It wasn’t all that long ago that I came across a serious accident. Two pickup trucks had collided head on at the mouth of a bridge near my rural home, and I knew it would be some time before emergency services arrived. I’m no paramedic, but in some circumstances, you’ve got no choice but to […]
Survival
How to Survive Anything: Dealing with predators in the wild
If you’re stuck in the wilderness for an extended period of time, there’s a chance you may find yourself sharing your new home with a fair number of predators. Most predators don’t want anything to do with you: you don’t look or smell delicious, you’re much bigger than most prey, and for all they know, you […]
How to Survive Anything: The survival rule of 3’s
The Rule of 3s is a long-standing saying that isn’t really meant to be a “rule,” so much as a guideline. Because your body and circumstances are both different from anyone else’s, how long you’ll last without access to shelter, food, or water will vary greatly from other people that find themselves in tough situations. […]
When DIY is your only option: The Voodoo Tactical Minor Surgery Kit
For many of us, it’s our worst nightmare: someone in your group has a serious injury and you’re in an environment or situation that doesn’t permit a quick trip to the hospital. Maybe you’re in a foreign country you’re not supposed to be in, maybe you’re on the trail thirty miles from your vehicle — […]
How to Survive Anything: How to signal SOS for help
Morse code may not be used all that frequently in today’s era of Snapchat filters and Twitter outrages, but learning these three letters can still save your life. S-O-S isn’t actually an acronym for anything, despite what your Sailor grandfather may have told you — it’s really just the letter designations for the string of […]
Everybody could use a good rope in their life: The Panthera Climbing Rope
For a climber, a good quality climbing rope can mean the difference between life and death. For the rest of us, climbing rope may not fall as high on our list of gear priorities… but as this Panthera climbing rope has demonstrated over the past few months, you’d be surprised how often a rope you […]
Can you teach an old Glock new tricks with Talon Grips?
I may have amassed a decent collection of pistols over the years, but without exception, I keep coming back to my good old Gen 3 Glock 19 for everyday-carry. Like just about every firearm I own, I’ve done a bit of work to it to make it unique, but aside from a few internal doodads, […]
How to Survive Anything: Situational awareness (and how to beat normalcy bias)
For a defensive minded person, potential threats to the well-being of you and your family are always near the forefront of your mind. Whether you’re walking down a dimly lit New York City alleyway or trudging up the steep and well-worn mountain path behind your wooded home, there are dangers to consider and mitigate if […]
How to Survive Anything: Boiling water to make it potable
These days, it’s not unusual to carry a LifeStraw or other lightweight filtration method (like this one from LifeSaver) – but if you find yourself in a survival situation without your kit, good drinking water becomes no less important. In the absence of of water purification tablets or filtration systems, you can boil your water […]
Get a crash course in CQB from one of the best: Weapon flow in compressed environments
Immediate Threat CQB – ITCQB is a hybrid system, developed through time by Eli Feildboy, the founder of Project Gecko. Tight and confined spaces or L-shaped rooms can be difficult to clear with a teammate without flagging each other. In the second installment of the “Pro’s guide to CQB” series, Eli talks about what we […]