How To Build An Upside Down Fire

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upside down fire

This past weekend The Bug Out Bag Guide Family hosted a barbecue for some close friends. One of the highlights of this was testing out an alternative fire building method in our back patio firepit. Instead of building a standard teepee or log cabin we decided to try building what is called an “upside down fire”. We got some great, hassle-free results from this that we wanted to share with you. As I always say, it is always good to add new techniques to your survival skills. At the end of this article you will know how to build an upside down fire on your own!

Why build an upside down fire?

Over many years of camping I have built hundreds of fires. These were mostly of the teepee and log cabin variety, with some lean-to fires mixed in as the situation required. These fire building methods have served me well and I have enjoyed many a meal and evening sitting around their warm glow.

I was excited to learn about a new method of fire building and try it out for myself. What I learned from my test run, is that there are several advantages that an upside down fire brings to the table.

An upside down fire is self feeding

An upside down fire is built in a layered fashion starting with tinder at the top and increasing in size all the way to large logs at its base. One of the biggest advantages of using this fire building method is that as a layer burns it progressively ignites the larger layer below it. The tinder lights the kindling, which ignites the fuel wood, which in turn lights the logs. In other words, once an upside down fire is lit it will burn by itself for hours. There is no need to baby sit it and keep adding wood over time! You can light your upside down fire and then focus on other tasks like setting up camp, preparing food, or just relaxing with your fellow campers.

While traditional fires (teepee and log cabin) do progressively ignite successive layers (if properly built!) they tend to do this over a shorter period of time and require that a fire tender monitors the burn rate and add more fuel and eventually place logs onto the fire. The genius of an upside down fire is that it frees you from this chore!

Being self feeding makes an upside down fire an excellent choice if you want to keep a heat source burning through a long, cold night. As it is self feeding you will be able to build it before bed, light it, and then keep warm without having to climb out of your sleeping bag or shelter.

An upsidedown fire generates lots of coals

As an upside down fire burns it creates a large supply of coals from the logs integrated into the base of the design. These logs are lit as the flame consumes the fuel wood and transfers heat down to this base layer. These coals are excellent for most cooking purposes. With a good bed of coal you can:

cook foil packets
heat up a dutch oven
barbecue meat, fish, or vegetables
and much, much more…

With a traditional fire you would need to set up your teepee or log cabin and as they got burning need to continually feed it larger and larger logs to get a nice bed of coals going. The upside down fire does this automatically with the same amount of wood but far less active management. Set it up, go get your food ready and then come back to a nice bed of cooking coals!

Where can I use an upside down fire?

An upside down fire can be used pretty much anywhere you would build a traditional fire. It can be a great option for many applications:

Survival cooking
Camping
Bonfire
Barbecue
Wood Stove
In home fireplace
Rubbish disposal

Can I build an upside down fire in a fireplace?

Yes! People often build them in fireplaces or woodstoves for the same reasons why they are used outdoors. Wood stove enthusiasts actually favor the upside down fire building method as it tends to heat up the chimney pipe faster than a traditional fire and by doing so increases the stove’s efficiency.

How to make an upside down fire

Here is a step by step guide for building your own upside down fire. Follow the written instructions and refer to the pictures if you run into any trouble.

Step 1: Clear your fire pit

You are going to lay your base layer of logs down in the next step so you will want your pit clear of debris and as level as possible so the fire you build will not topple over as you build it up.

How to build an upside down fire — Clear your fire pit out

Step 2: Lay down the base logs

You are going to build your base layer first. This means use the largest logs you intend to burn and lay them down parallel to each other. Have the logs all touching each other so there are no gaps between them and it is best if the tops of them are relatively level with each other so you will have a nice sturdy base to build the rest of your fire upon.

Step 3: Thicker Fuel Layer

You are going to use large fuel wood for this layer, larger than your thumb. Remember, this layer has to be large enough to generate enough coals and heat to ignite the logs below it. Lay this wood in the opposite direction to the logs below it and allow space between each piece for air to flow. Feel free to build 1-3 layers of this sized wood if you have enough and if you have organized your wood build each layer upwards out of slightly smaller thickness pieces. Each layer should be laid down crosswise (perpendicular) on top of the layer below, similar to the method used when building a log cabin.

Step 4: Smaller Fuel Layer

You are going to repeat the process used in step 3 here but using smaller fuel wood, preferably smaller than your thumb in thickness. Once again build 1-3 layers of small fuel wood up with each being perpendicular to the last layer and slightly smaller thickness. You should have a small tower of wood now with the thickness of pieces used getting gradually smaller as you get nearer to the top.

Step 5: Kindling

Now you are going to start adding on the smaller wood that you have, kindling that is thinner than your pinky. Add 3-5 layers of this if you have enough to do so. By the time you get to the top layer the wood should be of the smallest thickness you have, no bigger than a twig. Stick to the same method of laying each layer down crosswise across the layer below it to allow proper air flow.

Step 6: Tinder

Choosing and adding your tinder is a crucial last step. You need something that is small enough to be ignited with your match, lighter, or firestarter but that will burn long and hot enough to get your kindling to start burning. Place this tinder on top of your kindling. Here are some suggestions for kindling that have worked well for me in the past:

Dryer lint
Birch bark
Paper
Cardboard
Commercially available firestarters
Cotton balls soaked in vaseline
Bird’s nests
Dry Grass
Coconut husks
Pine needles
Punk wood
Cattail fluff

Step 7: Light And Enjoy!

Shelter your match and tinder from any wind (If you are lighting your fire with an EverStryke Match, you don’t need to worry about this) and get that fire started. Depending on what tinder you chose you may need to blow gently to get the tinder going. As the fire burns each layer that you built should ignite the next one down all the way to your base layer of logs. In my testing an upside down fire built as I have described should burn for well over an hour and result in a large layer of coals all ready to cook your meal. Enjoy!

Your Turn!

So, now you know how you build your own upside down fire. I encourage you to give it a try next time you are camping or setting up a backyard bonfire. It is a great tool to add to any fire building arsenal and I think you will be impressed with the results.

Your Thoughts?

Have you built an upside down fire before? Did you give our step-by-step instructions a try? Please let us know in the Comments Section below what you thought about this fire building method or if you have any tips or tricks to getting it to work better! Thanks!

How To Start Prepping RIGHT NOW

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This article will show you the basics of how to start prepping and prove that you can take action TODAY to make yourself more self reliant. Although this article is a great starting point for new readers of The Bug Out Bag Guide it is also a great resource for anyone who is looking for ways to round out their survival skill set or just improve their preparedness.

Who Can Learn How To Start Prepping?

Mainstream media has recently stumbled onto the preparedness culture and has created some TV shows that have warped the public’s perception of our community. The truth is that the overwhelming majority of people who prep are normal, everyday men and women who look to the modern world and want to make themselves and their families better equipped to deal with uncertainty.

What does this mean exactly?

Being prepared consists of 3 things:

Skills to make your self reliant and able to deal with a wide range of situations
A Plan to deal with likely problems, this should be flexible to deal with unknowable factors
Equipment and gear to help you enact your plan and leverage your skills. Note that this is last on the list. You can survive on your skills and plan alone but having the right gear (and knowing how to use it) makes life easier and increases your chances of success.

You do not need any special training to learn how to start prepping
You can prepare your family without breaking the bank
You can learn skills that will improve your preparedness and self reliance at your own pace
There is a welcoming community both online and in the real world to support you on your preparedness journey
People of all ages can learn how to start prepping! From seniors to kids, there are skills to learn and contributions to be made.

Prepping Myths Dispelled

You do not need to hoard an arsenal of weapons and ammunition to prepare your family. Some people choose to include weapons training in their prepping, some do not. It is a personal choice.
You do not need to think the world is going to end tomorrow to join the preparedness community, just wanting to be more self reliant is a great reason to get involved.
Although individuals are welcome the preparedness community is not dominated by angry loners. Once you get started you will find a nearly limitless group of motivated people that are excited to share knowledge and resources with anyone willing to learn.
You do not need to go out and buy thousands of dollars worth of camping gear to start prepping. Although survival gear will help you overcome obstacles it is of little help if you don’t have the skills to use it. Having a bug out bag is a great idea but it is not the end of your prepping.
There is no easy way to success. Preparedness is a mindset and lifestyle that allows you to grow your skills, knowledge, and survival resources over time. The more you put into getting prepared, the more you will get out of it if you ever need to call upon these skills.

When Should I Learn How To Start Prepping?

Bad news: The best time to start learning or building anything was 10 years ago.

Good News: The second best time to start anything is RIGHT NOW.

Never get discouraged that someone else may be further ahead of you or worry that it is too late. Right now is an excellent time to start prepping and I am going to give you the tools to do so. Prepping is something that you can do no matter how much spare time you have.

As I will show you below, you can learn the basics of many survival skills in the amount of time it takes you to read an article or watch a video, typically 10 minutes or less. While it is true that mastering any skill or completing a larger project such as building a bug out bag will take longer, even these can be broken down into more manageable chunks. Whenever you feel that you are in over your head remember that prepping is a personal journey that you can walk at your own pace.

Where Should I Start Learning How To Start Prepping?

There are a huge number of places to learn how to start prepping, both online and off. Here at The Bug Out Bag Guide, we have a wide range of articles and resources to help you get started.

First off, I suggest you sign up to our newsletter. In addition to getting our new articles delivered straight to your inbox, you will get free access to tips and downloadable resources that are ONLY available to our members. Use the form below to sign up to our free exclusive newsletter.

What should I do first? There is so much out there!

Yes, there are a lot of resources out there with information on how to start prepping. Someone new to the idea may be paralyzed by the number of choices available. What I suggest is to start simple. Choose a single, achievable goal and work towards it. Seeing tangible progress towards becoming better prepared will give you the confidence to tackle tougher tasks down the line. There are many choices for this initial goal, a good starting point, which can be done for FREE is to learn a basic survival skill. Sure, it will cost you some time but think of this as an investment.

Your first skill can be anything from how to start a fire to learning how to read a map. It is best to choose a basic skill such as “how to build a fire” instead of “how to build a fire in a rainstorm on a mountaintop” to keep it achievable in a reasonable amount of time. The goal here isn’t to turn you into Survivorman, just to learn something practical and inspire you to learn more.

Here are some basic articles that cover these skills to get you started. Click on the images to start learning:

We have a lot of great resources on The Bug Out Bag Guide but in addition to this, YouTube is the great equalizer. If you have a skill you want to learn that I haven’t already covered there are probably a dozen videos out there showing you how to do it.

How To Start A Fire

How To Use A Compass:

Once you have gained some confidence by learning a few basic survival skills, move up to more challenging task. You can either improve a skill that you already have (back to “how to build a fire in a rainstorm on a mountaintop”) or try another task such as making a Bug Out Plan or putting together a Bug Out Bag List.

How To Start Prepping: What’s Next?

You have taken an important first step by trying to figure out what you need to do to improve your preparedness. However, the most important part of learning how to start prepping is to ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION!!! It is easy to start something and quit at the first obstacle, people do it every day.

Don’t let your preparedness journey end with reading this article. Follow the guidelines I have laid out above: start off easy with clear goals and work your way up from there. I will support you along the way by providing more resources and information to help you grow. Feel free to email me (Chris) directly using this contact form if you have any specific questions, I am always happy to chat.

Where you go as you learn how to start prepping is entirely up to you! Prepping is a lifelong learning experience of constant improvement. It offers the very concrete benefit of improving your chances of living through a disaster. The payoff for your investment of time literally could not be any higher. Always remember, chance favors the well prepared.

Your Thoughts?

Is there anything else you want to learn about how to start prepping? What is the first step you would take if you wanted to start your preparedness journey? Is there anything that is holding you back? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

How To Build A DIY Rocket Stove

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Rocket Stoves are a great choice for people looking for an off-grid option for cooking, boiling water, and producing heat. They are a versatile solution for these 3 applications and more. There are a large range of designs available to build a DIY rocket stove for home or camp. I recently came across one of the best rocket stove designs that I have seen from Megan at PremiumRocketStoves.com. It is simple to build, very low cost, requires nearly no maintenance, and performs admirably in the field. In this article I am going to show you how to use Megan’s design to build your own DIY (Do-It-Yourself) rocket stove.

Megan is a great resource for many preparedness related topics and has made herself into an expert on building the best rocket stove possible from common, low cost materials. Through PremiumRocketStoves.com she sells professionally made rocket stoves using the design we are sharing with you today.

What is a rocket stove?

A rocket stove is a type of combustion stove that is highly efficient and can burn most any organic material as well as many man made ones. It incorporates a feeding tube to add fuel (sticks, etc), an air intake, and a chimney to direct the heat that is produced. Here is a diagram of a rocket stove to help you understand how they work:

Part of the versatility of a DIY rocket stove is the variety of fuel materials it can effectively burn. Here is a list of some of the most commonly used items:

Wood
Paper
Biomass briquettes
Cardboard
Cloth
Manure
Moss
Charcoal

What would I use a DIY rocket stove for?

Rocket stoves have many applications. Some people build large scale ones called Rocket Stove Mass Heaters to heat their homes, others use smaller stoves to cook food or as a portable firepit in their back yards. A rocket stove is also is a great tool for cooking or sterilizing water in a blackout or bug-in situation. In addition to the many DIY designs, there are a wide range of folding and collapsible rocket stoves used by ultralight backpackers and survivalists. They are prized for providing a stable and lightweight cooking appliance with a low footprint. We recently reviewed one of these backpacking rocket stoves made by Emberlit.

Why is a DIY rocket stove better than a traditional fire or wood stove?

There are pros and cons to each of these three methods. The rocket stove however will burn far cleaner and more efficiently than either of the other two options. This ability to generate a large amount of heat with less smoke and ash, while using far less wood is why many people choose to build a DIY rocket stove.

A well designed DIY rocket stove can create the same amount of heat as a wood stove using up to 90% less fuel. This efficiency advantage is achieved primarily through two parts of the rocket stove’s design:

Insulation

The best rocket stove designs, including the one we are sharing with you today, use a double walled chamber that is insulated against heat loss. This ensures that all the heat produced is directed up the chimney towards the cooking surface. A simple fire pit loses a huge amount of heat to the air as it is not insulated at all and flames burned anywhere but directly beneath what you are cooking are simply wasted.

Air Supply

In addition to a fuel feeding tube into the bottom of the combustion chamber a rocket stove will also incorporate an air passage to allow air to flow directly into where the fuel is being burned. This allows for the fire to pull in as much oxygen as it needs to burn as hot as possible. As long as this is happening nearly ALL fuel is consumed, which prevents smoke and ash from being generated. This higher rate of consumption means that more heat is produced with less wood, charcoal, or whatever else you may be burning.

Is it hard to make a DIY rocket stove?

As we will show you here, no it is not hard to make a DIY rocket stove. Once we had the materials gathered it took us less than 60 minutes to make our own DIY stove! Also if you don’t have the time or desire to make your own there are lots of places online to buy ready to use rocket stoves, including the fine people at Premium Rocket Stoves.com who provided us with our instructions and raw materials, as well as an assembled stove which we are going to give away to one of you lucky readers!

Here’s how you make your own DIY rocket stove:

We created this video to show you how we made and tested our DIY rocket stove.

Click here if you have trouble viewing this video

If you are the kind of person that likes to read, we also wrote out the instructions below:

What do I need to get started on my DIY rocket stove?

#10 Can with lid
2 Large 28 ounce cans for the stove + 1 extra (3 total)
Insulation
Dremel (tin snips or a chisel can be used instead)
Heavy Duty Gloves
Marker

Step 1: Cut the outer can

Mark and cut your center hole. With the large #10 can, use a lid from the small can and trace a circle. Then cut it out. Then make sure the smaller can fits into the hole you just made in the #10 can.

Step 2: Make the chimney

Do the same thing but now to the smaller can. Using the piece you just cut out of the #10 can, place it on top of the smaller can and trace then cut.

Step 3: Make the feeding tube

With the can you haven’t touched yet, cut off the rim. Then make about 1.5 inch tabs around the can. Squeeze it through both cans. Fold some of the tabs up to make a snug fit.

Step 4: Cut the lid

With the top lid, trace a circle in the middle of it using one of the smaller cans. Then cut it out.

Step 5: Fill with insulation

First cut tabs around the large can. We cut 8 total. Then pack it with insulation. Fold down 4 tabs, use a hammer. Place the lid with the circle cut into it, on top. Hammer the remaining 4 tabs on top to secure the lid in place.

Step 6: Make a shelf

Cut a rectangle metal piece with flaps that will fit inside. Hammer the metal to make if flat. Cut about an inch slit on each side of the can. Slide the shelf into place then fold down flaps.

Step seven: Fire it up and cook!

Throw some dryer lint in the middle. Place sticks on top of the shelf. Light it and place your pot/pan on top!

Ready To Build The Best Rocket Stove?

As you can see building your DIY rocket stove is a relatively easy process. Feel free to refer back to our video up above to see the build and testing process in action. Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start building!

Your Thoughts?

What do you think about our stove? Do you have a rocket stove of your own? What do you use it for? Let us know in the comments section below, thanks!

How To Pick The Best Fixed Blade Knife For Your BOB

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There are a great many types of gear that make up a well-rounded bug out bag (BOB) but few are as versatile and reliable as a good knife. Finding the best fixed blade knife is frequently at the top of the list when building your survival kit for good reason. A quality fixed blade knife can be used for many survival applications, it doesn’t take up much space in a pack, and is simple to take care of.

There are a lot of options out there and to get you started we have done testing and research to save you time and money when finding your own fixed blade knife.

In this article, not only are we are going to share our top picks of the best fixed blade knives, we’ll also explain the the anatomy of a knife and the different factors that may impact your decision.

Our Picks For The Best Fixed Blade Knives

Best Overall Fixed Blade Knife: KA-BAR Becker 22

The KA-BAR Becker 22 is a solid, heavy duty field utility knife that can be used in any environment. Its medium size (10.5”) is a great compromise between the heft of a larger knife and the control afforded by a smaller, lighter blade.

The KA-BAR Becker 22 is proudly made in USA, highlighting the commitment to quality that Ka-Bar is known for. It has a full tang and integrated glass-breaking tip in the pommel. The Becker 22 uses a drop point and flat ground blade to maximize versatility and edge retention. This is a knife that will stay sharp as you use and abuse it in real-life survival scenarios.

The Becker 22 has a Grivory (glass reinforced nylon) grip that is nearly indestructible and a quality MOLLE compatible nylon sheath that features a cargo pocket for storing a sharpener or magnesium fire starter.

The KA-BAR Becker 22 is a fantastic, high quality knife that is designed with versatility and hard use in mind. It will faithfully serve its owner for many years to come.

Best Fixed Blade Bushcraft Knife: Tom Brown Tracker

The Tom Brown Tracker is the most versatile bushcraft knife that I have come across. It is extremely well made and features a multifunction blade that has a two stage front edge and a serrated spine. This makes it highly versatile for bushcraft tasks including cutting rope, chopping branches, skinning, butchering, hunting, and shelter building.

The Tom Brown Tracker is a large knife (11.9”) that is heavy enough (1.75lbs) to split wood, butcher game, and perform light chopping duties. The micarta handle includes a lanyard hole to ensure tool retention when swinging the blade. Its wide belly makes the Tracker excellent for accurate slicing and pushing cuts. The knife’s serrated spine allows for rapid slicing of rope, plastic, and many other manmade materials.

The Tom Brown Tracker comes with a kydex sheath that is secure enough to be worn horizontally or vertically, allowing for rapid deployment as you see fit. This is an awesome knife that will get you through your wilderness survival scenario with flying colors.

Best Urban Survival Fixed Blade Knife: Ka-Bar Becker BK3 Tac Tool

The Ka-Bar Becker BK3 Tac Tool is the ultimate in urban survival. It is large enough (12.5”) to be an effective pry tool for forcing doors and levering debris out of your path. The Becker BK3 has enough heft (1.3lbs) to chop through most materials and the glass breaker in the pommel doubles as an effective hammer for pounding nails or anything else.

The Ka-Bar Becker BK3 Tac Tool has a feature rich blade that greatly multiplies its versatility in the field. It integrates a partial serration, rope cutter, and pry tip, none of which feel like they were thoughtlessly tacked on. Each of these options mesh well with the overall design and make this a tool that can assist with nearly any urban survival task.

This knife screams quality, it is made in USA and features a full tang and indestructible Grivory grips that offer fantastic control over the 7” blade. This is a heavy duty knife that can pry, hack, split, cut, and hammer equally well. The Ka-Bar Becker BK3 Tac Tool is a perfect choice for urban survival or search and rescue applications. Its wide versatility would even make it a great addition to any tool kit.

Fixed Blade Knife Practical Uses

A fixed blade knife is one of the most versatile tools you can add to your survival kit. Its uses are not limited to bushcraft or wilderness survival either, there are a great many urban tasks that can be simplified by having a great knife at your disposal. Some of these tasks include:

Prying doors and windows
Breaking glass
Cleaning game
Hunting
Lash onto a stick to make a spear
Shelter building
Self defense
Cutting rope
Chopping wood
Batoning through branches
Opening containers and cans
Preparing food
Eating
Hammering

Fixed Blade Knife vs Folding Knife

You may be asking “why a fixed blade knife instead of a folding knife?” It is a valid question. After all, folding knives are generally more compact and lightweight than a fixed blade knife, which is usually preferable for a survival kit you will need to carry with you. There are however some big advantages that a fixed blade brings to the table in a survival situation.

Fixed blade knives are generally far stronger

This is essential if you are going to be putting your survival knife through hard use such as the majority of the applications listed above. The hinge that a folding knife pivots around is a major point of weakness in its design. This is OK if you are using it for fine, detailed cuts or general every day use. However, if you are intending to use your knife to force a door open or split wood you will want the strength of a fixed blade.

Size Advantage

Even a small fixed blade knife will generally be longer and heavier than a folding knife. This is an advantage again for hard use work. Longer length will allow for greater leverage when prying and additional range in self defense or hunting.

The small additional weight will not significantly impact your ability to carry your BOB but will come in handy if you need to chop or hammer anything.

Ease of maintenance

This is another weakness of a folding knife that is eliminated by choosing the best fixed blade knife that you can find. The hinge and locking mechanism in a folder can be prone to clogging by dirt and sand or corrosion. These problems can make a folding knife difficult if not impossible to use. A fixed blade has no hinge or lock to fail on you. Simple is better in this case.

Folding knives do have a place in many survival and EDC kits. I would recommend picking a folding knife for your secondary or backup blade in a bug out bag (see our folding knife guide here). For your primary workhorse you will want the best fixed blade knife that you can find.

Fixed Blade Knife Handle Options

When finding the best fixed blade knife your handle options can be split into two categories – tang and grip. I will break these down for you to help decide what is best for your particular environment.

Knife Tang – What is it and why is this important

The tang is the part of the knife that extends from the base of the blade guard to the butt of the knife, it is commonly covered with the knife’s handle or wrapped with paracord. There are 3 varieties of tang in all knives, which are the Full Tang, Partial Tang, and Hollow Handle.

Full Tang

A full tang knife will have a solid piece of metal that extends from the hand guard all the way to the butt of the knife. Generally full tang knives are a single piece of steel comprising of both the blade and tang. A full tang will make your knife far stronger than any other option. This is the best choice for a heavy duty knife that will be used for tasks such as hammering, prying, chopping, batoning, and butchering animals.

Partial Tang

A partial tang is when the blade steel extends only part way down into the handle. This is generally sign of a cheap knife as manufacturers often use this approach to cut costs. This can be OK if you are looking for a blade to display in your home. However if you intend on using and depending on your fixed blade knife in a survival situation leave partial tang knives on the shelf.

Hollow handle

There is much debate among the survival community about the utility of hollow handled survival knives and whether it is worth the trade off. A hollow handle will always be weaker than a full tang option but some people think this is worth having as it allows them to carry some of the gear mentioned above. To make this judgment you would need to first assess what you will be using your fixed blade knife for. You can get away with light duties with a hollow handle knife but if you are going to be hammering or prying anything you will want a full tang for sure. As survival is a highly dynamic and unpredictable environment by nature I recommend playing it safe and going with a full tang when finding the best fixed blade knife for your kit.

A hollow handle allows you to store items in the cavity such as:

Map
Fishing kit
Fire Starter kit
First aid items
Paracord

Fixed Blade Knife Grip Options

There are a great many materials that can be used for knife grips. Some of them are as old as recorded history and others are cutting edge technology. Here are some examples of commonly used knife grip materials:

You can go traditional or flashy but the most practical and cost effective in my experience are made from Micarta, Glass Reinforced Nylon, G-10, or Zytel. The overwhelming majority of modern day fixed blade knives will come in one of these options and for practicality they can’t be beat.

The other big factor in finding the best fixed blade knife grip is how it actually feels in your hand. Is the grip (regardless of material) designed with finger grooves to give you good purchase? Can it be used easily both bare handed and with gloves on? Is the knife comfortable in your hand when used for longer periods? Does moisture affect your hold? Look for a good guard and a healthy choil on the fixed blade knives that you are considering. Maintaining a good grip in wet conditions is also essential. Getting these elements right are vital to finding the best fixed blade knife for your kit. Getting them wrong will have serious consequences, turning your ultimate tool into a liability. Take the time to research carefully and read up on your choices.

Size & Weight For The Best Fixed Blade Knife

First off, there is no “perfect” length or weight for a bug out bag knife. The ideal size for you will depend on what you intend to use it for and assessing this is all part of the process of finding the best fixed blade knife for your survival kit. Let’s take a look at how knife size impacts your choices:

Knife Length

A longer fixed blade knife (one greater than 10” in overall length) will be heavier and take up more space in your pack. However, longer knives are better at hacking, chopping, splitting, prying, and self-defense. A shorter knife by comparison is better at finer detail work such as skinning, carving, scraping, and will be lighter and take up less room. As you can see it comes down to what you intend to use your knife for. Weigh these costs and benefits when identifying what knife is best for you.

Knife Weight

It is important to find the right balance when assessing knife weight. No one wants to carry around more gear than they need and this includes choosing a heavy knife when you could use a lighter one. As with longer vs shorter blades finding the best weight comes down to what you will be using your knife for. A lighter blade will cause less fatigue both while carrying it in your bug out bag and when actually using it. It is also generally better for detail work. A heavier blade will impart greater force when hammering, copping, or breaking glass. Make a careful assessment when choosing your fixed blade knife. Look for one that weighs less than 12oz for lighter work and more than that if you will have a lot of brute force tasks ahead of you.

Fixed Blade Knife Blade Options

There are countless blade options in modern fixed blade tactical, bushcraft, and hunting knives. This wide selection is a great additional way to customize your knife to perfectly suit your particular needs. Here are some blade options and their typical uses:

best fixed blade knife

Drop Point

A drop point blade is a great all around option for a multipurpose knife. Drop point knives typically have a gradual curve along their spine and a wide belly, which makes them easy to control and highly versatile.

Serrated

Full or partial serration on a knife will allow for faster cutting of rope, cloth, plastic, and other man made materials. Serrated blades also typically stay usably sharp for longer.

Gut hook

A gut hook is a special type of blade where the back of the blade (also called the “spine”) has a sharpened indentation or hook. This is designed to be used when opening the abdomen of an animal when field dressing. Once inserted into an incision in the belly and pulled through the skin this acts like a zipper on the carcass. A gut hook is a popular option for a fixed blade hunting knife for this reason.

Tanto

A tanto blade has a flat (rather than a curved) edge that comes to a triangular point. This design gives tanto blades superior strength when piercing tough materials. This increased penetration potential makes tanto points popular among people looking for a good tactical fixed blade knife.

Chisel Tip

A chisel tip is a flat tip that has been sharpened to allow for digging cuts. This wide tip option is also very strong in situations where the knife is being used as a prying tool, making it a popular choice for search and rescue or urban fixed blade knives.

Clip Point

A clip point has a curved or straight section running from mid-spine to the tip of the blade. This cutout allows for maximum control in the point when cutting as well as good piercing potential. The clip point in another popular option for people looking for a bushcraft knife or fixed blade hunting knife.

What Are The Best Fixed Blade Knife Sheath Options?

I have spoken at length now about every detail of finding the best fixed blade knife for your bug out bag except what you will be carrying it in…the sheath! Many people focus their search on finding the perfect knife and then just assume that the sheath will take care of itself. While most quality knives come with a reliable sheath it is worth considering some options to look for when finding a great sheath for your ultimate fixed blade knife.

Attachment

How do you intend carrying your knife? Are you going to keep it in your BOB? Attach it to the outside? Are you going to clip it to your belt or strap it to your body? Any of these can be good options but it is important to find a sheath that can accommodate whatever style you intend to use. Most good knives come with a sheath that has more than one carry option. Look for a sheath that has multiple options or MOLLE integration to keep your choices open.

Sheath Material

The most common materials used in sheath making are:

Kydex – This is a type of plastic that is molded to fit the shape of the knife. It is lightweight and nearly indestructible. Kydex sheaths generally come with straps to attach them as you see fit.
Nylon – This is a woven material that is lightweight, inexpensive, and very durable. Nylon sheaths often come with MOLLE integration and either Velcro or snap-secured straps for attachment to a belt or bag.
Leather – This is a classic style of sheath material. Leather is typically very tough but not as lightweight as nylon. A leather sheath should come with straps and buckles for attachment.

Secondary Pouch

Although not a necessity many higher quality sheaths have a secondary pouch integrated into them. This is most frequently used to store a sharpening stone, fire starting kit, or folding knife.

Legality

Make sure to check your local Ownership and Carry Laws before making your purchase. Either contact your local police department and/or refer to this wikipedia page which summarizes knife legislation around the world.

Finding The Best Fixed Blade Knife For YOU

As you can see there are a lot of factors to consider when finding the best fixed blade knife for your bug out bag or survival kit. Remember to focus on the basics that we have discussed and to take into account the particular tasks you are most likely to use the knife for. Will you be in an urban environment where you will be prying open doors, containers, and windows? Will you be in the wilderness where a fixed blade hunting knife will serve you best? Do you anticipate using it as a self defense tool? If you do, maybe you should consider a fixed blade tactical knife with a tanto tip. Best of luck finding the best knife for your needs, feel free to take another look at our recommendations above to get you started, thanks for reading!

Your Thoughts?

Do you have a fixed blade knife that you love? Is there anything else you would look for when finding your best fixed blade knife? Please let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks again!

My First Bug Out Plan Wasn’t Very Good (And How To Make Yours Better!)

My First Bug Out Plan: Get Out Of Dodge

I recently shared with you some of the preparedness lessons that I learned during my time living in New York City (article here). These lessons were as diverse as the events that inspired them and I truly hope that you were able to apply some of the tips I provided to improve your own preparedness.

At the time, there were 5 of us, My Aunt B (mentioned in the previous article as surviving the 9/11 attacks), 2 cousins, my future wife, and myself who worked or lived in NYC. We were spread all over the city, downtown, midtown, and uptown. We were fortunate that one of us drove in daily and we agreed that her location was the best meeting point. Her office at Columbia University was set as the rally point and we agreed to a simple strategy that she would drive us out to our destination of Aunt B’s house. It was a simple bug out plan, the first that I had been exposed to. Let’s take a closer look to see good and bad points:

Positives

We took action to make a plan

The fact that we made a plan in the first place is a huge positive. We had been caught with our pants down in earlier cases, having to scramble and figure things out individually. Making a plan is the first step towards improving your odds for survival. If you haven’t read our article on this, take a moment to understand what you can do for yourself here.

We made a specific rally point

My cousin worked at Columbia University, an institution that takes up several city blocks and has many buildings within. If we had just agreed to meet at the university it could have led to confusion and wasting time to find each other. Making a highly specific rally point, such as her office in building “X” will save time and reduce potential confusion.

Mode of transportation

Although public transport such as the commuter trains would probably be faster, these have been stopped on more than one occasion due to manmade events, blackouts, hurricanes, and freezing temperatures. Relying on this could have left us stranded. So, we chose the most flexible option as our primary go-to. With a car we would have had to deal with traffic but would still be together and mobile and could always get out and walk. It is best to choose the most flexible mode of transportation as your primary option.

Destination

We knew where we were going to head to once on the move. This gave us a goal to keep morale up and also allowed us to tell other family members where they could find us.

Room For Improvement

We never tested or practiced the plan

Once we agreed to the plan we left it at that, never doing a test run. If we had to initiate it things may have gone smoothly, thankfully we never had to find out. However had we carried out a test run we could have found out points of failure and made improvements.

No secondary communication method

If we needed to initiate the plan while we were all in our offices we could call each other on our respective landline phones. However, if we were in meetings or out to lunch it would be necessary to rely on cell phones. Anyone who has been in a disaster situation (or even in a huge crowd) can tell you that cell reception can quickly become spotty. Having a secondary communication method can be a life saving addition to a bug out plan. This could mean walkie-talkies or having a designated spot where you can leave each other messages or notes.

No backup rally point

While we did a great job of picking a specific rally point, we stopped there. If for some reason that became inaccessible we would have been lost. It is best practice to designate at least one secondary rally point away from the primary one. You never know where it will be safe to meet. Separate your rally points to ensure your bug out team can get to an alternate if the primary is not available.

No designated secondary destination

Although we were fortunate enough to have multiple extended family member’s homes in the metro NY area to go to if there was a problem reaching our primary destination (Aunt B’s house), we never designated a secondary (or tertiary) location specifically. This once again could have led to confusion when our other family members were trying to find us.

Stash bug out bags at rally point or workplaces

While I did have a rudimentary BOB at home at this point if a disaster occurred during working hours we all would have been left to survive with just what we had with us. Storing a get home bag or even BOB at my workplace or at our primary rally point would have made me much better prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice.

The Aftermath

So, where did I go from here? Luckily we never needed to execute the plan and I have since moved far from New York City. I have however continued to grow my preparedness knowledge and planning skills. As I mentioned at the top of the article I have written an in depth article and created a free template for anyone (including YOU!) to download and fill out to build a Bug Out Plan for their own family, check it out here. Good luck with your preparedness planning and always remember, chance favors the well prepared.

Your Thoughts?

What did you think of my first bug out plan? Do you see any other areas I could have improved? What do you include in your own bug out plan? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!