As prepared and responsible individuals we know that self-reliance comes in many forms. Bushcraft refers to the skills needed to survive and thrive in the bush. Over time the term has come to represent someone who can go into the wild and apply skills that help them survive longer and with relative comfort. Often bushcraft is directly related to primitive or wilderness skills, such as friction fires, trapping, and woodcraft. This artistry in survival from humans of yesteryear holds a place with modern survivalists who can see a future where the common life luxuries are no longer available.
Bushcraft is not necessarily difficult to pick up. At the core, most skills revolve around making fire and cutting things. A quality knife and ferrocerium rod are enough to get an interested party initiated. As with any new venture, doing your homework first can alleviate headaches and keep bad habits at bay. Bushcraft skills can lead an individual down several paths of preparedness. Your interests and environment may steer you toward wood crafting, plant identification and uses, or primitive hunting and trapping, to name a few.
Most of these books can be found used on eBay or similar sites if you’re looking to save money, but even new, they’re not overly expensive. The information they hold can be priceless, however. Whether your locale is the Rocky Mountains or the Florida swamps, the following four books can help you be more prepared for your next adventure — voluntary or otherwise.
Woodcraft and Camping: The Great American Classic of Camping by “Nessmuk”
Nessmuk, the pen name of George Washington Sears, was a legendary bushcrafter and outdoorsman. His book, originally published in 1884, is both a technical manual and a personal story of his equipment and adventures in the wilderness. The first chapter covers why the “modern” person feels the need to be in the wild and the connectiveness of humans to the natural world. Nessmuk’s words still reverberate to this day almost 100 years later for anyone that spends time outdoors.
What we like: Timeless core principles are established for success in the wild.
What we didn’t like: Considering the fact that this book is almost 100 years old, we cut him some slack for the lack of diagrams and illustrations.
Indian Fishing and Camping by Robert “Gray-Wolf” Hofsinde
This book, originally published in 1963, was written by a Dane who immigrated to the states and saved a Chippewa boy with a broken leg while trapping in Minnesota. As a result of this compassionate act, he was inducted into the tribe as a full blood brother and so began his interest in Native American technology. This is one of the books Hofsinde has written on the way American Indians of that time period lived and thrived. The primary focus is primitive fishing techniques that include net making, hook making, bait, and spears/harpoons.
What we liked: Hofsinde was a school-trained artist from the Royal Art Academy of Copenhagen, so we were pleased to find that his illustrations in this book are easy to follow and give just enough detail to be very useful.
What we didn’t like: Some of the specifics for tool making aren’t immediately clear and the author almost makes them seem too easy.
Advanced Bushcraft by Dave Canterbury
This is the newest book on our list and it has been included because of its emphasis on more advanced bushcraft topics. Canterbury is no stranger to the primitive skills community and has been successful with his forms of communication to the masses on all things Bushcraft. This book is well-organized and does serve as a companion to his Bushcraft 101 book. Even if you haven’t already read the 101 book, Advanced Bushcraft is informative and well organized.
What we liked: Chapter 2 covers natural resources and gives excellent insight into common wood types and their many uses.
Ellsworth Jaeger is a highly-regarded author and was the authority on American Indian lore and camping. This book, written by Jaeger in 1945, contains over 400 illustrations covering practically every aspect of life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The opening line of Jaeger’s book hits hard — “the myriad of jingle-jangle gadgets of some of our modern outdoorsmen would make our ancestral buckskin men turn in their graves”. This is insight into his view of the “modern gadgets” of 1945. We can hardly imagine what he would think of our present-day society’s reliance on technology.
What we liked: This book has a little bit of everything, making it an excellent reference for how to accomplish practically any task in the outdoors.
What we didn’t like: Nothing sticks out as overly negative about this book.
Conclusion
These four bushcraft books cover an immense amount of outdoor information, making them helpful additions to for your SHTF library. Even if you aren’t one to venture into the remote wilderness on a regular basis, many of these skills can be practiced in your own backyard and can set the stage for exceptional baseline knowledge. As they say, knowing is half the battle.
If you’re interested in learning about another bushcraft book, keep an eye out for our upcoming review of the classic Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival by Mors Kochanski. It will be published in our “The Last Page” column in an upcoming issue of the RECOIL OFFGRID print magazine.
About the Author
Alexander Crown served as an Infantryman with the Scout/Sniper Platoon of the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Ft. Richardson, Alaska, where he specialized in radio communications and reconnaissance. Since separating, Alexander spends his time as an avid outdoorsman and hunter with an appreciation for self-sufficiency in the form of gardening. He also enjoys woodworking, firearms, and reloading. You can follow him on Instagram @acrown509.
Picture this — you’re at an ATM late at night by yourself when two larger men come up behind you. At first you think it’s two people waiting to withdraw money after you, but your spidey sense tells you that something’s off and their demeanor is discomforting. You have no CCW pistol or knife on you, and you never bothered to learn martial arts. If things go south, the odds won’t favor you as the victor.
Suddenly you find yourself sucker punched in the back of the head, immediately followed by a few quick kicks to the rib cage and face after you hit the ground. Before you know it, the two assailants grab your wallet and quickly disappear into the night. Their reward? Your cash and ID. Yours? A trip to the hospital. You decide to prevent that kind of situation in the future and feeling of helplessness by taking up martial arts.
When it comes to selecting and practicing which system is right for you, the choices can be staggering. Is karate better than kenpo, or should you enroll in kali? What are the differences? How do you know if you’re really getting what you’re paying for? And most importantly, what do you hope to accomplish? Learning to defend yourself? Competing? A good form of exercise?
All these considerations may be what’s preventing you from taking that initial leap of faith, so here we’ll help take some of the guesswork out of deciding which martial arts system to go with, picking out a school, and choosing a teacher.
Cause Worth Fighting For
“There are so many benefits that I advocate everyone — old, young, male, or female — should practice at least one martial art consistently,” advises Patrick Vuong, contributing writer and founder of Tiga Tactics, a self-defense training and consulting company. “The most important reason is to develop physical skills that can be applied in a life-threatening self-defense scenario.”
Learning martial arts and combatives can take up time and money. Is it even worth it? Beyond defending your home and hearth, here are five more reasons to get with the martial arts madness.
A traditional side kick is often used as a punch counter. On the streets, the same kick can be targeted to the knee with devastating effects.
Fit to Fight: Taking up some type of exercise (martial arts or otherwise) will reduce your chances of developing common killers like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The majority of us will eventually succumb to these mundane illnesses rather than a zombie apocalypse. It makes sense to prep for lethal situations, and exercise will help with the most common kinds.
Take the Chill Pill: You just had a hard day at work, your boss yelled at you, your significant other forgot your birthday. You need to let off steam in a constructive and healthy way. Here’s your solution — don the mitts and hit the heavy bag. Physical exertion in the class or gym will do wonders to bring your stress level and blood pressure down.
Confidence: It’s no surprise that thieves and bullies target the weakest-looking prey. Although their intentions are maligned, bad people tend to be good judges of your overall demeanor. Walking the streets knowing that you can defend yourself gives off vibes that will make the hooligans think twice before messing with you. Also, your newfound kickass confidence can improve all areas of your life, including home and work.
Birds of a Feather: You’ll make more friends and improve your social skills by getting off the couch and hauling your butt to class. During a crisis, having friends and being social with others will do wonders to improve your odds of survival. You may even find others who’ll become a part of your survival community — never a bad thing.
Stress Inoculation: Learning self-defense will involve training that creates anxiety and tension. This is a good thing. Sparring, force-on-force/situational training, “rolling,” or wrestling will help you deal with the adrenaline dump in volved in a crisis or violent encounter. With enough training, you’ll learn to remain calm in the eye of the storm.
The reverse (or right straight) punch can be found in all striking arts. During his karate tournament days, the author has witnessed broken ribs from this technique.
What’s Your Style?
In the days of yore, finding a good martial arts teacher was about as easy as finding a unicorn. There was no Yelp or Google to search or review martial arts schools or learn the differences of the many systems. Today, just type in “martial art” and your zip code, and if you live in a metropolitan-ish city, you’ll see plenty of schools in your area. Then, it’s a matter of understanding the basic differences.
Martial arts can be divided roughly into three major categories: traditional/cultural arts, sport, and self-defense/combatives. Before we get hate mail about the three categories, please understand that the line is clearly … ahem … blurred. Each category shares attributes of the other two. Think of three circles that overlap each other. Sport practitioners often acknowledge their cultural roots and learn self-defense. Combatives arts borrow techniques and training methods from both sports and traditional arts. And, of course, the traditional arts can feature combatives and a sport aspect. Please remember that these categories are a means of explaining some general (very general) categories of the martial arts.
Each category of martial arts shares elements of the others. Training in any art will improve your fitness and make you more combat ready.
Traditional: Remember Your Roots
Traditional/cultural arts have been around a long time because these arts have systematized (and eventually formalized) the art of combat. Most arts from Asia are considered “traditional” arts. In fact, they’re considered the most popular type of arts and can be found at your local strip mall and recreation center.
Brand Names: aikido, hapkido, ju-jitsu, karate, kenpo, kung fu, pekiti-tirsia kali, tae kwon do, and tai chi.
The 411: When you start class in a traditional art, you’ll most likely need to purchase a uniform that may resemble what you saw in the Karate Kid movie. You may learn respectful etiquette (such as bowing) and new terminology from your art’s home country. You’ll usually learn combatives techniques with partners. The majority of traditional arts also practice these techniques individually in set patterns called “kata” in Japanese and “hyung” in Korean. You may also learn traditional weapons like the staff, sword, or spear.
Leg Up: The biggest advantage of training in traditional arts is summarized in one word: convenience. You can find a traditional martial arts school almost anywhere, including Rural Town, USA. Traditional arts, when taught correctly are also very safe because many traditional systems offer cooperative technique training where little to no resistance is expected from your partners, allowing for the safe practice of techniques.
There may also be a benefit of learning another country’s culture and terminology. For the kids, traditional arts excel at teaching them discipline, respect, and perseverance — life skills.
Throw Down: The bulk of traditional systems were at one time revolutionary, but as the years passed, many systems have become stagnant and out of touch with modern advances in training science and technology.
Above: Many martial arts offer self-defense. Combatives training simply focuses on that aspect. Here, Bui practices kicking to the groin off a hammer strike. Situational training like this creates muscle memory for when SHTF.
Sport: Fight to Win
Wrestling is likely the first combative sport after two prehistoric siblings started rolling on the ground vying for dominance. The modern-day Olympic committee recognized wrestling as a sport in 1896. Soon after, other disciplines were recognized, such as boxing in 1904, judo in 1964, and tae kwon do in 2000. Fencing and shooting can also arguably be categorized as combat sports. Then, on a fateful November back in 1993, eight combatants from different disciplines (including kickboxing, boxing, karate, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) met inside a chain-linked cage to determine who was the “Ultimate Fighter,” and thus was born the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). Today mixed martial arts (MMA) is one of the fastest growing sports around the globe.
411: A combat sport class usually starts with a warm-up designed to get you sweaty (to condition you and warm up your muscles, for injury prevention). Depending on your selected art, you’ll likely learn to punch (boxing), kick (kickboxing and tae kwon do), throw (judo), wrestle (um … wrestling?), lock up a joint on the ground (Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu), or all the above (MMA). You’ll likely experience sparring where your partner is resisting your techniques while attempting to apply their own.
Leg Up: Looking to K.O. an attacker along with your own subcutaneous adipose? Look no further than combat sports. Because this is a sport, there’ll be plenty of conditioning, often involving the latest workout methods like high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Burning fat along with learning combative skills make the combat sports a fast-growing segment of the workout industry.
Along with the workout, fully resisting partners will help you deal with the stress encountered during any stressful calamity. Fully resisting partners can be unpredictable, and dealing (calmly) with that unpredictability can be the ace up your sleeve in a self-defense situation. Like to compete? There are numerous tournaments across the country in almost any combat sport you choose. And competition will also help prepare you for the streets by inoculating your nervous system to the adrenaline dump. As combat sports become more popular, you’ll see more and more gyms popping up.
Throw Down: Every sport has rules to keep the competitors safe. As long as sport participants are aware of the safety shortcomings of their sport, they can become effective on the street. Say you joined a boxing gym because it’s close to home, no problem. Just be aware that on the street, there may be multiple attackers, ground fighting, and weapons attacks. Simply plug those holes by cross-training when you can. Also some sport gyms (especially MMA and BJJ gyms) can get quite expensive. If cost is a concern, it’s a good thing you can find wrestling, judo, and boxing in most metropolitan recreation centers. Also, injury may be an issue with sport combatives (especially with age), since participants often train at or near their maximum intensity.
Above: Looking to defend against edged-weapon attacks? Speak with potential instructors to see if they offer this as part of their curriculum.
Combatives: Bare-Bones Beat-Down
Combatives (aka close-quarters-combat or CQC) is the third ring of the martial arts. Not to say that traditional arts or sport-oriented artists can’t fight; combatives merely focuses on the martial and not so much the art. Combatives is a relatively recent term, and American combatives largely started in the World War II era, with William E. Fairbairn and Erick A. Sykes (of the famous Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife). Their goal was to teach no-frills techniques and training against common attacks.
Brand Names: combatives (every branch of the military has their own program), defendu, jeet kune do, kappa, krav maga, self-defense, and SPEAR system.
411: If you’re able to find a combatives school, more power to you! Of the three, combatives may be the hardest to find. There’ll likely be a lack of uniforms and formality. Forget about bowing and dispensing of Mr. Miyagi-style wisdom. After a brief warm-up you’ll likely go straight to the palm smash, hammer fist, or eye gouge. As you advance, you’ll learn to use your elbows, feet, knees, and basic grappling. The use of modern-day weapons (blunt, edged, and firearms) may be taught, but certainly the defense against these weapons will be practiced.
Leg Up: Straight up, if your primary goal is to defend yourself, this is the category you want. Combatives systems are often based on military or law enforcement programs, so the techniques and training methods are pressure-tested in the field. The limited curriculum makes these systems easy to learn, and training will often include situational awareness, verbal conflict resolution, and conditioning.
Throw Down: The most difficult part of combatives training is finding a school nearby. Krav maga is the closest thing you can get to a commercial combatives school. Not only can it be difficult to locate a combatives school, but you want to “be wary of instructors who claim to have taught elite military and law enforcement without verifiable proof,” Vuong says. “It’s easy for shysters to get away with these false claims, because they claim their past is too classified.” Also, because of its very nature, combatives curriculums often have limited techniques (and for the street, that’s a good thing), making the classes repetitious and potentially boring in the long run.
Keep in mind these are general categories and provided as a simple reference. All martial arts systems will give you the benefit of a good (or great) workout and provide the practitioner the added benefit of self-defense skills.
Above: Patrick Vuong, contributing writer with instructor rankings in kenpo karate, Lai Chung Chuan Fa, and Pekiti-Tirsia Kali, teaches a student the finer details of jabbing the eyes. A strike like this can incapacitate the biggest of attackers.
The Right Stuff
With so many types of martial arts out there, how does one go about finding a school? Glad you asked, because a good school can positively change your life. The first thing to do is ask around. You probably have a buddy who’s currently training. Get their advice and see if you can tag along to watch a class or two. Hooking up with a buddy for your training will improve your friendship, and give you someone to hold you accountable to attend classes.
We also recommend that you go online and check a school or gym’s reviews. Too many complaints mean that you should move on to research another place. Another thing to consider is proximity. If the gym is too far away, chances are slim that you’ll want to continue year after year, and consistency in this world is very important.
Trainer Danger
How do you know if a teacher is any good? “Selecting a good teacher is the same as selecting a dentist, mechanic, or lawyer — do your due diligence lest you get swindled, or worse, injured,” advises Vuong. First, do an online search on the instructor. Are there any complaints about how he or she teaches? Are there too many injuries? Did their name show up in the local paper as a child molester?
Get the right intel before spending your time and money. Ask to observe a couple of classes or sign up for the introductory lesson. Make sure to observe the teacher’s mannerisms. Is the teacher helpful and patient? “The teacher must be able to offer an insightful class that’s also challenging, fun, and safe,” says Vuong. Lastly, talk to the students. Are they friendly and polite? Make sure you get a good vibe and feel safe at all times during your initial visit(s).
Getting the Most Out of Your Lessons
Above: Muay Thai (aka Thai boxing) and MMA are two sports where you can strike your opponent full force with an elbow, legally. Pictured is Muay Thai coach Conrad Bui holding pads for Bellator MMA fighter Diego Herzog. Hitting pads allow for full contact training without the injuries.
You found a good school or gym to join and a talented teacher to learn from; now it’s time to maximize your money and time by becoming the best student you can be. Our biggest piece of advice is simply to show up for class. That’s it. Simple. No pressure to perform, just show up and you’ll improve your physical fitness and your defensive capabilities. If there’s one secret in the martial arts, it’s consistent training.
Second, find time to practice outside of class, even for just 10 or 15 minutes a day. This will help reinforce your lessons, improve your fitness, and make your teacher happy. No teacher likes to repeat a lesson over and over again.
Third, ask questions. If a lesson isn’t clear, ask. Keep in mind that some teachers want you to wait until after class to ask questions. Finally, keep a notebook of your lessons. Taking notes will provide a mental review of the lesson and also serve as a manual for training later on. And above all, have fun. If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t do it for long.
Five Martial Arts Training Myths
#1 – Multiple Opponent Mayhem: Bruce Lee made it look so easy beating down a mob of bad guys. For us mere mortals, taking down one opponent can be a challenge, let alone two or three. When the odds are stacked against you, the strategy turns from dominance to survival. If you’re faced with multiple attackers, there are tactics that’ll improve your odds of coming out alive, but running (if you can), will improve your odds the most.
#2 – Deadly Serious: You may have heard that there is no room for fun when training deadly combatives. Although the subject of combatives is serious, training should remain safe and fun. Getting stressed from the teacher or coach mercilessly yelling at you isn’t necessary (that’s what drill instructors and spouses are for). Also, being stressed from the threat of injury while training is another red flag to leave the school and find greener pastures. The bottom line: If you don’t feel safe and aren’t having fun, you won’t stick with it.
#3 – Ineffective: Those pajama-wearing wannabes can’t fight their way out of a paper bag. Wearing the traditional martial arts uniform may look silly, but make no mistake, the majority of traditional arts train hard-core combative techniques that’ll work in the ring or on the street. Punches, eye gouging, and groin kicks (that’ll drop any assailant like a bad habit) are common in many arts sporting the “jammies.”
#4 – Costly Combatives: Some people are turned off by the price of going to a high-end gym or school. Don’t let this excuse stop you from developing fists of fury. If you’ve the will, you can find training at a low cost or even free. Look online for meet-up groups with free or discounted training. Sure, you might train in the park or in someone’s garage, but the training is there.
#5 – Afraid of Commitment: We get it, you’re busy. You have work, family, and other commitments. There might seem to be no way to squeeze in a workout, but it’s all about setting priorities. We bet if you make training high on your list, you’ll find time to turn off Game of Thrones and start kicking it.
Finish Him!
Learning some form of self-defense (armed and unarmed) is highly recommended. You don’t have to be Batman or Captain America to protect yourself, your family, and your supplies in a life-threatening scenario, but every bit of training will help. Getting off our duffs, breaking a sweat, and learning the skills to survive works for us, and it’ll work for you.
About the Author
Dr. Conrad Bui, is a San Francisco-based doctor of chiropractic and frequent contributor to RECOIL OFFGRID. A former bouncer, he knows first-hand the effectiveness of martial arts for the streets. A self-proclaimed martial arts and combatives junkie, he won gold medals in the featherweight and absolute (unlimited weight) brown belt divisions at the 2017 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu American Cup. As a longtime student and teacher of martial arts and combatives, he’s a certified full instructor in Indonesian Silat Serak, Filipino Kali, Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, and Muay Thai and holds a fifth degree black belt in tae kwon do.
Editor’s Note: The following article was originally published by our friends at Breach Bang Clear. It appears here in its entirety with their permission. For more from the Mad Duo and crew, go to BreachBangClear.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
Self-reliance is a growing trend nowadays and rightfully so. Our current culture has grown soft and too dependent on others. We aren’t saying that modern society is a failure, it isn’t. We are saying that the modern common person is not nearly as capable of taking care of themselves as our past generations. In an ongoing effort to better ourselves, many of us seek out training in various skill sets medical, firearms, trades, and for this instance primitive skills.
James Gibson spoon carving.
Randall’s Adventure & Training (RAT) started as a survival company specializing in expeditions into the Peruvian Amazon. Over time they set up a training center in Alabama and host training in wilderness survival, land navigation, tracking, SAR, Rope techniques, and various types of Law Enforcement training. Once RAT had moved more operations to the United States they teamed up with ESEE knives to produce the tools necessary for such harsh environments.
The view from our class site.
Day 1
This year was the first year RAT/ ESEE offered a course in Idaho, although ESEE knives have been produced in Idaho Falls since their inception. The Idaho Backcountry Bushcraft course started with a tour of the ROWEN Manufacturing headquarters (where ESEE is made). Look for a future Small American Business article highlighting the Rowen Family and ESEE knives. The facility tour was informative and showed the processes each knife goes through; laser cutting the material, heat treating (a proprietary method they kept secret) cleaning and grinding, sharpening etc. All students picked any blade they wished and were then instructed to complete the knife by adding the correct grips. I opted for the new ESEE PR4 designed by lead instructor Patrick Rollins. After our knife selections we had pizza then headed out to Walmart for supplies before going into the mountains. Once we reached our mountain training area we set up camps, had meals, and were given a formal block of instructions on knife safety. From there we finished out the day watching the incredibly talented James Gibson, of Knob Creek Forge, carve a spoon while teaching us carving basics.
Start of the ROWEN Manufacturing tour.Cody Rowen sharpening a production knife.
Day 2
The first full day of training started with a safety brief by the EMT in the class about hydrating and again knife safety. To familiarize us with the nomenclature of certain cuts we began work on a “try stick”. There are several different variants of try sticks but the overall purpose is to practice different types of cuts and notches that are commonly used in bushcrafting materials. We had a discussion on the importance of shelters in survival situations and the general rule of 3. A person can survive 3 minutes without air, 3 hours in harsh weather, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. As a class, we decided a lean-to style shelter with a raised bed and fire “reflector” would be best. As a group, this task only took us a couple of hours and during construction, we discussed how the workload would impact a single person or a couple. Shelter building takes a decent amount of effort and that is one of the reasons it should be one of the first considerations for energy expenditure.
Our team built shelter getting finishing touches.
After shelter construction and a lunch break, we began the instruction block on friction fire methods. We began practice on bow drill fires, a task that is more difficult than it appears. Wood selection plays an important role in friction fires and for this exercise, we used good old cedar fence boards. Whittling down our drill and hearth board then carving out the necessary notch size for production and collection of the coal. We used jute twine and natural materials for the tinder. One of the more difficult aspects of the hand drill was placement and size of the notches to ensure dust collection. Coordination is key when using the bow drill to keep a good rhythm and maintain control of the bow and drill.
Caleb Olander demonstrating hand drill technique.
The hand drill portion as much easier. We constructed the hand drill much like a modern drill that would use a bit. A dowel and a hollow reed are put together and secured allowing the changing of “bits” which are the friction portion on the hearth board. The hearth board and bit were cedar. The hand drill offered much more control and was easier to get a coal in less time than the bow drill.
Primitive flint arrowhead with pine pitch.
We also learned about the fire board technique where the builder uses two relatively flat boards and a cotton ball with wood ash rolled into it. Start by rolling the cotton ball/ ash into a doobie. Place it between the boards and roll it vigorously until it begins to burn. This process is very easy and takes only a few minutes. An ESEE Prostaff member, Caleb Olander from Arizona, was on hand to demonstrate another method of friction fire that used your mouth to stabilize the spindle allowing both hands to control the speed and stability. This offered more control over other methods and also seemed less strenuous.
Drilling holes in rocks with rocks.
The day came to a close around the campfire with an informal block of instructions from James Gibson on knife maintenance and sharpening tools.
Day 3
The third day started with instructions on natural cordage techniques. Utilizing the two strand twist method as well as lashing. We also worked on gorge hooks for fishing, which is a type of choke hook the fish swallows and becomes lodged inside of it. To aid as sinkers a demonstration was done on drilling holes in rocks using flints and our hand drill setups. River rocks wedged in a simple stick vise were relatively easy to penetrate and easy to keep control of. We rotated on the hand drill to minimize work effort and to let students understand how the grinding of the rocks felt. Before we broke for lunch we had a competition for making fire the fastest with our previous days’ bow drill setups. The winner took less than five minutes to get an ember and flame and was awarded an ESEE knife of their choosing.
Gorge hook.
After lunch, the next activity was to make a pair of sandals. Each student made a template of their feet and used it to cut from a rubber material. This was a very simple process and was used as an opportunity to talk about protecting oneself from natural elements, especially the feet. As with several of the teachings, we were encouraged to discuss how this skill can be applied to a variety of scenarios.
Toward the end of day three, we had another competition for who could get fire the fastest with the hand drill method. The winner took less than five minutes to produce an ember and flame and was awarded an ESEE knife of their choosing. The day came to a close with everyone talking around the fire about different outdoor experiences. Patrick Rollins was asked what the worst thing he had ever eaten was and he didn’t hesitate when he answered “sloth”. He stated he couldn’t describe it very well and he never wanted to eat it again.
Day 4
The last day of class we spent the morning around the fire learning how to make pine pitch. Heating pine sap and mixing it with wood ash to create a glue. James Gibson performed a flint knapping demonstration and gave each of us a small blade made of flint. We coated the handle portion of these blades in pine pitch to give us some grip and we used them to practice with our own “try sticks” like before but with much more difficulty. Primitive arrow/spear making was then shown with the appropriate notches on the shaft, a flint arrowhead, and pine pitch applied for a finished product.
The author’s award-winning fish hook.
For the afternoon we learned about trapping techniques both modern and primitive. Patrick Rollins instructed us on creating a figure four deadfall device and Caleb Olander taught the Paiute deadfall technique. We set up each students devices and triggered them manually. The Paiute deadfall was tricky to set up but was much easier to trigger than the figure four.
Figure four deadfall.
For modern traps, we learned about leg holds and how to employ them effectively against different types of critters. The most time was spent on how the area around the trap is to be set up and treated to minimize human scent.
PR4’s getting processed.
After lunch, we were given a lesson on fish hook carving and construction. James Gibson demonstrated the technique and then turned us loose. At the end of the exercise, our hooks were judged and the winner was selected. Not to brag too much but my hook was the best looking and won, I happily picked an ESEE Junglas as my prize.
This brought our class to a close and we all packed up and said our goodbyes.
The PR4 with author’s name.
Lessons Learned
For me, this was my first exposure to a formal Bushcraft and primitive skills class. The instructors were fantastic and spent plenty of time with each student discussing techniques and applying them. ESEE knives have a phenomenal track record for many years as hard use blades. Being able to experiment with all of the different models and use them in the field was great and I plan to buy a CR2.5 now having experience with small blades performing big tasks. The chosen PR4 at the beginning of the class performed all tasks with ease and proved itself as an excellent all-purpose tool. For another review of an excellent ESEE product check out this post on the ESEE 5.
About the Author
Alexander Crown served as an Infantryman with the Scout/ Sniper Platoon of the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Ft. Richardson, Alaska, where he specialized in radio communications and reconnaissance. Since separating, Alexander spends his time as an avid outdoorsman and hunter with an appreciation for self-sufficiency in the form of gardening. He also enjoys woodworking, firearms, and reloading. You can follow him on Instagram @acrown509.
WARNING! This article is meant to be a quick overview and not a detailed guide on high-speed performance driving. Seek qualified instruction from a reputable trainer before attempting any of the techniques discussed in this article.
A 2016 article published by the American Automobile Association states that, on average, Americans are behind the wheel for 17,600 minutes per year. Yet most people are woefully underprepared to best utilize their vehicle in an emergency situation. This is usually not a result of willful neglect or even lack of effort. People simply don’t know what they don’t know about driving. And, like shooting, the number of reliable sources for quality information versus the number of people who need that information is simply depressing when pondered too seriously.
We read about these situations in the news, but never think it’ll happen to us. What if you’re being chased? What if a simple “forgot to signal” mistake on your part provokes someone high on drugs to try running you off the road? What if one or more cars attempt to barricade you in so you’ll be kidnapped or carjacked? What if you’re a passenger and the driver of the car falls unconscious? These are just a few of the situations you can learn to handle at Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
As the name implies, the school was founded by racing legend Bob Bondurant and is the oldest continuously operating performance-driving school in the country. You may be tempted to dismiss a racing school as niche, saying to yourself, I’m not a race car driver. Why do I need to learn how to race?
Notice that the name of the school is not Bondurant School of go-really-fast-in-a-circle. The principles of high-performance driving (or HPD) can be successfully applied to any vehicle and any situation to life-saving effect. This was proven to us when several RECOIL OFFGRID staff members took a trip to Bondurant to learn first-hand from the experts exactly how HPD can Help us be Prepared Daily. (See what we did there?)
For our first exercise, about half our class piled into a 12-passenger van. An instructor got behind the wheel and proceeded to drive the full length of the track at highway speed. While the author nearly lost his lunch sitting all the way in the back, we all learned a very valuable point: lessons learned from high-performance driving aren’t restricted to high-performance vehicles. Said lessons involve much more than speed. In fact, most of what we learned had more to do with vehicle handling. Specifically, how to maneuver your vehicle to create an advantage across a wide array of potential emergencies.
Our time at Bondurant was spent immersed in their three-day Executive Protection Driving program. This is a class that Bondurant has taught to private protection teams, special operations units, and law enforcement groups. While the class is grounded in the foundations of performance driving, it included additional material designed to help cope with some in-extremis situations you might encounter behind the wheel.
Scenario: The Stalker
Like most people, you have a favorite route you like to take to and from work. You see it twice a day, five days a week. You may not think about it consciously, but you’re well-accustomed to “normal” patterns along these roads. That’s why it struck you as strange to see the same ratty minivan with the same license plate popping up along your commute.
The first time, it followed behind you for over five miles before turning off onto a side road. Maybe a little weird, but it’s a busy road and a main thoroughfare, so probably just coincidence or someone who has the same route as you do. Two days later, you spotted the same minivan parked outside of your office while walking to your car after work. Several days after that, it showed up immediately after you picked your daughter up from school and tailgated behind you almost all the way home. When you turned into your driveway, they slowed down, but kept going straight and looked over as if observing you.
Tonight, you’re headed out to drop off your daughter at her friend’s house for a sleepover. You pull out of your driveway and start to head down your street when suddenly that ratty van seems to come out of nowhere, pulling across the intersection and stopping. It’s a narrow residential street, so you don’t have enough room to go around him — you’re blocked. That’s when the doors open, and two guys step out. One has a gun, and the other opens the back of the van up and two other men in masks get out. You’re outnumbered, unarmed, the lives of you and your child are clearly in danger, and there’s only seconds to react. What do you do?
Protective Driving Skill #1: Reverse 180
CONCEPT: A technique known as the reverse 180 (also called a J-turn) might be able to get you away from this threat in a hurry. The idea is to accelerate quickly in reverse and swing your vehicle in a hard 180-degree turn to orient you away from the threat. Then, simply press on the gas and get out of dodge. This is a fast way to break contact with a threat when you cannot simply drive through.
OVERVIEW: Check to make sure there are no obstacles behind you. Hit the gas and pick up speed going backward. When you get to about 30 mph, let off the gas to shift the car’s weight, and quickly spin the steering wheel hard right or left, depending on which way you want to turn. Don’t touch the brake pedal! Momentum and the sudden change in direction will cause the vehicle to pivot around its rear end until you’re facing the direction of travel and “reverse” is now “forward.” About halfway through the turn, shift the car into drive and start to bring the wheel to center. When you’re facing forward, get back on the gas to continue traveling away from the threat.
CONSIDERATIONS: Know what’s behind you before you begin this maneuver! Your escape will be utterly ineffective if you throw it in reverse and stomp that pedal only to back into another car. Similarly, make sure you have enough room to swing the vehicle. You don’t need much, but if you’re on a one-way street that’s lined on both sides with parked cars, you might not make it. Also check the rearview and find your escape route before you start to reverse. Know where you’re going to go once you get turned around. Additionally, become familiar with your vehicle — some have speed limiters in reverse gear.
Scenario: Road Rage
It’s late on a weeknight. You’re on your way home from a friend’s house, about 45 minutes away. It’s way past your normal bedtime for a work night, and the highway is pretty much empty. You haven’t seen a single state trooper and only a couple other cars. But one of those other cars comes roaring past you on the shoulder and cuts sharply into your lane. You brake hard and honk, cussing at your windshield.
You change lanes, but the car in front of you changes lanes with you, blocking you from passing. You flash your high beams and honk again. The other vehicle gets out of your lane and slams on the brakes. You pass them, only to have them pull up dangerously close behind you and throw on their high beams. You speed up to try and get away from them, but their car is faster than yours. They continue to follow ridiculously close, blinding you, honking, and tapping your bumper. Your vehicle just isn’t up to the task of outrunning them — as the saying goes, where’s a cop when you need one?
Protective Driving Skill #2: The PIT Maneuver
CONCEPT: A move made popular by law enforcement, the Precision Immobilization Technique aka Pursuit Intervention Technique is meant to end car chases and stop fleeing suspects by pushing their vehicle into a spin in a controlled and (relatively) safe manner.
OVERVIEW: The principle is simple, if not easy. Match speed with the assailant’s vehicle and line up your front left quarter-panel a few inches from their right rear quarter-panel (or vice versa for the other side). Then, gently turn your vehicle into theirs and accelerate. Be sure when turning into their car that your front wheel is behind their rear wheel. If executed properly, the target vehicle should spin out 180 degrees while you maintain control and continue in your original direction of travel.
CONSIDERATIONS: There are several very serious considerations when entertaining the idea of attempting to PIT out another vehicle. The first is legality. If you try this move on your nearest interstate, it’ll likely be considered vehicular assault. Furthermore, if the car you PIT spins into another vehicle or off the road and anybody gets injured — or worse — you’ll likely have to answer for that if and when you do make it out of the immediate crisis. Also, there’s a reason they call this a precision technique. You must be able to match the other vehicle’s speed exactly — and while in the perfect position. Too far back and you cause them to fishtail slightly, but not spin. Too far forward and you will just dent the door.
Also, this isn’t a hard slam into the broad side of your target vehicles, like in Hollywood car chases. This is a gentle nudge — a gradual pressure applied from your car to theirs, perpendicular to direction of travel. Don’t forget to accelerate as you begin turning into their car until they begin spinning out. If they turn, change lanes, brake, or accelerate, you will have to mirror all of those changes while holding that rear quarter-panel position. Even in our practice sessions at Bondurant alongside a relatively cooperative “suspect” vehicle, this technique was tricky to pull off.
Furthermore, PIT maneuvers can be countered or “short-circuited” with a little bit of effort. As stated above, this move is heavily predicated on proper position and spacing of the two vehicles. Any sudden changes in speed or lane position forces the person initiating the PIT to start from scratch, re-positioning their vehicle. It’s possible for this loop to go on ad infinitum if the target vehicle is constantly changing rate of speed or swerving back and forth across the road.
Scenario: Attempted Kidnapping
You’re on a business trip to a foreign country that has a reputation for taking foreigners hostage. It’s been several days and despite some apprehension before you left home, your experience here so far has been positive. You’re driving from downtown back to where you’re staying and wind up right in the middle of a traffic jam. As your vehicle crawls closer to the source, you see a man in military fatigues waving people along on the road.
As you get up to the soldier, he waves you down a muddy side road, and a truck full of shirtless men pulls out to follow you. You’re not sure about this, but the soldier was very insistent. A quarter-mile down the road, you find yourself approaching a shoddy-looking checkpoint. Far from official, it seems to just be a large sedan parked sideways in the middle of the road, flanked by teenagers in ratty street clothes with AK-47s slung over their shoulders. With the truck immediately behind you, a reverse 180 won’t be possible.
Protective Driving Skill #3: Pushing Through a Vehicular Blockade
CONCEPT: Using your vehicle to ram into another vehicle is far from ideal. But there’s a right way to do it that can minimize damage to your car and allow you to make a hasty escape when there is no less-violent option.
OVERVIEW: Accelerate hard to build up speed, and try to align the corner of your vehicle’s frame with one of the axles of the other vehicle. As you approach the target vehicle, abruptly lift off the accelerator and coast for a short distance to transfer weight to the front of your vehicle. When you’re a few feet from the blocking vehicle, get back on the gas pedal aggressively. This burst of power applied at the right moment should lift the nose of your vehicle and give you the momentum to lift and shove the other car out of the way, spinning it 90 degrees.
CONSIDERATIONS: When this technique was first developed, cars were built with body-on-frame construction like modern-day pickup trucks. If your vehicle has a unibody construction, apply the same principles with the understanding that the damage will be more significant. If you have airbags, they’ll almost certainly deploy on impact. This may disorient you and impede your ability to escape. Also, know that vehicle size and weight will play a large part in determining the feasibility of this in your specific situation. If you’re in a compact city car and the road is blocked by a heavy-duty pickup truck, the odds — and laws of physics — will be stacked against you.
Scenario: Evading a Collision
You and your loved ones are taking a weekend afternoon drive up through the mountains. There’s not a building in sight for miles, and the road is a wide-open two-lane blacktop. The weather is gorgeous; you’ve got the windows down and the radio up, and everything is serene. An 18-wheel tractor trailer crests the horizon coming toward you in the opposite lane.
Normally not a big deal, as this road is often used by long-haul truckers to dodge interstate traffic. But as the two of you get closer and closer, each going a few miles above the posted speed limit, the truck swerves into your lane and is now heading directly for you. Stopping would be useless, and you can’t trade lanes with the truck as there’s already more traffic coming toward you on that side as well. The roadside is a soft shoulder of dirt, gravel, and overgrown weeds. But it beats a head-on collision.
CONCEPT: Rather than a specific technique, the instructors at Bondurant gave us more of a set of guidelines on how to deal with rapidly changing road conditions. There are plenty of situations on the road better handled by a controlled transition to off-road than slamming on the brake pedal or trying to swerve into the next lane with no warning.
OVERVIEW: Don’t give up your control of the vehicle. Veer off the road in a controlled turn, just like you would take an off-ramp on the highway. Once you’ve avoided the obstacle on the road, you’ll want to try and square up your front end toward the road as much as possible. Keep an even foot on the accelerator at a safe speed and, once you’re back on the road, orient properly into your lane as quickly as possible and speed up/slow down as necessary for the flow of traffic.
CONSIDERATIONS: Once your wheels hit the dirt/gravel/grass, you’ll lose some responsiveness in steering and braking. Keep your mind and your wheel ahead of the vehicle. If you turn the wheel right, don’t wait for the car to start skidding before you correct the wheel back to center. If the surface is loose gravel or sandy, any sudden acceleration or braking might induce a loss of traction. The key is to be smooth in all your inputs (steering, braking, acceleration) and anticipate the vehicle’s next move.
Conclusion
We rode along as instructors tore around the course at a staggering pace.
While our descriptions of countermeasures are meant to help you understand possible solutions, nothing can truly take the place of empirical knowledge. Like any other aspect of preparation, reading about it and practicing it alongside trained instructors are two different things. A vehicle is an extension of yourself, and like a firearm or knife, it’s only as effective as the person wielding it. You won’t get this kind of training with DMV instructors.
In the classroom, instructors discussed the theory behind cornering. Being able to see and follow the ideal racing line is essential for maintaining speed through twists and turns.
Think of that rush of panic that goes through you when you’ve had to slam on the brakes suddenly or when you start to hydroplane after it’s been raining. Multiply that times a thousand in a situation where your only hope for survival is how well you can control that four-wheeled machine you’re sitting in. Consider signing up for a course at a high-performance driving school like Bondurant, so you can truly understand and experience the physics behind it.
Hydraulic outriggers on these skid cars induce traction loss on demand, teaching students to correct for oversteer and understeer.
Imagine you had just seconds to grab your essentials before a raging wildfire engulfed your home. It would be chaos, right? That’s why we have get-out-of-Dodge bags at the ready. But the one thing we won’t be hauling with us is the garage — our man cave of power tools, manual implements, and other equipment.
Sure, if you’re bugging out in an RV or off-road rig, you probably have a tool kit preloaded. But if you’re fleeing on foot from impending doom, you’ll be lucky to make it out with the clothes and pack on your back.
That’s why in this edition of Pocket Preps we’re focusing on wallet-sized tools. These little devices are super slim and featherweight but can often serve various duties when things go awry — or be used for more mundane things like popping open a brewski. Plus, these multitools are portable and can fit pretty much anywhere a credit card can. That means you can have a mini toolbox in your pocket no matter where you go.
Notes As a prepper and a combatives instructor, this author is conflicted about the Credit Card Kara Bit. Its design as a covert knife is innovative. It’s carried in a Kydex sheath — though our review sample didn’t come with one — which attaches to one’s belt loop via paracord. To deploy, just pull it out like a chain wallet. Sadly, its ergonomics are disappointing and the lack of integrated tools is a wasted opportunity. Overall though, the Kara Bit features top-notch manufacturing and provides a unique concealed blade option.
Pros:
Razor sharp knife fillets cardboard into ribbons
Titanium body is light yet incredibly strong
Out-of-the-box design
Ideal for concealed carry
Cons:
Awkward finger placement
The flat of the card could have housed built-in tools, such as hex wrenches and a bottle-opener.
Notes If a bug-out vehicle is in your preparedness plans, the Hutan Pressure Tool is worth consideration. Made out of titanium with a diamond-like coating, this little device gets its name from its primary function: releasing air from a tire’s Schrader valve. Having the right tire pressure is key to safely driving over rough terrain, whether you’re fleeing a disaster or heading out on an overland journey. It has several other tools, including a nail remover, a multi-size wrench, and a bottle-opener. Plus, it comes with a fine leather sleeve.
Pros:
Efficiently designed with almost every inch featuring a different tool
Slim, yet thick enough that the edges don’t dig into your fingers
Strong, tough, and lightweight
Quality leather sleeve lets you stow the tool safely in your pocket, pack, or vehicle.
Cons:
Vehicle-specific design means niche appeal and adaptability
Notes It’s hard to beat the appeal of a tool that’s easy to use, affordable, and actually useful not just in a pinch, but in daily life, too. The Credit Card Companion is an everyday carry (EDC) item with nine tools in total, all of which are housed in a compact-yet-durable ABS body. While you won’t win any geocaching contests using the compass, it can give you at least a general clue of where to go if you’re lost. There are also tweezers, a screwdriver, a combo can/bottle-opener, a 2-inch serrated blade, and more.
Pros:
Abundant number of tools in such a slender package
Tools seamlessly tuck into the card for convenient carry. Sharp blade is great for cutting fibrous material, like rope or branches.
Price tag won’t break the piggy bank
Cons:
To use most of the tools, you have to separate them from the card. And because they’re small, they offer limited grip space and leverage, especially the piece that holds the can-opener, bottle-opener, and screwdriver.
Notes Vargo makes some stellar outdoor gear, from fire-starters and portable wood stoves to backpacks and camping pots. It also makes cool tools, including this one. As an upgrade to the original Swing Blade Tool, the Bolt version is so named because of the 8mm, 10mm, and 13mm wrenches on one end of its titanium body for turning bolts and nuts. It also features a bottle-opener, two screwdrivers, a keyhole ring, and the eponymous razor blade. The latter tool is tension locked for safe storage, but can rotate out when needed.
Pros:
The 420HC stainless steel blade is sharp out of the box and easy to hone.
Titanium platform is lightweight and durable.
Multiple tools make this more than just a tiny knife.
Cons:
Not the smartest knife-opening mechanism; your right thumb rotates the blade toward your left thumb, which needs to stay put to push down on the lock-bar to let the blade come out.
Notes The Wildcard is similar to the Vargo Swing Blade Tool in that it’s a card-shaped multitool with a rotating blade. But the Wildcard’s knife opening mechanism is more akin to a traditional folding knife, with the edge moving away from the user’s other hand. Zootility’s patent-pending FlyOff technology means you can quickly remove the blade if it becomes unusable or you forget you had it in your wallet at a TSA checkpoint. Plus, it has a built-in pry-bar, screwdrivers, bottle opener, and both metric and imperial rulers. Made in the USA.
Pros:
Brilliant design combines card-style multitool with a folding knife.
Blade is sharp, easy to use, and replaceable.
No marketing exaggerations here; all the tools are practical and performed well for this type of device
Cons:
Blade has some lateral play and isn’t the thickest or strongest piece of stainless steel
Notes More than 100 years ago, Victorinox revolutionized the multi-use pocketknife when its founder created what would become the iconic Swiss Army Knife. The SwissCard Lite carries on that legacy by morphing the traditional multitool into a wallet-sized essential. Its moniker refers not to this being a smaller version of a bigger model, but rather to its integrated LED. With the included light, this device packs 13 functions — from a ballpoint pen to a magnifying glass — in a compact and convenient format.
Pros:
Thirteen tools, all brilliantly stowed in a lean body
Translucent plastic lets you see the tool you need
Letter opener makes for a super sharp last-ditch blade
Its mini scissors cut effectively
Cons:
The LED was disappointingly dim.
The pullout unit that holds its four screwdrivers is tiny and provides little grip space or leverage.
This tool has a narrow use, and it’s a one-time use at that. But that’s all it takes to save your life. As its name implies, this tool is the size of a business card and meant to be broken apart, assembled, and set aflame as kindling. It comes with a Fresnel lens and vinyl case, so carrying this barely noticeable card in your wallet gives you not only fuel, but also a platform to build a fire no matter what survival situation you end up in. It’s made in the USA out of birch wood.
Pros:
Featherweight — when we repeatedly tried to weigh the card, the scale kept displaying 0.00 ounces!
Combined with the Fresnel lens, this clever card gives you all you need to start a life-saving fire.
Comes perforated so you can break it into sections and reassemble them into a fire lay.
Cons:
Due to its singular purpose, this card is the least versatile wallet-sized device in this buyer’s guide.
“What’s this protest about?” my wife absentmindedly asked as she thumbed through Facebook on her phone. “More president hating or something about vegetable rights this time?” she mocked. The ride to our son Johnny’s game was taking longer than expected, and we were all getting frustrated with the slow pace. Earlier in the day, I had heard something on the radio about protests, and as the vehicles ground to a halt, the uncharacteristic evening traffic started to make sense.
People with poster board signs, many with covered faces, began to fill the spaces between the idling cars. Some of the more energetic protesters started to jump onto car hoods and hurl objects at the gridlocked motorists. Then I saw it, a few cars ahead of us. Several men crowded around a car, and the driver surged forward. Many voices cried out loudly as the vehicle sped away. The first of the cries sounded like pain, and the following ones had a tone of anger and surprise. Someone had just been injured.
The protesters then began to lash out at the remaining vehicles, smashing windows and even pulling a woman out of her car! This was getting ugly quick. My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel hard, and all I could think was how the hell I was going to protect my family from this.
For this episode of RECOIL OFFGRID’s “What If?” column, the editors have created a situation to place a family in the proverbial crosshairs of a group of protesters who turn violent and take out their aggression on passing motorists. Here we’ll discuss some possible methods to handle these circumstances, and walk you through preps, plans, and decisions to consider if you find yourself in a similar situation. While we won’t hijack a garbage truck to “scoop and compact” our way through these marching marauders — we’ll present some options that just might keep you out of harm’s way.
The Scenario
SITUATION TYPE Traveling to a ball game YOUR CREW You, your wife, and son LOCATION Los Angeles, California SEASON Summer WEATHER Clear; high 97 degrees F, low 79 degrees F
The Setup: There has been a recent string of protests in areas of downtown Los Angeles you often travel through, but you have no idea how long it’ll last or where exactly it’ll pop up next, making route planning to avoid the protests somewhat problematic. Over the last several days, the protests have been nothing more than verbal demonstrations with no violence reported. You’re driving your pregnant wife and 10-year-old son to your son’s nighttime little league game in a small crossover SUV. While on a two-lane city street lined with buildings, traffic in front of you suddenly comes to a standstill. Protesters are unexpectedly advancing toward vehicles on both sides of the street. You assume this will only be a slight delay, the crowd will keep marching past you, and no one will become physically aggressive.
The Complication: In a seemingly unprovoked manner, the protesters start antagonizing passing motorists going in either direction, spilling into the street to block cars. Some motorists slowly make their way through the converging crowd, honking and pushing ahead. As a sedan that’s two cars in front of you makes a mad dash through the crowd, it appears that one of the protesters is injured by that driver’s decision to make a break for it.
This angers the protesters, who quickly seek revenge by converging on the remaining cars. They attempt to open doors, throw objects to hit windows in an attempt to break through, and rock your car back and forth making you think they intend to flip it over. You’re blocked on the driver side by opposing traffic, as well as cars in front of and behind you experiencing the same attack. You’re essentially boxed in unless you try to drive up on the sidewalk. What steps can you take to help protect your family and alert authorities? Should you attempt verbal persuasion or look for an opportunity to flee your car and escape on foot? Are you justified in using your car as a weapon, possibly injuring other protesters or disabling your vehicle in the enraged crowd?
ATTORNEY: Jason Squires’ Approach
Prep
I always have my SUV stocked with basic survival necessities. I break these into three categories: 1. People. Items people need to survive such as water, clothing, and self-defense items; 2. Vehicle. Goods to keep the vehicle functioning; 3. Mission-specific items. For example: things needed for my son’s baseball game.
While traveling with a pregnant wife, the matter is further complicated because of emergency issues related to the unborn child. I must have a bag specifically for the wife stocked with essentials like birth certificates, insurance information, cash and credit/debit cards, and preparation for a hospital stay.
People: While traveling anywhere you must have clothing to anticipate changes in temperature. Children have no concept of preparation, and extra care must be given to ensure each child has comfortable shoes and a warm jacket at a minimum. The wife, being pregnant, is susceptible to slight temperature variations. We always expect the cold to be the problem, but heat variations can be just as problematic. Each person has a durable water bottle, usually filled with water and ice. I also keep other large plastic water bottles to refill each individual bottle if needed. It’s prudent to include sufficient snack foods for children, if for no other reason than to reduce stress when the children begin complaining. Remember, food can be quite comforting in a stress situation.
For self-defense items, as a lawyer, I’m always mindful of local, state, and federal laws related to firearms and weaponry. Generally, knife blades less than 5 inches are universally accepted in almost all jurisdictions. Just remember, you must be very close — too close — to an attacker to use a knife. Knife wounds are often more dangerous than bullet wounds. Items like flashlights, headlamps, and light sticks are essential. Where permitted, I carry a pistol and AR-15 with a reliable, long-lasting red dot optic. But, given this scenario is in Los Angeles, I’d have to leave my AR-15 at home in Arizona.
Vehicle: I always prefer SUVs. A crossover SUV offers extended mileage on a single tank of gas. I always reinforce the bumpers with a midrange, affordable bumper system that’d survive pushing the vehicle in front of me, if necessary. My SUV never goes below three-quarters full for any potential and unexpected long drives. Each vehicle has a seatbelt cutter in the sunglasses compartment. Since most SUVs ride higher than other vehicles, that allows me to see further ahead to anticipate trouble or traffic.
Flashlights, multitools, and a basic toolkit (metric and standard sockets, screwdrivers, tow rope, ratchet straps, etc.) are also kept in the vehicle. Additionally, any SUV should be outfitted with all-terrain tires and a full-size spare (not that ridiculous donut). Duct tape, lighters, 550 cord (200 feet), and cash are hidden in the vehicle. I also keep laminated copies of all federal firearms licenses and maps of the area showing alternate routes to areas of refuge outside the city.
I also keep meds for everyone, like EpiPens, NSAIDs, aspirin, and basic first-aid supplies. Remembering when to replace these items can be a chore. I replace all batteries on the longest day of the year (6/21) and the shortest day of the year (12/21). Also, I keep an inverter that plugs into the cigarette lighter as well as two battery packs that’ll recharge cell phones five times each. Additionally, I carry a satellite phone, which I began doing when my wife became pregnant so I’d never have spotty cell coverage — yes there can be spotty satellite coverage, too (building obstructions). Mission-Specific Items: I’m going to a baseball game and my wife is pregnant, so I keep those items for my person, vehicle, and what we need today (baseball equipment and emergency labor/hospital bag). When traveling outside the city, I also bring sleeping bags, more warm clothes, gloves, 5 extra gallons of water, 2 quarts of oil and transmission fluid, fix flat, etc.
On Site
I wouldn’t knowingly take my pregnant wife and kid through an area known for trouble. I know that I’m literally a “sitting duck” if my vehicle is surrounded by angry protesters. I’d give a wide berth to any trouble or even potential trouble. I know, as a lawyer, that trouble usually means serious injury or handcuffs — this isn’t an overstatement.
Remember, an angry mob has no collective intelligence. A mob is the sum of the individuals who’ll say they were doing nothing wrong when you struck them with your vehicle. All assailants will claim they were “merely present,” a legal term to suggest at the scene, but doing nothing wrong. Keep a watchful eye 10 to 20 car lengths ahead to scan for trouble; what constitutes trouble should be self-explanatory. Large groupings of angry people surrounding vehicles is trouble. Protesters are trouble. We might admire their First Amendment right, but we don’t want to be victimized by it. I’d also keep at least three car lengths behind the vehicle in front of me. This distance allows me to quickly maneuver my vehicle and turn around at even the slightest suggestion of danger.
Let’s assume I was doing everything reasonable. I was keeping a safe distance, scanning for threats, wearing seatbelts, had a cell phone charged and ready for use, and the mob suddenly appears seemingly out of nowhere. My friend is my accelerator. The vehicle is a target when stationary. Immediately, I’d utilize the distance I’ve kept between me and the vehicle ahead of me and conduct a three-point turn (learn this technique). I do this immediately. I move the vehicle quickly. I don’t assume any angry grouping of people will remain peaceful.
I had this example recently where a group of teachers were protesting. I don’t fear teachers; I love them. I know instinctively that troublemakers will embed themselves in large groups only to cause mayhem. So at first sign of trouble: I’m gone. If you’re stuck in between cars (a person unexpectedly changes lanes into your lane seeing the protesters), I use the push bumper I had installed on the SUV. It’s better to beg for forgiveness later than die. My insurance will pay damages to anyone’s vehicle. But as a lawyer, I know this will mean future trouble — so I don’t ram the vehicle in front of me when the Girl Scouts appear out of nowhere with cookies.
When I see the angry mob, I immediately call 911. I don’t say on the recorded 911 call: “Well, ah, there are some people, and they’re walking toward me.” I know to articulate fear in a verbal manner. “911, What is your emergency?” “Help! There’s an angry mob trying to hurt me, my pregnant wife, and 10-year-old son. I’m worried we’re going to die.”
In thousands of 911 calls I’ve heard and litigated, I’ve never thought a person expressing intense fear was lying. I’ve seen, many times, people appearing flat and unafraid. It’s hard to claim I was afraid at the time when I don’t sound afraid on the recorded call that will certainly be reviewed by someone else (insurance company and/or prosecutors). Protests are usually localized events. Whatever direction will take us away from trouble is the path I seek. I’d be doing this while on the phone asking for police assistance. While many people have differing views of law enforcement, I’ll say these men and women are here to help. But make no mistake, if they’re busy with other trouble, you’re on your own. So I wouldn’t pull over a block away and wait for the good guys.
I’m responsible for the safety of others. Let’s say I’ve caused damage to the vehicle in front of me by utilizing the push bumper to safely get my wife and son away from danger. I call 911 and report what I did. There’s such a thing as the necessity defense. It’s legally grounded in the “Reasonable Person Standard,” meaning: Would a reasonable person feel the need to push the vehicle in front of him to avoid any angry mob? It’s not whether I feel the danger, subjectively, but rather, would another reasonable person do the same. Wide latitude is given to people who are acting in self-defense. Some people would cause damage, leave, and not want the potential legal headache. I’d run to the law and safely travel that distance to communicate with authorities the fear for my life and my pregnant wife and son, describing damage I created to avoid a potential criminal charge for hit and run.
If the mob gets me, my wife, and son, I know my fate is in their collective hands. I must do everything to avoid that possibility because, at that point, I’m lucky if I or my family isn’t seriously injured or killed. I must utilize all available assets, but I must admit that I’ve done many things wrong if I find myself surrounded by this angry mob. I’ve failed to scan for threats far ahead of my vehicle. I’ve failed to keep a three-car distance from the vehicle ahead of me. I’ve failed to remove myself and family from the threat by using the accelerator. One of my last lines of defense is to plead for law enforcement to come get me. They’ll respond by priority … so maybe my pregnant wife speaks to the 911 operator and explains that while I try to maneuver the vehicle away from danger.
If I must drive on a sidewalk: Well, I say better to be judged by 12 rather than carried by six. I’ll apply all force and fury to protect my family. Remember, legally speaking, a mob is comprised of individuals, and I will be held responsible for any injuries or damage to innocent people who are merely present. I can’t drive blindly through the mob, running people over. You must maneuver away from danger, utilizing the bare minimum damage and injury to others. Let’s say a child is with his mother who’s a protester. The law doesn’t transmit mom’s venom to her innocent child. So, think way ahead, be prepared for all reasonable contingencies, and flee at the first sign of trouble. Discretion is the better part of valor. The first line of defense is to live by that proverb.
SURVIVAL EXPERT: Tim MacWelch’s Approach
Prep
One of the most important things I can recommend before hitting the road is to study a street map long and hard. I don’t care if you’re looking at a map of your hometown, an area you work in, or a vacation destination. Get to know the connections and choke points of the streets, bypasses, and highways through the area. This helps you find alternate routes and avoid congested areas. Once the city streets are familiar, take time to study the map again periodically, and bring the paper map with you in the vehicle. I’m not suggesting that you ignore your phone’s navigation apps or throw your Garmin out the window. On the contrary, use those tools as much as you like. But understand that nothing beats map study to really know the “lay of the land.”
Once I know my routes and alternates, I’ll think about the items that should be stocked our car. All the usual suspects make sense. Carrying food, water, tools, jumper cables, flashlights, first-aid kit, and the personal defenses we train with regularly will leave us prepared for most roadside emergencies. But preparing for a possible encounter with attackers on the road — this is a much more complicated matter. What if we had to defend ourselves against a crowd? If these were Mad Max times, things would be different, but depending on the circumstances, some jurors may frown on the use of your vehicle as a weapon, even if those shouting buffoons became physically aggressive.
Now there are some enhancements you can add to your car to thwart attacks and attempted break-ins. For the average Joe, turning your grocery getter into a fully armored vehicle is cost-prohibitive, and adding certain offensive capabilities may get you in trouble (think anti-carjacking flamethrowers seen in South Africa). Don’t despair, there are a few things most of us can afford that would help to harden a vehicle. Buying puncture-resistant (run-flat) tires may allow you to keep rolling, even though you just got a flat tire in a scary neighborhood. Aftermarket oversized gas tanks can keep you idling in traffic long after the other cars are out of gas. Consider a cell phone booster that could improve your communication options in case cell phone reception is spotty or you’re separated from your family members. Finally, think about mounting a dashboard cam to record any incidents that happen so you have proof that can be shown in court.
We’d do our best to stay informed of protest activity, since information is one of our best defenses. It’s important to know why the protest is happening, as well as the location of the event. Listening to the radio may provide some current local news, but who knows if that information is correct or current. Keep in mind that violence and crowd size are sometimes downplayed by the authorities and the media for various reasons. Check various forms of social media. These can sometimes provide local information; however, it may also be inaccurate. Whatever forms of news you find, use them to assess where the unrest is happening and why. Have a discussion with the family, preparing them for the possibility of running into some angry protesters and explain that your best defense is to get out of their way.
On Site
As a general safety precaution, vehicle doors stay locked and windows stay up when traveling in our car as a family or alone. Many of the newer cars on the road have automatic door locks that engage after driving for a minute or so, but why wait? Lock them as soon as you enter the vehicle. And even when it’s hot, we like to keep the windows up and let the AC do its job. It’ll cool off soon enough.
Once we’re on the road, defensive driving is the name of the game. All drivers should watch the vehicle in front of them, but I go a step beyond and watch both the vehicle in front of me and the vehicle in front of them. This way, I have more time to react. But what about driving in tight streets with lots of company? Your driver’s ed teacher would be proud if you could maintain the “two-car length” spacing between your grille and the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you, but let’s get real. In city driving, people will cut in front of you constantly when they see that much room. You won’t be going anywhere fast with that much space in front. Keep enough room to give yourself space to make a quick exit if needed.
Once I spot the protestors coming down the street, I’d check the door locks again and get the phone handy in case we had to make an emergency call. Scanning the crowd, I’d try to absorb as much detail as possible to try and predict their behavior. With faces covered, they’re not marching to save the whales. They’re trying to prevent their faces from being photographed. This strongly suggests that they’re planning (or at least hoping) to do plenty of things they shouldn’t.
The Crisis
Look at the stats, and you’ll find that most marches and protests are peaceful. But if they do turn violent, understand that riots are survivable events, assuming you know how to navigate the situation.
Pinned in place by gridlock, our vehicle isn’t going to get us out of the area. Our exodus is will have to be on foot. I know my wife and son will be frightened to exit the imagined safety of the vehicle, but with car windows being smashed — it’s well past the time to go. With multiple people on foot trying to break into or turn over our car, we’ll make a break to the nearest store or business that’ll let us in. It’s not our job to police this crowd, but it is my job as a spouse and parent to protect my loved ones. We’ll do that by getting away. Any provocation coming from my “group” could instigate an onslaught from the others. Just like bees, when one or more of those seen as threats are attacked — the rest may join in because they believe it’s necessary to defend themselves.
Of course, the safest place to be during unrest is far away, but if we were caught in a mob and can’t get to shelter — our best bet may be to blend in. Chant what they chant, and repeat the types of statements you’re hearing the crowd say. Don’t stick up for opposing views or groups. Pride won’t help you. Tell them what they want to hear until you can get the hell out of there.
Conclusion
When a crowd becomes angered, tribal mentality often sets in. Bottles and rocks are thrown, nearby businesses are looted, cars are flipped, and fires are set. Whether it’s after a sporting event with drunken fans pouring into the street or during a politically charged rally, sometimes it’s impossible to predict when a group will suddenly turn into a rioting horde. When it happens, innocent bystanders often perceived as outsiders are treated as potential threats and pulled into the fray. That simple protest may escalate into a full-blown riot. Often the bigger the crowd and more attention they think they’re getting, the lower their inhibitions and collective conscience becomes.
Individually, each protester has logic, beliefs, and reasoning, but as a group, their anger often leads to a criminal mindset. You can’t reason with insanity; the best thing you can do is get out of its way until the tantrum is over, subdued by law enforcement, or just plain exhausted. Whether or not you know if you’ll have to venture into the proximity of an unstable crowd, you should plan your vehicular belongings and alternate travel routes accordingly. The more options you have to escape, the better your chances of surviving the onslaught are.
Those of you who follow us on Instagram or saw our live photo gallery here on OFFGRIDweb will know that we spent last week in Denver at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2018. This show, often referred to as ORSM or simply the OR Show, is a mecca for all who work in the outdoor industry. This four-day event features booths from big-name companies such as Camelbak, The North Face, KEEN, Black Diamond, and Hydro Flask, as well as dozens upon dozens of smaller brands. These companies often unveil new products and prototypes to the media at OR Show. However, the show isn’t open to the public, so unless you closely follow industry news, you may not have learned about those items yet.
We were at ORSM all four days, and searched for new items that stood out from the crowd. There were plenty of products that left us underwhelmed, but a select few that stood out as being particularly memorable and innovative. Today, we’ll give a quick recap of four new products from Outdoor Retailer 2018 that we found appealing from a survival and emergency preparedness standpoint.
Keep in mind that aside from checking them out at the show, we have not yet tested or evaluated these products thoroughly. So, this article focuses on our first impressions of these four items. We hope to give each of them a standalone in-depth review in the future to determine their real-world effectiveness.
LifeSaver Jerrycan Water Purifier
In the H2O Hygiene water purifier buyer’s guide from Issue 15 of our magazine, we reviewed a water bottle purifier from LifeSaver (pictured above on the right). We were impressed by its wide-spectrum effectiveness against bacteria, protozoan cysts, viruses, and other waterborne contaminants, but felt it suffered somewhat due to its ungainly shape and pressurized dispensing nozzle. LifeSaver has released a new purifier that resolves these issues and makes some impressive strides.
The LifeSaver Jerrycan looks like an ordinary 5-gallon fuel jerrycan, and can be mounted on vehicle racks using the molded-in holes or carried using the sturdy handle. This external design is nothing new, but what’s under the hood makes a big difference.
The top of the can features two caps. The angled cap on the corner must be unscrewed to fill the Jerrycan from any freshwater source, then screwed back on tightly before pumping this cap’s built-in handle 10-15 times until water begins to trickle from the nozzle on the second cap. This water is now purified and suitable for drinking or washing. By pumping the handle 3-5 more times with the tap closed, you can build pressure in the tank, then install the hose attachment. This makes it easy to carry 5 gallons of water wherever you go, purify it on demand for drinking, and wash dishes or other contamination-sensitive items with purified water.
Two models of the Jerrycan are available: a 10,000-liter/2,641-gallon capacity for $190, or a 20,000-liter/5,282-gallon capacity for $230. Color options are blue, tan, green, or black (available soon). The LifeSaver filters will automatically stop water flow when their lifespan ends, and can be replaced for $76 (10k-liter model) or $90 (20k-liter model).
LOWA Locarno Lightweight Hiking Boots
Since the LOWA Renegade is one of our favorite dedicated hiking boots, we were excited to learn that the company has released a new lighter-weight boot model that’s tailored for everyday wear and more casual hikes.
The LOWA Locarno features a Monowrap frame like that of the Renegade, but it has been inverted to favor flexibility and comfort over the Renegade’s firmer support. The Locarno also features a DuraPU/DynaPU hybrid midsole, which we’re told provides excellent cushioning and shock absorption. A nubuck leather and fabric upper with breathable GORE-TEX lining makes these boots fully waterproof up to the collar.
The Locarno is offered in either mid-cut or low-cut, and sizes range from 7.5 to 14. We appreciate the subdued color choices, which consist of combinations of black, brown, green, and tan. MSRP is $190 for the Locarno GTX Lo and $210 for the Locarno GTX Mid.
Unlike the tougher Renegade, we could see the Locarno remaining wearable on a daily basis around town, especially the low-cut variety. This makes it an appealing multi-purpose footwear option.
Garmin inReach Mini Satellite Communicator
We previously wrote about the Garmin inReach SE+ and Explorer+ after their launch last year. These handheld GPS devices offer location tracking, navigation, mapping, rescue beacon, and emergency communications functionality. Most interestingly, they can transmit and receive text messages via the Iridium satellite network, so you can communicate with your loved ones in emergency situations even when there’s no cell service in your area.
The all-new Garmin inReach Mini condenses many of these functions into a much smaller and simpler 4.3oz unit that fits into the palm of your hand. It provides the same functions as the larger inReach devices, including two-way text messaging and an interactive SOS beacon.
You might be thinking this device is too small for map functions, but Garmin came up with a clever workaround. The inReach Mini can be paired with your smartphone, tablet, or other handheld device (including Garmin watches) to access topo maps, NOAA charts, satellite images of terrain, and other features. The inReach pulls the data from the satellite, and transmits it to the larger screen on your other device via the Garmin Earthmate app.
The inReach Mini is available now at an MSRP of $350, and available in either black or rescue orange. It requires a satellite plan, which costs between $12 and $100 per month, depending on text message quantity and satellite tracking interval frequency.
Road Shower 4 Roof-Mounted Water Reservoir
With a simple design and myriad of uses, this is one of those products that had us wondering, why didn’t we think of that?! We stumbled upon the Road Shower booth unexpectedly, and learned that it’s a roof-rack-mounted water reservoir with some pretty ingenious features.
The fourth-generation Road Shower consists of a fully-sealed aluminum tank, available in three different sizes — 4-gallon small ($300), 7-gallon medium ($400), and 10-gallon large ($500). The tank mounts to a standard vehicle roof rack or bike rack with provided brackets and carriage bolts. It can be filled normally, and water will flow out based on gravity and the tank’s elevation, or it can be pressurized for a high-flow spray.
Pressurizing the tank is as simple as attaching your garden hose to the fill port, as this will both fill and pressurize the tank. Pressure can also be added using 15-25 pumps of a standard bike pump, or by connecting an air compressor or electric tire inflator. A pressure-relief valve on the cap ensures you won’t over-pressurize the water beyond 75 psi. The company says a fully-pressurized tank can spray water 60 feet from the included hose attachment, and can provide pressurized water for up to 15 minutes of continuous use.
Each tank is coated in a black textured finish, which causes sunlight to passively heat the water throughout the course of a warm day (the company says temperature will rise roughly 12 to 20 degrees per hour). So you won’t have to take an uncomfortable cold shower when you’re away from civilization.
We can see many survival uses for the Road Shower. It provides access to several gallons of potable water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning, plus a spray nozzle for hosing dirt off gear or your body. Whether you’ve got a dedicated off-road adventure vehicle or just want to upgrade your daily driver with something better than plastic water bottles in the trunk, the Road Shower has potential.
Notes After your fridge has gone bare and the supermarkets have run dry, you’ll be left to your own devices when it’s TEOTWAWKI. And hopefully one of those devices will be a powerful scope for hitting big game at long distances. The Endurance 30 gives you a reticle that’s still accurate even if you’ve adjusted to maximum magnification. In this case, the wide-angle, second-focal-plane optic has a 100-yard zero and holdover aim points out to 600 yards, with the distances glass-etched. The Endurance features a 30mm monotube chassis, a 4-inch eye relief, and an 18-layer coated lens. It’s also shockproof, waterproof, and nitrogen purged. While the reticle might be a tad thin for some and it’s made in China, the Endurance 30 is a solid budget option for hunters and survivalists. Comes with lens cloth, lens covers, CR2032 battery, and 4-inch screw-in sunshade.
Notes We’re calling this the Transformer of fanny packs. The Sidekick Medium can be worn as a traditional lumbar pack or as a cross-body sling bag. Or you can remove its 1.5-inch waist belt and use its hook-and-loop tabs to connect it to MOLLE attachments or various points on your get-out-of-dodge bag, thereby increasing your carry capacity. You could even connect it to the handlebars of your mountain bike or motorcycle. It’s made from 305-denier Cordura HP with a 210-denier nylon embossed liner and YKK zippers. Weighing just 6 ounces, the 1.9-liter Sidekick Medium can hold up to 7 pounds of gear.
Make & Model Pyramex Isotope
Lens Color Amber, Clear, Gray (shown), and Indoor/Outdoor
Notes If you’re a firearms enthusiast, when someone says “eye protection” you probably envision a pair of shooting glasses. While those would definitely keep your peepers safe from an errant shell casing on a range, it probably won’t do as well against spills or dust during a crisis. Think windstorm or building collapse. That’s where eyewear like the Isotope comes in. In addition to its curved lens, it has a rubber gasket that provides a tight but comfortable fit, while also protecting you from splashes, flying debris, and other particulate matter that could affect your eyesight. The anti-fog, scratch-resistant polycarbonate lens also provides 100-percent protection against UVA and UVB rays.
Notes Nite Ize continues to impress us with its groundbreaking designs sold at affordable prices. Its patented Figure 9 Carabiner can secure, tighten, and tension ropes without the need for knots — especially useful if you have difficulty untying tight knots or use ropes that lose tension. Just weave the rope through the strategically engineered prongs, pull it tight, then connect the carabiner to an anchor. The Figure 9 can be used for all sorts of functions, from mundane tasks like securing boxes to a hand truck, to survival uses like building a shelter. While it’s not meant for climbing, it can hold a load of up to 150 pounds while weighing only 1.9 ounces itself.
Make & Model Kikkerland Design Huckleberry First Pocket Knife
Notes Let’s be clear: You’re not going to scale Mount McKinley or survive the zombie apocalypse with this multitool. It is not meant for hard use. But as its name implies, the Huckleberry First Pocket Knife is a great gift to bestow your child in an effort to teach him or her the concepts of self-reliance and the responsibilities of owning an important tool. Or you could throw it into one of your underground caches, knowing that you won’t lose any sleep over its $15 price tag if you never need to dig it up. More practically, you could toss it into your kit as a backup to your premium multitool. This Kikkerland model features a 2.25-inch blade, scissors, awl, and beechwood scales.
Notes If you’re gonna flee a disaster, you’ll want bug-out footwear that won’t attract unwanted attention on the sidewalk but also help you haul ass once you hit the backcountry. The recently released Terrex Agravic Speed can do just that. They’re extremely lightweight yet provide tremendous grip and stable footing. The Continental rubber outsole has strategic cutouts to reduce weight and provide traction in mixed trails. The EVA midsole offers long-term cushioning while the mesh and ripstop upper gives you a breathable, sock-like fit for optimal comfort. Available in various colors for men and women.
Notes Dogs were bred to be human’s smartest and most loyal survival tool. The first domesticated canines helped us hunt, kept us warm at night, and guarded us (and later our livestock) against predators. So, it’s only smart to incorporate Lassie into the family’s emergency plan. If your escape route (or daylong hike) takes you through jagged terrain, you’ll want to protect your pup’s paws. That’s why Ruffwear’s Grip Trex have non-marking Vibram outsoles with tough lugs for traction and flexibility. On top the tightly woven breathable mesh lets air in but dirt and debris out. The gusset design allows for a wide opening to make it easier to put on and take off, while the hook-and-loop closure ensures a customized fit. Plus, it has a reflective trim for low-light visibility.
Make & Model Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed 700 / 35 Degree
Notes Thanks to advancing technology, snoozing under the stars is becoming more and more comfy. The Backcountry Bed is certainly helping to push this envelope. It features a sleeve on the bottom so you can slip a sleeping pad underneath to maintain a bed-like structure. On top, its patent-pending zipperless design features an integrated comforter that can be tucked in to resemble a mummy-style sleeping bag or pushed off when it’s warm like a rectangular bag. There are also insulated hand pockets and a stretch cord closure system to seal out drafts. And at the end is a hands-free foot vent, which lets you slip your toes out. The shell is made of 20-denier polyester ripstop, the liner is 20-denier polyester taffeta, and the insulation is 700-fill-power DriDown.
Cement is a substance that surrounds us every day in the city and suburbs, and along with asphalt, it forms the basis for most of our urban developments. But have you ever considered how it’s made? No, we’re not talking about driving to the local hardware store, buying a bag, and adding water. If you needed to make your own cement from scratch, how would you do it?
In his latest video, the Aussie survival instructor at Primitive Technology shows how to make improvised cement from natural wood ash. He begins by burning dry bark in a clay kiln design he demonstrated in a previous video — you can watch that here. Once the bark was fully combusted and the fire died out, a pile of dry ash was left at the base of the kiln.
He then carefully mixed this with water, pouring off the excess until desired moisture was achieved. A ball formed from this paste was heated in a fire then dropped into water, and crushed clay was incorporated to reinforce the ash. After setting for three days, a cube made from the wood ash cement proved hard and moisture-resistant.
Although materials such as wattle and daub and adobe may be able to produce viable long-term structures, this wood ash cement is substantially more advanced. Modern cement’s weather-resistance is outstanding, and this improvised variety appears to share this characteristic. Check out the video below to see the entire cement-making process:
During World War II, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was responsible for coordinating espionage and other secretive missions behind enemy lines. As a result, this organization developed some fascinating weapons and gadgets — often the sort of thing you’d expect to see in a James Bond film. These included covert firearms, explosive devices, and poisons designed to eliminate high-value targets.
One weapon developed by the OSS was known as the Stinger, and resembles the size and shape of a pen. In actuality, it was a covert gun that fired a .22 Short cartridge. The OSS Stinger was designed for single use and sealed around the cartridge, so once it had been fired, it was disposed of immediately.
Several variants of the Stinger were developed throughout the war, with reinforcements made to the chamber and firing mechanism to reduce the risk of misfires (and damage to the shooter’s hand). In the following video, Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons examines three variants of the Stinger pen gun and discusses its history in greater detail:
