59 Survival Tips and Tricks to Prepare for the Outdoor and Wilderness!

Life, in general, has become increasingly more comfortable and, dare I say, easily over the last century or so. Well, at least in the modern world.

We, as humans, have developed an unsettling dependence on technology for everything. Think about it, name a thing in your house that you can actually make from scratch. I bet you can’t! We live in a culture where we just buy things that we need. We are so coddled that a simple problem like a power outage leaves us in a frenzy.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s all fine and dandy for the good times.

But what if the times turn? What if you find yourself in a challenging situation, away from all your friends, gadgets, and thingamajigs? What if you can’t just buy your way out? And what if your life depends on getting out of that bind? Do you think you have the skills, the know-how, and the presence of mind to handle a situation like that?

For most people, the answer to this question is a resounding NO! Do you see the irony? We know more about how the universe was created than how to make fire without gadgets!

The Necessity of Outdoor Survival Skills:

Most people don’t even think about basic survival skills as something they must acquire. Most people I talk to believe they will never end up in a ‘survival’ situation. I will tell you what I say, those people; you don’t ‘plan’ to get into a situation like that! It just happens. And God forbid, you must be prepared if such a situation arises.

I am not saying everyone must undergo military-style survival training (although you could if you like!), but you must know some basic survival tips and tricks. These tips and tricks can be the difference between life and death. So, yeah, they are more important than knowing what happens in the next episode of your favorite show!

What Survival Skills and Techniques Saved Me?

I have been in numerous ‘tricky’ situations myself and always found my way out. Do you know why? Because I applied some basic survival tips that I learned throughout my life. Today, I will share some of those skills and tips with you guys. Trust me when I say this, these tips and tricks can save your life one day.

So please, read this article in its full length, bookmark it, share it with your friends, print it out, or best, memorize the tips to learn how to not die in an unfavorable situation.

Tips for Surviving in the Wilderness

Most of us have never been in the wild or been there with all the gadgets to help us. What if you find yourself in the wilderness with no one or gadgets? There are ways to survive and get out to safety in this situation. In this section, I will discuss the means to survive if you are stranded in the middle of the woods. If you follow these simple tips and tricks, you can escape this situation in one piece!

1: Stay Calm!

Finding yourself in a survival situation can be extremely unsettling. I mean, it’s not like you practice getting in such cases every day, right? Most people can get very nervous and panic in situations like these. This outdoor survival skill can alone save your life in many situations.

Don’t get me wrong; it is entirely understandable! However, if you want to get out of the situation, you must rely on sound judgment. Your brain will not think properly if you are agitated, overly anxious, or panicking.

The first thing that you must tell yourself is to take a deep breath and try to control your anxiety and panic. In all likelihood, you are in a much less dangerous situation than you may believe at the moment. If you keep a cool head, you will soon start seeing ways to get out of the bind.

Getting out of a tricky situation requires a sound and rational approach. If you are not thinking right, you cannot put any of the following tips to use. So, the first thing is to get a grip on your emotions and devise a plan.

2: Set Your Priorities Right

The key to successful survival is getting your priorities in order when stranded. You have a lot on your plate and will have huge problems if you don’t prioritize.

Food is not your priority, despite what you may think at that time. As we just saw in the rule of threes, a lack of food won’t kill you for three days! Your priority is staying warm if it is cold outside.

Try to stay as dry as possible. Wet skin loses three times more heat than dry skin. If your pants get wet, make sure that you get rid of them and try to dry them.

PRO TIPS: Water is your top priority if you are in warm, dry weather. Make sure you get water access first before you do anything else.

Assuming that you are lost, another important priority will be signaling. In the following sections, we have covered how to make a smoke signal in great detail.

3: Starting a Fire

Fire is the one thing that we almost take for granted. When we need it just light a match or press a button on your lighter, and poof! The fire is there. Things are not that simple in the wild. You may not have any of these gadgets, or they won’t work. You should be able to improvise and start a fire.

Now, three things are needed to start a fire: fuel, oxygen, and a spark. You have two of these in abundance in the wild. There is almost unlimited fuel in the form of twigs, branches, dry leaves, and oxygen. What you are missing is the spark or heat. So, let’s see what you can do to make that spark or heat happen.

Flint and Steel

Flint and steel are probably the oldest tricks to start a fire. You only need to strike the flint against the steel to make a spark. You can buy portable steel and Flint sets cheap these days. You should probably invest in one of those; they cost less than your morning cup of coffee! And coffee isn’t going to save your life!

Improvised magnifying glass

What if you don’t happen to carry a flint and steel set with you? Well, you can use the power of the sun to start a fire. All you need to do is put some water in a clear plastic bag and tie it like a balloon, as spherical as possible. When you hold this bag against the sun, you will see the familiar converging of the sun rays on the ground.

If you keep focusing the bright light onto some dry kindle, you will soon start a fire. The focal length of your improvised device is smaller than a magnifying glass, so you will have to hold this improvised device about 1-2 inches from the kindling.

You can also use a condom for the same effect. Remember that the more transparent the bag or condom is, the quicker it will heat the kindling.

4: Making a Smoke Signal

Assuming you have already begun a fire successfully, the next step is to let the potential rescuers know your position. If the woods are thick, it can become impossible to see through the canopy, even if the search party is looking for you from a helicopter. To let them know where you are, you need some signal.

A smoke signal was one of the oldest ways to communicate, long before the age of cell phones. You can use this method to attract attention to yourself. Creating a smoke signal is easy. All you need to do is burn something that will create a thick smoke, and the smoke will do the rest for you.

Here are the steps that you can follow to make a smoke signal.

Find a good location

First things first, find a suitable place for your smoke signal. High land with less vegetation is ideal. Look for a piece of land that rescuers can see from above.

Light a fire

Light a fire as in tip#1 and add some firewood. Let the fire burn completely; wait till it burns down to embers.

Make smoke

Gather any leafy green vegetation you can find and throw it on the embers. Cover them completely. Depending on the greens you choose, it will create a lot of smoke.

Pine and spruce leaves make thick smoke if you can find some, throw them in as well. A synthetic material such as plastic or rubber also produces dense smoke.

5: How to Start and Sustain a Fire in Wet Weather

It can be incredibly difficult to initiate and maintain a fire if the weather is wet. However, certain tips and tricks can help you. The most important thing to remember is that if you get the fire raging, it will probably sustain light rain.

Again, don’t expect your fire to burn through a tropical thunderstorm! Here are some great tips to start and maintain a fire in wet weather.

Avoid the pit

If the weather is dry, digging a small hole to keep your firewood is a good idea. However, the pit can quickly fill up in wet weather with rainwater. Skip the pit if it is raining.

Look for dry pieces of wood

Now, before you say duh, hear me out! It can be difficult to find dry wood if it rains for a while. However, you can look for pieces of sticks that are under thick trees; there is a good chance that you may find some dry place there.

Also, a piece of wood can look wet on the outside when it can be dry inside. If you peel off the bark from a piece of wood, you can find some dry, usable wood.

Use pine and needle-bearing leaves

These trees exude a sticky substance called pitch. It is a highly flammable substance that you can use to maintain a fire in light rain and wet conditions.

Make small pieces of your firewood

Always remember that if you split the branches into small pieces, they would burn better.

Pay attention to the shape of the fire lay

The form of the pyre or the fire lay is critical, especially if you are trying to light it in a wet environment. Make sure that the shape of the fire lay is as conical as possible. If your fire lay is flat and scattered, the rain will put it out quicker.

I found this video extremely useful and watch-worthy if you want to make a fire in wet weather:

6: Make a Char Cloth

Once you get a fire going, making provisions for the next one is important. You must ensure that the next fire you start does not require the amount of work needed to start the first one. There are a couple of things that you can do to achieve it.

Make a char cloth

NOTE: One of the biggest hurdles in starting a fire is finding the right kind of kindling. If you can make a kindling that can catch fire quickly, you have half of your work cut out. One of the best fuels that you can make is char cloth.

Take a small piece of cloth and shove it in a metal box or a container. Make sure that the container is sealed and throw it in the fire. Let the container burn in the fire for a few minutes. Remove it from the fire and let it cool. If you did it right, the cloth inside would be completely black but not burnt. This cloth is called a char cloth. It catches fire with the smallest of sparks!

Vaseline-soaked cotton balls

Vaseline is pure petroleum jelly. If you have some Vaseline on your hands, you can make great fire starters (at over 400°F or 200). Just soak some cotton balls in Vaseline and keep them in a container. The cotton balls soaked in Vaseline burn quickly and for a long time.

7: How to Build a Shelter

A shelter is an important survival tool in the wilderness. It can protect you from the weather elements as well as some wildlife. Making a tent can be quite simple. However, avoid the following mistakes while building one.

• Never build a shelter on damp ground, ever.
• Never build a shelter on highlands or the top of hills. The wind can get cold at night, and with no trees to resist, you risk your shelter being blown away by the gusts.
• Similarly, avoid making a shelter at the bottom of a narrow valley. Cold wind collects there; you will have a tough time at night.

There are some different shelter designs that you can build from the materials readily available in the wild. Here are some designs you can try.

The Cocoon

It is exactly what it sounds like! If it is dark already and you don’t have time to look for an alternative, find a bunch of leaves and twigs and make a mound of sorts. It should be about 2 feet high and as long as your height. Once the pile is assembled, you can crawl under it. It is a natural sleeping bag that will keep you warm.

How would you make a cocoon shelter?

The ‘A’-frame

If you can find some sticks, you can make this sturdy shelter in no time. Find two sticks about 5 feet long and one about 10 feet long. Prop the shorter sticks so that you create an ‘A’ shape. Now prop the longer stick on top of the ‘A’ shape that you made and tie the three sticks together.

You will already see a tent shape. You can reinforce this tent skeleton by propping some more sticks to support the longer stick. Now, cover the tent with branches of trees and leaves to make a comfortable shelter.

Your Bed

Making a bed is one of the most important shelter tips. Never sleep on the bare floor of the woods. You can arrange a bed of dry leaves inside your shelter. The bed will prevent the heat from your body from seeping into the cold forest ground.

8: Stay Warm in the Woods

Staying warm in a cold or freezing wilderness can be a tough challenge. However, there are tips that you can use to make it easier. If you are in a situation where the cold is getting better, remember the following tips.

• Layering always works: The best way to combat the cold is not to allow it to escape from your body. Make sure that you are wearing as many layers as you can.
• Empty your bladder to stay warm: It may sound crazy, but it is true. When your body stores urine, it needs extra heat to keep that liquid warm. If you empty your bladder, that energy can be used to keep your other body parts warm.
• Get cozy with your partner: Cuddling up while sleeping can be helpful if you are with someone in the wild.
• Cover your head: Most body heat is lost through your head. Make sure that you insulate your head correctly. Wear a hat or something.

9: Learn to Make a Water Filter

Although there may be water all around you in the wilderness, drinking water from a stagnant puddle or a lake is not advisable. Drinking from a flowing stream is always better than drinking from a stagnant pool of water. However, there can be a situation where you may not have any options. In that case, you can construct a portable water filter. Here is how you do it.

• Find an empty bottle or a container: Any empty container will do. If you can’t find one, you can always make one using birch barks.
• Poke small holes in the bottom of the container: Make small holes with a pencil or a stick.
• Now fill the bottle up to an inch or two with the following material: Coarse gravel, coarse sand, charcoal, and fine sand. You can get the charcoal from the fire you made in step 2. Just collect the charcoal and crush it up into a fine powder.
• Add water to the top layer of fine sand. As water percolates through the fine sand, then through the charcoal, the coarse sand, and the gravel, it will get filtered. Collect the water coming out through the openings you created.

Remember, this is not an ultimate filter, the charcoal can absorb some toxins, but it still is relatively crude.

10: Collect Water

There is a good possibility that you may not find any water in the wilderness, especially if you are stuck in drier places. There are several valuable survival tips and techniques in the wilderness, but I suppose this is one of the trickiest ones. There are a couple of ways to collect water in the wilderness. One of the simplest ways involves trapping transpired water by the trees.

Trees always lose water in the atmosphere by a process called transpiration. You can trap this water efficiently. Just follow the steps below.

• Look for a thick green tree with a lot of branches.
• Tune a plastic bag over a branch with many leaves early in the morning. You tie it, so the leaves are completely covered with the plastic bag.
• You can also weigh down the plastic bag by adding a small rock to the bag. This creates a low point in the bag for water to collect.

As the day progresses, the water escaping from the leaves will be caught by the plastic bag and condense into liquid form. You can collect this water after sunset. The collected water is pure, and it is unnecessary to filter it.

11: Stay Cool in a Desert or an Arid Land

You must keep your body cool if trapped in a desert or dry wilderness. Although finding shade can be difficult, you can create a makeshift cooling hat using just two things: a rag and your urine.

Take a piece of clothing to wrap around your head and soak it in your urine. Wrap this damp cloth around your head to stay cool. It may sound a bit gross, but trust me, it will be much more comfortable with the pee-rag on your head!

12: Learn to Treat Animal Bites

If you are stuck in the wilderness, you are on the turf of wild animals. There is a real possibility that an animal may bite you! Knowing the best way to tackle this situation is important in such cases.

The first step is to tie a ligature around the limb above the bite to restrict the blood from flowing from the wound to other parts of your body. Once this is done, the next step is to wash the wound as thoroughly as possible. If you have soap, use soap and water to clean the wound.

Your job is to prevent parasites in the animal bite from reaching the blood. Washing thoroughly can get rid of some pests reducing the parasite load. It gives your immune system a better chance to fight the infection.

If you have alcohol handy, pour some alcohol on the wound. It will further decrease the number of pathogens. Although to be effective, you must use hard drinks such as whiskey or rum. Drinks like beer have too little alcohol to be of any help in this situation.

13: Learn How to Tell Directions in the Wild

It sounds dumb, but many people can’t understand directions when lost. Any survivalist must be able to tell directions even when the sun is unavailable for reference. Many little clues in nature can help you find the North. Here are some great examples.

• Look for moss on a tree trunk. Mosses usually grow as far away from sunlight and are often found on the north side of the trees and rocks. If the tree or rock is covered in moss, it will be the thickest on the north side.
• Spider webs appear on the south side of the trees. If you happen to find some, it can be a good indication of direction.
• If the sun is out, put a stick on the ground and mark the end of the shadow of the stick on the ground. Wait for a few minutes; the shadow will move. Now mark the end of the new position of the shadow. The line joining those two points will run east-west.
• If you are near a body of water, remember that animals breed on the west side of the water reserves.

Although all these tips may not give you exact directions, they can help you find a general direction quickly. You can, of course, use the sun’s position or a compass!

14: Find the North Star

The tips we just saw can work fine during the day, but what if you want to locate the north at night? Well, the best way to do it is by finding the north star. Locating the north star in a bright cloudless sky is easy.

You should first look for a constellation called The Big Dipper. It contains seven stars that form a somewhat ‘bowl with a handle shape. Once you spot the big dipper, find the two stars that make up the edge of the bowl away from the handle. These are called the pointer stars. Now draw an imaginary line joining these two and extend it to find a bright star. This is the north star.

The north star always points to the true north no matter the season. It is always good to look up these constellations when you have time to know where to look in case you need to use them!

15: Process Your Food as Far Away from Your Shelter as Possible

Say you are stranded in the wilderness, trap a small animal, or catch a fish for food. Don’t mistake prepping the animal for cooking near your shelter.

Remember: The blood, entrails, and other stuff can attract wild animals who can sniff these things out from a distance.

If you prepare the animal for cooking away from your shelter, you will be much safer. Also, don’t let uneaten food open in the shelter. Make sure you clean up all the bones and other half-eaten food from your shelter.

16: Learn to Improvise Cooking Utensils

If you are in a survival-type situation, you most certainly won’t have the utensils to cook your food. In that case, you may have to improvise to make your own. One of the best ways to cook in the wild is to grill. You can design a makeshift grill using metal rods or picks that you can find in your tent or backpack.

Once you have a fire going, you can create a temporary grill using these metal wires and rods for cooking anything from fish to meat. You can also boil water in a makeshift cup that you can fashion from aluminum sheets.

17: Learn to Identify Edible Plants

One of the keys to surviving the wilderness is to keep yourself fed. All your survival efforts will be useless if you don’t have to energy to execute your plans. Although you can hunt or fish for food, both of them require patience and a degree of skill.

One of the best sources of food in the wilderness is plants. If you can find plants you can eat, you won’t have to look for an animal to kill frantically!

However, you must be careful if you decide to consume wild plants, fruits, or flowers. Some of these plants can be very dangerous and even poisonous if consumed. There is no definite way of telling whether a plant or fruit is toxic or not just by looking at it.

However, many poisonous plants share some common characteristics. You should avoid going anywhere near such plants. The characteristics of poisonous plants are:

• They have thorns or spikes
• Bitter in taste
• They have a milky sap; most plants with white fluids are highly toxic. Avoid them at any cost.

Again, this is in no way meant to be an ultimate taste. Some poisonous plants may not have either of these characteristics. But, if you are in doubt, avoiding plants with these characteristics is better.

One great way to identify some edible plants is by studying them a little. You can always find books and resources on the internet that can educate you to identify these poisonous plants. So, if you have some time, read up!

18: How to Find Water by Reading Nature’s Cues

Finding fresh, drinkable water can be challenging if stranded in a thick jungle. However, you stand a better chance if you are vigilant and look for small clues and signs. Just observing what is around you can tell you a lot about the ecosystem of the area. For instance, watch the bird or insect activity or listen to the sounds of the jungle.

Here are some great tips I have often used to locate water in the wilderness.

• If you can spot bees, it is always a great sign. It means a hive full of honey nearby and a water source. Bees are usually found within about a 4-5-mile radius of a water body.
• The presence of birds is also a great indicator of a water body nearby. Birds like finches and wild pigeons are grain eaters who drink lots of water. If you can find these birds, you can be assured that a water body is nearby.

Always make sure to boil water before drinking it. You can boil water using a makeshift container made from aluminum foil.

19: The Rule of Threes

Although there is no way to precisely judge things like how long you can go without water or how long you can survive cold, there are some good estimates. One of my personal favorites is the “rule of the threes.” It gives you a very broad idea of some calculations that can help you in a survival situation. The rule goes as follows.

• If it is cold outside, you can survive for about three hours before your body shows significant effects of hypothermia.
• You can probably survive for three days if you don’t find any water. However, you will start feeling the effects of dehydration in a day itself, but you can survive without water for three.
• Similarly, you can survive for about three weeks without food. Again, that does not mean you will be up and about throughout the three weeks. It just means you can ‘survive’ and not die if you don’t eat food for three weeks.

Another rule I would suggest to all of you is that you can live without thinking for three seconds! It means it takes about three seconds to do something dumb that is horrible enough to kill you if you think right! So, stay calm and don’t do anything without thinking about it.

20: Never Travel in the Dark

It may sound like a good idea just to keep traveling even after sunset if you are not completely exhausted. However, it is one of the most dangerous things you can do in the wild. Make sure that all your traveling can wait until the break of the dawn. Traveling through the wilderness in the dark is an open invitation to danger.

Most of the predatory animals are nocturnal and trust me; they are built for hunting at night. They can see you better than you know, even if it is pitch black. Also, the floor of the woods is covered with insects and snakes that come out during the night. Remember, you are traveling in a land that you have never tread. You can fall off a cliff if you can’t see where you are going.

21: Sleep Above the Ground

In the earlier section, we covered how to make shelter and bedding. However, if you are traveling and just need bedding to sleep on for a night, make sure you are not sleeping on the forest floor.

Making a makeshift hammock is one of the best ways to spend the night. Find a couple of trees that have tall trunks for your hammock. Trees that have less foliage are best. Make a hammock as high as possible and climb into it for the night. It will protect you from wild animals and creeping and crawling insects.

Never climb a tree and sleep there. Many people think climbing a tree to sleep there for a while is a good idea. You are more likely to fall from the tree in your sleep than you might think.

22: Do Not Use Dirty Water to Clean Wounds

If you are injured or have a flesh wound, ensure you are not washing the wound with dirty water filled with microbes.

Water from many waterbodies may seem clear, but it is filled with microscopic organisms that may cause severe infections. If you must wash the wound, make sure that you use clean water. If you can boil water, then use boiled water to clean the wounds. If you can’t use boiled water, you can use the water collected from tree transpiration. We have seen how to collect this water in tip#10.

If you have alcohol, wash the wounds with high-proof alcoholic spirits. Avoid beer and wine; these beverages contain a lot of sugar and insufficient alcohol to help in any scenario.

23: Learn to Use Animal Carcasses and Entrails to Your Advantage

• You can find a lot of animal products in the wilderness. Animal bones and feces are scattered all over the jungle floor. You can use some of these items to your advantage. Here are some tips on how to utilize these.
• Animal bones can be used as weapons: When it comes to bones, you can fashion small weapons that you can use to hunt or fish. After all, animal bones were one of the first weapons of our prehistoric ancestors!
• Use the pelts and skin: Animal skins and hides can provide excellent insulation. You can use them for your bedding as well.
• Use urine of females to attract prey: The urine of female animals can be used to attract males for hunting. Although finding female urine may be difficult, if you hunt a female, you can store the urine.

24: Learn the Medicinal Properties of Wild Plants

There are a ton of plant species in the wilderness. Many of these plants have excellent medicinal properties. Crab apples, for instance, have an astringent effect that can help heal wounds. Pine resin has excellent antiseptic properties. If you can find eucalyptus leaves, you can burn them to eliminate mosquitoes and other bugs around your campsite.

Acorns and oak bark have excellent medicinal properties to heal gastrointestinal problems. If you can find some acorns and oak bark, boil it for 5 minutes and drink the concoction. It will help you fight diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.

Health Tips

If you are constipated, use rosehip leaves. You can make a decoction by boiling the green fleshy parts of the plant in water. Drink this before you go to bed to relieve constipation.

If you have insect bite problems, dock leaves can greatly help. Just pulverize them and apply them directly to the bite. The anti-histamine properties of the leaves can assist in easing the itch and pain

Willow bark contains salicylic acid, which is the active form of aspirin. You can chew on the middle willow barks if you have a fever or a headache to good effect.

However, always remember that you should not eat any plant unless you are sure you can identify them correctly.

25: Carry extra pair of socks

Socks are one of the most versatile pieces of clothing. They can not only help you stay warm and comfortable, but you can also use them for various other purposes. Socks can prevent blisters in the wilderness when you must walk long distances in sturdy boots.

You can also use socks as filters and hand warmers if you have nothing else around. Make sure that you always have dry socks on your feet. Wet feet are more prone to chafing and blisters.

26: Use Hand Sanitizer on Kindle Fire

If you have a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your survival kit or gear, you can use it to light embers. Hand sanitizers are mostly alcohol that is highly flammable. Adding just a few drops of hand sanitizer to the embers will produce flames. You can use this flame to start a fire using your char cloth or your cotton balls soaked in Vaseline.

Keeping a hand sanitizer in your survival kit, or better, in your pocket is always good. However, make sure that an alcohol-free sanitizer or one that is foam-based won’t work for this purpose.

27: Create an Insulated Vest from Dry Leaves

As we discussed above, staying warm is your priority. Adding insulation to your clothing is always a welcome idea. Dry leaves on the floor of the woods make excellent insulators. All you need to do is stuff them into your jacket. They form an insulating layer between your body and the outside cold air, trapping your body heat.

However, make sure that the leaves you are using are completely dry. They should not contain any moisture. If you have newspapers or plastic bags, you can also use them.

28: Invest in Tools for Your Survival Kit

Tools are crucial for surviving the wild. Surviving in the wild can be exponentially easy with the right tools. Invest in quality tools that perform in rugged weather.

I always have waterproof equipment in my survival kit. They may cost you a bit more but can save your life in some situations. Invest in a waterproof watch, waterproof matches, and a waterproof compass, to name a few.

29: Always Wear a Utility Bracelet

I am sure you must have seen some of those utility bracelets advertised everywhere. These bracelets are made from the same materials the military uses in their gear. The bracelet itself is made from paracord that you can unravel to make an adamant thread to tie stuff up.

The bracelets also have several attachments, such as small tools and a compass, which can also be used in emergencies. Some of them also have a flint and steel set built right into them.

Wearing them regularly is a good idea, especially if you are camping or going on a road trip. They may not be ideal to wear daily on your day job, but they are worth the investment.

30: Carry Glow Sticks in Your Survival Kit

Glow sticks can be lifesavers in survival situations. Small sticks are filled with a chemical substance that emits light when mechanical shock triggers a chemical reaction. I am sure you must have seen them at parties and such, but they are of great value to a survivalist.

Glow sticks come in all shapes, forms, and colors. The ones you want are not those party things you can wear, like a necklace. You want to buy the ones that have a high light output. These glow sticks can last for years in your kit. However, you should change them before they reach their expiration date.

31: Take Those Rain Ponchos Seriously

I am sure that you must have seen those ugly-looking rain ponchos. However, these seemingly simple things can add significant value to your kit if you are heading out to camp or hunt. These ponchos can be used in several ways if a survival situation presents itself.

• They can be used to fashion a shelter.
• You can use those to collect rainwater as well.
• You can also distill saltwater using one of these as a condensing surface to collect the desalinated water.

If you can, put one of these in your survival backpack today.

32: Get Boots that are Suitable for the Terrain

If you plan to go on hunting, trekking, or a camping expedition, make sure that your shoes suit the terrain. Shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment that you will carry on these expeditions.

You will be walking a lot, and if your shoes are uncomfortable, you will find it tough to cover the ground. Proper shoes must have the following characteristics.

• Lightweight: Heavy and clunky shoes will drain you faster. You want a shoe that is light yet durable.
• Protection: Providing protection is one of the most important jobs of a shoe. Reinforced rubber sole and high-quality leather or synthetic material are things to look for in the best shoe.
• Right size: If you plan to walk a lot, remember that your feet will get a bit swollen. In that case, your shoes need to fit correctly. Anticipate the situation and choose your shoe size accordingly.

33: Invest in a Sturdy Tactical Flashlight

There are a ton of high-quality flashlights out there. A high-quality flashlight is one of the first things that goes into my survival kit. Invest in good quality light, which can save your life in a difficult situation.

Here are some things to look for while selecting a good flashlight.

• It should be bright: Of course, a tactical flashlight should be bright. However, too much brightness can be dangerous in the wild. It may spook wildlife or can catch the attention of predators. Make sure that your flashlight has adjustable light output.
• Waterproof: Not all tactical flashlights are waterproof. It better be waterproof if you buy a flashlight for your survival kit. You don’t know when to need it in the rain or underwater.
• It should have long-lasting batteries: Now, this one is self-explanatory, isn’t it?

34: Carry Duct Tape in Your Survival Gear

Duct tape is one of the simplest pieces of the tool in my survival kit. It may seem simple, but it has helped me in many tricky situations. I never leave for a hike or a camp without it in my backpack.

You can use this solid tape for do many things, including making shelters.

35: Invest in a Good Tactical Backpack

A survival bag is specially designed to help you overcome tricky situations. It is not your everyday run-of-the-mill bag. Firstly, it is designed with materials that are of superior quality. These bags can withstand weather elements with ease. They are lightweight, sturdy, and multipurpose. Quality bags can be expensive, but they are worth the money. Here are the top 10 tactical backpacks for any survivalist.

36: Reinforce Your Backpacks and Clothes with Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is a lightweight alloy that is bulletproof. You can easily procure this material as most saws are made from it. The pieces of carbon steel may require a high ‘exoskeleton’ for your jackets, clothes, and backpack.

Carbon steel is easily bendable and doesn’t snap. You can also use this to protect yourself from shrapnel, arrows, and bullets.

37: Surround Your Campfire with Rocks

Surrounding the campfire with rocks is a great way to prolong the fire’s heat. The rocks will stay warm long after the flames have been extinguished. Small hot stones can also be used to boil water.

You only need to drop a few hot rocks in your metal water container. The rocks’ heat is enough to boil the water, making it safe to drink.

38: Use Charcoal to Make Water Palatable

So, you found some waterbody in the wild and collected some water. You even boiled the water to make it safe to drink. But it smells horrible or unpleasant when you try to drink it. It is a common scenario faced by many survivalists.

Thankfully, it is easy to remedy this situation. Just add some charcoal while boiling the water. Charcoal is an excellent adsorbent that can eliminate many impurities, including foul taste, smell, and color. Always collect charcoal from your fire in a tight container.

39: Organize Your Tactical Backpack

Packing a Tactical Backpack is a Whole Lot of Work!

Merely getting a survival bag and filling it with some equipment will not help your survival mission. Ensure your bug-out bag is properly organized so you can rely on the gear to get you out of the tricky situation. Here are some tips for organizing your bug-out bag.

• Make sure your bag is balanced: You will carry this bag on your shoulders for a long time. If the bag is well-balanced, it will be easy to carry. Distribute the load so that the heavier stuff is on the top and the call lighter stuff is on the bottom.
• Organize the bag: Make sure all necessary equipment is accessible without much digging.
• Use straps: Use the straps on the bag to secure your gear. Make sure that none of the material is hanging loose.

40: Take Care of the Blisters as Soon as Possible

When you walk for a long distance, it is common to get blisters on your feet. If you don’t take care of these blisters as soon as possible, they will prevent you from covering a distance. If the blister has already been formed, just puncture to relieve the fluid buildup. If you sense that a blister may be forming, use a small piece of duct tape to prevent it.

41: Learn How to Make an SOS Signal

An SOS signal is the universal call for help. You can cause the signal using light as well as sound. The message consists of three dots followed by three dashes followed by three dots. If you’re using light, an SOS signal would be three short bursts of light followed by three long bursts followed by three more short bursts. The same logic applies if you are using sound. Make sure that you practice the signal before you need to use it.

42: Learn the Universal Wave

One of the best ways to catch the rescuers’ attention or pass people is using the Universal wave. It is one of the simplest gestures to learn. I am sure you must have seen it in many movies. To do the wave, stand with your legs slightly apart and wave your arms as you would when you are jumping jacks.

43: Carry Two Rescue Mirrors

Rescue mirrors are an excellent way to grab the attention of rescuers. However, you will be severely limited if you just have a single mirror.

As the sun always travels south, using a single mirror to signal a rescue crew flying in from the north is impossible.

If you have two mirrors, you can use the reflection from one mirror as a light source and reflect it from the second mirror. This enables you to signal north even if no sun is present to reflect light.

44: Learn How to Snare Small Game

Snaring can be an excellent way to trap small animals while you are away building your shelter. However, it is important to know where to set up the traps. You can set traps where you can see the animals running around. You can also hear small rodents and squirrels. It is even better if you are near a water body.

How to Set up a Snare?

Setting up a snare is simple. Just make a loop out of thin metal wire by folding the wire back onto itself. It is like tying an overhand knot. Once the animal is trapped, the weight of the animal will be enough to synch the knot.

While laying the traps, ensure that the positioning is right, you remember where you set them up, and the loop is just about the size of the animal’s head. Too big a loop will be useless.

45: Learn to Make Rope from Willow Tree Branches

The rope is a critical resource in the wild. It is essential to tie things, make shelter, and even hunt. You can make a robust and sturdy rope from the skins of willow branches. Here is how you can make willow ropes.

• Skin the willow tree branches with a knife or suitable camping ax. You are looking for that soft layer of the branch that is deeper than the bark of the wood. Strip them in the form of long ribbons.
• Tie a piece of the ribbon with a knot at the bitter end. Now, twist the skin to create a powerful thread. Use the other piece and wrap it on top of the first string. Repeat with a third string. Make a few of these mini-strings.
• Braid three strings you made in step 2 to make a strong rope.

46: Learn to Make a Torch

A torch is an excellent way to illuminate your path in the dark. You can also use it as a weapon to ward off attacks from wild animals. To make a torch, find a tree branch and split it in half. Stick a piece of bark in the fork and light the split end; that’s all! Birch tree branches make great torches.

47: Collect Rain Water

Rainwater is perhaps the purest form of water available in the wild. You can collect the rainwater and use it for drinking with no need to filter. There are many simple ways to collect rainwater.

• A lot of rainwater is collected on top of large leaves. If you can find a tree with huge leaves, you can often find water pooled on some of them.
• Tallgrass also has a lot of water droplets all over its blades. If you carefully cut the grass and ring them out, you can collect enough water from quenching your thirst.
• You can also soak up the moisture on the grass with your clothes and ring them out to get some fresh, pure water.

48: Make Sure You Have Water Purifying Tablets in Your Survival Kit

Water-purifying tablets are a must in your survival kit. These small tablets can help you clean water without any heat or other means of purification. Although tablets may not last forever, and it is not good to survive entirely on them, they can be a good emergency backup.

In the long term, boiling or filtering water is the best option.

49: Add Aluminum Foil to Your Survival Kit

Aluminum foil is a versatile tool that must carry in a survival kit. To start a fire, you can use aluminum foil for all sorts of things, including making utensils, heat reflectors, and a dry surface.

I always carry a few pieces of foil in my survival kit. You don’t need to add the whole roll; just a few folded-up pieces should be good enough.

50: Don’t Make a Shelter Downwind of Your Campfire

It is quite tempting to make a shelter downwind of your campfire. The logical explanation that you can think of is that as the wind blows, the heat will be carried to the shelter.

However, trust me; it is a HORRIBLE idea.

If you sleep downwind of the campfire, your whole shelter will soon start smelling like smoke and fire, and you don’t want that. Also, there is a chance that if the gusts are strong, burning pieces of firewood can fly right into your shelter while you are asleep.

51: Learn to Predict the Incoming Rain or Storms by Looking at the Sun or the Moon

There is no Weather Channel to tell you how the weather will be in the wild. You need to read the signs in nature to predict rain or snow. One of the best ways to predict weather changes is to look at the sun or the moon.

PRO TIPS: If there is a halo around the sun or the moon, it usually indicates that low pressure is approaching.

You can safely predict that there will be some precipitation, either rain or snow, in the next 24-36 hours. The refraction of light causes the halo by ice crystals in the cirrus clouds. The broken side points toward the incoming storm if the halo is broken.

52: Use Duct Tape to Keep Your Shoelaces Tied

When you walk through bushes and thickets, your shoelaces can be quickly caught in the branches. It can cause you to lose footing or fall. Use duct tape to tape the loose ends of your laces to your upper ankle. This way, there will be no open laces to tangle.

53: Make Your Glasses Fog-free

If you wear glasses, you know the pain of fogged-up lenses in cold weather far too well. You can easily prevent this from happening with a simple little trick. Follow the steps below to create a fog-free pair of glasses.

• Clean the lenses under running water
• While the lenses are still wet, add a couple of drops of dish soap to the lenses
• Clean the lenses with a lens cloth and polish them till all the streaks are gone

This simple procedure will make your glasses fog-free!

54: Make Your Tools Visible if You Drop Them on the Ground

This tip may sound silly, but trust me, it greatly helped me in camps. I have a small knife that I always keep in my survival pack. Unfortunately, the knife is brown and black. If I drop it accidentally on the jungle floor, I waste valuable minutes finding it.

To prevent this, I painted the knife’s handle bright orange. That way, I can spot my knife easily on the ground, even if it is somewhat dark outside.

55: Coconuts Can Save Your Life

Coconut water contains vital nutrients and sugar that can keep you fed and alive for a long. If you can find coconut trees, make sure you use the water for food. However, remember that if you drink too much coconut water, it can give you runs! In that case, just eat some powdered charcoal. It can help you ease your stomach woes.

56: Catch More Fish by Facing into the Wind

If you are fishing for food in the wild, you can catch more fish if you cast your bait while facing the wind. It is known that 99% of fish swim toward the wind. Fishing into the wind will allow you to cast a bait in front of the fish rather than behind.

More survival fishing techniques…

57: Don’t Attempt to Cross a Rapid, Fast Moving River or Stream

If you come across a fast-moving stream, it is better not to try crossing it. You may think you can manage the current flow, but there is no accurate measure of the speed. You can be quickly swept away by a seemingly manageable current.

I would suggest crossing streams or rivers only if it is necessary.

58: Never Underestimate Flash Floods

Flash floods can be a nightmare in the wild. If you are not careful, they can wash away your shelter in no time. Keep an eye out for the warning signs of rain or thunder.

PRO TIPS:

Always camp on high grounds. Make sure that you are not in the path of a current in case it starts to flood.

Never make the mistake of trying to outrun a flash flood. You will be caught and swept away before you realize it. If you see a flash flood, immediately go to high ground and avoid it.

59: Anticipate and Be Prepared

The most important survival tip is to anticipate survival situations and prepare yourself. If you don’t expect and prepare for a situation, you will never be able to perform when the time comes.

If survival were an exam, you would have a better chance of acing it with good study, right? Hence, you must expand your knowledge, anticipate situations, and design strategies.

Remember, when the time comes, you are better prepared and have a better chance!

Bushcraft Survival Skills to Practice and Master

If you plan to go deep into the woods and be in the wilderness for more than a day, you must know the basics of survival. This means understanding how to create a shelter, build a fire, find drinkable water, and get the attention of possible rescue parties. What follows are ten bushcraft outdoor skills and wilderness survival tips for staying alive that you must practice and learn.

Break Rocks into Tools

One of the most ancient bushcraft survival skills is turning the rocks into spear points, arrowheads, or knives that can help you hunt for food. Harder stones, such as obsidian, can become sharp objects that you can use to cut wood or kill small animals to survive. It takes time and patience, but you can master the basic art of breaking apart rocks to create sharp objects.

Feather stick

While most people bring a fire-starting kit, it can get wet or lost, leaving you with little to work with in starting a fire. You can create a feather stick from tree branches if you still have matches, a working lighter, and a knife. Using the knife to remove the bark, you can peel open layers of wood resembling a feather. This gives you both tinder and a solid piece of wood to start your fire. It’s simple, easy to do, and can start a fire even under damp conditions.

Hanging Pots

One way to cut down on the equipment you take into the woods is by learning how to create a natural pot hanging device. All you need is a knife, some branches, a paracord or natural rope, and the pot. The hanging device brackets the fire and is high enough to allow you to hang a pot without putting the wood in danger of being burned. This allows you to put the pot directly over the flame, which is the best way to cook your meals.

Lean-To

A lean-to is the simplest form of shelter and can be created with natural materials lying around. First, you need to find logs large enough to create the frame. Next, long, thin, straight branches will fill the frame, and you pile dirt and grass on top. Be sure that the lean-to faces the wind, so you can stay out of the cold inside. All you need is a tree for support. It may not look pretty and will take some work, but a lean-to can save your life. Combine this with a fire on the open side to stay warm.

Natural Container

If you have lost your canteen or pot, you can make a natural container for water and food using birch bark and some natural rope. While other bark can be used, birch bark is waterproof and easier to create in a container. Once you have found bark large enough to make a container, use your knife to peel it off and shape it around the wood. Use twine or natural rope to secure the bark, and you have a place to hold food or water inside.

Natural Rope

You could use ordinary plants to create a rope if you lost your paracord. This requires finding long grasses and weaving them together to make them strong. The uses for natural rope are considerable, ranging from making a new bootlace to creating a shelter or trapping animals. You can even use the rope to climb or set an injury.

Plants

There are plenty of edible plants; the trick is identifying and separating them from inedible plants. Focus on learning about the edible plants in the area where you plan to hike or camp. That is easier than trying to learn about all plants. A good rule of thumb is when in doubt, don’t eat it. Even boiling will not remove the poison or unwanted materials; just leave it alone.

Tracking Skills

Animals are creatures of habit. This means they will follow the same path repeatedly, which you can use to your advantage. Whether you intend to trap the animals for food or follow them to a water source, you should learn basic tracking skills.

• Judge age of tracks
• Seek out paths made by animals
• Recognize tracks of small and large animals
• Learn to recognize large animal tracks to avoid encounters.

Developing good tracking skills can be quite valuable, depending on how long you are out in the wilderness.

Trash Stove

There seems to be a lot of trash in the wilderness, especially paper. You can use it to your advantage with a trash-fueled stove. All you need is the following;

• Cup for Alcohol Fuel
• Cotton Wick
• Two Cans
• Clamp to make a Handle
• Rock to hold the Lid down
• Plate for Windscreen

The trash paper you find that must be flammable is placed in the cans. The alcohol provides the initial fuel to ignite the trash paper; you can boil soup in under 20 minutes. You can boil meals and clean up the wilderness at the same time.

Water Purifier

You can purify water by boiling it. But in bad weather, you should also have chemical and charcoal purifiers.

A good charcoal purifier will allow you to carry less water while still getting enough to drink. Charcoal filters which you can suck the water through a straw, mean getting quick hydration from a stream or puddle.

Remember, you should boil water when you can, but having a filter or chemical purifier tablets are invaluable.

In the end…

All these skills are the tools you use to survive. The key is having a positive attitude and using your time to the best advantage. Take breaks, don’t wear yourself out, and stay alert for opportunities to get help. Your bushcraft survival skills will help you stay alive, so be sure to practice and use them to your best advantage.

General Tips for Survivalists

• Make sure that you have a thorough understanding of an area you are going to camp or hunt. If possible, memorize the maps and talk to people who have already been to the area. That way, you can anticipate the potential situations that may come forth.
• Ensure that you have a backup of your backup! The rate of something failing is high in the wild. If you don’t have a backup, you will be in trouble. So, if you carry waterproof matches, take flint and steel set.
• Ensure that your survival kit is up-to-date. Many items of your survival kits have an expiration date. Glow sticks and water-purifying tablets go bad after a few years. Check these items’ expiration dates before heading out for your big expedition.
• Plan, plan, and plan! If you are planning a proposed expedition, spend more time preparing it. Make sure that you play each possible scenario in your head before setting out. I know a 100% prepared adventure is no adventure, but planning it makes it much safer. And that is what you want, right?
• Don’t forget insects! If there is a scarcity of food, bugs and insects can provide you with much-needed protein and micronutrients.

These are my ultimate wilderness survival tips. Some tricks may work in a given situation, and others may not. You should be smart enough to pick the right technique and use it.