Guides & Resources

Setting up a tarp shelter for one or two people is fairly easy. However, things get complicated when you have a large group of people.For example, the classic A-frame shelter is terrible for 5+ people. The people at the sides of the shelter have almost no headroom. Their bodies can end up hitting the sides of the wall, which can result in condensation problems. You could try to solve this by having everyone sleep with their heads and feet towards the walls, but then people will have to crawl o …

When you walk through the doors of an army navy store or open your delivery package, it hits you almost immediately: the smell of military surplus. After a while, you may even come to love the distinct odor of must, Cosmoline and F.A.N. However, it’s understandable that you don’t want your gear smelling like a TA-50 locker or quartermaster laundry room. So, here’s how to get the surplus smell out of your gear without damaging it.1. FreezerThis method sounds a weird, but it works because freezin …

Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) are one of the most popular foods to stockpile for disaster preparedness because they are designed to meet daily nutritional requirements and don’t require any preparation. MREs are also cheaper than freeze-dried emergency meal kits, especially when youbuy MREs in bulk.But how many MREs do you need per day for prepping? Let’s dive into this question.What’s in an MRE?MREs are rations designed to sustain soldiers during combat or field operations. Each MRE contains an ave …

Unless you love the feeling of being cramped under a layer of canvas or poly, 8x10 is the minimum size tarp you will need to make a shelter for one person with gear. There are plenty of other tarp options, but the 8x10 is a good balance between coverage and still being easy to transport.Not all tarp shelter setups work well with an 8x10 tarp, though. The rectangular shape isn’t ideal for tarp setups that have diagonal ridge lines. Likewise, any setup with lots of folds will be cramped insi …

Tying knots with duct tape is one of those “survival hacks” that seems like it would be easy. You just cut some strips of duct tape and use them to tie knots, right?Wrong.It turns out that the almighty duct tape can’t be used for everything (gasp!). However, my attempt to make rope and tie knots with duct tape does teach a good lesson about survival gear.Fail #1For my first attempt, I simply folded duct tape over on itself so the sticky part was inside. Then I cut those strips into narrower piec …

With all of the advancements in LED lighting over the years, glow sticks—aka chemical lights—have become an overlooked prep item. While they won’t replace a good headlamp or lantern, glow sticks have many survival uses that make them worth packing.1. Tactical MarkingBecause they are cheap, glow sticks are great for tactical marketing. Put them along trails or tie them to trees to help you find your way back in the dark. Or use them to mark hazards, such as cliff edges or holes around camp. Durin …

When it comes to sleep systems for outdoor use, you’ve got three main options for staying warm: sleeping bags, wool blankets, and poncho liners (aka woobie). The choice is partly a matter of personal preference. However, when it comes to certain important traits—such as warmth per weight, fire resistance, and durability—there are clear winners.Let’s break it down to see when a sleeping bag vs. wool blanket vs. woobie is best. WarmthWinner: Sleeping bagWhen it comes to warmth per weight, you can’ …

For decades, Cyalume brand glow sticks, also known as ChemLights, have been used in the military, emergency and camping around the world as a critical piece of gear. These unassuming, single-use light sources provide illumination, signaling and marking along with providing Inferred lighting for military night vision. All glow sticks however are not created equal. This article explores the differences and uses of Cyalume glow sticks in military applications, civilian emergencies and general out …

Healthy adults can survive three days without food. But, let’s be honest: most of us would turn into a whiny jerk after just 12 hours without food. Not only is hunger bad for morale during a SHTF situation, but it can lead to poor decision-making.You’ll want to have enough food packed in your bug-out bag to keep you fueled. But food is heavy, so you don’t want to overpack either. To get the exact right amount, you’ll want to calculate how many calories you need per day. Here’s how to do it.BOB C …