Wilderness Survival Archives - Knowledge Weighs Nothing

The KWN Ultimate Bug Out Bag List UPDATED For 2021

When disaster strikes there are two things that are immediately essential: getting out of the area and getting out of there quickly. Also known as a BOB, The Bug out Bag is designed to help you do just that and usually comes in the form of a heavy-duty rucksack that contains everything you need in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. So all you’ll need to do is grab and go!

What Should Go In A Bug Out Bag?

Bug Out Bag Contents

Typical Bug Out Bags are designed and put together with a focus upon evacuation, rather than long term survival out in the wilderness and, of course, having the right Bug Out Bag Contents is pretty essential if you’re to have all of the resources that you may otherwise be relying upon for your very survival following some form of disaster.

As there is a focus upon evacuation, many Bug out Bag guides and blog posts (and their associated Bug Out Bag Lists) tend to focus upon the equipment needed to survive over a 72 hour period.

However, quantifying any length of time when preparing for an unforeseen event is a dangerous game, after all, if it was possible to foresee a disaster, you’d be highly likely relocate to another location entirely for as long as necessary. So, with this in mind, we’ve put together an ultimate Bug Out Bag List that goes that little bit beyond most other guides, and that specifically plans for an undefined period of time out in the wilderness, factoring in the equipment you might need for self-sufficiency (particularly in terms of hunting renewable food sources).

The Bug out Bag and the end goal for the survivalist

With all of the above said, and with items within this list that consider a longer than 72 hour period, here’s one thing to bear in mind…

If the worst does happen and you find yourself in the wilderness for whatever reason, living free from developed civilization is achievable with the right preparation. However, being off the grid for an extended period of time and setting up within wild terrain is challenging and often too harsh or dangerous for many people to consider. Instead, following a disaster seeking safe shelter within civilization is usually the primary aim, and this is the goal that any Bug Out Bag List aims to facilitate.

Why no Bug Out Bag List is ever complete

Whilst we’ve endeavoured to put together a comprehensive list of all the things that would be essential within a Bug Out Bag, it’s prudent to point out that no Bug Out Bag List could really ever be complete. Each and every person is different and may require different items within their bag; to this end, this list is very much open-ended and open to interpretation, serving as a starting point upon which to build, customize, chop and change.

Why Should I Have A Bug Out Bag?

A Bug Out Bag is essential in the event that you need to evacuate quickly. It ensures that, should the worst happen, you can focus on the situation in hand rather than compiling a list of items you need to take with you. And it doesn’t just serve as an essential item to have in the face of a particularly severe disaster, it can also include all the resources required when facing circumstances that are less than world ending.

And in a world of uncertainty, preparation is everything.

Bugging Out – Opting over and above Hunkering Down

This Bug out Bag List will stand you in good stead when you have nothing but your wits, knowledge and a well-packed Bug out Bag upon which to rely. That said, however, and whilst a seasoned survivalist will know the importance of always having a ready to go Bug Out Bag to hand, it’s no substitute for hunkering down when appropriate. After all, Bug Out Bags are designed specifically with temporary survival in mind, whereas hunkering down can see you taking to your basement where protection is increased, with the benefits of knowing exactly where you are and with all of your home resources but a floor away.

Bug Out Bag List

The Bug Out Bag Itself!

5.11 3 Day Rush Backpack

No bug out bag list would be complete without the actual bag itself! The very first item to choose is the right Bug Out Bag and, whilst there are many competing opinions on what may be best, it really comes down to two points:

You should choose a bag that’s most suitable to you and your specialist items.
You should choose your bag only after you’ve put together all of your items.

Of course, it should go without saying that any Bug Out Bag should be robust, made from hardwearing material, and constructed with plenty of pockets and compartments for splitting up your items.

Water – Something to drink and something essential for survival

Water is essential for your very survival, without it you may perish within just 3 days (this compares to our ability to go without food for up to 3 weeks). What’s more, as we become more and more dehydrated, we become more lethargic, meaning that even seeking water after two days may be an impossible task (not to mention maintaining your alertness and survival instincts).

So, as a starting point, a water (filled) container is essential. Beyond this, you’ll also need a method of boiling water (to cook and sanitise) and items for water purification (such as treatment tablets and compact water filters) for treating questionable water after your original water runs dry.

Shelter – To provide protection from the elements

MSR E-Wing Shelter Tent

Of course, for the experienced and educated survivalist, the following items may appear disproportionate, however, shelter is not only essential to protect yourself physically from the elements but moreover becomes ever more important for the rest periods that allow for mental and physical well-being (which are both equally as essential when facing unknown circumstances in the wild).

Fire – To keep you warm

Fire serves as a heat source which can warm, cook and attract attention if necessary, with the items listed here making for essential items for lighting a fire.

Most importantly, however, you should ensure that you have more than one method of ignition, with at least two and advisably even three if you have room.

Light My Fire Original Swedish FireSteel Army 12,000 Strike Fire Starter
Ultimate Survival Technologies BlastMatch Fire Starter
Disposable Lighters
Dry tinder

Food – Something to eat

Typically, Bug Out Bag guides tend to recommend dry foodstuffs, with particular favourites being relatively non-perishable, dried foods. However, we’d also say that foods with water content are also important (as you never known just how scarce water sources will be).

To this end, you’re ideally aiming for foods that are lightweight and high in calories and nutrition, as well as a good base of foodstuffs which come with water content, packing enough to last 3-4 days. Also include the more traditional items, such as rice, oatmeal, beef jerky, tinned sardines, nuts, chocolate, and high-calorie sports bars, in addition to Freeze-dried foods and MREs (meals-ready-to-eat).

Sleeping – Something to sleep in and on

For the seasoned survivalist who prepares for the very worst of eventualities, super comfortable bedding consisting of a mattress, matt, foil blanket and sleeping bag may seem over the top and the very lap of luxury. However, rest very much equates to being on form to deal with any unknown and potentially dangerous challenges.

Kelty Cosmic 0 Degree Down Sleeping Bag
Emergency Foil Blanket
Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout Mattress
Roll-up Foam Sleeping Mat

Cooking – For eating and boiling water

GSI Halulite Microdualist Cookset

Unbreakable cups, mini pots, and containers are each as essential as the last, and methods of cooking your food, whether caught or pre-packed, may also serve as a vital way of raising your body’s temperature by what can be a lifesaving degree or two.

Esbit 11.5g (0.4 Ounce) Ultralight Folding Titanium Stove
MSR Pocket Rocket Stove (packs nicely into the GSI Halulite Microdualist below)
GSI Halulite Microdualis
Army Style Canteen and Aluminium Cup

Light – So you can see

Another case in point, where more than one source is essential in case the primary, or even the backup, fails, is lighting. So opt for a mix of natural light sources (such as a candle) along with electric items (such as LED lights or lamps) and finally also be sure to include all-weather performing light (such as Light glow sticks) which can cover any and every eventuality.

Tools – To get things done

Gerber 22-01629 LMF II Black Infantry Knife with 4.8-Inch Blade

Tools: Essential within the wilderness and often the difference between life and death when charged with overcoming unknown situations. They can help you cook, hunt, prepare shelter and get you out of tight fixes. As such, there are a plethora of must include tools for the ultimate Bug Out Bag.

However, tools are a hotly debated topic within the world of Bug Out Bags, where everyone has an opinion and no two experts seem to favour the same brand, let alone the same itinerary for the ultimate tool list.

The following list includes our favourites (based upon our own experience, as well as plenty of research from expert reviews). As a bare minimum, you’ll want a decent knife and a multi-tool. Experts argue over which you should pack. We say take both!

Knife: Gerber 22-01629 LMF II Black Infantry Knife with 4.8-Inch Blade
Knife: Ka-Bar Becker BK2 Campanion Fixed Blade Knife
Multitool: Gerber 22-41545 Black Diesel Multi-Plier with Sheath
Army Style Folding Shovel: Gerber 30-000075 E-Tool Folding Spade with Serrated Blade
Pocket Chain Saw: Chainmate CM-24SSP 24-Inch Survival Pocket Chain Saw With Pouch
Lightweight Axe: SOG Specialty Knives and Tools F09-N Hand Axe
Knife Sharpener: Smith’s PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener
Whetstone

First Aid – To patch you up

The ability to act as your own first aider is vital when you don’t know when you’ll have access to official medical care again. Specially designed to cater for expeditions, this compact yet extensive first aid pack features 205 pieces:

15 – Antiseptic Towelettes

5 – Antibiotic Ointments Packets

5 – Sting Relief Wipes

40 – Bandages 1×3

50 – Small Bandages

24 – Spot Bandages

5 – Fingertip Bandages

5 – Knuckle Bandages

1 – 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 Yards Adhesive Tape

10 – Gauze Pads 2″x2″

30 – Butterfly Bandages

1 – Tweezer

4 – Finger Splints

5 – 1″ safety pins

1 – Razor Blade

2 – 1 pair gloves latex-free (nitrile)

1 – Instant Cold Pack

1 – Semi-hard case

Coleman Expedition First Aid Kit

Communication – To get the news

Etón FR160B Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger

Ensuring that you can stay in the loop, even when you may be decidedly away from civilization and all its creature comforts, is vital for knowing what’s happening and where potential help may be sought (as well as being aware of impending danger). Once more, this is another item where a backup comes in handy, and you should also consider a self-powered form of communication to avoid a situation where battery power runs out.

In addition to your radio, you’ll also need a method of communicating from afar and attracting the attention of others, for which a signalling mirror is essential.

Etón FRX3 Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger
Small Pocket AM/FM Radio
Signalling mirror

Clothing – You’re the most basic form of shelter

As the most basic form of shelter, your clothing serves as your first protection from the elements, with your footwear literally being the difference between travelling with a firm footing, and potentially slipping, tripping or being unable to scour certain terrains.

Clothing is, however, incredibly personalised and a Bug Out Bag itinerary for clothing items will differ drastically from person to person, taking into account varying body types, tolerances levels, fitness levels and preferences. As a generic starting consideration, however, you must take into account your climate, location and surrounding terrains, being sure to evaluate your clothing contents every six months as the seasons change.

Spare pair of socks/underwear.
Waterproof jacket, trousers and gloves.
Also make sure you are wearing good quality appropriate boots and clothing to begin with if possible.

Hunting/Fishing – Sourcing renewable food

As mentioned at the start of this guide, whilst the focus of the average Bug Out Bag is upon survival in the immediate 72-hour window of a disaster aftermath, it’s prudent to pack for as many situations as possible.

With this in mind, including the following items within your Bug out Bag can help you to seek your own food from the wilderness (in addition to making considered choices for your weaponry, which can allow you to hunt successfully on land).

Daiwa Mini System Minispin Ultralight Spinning Reel and Rod Combo in Hard Carry Case
Gill net (for fishing)
Snare wire, although you can make a snare with the inner strands of 550 paracord.
Barnett Black Widow Slingshot

Navigation – Know where you are going

In addition to basic survival knowledge, without the aid of tools (such as naturally being able to figure north from south, telling the time and seeking out water sources) you should also pack for navigating the terrains that you find yourself in, safely and successfully. However, this really needn’t be any more extensive than a couple of well-chosen maps and a compass.

Local Maps and Trail maps. Try to ensure these are the water-resistant laminated ones.
Silva Polaris 2801100 – Compass

Binoculars – See them before they see you

Seeking out food, water or shelter sources, and the ability to see potential dangers, are all made easy from afar and from a safe area with the right Binoculars. Here are some suggested brands, with each providing for 8x magnification within the compact and robust casing, but with the former taking up the traditional duel view and with the latter being a mono view.

Bushnell H2O Waterproof/Fogproof Compact Roof Prism Binocular, 8 x 25-mm
Alpen BAK4 LE Rubber Covered Monocular

Firearms – To keep you safe and to potentially hunt with

Everyone has an opinion on what is best and if, indeed a firearm is necessary. We’ll let you make your own mind up. If you do decide to pack a firearm, it is vital that you learn how to actually use your firearm of choice. Get some professional tuition, and of course, only pack include a firearm in your Bug Out Bag if is legal and you meet all the restrictions and regulations in your state.

Books – So that you know what you are doing

SAS Survival Guide 2E (Collins Gem): Perfect size for a bug out bag!

A good survivalist knows that, no matter how much they know, no matter how many blogs, guides and books that they read, they can never know enough.

With this in mind, here are two books that provide a high-level overview of surviving upon nothing but your own wits and a well-packed Bug out Bag.

You will not regret taking one of these books with you. They provide invaluable information and advice, even for the seasoned survivalist…

US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76
SAS Survival Guide 2E (Collins Gem): For any climate, for any situation

The Other (but no less important stuff) – Doesn’t fit into any of the categories above

Goal Zero 19010 Guide 10 Plus Small Adventure Kit

To finish off our Bug out Bag List, here are the items that make for equipment that doesn’t quite fit under any of the other titles (although they’re in many cases no less important… so certainly don’t overlook them!)

Sewing kit, duct tape, head net, 50 feet of 550 paracord, whistle, sunglasses
A small bottle of hand sanitizer
Some zip-ties
Maxi Pads – they can be used for wound dressing and the inner material can be used for tinder
Repel 100 Insect Repellent
Goal Zero 19010 Guide 10 Plus Small Adventure Kit

How To Buy Ex-Military & Government Equipment & Vehicles At Very Low Prices

Are you interested in some ex-government and ex-military vehicles and equipment? If so, you’ve come to the right place, as below, I will tell you how you can get hold of some high-quality ex-government and military equipment and vehicles. Firstly though, I should state that there are no ex-military weapons available for sale here. There is pretty much everything else though, including trucks, jeeps, boats, parts, medical supplies, audio/visual and computer equipment, plus ALL the usual military surplus gear, so stick around…

Weapons apart, the two websites below equal a prepper’s paradise! You can literally purchase everything needed to bug-in, or bug-out. You can purchase the entire contents for a bug out bag (including the bag itself), or your mobile base camp – tents, sleeping bags, cold/warm weather clothing and boots. These websites are also a goldmine for folks interested in hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and a whole load more.

The first website is – GovPlanet. GovPlanet is an auction website selling ex-government and military equipment and vehicles. Besides ex-military vehicles, they also sell a whole range of technical gear (audio/visual/computers etc) and field gear and other military equipment. As it’s an auction website, the range of items for sale varies. For example, sometimes there will be a lot of military jeeps for sale, other times, not so much. Just like eBay, you really need to check regularly, if you are on the lookout for something specific. Bookmark GovePlanet and check back regularly.

One of the downsides of GovPlanet is that they sell some smaller military surplus items in bulk, in job-lots. This is where the second website Uncle Sam’s Retail Outlet shines. Uncle Sam’s Retail Outlet is more of a traditional military surplus website selling individual items. It is not an auction. What they have listed on the website, they have in stock, at a set price. Uncle Sam’s Retail Outlet has the widest range of military surplus gear and equipment you will find anywhere.

Sidenote: many people forget to look on Amazon for military gear and equipment. The fact is lots of army surplus retail stores now sell via Amazon at great prices. If you find something on Uncle Sam’s or another store, it’s well worth just checking if the item is available on Amazon at a better price.

I highly recommend you check out and bookmark both of the above websites. To summarise – Gov Liquidation is great for vehicles, larger items and job-lots. Uncle Sam’s Retail Outlet is the place to go for the surplus kit and gear and individual items.

Some Equipment and Vehicles Sold on CovPlanet

Head over to CovPlanet and check out what they have available now. If nothing else, it’s fun to browse what you could buy!

2001 Stewart & Stevenson M1079A1 LMTV 4×4 Van Truck

Humvee — 2002 AM General M1045A2 HMMWV 4 Door Hard Top w/Slant Back

Shipping container — 40′ Storage Container w/4 Side Doors

Humvee Truck — 2003 AM General M1123 HMMWV 2 Door Soft Top w/Truck Body

Generator trailer — 2010 Fermont MEP-803A 10kW Generator Set

Mule Truck — 2014 Kawasaki Mule 4000 Utility Vehicle

How To Make A T-Shirt Eel Trap That Gets Results

When I was a kid I watched a TV show called Alone In The Woods. In that show, Lofty Wiseman the author of the SAS Survival Guide showed how to make an eel trap out of a t-shirt, in a survival situation. Of course, I immediately went down to the river to give it a try. I set up the trap, left it overnight and when I came back in the morning, I had caught THREE eels! Here’s how it’s done.

How To Make A T-Shirt Eel Trap

What You Need

You will need a t-shirt or sweater/jumper etc, some grass (or equivalent) some string or natural cordage and some bait. Eels love meat of any kind. I initially used some bacon I pinched from the refrigerator, but I have since used worms (lots of them with some chopped up), fish/eel guts and parts of dead animal carcases I found in the wild. Other than the t-shirt, everything else can be found in the wild.

How To Do It

Take off your t-shirt etc (if in a survival scenario). With the string/cordage tie, the arms and neck closed so you have what resembles a cloth sack, open at the bottom.
Now stuff some dried grass (or whatever you have available, leaves/ferns/newspaper etc) into the t-shirt. You don’t want to over-stuff it, just enough so that it looks a little like an under-staffed cushion. Once this is done, place your bait in the middle of all the grass, add a rock big enough to weigh down the trap, and then tie off the bottom of the t-shirt. Now you should have what looks like an under-staffed t-shirt cushion with the bait and rock inside.
Now find a good pool that looks promising for eel. At this point, you have two choices. If you have enough cordage, you can tie a rope to the trap onto the bank so it is easily retrieved. If you have no cordage just means you’ll have to retrieve the trap by going into the water. Either way, when ready place the trap in the desired location and leave it overnight (eels are largely nocturnal).
Check the trap in the morning by grabbing it quickly and throwing it out of the water onto the bank. If you are lucky you may have caught one or more eels. If not add some more bait and move the trap to a different location.

Why It Works

The t-shirt eel trap works like this – the eels smell the bait, they find the trap, bite a small hole in the material, slide in and eat the food. Because the trap is dark and contains the grass, the eels usually just hunker down and stay put until you retrieve them. Either that or they just can’t find their way back out of the t-shirt. It’s doesn’t really matter, because you’ve just caught breakfast whilst you were sleeping! Just be sure to save the eel guts and head to bait your next trap…

The Upside Down Fire Technique (And Why You Should Try It!)

So what is an upside-down fire and why should you be using this technique to light your fires?

With the traditional way of building a fire, most people start with a small pile of kindling and then add larger logs as the fire gets going. With the upside-down fire technique you build your fire from the base up before you light it, not only that, but you start with the biggest logs at the bottom, then some smaller logs and then the kindling on top. Watch the short video below for details on how to do this.

When you light the kindling on top the fire burns down slowly through the larger logs, whilst still giving off a similar amount of heat. You probably won’t have to put any further logs on the fire for two to three hours, so this will reduce the amount of wood your burn each day. Also when done outdoors in a camping or survival scenario it enables you to leave the fire unattended for several hours, as the initial fire burns much, much longer than a traditional campfire.

(Video/Photo from: Household Hacker)

How To Open A Locked Padlock With A Soda/Beer Can

There are many emergency and survival scenarios where you may need to get past a locked padlock, but you don’t have the key. To be honest, there are also many non-emergency times you may want to open a locked padlock too. For example, I once lost the key to the padlock that secures one of our sheds. It wasn’t an emergency, but I wanted to get in without damaging the door of the frame.

There are obviously ways around smaller padlocks – smashing/hacksawing them etc, but in a SHTF scenario these can attract unwanted attention and might not be successful on larger padlocks anyway. Below is an excellent way to hack a soda can to make a tool which can be used to pop open a locked padlock. The video below shows how to make the shim tool and how to open the two most common types of padlocks using it.

This technique of opening padlocks has been around online for years. It is not new knowledge, but if you are now concerned about the security of gates and buildings you have padlocked, read on, and find out how to make your padlocks shim proof so they cannot be opened with the above method in the video.

How To Secure A Padlock With A Soda Can (To make it shim-proof)

When we posted the video above showing how to make a shim from a soda/beer can, LOTs of people complained… They said we were showing folks how to access and steal their goods. With this in mind I searched around to see if there was a method to make padlocks shim-proof. Guess what? There is! And it uses soda/beer cans too.

In a similar way to the original – where you make a small tool (shim) out of the can to pop open the padlock, this time you are making a small insert tool from a can which when used correctly, will stop a shim from working and being able to open the padlock. There we go, the balance of power has been restored!

By the way – you can use any beer or soda can!

(Photo from: Lftndbt via Instructables)

Trucker’s Friend Review — An All-Purpose and Survival Tool?

The Trucker’s Friend is an all-purpose tool, designed for truck drivers. Basically it does hacking, prying, wrecking, pulling and pounding! It weighs around 2.5 pounds and it is just under 20 inches in length. I think it should also be called Prepper’s Friend! Two HUGE additional bonuses are – it is made in the USA and it is backed by a ‘no hassle’ Lifetime Replacement Guarantee, very cool!

Here are some of the specifications:

Curved Axe (fully resharpenable)
Hammer and Nail Puller
Spanner (for hose couplings)
Pry Bar and Lever
Tire Chain Hook
Wire Twist (for removing lightweight security seals)
Ice and Debris Remover
Cast Alloy Tool-Steel Blade and Shank (heat-treated for extra strength)
Rust Resistant Matte Finish
Fibreglass Handle (non-conducting)
Shock Absorbing Powergrip
Backed by a ‘Hassle-Free’ Lifetime Replacement Guarantee
Made in the USA

Trucker’s Friend Review

The Prepper’s Friend, sorry, Trucker’s Friend, currently sells at $59.95, which I think is an awesome price given its versatility, quality and the no-hassle replacement guarantee.

I have had my Trucker’s Friend for around a month or so now, and overall my thoughts are very positive. It is a truly versatile wrecking machine. It does everything stated, BUT, and maybe this is an obvious point, it doesn’t do these things, as well as the individual specialized tools, would. For example, the hammer does its job, but it is not weighted or balanced in the same way a specific hammer is, so you have to use more force to hammer nails etc.

Don’t get me wrong – as a prepper/survival tool it is highly recommended. If you want one tool with multiple uses, this is the tool for you. However, for around the home, day to day use, I would reach for a specific hammer or axe first.

A few other things to note – the Trucker’s Friend is a very nice length/weight, at 20 inches with 2.5 pounds of weight, it has a nice heft and swing, specifically for chopping/wrecking. The biggest negative is the sheath, which is terrible. It is made from very cheap thin plastic, and mine was ripped when it arrived. Personally I think this tool should come with a small Kydex sheath which covered the axe blade and fastens around the head. This is not a deal-breaker it is very easy to make a DIY Kydex sheath (search YouTube for tutorials), and this is exactly what I will be doing!

Conclusion

The Trucker’s Friend is a solid and dependable, multi-use tool which can also double up as a weapon in an emergency self-defence situation. Its versatility makes it an obvious choice for preppers etc, who are looking for an all-in-one hammer, axe and pry-bar. It costs $59.59, which isn’t small change, but I think it represents excellent value for money, especially when you factor it that it is made in the USA and it comes with a lifetime no quibble replacement guarantee. Break it, they’ll send you a new one! My recommendation – buy a Trucker’s Friend and spend 30 minutes to make a simple Kydex sheath.

Trucker’s Friend USA Made All-Purpose and Survival Tool: Purchase from Amazon

Mora (& Other Low-Cost Knife) Modification For Better Bushcraft

It’s all well and good if you can afford a high-end quality bushcraft/survival knife such as those made by the Ontario Knife Company or Spyderco fixed blades. The fact remains that by far the best selling bushcraft/survival knives are the low-cost Mora knives made in Sweden, with the Morakniv Companion at under $15 being by far the most popular of all the Mora knives.

For their price, Mora knives are fantastic knives, I have two, and whilst they are not full-tang knives, I have used and abused them and I haven’t come close to breaking one. They make great camp and general around home knives. I wouldn’t choose one as my first choice for a bug-out-bag/survival bag, but it would be my back up!

For all the positives about these very low-cost Mora knives, there is a quick, two-minute modification you can make to them that will dramatically improve their usefulness. Watch the video by Dave Canterbury from the Pathfinder School and get modifying.

By the way, if you don’t already own a Mora knife, check out the Mora knife range on Amazon, I highly recommend them! I have some very high-quality knives, I even have a bespoke knife made especially for me, but time and time again, I find myself reaching for the Mora knife. I think it is because it is so dependable and hey if I do break it, it’s only $15…

K.W.N Grayman Knives: Ground Pounder Review

This is my review on the Grayman Knives Ground Pounder knife, but firstly a bit about Grayman Knives.

Grayman Knives are small husband and wife company in the US. Sue does the website and orders etc and Mike designs and makes the knives. All Grayman fixed blades are hand-ground by Mike and made in the USA. Initially, Grayman knives were only available to the military and law enforcement, but as Mike slowed down on other projects, it freed up more time to for knife making and they made their knives available to everyone.

Grayman Knives Ground Pounder Specification

Back to the Ground Pounder! Firstly in case you were wondering, it is called the Ground Pounder in honour of the US Military’s ground forces. I’ll give you the knife’s specifications here and then I’ll give you my thoughts, opinion and conclusion below the photos.

The Ground Pounder is 1 3/4 inch wide with a 6-inch blade, 12 inches in length overall.
It is made from 1/4 inch thick 1095 steel with a black DuraCoat finish. It has a heavy-duty textured G10 handle (available in green or black).
The knife has a drop-point tip, it has a single bevel and ships with what Mike refers to as a ‘toothy working edge’ (more on these later).
The knife comes with a Cordura sheath with a Kydex insert. The sheath is MOLLE/belt compatible

Grayman Knives Ground Pounder

Ground Pounder in its Cordura sheath

Ground Pounder and Cordura sheath

Grayman Knives - Ground Pounder knife with sheath

Ground Pounder full-tang spine

Ground Pounder measurements

The Grayman Knives Ground Pounder is a big, heavy-duty knife, that is designed and made to be used. It is a very serious knife if I had to choose one word to describe it is would be ‘hefty’. It’s a hefty knife that wants to cut, chop and pry all day long. If I had to survive in the wilderness and I could take just one tool with me, it would be a knife like this (actually it would be this knife!).

I have had this knife for several weeks and I have used it for many different things, I have used it to cut all manner of material; I have chopped branches, batoned wood for fires and made feather sticks. I even did some digging with it! The knife’s biggest strength is its only weakness. It is one big, heavy-duty knife that wants to be abused. It is a jack of all trade, but also a master of most of them as well. The weakness is the size, it is just too big to be great for really nimble/delicate tasks. That said the well-designed choil does make the knife a lot more nimble for its size.

Quality and dependability aside, the unique thing about the Ground Pounder is that its blade is ‘single-bevel’, this means the blade edge is ground on only one side (most knives are ground on both sides), similar to a chisel, actually it is sometimes referred to as a ‘chisel grind’. There is a more in-depth explanation on single bevel grind and why it is used on the Grayman Knives website. I really like this feature as it makes sharpening the knife much quicker and easier when you are away from home or base camp. I also found that the single bevel design actually aids branch chopping etc. I think it is as much to do with the 1095 carbon steel used to make the knife, as it is the single bevel edge, but with a bit of work, this knife can be made scary sharp! Additionally, I found it remained sharp for quite some time.

The Ground Pounder ships with what Mike refers to as a ‘toothy working edge’. It is basically a more aggressive, raspy edge with tiny rough ridges. Personally, this edge was not for me. I can totally see why it would be great for military heavy-duty use etc, but I didn’t find it ideal for finer tasks such as making feather sticks. I actually ended up sharpening it out to a finer edge, which I felt was much sharper, but to be honest, this is all just personal taste. You might love the ‘toothy working edge’, but if not, you can sharpen the knife, it’s not an issue.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to be a fan of the DuraCoat finish, but it has held up really well. It protects the steel against rust and it makes the knife easy to clean. It also stops the knife reflecting light if you are in a covert situation, although this works in reverse if you are in a survival situation, as you cannot use the knife blade for signalling for help etc.

The G10 handle is comfortable and has a great grip. One thing I would say is it’s a big old handle and I don’t think it would be that comfortable for folks with smaller hands. In front of the handle is a choil, which is an excellent feature as it enables you to have much better control over the blade for more precise/delicate tasks.

The Cordura sheath has a Kydex insert and it’s MOLLE/belt compatible. It’s not pretty, but it does what it is supposed to do – it holds and protects the knife (and you!) very well. The webbing makes it very easy to attach to a pack which is a great feature.

Grayman Knives Ground Pounder Conclusion

I get emails all the time asking for me to recommend knives for bug-out-bags and for wilderness survival. Typically people ask – what one knife would you recommend for my pack, that is dependable and has multiple uses, so it will save me carrying several tools?

I am by no means an expert on knives, but it seemed that all the knives I have had experience of, have some kind of limitation. With this in mind, I set about finding a ‘one knife for every situation’ that could cover all bases in a survival situation. This was when I stumbled across Grayman Knives and I was immediately drawn to the Ground Pounder and that leads us to where we are today.

I already liked the look of the Ground Pounder which is why I got hold of one to review. I have high expectations for my gear and tools and I think the Ground Pounder is as close as you will get to one knife for every task in survival situations. It excels at the hard tasks of cutting, chopping, digging and prying, but largely due to the well-implemented choil, it can tackle the finer tasks as well. It is not as good at the finer tasks, but you can get them done with a bit more time and care. You are never going to get a tool that can chop wood, hack down branches and dig holes, that is also great for carving, dressing game and preparing food. To be honest, I’ll also carry a smaller folding knife for preparing food etc, and I would recommend doing this, BUT you don’t absolutely need to.

If you don’t want to carry a separate machete, hatchet, entrenching tool and knife, then the Grayman Knives Ground Pounder could be the tool for you. It excels at the tough work and yet still just about manages to be nimble enough to get the finer tasks accomplished as well. If you only want to carry one tool, this is that tool!

The Ground Pounder comes with several different blade choices. The one featured here is the single bevel, single edge option and it currently costs $195. Yes, this is a sizeable amount of money, but each knife is hand-ground and made in the US by Mike, and if you purchase one, the money you spend is an investment rather than a cost, as you are investing in a knife that will have your back and won’t let you down, no matter what situation you find yourself in, for the rest of your life… Another thing to bear in mind is – if you are considering purchasing this knife for a bug-out-bag or survival kit and you want to travel light, having this knife saves you the cost of having to purchase a separate machete, hatchet and possible an entrenching tool.

Finally, there is also the Grayman Knives fixed blade warranty: “Free sharpening anytime. You pay postage, and I’ll sharpen her up and send her right back. If you break it (yeah right) send it back and I’ll fix or replace it post-haste. If you sell it, give it away, or will it to a family member or fave charity, the warranty goes with it.” You can’t ask for much more!

I highly recommend the Grayman Knives Ground Pounder knife! It is now the knife packed in my bag and it sits there ready for adventure…

How To Make Char Cloth (Emergency Fire Tinder) In An Altoid Tin

If you are in an emergency or survival situation without matches or a lighter, starting a fire can be very difficult. The most difficult part of starting a fire is initially lighting the tinder material. This is because you usually don’t have the ideal tinder material available to get things going.

One of the best things to help with this is to make and carry some char cloth. Char cloth is a cotton fabric that has been heated to over 400c without oxygen, the absence of oxygen causes the fabric to char instead of burning. Char cloth is extremely sensitive to heat and it catches fire and smoulders very, very easily.

The video below shows how to make char cloth in an Altoid tin. My recommendation – find an old Altoid (or similar tin), follow the instructions in the video below and make a good batch of char cloth. Store it in the Altoid tin (when cooled) and throw it in your survival or bug-out bag. Not only is the tin great for storing the char cloth, but it can also be reused to make some more when required.

How To Build Various Survival Shelters (Awesome resource!)

If you are stuck out in the wilderness overnight or for a longer period, you are likely going to need be able to find a shelter nature has provided such as a cave or fallen tree, or you going to have to build one from what you have with you or what you can find around you in your environment.

The tutorials below from Practical Survivor are outstanding. Great photos together with simple instructions. It’s a 101 of wilderness survival shelter building, check them out, print them out, and get into the woods and practice building them.