Cold Weather Survival Gear

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Having a survival kit packed full of bug out bag essentials is a good start towards coming out alive in any situation. However if you are likely to have to face a cold weather survival scenario you should consider adding specific cold weather survival gear to your kit to maximize your chances. If you live in a cold weather climate you may have these items in your BOB at all times. However if you live somewhere that has seasonal changes in temperature, you should include the addition of supplemental cold weather survival gear into your regular bug out bag updates.

Cold Weather Survival Gear

There are many essential BOB items that are helpful in a winter survival scenario. The best of these can serve to greatly increase your chances of survival when the mercury is dropping and snow is on the way. Here are our picks of the best cold weather survival gear that should be a part of any bug out bag in a cold climate:

Shovel

This will greatly help you when breaking trail through the wilderness, digging a fire pit, or when shelter building. If you are going to be shoveling snow a flat shovel blade is suggested. If you will have to be digging into frozen ground a spade or pick end will serve you better.

Broad blade for moving snow	Spade tip for digging in frozen ground

Saw or Hatchet

This is a personal choice but bringing one or the other is a smart move. These tools will help you build a shelter and gather firewood as well as many other important tasks. A hatchet will be better at smashing ice and splitting wood but a saw generally weighs less and is better at cutting dead wood for fires.

High quality basic hatchet	Survival Chain Saw	Compact Folding Saw	Hatchet/Saw Combo

High energy/low weight foods

Maximize the space in your BOB by using compact rations that have high calorie values such as MREs, granola or powerbars, energy gels, or nuts. You will be burning more calories than normal so you need to up your intake to keep pace.

High energy gel - high energy, little weight	High calories, take up little space	Keep hydrated, just add water
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Fire starting equipment and tinder

Having a fire is a key to keeping warm in a cold weather survival situation, make sure you have a high quality fire starting set. A magnesium fire starter will last longer than matches and will work better in wet or windy conditions. Invest in a good one to maximize your odds.

Compact and reliable	One handed firestarter	Military grade firestarting gel. Better than any tinder.

Container for boiling snow

A metal water bottle or canteen is a great multipurpose survival tool in this regard. It will serve as a storage container for the water after you have boiled it and will not crack if the water freezes, like a plastic bottle would.

Wide mouth makes it easy to stuff snow inside	Classic style, comes with an integrated cup and carry case	Insulated to keep liquids warm
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Emergency blanket

This is another great piece of multipurpose cold weather survival gear. Emergency blankets are relatively inexpensive and in a cold weather survival situation they can be used for wrapping up yourself up to keep in warmth, as a ground cloth to keep you from losing heat to the cold ground and to keep moisture from being absorbed by your clothes, or as a shelter building material.

Compact and inexpensive	Upgraded, heavy duty version of a space blanket with integrated hood	Bivvy sack made of emergency blanket material. Put your sleeping bag inside for extra warmth.

Quality waterproof boots

Taking care of your feet is one of the core elements of survival. Wet shoes from walking through snow can quickly lead to frostbite. Being immobilized due to this can quickly lead to death. Having a good pair of warm, waterproof boots will eliminate any issues with your mobility and allow you to survive longer.

High quality warm, waterproof men's boot	High quality warm, waterproof women's boot	Add on to your boots to give you traction on ice

Brightly colored bandana

Something brightly colored, preferably fluorescent will be visible from great distances against a snowy background. This can be used for signaling passing cars or planes. As mentioned in our multipurpose survival gear article, a bandana has many uses and this applies to cold weather survival as well. As a cold weather survival gear item a bandana can be used for:

Collecting and melting snow and ice
A Layer of head cover under a hat
Wrapping extremities to prevent frostbite
Signaling

Bright orange and printed with helpful survival information	Bright red and printed with 1st aid infromation

Quality sleeping bag

Having a quality sleeping bag rated to sub-zero temperatures is one of the most important pieces of cold weather survival gear you can have. It will allow you to rest when you need to in order to recover your energy. Additionally, keeping warm at night will cause you to burn less calories that would otherwise be spent keeping your temperature up. We suggest one that is rated to -20 degrees F (about -30 degrees C) for starters. If you live in a very cold region get one that is rated for even colder to ensure your safety.

High quality bag rated to -20	Extreme bag rated down to -40

Snowshoes

If you are in an area that usually receives a lot of snow these are a good thing to have. They will make traversing snow covered ground far easier than breaking trail through snow banks. Snowshoes can be purchased in many places or you can learn how to make them in the video below:

Basic snowshoes	Midrange snowshoes	High quality top of the range snowshoes

Conclusion

As we have discussed in the past tailoring your bug out bag to your survival scenario is a key to having it be as useful as possible when you need it. Adding cold weather survival gear to your kit will greatly increase your chances of succeeding in a winter survival situation. Be sure to pick quality gear, you will not be happy that you saved a few dollars when you are out in the wilderness freezing. As with any survival tools make sure you take any items you select out and familiarize yourself with using them. You don’t want a life or death situation to be when you are taking an item out of its original packaging. Practice your cold weather survival skills and hone the techniques of using your cold weather survival gear for the best results.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have a piece of cold weather survival gear that you would recommend? Do you have an innovative use for one of the cold weather survival gear items that we mentioned above? Please let us know in the Comments Section below.

Wartech Knife Review 8″ Assisted Open Folding Tactical Survival Pocket

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After mentioning the The Wartech 8″ Assisted Open Folding Tactical Survival Pocket Knife in our article about the best survival pocket knives we have gotten several requests for an in depth Wartech knife review. We have put this Wartech knife through the paces and come out with some interesting feedback on it as a practical survival tool.

Wartech Knife Review

The Wartech 8″ Assisted Open Folding Tactical Survival Pocket Knife has an aggressive styling with futuristic metal handle and two tone blade. This tactical folder includes several accessories which you’d expect to clutter the overall appearance, but are nicely low profile including a glass breaker, seatbelt cutter, belt clip, and LED light. The knife feels nice in the hand and seems to have a better build quality that you would expect for a knife at this price point. The features that jump out are the smooth assisted opening mechanism and aforementioned LED light, both add a lot overall and are discussed below in detail.

Our Video Review:

Wartech Knife Blade

The Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical’s blade is about 3.75 inches long, with a clip point and partial serration. Out of the box, this knife has a nice sharp factory edge that cuts effectively thought cordage, nylon and wood, as you would expect from a Wartech knife. It has a 1065 “Surgical” blade made from plain carbon steel (.65% carbon). This type of steel has less corrosion resistance and edge retention than stainless steel would but is however very easy to sharpen. Overall the Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical’s blade is sharp out of the box and will perform well in most cases. If this particular Wartech knife is used as an everyday work knife it will require maintenance such as sharpening and corrosion protection due to the type of steel employed in its design.

Wartech Knife Opening and Closing Mechanism

Put simply, opening the Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical is sweet. The assisted opening mechanism causes the blade to fly open at light pressure on the opening lever for very easy ambidextrous, one handed opening. This feature is a real highlight of the Wartech 8″ Tactical’s design and it is worth its low price just for this functionality. When locked open, the Wartech knife feels solid and stable with very little wiggle between the blade and handle. The mechanical down side an assisted opening mechanism and stable blade lock is that closing the Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical is tight and takes two hands. This may be preferred by some users as a two handed close makes it near impossible to accidentally close the knife while in use.

Wartech knife reviews — The integrated seatbelt cutter is an effective line cutter

Wartech Knife Accessories

The Wartech 8″ Assisted Open Folding Tactical Survival Pocket Knife comes equipped with several nice accessories that make it a highly versatile emergency tool. Most of these features are not found on other knives at this price point, which is a great aspect of this folder.

LED light

The Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical has a side-mounted, articulating LED light. The light is small and low profile, but bright enough to illuminate your immediate area in a pinch. The LED can also be folded flat against the handle so the beam is pointing straight down the blade. This is incredibly useful when cutting in the dark as it aligns the light with whatever you happen to be slicing or piercing. This is a really nice feature that adds versatility to the Wartech knife.

Seat Belt Cutter

The base of the Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical’s handle includes an inset seatbelt cutter. I tested it on a thick nylon strap and it was ineffective. It’s possible that it would work better on an actual seat belt, but if I were trapped by my seatbelt with the Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical in my hand, I would pop open the blade and use that, which was very effective on the nylon strap in tests. As a side note, the the Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical’s seatbelt cutter will slice through paracord easily, making it useful as a line cutter.

Window Breaker

The Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical Knife has a pointed, metal glass breaking implement on the base of the handle. I would trust this to be able to concentrate force into a small enough area to shatter a car window. This makes the Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical a viable vehicle egress tool.

Belt Clip

The Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical Knife includes a robust belt clip, which may seem like a trivial addition, but adds a lot of versatility and carry options. The Wartech 8″ Folding Tactical’s clip is firmly attached and suitable for attaching the tool to pocket, belt or web gear.

Wartech Knife Review Conclusion

The Wartech 8″ Assisted Open Folding Tactical Survival Pocket Knife is a great tool to keep in your car, your bug out bag or anywhere you need a versatile, secondary knife. It is worth noting that the type of steel used in this particular Wartech knife offers a trade off of ease of sharpening for lower corrosion resistance. Its many features packed into a compact, ergonomic folder make it best suited as a back up, but for the low price you can buy several and stash them in your workplace, home, garage, vehicle, and bug out bag.

Recommendation: Buy one or more.

View or purchase the item on Amazon: Wartech 8″ Assisted Open Folding Tactical Survival Pocket Knife

Click HERE to see out list of Top 10 Survival Pocket Knives.

Cold Weather Survival Tips and Skills

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Surviving when you are cut off from the support net of society is extremely difficult under even optimal conditions. Cold weather survival situations add significant additional challenges which must be trained and planned for. These challenges can be overcome by gaining cold weather survival knowledge and experience as well as tailoring your bug out bag as we mentioned in our recent article covering cold weather survival gear. In this article we will review the most essential cold weather survival tips to practice and employ when beating the cold.

Keeping Warm During Cold Weather Survival

A key to cold weather survival is keeping your core temperature warm. A combination of shorter days (less sunlight), wind chill, lower temperatures, and ice and snow will conspire to steal body heat and energy away from you. Your body will have to work harder and consume more calories to keep you warm. In order to stay warm practice the following cold weather survival tips:

Dress in layers

This is the best way to regulate your body temperature while surviving in the cold. Multiple layers are better than one thick layer because they trap air between them. This air is then warmed by your body and acts as an insulator against the cold. Start off with a light wicking layer to keep perspiration away from your skin and build up from there. Three to five layers are good for most adults. The outer layer should always be wind and waterproof to minimize heat exchange and keep water out. Layers are additionally excellent at regulating temperature because you can add or remove them if you find yourself to be cold or hot. If you are travelling with children a good rule of thumb is to dress them in one more layer than you have on to keep them warm.

Keep active

Keeping yourself active will keep your heart rate up and maintain a good flow of warm blood to your extremities. It is important to not overexert yourself however. If you become drenched in sweat this moisture will sap heat away from you. Keep a moderate pace for your activities whether hiking or building a shelter. Maintain your temperature by removing clothing layers to keep warm but not hot. Slow down or stop to rest periodically to avoid burning yourself out.

Keep fuel in the tank

As you will be burning a lot of energy keeping active and keeping your temperature up you will need to consume extra calories and drink extra liquids to keep your body going. It is important to pack extra high calorie/low weight rations in your bug out bag. This may include nuts, granola bars, energy gels, or powerbar type foods. To keep hydrated pack gatorade powder, which can be mixed with water or melted snow. This will keep you hydrated far better than water alone.

Cover Your Head

Up to 90% of the heat you lose will be through your head if you do not keep it covered. Keeping a hood up or hat on will keep this heat in as well as keep your head dry if you are working in snow. Also this is the easiest layer to remove if you find yourself getting hot. Keep your head covered to keep that precious heat in!

Cold Weather Survival Tips

Surviving in cold weather requires the same basic survival skills as in any other environment. It is necessary however to add to your skill set as some tasks become more difficult under cold weather survival conditions.

Cold Weather Shelter Building

Building a survival shelter should be a top priority during cold weather survival. A good shelter will keep out the wind and damp as well as keep heat in. Cold weather survival provides some additional challenges as well as benefits to survival shelter building.

A basic A-frame or Lean-to shelter works well using branches and piling snow on top. Snow is an excellent insulator and makes a great outer layer of a shelter. If you have chosen to include an emergency blanket, poncho, or tarp in your bug out bag essentials, any of these items can be used to form the roof of your shelter if laid upon the frame of branches. Using one of the items as a ground cloth will additionally insulate a shelter against cold and damp. An important thing to consider when building a cold weather survival shelter is that if you are going to build a fire in a shelter be sure it is ventilated with a chimney to avoid suffocation. Check out the below videos for instructions on building a winter survival shelter.

Fire

Fire is essential in a cold weather survival scenario for two reasons:

Keeping Warm – this is obvious but its importance cannot be overstated. Having a fire will raise your morale and keep the spectre of freezing related medical problems out of your mind.
Melting Snow – This will give you a nearly limitless water supply while surviving. Boil the water from melted snow to ensure any pathogens are killed.

When gathering wood in a winter survival situation be it is preferable to collect branches that are not lying in the snow as the moisture from snowbound wood will make it harder to burn. Look for dead branches in the lower parts of trees in the area. For more tips on fire building check out our article on Basic Survival Skills.

Cold Weather First Aid

The two biggest medical problems found in cold weather survival are hypothermia and frostbite. Both of these are very dangerous and need to be watched out for at all times. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms and treatments for these two conditions:

Hypothermia

A condition where one’s body temperature drops below the ability to self-regulate. This typically begins when the core temperature goes below 95F degrees. It can happen easily if someone falls into a cold stream or frozen lake and must be addressed quickly to increase a person’s chances for survival.

Symptoms

Shivering
Loss of coordination
Weak pulse
Drowsiness
Slow speech
Confusion or memory loss

Treatment

If possible seek emergency medical attention
Remove any wet clothes and replace them with dry ones or a dry blanket/sleeping bag, etc
Protection from wind or anything else that may cause further heat loss
Seek shelter
Warm the person up by putting them in a shelter, bringing them near a fire or using your own body heat
Drinking warm liquids can also be used to bring a person’s temperature back up

Frostbite

This occurs when a body part (usually an extremity or an exposed ear or nose) becomes so cold that ice crystals begin to form in the tissues. It should be treated immediately and can lead to the loss of the frostbitten body part!

Symptoms

Numbness in the affected area
White patches on skin, these will turn black in severe frostbite
Hardening of the affected area

Treatment

Seek emergency medical attention if possible
The affected area should be gradually warmed up by moving to a warmer area such as a shelter or near a fire and covering it from the elements
Warm water can also be used
Care needs to be take to not place anything hot on the affected area as this can cause burns that are not felt due to numbness
Try not to walk on frostbitten toes or feet as this can cause additional damage
You should NEVER rub the affected area to warm it up

Conclusion

Cold weather survival can be a brutal and trying circumstance. However with some planning and the addition of some carefully chosen cold weather survival gear you can greatly increase your chances of success. There is no replacement however for experience and knowledge. If you live in a cold weather area try going out in the woods for a weekend with your bug out bag and cold weather survival gear to practice making a shelter and fire with the contents you have with you. This will test your abilities and show you where you need to expand your knowledge or if your gear (including your cold weather clothing) is up to the task. Remember, chance favors the well prepared.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have any cold weather survival tips that you want to share? Have you had to survive in freezing conditions yourself? Please let us know in the Comments Section below.

Paracord Storage, Uses and Ideas

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We have mentioned paracord as a bug out tool in several of our articles as being a resource of nearly limitless usefulness. There are entire web sites and forums devoted to listing its many uses and it has attracted a following among preppers and DIY enthusiasts that approaches Duct Tape in reverence. This is for good reason. There are a great many situations in survival that call for a reliable, strong, and lightweight cord and paracord fits this profile perfectly. In this article we will discuss why paracord is so great, some of its more practical survival applications, and proper paracord storage so that your tool is as compact and accessible as possible.

What is Paracord, why is it so great?

Paracord is also known as parachute cord and 550 cord. Its origins are from the parachute suspension lines in WWII era parachutes. It consists of a woven nylon core covered by a woven exterior sheath. It is particularly well suited for many purposes because it is durable, small in diameter, lightweight and has a very high breaking strength for its size. Paratroopers who had access to paracord quickly found that these qualities made it useful for a wide variety of applications such as affixing gear to their rigs or fastening camouflage netting. From these simple beginnings paracord spread to all branches of the military as well as civilian use.

Paracord Storage Tips

So you understand the usefulness of paracord and have picked some up for your home, bug out location, and bug out bag. A problem frequently encountered when dealing with any rope, cord, or wire in quantity is that it often gets tangled to the point that it is unusable. Anyone who has opened up a tackle box to find a nice fat pile of knots knows exactly what we mean. The way to avoid this is through proper paracord storage techniques. We will go over proper paracord storage both at home and in a pack here:

A Paracord Jig

Paracord should never be stored without being coiled and wrapped first. This can be done around your arm or using a jig (or chair legs as in the video below). This is the first step in proper paracord storage as it avoids 90% of tangles right off the bat. Take a couple extra minutes when you are done using your 550 cord to coil and wrap it.

When storing paracord in a bug out bag or box it should always be put inside a smaller container to avoid snagging on other items. There are plenty on items within a BOB such as a hatchet or pry tool that are easily entangled with loose parachute cord. Putting your coil in an empty water bottle, tupperware, or even a zip lock bag will prevent this from happening. One of the features we discuss in our How To Pick The Best Bug Out Backpack article is having multiple compartments of various sizes to store and access your gear. Following this rule will eliminate the entanglement factor from your paracord storage setup.
Another option for paracord storage is to wrap it around something. This is an alternative to coiling and wrapping and is an even better manner of avoiding entanglement. You may wrap your 550 cord around a tool, water bottle, or bundle of clothes. If you wrap it tightly, there will be nothing loose to get caught on your other gear.
Also consider hanging your paracord coil off of the exterior of your bag inside webbing or attached to a carabiner. This will enable you to rapidly deploy it if required.
No matter if you are planning your paracord storage for home or a bug out bag be sure to consider ease of access, prevention of entanglement, and quickness of deployment.

Uses for Paracord

One of the reasons why paracord use has spread so widely is that there are a great many situations that call for lightweight cordage. In a survival situation paracord can be used for the following:

Affixing gear to a bug out bag
Lashing bags to a vehicle
Splinting a broken bone
Tie a sling to rest that broken bone
Tying on a bandage or making a tourniquet
Building a shelter
Lowering or raising equipment
Climbing or descending steep inclines
Restraining hostiles
Tripwire around your camp
Building a snare to catch animals
Making a fish trap
Make a hammock
A makeshift hinting bow string
An excellent string for a fire bow
And many more…

Additionally, the core and sheath components that make up a strand of paracord can be separated to be used for more specialized tasks:

The core strands can be separated to use for:

Fishing line
Sewing thread
Suture thread
Floss

The sheath by itself can be used for replacement shoe/boot laces or just about anything else that needs something without a lot of elasticity.

Paracord Ideas

With all these uses there are a lot of people out there that have a desire to carry a bit of paracord around with them regularly. This may mean having a coil of it in the back of a vehicle or inventing creative ways to make lengths of paracord into unobtrusive wearable items. People have woven paracord into replacements for or additions to a variety of every day items such as:

Paracord Bracelet

Paracord Belt

Paracord Gun Sling

Paracord Drink Coozies

Paracord Knife Handle Wrap

Paracord Dog Leash

Paracord Pet Collar

As you can see there are a lot of things you can create with paracord that make it easy to carry around with you. If you want more ideas for projects you can check out YouTube further. If you want a hard copy of project instructions with pictures to refer to check out this book and project starter kit:

Paracord Ideas Book Paracord Projects Starter Kit

Conclusion

A you can see there are a great many things that you can do with paracord to make it accessible when you need it in a survival situation. Taking the time to address proper paracord storage will make it an asset instead of a liability when you need it most. Whether you decide to wear a paracord bracelet or coil up a couple hundred feet in your bug out bag, having some on hand will come in handy when you least expect it.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have an innovative use for paracord that we didn’t cover here? Do you know of a great paracord storage solution? Please let us know in the Comments Section below! If you thought this page was helpful please Like, +1, or Tweet it using the social media buttons at the top of the page, thanks!

How to pick the folding best knife for a bug out bag

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In the case of an emergency or a natural disaster, you should always be fully prepared and equipped with your very own bug out bag, also known as an emergency preparedness kit. These bags can be purchased online or through certain retailers in prices ranging anywhere from $35 up to $400. But, many safety experts highly recommend that you build your bug out bag from the ground up in order for it to suit your needs. Some of the top items in your kit should include non-perishable food products, a first-aid kit, matches, medical prescriptions, clothes, and a high quality pocket knife, which could be very useful during most emergency situations.

The Best Folding Knife for a Bug Out Bag

Obtaining a quality pocket knife should definitely be right at the top of your to-do list, along with the ultimate first aid kit and a few boxes of matches, when you are creating your custom bug out bag. A pocket knife is a knife with a folding blade that can be carried in an on-the-go fashion. It can also be a crucial piece to successful survival if you are ever thrust into any type of emergency situation. Therefore, it is very important that you conduct your research and have the proper knowledge when it comes to making the right selection for your needs.

There are several factors to consider when choosing the correct pocket knife for your kit. The most significant part of a pocket knife is the blade. This is where the action takes place. Therefore, your blade has to be made of the best steel and extremely sharp at all times. There is no point in possessing a knife if the blade is dull because it will be of no value to you or anyone else. Having a quality handle on your piece is also imperative. Water and other moisture elements need to be able to bounce off and not absorb into the knife. Remember, some of the best handles are made of Titanium. Design is also an important to look for when choosing the best pocket knife. You, as the potential owner, should have a special chemistry with your knife. The piece should properly fit into your hand and you should be able to comfortably maintain it with the perfect grip. Picking a single-blade or a multi-blade knife also comes into play when you are making your decision. Most multi-blade knives are used to perform very many tasks and are ideal for hunters and fishermen. But, a knife with a serrated four-inch blade is probably the best choice for your bug out bag.

Cost is another major factor that goes into selecting a great pocket knife that will stand the test of time. We all want to get a great value for our hard earned bucks without having to pay an obscene amount of money. Most pocket knife enthusiasts will tend to spend an average of up to $500 on a special trinket just to admire. But, when purchasing for safety, quality, and reliable use, you probably would have to spend somewhere between $40 and $100. It all adds up that old saying: “You get what you pay for.” Most pocket knives that are priced for under $35 are usually not made with the best material. You should never deny yourself a dependable knife by always looking for the cheapest version. Who would want a knife that would crumble under pressure if caught up in an emergency situation?

With many different brands out there on the market, it can be difficult to know which one to pick and why, especially if you are a pocket knife novice. There are a number of trusted brands that you should consider to ensure that you make the right choice. The Benchmade is a very trusted brand and the Benchmade Mini Griptilian is a model that is currently in high demand. It is great to use everyday while going about your daily tasks because of its lightweight ability. Another popular brand on the market is Buck. The Buck 110 is great for a heavier duty job. It has a longer blade that is contrived from a rust-resistant steel. And finally, the Spyderco Tenacious is popular with collectors and also great for tactical use. Plus, it possesses a smooth small blade that gets the job done. Most owners would say that it offers a great product for a reasonable price at right under fifty bucks.

Spyderco Tenacious	Buck 110	Benchmade Griptillian
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The pocket knife is a very useful tool that can be extremely helpful in many emergency situations. It has been proven that having the right pocket knife at the right time can definitely be a life saver. So, when preparing your emergency bug out bag, do not let one of the most important items slip your mind. Make sure you pack your pocket knife.

About the Author

This article was written by James Petzke. James runs Knife Den, a site that is dedicated to providing top notch reviews and information about knives of all kinds.

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Your Thoughts?

Do you have a go to knife for your bug out list? Are there any features that you see as must have for a bug out knife? Please let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks. If you thought this article was helpful please Like, +1, or Tweet it using the social media buttons at the top of the page, thanks!