LMF Knives – The Knifemakers Series
In the second installment of of the Knifemakers From Around the World series, we’ll be spending some time talking with Joe Snarski from LMF Knives. He is a knifemaker out of Cowpen, South Carolina specializing in custom handcrafted micarta scales. So now let me introduce you to Joe…
Read MoreGSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Ketalist Reviewed
When you are out in the bush and traveling light, there are many cookware options available. But some options can boil water much faster than others. Today, I’ll be looking at the Glacier Stainless Steel Ketalist from GSI Outdoors. So let’s see how well it will get the job done…
Read MoreSchrade SCHF52 and SCHF52M Knives Reviewed
New for 2016, Schrade’s much anticipated SCHF52 and SCHF52M Frontier fixed-blade knives have been released just in time for Christmas. They are an updated take on last years SCHF37 and SCHF37M with a few improvements that I think we can all appreciate. Today, I’ll be putting both of these new blades through a series of functional challenges to test blade control and strength, so let’s get on with it and see how well they fare…
Read MoreTYBELT Premium Reviewed
When it comes to gear, survivalists always look for gear that can perform more than one function. A heavy-duty leather belt can double as a strop. Belts made from 550 paracord can become emergency cordage. A nylon and polyester webbed belt can easily be turned into a strap or tourniquet. Not long ago, I received a webbed multi-purpose TYBELT from BBM Equipement. Let’s have a closer look at this belt and what it can do…
Read MoreSuperfeet Trail Insole Reviewed
If you wear boots a lot and your feet, knees and back hurt, it is a safe bet to look at your footwear first to find relief. Especially if you wear budget footwear. In some cases, simply swapping out the insoles can remedy the pain. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to put quite a few miles on the Trail Insole from Superfeet while trying them out, and now it is time to share my experience…
Read MoreSurvival Frog Fire Laces Reviewed
Many preppers and survivalists have long since replaced their bootlaces with paracord. You can always tell because the ends of the laces are melted to keep the fibers from unraveling instead of factory-produced ends. Survival Frog has come out with an interesting and innovative alternative to those homemade paracord bootlaces by combining 550 paracord with factory-covered lace ends made of mini ferrocerium rods and calling them Fire Laces. So let’s have a closer look…
Read MoreG2 5″ Folding Firebox Stove Reviewed
The 5″ Folding Firebox Stove has been a popular go to packable camp stove for many outdoor enthusiasts for some time. With the hugely successful Kickstarter program and recent release of Firebox Outdoors’ second generation stove, the G2 5″ Folding Firebox Stove, we’ve been given the opportunity to have a closer look at one of the prototypes and give it a spin…
Read MoreTaidea Technology Whetstones Reviewed
There are many methods for sharpening knives from electric grinders and belt sanders to manual sharpening systems and lightweight field sharpeners, each with a different set of pros and cons depending on the situation. Today, we’ll be looking at the line of double-sided whetstones from Taidea Technology. So let’s see how well they stack up…
Read MoreQuickHatch Knives – The Knifemakers Series
In this first installment of the Knifemakers From Around the World series, we’ll be spending some time talking with Brenton Good of QuickHatch Knives. He is a custom knifemaker out of Temecula, California specializing in handcrafted bushcraft knives. So without further adieu, let me introduce you…
Read MoreKnifemakers From Around the World
My goal for this series is to meet and talk with artisans of all kinds from bladesmiths to custom knifemakers, and related craftsmen including makers of hand-crafted sheaths and custom scales from every corner of the world. It is my hope to delve into the minds and methods of each artist as they tell their story and explore why they do what they do. Each article will show a brief glimpse into their shops, the tools of the trade, and of course some of their favorite wares…
Read MoreSchrade SCHF51 and SCHF51M Knives Reviewed
New for 2016, Schrade has just released their much anticipated SCHF51 and SCHF51M Frontier fixed-blade knives with a design profile based on their highly regarded SCHF36 that won Blade Magazine’s People’s Choice of the Year in 2015. Today I’ll be putting both of these new blades through a series of basic bushcraft tests, so let’s get on with it and see how well they fare…
Read MoreSurvivor Filter Personal Water Filter Reviewed
When it comes to emergency preparedness for survival in both outdoor and urban environments, one of the most important things to consider is hydration. Clean potable water is vital to our survival, but it is not always available in an emergency situation. We may need to look to unsafe sources for that water. Today, I’ll be looking at the Survivor Filter personal water filter to see how well it can fill that need…
Read MoreGSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Cookset Reviewed
Any good long-term survival plan considers a way to boil water and cook food. But when you think of outdoor cookware, the lightweight packable variety is probably at the top of the list. Cookware capable of sustaining a medium to large-sized family may or may not have been a consideration, unless you’ve camped out of the back of a car before. Today, I’ll be looking at the Glacier Stainless Cookset MD from GSI Outdoors to see if it would fill that niche. So let’s see how well it holds up…
Read MoreBushcraft Essentials Bushbox Stove Set Reviewed
There are many compact multi-fuel stoves to choose from these days. Some are known to take up a lot of space in your pack, while others can be stored inside a small pot, or further broken down into a small packable kit that can easily fit inside a cargo pocket. Today, I’ll be going over the Bushbox Stove Set from Bushcraft Essentials. Read on and enjoy…
Read MorePeople Socks Merino Wool Socks Reviewed
When it comes to survival footwear, some people often put a lot of thought into their boots, but do they put as much thought into their socks? Probably not if they are wearing cotton. Wool socks have a lot of advantages over cotton, especially on multi-day trips. Today I’ll be looking at Below Zero Merino Wool Socks made by People Socks, so let’s dig in…
Read MoreCondor CTK242-8 Primitive Bush Knife Reviewed
I am a big fan of Matt Graham and have been for some time. His primitive survival skills and profound connection with the land have always impressed me. I saw a video of Matt using his custom bush knife a while ago and I was blown away. He was using it like a hand drill to bore a divot in a fireboard, and then I saw him in another video boring a small hole in some kind of gourd or bamboo shoot. I’ve never seen anyone use a bush knife so gracefully before…
Read MoreRibz Front Pack Reviewed
The concept of a front-accessible pack is nothing new, and some manufacturers have taken them to the next level. Over the last few months I’ve had the opportunity to try out the RIBZ Front Pack and integrate it into my gear rotation. Now that I’ve spent some time using it, I am finally ready to share my experience…
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