Articles by

Kevin Estela

Kevin Estela is a lifelong outdoorsman who grew up in New England. Born into a great family, he was inspired by his father who survived in the jungle of the Philippines during WW2. Kevin developed a passion for the great outdoors at a young age and carried it through life. In his early teens, he began kayaking and canoeing and spending more time on the river before becoming a guide and instructor. Kevin taught high school history for 14 years at Bristol Central High School and split his time working as a professional survival instructor at the Wilderness Learning Center when the school calendar allowed. As a professional teacher, Kevin learned to address the needs of students and built a reputation of trust, respect, and dedication to his craft. A student for life, Kevin continues to train with the best, travels internationally to numerous countries seeking adventure, and field-tests equipment in every environment. He has partnered with premier manufacturers in the outdoor space and continues to bring products to market driven by the real needs of those in the field. In 2018, Kevin wrote a best-selling survival skills book after hundreds of published bushcraft articles in dozens of magazines. He continues to write for multiple publications and blogs and has added spoken media to his resume in the form of podcasts of which he has been the guest of and hosted hundreds of episodes. Today, Kevin is a highly sought-after trainer, speaker, and author in the outdoor community, interacting with and educating thousands each year while sharing his passion. His goal is to inspire people to overcome adversity and hardship in their lives and live well with purpose.

The 10 S’s of Fire Starting

Be the master of your next camping trip! Kevin Estela shows us 10 easy fire starting steps to get your next campfire roaring.

Survival Rifles: Positional Rifle Shooting

Armed with his trusty Ruger 10/22, Kevin Estela explains how to train effectively by taking comfort out of the equation.

Hollywood Survival: The Best and Worst Survival Movies

We’ve taken six Hollywood survival movies and broken them down for their solid survival practices as well as the scenes that make us cringe.

Fieldcraft Survival 72-Hour Ziploc Bag Challenge

Fieldcraft Survival founder Mike Glover challenged me to survive for 72 hours in the desert with only the contents of a 1-quart Ziploc bag.

The Hills Have Eyes: Tips for Camping Safely Near Dangerous Game

Animal attacks don’t happen without reason. While you can’t predict predator behavior, you can mitigate risk by staying ahead of the dangerous game. 

6 Trap Triggers for Survival

By pairing one of these trap triggers with a snare or deadfall, you’ll be able to bring small game to the dinner plate rather than tracking it down.

7 Common Self-Defense Mistakes

Some fight mistakes aren’t learning experiences — dying doesn’t afford a chance to try again. These self-defense mistakes have killed some but taught many.

Advanced Ax Skills

Today we'll discuss some advanced ax skills and techniques that can save your ass — or at least make your time in the backwoods a little easier.