Water

So with water making up 70% of the world and almost the same in your body it goes without saying how important it is. Lack of water leads to thirst(no shirt Sherlock) dehydration and confusion to name a few off the top my head. The point is that without water you won't be able to function both mentally and psychically.



There are several points to cover we are dealing with water;
1. Collection
2. Storage
3. Filtration
4. Purification
5. Taste

 

Collection ;  So lets start with collection. Collection is how you attain the water itself. Now this may sound easy but just think of the amount of faith you put in buy water and water coming from your pipes at home.
Do you know how to source water from closed pipes like the ones at businesses like KFC or closed stand pipes. What if the water was coming from an area to small for whatever container you have? Questions like these often make us realize how much we rely on  modern conveniences and fail to think of all the angles.
My suggestions are a four way key, some clear tubing, a funnel and condoms.




Storage;  Storage goes into how you hold large amounts of water at your base or while traveling if need be. It would make little sense if you on had on metal canteen that you have to refill every time you get thirsty. Not only are wasting time and effort but you are also putting yourself in unnecessary danger depending on the situation. In a survival situation three days is not the amount of time you have to drink water. You are working and as such you are losing that water just as quickly in those situations one day might already bring your journey to and end.
My suggestions are collapsible buckets 5l+ and a hydration bladder and pack.



Filtration;  For filtration while it is relatively easy to accomplish, without the necessary stuff if could prove to be impossible. Filtration is basically removing all the foreign substances that I are not microbial.
My suggestions are a cotton bandana, plastic bottle, rubber bands and a small shovel.



Purification;  This is basically making the water safe to drink. Free of any bacteria and other things that can make you ill. Ideally boil the water.
My suggestions are metal canteen, fire kit and purification tablets.



Taste;  This is water makes disgusting water taste better. so any drink mix whether its juice or tea or  even energy drink mix.
My suggestions are Turbo or Koolaid (juice), Nescafe (coffee), powdered milk, strawberry Nessquick (tea) and Powerade/Gatorade (energy drink mix).



I always recommend making individual kits and then adding it to your main bag. With these tips you should be ready for any water related incidents not covering storing water storage at your home or BOL.

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And remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

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Types of Shoes

It is often not taken in to account. your feet carry you everywhere yet no one bothers to take the time or weight to make sure they are comfortable.

Even in a bug out situation i believe in have more than one type of shoe.

You need a back up to your main shoe so why not.

Here is what I think are the most important types.


Tactical Boots -  These are the most multi use of the types of shoes. it offers a lot of protection, not just from the elements but from injuries such as sprains and cuts. Some are waterproof. So they offer full range of situations. from hiking, to rappelling, cycling, sports( running ), etc.  There are two downsides to this though.

1. Heavy - Quality boots are heavier than all other shoes.

2. Water - If water goes into these shoes they are useless. they take a long time to dry and you cant wear wet shoes of any kind.

Hiking Shoes - These are specialized shoes that make it comfortable walking long distance, running. i offers less protection due to the material it is made from. less protection from injury and the elements. They get wet really quickly and are slow to dry. This shoe is mainly for comfort in my opinion as it is not as strong.



Sandals - These have offer no protection except for under you feet. I prefer a leather sandals with a cushion sole. It is very comfortable and I prefer to have it instead of hiking shoes. It is more for when you shoes get wet you can put on a comfortable shoe that still gives you the grip and such that the hiking shoes offer, if its cold with socks and if not no socks. they do come in plastic and rubber so these would dry fast and the shoe itself would be waterproof though your feet will get wet since its not cover.

Cons

1. No insulation. - Your feet are out in the open.

Pros

1. Comfortable

2. Drys quickly

 rubber

  leather

Slippers - A normal pair of plastic slippers, not much to say this is just for when you shoes are wet. Travelling with slippers is not impossible but not recommended especially in wet conditions.



Feet - Believe it or not your bare feet is often the safest shoes you can wear. it allows you to grip and feel when you are making a wrong step easier. BUT it is not for everyone. If you don't normally walk anywhere outside then your feet will hurt and yo will most likely get a cut as soon as you step on a stone. So yes bare foot is good but you could just end up hurting yourself if your body is not used to it.

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And remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

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Tarp Shelters

Knowing how to build a tarp shelter is very important.

This is because it is cheap, affordable and can be used in almost any way.

You can configure a tarp in anyway you want to, so that you can maximize your comfort or cover.

Why tarp shelters?

Cheap.

It doesn't cost a lot of money to get a tarp. So any one just starting out this is the perfect shelter to hold down the fort while you save up for your tent or hammock.

 Little Weight.

Tarps are lighter than most shelters. particularly tents which have metal or fiberglass parts. It is great for ultralight backpacking or cutting down on weight for any of your kits.

Fire/Cook.

Using a tarp leads for the use of a fire which is usually not possible and dangerous in a tent. The tarp shelter is properly ventilated  and this reduces condensations. Not only is having a fire possible but cooking as well this allows you for to stay dry and eat even on those raining days.

Weather.

You can use a tarp shelter in almost any weather condition. Works even better with a nice warm bedroll and a fire.

Size.

A tarp shelter can be as big as you want or as small as you. So long as you can manage it.

Customization.

You can literally put up a tarp anyway you want, to fit your specific needs and not the one size fits all strategy that we all have to face.

Nature.

With a tarp shelter you are more in tune with nature than in a tent. The tent is like your bubble of civilization completely secured from nature where as a tarp is more open. Although it depends on how you configure it. There are more options on how much you want to let in.

Why not use tarp shelters?

Bugs.

If you are in an area prone to bugs this might not be the type of shelter for you unless you have bug repellent or another means of deterring the bugs.

Breaking the skyline and or treeline.

One tends to disrupt the skyline and go way above the treeline in an effort for comfort or ease of setup. Depending on your desire you will need to learn to do a lower base shelter which can be intimidating to newcomers.

Prone to malfunctions?

A common misconception is that tarps are prone to burst, tears and leaks. Firstly, a tent is also prone to such things. Secondly if you were to buy…….lets say a cheap nylon construction tarp and place it at the bottom of your pack then drop and drag your pack along with you, no doubt you might damage the tarp. Ways to prevent this are simple keep away from sharp objects and if in doubt buy a quality tarp.

Points to note.

Skill.Learning curve. Is there a learning curve?

Well yes and no.

No because everyone already knows how to put one up. As children we put up forts using blankets and as adults we fold those blankets. We even already know how to tie simple knots.

Yes because the make more advance and creative shelters one may need to spend some time looking a pictures and some trail and error to get it right.

Types of tarps.

Cheap heavy duty tarps.

These tarps are great for beginners. Cost next to nothing and is relatively lightweight.

Commercial tarps.

These tarps are made to be the lightest the can as well as out of strong material. The pack small and one has many options. They can be a bit pricey though.

Military tarps like the British Basha.

These tarps are limited in design. Meaning there are not many sizes or colors. The pack down incredible small and weigh virtually nothing. These in my opinion are the best to choose but should only be bought by person who are sure its what they want.

Leave a comment if your enjoyed it.

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And remember survival is not a choice but a right earned at birth.

Be the Wolf!