. You can also check out the hiking shoes of The Walking Company for good options, if you are an enthusiast of urban treks. Most shoes of The Walking Company ensure comfort.

Clothes are very important outdoor camping gear, because it can be cold at night when you are on highlands like mountain tops or hill tops. Be sure to bring with you a waterproof storm jacket. Check out Patagonia, Moosejaw and Backcountry.

Eastern mountain sports make quality backpack. Their products include daypacks, hydration packs and multi-day packs. Backpacks need to be durable because they hold and keep valuables. Camping tents provide shelter and protection for you when you are outdoors.

You will be shielded against the scorching heat of the sun, the pouring rain, and the rushing wind. Tents keep you guarded from pests like mosquitoes, noseeums and flies. They also protect your valuables like camp gear.

Outdoor camping gear would not be complete without your cooking tools. Whether you love cooking, preparing raw foods or opening canned goods, you will need to use fire. In most camp sites, a separate ground for cooking is prepared.

Be sure to bring a bag of charcoal, spatula, propane stove, few pots, skillet and you will never be hungry. You can bring meat for steaks, hot dogs, hamburgers and sandwiches. Among the camping accessories that you will need are the sleeping bags, compass and maps. You can also bring GPS.

Compass and maps are particularly important for people who visit a site for the first time or when there is no tour guide to provide directions. GPS devices are among the outdoor camping gear that is a product of technology innovation to make camping more convenient.

Sleeping bags and pads will not make you miss your bed at home. You will not have to sleep on hard ground as you can use cushions. You can choose inflatable pads or closed-cell pads. You will place your sleeping bag on top of the pads.

If you are new to camping or hiking, you should choose summer as the ideal season for you. If such is the case, you will not need an expensive sleeping bag for your outdoor camping gear. A lightweight rectangular sleeping bag will be comfortable for you.

If it is too warm, sleeping on top of it with a sheet or blanket is recommended. Of course, you need to bring pillow and blankets for a good night sleep. Hiking or camping is more enjoyable when you have complete outdoor camping gear.

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