Battle Belt Setup: Weight Off Our Shoulders

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Nicholas Nassim Taleb in his book Antifragile commented that some of the greatest inventions are creations so simple and ubiquitous, that they nearly go unnoticed, such as the spoon or chair. The belt itself likely fits into this category, and within the confines of load-bearing equipment centered on warfighting and modern combat, the bearer is under unique restrictions to their environment. When looking at a modern battle belt, the influences are circular. When considering an ideal battle belt setup, like a plate carrier setup, there are rules, and there are guidelines.

When addressing these rules, we must keep in mind two deciding questions: What environment will the belt be used and what other equipment will it be used with? The first question might influence decisions like color and material used. The second will have much more to say about what goes on the belt.

battle belt setup ronin senshi

Battle Belt Setup Rules

The first rule only applies to specific people. If you are part of an organization that has Battle Belt SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) such as having a medical kit on your left hip, then that is a hard and fast rule to follow.

The second rule applies to where the belt should be worn. Assuming the wearer is of sufficient physical condition to perform the activities from which a battle belt is derived (i.e. combat, war, battle), when properly worn it will rest on top of the pelvis, not on the femur. While this may differ from where most people wear their pants, high-waisted jeans aside, a battle belt should sit higher, partly for mobility, and partly because wearing the belt lower reduces blood flow to the legs, fatiguing them faster in long movements.

This second rule will impact where specific caddies, carriers, and pouches are placed and stands firm so that a battle belt setup too tall to be worn with a plate carrier will not cheat by sagging onto the ball joint of the femur.

The belt fights right in with high end gear like S&S Precision's PlateFrame-Modular.

The final rule applies to material construction. At no point is it advantageous for a battle belt to fall apart or fail to bear the weight. It must be able to hold up over extended periods of time, and should not sag on the X-axis. A battle belt that bounces and flops around when the wearer is sprinting fails this rule. Buy quality.

Principles

These generalities govern the direction a battle belt setup will take. Having a common-sense air to them, they remain to be stated as a reminder. They themselves are not rules that will completely compromise a battle belt setup, but if ignored, they compound to eventually make the belt more of a detriment than an advantage.

The first principle: all other things being equal, choose the lighter option. A battle belt helps reduce the weight worn on a plate carrier, and it must have a net benefit beyond that option. At the same time, drawing a magazine from a belt is typically easier than from a plate carrier. It would be better to mount a “fast mag” pouch directly to the pants belt than to burden the bearer with a heavy, bulky battle belt.

The second principle: prioritize a color scheme for your operating environment. Mixing and matching colors works for Instagram, and thus has its place. Be honest with yourself when putting together a battle belt setup, we all appreciate it, even if it's just to look cool.

The third principle: a battle belt should be able to function as a stand-alone piece of kit, and integrate into multiple scenarios. Depending on body shape, it can be difficult to mount pouches, like medical gear which is typically worn closer to the small of the back, without making it uncomfortable to drive a vehicle. Pay attention to pouch shape and location, and if you get to choose your own gear, keep in mind how it will fit when doing more than shooting on the flat range.

The fourth principle is derived from CQB scenarios. Whenever possible, keep the size of a fully-loaded battle belt inside of shoulder-width. This goes doubly for those operating under the cover of darkness, as sound is just as likely to give away one's position. By limiting the circumference to one's stride, and identifying key points where gear could scrape against a door frame or catch a sling and impede the use of a carbine, this process continues ad infinitum.

The fifth and final principle: a properly outfitted battle belt should be comfortable enough to wear all day even when fully loaded.

Battle Belt Types

As we've discussed before, there are differences between EDC, Range, and Battle/War Belt Setups. Over the years battle belts have changed, and fall into a few categories.

The most basic format of battle belt is one that has no other features except that it can be worn in addition to normal clothing and has the possibility of bearing magazines, medical pouches, a holster, and other pieces of equipment. The term “batman belt” summarizes this concept in a utility belt that carries a smorgasbord of useful gear.

viking tactics brokos belt

Above: The Viking Tactics Battle Belt has stood the test of time, and continues to serve as an effective mounting host for all types of gear. 

About a decade ago, the classic utility belt was supplanted by larger, molle/pals padded belts that resembled what a barbarian would wear in the video game Diablo, and had their added value of distributing weight across a larger footprint. Reminiscent as well of the wraps worn by french fur trade voyageurs, these helped provide physical support when bearing a heavy load, much like a weightlifting belt, and still remain relevant in such circumstances.

GBRS Group Assaulter Belt

Above: The GBRS Assaulter Belt represents one of the most advanced versions of a multi-layered belt.

The third type of battle belt appears to be derived from competition shooting, where an inner belt is worn to meet the requirements of a rulebook, while also resulting in a surprisingly advantageous, near minimalist, lightweight platform for carrying tactical and survival gear, able to be donned quickly without compromising structure thanks to thermoplastics and semi-rigid materials.

What Goes Onto A Battle Belt?

A battle belt serves two (and for a select few, three) purposes: to spread the weight of gear carried across one's body, to provide easier access to certain things like magazines, medical equipment, and tools. For those performing rotary-wing operations, it can also serve as a place to attach one's lanyard, or if repelling, many battle belts can integrate directly into a harness. Put all together, an ideal battle belt setup brings all of this together, in one package that can be quickly donned and doffed.

Ammunition Pouches

An advantage to placing at least one rifle magazine pouch on the belt is that it will typically be faster to reload from the belt than from a plate carrier. Doing so will also help slim down the plate carrier, or open up real estate for other equipment. Magazines contribute to a majority of a battle belt's weight, and should be balanced with other pouches, holsters, and other gear carried.

GBRS Group Assaulter Belt Full Kit

If a pistol is worn on the belt, an ideal battle belt setup will carry additional magazines for a complete package. Generally, pistol magazines are carried on the front hip, opposite the holster. Rifle Magazine fit just behind them, often landing on or just behind the hip joint.

Medical Gear

In addition to a stocked IFAK, or med pouch, a battle belt is an excellent place to carry additional tourniquets. Differing unit SOP's aside, the free space at the front of the belt is perfect for an additional tourniquet, shears, or knife. Anything that inhabits this space cannot interrupt drawing the pistol, decoupling the belt, or drawing a lanyard if pertinent, and be aware that gear carried in this space should be considered tertiary at best, as it will be the first to be lost when low-crawling through a rough field.

Above: North American Rescue IFAK with C-A-T, hemostatic gauze, and other trauma care supplies.

An advantage of stowing one's medical gear on a battle belt is that in the event that it must be used, the belt can often be removed, and the medical equipment accessed with greater ease. This should not be considered the only option, as there are circumstances such as a damaged spinal column where being rolled over to remove the belt could cause additional harm. Instead, having the ability to remove the belt to access medical equipment, while not being required to do so should be considered an advantage.

Holsters

The idea of a drop leg holster was intended to aid in drawing a pistol when wearing a plate carrier. What it turned into was a bastardization of “thigh holsters” that ended up residing somewhere near the kneecap. In our more modern, more civilized era, the drop leg holster has returned to its rightful location: about even with the ball joint of the femur. This is accomplished by following the second rule: wearing the belt above the pelvis, and provides enough flexibility to draw the pistol when seated in a vehicle.

range belt edc belt war belt

Depending on body shape, a holster such as the mid-ride Safariland series fits this bill. Veil Solutions, G-Code, T.Rex Arms, Guerilla Tactical, and more options ride on the belts of professionals around the world, and despite one's choice, it must not sag too low, and be able to be drawn even when wearing body armor above it. Ideally, a battle belt can function on its own but serves best to support a higher level of gear. A holster is not an item to cut corners or pinch pennies on.

Supporting Gear

Small items, like a multitool or a knife are perfect additions to a belt. In contrast, even as the belt provides more space to attach mission-specific gear, one is bound by the second rule (not restricting blood flow) and respects the third, fourth, and fifth principles.

Dump Pouch

Closest to dogma, a Dump Pouch is a piece of gear that has great utility, with minimal weight cost. A battle belt is a perfect place to attach a dump pouch. When wearing a plate carrier, battle belt, or rucksack with a cummerbund, suddenly the wearer will discover that their pockets are harder to reach. Lower hanging cargo pockets are a temporary solution, albeit a detriment in long-term survival situations. After miles of travel, a combination of sweat and weight turn items carried in cargo pockets into sandpaper grinding into that soft spot just above the knee. That rubbing creates an opportunity for infection.

A dump pouch solves this problem, simultaneously isolating snacks, spare water, and loose magazines from the pockets which themselves create an opportunity for infection, and also a place to collect spent magazines.

Sharps

There is clearly an advantage of a belt knife, and the bearer must recognize that what is stored on the belt must be able to be lost in the most extreme of situations.

Closing Battle Belt Setups

Whether to take weight off of a plate carrier or to be a second line layer of emergency gear, a battle belt setup will evolve over time. The rules and principles have come from decades of use by professionals all around the word, and center on being equipped for a prolonged survival event, or a firefight.

Just as with other tactical or survival gear, one must remain true to their purpose, as excessive bulk is just as dangerous in the long run. Good ideas require testing, and this is no exception. It is better for one to find out that their belt causes chafing during long movements, or their magazines fall out when sprinting  before they manifest under the duress of life-or-death.

A Battle Belt fulfills many needs, for some it is that added layer of security in a bug out bag, for others, it is mission essential gear. From M203 shells to militools, follow these rules and principles to refine your setup. v

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Binoculars Buyer’s Guide: A Closer Look at 10×42 Binoculars

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Take a look at the animal kingdom and pay careful attention to the physiology of successful predators. You’ll notice a few common threads, such as sharp claws and teeth, quick reflexes, strong muscles, and precise senses. Although some hunters rely primarily on enhanced smell, touch, and hearing, many of the most dominant species have fine-tuned vision. Eagles, for example, have eyes that are disproportionately large for their heads, with deep central foveas and extremely high rod and cone cell density. According to Live Science, an average eagle has vision four to five times more precise than a human’s, in addition to vastly improved low-light acuity and color perception — they can see parts of the color spectrum we can’t, including ultraviolet light. So, it’s no surprise that these birds can ambush prey from high above with pinpoint accuracy.

recon of target area

Although we use the term “eagle-eyed” to describe humans with outstanding vision, our eyes can’t possibly compete with those of a real eagle. Thankfully, we have something other animals don’t: The ability to improve our senses through tools and technology. For thousands of years, we’ve been using glass lenses to create optical magnification devices that let us see faraway objects — ships on the horizon, enemy troops on the battlefield, and prey to hunt. Many of the early devices were single-tube monoculars, but we quickly learned that dual-tube binoculars gave us a wider and clearer view.

In this article, we rounded up six pairs of binoculars from a wide range of price points. To level the playing field, each was selected in a common and versatile 10×42 binoculars size. But before we proceed, we should clarify some important terms you’ll see throughout this article.

Optical Terminology

Like rifle scopes, binoculars are described in terms of magnification and objective lens diameter — in this case, all our binos feature 10x magnification and 42mm objective lenses. Larger objective lenses increase the size and weight of your binoculars, but they offer much better light-gathering capabilities, meaning that the image you see will appear bright and vibrant. The quality of that glass will determine image sharpness, as well as the degree of chromatic aberration — much like looking at an old anaglyph 3D image without wearing red and blue glasses, chromatic aberration makes colors look slightly misaligned. 10×42 Binoculars offer plenty of magnification for a variety of tasks, including target shooting, hunting, and surveillance. The 42mm size is reasonably portable, but still performs well in twilight or overcast conditions.

reconnaissance cover

Here’s an overview of some of the other key terms, and why they matter:

Diopter

Binoculars feature diopter adjustment to compensate for slight differences between your two eyes. After calibrating the diopter, each side of the binocular should appear equally clear, and you’ll be able to use the main focus knob to bring a target into perfect focus.

Field of View (FOV)

The width of the area you can see through the lenses, denoted in either angular (e.g. 6.2 degrees) or linear (e.g. 326 feet at 1,000 yards) format. Wider FOV means you’ll have better peripheral vision around your target. For the sake of comparison, we provided all FOV ratings in imperial units (feet at 1,000 yards) as opposed to metric (meters at one kilometer) or degrees.

Eye Relief

The distance your eye must be from the eyepiece to see the complete image, without a dark vignette effect around the edges. A higher number means your eyes can be further away without distortion; this is especially important if you wear glasses, since you may be unable to hold the binoculars close to your eyes. Adjustable eyepieces allow you to dial in the appropriate eye relief without holding the binoculars further away from your face. 

Exit Pupil

A number calculated by dividing objective lens size by magnification power. Since all binoculars in this article are 10x42mm, all pairs have an exit pupil measurement of 4.2mm. Lower magnification and higher lens size (e.g. 7x50mm) produce larger exit pupil values, which allows more light to pass through the binoculars. In bright settings, your pupils will already be smaller than this exit pupil size, so this value matters most in low-light settings.

Interpupillary Distance (IPD)

This is a measurement of the distance between the pupils of your eyes, which can be obtained from your optometrist. You can also get a ballpark measurement at home by holding a metric ruler against your forehead in front of a mirror. In order to see a full image through your binoculars, you’ll need them to articulate enough to match your IPD. For most adults, that’s between 50mm and 75mm; women tend to be lower in this range, and children can be 40mm or less. Most binocular makers don’t advertise their exact IPD adjustment range; those that do typically go from mid-to-high 50s to mid 70s. You may need to try a few pairs firsthand if you have a very narrow or wide face, or if you plan to let your kids use them.

Miscellaneous Terms

Lastly, we’ll note that all binoculars in this guide are “fully multi-coated,” which means that each glass surface has been treated with multiple coating layers to diminish glare and enhance clarity. Less expensive binoculars may use single-layer coatings, or may not coat every piece of glass. All binoculars in this article are also waterproof sealed to block dust and moisture from entering the housing; three of the pairs are nitrogen-purged to further reduce the risk of fogging in extreme conditions. All pairs are also tripod-compatible. 

Bushnell Nitro 10×42

Dimensions: 6 by 4.2 by 2.5 inches
Weight: 1.7 pounds
FOV: 340 feet at 1,000 yards
Eye Relief: 17 millimeters
MSRP: $350
URL: bushnell.com

Bushnell Nitro 10x42

Aesthetically, these Nitro binoculars immediately caught our eye. Their gunmetal gray housing is thoroughly textured, and features silver accents and a red anodized trim ring. The lens and eyepiece caps fit well and feel secure. A nice, molded foam case is also included, along with a padded neck strap and clip-on Spudz cleaning cloth (a handy range bag accessory). Beneath the surface, these binos are said to use “Bushnell’s highest-quality glass,” but the sharpness and color fidelity of the ED Prime glass didn’t blow us away. That said, it’s good for this price range. The glass is coated with an EXO Barrier to reject water, oil, dust, and scratches, and the prisms are coated in PC-3 Phase Coating to boost contrast. Given the name, we thought these might be nitrogen-purged — a feature usually seen only on high-end models — but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Bushnell Nitro 10x42

Pros

  • Wide FOV and relatively long eye relief are great for glasses-wearers.
  • Best diopter adjustment design of the bunch, with a raised indicator tab and locking mechanism
  • The housing and accessories look and feel high-quality, despite the affordable price.

Bushnell Nitro 10x42 case

Cons

  • Clarity isn’t perfect, with mild chromatic aberration on highlights and blur near the edges.
  • “Nitro” name may lead to confusion about nitrogen-filled optics

Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10×42

Dimensions: 6 by 4.7 by 2.5 inches
Weight: 1.7 pounds
FOV: 326 feet at 1,000 yards
Eye Relief: 16 millimeters
MSRP: $500
URL: leupold.com

Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x42

Leupold calls these binoculars a “Jack of all trades,” with sufficient power and FOV for a variety of uses. The open-bridge housing has two points of contact for added strength, and features a grippy Armor coating with textured areas for each palm. Under the hood, Extra Low Dispersion glass objective lenses have been used to reduce chromatic aberration. This glass is coated in Guard-Ion for water- and dust-resistant properties, as well as Diamondcoat 2, which enhances abrasion-resistance and light-transmission. The prisms are phase coated for edge-to-edge sharpness. The focal ring is nice and smooth, but the tight diopter adjustment is difficult to dial in while looking through the lenses. Also, the eyepieces feature twist-adjustment, but don’t like to stay put. Leupold’s cushy neck strap and compact carrying case were our favorites in this roundup, but we noticed the loose front covers tend to slip off as the binos are removed from the case.

Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x42

Pros

  • Crisp image with minimal chromatic aberration
  • High-quality case with MOLLE-compatible snaps and comfy neck strap

Leupold BX-4 Pro Guide HD 10x42

Cons

  • Slim rubber front covers are easily dislodged and misplaced
  • Diopter adjustment is very tight, but eye cup adjustment is too loose.
  • 58mm minimum IPD setting may be too wide for some users

Meopta MeoPro Optika LR 10×42

Dimensions: 6 by 4.5 by 3.2 inches
Weight: 2.3 pounds
FOV: 325 feet at 1,000 yards
Eye Relief: 17 millimeters
MSRP: $1,500
URL: meopta.com

Meopta MeoPro Optika LR 10x42

One of Europe’s most prolific optic manufacturers, Meopta was founded in 1933 in what is now the Czech Republic. Over the decades, the company has produced everything from aerospace equipment and movie projectors to riflescopes and binoculars. New for 2021, the Optika LR combines premium glass with an integrated laser rangefinder. Just press a button on the housing, and an OLED target ring appears; press again to show a digital readout of the distance to your target (yards or meters). A second readout shows your choice of incline angle, height difference, or horizontal difference readings. Tech aside, the image quality is gorgeous, thanks to the HD Fluoride glass and proprietary MeoLux coating that provides 85-percent light transmission. All lenses are also coated in MeoDrop hydrophobic coating, and the magnesium housings are purged with dry nitrogen to block even the slightest trace of condensation.

Meopta MeoPro Optika LR 10x42 case

Pros

  • Impressive clarity and brightness throughout the entire field of view
  • Laser rangefinder is a great tool for target practice, zeroing optics, hunting, competition, and professional applications 

Meopta MeoPro Optika LR 10x42

Cons

  • Although the rangefinder and high-quality glass don’t have much effect on size and weight, they certainly drive up the price.

Riton X5 Primal 10×42 HD

Dimensions: 5.7 by 4.5 by 2.7 inches
Weight: 1.7 pounds
FOV: 315 feet at 1,000 yards
Eye Relief: 15 millimeters
MSRP: $600
URL: ritonoptics.com

Riton X5 Primal 10x42 HD

With a magnesium alloy frame, dry nitrogen purged optics, and Riton’s HD glass, the X5 Primal binoculars deliver a wonderfully clear and bright image. The glass is coated with low-light-enhancement, full wide-band, anti-scratch, antireflective, and hydrophobic coatings. The optics are waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof up to 1,200-G impacts. It’s clear that every dollar was spent on achieving the best image possible at this price point, but that didn’t leave much room for everything else. The housing has textured areas, but its finish is somewhat slippery, rather than soft and rubberized. The neck strap and lens caps are decent, but the carrying case is thin and flimsy with a cheap hook-and-loop closure — basically a throwaway item. It’s possible to overlook these peripheral issues given the great image quality, but you should know what you’re getting when you choose these binoculars.

Riton X5 Primal 10x42 HD case

Pros

  • The glass itself is very good and provides better image quality than the price would suggest.
  • Nitrogen purging is a feature we’d only expect in higher-end binoculars.

Riton X5 Primal 10x42 HD

Cons

  • Flimsy case feels like it should’ve come with a pair of sub-$100 binocular
  • 15mm eye relief isn’t ideal for those who wear glasses.

Steiner T1042r

Dimensions: 6.8 by 4.6 by 2.6 inches
Weight: 1.8 pounds
FOV: 317 feet at 1,000 yards
Eye Relief: 16 millimeters
MSRP: $782
URL: steiner-optics.com

Steiner T1042r

Steiner has brought its riflescope expertise into its Tactical binocular line. The “r” in this model’s name indicates that it has the optional SUMR milliradian targeting reticle integrated into its right tube. If you’re serving as a spotter for a shooter who’s using a 10x rifle scope with mil reticle, this makes it easy to call hits and recommend adjustments. For those who haven’t used binoculars with a reticle before, it’s worth noting that it’ll appear tilted unless your IPD is about halfway through the adjustment range — this is unavoidable, and you may have to tilt your head to accommodate it. Steiner’s fully multi-coated HD glass produces a crisp image from edge to edge, and the optics are filled with 14-psi-pressurized dry nitrogen to repel moisture in extreme conditions. The rubberized housing is comfortable, and we appreciate the ClicLoc quick-detach clips for the neck strap and front covers.

Steiner T1042r case

Pros

  • Clear image and very good low-light performance
  • Comfortable, rubberized eyecups and peripheral shields make these a great choice for LEOs and hunters who spend many hours behind binoculars

Steiner T1042r

Cons

  • Unless you frequently need the reticle for spotting, it may be distracting, and it comes at a substantial price increase from the standard T1042 ($545).
  • Those who aren’t blessed with IPD close to 64mm will always see a tilted reticle

Vortex Diamondback HD 10×42

Dimensions: 6.8 by 4.6 by 2.6 inches
Weight: 1.8 pounds
FOV: 330 feet at 1,000 yards
Eye Relief: 15 millimeters
MSRP: $280
URL: vortexoptics.com

Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42

Vortex says the Diamondback HD “optically punches high above its class.” Clarity and color fidelity are good for the money — mostly comparable to the $70 more expensive Bushnell — but they didn’t dramatically exceed expectations. Then again, we noticed that these binos retail for around $230, at which point they offer a lot of bang for the buck. Focus and diopter adjustment are smooth, although the former dial makes a faint but disconcerting crunching noise as it turns. The dark green rubberized housing isn’t especially grippy, but does have textured areas for each palm. Our favorite feature is the GlassPak carrying case, which comes with an X-harness to secure it on your chest. This eliminates the annoyance of binoculars bouncing off your sternum as you walk. The case also includes two side pockets for small items like sunglasses, and a zippered rear pocket for a map or cleaning cloth.

Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 case

Pros

  • The GlassPak carrying case is great, with a helpful chest harness and room for accessories.
  • Can be found for about $50 below MSRP at various retailers, making it a good value

Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42

Cons

  • Imperfect clarity and noticeable chromatic aberration at the edges
  • Housing could use more texture to maintain grip in wet conditions
  • 15mm eye relief isn’t ideal for those who wear glasses.

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Book Review: Left of Bang by Patrick Van Horne and Jason A. Riley

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The Premise: Best stated by Steven Pressfield, author of The Warrior Ethos and Gates of Fire. “Left of Bang is not for combat warriors only. It’s for you on the subway, you in a bad part of town, you with the sharks in the corporate boardroom. It’s for your wife when she’s home alone, or entering a dark parking structure, or walking with the kids on vacation overseas.”

Left of Bang is the civilian version of the Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program developed at the direction of former Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis. The goal of this program is to teach Marines to use and interpret their senses or gut feelings as potential warning signals, transforming potential prey into predators. Left of Bang is based on the Three Pillars of Survival: increased situational awareness, early threat recognition, and developing a system for acting on those threats.

The 411: Left of Bang presents a comprehensive system to develop your abilities to read situations and human behavior through what the authors label as the six domains.

  • Kinesics: conscious and subconscious body language
  • Biometric Cues: biological autonomic responses within stressful situations
  • Proxemics: interpersonal spatial interactions
  • Geographics: learning to read the relationship between people and their environment
  • Iconography: understanding the symbols people use to communicate their beliefs and affiliations
  • Atmospherics: focusing on collective attitudes, moods, and behaviors in a given situation

Left of Bang provides a template for identifying what’s out of place by “establishing a baseline and determining anomalies.” Under the Marines’ Combat Hunter doctrine, three identified anomalies initiate a decision, so the danger cannot be ignored or denied out of fear or uncertainty. Unlike the military or law enforcement, who have specific mandates for action beyond self-defense, the private citizen’s decision may be limited to fight or flight.

Although Left of Bang’s instruction is drawn from the authors’ military experience, the range of responses and actions are broadly applicable to civilian life. “Action may simply be contacting the person to ask some questions and observing them up close,” they write, adding that, “a civilian in the same location might consider report, alert (i.e. sound an alarm), or run.” In other words, while we can learn much from the book’s instruction on being alert and observant, the applications taught can easily be converted to our daily lives. As the authors emphasize, “Regardless of what situation you find yourself in, or what role you are playing at the moment, you must have a set of pre-established decisions to make based on what you observe. Otherwise, you’ll freeze, take too long, or make a decision that is not in your best interest.”

Realistically, confident decision-making benefits all aspects of our lives, and Left of Bang presents a system for the execution of quick and accurate decision-making to avoid victimization. At the conclusion of Left of Bang, the authors comment, “Those who prepare and train themselves for the possibility of violence will react differently than those who do not. Those who are not prepared will likely panic and will ultimately become helpless (Condition Black). Those who are prepared will still experience anxiety but will be more likely to maintain awareness and act effectively in a stressful situation (possibly going as far as Condition Red).”

left of bang

The Verdict: These lessons from Left of Bang will teach you how to read your environment and respond faster than those around you. By learning how to profile baseline body language, and immediately detect anomalies, you can learn to stay “Left of Bang.” 

The authors succinctly state, “The goal for this development is for you to increase not only the success rate for your predictions, but also the confidence you have in your ability to profile. However, we also want to ensure that you are realistic in your abilities, understand your limitations, and don’t become overconfident in your skills.”

Bottom line: This book is about eliminating a reactive/survivor mentality and developing a proactive mindset.  

Book & Author

Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life by Patrick Van Horn and Jason A. Riley
Publisher: Black Irish Entertainment LLC
MSRP: $20 (paperback)
URL: blackirishbooks.com
Pages: 228

Rating:
Thrive
Survive
Die

OFFGRID LIBRARY OF RECOMMENDED READING

 

Urban Messenger Bag: Incognito EDC

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The concept of Every Day Carry is to allow perpetual access to tools to increase resilience in times of need. Simply put, it’s valuable to have gear readily accessible in a messenger bag to deal with most situations I may come across in the course of my day. Aside from simply meeting my own immediate needs, it also allows me to help others.

Depending on the environment, context, and level of preparedness you’re trying to achieve, you can tailor your EDC loadouts accordingly. For my purposes, I prefer a messenger bag while moving around an urban environment on foot, in a car, or on public transit.

Realistically, you can’t be ready for everything all the time, especially when it’s all carried in a smaller bag. So, I balance a mix of capability, cost, weight, and what’s appropriate against what I’m preparing for. It’s also important to note that you’ll need adequate training to go with the tools you carry.

messenger bag

Above: When the main compartment is open, there’s no visible gear that would pique the interest of a bystander.

The J. Crew Harwick briefcase is the host for the majority of my urban EDC gear. It doesn’t have an over-flap like some messenger bags, but it performs in the same way with direct access to the pockets. In this configuration, I can carry my EDC loadout and laptop without being too heavy or bulky. The only downside I have found is that, if overloaded and carried for a long period of time, the shoulder strap can dig into your neck or slide off your shoulder — an issue not as common with backpacks.

My main EDC goals are to have the following capabilities:

  •   Access to a multi-tool for common fixes (pliers, blade, scissors, screwdriver, pry tool, etc.)
  •   Deal with minor injuries, pain, and stop bleeding
  •   Have light and fire on command in the dark
  •   Access escape routes or life-saving items in exigent circumstances
  •   Render aid to self or others
  •   Facilitate travel during an emergency (to get home or to another relatively safe location)   

As I live and work in Canada, any firearms are unfortunately a no-go to carry. Our laws differ greatly from those in the USA and the options available to us are far fewer, so I pack accordingly.

Messenger Bag

Above: Compartmentalizing gear into pockets and pouches makes every item easy to locate quickly.

To meet the parameters I set for myself, I carry the following in my messenger bag, in addition to what I have on my person as first-line EDC:

  •   BIC lighter
  •   Leatherman Wingman multi-tool
  •   Nitecore E4K small flashlight
  •   Lock pick/bypass tools and escape tools (check your local laws)
  •   Personal Protective Equipment (PPE — mask, gloves, wipes, and sanitizer)
  •   First-aid basics (Band-Aids, Tylenol, dressings, Quik-Clot, tourniquet)
  •   Notepad, measuring tape, and pens
  •   Backup battery for phone or other devices, with various cables and adapters
  •   Duct tape, garbage bag, and paracord
  •   Some cash for transport or emergency purchases
  •   Business promo materials (cards, stickers, patches, etc.)

You may also consider adding a ballistic panel as a backer in your bag. They’re usually very thin, light, and flexible, so they shouldn’t affect your overall bag bulk. A panel can add protection against projectiles and shrapnel without being too obvious inside this type of discreet bag. Be sure to check your local laws in respect to this.

In the outside double pockets, I carry business promo materials and quick-access items (tourniquet and hand sanitizer). On the other outer-pocket, I carry a book. Inside, one pocket has two removable pouches — one holds some first-aid gear, a garbage bag, and PPE; the other pouch contains a battery, cables and adapters, lock pick tools, and duct tape. A final pocket houses a multi-tool, paracord, flashlight, notebook, pens, and wipes.

messenger bag worn

With the gear carried in this way, I keep everything organized, easily accessible, and streamlined. It also leaves the two sections of the main bag empty to carry my laptop and any other stuff I may need.  

I really like the messenger bag/commuter briefcase setup. Regardless of what your loadout consists of, you’re going to have to carry it in a convenient manner. All those pieces tend to add weight in your pockets and can impede movement. Nowadays, the messenger bag has gained a level of acceptance among the urban masses, and tends to stand out far less than backpacks. These bags can traverse a wider range of urban environments while still keeping your hands free and maintaining a lower-profile. Far more places will zero-in on backpacks as threats, while overlooking messenger bags as innocuous business accessories. 

Make and Model

J Crew Harwick Briefcase
MSRP: $120 (discontinued)
URL: jcrew.com

About the Author

Boris Milinkovich, CD, CBCP, is a Canadian with a varied background of more than 20 years in military, law enforcement, and personal protection skillsets. He’s the owner and training director at True North Tradecraft in Toronto, offering training and equipment to civilians and approved agencies in counter-custody, covert-entry, personal protection, and disaster preparedness. He can be reached through www.truenorthtradecraft.ca, @truenorthtradecraft (IG/FB/LinkedIn), and @ttradecraft on Twitter.

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How To Fell a Tree: Summon Your Inner Lumberjack

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Modern humans often take for granted the sheer amount of resources we acquire from a forest. If you’re living in a constructed home, chances are it was built out of products acquired from trees. When you use the restroom, chances are you're drying your hands or cleaning your tuchus with materials made from trees. Everything from the books we read to the holiday cards we send are gleaned from forest products. Go back only as far as half a century, and the ability to procure and process wood was even more crucial to the survival of humanity. Timber was used almost exclusively to build nearly every structure, ignited to cook food, boil water, and to keep smithing forges hot.

Is Paul Bunyan Passé?

We find ourselves in a unique time in the human epoch — we’ve become less reliant on raw gifts from nature, instead leaning heavily on electronic technologies. But if you think that we can turn our backs on forest products completely, you’d be wrong. To illustrate this point, in February of 2021, a massive shift in atmospheric temperatures caused catastrophic power failures throughout much of the southern continental United States, leaving tens of millions without modern amenities to keep them warm and comfortable. Sadly, there were many people who asphyxiated on the toxic gases emitted from backup generators and vehicle engines as they attempted to stave off the relentless cold.

notching a tree

Above: Axes with sharpened double-bit heads make quick work of notching a tree. The direction of the notch will strongly influence the direction a tree will fall.

Clearly, a large swath of humanity has forgotten how to find and use simple resources that can make the lives of everyone better. Wooded areas growing next to houses, on the edges of town, or in large forests in rural areas are a source of limitless products. Dry leaves and soft boughs are mattresses for sleeping, sticks and branches are kindling for fire, and green needles are ingredients for tea. Large branches and logs are structural elements for shelters, cabins, and a plethora of tools. Trees provide fruit, nuts, and fuel — the list goes on.

Larger trees provide greater utility, but chopping or cutting one down can seem daunting, if not impossible. This is especially true if it’s your first attempt at such a task, and rightfully so. Caution is encouraged when it comes to tree felling, because there’s a lot that can go wrong. Trees are deceptively heavy, and their weight isn’t perfectly balanced. When you go to the lumberyard to buy a 2×4 for a home improvement project, you’re handling wood that has been dried over time. Live trees, on the other hand, hold thousands of liters of water and are many times heavier than their commercially processed byproducts. However, if survival is the name of the game, the rewards outweigh the risks.

Consider “What If?”

The following hypothetical situation will help envision the steps that should be taken if felling a tree becomes necessary for survival. Imagine that frozen weather has knocked the power grid out and the electric company has issued a statement warning citizens it may be a few days before they can get it back online. As the hours tick away, family members begin donning increasing amounts of layers, and the pipes in the walls make alarming creaking sounds as they begin to freeze. The home has a functional fireplace, but since you live in the suburbs, it has been mostly for aesthetics … until now. Several trees in the yard next to the house have been damaged by ice and wind, and instead of freezing for days, the family decides to open the chimney flue, cut down a damaged tree for wood, and get a hot fire crackling on the hearth.

how to fell a tree

Dissecting this scenario will help elucidate some important things that should be considered before swinging an ax at a tree. First is determining which tree to cut. Thinking of trees as a limited resource will help in the selection process. A good rule of thumb is to preserve the trees that are the healthiest, or at least leave them for last. It takes a long time for a tree to grow, so pick the ones that are damaged or appear unhealthy. Another thing to think about is the tree’s proximity to something that might be a source of unintended collateral damage. Having a 50-foot tree crashing through a roof or falling on infrastructure may cause more harm than good. Make sure there’s adequate room for the mass of the tree to land safely, even if it doesn’t fall exactly as intended.

The current season is another important aspect to consider. Early spring to mid-summer, especially in regions that experience regular freezing temperatures in the winter, is a time when trees are taking up massive amounts of water from the ground. Felling during this time, depending on the species, may seem like breaking into a water main when the sap gushes freely from a fresh cut. Late summer through the winter months is an ideal time for bringing down a tree because liquids aren’t being actively moved beneath the bark. Better yet, cut when there’s snow on the ground, because the impact of the fall causes less damage if there’s a blanket of powder protecting the surroundings.

bow saw cut tree

Above: Once the notch is complete, use a bow saw for the back cut to weaken the wood fibers and cause the tree to fall in the direction of the cut. 

Most leafy trees lose their leaves once a year, but in the case of evergreens such as Christmas trees, they stay on year-round. Something that every aspiring survivalist woodsman needs to know is that evergreen trees often contain a high amount of resin, the stuff that feels sticky when you try to hold on to its branches. So, even if there isn’t enough time to dry the wood for a fire, the resin of an evergreen tree may help the fire catch and burn more efficiently than the wood from a leafy alternative. Doing your due diligence and becoming familiar with the trees in your surrounding area will be a lifesaving step. Some species can be used for more than just fire, like the Vitamin C that can be acquired by making tea from the needles of an Eastern White Pine, or the cordage that can be made from the bark of a Basswood.

Gearing Up

Getting serious about taking down a partially or fully grown tree means having the right equipment for the job. For speed and efficiency, nothing beats a gas-powered chainsaw with a bar large enough for the task at hand. They do require fuel, oil, regular maintenance, and some familiarity with their capabilities before taking chain to wood. Depending on the size and brand, a chainsaw may be expensive and heavy to varying degrees, but they’re fast and less labor-intensive. You might also consider an electric chainsaw, but if it is a grid-down scenario, electric saws will most likely be entirely useless.

how to fell a tree

Above: It's wise to cut incrementally, a little at a time, and observe how the tree is about to come down.

Watching cartoons may lead some to believe that an ax alone can bring down a tree, and although it's possible, an ax’s utility is greatly increased if accompanied by a bow saw or crosscut saw. These tools are far less expensive, but much more labor-intensive. This means that physical strength and endurance are important factors when using the hand-felling method. Researching which ax styles are best for actual felling versus splitting wood is also crucial to success.

Safety should be at the forefront of every tree-felling endeavor. When mechanical methods are involved, wearing steel-toe boots and chainsaw chaps may seem cumbersome. Try not to feel like wearing safety gear is a lame thing to do. Just look up some photos of chainsaw injuries, and I promise, safety will be the foremost thought when handling a motorized saw. One single tooth of a fully spinning chainsaw can pass the same point more than 300 times per second and can cut through flesh and bone like a hot knife through butter. Because of this, taking a chainsaw safety course from an experienced instructor is highly recommended. 

fallen tree

At a minimum, gloves will help maintain a firm grip on swinging axes and revving chainsaws, hard hats will prevent head injuries from unexpected falling debris, and safety glasses will protect those peepers from flying chunks of wood and sawdust. Saw sharpening and cleaning are also mandatory skills to acquire. First-aid training and awareness of your own limitations could be invaluable as well.

Many factors can play a role in the failure or success of felling a tree. Trees close to powerlines may create an electrocution risk. Trees growing close to one another could create a situation where the branches become entangled, making the actual felling dangerous and unpredictable. Wind direction and speed can push the falling tree in an unexpected direction. Critters calling the tree their home may go on the offensive to protect it. The bottom line is to take your time to analyze the situation and think before you cut.

Steel to Wood

After considering as many of the previous concerns as possible, the felling process is relatively simple. The first step is to make sure the tree has a safe place to land, and that you have prepared an egress route away from the falling tree. What I mean by this is, if you were to look down on the tree with a bird’s-eye view, moving away from the tree behind the direction of the fall at a 45-degree angle is statistically the safest path to get away. It’s important to take some time to make sure your egress route is free of restrictions that may cause you to trip and fall, and even practice moving away from the tree in a deliberate and smooth manner.

lumberjack safety gear

Above: The importance of wearing proper gear when using a chainsaw cannot be overemphasized. A quick internet search for “chainsaw injuries” should be enough to convince anyone to take this endeavor seriously.

Next, you’ll want to make something called a face or notch cut. This involves cutting a wedge out of the side of the tree in the desired direction of fall. In a perfect world, this should be on the side where the branching is the thickest or the side the tree is naturally leaning toward. You can check this by standing at the base of the tree and looking up. You may notice that there are more branches growing on the side that’s exposed to the most sunlight. This is also the cut you'd use an ax to make. It doesn’t have to go all the way through the tree, but cutting to a depth of a third of the diameter of the tree is ideal.

To seal the deal and bring it down, line up the back cut or felling cut perpendicular to the interior angle of your notch cut. This cut would be made with a bow or cross-cut saw if you’re doing it by hand. Don’t try to cut all the way through — leaving about half an inch of wood between your back cut and your notch cut will create a “hinge” that the tree’s weight will rest on as it falls. Don’t be surprised if the tree doesn’t fall over immediately. If cut properly, it should lean over slowly at first. This provides ample time to walk casually away along the predetermined egress route, much like an action movie hero walking smoothly away from an explosion. Having a partner to stand back and call out when the tree starts to lean over may give you more time to safely get away from the falling tree. There are several cutting techniques that’ll accomplish the same result, and guides can be found online; however, nothing beats hands-on instruction from an experienced pro.

how to fell a tree

Above: Ryan Warmboe, northwoods timber savant and Forester for VanOss Forestry Services LLC, demonstrates how to fell a tree with efficient finesse.

Once the tree is on the ground, the real work begins. Limbs should be removed from the main stem and can be stacked into a pile for later use. The process of cutting fireplace-sized logs to be split into firewood is called “bucking,” and is accomplished quickly with a chainsaw. If necessity dictates, it can be done with a bow or crosscut saw and a lot of elbow grease (there’s a reason some fitness trainers use a smaller crosscut saw to cut through thick chunks of wood as a form of exercise).

The most important thing is to take your time and be mindful of every action you’re taking. There are a lot of moving parts involved when felling a tree, and most of them are potentially fatal. This isn’t something that should be done with small kids or pets running around, or if sensitive infrastructure is being jeopardized. It may be best to stick with smaller trees until you can build up the experience, and confidence, to take on something larger.

Final Thoughts

Tree felling is an invaluable skill for anyone serious about ramping up their survival skills. The ability to utilize forest resources can open a world of opportunities, including logs for cabins, slabs for shingles, bark for canoes, wood coal for heat and cooking, resin for glues, and a nearly endless list of other uses. Utility aside, there may be a need to remove a tree blocking a road to town in the aftermath of a storm. Having lived through the destruction of several monstrous hurricanes while stationed in Louisiana and cutting away the fallen trees trapping people in their homes, I’ll never undervalue the skill of being able to safely cut wood. 

fallen tree

Many people have powerful emotions regarding their favorite trees, especially those that have been standing for decades or centuries. This means that cutting trees indiscriminately should be avoided, and consulting anyone who has a stake in the tree’s fate before the first stroke of an ax should be mandatory. No matter what the situation may dictate, getting in touch with a skill that was so vitally important for most of mankind’s existence will only result in benefits for you and the ones you care about. 

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Growing a Survival Garden

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For those lucky enough to acquire a property with a thriving orchard, the benefits are obvious in the first year. What’s not immediately clear is all the decision-making and patience that were necessary in the beginning. There’s an old proverb: “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is today.” That certainly applies to fruits. Once established, though, one can expect years of production. Blueberries, for instance, can produce for up to 50 years. Standard apples and pears can be productive for 35 to 45 years. Consider fruits a multigenerational investment. 

In addition to being long-lived, fruits are versatile, both in terms of usage and storage capacity. Fruits can be eaten fresh or rendered into jams, jellies, juices, fruit leathers, cider, and wine. They can be frozen, canned, or dehydrated. Some late-season apple varieties like Arkansas Black, Stayman, Pink Lady, and Fuji can keep up to five months if stored in a cool and humid environment.

The Planning Phase

Regardless of which fruits make sense for your situation, some basic homework beforehand will ensure successful establishment. Site selection is important. Vegetable gardens are challenging on sloped terrain, but fruits and slopes are a great fit. Placing fruits on a high point of the landscape allows heavy, cold air to flow past the plants rather than settling right on top of them. Be mindful that south-facing slopes warm up quicker in the winter, which sounds like a positive, but it can also encourage earlier blooming and subsequent damage by late frosts. 

Soil testing is always a good idea. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service about their procedures and fees. Normally, soil testing costs will range from free to $10. The results will give you an indication not only of nutrient needs, but also the natural pH of your soil. A soil pH between 6 and 6.5 will be perfect for tree fruits, strawberries, grapes, and brambles, such as raspberries and blackberries. Blueberries need more acidity, so a pH of 4.5 to 5.2 should be the target. If your score is too low, it can be raised with limestone. If too high, adjustment with sulfur may be in order.

PawPaw Fruit

Above: Pawpaw is a native fruit reminiscent in flavor to a banana, but the mushy texture is a turnoff to some.

The number of fruit cultivars is overwhelming, but a good starting point would be to speak with neighbors. What fruits have done well for them? Universities in your state with an agricultural program will periodically publish variety trials for common fruits, and while the list isn’t exhaustive, it can at least provide insight into a handful of varieties that do well. As an example, search online for “Growing blueberries in [your state] .edu.” A lot of first-time fruit growers make the mistake of planting supermarket varieties they’ve enjoyed — think Honeycrisp apples or Bing cherries — even if those aren’t adapted to their region.

Propagation

A seed will contain genetic material from both parents, and as a result, the fruit produced by the offspring may be unrecognizable. Therefore, asexual propagation (cloning) is best. Grafting is a cheap and easy way to clone an apple or pear tree, and brambles can be easily propagated from cuttings or “tip-layering,” where the tips of trailing canes are covered with soil or mulch, resulting in new roots that can be cut from the mother plant. Strawberries produce “runners,” which can be transplanted to a new location.

If obtaining cuttings or other plant materials from friends and neighbors, be mindful of carrying plant diseases home. Did the person giving you these cuttings monitor and manage for disease problems? An argument can be made for only getting plants from reputable nurseries to avoid diseases, but neighbors have been sharing plants since the dawn of time. At least visually inspect those runners or cuttings to ensure they look healthy.

survival garden bees polinating

Above: Native bees can pollinate fruit crops more efficiently than honeybees can, in a lot of situations.

Pollination

We’ve learned a lot over the last decade about the value of native bees to the pollination of fruit crops. Studies in the Northeast have concluded that, even in the absence of honeybees, native species such as bumblebees, orchard mason bees and leafcutter bees can adequately pollinate commercial orchards. So, don’t let anybody tell you that you have to have honeybees for fruit production. Nonetheless, a colony or two of honeybees on your property provide insurance for those years when native bee populations dip. Another option is to build simple nesting structures for native bees, such as blocks of wood with predrilled holes for orchard mason bees. 

Some fruits are self-pollinating. On the other hand, plums, apples, sweet cherries, pears, and blueberries need to have another variety nearby for cross-pollination. The two varieties should be compatible in terms of their bloom windows. Nursery catalogs will often list varieties that cross-pollinate, or you can find charts online with compatible cultivars.

Survival Garden Pruning Fruit Trees

Above: Pruning of fruit trees is something you should commit to every year.

Pruning

Yearly pruning of fruit trees, brambles, grapes, and blueberries will be necessary. To put it another way, it'll be much easier to commit to pruning every year than to try to fix neglected plants a decade from now. 

Pruning is a science and an art, and a lot of practice is needed to become proficient. It helps, though, to remember why you’re pruning. Pruning should focus first on removing diseased or damaged limbs or canes or unproductive wood. Then, the goal should be to open up the plants’ canopies enough for good airflow and sunlight penetration, which will mean drier foliage and therefore less opportunity for fungal invasions.

A final but important motivation for pruning is to shape the tree to support a maximum fruit load, favoring wide-angled connections between the limbs and trunk.

Pests

Most of the diseases that’ll impact fruits are fungal and include a long list of inflictions such as cedar-apple rust, black knot, black rot, brown rot, gray mold, anthracnose, and powdery mildew. The bacterial disease fireblight is a major problem with pears and apples. In addition, each region of the country is facing its own armies of both native and invasive insect pests, from plum curculio to spotted wing drosophila fly to cicada to spotted lanternfly.

 

Survival Garden pests

Above: Aesthetically perfect tree fruit doesn’t just happen, and management of insect and disease pressures will need to be factored into your growing plan.

Approved products, insect presence, disease occurrence, and treatment windows will vary from region to region, so it’s wise to consult a spray schedule created specifically for your part of the world. Your local Extension office can provide that. These often include organic options for those leery of conventional chemical products.

Many diseases are carried from one season to the next in mummified fruit, so make it a habit to gather old fruit from your vines and trees in the fall and destroy it. Raking and removing leaves from beneath your plants is a good practice as well. When pruning, disinfect your tools with alcohol between plants.

Wildlife Damage

Bears, deer, beavers, rabbits, and other mammals can wreak havoc on fruit trees and bushes. Birds, too, can devour berries or peck holes in tree fruit. If wildlife populations are heavy near your property, electric fencing would be a good idea, especially when the plants are young and tender. 

Voles are small rodents that’ll feed on the roots and bark of young trees. Hawks, owls, and snakes will eliminate some of your vole problems, but beyond that, habitat modification and traps can be useful.

Bird netting stretched over the plants before fruits ripen will ensure that your family — and not the birds — gets most of the harvest.

Apples and Pears

An orchard is a symbol of success for a ruralite, but even a couple of apple or pear trees can result in bushels of fruit. 

Graftage is the best and most economical way to build an orchard with proven varieties. Two things are needed: rootstock and scionwood. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service to see if they sell rootstock in the winter or order online from a nursery. The rootstock can impart certain characteristics to your trees, including disease resistance, anchorage, and/or a dwarfing or semi-dwarfing growth habit. Rootstock is often sold at $1 to $2, each.

Scionwood is collected from the desired trees during the dormant season. The best scionwood is from year-old
watersprouts that are roughly the diameter of your pinky. Don’t collect watersprouts at the base of the tree, as this is likely off the rootstock. 

The grafting process is an easy skill to acquire. Farm- or horticulture-based organizations in your community may offer yearly grafting workshops, but if not, it’s a skill that can be picked up from online videos or a knowledgeable neighbor. The only tools you’ll need besides the scion and rootstock are a sharp knife and masking tape.

Standard-sized apple trees should be spaced 30 feet apart. The spacing should be 18 feet for semidwarf and 8 feet for dwarf trees. For pears, spacing for standard and dwarf varieties should be 25 feet or 12 feet, respectively.

cedar-apple rust

Above: Cedar-apple rust is a fungus that produces galls in juniper species in the spring before moving into apple trees later in the season.

Commercial production (i.e., visually appealing fruits) of apples and pears requires considerable inputs, including a dozen or more sprays — organic or conventional — during the season. But if you’re not easily offended by ugly apples, you can skip some of those. Fly speck and sooty blotch, for instance, are two fungal diseases that look unattractive but don’t significantly impact the fruit’s usefulness.

Stone Fruit

Apricots, sweet cherries, and Japanese plums need warmer climates to thrive, whereas European plums, hybrid plums, and sour cherries are more winter hardy. Peaches prefer hot summers but also winter temperatures that fall below 45 degrees F. Again, it’ll be a matter of consulting neighbors as to what has worked for them and what hasn’t. Learn what USDA hardiness zone you live in, and use that as a preliminary guide when perusing nursery catalogs.

Unless you’re situated in that perfect range, your harvest may not happen every year. In the southern Appalachian Mountains, for example, peach trees have a heavy load two years out of five, but those who grow them consider it worth the wait.

While grafting can be done with stone fruits as with apples and pears, the more common propagation method is budding, done in late spring or early summer. With this method, a bud from the desired tree is inserted into the trunk bark of another.

Brambles

If low inputs and organic production are your goals, then raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries are the way to go. They face disease and insect pressures as well, but they tend to require fewer chemical preventatives than do tree fruits and grapes.

If raspberries or blackberries are content with a site, they’ll quickly grow into a dense patch unless you take steps to prune and trellis them.

Blueberries

High-bush, low-bush, and rabbiteye are distinct types of blueberries grown in the U.S., and within each of those types are varieties that are distinguished by size, sweetness, fruiting window, and other factors. Again, your location’s climate will determine which type to choose, and there are likely cultivars that have been proven producers in your region. 

When planting blueberries, first ensure that you’re planting into a soil with the proper acidity of 4.5 to 5.2 pH. Amend each planting hole with a gallon of peat moss and mulch with pine needles or wood chips after planting. 

Strawberries

Strawberries are classified as June-bearing, ever-bearing, or day-neutral. The first produces a heavier, more flavorful crop between May and July. The other types have a fruiting period that’s stretched out over a longer season, normally culminating in late summer or fall.

Strawberry blossoms should be pinched off the first year, so as to channel each plant’s energy toward root development. Growers should also plan to renovate their strawberries periodically, as unmanaged patches will tend to produce smaller and smaller berries over time.

strawberries

Above: A well-planned and tended strawberry patch can provide you with gallons of sweet fruit well before summer arrives.

One approach to strawberry management is to have four planting areas. Once the first area is planted, the runners can be cut and transplanted into Plot 2. The runners from Plot 2 can be planted into Plot 3 the following year, and so on. In the fourth year, Plot 1 can be completely cleared and replanted.

Because weed management can be an ongoing challenge in strawberry production, many commercial producers treat their plants as annuals, planting into black plastic or other types of mulch in fall, harvesting the following spring and then starting all over again.

Grapes

As with apples and pears, grapes are prone to a long list of diseases and insect pressures and will need significant management to maximize the harvest. An age-old practice involves planting a few roses in the vineyard to serve as sentinels. They’ll often show symptoms of various fungal diseases or insect pressures in advance of the grapes.

survival garden grapesAbove: The more humid your climate, the earlier you’ll need to manage for fungal diseases in grapes.

A major input with grapes will be some type of trellis or arbor system, which can range from simple cattle panels bent into a hoop to more elaborate systems. 

Black rot is especially trying for aspiring vineyard owners, and one way it’s carried from one season to the next is in mummified fruits. Just like with other fruit diseases, it’s a good practice to remove old fruit from the vines as early as possible and destroy those.

While this all sounds daunting, the shotgun approach works for many. Plant whatever trees and bushes are on sale at your local garden center, give them a minimal amount of attention, and hope for the best. It’s not ideal, and you certainly won’t maximize production that way, but there have been many apples eaten from neglected trees and lots of cobblers made from haphazardly planted berries.

Other Possibilities

Lesser-known and under-appreciated fruits are worth considering. Gooseberries and currants, for instance, are options that can handle a bit more shade than other berries, and deer don’t mess with these much.

Fig is another one unpopular with deer, and there are varieties on the market hardy to Zone 6.

Then, there are native fruits perfectly adapted to your climate, from pawpaws to persimmons to prickly pear.

Fruits are a long-term investment for a property, but establishing berries or tree fruits will eventually pay off. No fruits are a plant-it-and-walk-away prospect, but if you’re willing to invest in learning and management today, the rewards will someday be sweet. 

More on Survival Food and Preparation

What If Critical Supply Lines are Indefinitely Interrupted?

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It’s impossible to predict the flashpoint that could reduce a city to chaos in a matter of hours. One thing is for sure: There will always be some among us who are looking for an excuse to see the world burn. We’ve watched certain U.S. cities silently condone violent civil unrest in 2020, blithely lumping it into the same category as peaceful protests. What will that flagrant disregard for safety and stability culminate in this year? Rather than throw caution to the wind and assume “everything will be alright,” we decided to look into a situation that could potentially have a devastating impact on commerce. What if your hometown was so consumed with rioting that the services and supplies you take for granted suddenly became unavailable? 

The Scenario:

The Setup: You live in a major city that has been under siege with nonstop civil unrest. The weeks of ongoing riots have not only forced many city centers and local businesses to close but have also interrupted commerce for the average citizen. Everything from supermarkets to hardware stores have stopped receiving deliveries. Roadblocks, because of protests as well as trucks being looted, have not only made it difficult to conduct business, but some companies are flat-out refusing to send their drivers into areas where their lives are in danger. Curfews and limited public movement have only exacerbated your inability to replenish supplies you used to take for granted. Store shelves are empty, fighting over what’s available is a regular occurrence, and you have no clue when things will subside enough for life to resume as normal.

Situation Type: Long Term Supply Shortage

Your Crew: You, your Spouse, and your Children

Location: Calumet Heights, IL

Season: Summer

Weather: Hot: High 90 degrees F, Low 70 degrees F. 

The Complication: Since you’re not able to just pick up and leave your home that easily, and the suburbs have experienced a run on their supplies, you’re forced to improvise with what you have and stretch supplies as far as you can to make them last. Of course, traveling through areas that are fraught with unrest comes with its own risks, not to mention the fact that there are long lines at gas stations due to a diminishing fuel supply. It’s summertime, and the heat only makes a bad situation worse — the scarcity and chaos are weighing heavily on the mental state of an already agitated local population. 

Although mail has continued to be delivered, you fear that the USPS may be the next link in the chain to break. Services like UPS, DHL, and FedEx have stopped delivering goods in order to protect their staff, making it somewhat difficult to purchase supplies via e-commerce. For this “What If,” we’ve asked survival instructor Kevin Estela and agriculture and natural resources educator Phillip Meeks how they’d adapt their lifestyle to these conditions. Each writer was asked to consider things like food storage/cultivation, making or improvising needed household items, finding alternatives for medication and first-aid supplies, and self-defense resources like ammo without consistent availability of commercial goods and services.

The daily morning news has given me no hope of this current civil unrest stopping. The government has failed the people and has let the lunatics run the asylum. My normal supermarket has been trashed, my favorite local family owned deli and convenience store was burned for allegedly aligning with the politics of the mob’s apparent oppressor, and desperation around the city is at an all-time high. Cellular service is still consistent and access to the internet has given me a chance to collect valuable intelligence from my environment. I’m going to let the looters fight over scraps as I direct my attention elsewhere.

For most people, running out of food is a death sentence. Many of my neighbors have left town for the suburbs, but I’m holding ground. I’ve heard reports of those who left late being met by ad-hoc militia-type groups with skewed politics and maniacal leaders. I’ve seen photos of the evacuees’ trashed cars, but haven’t seen any of the evacuees themselves. We can only speculate. Those who remained have told me they are in the same boat as I am, and we’ve talked about our homes as our castles that we’d be willing to defend. We are trying to stay low-profile, and we’ve even adopted the clothing color scheme of the “protestors” to blend in. If only they could see how much I loathe their reckless actions behind this stupid disguise I’m choosing to wear.

Most of the leftover families have backgrounds in self-reliance much like my own, and many are weekend sportsmen with a modest home armory of at least a .22 rifle, 12-gauge shotgun, and .30-06 bolt gun. In many large cities like this one, politicians have limited our ability to own most pistols and modern sporting rifles. My sister and my nieces have come to my house, so this fight for survival isn’t mine alone. If I only had to worry about myself, I’d suck it up and sacrifice comfort voluntarily. With kids around, this isn’t going to be easy. We have a stocked cupboard, but that food won’t last long. Canned food doesn’t require reconstitution, but the trade-off is weight and space. We’re part Asian, so we were fortunate to have a healthy supply of rice on hand already. I need to think of ways to extend those meals. I need to find fillers out there to get us through this winter.

We stocked up a modest medicine cabinet with more vitamins, dietary supplements, and bandages for boo-boos. Since we don’t plan on moving about much, we’ve moved the bug-out kits from our vehicles to our house. Car windows are just fragile doors that haven’t been smashed open yet, so we don’t want to leave anything of value out on the street. 

Appearances vs. Reality

Knowing we’d need to get across town from time to time, I secured the rattiest-looking shopping carts I could find. The “protestors” loot and steal from stores, shops, and wealthy individuals. It’s a gamble, but I doubt being seen as a bum would attract too much attention, especially at hours of the day when most are preprogrammed to sleep and definitely when the cold of winter keeps most “protestors” indoors on their computers and phones. 

We all know the actions of this mob don’t constitute lawful protest. I watched it play out time and time again and was quick to stock up on freeze-dried foods at the local Walmart. I also grabbed plenty of canned goods at the supermarket as soon as I suspected something like this was happening in my backyard. I let the idiots fight over toilet paper while I grabbed another large sack of rice, plenty of cooking oil, and tuna packets. 

The way I look at it, with just these three ingredients, I have carbs, fat, and protein. I grabbed some spices and seasoning packets before I left, knowing I could provide some variety to my unexpected guests who experience food boredom easily. One last thing I picked up on my way out of the store were oversized clothes for my nieces and sister. I want them to look like they have been without food and unable to fill out their normal clothes. Perhaps that’ll help to keep prying eyes from looking too closely at us in our well-prepared state.

Coordination

It pays to have friends. Thankfully, the bonds built around campfires and in hunting camps are hard to break. Outdoor pursuits like these tend to attract similar mindsets. Before all this nonsense popped off, my hunting buddies and I discussed using our phones as a primary means of communication along with two-way radios as an alternate means of communication. Some of us don’t have our license to transmit over civilian amateur bands, but we’re pretty sure law enforcement has bigger fish to fry than some guys chatting on open lines the mob likely isn’t monitoring. Using past cases of civil unrest, we’re fairly confident phone and internet service won’t be interrupted, as people were tweeting and calling from inside occupied zones in the Pacific Northwest. 

Should the local government services or utility providers shut down, they’ll only temper the resolve of the mob to stay on mission. My hunting buddies and I decided to use a simple code along with GPS hunting software (OnX Hunt) on our cell phones to keep track of mob positions that we could share with one another. We could also pool our resources if times really got tough. We decided to pop common critters found in most cities as survival food, and save them with the tools found in most of our kitchens like Kitchen-Aid meat grinders, vacuum packers, and food dehydrators. 

As a community, we feel the strongest resource we have is one another. Even though we don’t have a medical doctor in our immediate group, we’ve identified who will be our “doc” with the highest medical training. We’ve used text message chains to inventory our medicine cabinets by sharing the photos of what we have. Who knows, maybe someone has a leftover prescription or remedy someone else may need. Without a regular doctor to visit, this will have to do. The rest of us will work in support roles, and we’ll fall back on print resources like the book Where There Is No Doctor. We know this isn’t perfect, but we can work with what we have and address what we face. 

What if Supply Lines

Redefining “Food”

If I’ve learned one thing about eating in the wilderness, it’s that hunger is great sauce. I know what it’s like to fast, but how do you convince kids to eat conservatively? My sister is a good mother, and like most moms, she’ll sacrifice her comfort for her kids. Some of the kids’ picky eating habits will make this scenario more difficult. I’ll have to field dress and butcher out in the field, and return with cuts of meat that resemble what could’ve been bought in the grocery store. Doing this in the field will make me more vulnerable, but the trade-off is having to carry less weight over distance. 

Drop cakes and fry bread are easy to make with just basic ingredients. Additional nutritional ingredients can be added and snuck into the girls’ food like a dog mama sticking a pill in some peanut butter for her pooch. We’ve got a meat grinder attachment. I know I can mix random scraps of meat, fat, cheese, and spices to make what should remind the girls of meat snacks. 

Discreet Food and Water Collection

Even though I live in a city, I know there’s a major body of water directly east of me, Lake Michigan on the outskirts of Calumet Heights. Should I run out of food or if the water gets shut off, I’ll take my shopping cart, don a disguise — most likely a utility worker outfit with a hard hat, vest, and clipboard — and head there. I won’t chip through the ice with my hatchet until long after dark. The good thing about ice fishing is that I can set multiple homemade tip-ups and bail multiple hooks on a single line. It’s a form of passive fishing that’ll let me seek out resources while the baited hooks do the work. If I resort to active fishing, I’ll be a sitting duck and an easy target.

My friends and I decided we wouldn’t take from other families in the same scenario we’re in. If we ran out of food, we would fall back on taking food from government buildings and, in particular, schools. Schools serve hundreds if not thousands of meals each day. The supplies found in the cafeteria, the athletic trainer’s office, school nurse’s office, and various family and consumer science classrooms would give us plenty to sort through. We know the looters and protestors are more interested in high-value real estate like department stores and political buildings. 

We can work efficiently and without disruption by going where the agitators won’t be. The frustrating lack of action by the federal government to harden schools, despite numerous calls for basic physical security measures to protect against school shootings, means easy access for us. We asked officials to block off ground-floor windows and create security corridors to prevent unauthorized access, but since they took no action, we know there’ll be multiple easy entry points. 

The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend

I’ve already mentioned how most residents of Illinois don’t have the firearm resources of less restrictive states. Standing toe-to-toe with the rioters is foolish and strategically irresponsible. While I know my hunting partners are capable marksmen and the value of a single well-placed round can’t be measured, there are better options that draw on strategy than force. From watching the news, we know there are multiple domestic terrorist groups “protesting,” but without any real direction. We know mob mentality is often reactive and driven by emotion, which is how we’ll divide the mob and direct their attention at one another instead of the populace. All it takes to incite a mob is a perceived threat. A few bricks with gang colors or inflammatory notes thrown through some rival windows will send a strong manufactured message. Enough bricks can build a house or break down the perceived structure of an organization when equally disorganized groups turn on one another. 

We know this civil unrest can’t last forever. In all the cases in our recent history, the government has eventually stepped in. This isn’t a matter of surviving indefinitely; it’s simply a matter of holding out. While some of society has crumbled around us, the backbone of this nation is still holding strong and working together through a secret network. Compared to a mob looking for attention and likes on their social media hashtags, we value community and cooperation. We’re going to outlast and see this through. 

Both peaceful demonstrations and riots increased significantly around the globe from 2011 to 2018, according to data published by the Cross-National Time Series. Last year alone saw some of the most costly civil unrest in U.S. history, with one set of protests extending to 140 U.S. cities and leading to personal and corporate insurance losses in excess of $1 billion, says the Insurance Information Institute.

It seems that unrest capable of impacting local businesses and grinding day-to-day life to a halt is a greater possibility than it’s ever been, especially in cities. And these events won’t necessarily come and go within a few days. 

Indoor Preparations

When I was a kid, I learned a lot about preparedness from a space my parents referred to simply as their “utility room.” They’d converted their carport into a new kitchen, leaving the old refrigerator and cabinets behind. Over time, my folks filled this space with razors, shampoo, toothpaste, adhesive bandages, Ibuprofen, salt, and practically any other worthwhile item they caught on sale. In the same way, the old refrigerator got packed with condiments, ground beef, soft drinks, and frozen pizzas. This continuous and long-term larder-loading is what I’ve tried to adapt as an adult. It can be an affordable way to build enough supplies to carry a family through a long-term event … but only if you start now.  

You may use a lot of disposable items in your normal, day-to-day life — things like paper plates, paper cups, paper towels, and wet wipes. It’s good to have a few weeks’ worth of these things in stock, but for the long-term, there’ll come a point where it’ll be more sustainable to switch to real dinnerware and towels to be laundered. For an emergency that stretches on for months, plenty of laundry detergent and dish soap are good investments. Some ultralight backpackers forego the need for a lot of toilet paper by using a squeeze bottle as a makeshift bidet. The thought makes some squeamish, but the fact is it’s an acceptable way to keep oneself clean when paper products run out. 

Another angle regarding the replacement of disposable with reusable items is this: if trash disposal is disrupted for weeks or months, what will the accumulation of garbage in your home mean to your family’s health and morale?

Buy drinking water in reusable 5-gallon containers to cut down on waste. Hygiene and household cleaning can be accomplished with pool water or a rain barrel. It’s possible the rainwater can be made potable in a pinch, too, depending on the surfaces it touches.

Plan to cook during an extended crisis, and give the entire family a role in the process. (A selection of easy-to-prepare instant meals will be fine for when time and energy run low.) Canned meats, vegetables, and fruits have a long shelf-life, as do pastas, flour, and cornmeal. Powdered milk is great to have on your shelf, but liquid milk can be frozen for several months, too. Have family members select recipes now that use a minimal number of ingredients, and concentrate on putting those items in your pantry. 

If you haven’t stockpiled first-aid supplies and medications such as over-the-counter painkillers and allergy relief for both children and adults, begin doing so immediately, always being mindful of expiration dates. Keep appropriate amounts of ammo for hunting or defense stashed away. In fact, double what you think is a reasonable amount. Dry pet food will store for a long time, so be sure to have some extra, as well as common pet medications.

Pick a room in the house such as the master bedroom, and equip it with solid locks and extra shelves. Store communications equipment, first-aid supplies, extra food, and defensive tools in there. This can be where you lock up your supplies should you have to leave for a few hours, or it can serve double duty as the spot to which your family retreats in an emergency.

Have some cash in small denominations set aside, as well as items that can be used for bartering with your neighbors: hard candy, instant coffee, sample bottles of whisky, cigarettes and cigars, travel-sized toiletries, and so on.

Outdoor Preparations

Most vegetable seeds will keep for years in the freezer, so stock up when those go on clearance. Snap peas and beets are versatile in that their leaves can be eaten, too. Radishes are ready for harvest in under a month. Vegetables with many fruits per plant do well in containers on a balcony, and a nice crop of potatoes can be harvested from buckets, mulch piles, or even cardboard boxes. To work edible components into the landscape, blackberries, raspberries, currants, serviceberries, and strawberries can all be used in attractive ways.

Embrace the concept of “succession planting.” Once you harvest onions, for example, fill that spot with snow peas or kale. Understand which vegetables are best direct-seeded into the soil and which need to be grown first as transplants, and invest in a few trays and a bag of starter mix for cabbage, broccoli, and tomato transplants. Cool-season crops that you’d normally grow in early spring can typically be planted again in late summer for a fall harvest.

A roll of “floating row cover” will extend the fall growing season by at least a couple of weeks, providing fresh produce until Thanksgiving or beyond.

What if Supply Lines

On Site

Family and friends outside the area may still be able to access supplies normally. Take advantage of that silver lining as long as USPS delivery is still happening to fill in gaps with medications, toiletries, or other supplies.

Parks and greenways can prove to be a source of wild edibles, especially in the summer, and the fact that maintenance of public green spaces may cease will mean a proliferation of blackberries, greenbrier, wild carrot, pokeweed, and other food-worthy plants. Be wary of collecting edibles from previously well-maintained lawns and golf courses, though, as these could still cling to some pesticide residues. Don’t overlook the many species of weedy mints that could be used for teas. Most home lawns (once maintenance subsides) will host good yields of dandelion, chickweed, oxalis, violets, and other edibles.

While fish and crayfish can be easily harvested from nearby water bodies, water quality is likely a concern in the city, and the harvest of squirrels or groundhogs from a city park may draw undue attention. However, those protein sources are there if desperately needed, as are winged options such as starlings and pigeons. 

Entomophagy (the practice of eating bugs) is ranked as a last resort by most, but with a little cooking and lots of barbecue sauce, it’s possible to convert grasshoppers and cicadas that emerge in the summer into novelty dishes to stretch the food supply.

Fuel, herbicide, fertilizer, and pharmaceutical runoff can all make urban streams and ponds questionable, so be cautious when seeking an emergency water source. Focus instead on rainwater catchment, if possible, and treat drinking water by boiling or using a backcountry filter system. 

Crisis

An individual or household can easily navigate through many short-term disasters, but the longer the emergency, the more you need community. That can be your physical neighbors, members of a faith-based organization to which you belong, or a group of buddies who all live within walking distance of each other. Studies have looked at the value of community in disaster resilience, and the bottom line is that those neighborhoods and broader communities able to invest in their own recovery from the bottom up — as opposed to waiting for authorities to fix everything — stand a much better chance of emerging from a serious disaster. There are two ways to view your neighbors: as competitors for limited supplies or as potential allies whose knowledge and skills can complement your own.

A coordinated neighborhood gardening effort can minimize idle hands and involve men, women, and children in preparing for their own nutritional needs. A few folks with shovels, mattocks, and wheelbarrows can easily convert turf to garden in a few hours. Within days, every yard and vacant lot on a given street can be prepped for vegetable production.

Children can be given the task of overseeing small plantings at their own homes, monitoring the patio tomatoes for hornworms, for instance, or picking slugs off the cabbages. 

Another community effort directly related to gardening — and an important one given that urban soil is often less than ideal for growing — is the development and maintenance of compost. A team can be responsible for collecting all compostable materials from the neighbors (newspapers, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings) and keeping it aerated. The more a compost pile is turned, the quicker it becomes something useful. 

Beyond gardening, a coalition among just a few neighbors could help address other needs, such as those that relate to clothing, repairs, or medical emergencies. “Maria has some new sheets she’ll donate if we agree to replace them after all this is over, and Stan is handy with a sewing machine.” 

It can be surprising what tools and skills you may uncover on the block. Mark has a tractor with a bucket and a rototiller attachment; Lisa spent two semesters studying veterinary medicine; Richard is a retired tailor. A neighborhood swap meet can be a good way to exchange any surplus you may have for items the family next door can part with: shoes, tools, disinfectants, seasonings. The social aspect of these kinds of activities can help keep everybody sane at the same time. 

A good, progressive approach to preparedness that’s been presented to me is to first think about a 72-hour event. After that, make it a goal to have all you need for two weeks, and so on. It’s good to maximize all available storage space over time with your family’s nutrition, hygiene, health, and safety in mind. In thinking of disasters that could potentially go on for months, it’s also wise to consider what neighbors might bring to the table.

Conclusion

Lots of situations can interrupt the flow of commerce. COVID, snowstorms, the Suez Canal blockage, and the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack all recently contributed to an interruption in goods reaching their destination. Civil unrest is just another piece in the puzzle that can also indefinitely affect our ability to procure the goods or services we take for granted. Many in the ammunition industry believe that the demand has exceeded the supply so dramatically that it may take at least two years to catch up. Ask yourself what would happen if that type of demand impacted food, medical supplies, and other items you absolutely need to live. 

Do your part to not only use these techniques to maximize your self-sustainability during an emergency, but also consider forming neighborhood groups with like-minded individuals who share your concern. Determine what everyone’s willingness to participate is, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and what role they can fulfill when everyone needs to pool their resources to survive a supply shortage. A little extra planning now will pay dividends when another unforeseen event threatens to force the average citizen to do without the conveniences they’ve grown accustomed to.   

About the Authors

Kevin Estela is the Director of Training for Fieldcraft Survival and best-selling author of 101 Skills You Need To Survive In The Woods. He’s an Associate Level Sayoc Kali Instructor, Purple Belt in Brazilian jiujitsu, and graduate of numerous firearm schools. He’s a lifelong outdoorsman who is an avid hunter, fisherman, and backpacker. When not teaching or writing about survival skills, he resides near the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. 

Kevin Estela

Phillip Meeks is an agriculture and natural resources educator with a B.S. in Forestry and an M.S. in Community & Leadership Development. He, his wife, and three children live in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Phillip and his family garden, keep bees, make maple syrup, and hunt mushrooms whenever they can.

Philip Meeks

MORE SCENARIOS TO CONSIDER:

GBRS Group Assaulter Belt: Carrying the Weight Without Adding Weight

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On the one hand, a best practice for reviewing duty/combat/survival gear is to compare and contrast it with other options available at the time. On the other hand, a belt of this type should also be independently considered for its objective features, and how they measure up under pressure. Earlier this year GBRS Group appeared in OFFGRID #43, bringing Tier 1 Tactical Training and the experience to back it. In addition to on-demand performance and instruction, they have recently dropped a belt built by LBT for special operations: the GBRS Group Assaulter Belt. From out of the bag, to on the range, to out in the field, it takes time for the belt to settle in, but once it does: it's time to take notes.

Beginning with the context, if you were to look at assaulter/war/battle belts over the last 13 years, you might be concerned that we've simply gone full circle, back to where we started. The floppy, slim, sleeve-like “belts” of 2008, which nearly required suspenders were replaced by the thicker, taller, and more rigid “battle belt” design. The mutli-belt variation eventually crept from the 3-Gun and USPSA world into more tactical lines of gear, and while the GBRS Group Assaulter belt may look like this style at first glance, it has vastly different properties than the distinctly rigid comp gear.

GBRS Group Assaulter Belt

Top: Protective Shroud. Mid: Inner Belt. Bottom: Rigged Up Outer Belt.

Construction

Out of the packaging, the GBRS Group Assaulter Belt system includes a thin inner belt, the main load-bearing belt, and a third cover-belt of sorts that is to protect the hook interface when the outer belt isn't being worn. Instead of following the tradition of competition gear, which put the hard side, or hook side of the velcro/hook and loop tape on the inside of the outer belt, GBRS chose to put the soft side facing one's body. Thus, the third cover belt is there to protect the hard side/hook side when wearing it in an EDC fashion.

The outer belt gets its structure from a thin and lightweight, semi-rigid thermo-polymer, allowing it to bear pistol and rifle magazines, med kits, holsters, hatchets, knives, and more. In comparison to other belts of its type, the GBRS Group Assaulter Belt feels remarkably light, and although it will flex more horizontally (on the z axis), the vertical (y axis) play is still minimal, just the way a belt like this needs to flex. One layer in from the thermo-plastic core, Type 13, 1-23/32” belt webbing provides the tensile strength, to a measure of 7000 pounds. 

GBRS Group Assaulter Belt

Where some use rigid material such as scuba webbing to give a belt its form, with the Molle or similar interface attached to that, the GBRS Group Assaulter Belt has laser-cut holes in the thermo-polymer that act as the mounting spot for pouches. Effectively gaining two properties with one layer: modularity and form. A cobra buckle seals the deal, with a D-ring for either a safety lanyard or rappelling device, although the belt is in the process of testing and certification. Until then, keep it on the range.

Getting Attached

The bad news of the belt is that it's quite difficult to mount gear onto it. The payoff, however, is that once mounted, the equipment fits securely and tightly to the body. The Molle/PALS like interface of the thermo-polymer tightly engages with whatever pouches are mounted and favors some methods over others such as Malice Clips. Gone are the days of pouches twisting and jostling about, but genuine work must be put in to get them there. A Tek-Lok will fit over the whole outer belt without problems, and although they can be used, the Esstac belt mounts must be removed from the mag caddie first, then re-connected mid-belt. One end of the belt is permanently affixed to the D-ring side of the Cobra Buckle, the other has a flaring of the thermo-polymer for holster support, or branding. Either way, the user will have to do a little tinkering to get everything to fit, but once it does, it's secure.

GBRS Group Branding Block

The Branding Block effectively prevents EssTac Kywi's from being slid directly onto the belt.

The pile/loop/soft side that runs on the inside of the outer belt allows the user to throw it on in an emergency, something uniquely pressing to those on the fighting edge of the military, and gives some credence to the design. In the event that there's no time to set the outer belt onto the inner belt, it can be thrown on without having to plan a trip to the med shed after the hard work is done. The inner belt, however, is so thin and light that it adds very little by means of support when attached. Instead, it adds one more restraint to keeping everything in place when sprinting, jumping, vaulting, or taking an aggressive knee under night vision goggles.

Life Under Weight

As if taking inspiration from Thomas Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, the changes in gear trends rarely follow a clean trajectory. That is to say, if someone were to try to draw a path through the development of load bearing tactical gear, they would not be able to keep it straight, but rather cyclical, as new threats, technological advancements, environments, and relationships between manufacturers and end-users develop and change the landscape of equipment. The GBRS Group Assaulter Belt, in the last ten years, has arrived in its time.

S&S Precision PF-M

The belt fits right in with high end equipment. Gear shown on Plate Carrier: (Front) S&S Precision...

With the soldier, SEAL, or Ranger in mind, the ability to reduce weight while actually maintaining if not improving load-bearing capability is one thing. For those on the competition field, a little more weight on the hips will rarely make a difference. But for those doing 3-5 km infils on a target area, where and how the weight rests on your hips will impact long-term endurance. Many a Ranger Private has been warned not to put too much weight on his hips, lest he restrict the blood to his legs, tiring him out quicker.

Toor Knives tomahawk

The GBRS Group Assaulter Belt system integrates, if not improves the current commonality amongst upper-echelon warfighters to move some of the equipment from their plate carrier or chest rig to their belt, if not for weight, then for speed. After going through the work of installing AR-15 magazine carriers like Esstac Kywi's or G-Code Scorpions, they feel like part of one's body, agile in CQB situations, and secure in aggressive sprints. A Safariland Holster can either be shifted slightly forward on the hip for a clean fit, or kept closer to the 3 o'clock and used in tandem with a leg strap.

Base Layer Scrutiny

After ten years of the everyday wear of the Ares Gear Ranger, built heavily with scuba webbing, the lighter weight buckle-less design of the GBRS inner belt and shroud support a full-size pistol carried appendix without a problem when worn with the protective shroud. Wedging the belt clip of a holster between the layers only adds confidence to a draw-stroke as the holster remains secure. Despite its near weightlessness, the foundation is comfortable, even as it gets bent by belt loops. It's clear that the primary objective was weight reduction.

GBRS Group Assaulter BeltDoes the GBRS Group Assaulter Belt base layer make for a good EDC belt? Yes and no. Until a Black version is released, it comes in Multicam, which in some places it is viewed as a mere random fashion choice, in others, like Minneapolis, it'll draw attention at the time of writing. Make no mistake, you're not taking off your pants in a steamy, sexy slow-motion smooth maneuver, instead, it's the tearing sound of hook and loop fastening. In regards to EDC gear, this is chastity belt secure, however. What's attached is staying attached.

Wrapping the GBRS Group Assaulter Belt

To answer the easy question, the GBRS Group Assaulter Belt is worth the cost of entry, without a doubt. In a progression from early 2000's frameless belts, to VTAC Brokos Belt, to Ronin Tactics Senshi, this belt is the next step in the natural progression.

The worst thing that can be said about it is that it's not for casuals, at all times. The inner belt and cover are not going to ultimately replace everyone's EDC belt, and is the most likely wear point on the belt as a whole. This is easily solved by purchasing a spare set, should they become available.

GBRS Group Assaulter Belt Full Kit

True to its roots as an end-user designed piece of gear, the GBRS Group Assaulter Belt would greatly improve the lives of those going to war. For those on the homefront, it stands out amidst a sea of options, distinguishing itself as a adept fusion of lighter weight, supporting semi-rigidity, and secure attachment, if you'll put in the work for it.

GBRS Group Assaulter Belt

Sizes: S/M, L/XL
Colors: Multicam, Black (as of 1300 Eastern, 1 July 2021)

S/M Specs
Fits: 30-35 waist size
Inner Belt Weight: 1.9 ounces
Outer Belt Weight: 11.1 ounces
Outer Belt Webbing OAL: 46 inches, with 13 inches of adjustability.

L/XL Specs
Fits: 36-42 waist size
Inner Belt Weight: 2 ounces
Outer Belt Weight: 11.5 ounces
Outer Belt Webbing OAL: 51 inches with 14.5 inches of adjustablilty

MSRP: $255
URL: gbrsgroupgear.com

Kevin Estela: The Perpetual Student

Written by

It’s often said that what salt is to food, passion is to teaching. During his formative years, Kevin Estela would listen intently to his father’s stories of living off the land in the jungles of the Philippines during World War II, because it was the only way for their family to escape death or imprisonment. He realized early on that survival isn’t an occupation or hobby — it’s a way of life. Those real examples of hardship and struggle piqued his interest in the outdoors and helped him develop a knack for breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible skills. Although he could’ve comfortably rode out his position as a tenured history teacher into retirement, he knew instinctively that he had a higher calling. 

When presented with an opportunity to teach survival full-time, he knew he’d found the next chapter in life. But even as an author, martial artist, and Director of Training for Fieldcraft Survival, he’s far from believing he’s finished. A true teacher will always be humble enough to realize that the learning process is never complete. And for Kevin, teaching new flocks of students how to handle the life-and-death situations they’re likely to encounter is another opportunity to continually improve as a person, a mentor, and a preparedness advocate. We spoke with Kevin about public education, survival instruction, censorship, and what it takes to remain both humble and passionate. 

RECOIL OFFGRID: How long were you a teacher and what made you want to pursue that career?

Kevin Estela: I was a teacher for 14 years and two months. I think I’ve always been an educator. I taught swimming lessons, canoeing, kayaking, and when I was in grad school, I was substitute teaching while I was writing papers. I noticed that the kids were actually interested in how I presented information. I took the exit exam before I took the entrance exam, passed the exit exam, and then started sweating bullets when I realized I’d have to take a math exam as part of the entrance exam. I fell in love with it from then on.

kevin estela

Above: Kevin Estela regularly holds bushcraft and survival courses/clinics at the Fieldcraft Survival Headquarters and training facility in Heber City, Utah.

What subjects and grades did you teach?

Kevin Estela: Over the years, I taught everyone from freshmen to seniors in high school. It was essentially all the history courses in our catalog — everything from general history to college-prep AP classes, like world history, geography, and AP U.S. history. I also taught a bunch of elective courses like geography and cultures where I was able to show kids things like friction fires and atlatls. I was able to incorporate some of the survival stuff into the curriculum. 

If you could wave a magic wand and change the educational system, what would you do?

Kevin Estela: What I would love to do is hold parents accountable. I think teachers out there now are kicking ass and doing what they can. Unfortunately, the students’ performance is often reflected upon the teacher. If we were to apply the same logic to, let’s say, a chef who’s given ingredients that are spoiled or tainted, then you wouldn’t blame the chef, right? If you start with good ingredients, which is the byproduct of good parenting, I think that would improve the way schools perform. 

When parents come in for school conferences there’s always these comments like, “What are you doing to my kid?” It’s like, I’ve got your kid for 84 minutes, you’ve got your kid for the entire afternoon, evening, and morning for breakfast. I would definitely hold parents accountable and have mandatory attendance for them at school conferences, because I think many of them are just looking to dump their kids at school to get them out of their hair. If parents don’t care, they need to be forced to care, because they’re friggin’ parents! 

How did you get into survival instruction?

Kevin Estela: It was a byproduct of canoeing and kayaking. Along with the courses I gave at the canoe shop, we’d occasionally have campouts where I’d show kids how to make fires and cook. It was what I was already doing. It wasn’t until 2006 that I took a course with my mentor, Marty Simon, and it was eye opening. The way he presented was straightforward. No fluff, nothing spiritual, just hard skills. That was really the turning point for me — seeing how someone could demonstrate all these skills that are incredibly difficult to master, but very important to convey to the students. I was like, damn, I want to do this. 

I didn’t realize that Marty was grooming me to be one of his instructors. Every time we’d organize a camping trip, Marty would throw these occasional tests at me like, “Hey, what’s this plant?” or “I bet you can’t do this.” And then the following year, Marty was like, “Hey you’re coming up for the basic class, right?” I was like, “Marty I did that class last year.” He goes, “No, you need to come up for it.” Marty is one of my best friends, so I agreed. When I got up there, he was like, “Here are all the students, I’m Marty, that’s Kevin, and he’s my instructor.” I had no idea. I was like, OK, I guess I’m an instructor now. That was the formal beginning of me teaching survival skills. 

Who are your other mentors or influences?

Kevin Estela: There were a few guiding people. In addition to Marty, I learned from Tim Smith at Jack Mountain Bushcraft, Mike Douglas, Arthur Haines, Mal Stephens — all those guys are affiliated with the Maine Primitive Skills School. Really, my first survival teacher, so to speak, was my dad. In January of 1941, the Japanese Imperial Army invaded the Philippines. My grandfather was a wanted man for his political stance and outspoken nature, so he moved the family from my father’s town into the jungle. That’s where they lived from 1941 to 1945. 

From age 2 to 6, my dad grew up in the jungles of the Philippines living in a cave. You can imagine why, having that as a bedtime story as a kid, I didn’t care about playing football or baseball. I wanted to build fires, learn to shoot a bow and arrow or slingshot, and do all the stuff that my dad did. Those were the key influences. Around the time I met Marty, I started training in Sayoc Kali, which is a Filipino martial art. What I was exposed to there really influenced me as well. 

Kevin’s EDC

kevin estela EDC

  • Android phone
  • Burt’s Bees honey lip balm
  • Atienza Kali EDC 4 Blade
  • Blackpoint Tactical Mini Wing holster
  • Filson wallet
  • Swiss Army Knife Ranger with Exotac fireROD
  • BIC Lighter with bike innertube wrap
  • SIG Sauer P365 XL with standard slide and spare mag
  • SOF-T Tourniquet
  • NxN merino wool handkerchief
  • Streamlight Protac 2L
  • 6.3 feet of 550 Paracord
  • Keys

prototype grossman knives

These two knives are the original prototypes of the Gossman Knives Bolo and the Gossman Knives Polaris. 

How did you hook up with Fieldcraft Survival?

Kevin Estela: In October of 2019, the owner of Fieldcraft, Mike Glover, reached out to me to be on his podcast. He read my book and said he wanted to talk, so we podcasted for about an hour and a half and, when it was over, we talked for probably another hour afterward. We instantly had a connection as two guys who were half Asian, connected to the outdoors, and stuff like that. It wasn’t until June of the following year that Mike reached out to me and was like, “Hey, have you ever thought about teaching survival full-time?”

I’d thought about it, but I was a tenured high school teacher and was pretty comfortable in my position there. He gave me an offer that was pretty enticing, so I went out to Fieldcraft in August of last year and co-instructed the bug-out-on-foot course. I met Kevin Owens, Mike, Austin, and all the guys here and thought, Man, this company is great to work for. Then, I went back to teaching at high school, and, with all the distance learning, I felt in my heart I was done teaching there. I knew I could have a bigger impact elsewhere and that Fieldcraft could help me get to where I needed to be. I put in my notice, left teaching, came out to Utah to scope out new places to live, and in January, I moved out here.

What areas of teaching do you focus on?

Kevin Estela: I focus on different concepts, like all methods of fire-starting from modern back to primitive, but I always teach the strongest first. If I only have one afternoon with a bunch of people, I want them to have the best tools available to them early on, and then I can handicap them backward. I’ll show the traditional bushcraft skills because I find them interesting. 

I love learning from folks who are traditionally living a bushcraft lifestyle, and I see how those skills can be applied to the modern world, but I also focus on the ways of the modern sportsman. I love teaching fishing, hunting, incorporating the firearms training that I had, and showing people how to be better marksmen, so it’s really all-encompassing. I can talk about the short-term 72-hour skills or the long-term skills of prepping your home. That’s one of the beautiful things about working here — they’re letting me cover so much ground.

fieldcraft survival kevin estela

Above: Estela blends tradition with modern tools to address backcountry topics such as using tripods to construct camp structures.

How do you think COVID has impacted what you do and survival awareness overall?

Kevin Estela: Positively. I think it’s easy for people to play the victim with COVID. It’s easy for people to say, “Oh, I can’t go out to this diner,” or “Oh, I can’t hang out with my friends.” What they do have is time to self-improve. COVID has made prepping less of a dirty word and made people want to get outdoors. During COVID, I see more people on trails now because they weren’t able to meet together, but they still wanted to be active or go fishing. 

I know a lot of states have loosened the restrictions on fishing and actually opened the seasons earlier to get people outdoors. I think COVID has made prepping more important because we realize how fragile all of our supplies are. Toilet paper disappeared. Here we are a year later and there’s still toilet paper, but I think people are realizing they can’t just have the bare necessities. You need about a month’s supply of provisions, because at any point hysteria can kick in. 

You mentioned prepping having a negative connotation. Do you think calling it prepping or survival instruction is accurate or misleading?

Kevin Estela: Calling it prepping is part of what the ultimate goal is. I preach readiness. That’s my personal thing, and what I wrote about in my book, and that comes from Sayoc. Prepping is part of the solution to survival, meaning working toward readiness. Readiness is equal parts awareness, preparedness, and willingness. Prepping is great — I love it when people go to the grocery store and buy a little extra to put aside, or cut the trees back from their houses so they don’t have to worry about them falling on power lines. People should realize that they shouldn’t be content with just buying a month’s worth of food. They should constantly strive to be more ready by being a student for life, constantly testing themselves, and staying in shape. It’s not necessarily misleading, it’s just not the whole picture.

Why do you think survival or prepping often gets a bad rap as an extremist or paranoid movement?

Kevin Estela: I think it’s all left over from the ’90s. Let’s face it, this country has had some very high-profile “preppers” who’ve given us all a bad name. I met some of the people who I consider friends today in prepping circles. With the media, we tend to focus on the negative. We don’t look at the communities that are getting together to teach kids how to safely hunt, or notice when women get together and build support groups about how not to be a victim. I think prepping gets a bad rap because of the residual memories of some of the preppers we’ve had in this country, but it’s not that preppers are bad people. If anything, you’ll see more preppers and more communities looking to help each other than hurt each other. 

kevin estela

Above: Even as Director of Training, Estela enjoys traveling the country to teach.

Tell me about some of the censorship that Fieldcraft Survival has experienced.

Kevin Estela: We’ve had bank accounts shut off without warning — $70,000-plus frozen until further notice. We’ve seen on social media, when you search for various personalities we have at the company, their names don’t come up in the search function, even though they have the highest number of followers. You’d assume they’d be the first ones, but because of censorship, they’re pushed to the bottom. 

We’ve seen where we’ve put out information and that information has had banners go across it saying it’s been proven false by fact checkers, even though it’s a fact taken from a reliable source. We’ve seen this across the community, and it’s something we’re trying to combat by building our own app and moving to our own server, because we know that it’s not going away. We know that for at least the next four years, we’re going to continue seeing people come after groups like us because they assume we’re something that we’re not. 

Did you get any explanation as to why they’re censoring you? What set this off?

Kevin Estela: I don’t think we got any explanation for it, but I do know censorship is triggered if you have any connection to firearms, keywords like “knives,” or if you have a political stance that isn’t tied to either party but points toward freedom. It’s a shame that in this country, you have to worry about saying you’re proud of your country. 

Back in September, I posted a picture of my face in front of an American flag, and said I love this country. I said that my dad was from the Philippines, that my mother’s side is from Poland, and that if it weren’t for the flag behind me, my Filipino relatives would be speaking Japanese and my Polish relatives would be speaking German. I posted that and lost well over 100 followers because I was speaking about how proud I was of my country. I may not always trust my politicians on both sides, but I will always love this country. And that’s something I’ll say until the day I die. 

What do you think the collateral effects of this censorship movement are going to culminate in?

Kevin Estela: I think we’re going to see a lot of people who fall back on rhetoric without explanation. People use catchphrases to explain their dislike or hatred of people that are dissimilar to them, but they won’t be able to explain it beyond what I call bumper-sticker talk. I don’t think we should be looking at each other as enemies — we need to see that we have different opinions. Right now, when we express an opinion people are quick to cancel, shut off, and censor. Cancel culture is the trending term, but the real term should be “censorship culture.” I believe in the First Amendment, but we’re moving toward censorship and that’s really really dangerous. 

kevin estela snowmobile

Above: Estela on a recent scouting trip of the 2,500 acres of land Fieldcraft Survival utilizes in conjunction with Kifaru International.

Survival is an instinct that we as human beings have, yet so many people are afraid of learning more about it. What do you think can be done to educate the public about survival so it’s not continually stigmatized?

Kevin Estela: What’s really important is bringing up real-world examples. Right now, Texas is doing very well, but not too long before that, Texas was being hit by extreme snowstorms. There was a huge cattle die-off; people lost power and dealt with temperatures that their homes weren’t equipped to handle. You have to demonstrate that survival isn’t just what’s portrayed in pop culture. It’s not just Man vs. Wild or My Side of the Mountain. Survival is day-to-day. Little habits that make you stronger — I don’t see how those habits can be a bad thing. 

Teaching people to refill their gas tanks at the halfway mark instead of waiting for it to get to a quarter or eighth, that’s not bad information — it’s survival. It prevents you from having to live a hard life. Tying all the skills back to real-world examples, which we can find right here in this country or anywhere in the world, that’s what’s going to get people to want to learn more or explore. When they realize that feeling of self-reliance and have a true understanding of their capabilities, it’s intoxicating. If someone needs a knife, it’s a great feeling to know you can pull a knife out of your pocket to help them cut something. It feels good being useful, and it feels horrible when you’re expendable.

As individuals, what do you think the most likely survival situations are that people will face?

Kevin Estela: One of the likeliest survival situations someone might face is a broken-down car. We have AAA for a reason, but they’re only useful if you have cellphone service. It’s important to learn how to survive in and around your car, how you can keep it moving, and what you can pull from your car to extend your survivability. That’s something that, whether it’s 25 years from now or whenever we have flying cars, is going to be a real concern people need to address. 

Another thing I think people need to realize is that every year, survival scenarios happen when people get lost. As people explore the great outdoors, they’re going to continue to venture where they can’t find someone else. They’ll get lost, injured, and have to fall back on themselves to affect their own rescue. So, I think between vehicles and backcountry travel, those two are very realistic. 

The third most likely situation is some type of urban or suburban violence. You’d be a fool to think that all the protests we had last year were peaceful. Even people who supported the relevant political philosophies still had their businesses destroyed or were beaten in the streets, so I think it’s very important to learn the concepts of protection and what you need to do to stay safe. 

kevin estela

Above: At the heart of Estela’s passion for teaching wilderness survival skills is a genuine love for the outdoors and an active lifestyle in the mountains.

What sort of nationwide survival situations might we face in that same timeframe?

Kevin Estela: I think at some point we have to look at the threats to our infrastructure. There’s no doubt our digital infrastructure is very vulnerable. Individuals are getting hacked every day. Financial crises happen when personal information is compromised. It’s really important that everyone in this country does what they need to do to make sure their financial security is in check, because we have domestic and foreign actors who realize how vulnerable things are. Another concern we have to look at is if COVID were to mutate into something that’s resistant to our existing forms of prevention. The flu mutates from year to year and, up until last year, no one had really heard of COVID. I’m wondering if it’s going to develop another strain that is terrifyingly difficult to combat.

What aspects of survival do you think children should be made to learn in the K through 12 curriculum?

Kevin Estela: I wouldn’t censor any history. I believe you should make children smarter sooner, not keep them dumb longer. I don’t believe in hiding history. If a kid asks me a question, I’m going to tell them the answer, but that answer is going to be as nonpartisan and objective as possible. I’d also love to incorporate more training about what’s right and wrong — teaching how to be a good American, beyond what your basic high school civics course teaches, with a volunteer component where kids are required to do some type of community work. If kids do something in the community, they’ll respect it more. 

The most important thing I’d like to see is a mentoring program of more high school students helping junior high students, and the junior high students helping the elementary school students. This would be under supervision, of course, but I think we don’t have a shortage of resources. There are plenty of aspiring teachers who want to teach, but there aren’t any jobs for them. I think they can earn a spot, maybe make a little money on the side, and gain plenty of experience by helping the students they’re certified to teach. 

A lot of people think that survival training only applies to the outdoors. How do you make average people understand how it applies to an urban setting?

Kevin Estela: When it comes to medical training, everyone pictures trauma training as active-shooter training or blowout training where you’re dealing with gunshot wounds, stabbings, or violent acts like that. So, we make it a point to explain how a car accident could lead to something that requires the use of a tourniquet. We explain how physics work, and how steel can be turned into jagged edges very quickly, and we try to make it as realistic as possible by bringing up scenarios. You’re more likely to be in a car accident than a plane crash. I carry a tourniquet every single day. I carry multiple tourniquets in my vehicle, because there could be multiple passengers in that vehicle. We try to live the lifestyle we preach and that’s something we always say. What we’re showing people isn’t just a hobby, it’s how we live day-to-day. We challenge people to call us out if they catch us without this gear we say that we carry. 

kevin estela fishing

Above: A lifelong outdoorsman, Estela is an avid hunter and fisherman pictured here on the Kenai River in Alaska.

What do you think the survival community, in general, needs to do to convert skeptics into passionate advocates?

Kevin Estela: The survival community is really good at promoting how tough, strong, and secure they are, but I think they’re really bad about telling outsiders how weak they are or how wrong they are. There’s no doubt there are some who are ready and some who aren’t, but we shouldn’t use our capability as something to taunt people who aren’t like us. If anything, we should be elevating and teaching them. The survival community needs to educate and encourage newcomers. If I can get a brand-new person out in the woods or in the classroom and show them something memorable, I’m making a difference. We need to stop acting like we’re better than they are, because, if anything, that makes people think we’re crazy. That’s not how it should be. 

Have you ever been in a survival situation?

Kevin Estela: There were times I was lost as a teenager. I went on a camping trip and we lost clear sight of a mountain, so we had to find the trail in the morning. In 2016, I went to Alaska and was in the early stages of hypothermia because I was floating down the Sag River with one of my hunting buddies. I had to remedy that by boiling water and keeping the water inside a metal container next to my body. As someone who’s made a pretty good bubble to protect myself against these scenarios by thinking about them ahead of time, I’d say getting lost and getting really cold are the two that come to mind. Both were great learning opportunities. After I got lost, I learned to use a map and compass really well. After I got cold, I reexamined the clothing I wore when I was hunting. I’ve changed it to be warmer, better, and more evolved.

kevin estela shooting

Above: Estela continues to train in marksmanship with pistol, shotgun, carbine, and precision scoped rifle.

Do you think you’ll write another book?

Kevin Estela: Definitely. I already have five chapters written in the second book. My original publisher wanted me to do a cookbook, which I’m all for. I may eventually get to that, but I wanted to do an advanced survival skills book. I had to cut my first book by 20,000 words to fit within the publishing guidelines, so the next book will be an extension of the first. I’m going to cover topics like marksmanship, canoeing, winter travel and camping, field repair of equipment, and more of the survival skills people would want to learn after they do the basics. 

What do you think most survival instructors get wrong?

Kevin Estela: They put too much emphasis on gear. It’s very easy for instructors to stick their logos on everything, when there might be a better product already being made by a brand you’re not seeing a penny from. In the end, is it really the best gear for your students? Another thing — many will lead through hardship first, and have students waste their time and be frustrated before they achieve success. I’d rather see students achieve success and handicap themselves until they hit a failure point. Once they get to that point, I can coach them past it until they hit another. 

101 skills you need to survey in the woods

Above: Estela’s book, 101 Skills You Need to Survive in the Woods, is a bestseller and endorsed by many primitive skills practitioners and elite military personnel. 

What’s one piece of kit people should always have with them?

Kevin Estela: A knife. I’m Filipino [laughs], so I’d say that everyone needs to have a knife on them, preferably a fixed blade. I could teach a whole course on just using a knife. With a knife, you’re able to create so many products in the outdoors to affect your survival. I could make a bark bowl to collect water, I could start a friction fire, I can process materials to make cordage, and I could defend my life with just a knife. The knife is absolutely important — that’s a cultural thing, but it’s also based on experience.

What skills do you still want to learn?

Kevin Estela: More skills in terms of alternative mobility, like advanced horseback. I’m a scuba diver and would love to learn more advanced scuba skills. I’d love more medical training because you can never get enough certifications or experience. Amateur radio too, always expand there. All those skills fall back on that concept of combat effectiveness. The concepts of being able to shoot, move, communicate, resupply, or support — those are some of the key areas of interest now. I’ve always enjoyed marksmanship training. I’m just constantly trying to absorb what’s useful and apply it to what I teach. 

[Editor's Note: Photography by Fieldcraft Survival.]

Kevin Estela

kevin estela bio

Age: 41
Hometown: Bristol, Connecticut
Recommended reading list:

  • Out on the Land by Ray Mears
  • Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales
  • The Gift of Fear: And Other Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence by Gavin de Becker
  • Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Martial arts background: Sayoc Kali Associate Instructor Level 6, Brazilian jiujitsu purple belt
Favorite drink: Coconut water
Favorite knife: Gossman Knives Polaris
Favorite quote: “Trust your training.”
URL: fieldcraftsurvival.com

More Survival Spotlights on OFFGRID

Survival Water Filter: Pure Hydration

Written by

Water is one of the fundamental elements required for human life. If you’re completely cut off from any form of drinking water, you could die in as little as three days, depending on environmental factors and your level of physical exertion. However, a total absence of water usually isn’t the problem — it’s much more likely that you’ll be able to find a lake, pond, creek, or a puddle somewhere in the vicinity. Even if these natural water sources look clean, they can be teeming with dangerous bacteria (such as Cholera and E. coli) that would only be visible through a microscope. Even if they smell clean, they can contain dormant parasites (such as cryptosporidium and giardia) and viruses (such as hepatitis A and norovirus). Even if they’re not shallow or stagnant, they might be carrying the remnants of a rotting animal corpse or raw sewage from further upstream. Instead of rolling the dice and hoping you don’t end up puking your guts out in a few hours, you should always have a plan to purify water in the field such as a survival water filter.

Narrowing Down the Options

Boiling is a tried-and-true method of killing invisible pathogens in water, but it’s far from convenient. You’ll need to set up camp, start a fire, gather water in a heat-resistant vessel (assuming you have one), wait for it to reach a rolling boil, and wait some more for it to cool enough to drink. Chemical purifier tablets or droplets don’t require a heat source, but most need at least half an hour to take effect, and many leave an unpleasant aftertaste. You might also recall one of the numerous improvised water-purification techniques we’ve discussed in previous issues, such as a solar still. All of these are valuable techniques to know, but we wouldn’t rely on any of them as a primary means of purifying water. They also won’t help to strain out the unappealing muck and floaties that are swirling in your cup. 

As usual, humans have solved this problem by using our brains and opposable thumbs to craft tools. Portable water purifiers allow us to produce safe, drinkable water in seconds rather than minutes or hours, without using up our consumable resources. Inexpensive, compact straw-style devices such as the LifeStraw are good survival water filter for occasional use or emergencies, but they have some downsides. First, they’re powered by suction, so it’s tiring to gather more than a few gulps of water. Second — with a few exceptions such as the Sawyer Squeeze — they must be used on-site at a body of water, rather than offering a means of portable hydration. There’s a reason our ancestors started carrying water in animal hides, gourds, and other vessels thousands of years ago — it allowed us to venture further from the rivers and coastlines.

With all of this in mind, we rounded up three water purifiers that share some of our key criteria for backpacking, camping, or survival outdoors. Each of them uses pressure to rapidly push water through a survival water filter, instead of forcing the user to go blue in the face sucking gallons through a tiny straw. All three also feature ways to help you carry water on the move — either an integrated bottle, an output hose to fill your reservoir of choice, or both. These purifiers are small and light enough to easily fit into a backpack, and most importantly, they offer high-level protection against the most common waterborne pathogens: bacteria, protozoan cysts, and viruses. They’ll also filter out sediment, certain dissolved chemicals, and heavy metals, thereby improving the taste, odor, and clarity of even the grimiest water source you can track down.

Setting the Bar

How pure should water be before you can consider it safe to drink? Two major safety certification organizations, NSF International and ANSI, joined forces to create a standard called NSF/ANSI P231 that answers that question. Based on data from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report titled “Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers,” they concluded that at a minimum, water purifiers should remove 99.9999 percent of bacteria, 99.9 percent of protozoan cysts, and 99.99 percent of viruses from water.

Before you say this sounds like splitting hairs, let’s look at an example. Say you have a cup of water that contains exactly 1,000,000 illness-causing microbes. Basic math tells us that eliminating 99 percent of those microbes would leave 10,000 in the cup — more than enough to make you sick. A 99.9 percent reduction rating would remove all but 1,000, 99.99 percent would remove all but 100, and so on. No water purifier can promise 100-percent effectiveness, but each one of these decimal places offers extra assurance against serious illness.

Much like body armor and tourniquets, water purifiers can be considered life-saving emergency equipment. You don’t want to trust your life to something that will probably be good enough; you want something that has been proven to meet the highest standards. Choose carefully.

In the chart below, each • represents one decimal place after 99 percent.

BacteriaProtozoan CystsVirusesConclusion
NSF/ANSI
P231
Standard		•••••••
GRAYL•••••••Meets standard in all categories. Also meets newer NSF P42 and P53 standards.
LifeSaver•••••••••Meets standard for bacteria and viruses. Exceeds standard for protozoan cysts.
Survivor Filter•••*••••••May not meet standard* for bacteria. Exceeds standard in other categories.

*See Our Notes on the Survival Filter for more details.

GRAYL GeoPress

Dimensions: 3.4 by 10.4 inches
Weight: 1 pound
Lifespan: 250 liters / 350 refills per replaceable cartridge ($30 each)
MSRP: $90
URL: grayl.com

Grayl Geopress survival water filter

What Can It Do? 

We weren’t able to find a PDF of test results for the GeoPress on Grayl’s site (see update below). However, the company clearly states that it was “independently tested by a certified laboratory” and shown to remove 99.9999 percent of bacteria, 99.9 percent of protozoan cysts, and 99.99 percent of viruses. This claim meets the NSF/ANSI P231 standard.

Update 6/30/2021 – After the publication of this article, a Grayl representative reached out to us via email, and provided PDFs of independent test results from BCS Laboratories in Gainesville, Florida. These test results verified the claims mentioned above, confirming that the Grayl GeoPress meets NSF/ANSI P231 standards as well as the more recent NSF P42 and P53 standards. The latter two NSF standards involve reduction of substances with aesthetic effects (chlorine, particulate, etc.) and substances with health effects (Cryptosporidium, volatile organic compounds, etc.). In addition, the laboratory performed testing for removal of microplastics and exhaustion testing “to verify efficacy over the lifetime claims of the cartridge.” Based on our experience reviewing other purifiers, this is an extremely thorough suite of tests.

Best of all, we learned that Grayl sends samples from every production lot to BCS to confirm that its product quality remains consistent. The documentation states, “Over the past 5 years, Grayl has run microbiological (bacteria, virus, and protozoa cyst) removal testing on samples from every production lot (in total over 40 production lots with hundreds of samples tested).”

Although these documents are not currently available for public download on Grayl's site, the representative told us the company is “in the process of creating a landing page on [its] website to host testing data and lab-certified results.” We hope to see this in the future, as it will give every customer the same peace of mind we now have about the GeoPress.

How Does It Work?

Grayl Geopress1. Pull apart to separate outer sleeve from the purifier.

Grayl geopress2. Fill sleeve with dirty water to the indicated maximum line.

grayl geopress3. Loosen “Simplevent” spout cap by a half turn to allow air to escape. Then, press the purifier firmly into the sleeve, forcing water up through the purifier cartridge.

Notes:

Back in our “H2O Hygiene” buyer’s guide in Issue 15, we reviewed the predecessor to this purifier, the Grayl Ultralight, and awarded it our “Top Pick” above seven other competitors. The GeoPress is essentially a larger version of the same concept, but with a few notable improvements. Its capacity is now 24 fluid ounces, allowing the user to filter more water per press and travel further between refills. The styling is more appealing, with rubberized Topogrip accents and a variety of color combinations to choose from. But the most important upgrades are found on the cap. While it can be unscrewed and removed like the Ultralight, it also has a small pour spout with a second protective cap. This makes it more convenient to drink from, and greatly reduces the risk of cross-contamination while pressing on the purifier. There’s even a loop for carrying it or clipping it to gear. As much as we liked the Ultralight, the GeoPress outshines it in every way, as long as you can accept that it’s a tiny bit heavier (5 ounces, to be exact).

grayl Geopress survival water filter

Pros:

  • Wonderfully fast and convenient — just scoop, press down for 8 seconds, and drink
  • 24-ounce capacity makes this a good stand-alone bottle
  • This cap design is a huge improvement compared to the old Ultralight. It protects the spout from contamination and allows air to vent without exposing the clean water.

Cons:

  • Grayl repeatedly states that the GeoPress meets the NSF/ANSI P231 standard, and the listed reduction specs match this claim. However, we’d have a little more peace of mind if we could validate the reduction ratings by viewing the test results firsthand. (Update: See notes under “How Does It Work?” heading above.)
  • Relatively short cartridge lifespan leads to a higher long-term operating cost

LifeSaver Liberty

Dimensions: 3.2 by 10 inches
Weight: 1.2 pounds / 1.4 pounds with accessories
Lifespan: 2,000 liters / 5,000 refills per replaceable cartridge ($55 each)
MSRP: $140
URL: iconlifesaver.com

Lifesaver Liberty Survival Water filter

What Can It Do? 

Independently tested by BCS Laboratories in Gainesville, Florida. A summary of test results is available in PDF format on the manufacturer’s website. This purifier was shown to remove more than 99.9999 percent of bacteria, 99.999 percent of protozoan cysts, and more than 99.99 percent of viruses. These results exceed the NSF/ANSI P231 standard.

Update 7/6/2021 – After the publication of this article, a representative from Icon LifeSaver reached out to us to clarify some points regarding the the Liberty purifier. To summarize, the Liberty doesn't just meet the P231 log reduction requirements. It is tested using the exact NSF/ANSI P231 test protocol — this involves a specific sequence of procedures, including testing the filter continuously for ten days with contaminated tap water and worst-case-scenario water (altered pH and temperature, high levels of sediment, bacteria, and other realistic contaminants).

For those who want more details, we'll share the exact explanation we received from Lifesaver:

In short, there are some companies who claim to ‘meet' NSF P231/ANSI reduction standards, but they haven't actually passed the test itself and there is a very important difference. The full P231 test is very rigorous and involves testing products against two types of water over a number of days. The first is Type 1 water and is effectively ‘clean' tap water, which has been spiked with plastic ‘microbiological contaminant sized' surrogates. The second water type is Type 3 ‘challenged' water and it's full of organics, designed to replicate the ‘worst' case water you might come across in the actual outdoors.

It's also important to be aware of the subtle difference in the technologies used in the products you reviewed. The LifeSaver and the Survivor Pro filters both use hollow fibre membrane technology i.e a ‘physical barrier' or ‘occlusion' style filter. The Grayl products use Adsorptive technology, which involves a chemical reaction style filter. The difference is that occlusion filters maintain a constant degree of efficacy from their first litre to their final litre. Therefore, the claims made in testing reports are constant and reliable for the life of the product. Adsorptive technology on the other hand is at its most effective on its first use and its efficacy drops continually over time as it's used i.e. for every litre going through the product, the water produced is less and less safe. There is no way to know when adsorptive filters have become fully ineffective either. Whereas hollow fibre membranes will eventually block up and require replacing, so you have a visual indication of when you need to change filters. This is why we call our technology ‘fail safe'.

Finally, addressing the potential weakness of the water flow valve on the Liberty bottle which you mentioned in the review, I thought you might like to know that we stress test all of our batches of Libertys. These tests range from performing manual repeated drop tests from over 1m height, to using automated machines to work the moving parts repeatedly to check for durability issues. In the video, you'll see our test includes repeatedly using the water flow valve and the pump. This process has never broken the parts yet.

How Does It Work?

BOTTLE MODE

LifeSaver Liberty1. Unscrew base of purifier, and scoop dirty water into the reservoir.

LifeSaver Liberty2. Tightly screw on base, then twist bottom cap a half turn to unlock pump handle. Pump three times.

LifeSaver Liberty3. Unscrew top cap and rotate white flow valve 90 degrees to release pressurized water from nozzle. Continue pumping to maintain flow rate as needed.

PUMP MODE

LifeSaver LibertyAttach scavenger hose to inlet on bottom cap. Place float in dirty water source. Open lid and water flow valve, then pump continuously to maintain flow rate.

Notes:

Much like the Grayl GeoPress improved upon the Ultralight, the LifeSaver Liberty is an evolution of this UK-based company’s previous purifier, the original LifeSaver Bottle. We also reviewed that purifier back in Issue 15. The Liberty condenses LifeSaver’s ultra-filtration technology into a smaller package. The durable body is available in five different colors, each with black rubberized accents and clear windows to show the water level inside its 400-milliliter (13.5 fluid ounces) container. Twisting the top cap a half turn reveals an output nozzle surrounded by a sports-drink-style rubber bite protector. An optional hose can be connected here to pipe clean water into a bottle or bladder, or the entire purifier can be inverted and screwed onto a wide-mouth bottle. Our favorite feature is the scavenger hose attachment, which comes in a drawstring carry bag. Hooking it up converts this bottle into an in-line pump that can process 1.2 liters of clean water per minute. For quick fill-ups on the trail, it can be used in bottle mode, but pump mode is our first choice for use on longer treks or at a campsite.

LifeSaver Liberty survival water wilter

Pros:

  • Extremely versatile — can be used as a stand-alone bottle, threaded onto a wide-mouth Nalgene, or installed in-line on a CamelBak with the optional hydration tube adapter ($22)
  • Pressurized water stream is useful for washing hands or dishes
  • Bottle mode works well for individuals; pump mode is great for families and small groups

Cons:

  • Immersing the container to fill its reservoir immerses the output side of the purifier in dirty water. If the protective cap isn’t fully tightened, this could lead to cross-contamination of the purified water nozzle.
  • The white plastic flow valve lever is thin and seems like it might snap off easily. We would’ve preferred a larger, sturdier knob for this critical control. (Update: LifeSaver sent us an email that gave additional information on the flow valve, including video evidence of repetitive mechanical stress testing of this part. Although we still feel its shape and size could be more ergonomically-friendly, this reassures us about its durability.)

Survivor Filter Pro

Dimensions: 4.5 by 7.5 by 3 inches
Weight: 1.2 pounds
Lifespan: 100,000 liters for replaceable pre-filter and ultra-filter ($30 for both); 2,000 liters for replaceable carbon filter ($15 each)
MSRP: $70
URL: survivorfilter.com

Survivor Filter Pro Survival Water Filter

What Can It Do? 

Independently tested by Intertek in Columbus, Ohio, for bacteria and virus reduction; independently tested by BCS Laboratories in Gainesville, Florida, for protozoan cyst reduction. Both test results are available in PDF format on the manufacturer’s website. This purifier was shown to remove more than 99.999 percent of bacteria, more than 99.999 percent of protozoan cysts, and more than 99.999 percent of viruses.

How Does It Work?

Survivor Filter ProConnect inlet hose to lower nozzle, and place float in dirty water source. Remove clear plastic cap from unit and connect outlet hose to upper nozzle (marked “OUT”). Place end of outlet hose in the clear plastic cap, or a clean water reservoir of your choice, using the included clip to hold it in place if necessary. Pump handle to maintain flow rate.

Notes:

The most compact purifier of our trio, the Survivor Filter Pro exclusively functions as a pump device. It can’t carry water internally like the other two, but it does have a clear plastic cover that doubles as a cup in a pinch. Otherwise, just stick the outlet hose into your favorite bottle, canteen, or hydration bladder. Working the manual pump produces approximately 500 milliliters of clean water per minute. Much like straw filters, flow rate will gradually decrease over time as the filter becomes clogged. A backflush syringe is included to push clean water back through the survival water filter, which will restore original flow rate in less than a minute. For those who don’t want to lift a finger, an electric-powered Pro X version ($125) is also available and uses two AA batteries to produce the same flow rate with the press of a button.

Pros:

  • Packs away neatly into the included carrying case, and doesn’t occupy much space in your ruck
  • Low price and long-lasting, user-serviceable survival water filter make this a budget-friendly choice

Cons:

  • The results don’t conclusively prove that it meets the P231 standard for bacteria, since “more than 99.999%” is not necessarily the same as “99.9999% or more.” Despite this technicality, it seems very likely that it would pass.
  • Its flow rate is the slowest of any of the purifiers we tested — less than half that of the LifeSaver, and 1/10th that of the Grayl.
  • Packing recently used clean and dirty water hoses in the same carrying case could lead to cross-contamination. A larger plastic cover would’ve allowed the output hose to be stored safely inside.

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