How to survive a knife attack
Knife fights are rare – knife attacks on the other hand, and much more common. Knife attacks typically occur when the attacker is within arm’s reach of you but experts will say, anyone with a knife that is intent on attacking you is a threat as far as 30-feet away…
Escape from zip ties? It’s not as hard as you think to escape from plastic handcuffs
Plastic handcuffs (aka FlexiCuffs, Riot Cuffs, or Zip Ties) are popular with military and law enforcement officials when mass arrests are expected. Consisting of either two interlocking straps or a single cable tied around both wrists, they are cheaper, easier to carry, and less likely to spread communicable disease (plastic…
Making homemade deodorant in a survival situation.
How to make deodorant We've frequently mentioned on Wilderness Arena, two important aspects of survival that many may find surprising – cleanliness and state of mind. Cleanliness is important because in a primitive survival situation, something as small as a minor injury or unsanitary condition can be deadly. State…
The importance of soap and how to make it in a survival situation.
When you find yourself in a wilderness survival situation, cleanliness and hygiene are often not at the top of your list of priorities – but they should be. Maintaining proper hygiene in a survival situation is much more than just a mental or emotional boost. While you’re battling elements you…
How to read and use a topographic map in a survival situation.
Use of a topographic map in a survival situation Topographic maps describe the shape of the land and can be used (along with a compass) to help you locate natural and man-made features like woodlands, waterways, important buildings, and bridges. The information derived from a topographic map can help you…
Snipers – how they operate and how to avoid their gun sights
About professional snipers Professional snipers, particularly military-trained snipers, are well versed in marksmanship, field craft, reconnaissance, observation, surveillance, target acquisition and of course, camouflage. Avoiding a sniper attack can be nearly impossible but by understanding how they work, and following a few simple avoidance tactics, it’s possible you may…
How to open a metal can without using a can opener.
It happens to the best of us. You have the food but forgot the eating utensils or plates. When it comes to canned food, failing to bring the can opener may seem like an end-of-the-world disaster – unless you know these simple methods for opening a metal can without using…
How to make glue in the wild (pine pitch glue).
Glue in a survival situation can be invaluable. Glue can be used to repair tents, tarps, and to form tools ( fletching on an arrow). It can be used as a sealant for containers (or canoes) or to waterproof coverings. Ancient Egyptians used pitch glue to coat sticks that they…
How to build an efficient fire using a single log – the Swedish Fire Torch
The Swedish Fire Torch, also known as a Canadian Candle, is a simple and efficient method to make a fire using a single log. In addition to being easy to ignite and control, it is small and compact, burns long (is a self-feeding fire method) and provides not only excellent…
Scientist say current solar activity cycle is weakest in over 100 years – weather impact unknown
Its production of magnetism, activity, and winds have great implications for our planet but hey, it’s a “variable star” and as such, conditions are known to change. Unfortunately, scientists this week told reporters that the sun’s current space-weather cycle is the most anemic in over 100 years. The situation is…
When it comes to fire tinder in a survival situation, you have dozens of resources available
As any good survivalist knows, when caught in a survival situation, one of the first tasks at hand will be to build a fire. In addition to knowing how to construct a fire in the wilderness, you're going to have to have the appropriate resources available which includes not only…
Gearward’s “Compact Survival Cord” rivals 550-paracord in strength and functionality
Survivalists recognize the importance of traditional 550 paracord. It’s strong, compact, easy to work with, and provides all the characteristic benefits of cordage that a survivalist requires to stay alive (hey, if it’s good enough to suspend a parachute, it’s good enough for me). Thus far, there’s been no true…
How to make Napalm (recipe for simple homemade napalm)
Napalm is the generic name for the mixture of a flammable petroleum substance, typically diesel gasoline, with a thickening or gelling agent to give the fiery substance “sticky” properties. Napalm-like fiery substances have been used since early Greek times for war purposes (they called it "sticky fire"). Napalm as…
Using a magnetic compass and triangulation to calculate the distance of a faraway object.
In the wilderness, it is sometimes useful to be able to calculate the distance to a faraway object. Using a compass and basic trigonometry (don’t worry, we’ll show you how), you can easily estimate the distance to a faraway object. This is possible using principles of geometry and triangulation –…
Easy recipe for healthy, high calorie Survival Food Bars
Here's a treat for survivalists, backpackers, hikers, or anyone else looking for a dense, high-calorie food source that is non-perishable, easy to transport, and healthy. These “survival bars” can be cut into 2 inch by 2 inch squares and provide approximately 600 calories, 10 grams of fat, 25 grams of…
California Senate passes SB 53 gun control laws – includes $50 fee and background check to purchase ammo
This week (June 1, 2013), the State of California continued to prove, boast almost, that they are out of touch with the rest of the nation as the California Senate continued to tighten gun control laws, which are already some of the toughest in the nation. Under the new SB…
Arc welding using car batteries and quarters.
Imagine the apocalypse has struck, zombies are running wild, and civilization as we know it has ceased to exist– no phone service, no Internet, no electricity. Still, you must repair (or better yet, improve!) a metal tool (or better yet, a weapon!) but there are no welding machines available for…
U.N. General Secretary warns that the world is set to run out of drinkable water
General Secretary Ban Ki-moon issued a stern warning yesterday when he announced that the world is set to run out of drinkable water unless greater efforts are achieved to improve our conservation of the life-sustaining liquid. According to Ban: “We live in an increasingly water insecure world where demand often…
Build a cheap min-greenhouse out of old shelving units
A greenhouse is great for starting off young seedlings or growing plants year-round. By utilizing transparent barriers around the greenhouse framework, solar radiation is allowed to enter the greenhouse (heating it up) while retaining heat and moisture needed for optimal plant growth. Here's how to build a simple, and cheap,…
Eat bugs for survival? The U.N. says it’s a good idea in new promotion for Entomophagy
The has begun promoting edible insects as a low-fat, high protein food for people, pets, and livestock. According to the , they come with appetizing side benefits: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs in developing countries, and feeding millions of hungry people around the world. And yes, bugs can be…
Is human waste OK to use for compost or fertilizer?
Any farmer will tell you that when it comes to efficiently growing food, compost is "black gold". But some fear that fertilizer or compost made from human waste could be at risk of containing heavy metals, pathogens, or pharmaceuticals causing many environmentalists to consider it unsafe for enhancing plant growth.…
How to make a powerful survival bow out of cheap PVC pipe
There are a couple of ways to make a PVC bow. In a pinch, you can simply take a 4-6 foot piece of PVC pipe, notch the ends, and string with paracord at a high enough tension to bend the bow limbs (which in physics talk, is storing elastic potential…
How to tap a pine tree to collect pine tree sap
Pine tree sap can be tapped and used to make paint and resin products. It makes a great water-proof sealant for buckets and tarps and can be used as an adhesive (boil it to reduce thickening and add ash to it to strengthen its waterproofing qualities). Pine tree sap can…
