Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Survival Tips — How To Make & Use Feather (Fuzz) Sticks

How to make a feather stick

A feather stick (also known as a fuzz stick) is a length of wood which is shaved/feathered with a knife or axe to produce a head of thin curls protruding from the wood, that are then used as tinder to light a fire.

Feather sticks are great as a general tinder to help start a fire, but where they really excel is in wet and damp conditions. This is because whilst the wood may be wet on the outside, once you start shaving down into the wood, you will often hit dry wood which can then be feathered and used as tinder.

Being able to make and use a feather stick is a simple, but a vital skill that everyone who spends time outdoors should learn.

Watch the short video tutorial below. It’s full of useful tips and tricks including how to choose the right branches and how to create the feathering (not as easy as it looks!)

Primitive vs. New Survival Skills (A guest post by Craig Caudill)

canoe-making-300x218
Survival skills and experts in survival have been around since humans first walked the earth. Old school ways are sometimes viewed as primitive by the new generation of survivalists, while others are rooted in the tried and true ways of their ancestors. It can be difficult to figure out which way you want to focus your energy in your own training.

Don’t think of it as being forced to make a choice. Survival is all about doing whatever it takes to stay alive in difficult situations. Some situations may call for the so-called primitive methods like using a bow drill to start a fire, while others may require some of the more advanced survival tools like solar chargers. The key is not to pigeonhole yourself into one way or another. It is all about being flexible. Those folks set in the primitive ways are missing out on some pretty fabulous things like clothing made with breathable material and warm, comfy down jackets. On the same note, choosing to limit your knowledge to the newest methods is also dangerous Quite frankly, gear will often fail us.

I will share with you my own opinion, but please don’t feel like it is the only way. My experiences have led me to realize there are good and bad points to both the old and new ways of survival.

Think of the earliest survivalists in the New World. Native Americans managed to survive in some harsh conditions and have passed along a fabulous skill set that is often used and mimicked in today’s survival training. However, what is not often thought about, is the fact that a lot of Native Americans died because of a lack of food or shelter. Yes, their way of life may have been simpler in one sense, but in another, it was extremely difficult and downright hard.

Early explorers like Daniel Boone managed to live on the fierce range with the help of the skills learned from the Native Americans. While that is great and all, how many other men and women died because they were unable to adequately shelter themselves and find food in extreme conditions?

With advancements in science and knowledge, comes advancement in survival gear. There are some wonderful, life-saving tools available today. Unfortunately, there is the possibility a piece of gear will fail. Then what? This is when those primitive skills come in handy.

We are a people surrounded by convenience. Even for some of the most experienced survivalists, basic things like starting a fire without matches would be a challenge. This is a prime example of why you should be prepared for anything. Knowledge is great, but know-how is even better. Don’t limit yourself by getting caught up in an old versus new argument. Learn all you can from both. It may just save your life one day.

Craig Caudill is a contributing writer for Dan’s Depot, which just may be his favorite modern survival store. He is also the chief instructor at the Nature Reliance school.

How To Start A Fire With A Chapstick

ChapStick firestarter

Ok, firstly the title of the post is a little misleading… You can’t start a fire with a ChapStick alone. You need an ignition source, but if you have a source of ignition such as fire steel, flint or matches, a ChapStick can DRAMATICALLY increase your chances of getting a fire going in even the worst conditions.

Anyone who has tried to light a fire in less than ideal conditions will know how difficult it can be…

Loads of people have a ChapStick (or similar brand) in their pocket, even some of you guys (I know I do!). This is a great tip/trick for those not so practised in starting fires in the wilderness or those caught out in a survival situation, unprepared, in less than ideal conditions.

In the video, they use the ChapStick with cotton balls, but you can use it with any other good tinder material. If you have nothing else, cotton from a t-shirt or jumper works well, just make sure you work the ChapStick into the cotton as shown in the video.

Animal Tracks Identification Sheets (Save & Print!)

These forest and streamside animal track identification sheets from Hiking Michigan (reproduced here with permission) are excellent!

If you are interested in animals or learning to track animals, I recommend saving these two sheets. You can print them out and add them to your field/hiking notebook etc so you can refer to them when out and about in the wild.
animaltracks

animaltracks1
 

The original sheets can be found here: Hiking Michigan

Morse Code – You Never Know When You Might Need It

Click on the image for printable version without website text etc
Modern technology has pretty much rendered Morse Code obsolete, but what if you take away modern technology…. If the SHTF, we might need Morse Code once again.

Being able to communicate and decipher Morse Code might one day save your’s or someone else’s life. At the very least it might be worth printing out a Morse Code key like this, so you can have it in your kit. A piece of paper takes up no space (and you can always use it to start a fire in an emergency!)

Click here to download a Morse Code chart in PDF (then print it out!)

Key from Wikipedia

10 Uses For Your Survival Knife

We’ve been told that a survival knife is our best friend whether we bug in our out, that we can use it in a wide variety of situations. But what are they, exactly? I’m not talking about cutting various things, I think we should be aware of other, unconventional ways of using it.

We should also be aware of some of the ways not to use it. For example, one of my mistakes was that I used it to open a bottle that I couldn’t with my bare hands. I ruined the tip a little bit and learned my lessons. Still, in a survival situation, we might be forced to use our knife in ways we normally wouldn’t. Let’s see what some of them are.

#1. For digging

Maybe you’re trying to quickly bury something and you don’t have a shovel or the time to make a primitive digging device. Maybe you’re digging for plant roots to make salad. You can use your survival knife to do it, although it’s best if you had two of them. If you’re in love with your main knife, you should definitely use your back-up knife to perform some of these tasks. The Morakniv Companion is cheap and has a great build, maybe you can use that?

#2. For splitting wood

Again, not very orthodox but you might be forced to do it if you don’t have an axe with you.  Here’s a video demonstrating how to do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkgWZmYJRkM

#3. You can use the pommel as a hammer

It would be nice if you had a real hammer but, in an emergency situation, it will do.

#4. As a stake for your tarp

Though you should be able to carve your own stakes to keep a tent or a tarp in place, you can save time and use your (back-up survival knife).

#5. To carve primitive tools and weapons

Since you won’t be able to carry everything in your bug out bag, why not use your knife to make the tools and weapons you need on the spot? Some of the things you could make using wood and rocks include:

  • primitive spears
  • tomahawks
  • a hunting bow
  • a bow for the bow drill method
  • clubs
  • throwing sticks
  • and even blowguns

#6. As a fork

This is something you have to be careful with but it will make you feel like a badass.

#7. For self-defense

Ok, so most people would rather take self-defense lessons, but knowing how to use a knife will only increase your odds. Of course, if you don’t know how to use one, they might actually decrease your odds because your opponent can grab it and use it on you.

#8. As a fire starter

As long as you have a ferro rod and some tinder, you’re ready to light a fire by striking the former to the steel component of the knife.

#9. For first aid purposes

Though I am not a doctor, I can tell you there are plenty of ways it ca help, and none of them are related to removing any bullets from your body. Some of the things you can do include:

  • cutting clothes to gain access to a wound
  • cutting clothes into strips to be used as bandage
  • to remove splinters
  • and even to pop a blister (though it should be done using a sterilized needle, so this last use is not really recommended unless you’re in a situation where you don’t have much choice)

#10. To Open Your Mail

It might be the only way to communicate if the Internet is gone… yes, this last one is trivial but I added it to remind you that your laptop or smartphone won’t be your best friend post-collapse. Your knife will.

What’s next?

Well, you may be interested in getting a bushcraft knife. Not a bad idea, particularly since you may need a secondary one for some of the uses above. There’re a lot of things to consider: the material, the length of the blade, the handle and even the shape of the blade.

Dan Sullivan

www.SurvivalSullivan.com

(Image from: Mike Petrucci)

Paracord Post Round-Up: Things To Make & Do With Paracord

Paracord uses

Paracord: 101 Uses

You probably hear the word “paracord” a lot when you are studying survival training. It has achieved such an elevated status you would think paracord could single-handedly save a person and do the dishes all at the same time. While the material is pretty fantastic, it isn’t going to miraculously save anybody.

If you have done any research into survival training, you have probably heard numerous so-called experts touting the merits of paracord, including the fact there are over 100 uses for the strong rope. Unfortunately, those experts tend to only tell you or show you a handful. How much good does that do you?

For those who are sitting there thinking, “parawhat?” let me explain how valuable this tool truly is. You are probably familiar with the all-encompassing uses of duct tape. The same theory can be applied to paracord, which may also be referred to as 550 cord. The name comes from the idea the cord has a breaking point of 550 pounds.

So what is paracord? The cordage was originally used in parachute construction, hence the name. Because it was intended to be used as a strong, but some light-weight cord that is easily compacted and most importantly, reliable, it has become a hot commodity in the world of survival. It is so lightweight, you could literally carry 100-feet and never even notice.

Now, let’s get into what makes paracord so special. It is typically made of nylon. However, there are some types on the market that have been constructed with Kevlar. Seven inner strands are wrapped in a sheath to produce this highly-coveted tool. Each of those strands has a breaking strength of 30 pounds. Part of the reason paracord is so desirable is the fact you can separate the cord if needed.

Let’s refer back to the paracord’s strength. Keep in mind, breaking strength is not the same as working load. An easy way to remember this is a 5/1 ratio. If you need to lift 500 pounds, you would need cordage with a breaking strength of 2500 pounds.

As with almost anything on the market today, not all paracord is created equal and may not be constructed with the above-mentioned qualities, therefore making it a substandard product. Only buy military-strength paracord. If you are as excited about paracord as the rest of the survival community, check out the video to see 101 ways you really can use paracord.

How To Make A Paracord Survival Bracelet

Excellent video showing how to make your own paracord survival bracelet.

Do you know what? I am betting you are thinking it’s going to be difficult to do… If you follow the video you’ll see it is actually very easy to do. Surprisingly easy actually.

If you are going to bother making one, make sure you make it with official 550 paracord, as used in the military. Don’t use the cheaper stuff, get something you can rely on.

Make A DIY Paracord Watch Strap

45453
I have done several posts about the uses of paracord and paracord bracelets, such as the review of the excellent: ‘Wazoo Survival Gear’ Minimalist Survival Bracelet. You can of course make your own paracord bracelet but if you are not into wearing an additional bracelet, how about making a paracord watch strap instead?  If you are anything like me, you’re saying – why didn’t I think of that…  A paracord watch strap, it is so obvious.

Anyway if you think it’s a good idea and you’d like to give it a go, head over to the Instructables website below and check out the detailed tutorial.

If you are going to bother making one, make sure you make it with official 550 paracord, as used in the military. Don’t use the cheaper stuff, get something you can rely on.

DIY Paracord Watch Strap

(Photo from: Strormdrane via Instructables)

Make A Paracord Belt With Carabiner Buckle

222
Everyone knows how useful paracord can be in a survival situation, but just in case, check out my earlier post: 101 Uses For Paracord (Seriously, there’s 101 uses listed here)

As a result paracord bracelets are particularly popular with preppers and those who practise survival skills. Paracord key-fobs and watch straps are also popular.

Whilst all of these a very useful, the amount of paracord you can carry is very limited.  With this in mind, how about making a paracord belt!  It’s a win, win, as a paracord belt can look really smart if you purchase a nice belt buckle (this belt is a bit more tactical and functional with a carabiner buckle) but the really great thing about a paracord belt is that it can hold over 100 feet of paracord!  That’s right – 100 feet of paracord in one belt, that’s always with you.

If you are interested in making a paracord belt, head over to the Instructables website and check out mobiobi’s tutorial. Also, check out these great belt buckles and make a top notch belt!

Make A Paracord Belt With Carabiner Buckle

(Photo from: mobiobi via Instructables)

How To Make Paracord Handcuffs

FDFFO53G7DYZ7EN.MEDIUM

A lot of us don’t carry handcuffs or even own any. If you were in an emergency situation and you needed to hold someone either for your family’s safety or to immobilize them so you could get away, chances are you will have paracord on you somewhere.

These are actually quite simple to make and i would carry a few ready made in my EDC kit or bug out bag. See how to make these below

How To Make Paracord Handcuffs

(Picture Credit: cooldog)

Make An Awesome Hanging Chair From Some Paracord & A Pallet

1111
This is a brilliant idea, a great hanging chair made from a free pallet and a few dollars worth of 550 paracord.

I have done several posts about reusing old pallets for various things – The 5 Pallet Livestock Feeder and Recycle a Wooden Pallet to Use for Shoe/Boot Storage and a few other Facebook posts which didn’t make the website.  I think this hanging chair might be the best of the lot though, as not only does it serve a purpose, it also looks awesome.

If you’d like to see how to build one yourself, head over to the Instructables website via the link below and have a look at the very detailed tutorial.

Make A Paracord Laced Pallet, Hanging Chair

If you are going to make one, make sure you use official 550 paracord, as used in the military. Don’t use the cheaper stuff, get something you can rely on.

(Photo from: Twotim221 via Instructables)

How To Make A Paracord Cross (Pendant / Necklace)

Everyone knows how useful paracord can be in a survival situation, and many of you have paracord bracelets, but today we’ve got something new to share…

These make excellent pendant style necklaces, or alternatively, you could hang one from your vehicle’s rear-view mirror.  It’s a great way to keep 24 feet of paracord handy, just in case of emergency.

Check out the video below and get making. One of these would make an excellent gift for a loved one! 

Preparing for a Disaster – No-Nonsense Tips to Protect Your Family

Preparing for a Disaster – No-Nonsense Tips to Protect Your Family

As our societies grow and we rely more and more on third party services to keep us safe and sound, the danger of suddenly becoming helpless and endangered increases. While there are literally thousands of ways to prepare for a disaster, you should primarily focus on the fundamental tips designed to protect you and your family.

The following tips and techniques were designed by emergency professionals are recommended for all persons in the event of a disaster. Don’t wait until the dreaded winter storm forecast or unexpected natural disaster strikes. Spend time today preparing you and your family for the worst, so you may have the best odds in your favour.

Understand the Most Likely Disasters

One of the fundamental levels of preparing for a disaster is knowing what kind of events you’ll likely face. Live in the mountains? Then you probably won’t have to worry about a tsunami; however, you should concern yourself with landslides, severe weather and health pandemics. The worst mindset you can have is thinking you live in a disaster-free zone. There is no such thing in this world. Review the most likely disaster’s for your area and create disaster-specific plans based upon this information.

Establish a Connection Method

What will you do when the cell networks go down? What happens when local telecommunication systems are non-operational? These are only a sample of questions you must ask yourself. It’s imperative to consider how you’ll connect with your loved ones when a disaster strikes, and traditional forms of communication aren’t available. Disaster relief organizations suggest confirming an out-of-area emergency contact, as local communications may be down while long-distance communications may still be available. Consider investing in satellite phones and battery-operated two-way radios to communicate during the peak of a disaster.

Receive Alerts During a Disaster

While your television and Internet connection may not be available during a major disaster, officials communicate with the general public through a variety of methods. The first step is to sign up for emergency alerts on your cell phone or via an emergency radio – sold at many electronics stores. Communicate with your local officials to uncover their communications plan should a disaster occur. Upon learning this information, adjust your emergency plan to incorporate these methods so you and your family can remain in-the-loop during an emergency.

Prepare Disaster Responses from Multiple Locations

In an ideal world, when a disaster strikes you and all your loved ones are packed safely in your home. However, this may not be the case. When an unexpected disaster occurs and you or your family members are not at home, it’s imperative to have a well-developed response plan for these situations. Plan to react from a variety of locations, such as your place of employment or your car. Plan evacuation routes, communication plans, and meet-up locations throughout the region with your family. Discuss emergency plans with your children’s school or daycare facility to determine how they’ll handle communicating with you during a disaster.

The notion of dealing with a major emergency is not one that many wish to dwell on. While there’s something to be said about positive thinking, when this form of thinking leads to a lack of action, it becomes a serious problem. Even if you believe you’ll never be involved in a serious emergency situation – whether a natural disaster or something more serious – it’s essential to prepare for the worst while hoping for the best.

You’ve likely scanned across articles on blogs, magazines or newspapers discussing the value of preparing your home and family. However, many of these tips are expensive and require a significant amount of time and dedication to accomplish. What would you say if the most effective tips are also the cheapest?

Continue reading to uncover the top 5 emergency preparedness tips designed to keep you and your family safe without having to spend an arm-and-a-leg on advanced supplies and costly provisions.

Plan an Escape Route Out of Your Home

Imagine there was an emergency within your home, such as a fire, and you need to escape quickly and safely. What are the best ways to evacuate your home in the fastest way possible? Take a moment to delve into possible escape routes, then write it down. Make sure all inhabitants within your home fully understands where to go and how to escape the house should it be necessary.

Create a Centralized Meeting Place

So you’ve managed to escape your home – or some other location – during an emergency, now what? In the ideal world, you and your family are together when an emergency happens; however, this isn’t always the case. Designate two different meeting areas. The first should be close to your home, such as at a neighbours house or at the neighbourhood park. The second should be a centralized place within your town or city. Write these locations down and make sure your family and friends understand where to meet should an emergency take place.

Create an Emergency Contact Card

Emergency contact cards are essential should a major disaster happen and you or your family members need to reach specific individuals or visit a specific meeting place, as described above. This card should contain the phone numbers of out-of-state relatives or emergency contacts as well as the locations of your two designated meeting areas. Copy this card and ensure each family member and friend has one for easy reference during a disaster.

Regularly Update Your SHTF Emergency Plan

One of the biggest mistakes many people make when it comes to creating an emergency plan is making it once and never returning to it. Much like life, the details in your emergency plan can, and will, need to change. Whether you move or change emergency contact information, make sure to re-visit your emergency plan every six months and make updates as necessary. What’s worse than not having an emergency plan? Having an outdated emergency plan.

Practice Your SHTF Emergency Plan

There are many times when an emergency plan is thorough and effective, but during an actual emergency you or your family members become disoriented and are unsure how to follow the established plan. To prevent confusion during these stressful and overwhelming times, it’s imperative to practice your emergency plan. Go through each step of your plan as if a real emergency was happening. Drive your planned evacuate route and spend time mapping out alternative escape routes. Practice exiting your home based upon the various escape plans and make sure to keep your emergency kits well-stocked.

Homemade Water Filter: Make A DIY Water Filter

6 homemade water filter tutorials

Below are six different homemade water filter tutorials. The first five are DIY filters for filtering rainwater and water from unclean water sources. The last tutorial shows how to make a homemade Berkey water filter for use in the home. This homemade Berkey filter is equally effective but around 75% cheaper!

How To Make A Bio-Sand DIY Water Filter

Bio-sand filters are super quick and easy to build homemade water filter systems and they are very effective at filtering dirty water and making it safe. Watch the video for details. A homemade water filter like this would be great for filtering and purifying water stored in rainwater catchment systems.

Below is some additional information from Wikipedia  on the effectiveness of homemade bio-sand filters

Bio-sand filters remove pathogens and suspended solids through a combination of biological and physical processes that take place in the biolayer and within the sand column. BSFs have been shown to remove 5.00-64.00% of heavy metals and 90.00-99.99% of turbidity and contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

Filtration process

Pathogens and suspended solids are removed through a combination of biological and physical processes that take place in the biolayer and within the sand layer. These processes include:

  • Mechanical trapping. Suspended solids and pathogens are physically trapped in the spaces between the sand grains.
  • Predation. Pathogens are consumed by other microorganisms in the biolayer.
  • Adsorption. Pathogens become attached to each other, suspended solids in the water and the sand grains.
  • Natural death. Pathogens finish their life cycle or die because there is not enough food or oxygen for them to survive.

Removal of contaminants

Turbidity

Results for turbidity reductions vary depending on the turbidity of the influent water. Water with high turbidity looks dirty due to sand, silt and clay floating in the water. Feed turbidity in one study ranged from 1.86 to 3.9 NTU. In a study, water was obtained from sample taps of water treatment plants from three local reservoirs. It poured through a slow sand filter and results showed that turbidity decreased to a mean of 1.45 NTU. In another study using surface water, a 93% reduction in turbidity was observed. As the biofilm above the sand ripens turbidity removal increases. Although bio-sand filters do exhibit a high reduction in turbidity, slow sand filters show higher removals due to a slower filtration rate.

Heavy metals

There is limited research on removal of heavy metals by bio-sand filters. In a study conducted in South Africa, the filter was found to have about 64% removal of iron and 5% removal of magnesium.

Bacteria

In laboratory studies, the bio-sand filter has been found to have about a 98-99% removal of bacteria. Over a time period of about two months, it was found that the bio-sand filter may increase in the removal for E. coli due to biofilm formation. The removal after this time period ranged from 97-99.99% removal depending on the daily charge volume and percent feed water amended with primary effluent to the filter daily. The addition of primary effluent or waste water facilitates the growth of the biofilm which aids bacterial die-off. Research in the field shows that implemented bio-sand filters reduce fewer bacteria than ones in a controlled environment. In research conducted in 55 households of Bonao, Dominican Republic, the average E. coli reduction was found to be about 93 percent.

Viruses

Lab tests have shown that while the reduction of E. coli from these filters is quite significant, the attenuation in viruses is significantly less due to their small size. In a study using to bacteriophages, the removal ranged between 85% and 95% after 45 days of usage. A recent study has suggested that virus removal increases significantly over time, reaching 99.99% after a period of approximately 150 days.

Protozoa

In one lab test, the bio-sand filter also got greater than a 99.9% removal of protozoa. In tests for one type of protozoa, Giardia lambia had a 100% removal for 29 days of usage. Another protozoa, Cryptosporidium oocysts, showed to have a slightly lower reduction (99.98%) possibly due to their smaller size. This removal showed to be comparable to that of the slow sand filter.

How To Make A Hillbilly DIY Water Filter (A survival water filter made from trash)

After reading this you will never look at that discarded water bottle you find in the woods the same again. In fact, that garbage you are so disgusted with just may save your life one day. How you wonder? Well, the hillbilly DIY water filter is how. A little science and ingenuity is all you need to purify water with stuff you will likely find in the great outdoors.

Water that comes from an unknown source is widely accepted as unsafe to drink. You just don’t know what has been put into that water, whether you can see it or not. We are talking deadly bacteria, feces and a variety of other nasty impurities that would do a real number on your body if you ingested them. For that reason, you absolutely must purify the water before you consume it. You must have water to survive.

One of the most common ways to purify water is to boil it. Unfortunately, in a survival situation, that is not always an option. You may have some of those handy purification tablets, but again, what do you do if you don’t?

Making Water Safer With Trash

As a last resort, you can use the hillbilly filtering system to get life-sustaining water into your system. You can watch the video and see exactly what I am talking about. Basically, you need a discarded water bottle or plastic pop bottle. Foliage, like edible dandelions and chickweed, will act as a filtering system along with some charcoal material. Remains of an old campfire are perfect for this part of your filtering system. If you happen to be in need of a makeshift water purification system in the winter or in a place where foliage is not around, rocks and sand can be used.

While this homemade water filter is relatively effective, do not expect crystal clear water the first few runs through the system. However, it will be safe to drink. If you have the time, run your water through the filter several times to get a clearer product.  As I said earlier, this may not be the best system, but it is effective and it will get you what you need to survive until a better purification system is put into place.

Craig Caudill is an outdoors enthusiast who regularly shares his knowledge at www.dansdepot.com.  He is also the chief instructor at his Nature Reliance School.

How To Make A Tree Branch Water Filter That Removes 99% of E. coli

tree branch DIY water filter

Ok, I’ll admit, this is a new one for me. I know several methods for making DIY water filters, even one made from the trash you can find in the woods. However, I have never seen such a simple and effective DIY water filter as this one. It’s so simple to make – simply choose the right branch, in this case, they use white pine, securely wedge it in the end of a pipe and you have an effective low-tech water filter.

The one downside to this simple water filter is that it can only filter around 4 liters of water a day, but they are so quick and easy to make, you could easily rig up 2 or 3 filters and leave them to filter the water whilst you are doing other things. Find out exactly how to make a tree branch filter over at ‘The Ecopreneurist’ How To Make A Tree Branch Water Filter That  Removes 99% of E. coli

(Image from: Ecopreneurist)

Purifying Water By Boiling In A Plastic Bottle

plastic bottle water purification

It’s a sad fact of life that no matter where you go off the beaten track, you always seem to find someone else’s trash – soda/beer cans, plastic soda bottles, and food wrappers seem to be everywhere…

Whilst finding trash in the wilderness is a great shame, it can provide the opportunity for survival in emergency survival situations – soda cans can be used to carrying and boiling water, plastic bottles can obviously be used for transporting and storing water too, but I bet a lot of you didn’t realize that you can also boil water over a fire in a plastic bottle. To find out the correct way of doing this, check out the post below from ‘Willow Haven Outdoor’.

I am sure some people will point out the dangers of plastic chemicals leaching into the water.  These chemicals may or may not be dangerous after prolonged, repeat exposure to them, but the fact is dehydration WILL kill you within days, and it will kill you even quicker if you drink unboiled water and get sick. Find out more here: Someone’s Trash Can Save Your Life: Purifying Water In A Plastic Bottle

(Photo from: Willow Haven Outdoor)

Build A CHEAP DIY Berkey Water Filter: Homemade For 1/4 The Cost

Berkey water filters are pretty much the most popular water filters for home/family use.  Berkey state that the filtration on their products is so effective, virtually no other system can duplicate this performance.  The problem is you have to pay a lot for this performance…

But here’s the thing – a quick look on Amazon shows that it will cost in the region of $250-$300 for a family sized Berkey water filter, BUT it also shows that you can purchase a pair of Berkey Replacement Filters for around $55.  It is the filters that make the water safe and you can fit these into two five gallon (food grade) containers and add a tap in around five minutes (watch the video!).  You pretty much now have a fully functioning Berkey water filter system for the cost of the replacement Berkey filters, a tap and two food grade five gallon buckets, which add up to around a quarter of the price of a complete Berkey system.

Note: In the video above Steve is using the standard Berkey filters.  When I checked on Amazon, judging from the reviews there is clearly an issue with these at present, so I have linked to the Berkey Ceramic filters as these seem a safer bet at the moment. I am assuming that these ceramic filters will fit in the same way as the standard filters, as they both fit the Big Berkey system.

This really is a super simple project and an excellent low-cost way to ensure your family has safe drinking water should disaster strike. With this system, you could filter rainwater collected from a rainwater harvesting system, or rivers/lakes etc.

Ultimate Camping Tips & Hiking Tips, Tricks & Hacks (200+ Tips)

Ultimate list of camping tips

So here’s the thing. When I first started KWN many years back, I mainly searched online for interesting, useful and entertaining posts, tutorials and videos. When I found something worthwhile I would then write up a short post about it and include a link to the source, so folks could check it out. As a result, there is around 1000 of these shorter posts on the website. As part of some long overdue housekeeping, I am going through these old posts and bunching the together to make single/longer list style posts. This is the first such post. It contains all the shorter posts on KWN about camping and hiking tips and tricks.

101 Camping Tips: For Campers, Preppers, Hikers, etc, etc…

camping at night

Camping tips and advice is useful for more than just camping… For example, if you are a prepper, camping knowledge will be vital for your survival if the SHTF. To be honest, anyone such as hunters, hikers, fishermen, etc, who might end up spending a night or more under the stars, can pick up some useful tips and advice from the 101 camping tips post below.

Actually, make that 102 camping tips, I have one of my own tips, which is highlighted in the photo above – camping tip 102 – use a red filter on your flashlight (or the red light setting if it has one) at night to preserve your night vision. Normal light from flashlight and lamps etc, causes you to lose your night vision, which means it takes your eyes a good while to adapt to the dark afterwards. Red light enables you to see around camp etc, but it also preserves your night vision.

101 Camping Tips: For Campers, Preppers, Hikers, etc, etc…  (Unfortunately, this website has been offline recently)

(Photo from:  °Florian)

23 Essential Hiking Hacks, Tips, And Tricks

hiking hacks

We have featured quite a few posts about hacks for various subjects, but I keep getting messages asking about the use of the term ‘hack’ and what it means. Effectively it means tips and tricks and ways of doing things that you probably hadn’t consider previously. It can also mean using day-to-day items for uses other than that they were intended.

Anyway, this post  is about hiking hacks. We did camping hacks a while back, so I thought it was time to share some hiking tips and trick, as I know a lot of you will be outdoors hiking now the weather has warmed up. Check out the list of hiking hacks below, there’s some awesome information in there.

23 Essential Hiking Hacks, Tips, And Tricks

(Image from: Buzzfeed)

25 Tips & Tricks To Make Camping Easier & More Fun

25 camping tips

We have featured several camping tips, tricks and hacks posts previously on Knowledge Weighs Nothing. If there is one thing I have learnt, it that you guys are crazy for camping and camping tips and tricks so here’s some more for you.

I always think that camping is an awesome thing to do, as not only does it get the family out of the house and together in a natural environment, but camping also teaches many important skills which can stand you in good stead in disaster scenarios if the SHTF. There is nothing like knowing you can pack up the tent and take the family and survive outdoors if needed. Check out the 25 camping tips/trick below and have an awesome camping trip this summer!

25 Tips & Tricks To Make Camping Easier & More Fun

(Image from: One Good Thing By Jillee)

41 Clever Camping Hacks To Try This Year

41 camping hacks

I love camping, it is especially magical with young children, but camping seems to divide people, some love it, others hate it.  The thing is I think that most of the people who hate camping probably had a bad camping experience which likely stemmed from poor planning/preparation.

With the right gear, a bit of location research and some preparation, camping can be an amazing experience. For all the camping haters, I urge you to give camping another go this summer, especially if you have kids, as kids will remember camping trips forever. Anyway, for anyone planning on camping in the near-future, check out the link below for 41 camping hacks and tips to try.

41 Clever Camping Hacks To Try This Year

(Image from: Buzzfeed)

35+ Camping Tips, Tricks & Treats That Could Be Used In An Emergency Situation

35 camping tips and tricks

Camping is always a great way to practice survival skills while having fun all at the same time. Make camping easier by learning a few new skills that could also make life in an emergency situation more bearable.

Some of these new tips / tricks are really handy to know to either save you time or save you money, so it’s a win-win, all around. Check them out below, the website is a bit clunky but stick with it as these are some awesome tips…

35+ Camping Tips, Tricks & Treats That Could Be Used In An Emergency Situation

Picture Credit: tipnut.com

18 Tips For Foolproof Camping

18 camping tips

Sure, I know, I know, loads of you are seasoned, experienced campers and hikers. For many of you guys, most of these camping tips will be what you would consider common knowledge, but the thing is common knowledge isn’t always that common for the inexperienced…

If you are just getting into camping/hiking, check out the post below for 18 camping tips. Know before you go, for the best chance of a successful camping trip.

18 Tips For Foolproof Camping

(Photo from:  stevecadman)

Must Read Camping & Hiking Safety Advice To Help You Stay Safe

campsafety

I don’t know the figures but I am guessing 1000s of individuals and family get into trouble each summer when out hiking and camping. I don’t know why so many people head off into the wilderness unprepared. I guess for the inexperienced, the dangers are not so apparent…

Anyway, we have done loads of posts about camping/hiking, but not much about how to stay safe when you’re on your adventure. When I saw the awesome post by Doom And Bloom, I had to share it. The advice included in this extensive post is for newbies and experienced hikers/campers alike. Check it out below.

Must Read Camping & Hiking Safety Advice To Help You Stay Safe

(Image from: Wikipedia)