Using a piece of clothing for many applications, such as a survival scarf, is an old concept. Soldiers and huntsmen have been using strips of their own shirts as impromptu bandages, pants can be used as an emergency flotation device, and socks make a convient cozy for water bottles and thermoses. Finding multiple uses for a single piece of gear is one of the best ways to adapt to ever changing situations, headgear is no different. One interesting way to diversify your survival portfolio, is with the use of a modernized scarf like the one by outdoor company Tuff Possum.
Above: The multipurpose survival scarf can be worn, compressed, has numerous uses, and weighs a mere 5oz.
Survival Scarf Origins
Survival scarves are used for many applications, probably most notably in arid regions where they can be used to protect the head from overheating, and the lungs from dust inhalation. In cold regions they are used to reduce heat loss around the neck and keep sensitive facial skin tissue from freezing solid. Although scarves have been around for centuries as protection from the elements, the use of a modern survival scarf became popularized with outdoor legend Mors Kochanski. As an avid outdoorsman, Mors was always looking for creative ways to do more with less, and never took anything into the field unless it was capable of performing several tasks. Since Mors specialized in boreal survival, he found that a scarf could have many more uses than just preventing heat loss, including shelter building and gathering supplies. He even recommended it as a piece of kit in his book, Survival Kit Ideas. As textiles improved, the survival scarf was eventually made out of the more high-tech, light-weight materials that we have around today. Tuff Possum took this several steps further by incorporating several useful features.
Above: These Jordanian nomads are wearing a shemagh, a type of survival scarf, to protect their heads faces from extreme heat and harmful dust particles..
Multipurpose Survival Scarf Uses
Exposure is the leading cause of fatalities when people find themselves in the outdoors, which makes keeping your body temperature properly regulated a critical survival effort. Tuff Possum's Multipurpose Survival Scarf is sewn into a tube out of rip-stop nylon, making it strong enough to be used as a partial shelter or ground cloth, and can be stuffed with leaf litter and debris to create an insulated pillow or sleeping mat. Although it is not water proof, its permeability makes it possible to strain most large particulates from water before properly sanitizing it for drinking. There is plenty of space inside the survival scarf for foraging, and with a little cordage, can be converted into a sling pouch. The survival scarf is reversible, one side being olive drab for concealment, and the other blaze orange for signaling.
Survival Scarf in Action
Several trail blazers in the outdoor skills community also advocate for the use of Tuff Possum's survival scarf, including Craig Caudill of Nature Reliance:
Survival isn’t an easy game. It gets exponentially more difficult when you find yourself surrounded by a population that speaks a different language, eats different food, with different cultural norms than what we’re used to. Whether you’re on a business trip, overseas vacation, or a combat deployment, building rapport among a group of people wholly different than your own is imperative to survival and success. Ingratiating yourself to a foreign populace while also protecting your own safety is a complex but critical skill for anyone looking to go abroad.
Instead of opining on the topic with our best estimates, we compiled a panel of RECOIL OFFGRID contributors who have spent their careers living and working alongside foreigners, for an in-depth discussion about best practices for navigating this nuanced survival situation. We put together a list of questions that address both how to endear yourself as an outsider, as well as how to look out for yourself along the way.
Above: Building rapport takes patience. Hollie McKay visits others in their own homes to make the connection more personal.
The Panelists
War correspondent and freelance journalist Hollie McKay, who has spent time working near the frontlines in war-torn countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, and Ukraine (see Issue 51 for Hollie’s article about escaping the fall of Afghanistan.)
Military veteran and former law enforcement officer Timothy Lacy, who spent years training Afghan Border Patrol forces as a private military contractor (see Issue 46 for our Spotlight interview with Tim.)
Afghan-born Army Special Forces sergeant Kawa Mawlayee, who emigrated to America during the Russian invasion of his home country. Not only did he have to spend his childhood growing up in American culture, but he also then went on to spend years specializing in working alongside foreign fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan as a teacher and combat leader specializing in irregular warfare. (See Issue 52 for our Spotlight interview with Kawa.)
Above: Even if there is a language barrier, commonalities can help bridge the gap. Timothy Lacy is building connections via occupation.
1. What is the number-one rule you abide by to assimilate into and survive among a population that’s foreign to you?
Hollie McKay: I have two rules. First of all, never go in without research. Have a sense of who you’re going into. What is the standard dress code, what do they eat, how do they have their meals, what is the cultural norm between men and women interacting? So, don’t go in blind. Do your research. Second to that, I always say the number-one rule, no matter what, is to learn the word thank you in their language. I think thank you is the most important word in any language. If you can’t say anything else, you can nod and smile and say thank you, and that will get you a long way. Just in terms of assimilations and in terms of being welcome and accepted in that community.
Timothy Lacy: My number-one rule has always been to remember that I am stepping into their world, and to be respectful of their way of life, their traditions, and language or different dialects. Along with that is to do a country study so that I can better understand their history and traditions, and how they view me.
Kawa Mawlayee: From my gained knowledge and experience of working with foreign governments, agencies, and their citizens, there isn’t just one rule to abide by — there are many. However, the term “assimilation” is the umbrella term for how to blend in, build rapport, operate, and survive in an environment foreign to your own. There are many implied tasks that fall under the term assimilation. It begins with research and learning, almost memorizing knowledge about this new environment. That would include topics like: documents needed for entry/exit of environment, points of contact for embassy or friendly consulates in case of emergency, local cultures, customs and etiquette, image projection, languages spoken, religious considerations, health concerns (i.e. vaccines, medicines, etc.), operational climate, situational awareness and security, methods of communication to adjacent units or friendlies, identifying key leaders or contacts, identifying hospitals or medical treatment facilities, areas to avoid, placement and access to other certain areas, currency and exchange rates, understanding routes to and from, transportation, and local crime, militias, gangs, law enforcement or military presence. The last one, but possibly the most important, is abort criteria.
Above: Hollie McKay meats with the local populace to better understand their needs.
Documents needed for entry/exit: Visa requirements, work documents, certifications, accreditations, medical paperwork (i.e., COVID vax cards), etc. Think of anything else you would need to verify your story, cover, or reason for doing what you’re doing there.
POC for embassy or friendly consulates: This doesn’t necessarily mean you need names of people who work there but more so, how to go about gaining entry into these facilities in case of emergency. This could mean emails, phone numbers, access protocol or possibly actual names of points of contacts who can vouch for you.
Local cultures, customs, and etiquette: To successfully blend into a foreign environment, this is crucial. You must understand and adhere to the social norms of the environment you’re in. This is the how-tos and the dos and don’ts of the environment. This might be hard to understand for us Americans because we’re a melting pot of cultures and customs. However, in foreign countries this can make you the gray man or make you stick out like a sore thumb. A few examples of this are: how to greet people, don’t talk directly to the women, don’t even look at the women, hand and arm gestures, tone of voice, removing shoes, impolite to tip at eateries, eating or drinking in public or at a certain venue, offering food to a guest before serving yourself first, observance of holidays or local traditions, and how you dress.
Image projection: Think of this as how to look, act, walk, and talk while in this foreign environment. If you show up with first-world clothing and everyone else is dressed in traditional garb, you immediately bring unnecessary attention to yourself. One of your first acts in this new environment is to ditch all your clothes for local clothing (to a degree). We can’t exactly operate in sandals, can we? Image projection isn’t limited to dress. It’s how we walk sometimes. In most foreign countries, locals walk at a slower pace, almost without purpose. Most of us Americans walk with intent and pride (i.e., shoulders rolled back, chest out, completely upright and most times, in a hurry to get to where we’re going). Talking implies understanding the tone of the language. In most foreign countries, locals don’t speak too loud, but rather calmly and in an almost lethargic manner. We can’t be the ugly Americans demanding things and making our presence known. Overall, our acting needs to be right on par with those in our environment. We must blend in with our actions and in the manner of how we do things. Again, be the gray man or bring attention to yourself.
Languages spoken: No one is saying that you need to be fluent in your environment’s local language, but you must possess enough linguistic knowledge to get by. The more of the language you know the better, but also understand that the moment you open your mouth and speak, they will immediately realize that you’re a foreigner based off your lack of knowledge but also your terrible accent. Asking questions is OK, but we have to know some of the basic daily phrases or terms in order to operate. We’ll cover this a bit more in depth, later in the article.
Religious considerations: This isn’t about practicing local religions. It’s about the knowledge of the religions and how that effects the culture it surrounds as well as daily life in that environment. That last thing you want to do is offend members of a certain religion because you didn’t take your shoes off inside the mosque or you sat on the wrong side of the temple. This also could be as simple as knowing prayer times, dietary restrictions, or business hours. If everyone is in the church, synagogue, or mosque and you’re the only one out on the street … well, sore thumb. And whatever you do, do not partake in any religious discussions. You could see how that would most likely end badly for you or at the least turn heads in your direction.
Health concerns: Consider which vaccines you should get before entering this foreign environment, so you don’t catch things like malaria. Otherwise, keep a healthy amount of antibiotics and other meds (OTC or prescription, on you). Once there, find local shops where you can source them.
Operational climate: This means, you need to understand to what level you can operate in this new environment. This may mean completing a full risk and threat analysis or it could be as simple as just knowing which areas are heavy with military, cops, or security cameras, which could also determine your hours and methods of operation. Depending on your timeline and objectives, you need to plan ahead as much as you can, have a primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency (PACE) plan for everything you do and don’t overdo or take too much risk at once.
Above: Maintaining situational awareness will prevent potential dangerous encounters.
Situational awareness (SA) and security: We talk about SA all the time. Be aware of your surroundings. Do your 5s and 25s, meaning check your immediate 5-meter radius and also scan ahead to 25 meters or more. Look for threat indicators. Look for anything that sticks out from the norm of your environment, including yourself. Never let your guard down, but also don’t rubberneck, bringing unnecessary attention to yourself. Security could mean weapons that you may have on you for last-resort or emergency, or it might be security in the sense of knowing how to add layers of access to get to your residence or place of rest. Security could also mean that you have routine check-ins with friendlies or adjacent units like a quick reaction force (QRF) who would be ready to roll in covert/overt and get you out of there ASAP.
Countersurveillance: We don’t need to be spies, but we do need to understand what to look for in case we are being surveilled or being followed. Let’s just say that if you’re going to meet with someone who is working for you or with you, we don’t necessarily want to take our unwanted friends into that meeting and compromise ourselves or our contacts. So, it might be best to stop at a couple places on your route to your meeting or specific task and look for people who you’ve seen before in a different part of town. This could include men, women, children, or vehicles. But these stops need to make sense to your pattern of life (i.e., cafes, restaurants, supply stores, etc.).
Methods of communication to adjacent units or friendlies: This could be as easy as routine phone calls, texts, or in-person meetings. Or it could be as complicated as going to a local bookstore and placing a message inside a specific book in a certain position in the stack, on a specific page and only with coded numbers or letters. Now we’re getting into tradecraft and not something I can discuss. The bottom line here is who knows you’re there and do they know what your operational status is (i.e., dead, alive, success, abort, support, etc.)?
Identifying key leaders or contacts: This could mean we have contacts in this environment that can support what we’re doing or enable us in some way that we can’t gain organically. It could also mean we may need to make some new friends who could support us with things like transport, safe passage, shelter, weapons, communications, access, or introducing us to more relevant people.
Identifying hospitals or medical facilities: This is a no brainer. Unless you’re a combat field surgeon and can patch yourself up, you need to know where the nearest and possibly, the most low-key medical facilities are to gain medical supplies or have someone save your life without compromising who you are and what you’re doing there.
Above: Trust your intuition. If an area seems dangerous, it is best to avoid it.
Areas to avoid: This is good to know so we don’t accidentally walk or drive into an unknown gang, militia, or crime-ridden area and end up being questioned, harassed, or worse. In some places, these gangs operate openly and in others, they remain hidden until they strike. Always have an exit plan.
Placement and access to certain areas: Depending on what you’re doing there, you may find it very difficult to gain access to a facility or area without some help from local friends. Also, you may need placement to other areas or facilities where only employees are allowed and without your local friends, it may be impossible to gain intel from.
Currency and exchange rates: This is something we can easily prepare for beforehand. Depending on your level of operations, you can bet that credit cards and any other form of digital currency will leave a digital footprint. Cash is king in most foreign countries but having some U.S. dollars could help enable some tasks, while equally bringing the wrong kind of attention to yourself for other tasks. Know where you can go to exchange some currency and plan ahead for your budget.
Understanding routes to and from: Unless you have a personal driver, you must use public transportation or walk. Knowing bus routes, times, and schedules can make your travels very inconspicuous and give you the advantage of not being followed. Using taxis can be a good thing if you feel like they can be trusted. It’s also best not to have the taxis take you to the doorstep of where you want to go, but instead stop a couple blocks short. You can also use multiple forms of transportation as a means of getting there while conducting counter surveillance or losing a tail.
Knowledge of military, police or militia presence: We need to understand where these key points are to avoid them. In most foreign countries, police, and military can and will randomly stop you to question or interrogate you. If your story doesn’t add up, they can and will detain you and now you’re in some serious trouble. Have work-arounds and plan accordingly.
Abort criteria: I’ve saved this for last because it is the most important piece of a mission in your foreign environment. What would it take for you to abort what you’re doing and leave this environment? Is your residence compromised? Is your identity compromised? Are you now a wanted person or person of interest? Did one of your contacts become compromised? Did they give you up? Did comms go down? Did you get hurt? Everything you plan each time you step out of your residence needs to have an abort criteria as well as a plan of execution on how to get out. Think PACE plan.
Above: An impoverished area affected by flooding can be an opportunity to help those in need.
2. Are there any normal behaviors or clothing habits you had to unlearn because you realized they’re dead giveaways that would make you stand out in a way that’d draw unwanted attention?
HM: I think my rule of thumb with that is to always be more conservative. If you’re a little bit unsure, always err on the side of caution, which means obviously nothing form fitting. Don’t be showing too much skin or too much cleavage. Even if people, and perhaps women, in that particular place do maybe wear short sleeve shirts. Even in Baghdad, I remember the women there were quite Western-dressed and were wearing sleeveless tops and things, but I wore sort of a very baggy kind of long black dress. So, I just think, always be on the side of caution even if that means you’re a lot more covered up than the locals. That is going to help you be a bit more of the of gray person, rather than drawing unwanted attention. Especially if you’re a foreigner and showing too much skin, the reality is that you will get unwanted attention. When I’m trying to do my work, that is a big distraction.
TL: Absolutely, I’ve not been to a country that had the same behaviors or clothing habits as where I’m from here in the United States. Even we as Americans have regional differences.
For example, I lived in Europe for six years. I learned very quickly how to change my clothing and behaviors. Of course, an obvious giveaway was language. I became fluent in German, with an understanding of other European languages. While in the Middle East and Asia, I couldn’t disguise my ethnicity aside from speaking German and dressing as a European.
KM:Essentially, we’re talking about image projection. On my ODA [12-man Special Forces team], I was a stickler for how we portrayed ourselves in public and not just in foreign countries or transient places. A lot of SOF guys get a little too comfortable with the military look. This includes the Salomon boots, Suunto watches, button-up short-sleeved shirts and some type of outdoor khakis, brand-name outdoor backpacks, and of course, the baseball cap. Add that to our demeanor, body language, and the fact that we usually walk together, and it screams military or ex-military contractors. This theme is where Hollywood gets the cliché look from on films and TV shows.
Personally, I was the guy who dressed down and completely disassociated myself from the military during my travels with the team and solo. No boots, high speed watches, or baseball caps. As a note, baseball caps are very uncommon in foreign countries. Again, this comes back to research. No one is as high speed as they look, but when it comes to not bringing attention to yourself, it’s not hard and some discipline is needed.
As for normal or patterns of behavior that we need to pay attention to, there are a few worth mentioning. One is how loud we can get within our group. We’re so used to being loud back in America because it’s embedded in our culture. In foreign countries, there are places and times where that is appropriate, but not when you’re working and need to stay a bit more low-key. Another one that sticks out is dipping (the use of chewing tobacco). A lot of soldiers dip in the U.S., but in foreign countries, it’s the equivalent of seeing someone pull out a crack pipe in the street and smoke it in front of you. Heads will turn, if for nothing else … curiosity.
We all know what shop talk is. Oftentimes when we’ve been in our new environment for a little while and feel safe, we tend to get a bit complacent with operational security. This is never a good idea. There is a difference between feeling safe and maintaining OPSEC. Shop talk stays in the shop, never out in public. Lastly, if you are in groups, that doesn’t mean that we need to maintain a group posture. Break up into two-man teams or solo and maintain a lower signature. If you’re alone, then this doesn’t apply, but image projection and patterns of behavior absolutely do.
Above: Visiting a local market is another chance to interact with the locals and build stronger relationships.
3. If you have little to no understanding of the local language, how does that affect your ability to build rapport and maintain safety?
HM: Even if I do have an understanding of the language, there are usually so many different dialects, they vary not just within countries but within provinces, districts, and villages. So it’s always really useful to have a local interpreter with me who I trust, someone I know who can support my work, so that’s a real must for me. I don’t think that’s ever impacted my ability to build rapport, having that middle person. I think as long as you are sitting with a particular subject, speaking to them, when I ask questions, for example, “How are you?” I’m looking at them, I’m looking in their eyes, I’m asking them the question, and my interpreter is then interpreting. I’m not looking at my interpreter going “Can you ask her how she is?” So, I think it’s really important to act as though you are speaking the same language, and then have a very good interpreter by your side that can be that very smooth interluder.
TL: For me, it depended on the locals’ attitude toward Americans. Hand gestures and pointing at objects only get you so far. And expecting that they speak or understand English wasn’t a good idea. That’s where doing a thorough country study including some basic phrases and learning words that may mean danger in the native tongue prior to arriving was critical. Befriending your interpreter, if you have one, is a huge asset.
KM: We discussed language and its importance earlier. Going into a foreign environment and not knowing even the basics of that language is 1) disrespectful in the eyes of the locals and 2) brings a lot of attention to you. In my experience, when you appear to not know the language and ask for help, it attracts third parties or more locals and more than likely the local you’re trying to communicate with will recruit help from others to try to understand you better. Before you know it, you might have a group of people surrounding you trying to help but also creating a larger signature than you wanted. Take the time to learn some basics and also use your smartphone to assist. Google Translate is a great app that you can type into, talk into, or even use the camera video to translate a foreign language in real time on your screen. I’ve used it multiple times overseas and it works great. Worst case scenario, you can speak English into it and it’ll play back in the language of your choice for the local you’re interacting with. However, nothing beats speaking and being able to listen and understand a foreign language. Your linguistic ability is a great rapport builder in addition to understanding and appreciating their culture, customs, and traditions.
Above: Working with people in distress, such as those affected by natural disasters, can be challenging. But the outcome is a stronger understanding of the people involved.
4. Are there any behaviors or habits you’ve found to be universally applicable to surviving among different populations?
HM:That goes back to what I said in the beginning, always say thank you if that’s the only thing you learn. When I’m working, the people around me are the story. I’m not the story. If you sort of make yourself the center of attention, you become the story. I think that is really key for me, to be as under the radar as much as possible to really blend in with the locals. That is the beauty of being a writer and not having to go in with lots of crews and other things that will automatically draw attention to you. So I think, for me, the universally applicable way of surviving is research and being a pleasant person to be around without being loud, without drawing attention to yourself, and trying to mirror the people around you in some way. Act the way they act and try to blend in.
TL:Always be respectful of the culture, customs, religion, and habits of the people you’re working with. You don’t have to agree with it, but if you’re going to be successful and survive, you must be respectful.
KM: If we think about this as a social experiment, there are some universal behaviors and habits that can help us get by or even build rapport. Stay humble, stay modest, and always be friendly and respectful. Observe behavioral patterns within this new environment and try your best to mimic them, to a degree. Smile and don’t be intimidated or cold toward strangers. This doesn’t mean be overly social but if you make eye contact with a local, a simple smile and head nod or basic greeting is the easiest way to make them forget about you. Be open-minded to adopting new behaviors or habits. Blending in isn’t just about appearance and demeanor. Blending in can also mean a complete immersion into the local culture. Once people look at you as one of them, they will tend to forget about you.
Above: Women await the arrival of food rations. Knowing how people in a region must operate to survive can provide possible avenues to lend aid and build rapport.
5. How do you interact with locals if you know your ethnicity is automatically going to be called into question and potentially make you a target?
HM: I think you can’t let that get the better of you. Again, that’s about research, about being smart and having good instincts. Not putting yourself in a situation that’s going to be hairy for no reason.
I’m not even a soccer fan, but I call it the universal language. Pretty much every country you go to, you have this soccer-loving population, whether they’re 65 years old or 5 years old. So, I always have a soccer reference ready to go, and that really breaks the ice too. I think that’s a universal sport that people automatically warm to and they feel that they can share. I will learn very basic soccer knowledge about that particular country before I go just to be able to break the ice with that conversation.
In terms of knowing you’re going to be a target, that can happen anywhere, and it’s often going to be unavoidable being a conflict reporter. But again, you’ve got to trust your surroundings, and trust the people you’re with, you’ve got to take precautions knowing how long you’re going to be in a particular place or situation, and then it’s sort of a day-by-day, minute-by-minute thing. It’s something that’s just unavoidable if you’re going to immerse yourself in this type of work.
TL: I found that learning some of the language always seemed to help. It usually had the effect of having the other party relax, or at least find humor in my poor pronunciation. There were times when I would wear local clothing in areas I knew that I, as a Westerner would be viewed negatively. Again, showing respect, not weakness gained me a lot of mileage.
While working with and training foreign militias and military, I had to gain their trust. More than once the thought of being gunned down by one of them entered my mind. For me, showing strength and being unyielding on standards, but also having the ability to show compassion seemed to work.
Above: Kawa Mawlayee sits atop a mule in preparation for the days events.
KM: This is a situationally dependent answer. It will depend on who you say you are, where you are, and what you’re doing there. It will depend on how well you know the language, the culture, the traditions and what your pattern of life is while there. But also, don’t assume that just because they’re treating you differently that it means it’s time to flip that switch and kill everyone in the room. They might not be used to seeing someone different from them and they might just be curious to interact with you. In fact, in many countries it’s very common for locals to approach and interact with foreigners. In general, tourism is still very common in foreign countries. You can find Americans or ethnically contrasting people in every corner of the world.
This may also take a combination of many things we’ve discussed in our first question and how well you can control your words, actions, and emotions during confrontation. I tell people all the time that learning how to verbally de-escalate a situation is as crucial as learning how to draw a gun from a concealed position under time. In the end, this is a lifestyle that needs to be practiced just like any other technical skillset we adopt. However, if you can sense danger then like we said earlier, always have an exit plan. If things get violent or physical, you’ve probably failed in a big way and it’s time to get out of Dodge.
Disclaimer: This is a general overview and not a detailed list on medications to be stockpiled for an emergency. Consult your physician about personal recommendations that may vary due to age, pre existing conditions, potential conflicts with other medications you may be using, allergies, and other considerations.
For years, preparedness strategies have emphasized the importance of having natural remedies in your medical storage, simply because disaster events may leave you without the medicines so widely available today. Antibiotics and other prescription medications should also be accumulated but are harder to obtain in quantity. That leaves the drugs that will be the cornerstone of your survival medicine cabinet: over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
OTC medications are drugs that deal with a wide variety of common medical issues. They’re important to give relief from pain related to injuries, symptoms of respiratory and intestinal infections, allergies, and other issues. Many OTC drugs were once available only by prescription but are now available for use by the general public. They represent a special opportunity for the prepared citizen to have a stockpile of important therapies for various problems.
Survival Medicine Suggestions
Given the complexity of manufacturing pharmaceuticals, these drugs will be nearly impossible to produce after a collapse. Even aspirin, the oldest manufactured drug, won’t be available (at least not in a form you’ll recognize). Which medications are wise (and affordable) to accumulate for possible disaster settings? Here’s a partial list of the most important, with a brief description and dosing recommendations. Note that the generic name is used first, with U.S. brand names following in parentheses.
Above: Every family medic needs a survival medicine cabinet.
Acetaminophen 325 mg (Tylenol)
A popular pain reliever and fever reducer. Although it’s not used as an anti-inflammatory, this drug is excellent for treatment of pain and fevers and, in lower doses, popular for children. Tylenol comes in regular (325 mg) and extra strength (650 mg); adults take one to two every four hours.
Ibuprofen 200 mg (Motrin, Advil)
A popular pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and fever reducer. This medication is useful for many different problems, which makes it especially useful as a stockpile item. It can ease pain from strains, sprains, arthritis, and traumatic injury. As well, it can help reduce inflammation in the injured area. Ibuprofen is also useful in reducing fevers from infections. The downside to ibuprofen is that it can cause stomach upset and is risky in those with kidney and liver disease. Ibuprofen 200 mg can be used one or two every four hours, three every six hours, or four every eight hours (maximum 3,200 mg per 24 hours).
(An aside: Patients with heat stroke receive little benefit from efforts to reduce their body core temperature with ibuprofen or acetaminophen; these drugs work best when the fever is caused by an infection, and don’t seem to work as well when infection isn’t involved, such as in heat stroke.)
Aspirin, 325 mg
If you already have ibuprofen and acetaminophen in your medical storage, why consider aspirin? Aspirin has been around since the late 19th century as a pain reliever, fever reducer, and anti-inflammatory. It has anti-coagulant (blood thinning) properties as well. Aspirin is also useful to treat older folks with coronary artery disease and a history of heart attack or stroke. If you suspect someone is currently having a heart attack, have them chew an entire adult aspirin immediately. It’s interesting to note that the active ingredient in aspirin can also be obtained by chewing on a cut strip or a tea made of the underbark of a willow, aspen, or poplar tree. Take two adult aspirin (325 mg) for pain, fever, and inflammation up to every four hours. One baby aspirin (81 mg) daily is used with coronary artery disease and as an anticoagulant. In survival settings, higher doses may be appropriate to replace stronger blood-thinning drugs like Coumadin (warfarin), but the amount needed hasn’t been fully researched. Watch for stomach upset and be careful in those with kidney and liver disease.
Loperamide (Imodium) 2 mg
There’s a high likelihood of food and water contamination issues in the aftermath of a disaster, so this medication is essential as an anti-diarrheal. By slowing intestinal motility, it helps prevent water loss and, thus, dehydration. Dehydration due to diarrheal disease killed more soldiers in the Civil War than bullets or shrapnel. The usual dose is 4 mg (two tablets) after the first loose bowel movement, and 2 mg (one tablet) after each subsequent loose bowel movement. No more than 8 mg (four tablets) should be taken in any 24-hour period. In addition, consider stocking some rehydration salts, a vital mix of electrolytes added to water to restore balance.
Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth sub-salicylate) 262 mg
This versatile OTC drug can handle a number of problems, including heartburn, indigestion, nausea, gas, and diarrhea. It’s considered the drug of choice for traveler’s diarrhea. Be aware that it turns bowel movements a black color. It comes in regular and extra strength. Dosing may vary, but 524 mg (two regular-strength tablets) orally every 30 to 60 minutes is commonly recommended. Use no more than eight doses of regular Pepto-Bismol in 24 hours. Total therapy should last no more than two days.
Above: Pepto will even work for traveler's diarrhea.
Laxatives/Stool Softeners
Many long shelf-life foods are binding and cause constipation. Therefore, stool softeners and laxatives may be helpful additions to medical storage. There are many different types that work in different ways to help evacuation. Laxatives and stool softeners aren’t exactly the same thing, however. A laxative is a substance that helps you have a bowel movement. Stool softeners like docusate (Colace, Senokot) wet and soften the stool. All stool softeners have a laxative effect, but not all laxatives soften the stool. Mineral oil, bisacodyl (Dulcolax), and glycerin are examples of the latter. Most of these medications are meant for short-term use and only when necessary.
Above: Gastrointestinal meds.
Meclizine 12.5, 25, 50 mg (Bonine, Antivert)
With diarrheal disease, you often have nausea and vomiting, so you’ll want to have meclizine on hand. It’s a medication that helps prevent nausea and vomiting. A common option to prevent motion sickness, meclizine helps with dizziness and tends to act as a sedative as well. As such, it may have uses as a sleep aid or anti-anxiety medication. Take one 25 mg tablet an hour before boarding, or 50-100 mg daily in divided doses for dizziness, anxiety, or sleep.
Omeprazole 20-40 mg (Prilosec) or other antacids
In a situation where we eat food to which we’re not accustomed, issues with stomach acid can arise. Antacids will calm heartburn, queasiness, and stomach upset. Dosing may vary, but 20 mg of omeprazole once a day before a meal is a good start. A number of viable alternatives are available like cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), and others. If you have already stocked ranitidine (Zantac), be aware that older versions have been found to cause certain cancers. The current version, however, is the same as Pepcid. Calcium carbonate (Tums) or magnesium sulfate (Maalox) are also fine to stockpile in their solid forms. Rolaids is an OTC that combines both calcium and magnesium. These medications are useful for acid reflux and ulcer disease.
Pseudoephedrine 30 mg, 60 mg (Sudafed)
Pseudoephedrine is used to treat nasal or sinus congestion caused by respiratory allergies and infections. It’s also used to relieve ear congestion caused by otitis media and other ear inflammation. Take up to 60 mg every four to six hours. Sudafed has been used in the production of methamphetamine, so you usually have to ask the pharmacist for it. Pseudoephedrine is also found in a number of anti-allergy meds which contain it in combination with other ingredients. These may add the suffix “-D” to the brand, such as Claritin-D, Zyrtec-D, and Mucinex-D.
Above: Meds to ease respiratory symptoms and allergies will improve work efficiency.
Diphenhydramine 25 mg, 50 mg (Benadryl)
An antihistamine that helps alleviate the itching, rashes, nasal congestion, and other symptoms of allergic reactions. It also helps dry the nasal passages but may also cause dehydration in some. At the higher 50 mg dose, it makes an effective sleep aid. Use 25 mg every six hours for mild reactions, 50 mg every six hours for severe reactions or sleep.
Above: Meds to deal with respiratory symptoms will help.
In situations where we’re left to fend for ourselves, we’ll be chopping wood and performing all sorts of tasks that will expose us to risk of injury. When those injuries break the skin, it puts us in danger of infections which may cause serious illness. Antibiotic ointments are applied at the site of injury to prevent this from happening. It should be noted that triple antibiotic ointment won’t cure a deep infection; you would need oral or IV antibiotics for that, but using the ointment immediately after an injury will give you a good chance at preventing it. Apply three to four times a day.
Above: Rashes and other skin issues will be commonplace.
Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
Hydrocortisone cream is a mild steroid used to treat various types of skin inflammation, like cases of dermatitis that cause redness, flakiness, itching, and thickening of the skin. Its versatility makes it a good alternative for allergic dermatitis, eczema, diaper rash, etc. Apply three to four times a day to affected area.
Infections can be bacterial, but they can also be caused by fungus. Common examples of this would be athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), vaginal infections (monilia), ringworm, and jock itch (tinea cruris). Clotrimazole and Miconazole are examples of anti-fungal medications that would be useful to treat these conditions, which will be just as common off the grid as they are now, if not more. Apply twice a day for external infections. Although most anti-fungal vaginal creams are applied internally once daily, be sure to use as directed on the packaging, as they may come in different strengths. In some, the whole treatment course is over in one day; in others, three days or a week.
Multivitamins
In survival settings, the lack of access to a good variety of food may lead to dietary deficiencies, not just in calories but in vitamins and minerals. Vitamin C deficiency, for example, leads to scurvy. To prevent these issues, you should have plenty of multivitamins in your medical storage. Despite recommendation on the bottle, you won’t have to take these on a daily basis; many multivitamins give you more than you need if taken daily, and you’ll just excrete what your body can’t absorb.
Above: Vitamins and supplements can avoid deficiencies.
[NOTE: The paragraph below contains information regarding veterinary antibiotics and the titles of my books that contain information about them for survival purposes.]
The good news is that you can probably obtain a significant amount of all of the above drugs for a reasonable amount of money. To retain full potency, these medications should be obtained in pill or capsule form; avoid the liquid versions of any of these medicines if at all possible.
When storing, remember that medications should be stored in cool, dry, dark places easy to access but away from children. A medicine stored at 90 degrees will lose potency much faster than one stored at 50 degrees.
Insulin Storage Tips
Access to insulin is essential for Type I diabetics. Basic forms of insulin (NPH, regular) are available in many states without a prescription. Insulin is best refrigerated (36 degrees F to 46 degrees F), but not frozen. Sealed vials usually are good for a year.
Above: Unopened insulin lasts a year. Opened lasts 28 days.
Note: For the least discomfort, refrigerated insulin should be warmed after dosing but before injecting.
If refrigeration isn’t an option, keep insulin vials between 59 degrees F to 86 degrees F. These will last about 28 days without losing potency.
Other tips to help insulin last longer:
Use an insulated container to keep insulin cool if traveling.
Keep insulin away from heating sources (but don’t let it freeze).
Store insulin away from sunlight.
Label the vial with the date you first opened it and the date 28 days afterward (when it loses potency).
Monitor your supply closely. If you use more than 33 units a day, a 1,000-unit vial will last less than 30 days.
Always keep extra vials of insulin in the refrigerator.
In addition, your medical storage should include OTC supplies other than medicines. A good variety of bandages and dressings are necessary to deal with wounds and orthopedic injuries. Antiseptics such as povidone-iodine solution (Betadine), chlorhexidine (Hibiclens), Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK), and isopropyl alcohol will help prevent infections and save lives.
Above: A variety of non-drug supplies is also essential.
Over-the-counter drugs are just another weapon in the survival medicine cabinet; accumulate them as well as prescription drugs for chronic illnesses and other problems. Review medical histories with group members to get an idea of what might be necessary to keep them healthy. Natural alternatives are also important, such as aloe gel for burns. Certainly, you’ll eventually run out of the commercially made products. Supplies to treat bleeding wounds or other trauma are also imperative to have available. With a good stockpile, you’ll have everything you need to keep it together health-wise, even if everything else falls apart.
About the Author
Joe Alton MD, FACOG, FACS is an actively licensed physician and surgeon, medical preparedness advocate, and New York Times/Amazon bestselling author on medical topics related to austere settings. He’s a member of the Wilderness Medical Society and a certified Advanced Wilderness Expedition Provider. His Survival Medicine Handbook (4th Edition) won first place in the 2022 Book Excellence Awards in medicine, and his book Alton’s Antibiotics and Infectious Disease won the same award in 2020. His survival medicine website at doomandbloom.net has over 1200 articles, podcasts, and videos.
Bring a Trailer is a massive digital auction platform that helps vehicle sellers and buyers connect after a successful bid. While the kinds of vehicles being auctioned range from classic cars to collector vehicles, it is not limited to those. Recently a seriously tricked out 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser went up for auction on the site. Although the reserve was not met, it highlights the fact that there are other ways to get into the overlanding experience without having to be mechanically inclined.
Above: Modified 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser. Source of photo and Bring a Trailer listing found here.
How It Came To Be
This overlanding rig has a bit of a history that starts nearly 12 years ago. One morning in 2011, two CEO's passionate about overlanding, decided they would embark on an expedition across the globe, a trip that would span all seven continents and over 58,000 miles. This would turn into what is now known as Expedition 7 (E7), and you can read about the journey in its entirety on their website here. Long story short: they focused on using the Toyota Land Cruiser, partnering with various companies to outfit them for peak overlanding performance, and made one for each continent.
Above: Front view of the commemorative 78-Series Toyota Land Cruiser
A Peek Inside
Bring a Trailer listed one of the commemorative 78-Series Toyota Land Cruisers on their site, and it is tricked out to the max by German-based off-road vehicle builder Maltec Leichbautechnologie. With only 61 miles on the odometer, the fully loaded 78-Series has a custom color pallet, custom upholstery, and has been modified so a custom, carbon fiber camper box could be installed that features a pop-out roof, a sink, a JetBoil portable stove, an electric water heater, a cabin heater, a shore power connection port, and roof-mounted solar panels.
Above: Inside view of the custom camping box modified to fit on the back of the 78-Series Toyota Land Cruiser.
Affixed to the exterior of the 78-Series, you'll find an electric winch with synthetic line, a snorkel, MaxTrax MKII recovery boards, Zarges aluminum storage cases, and a 12.5-gallon auxiliary fuel tank. E7 even threw in features such as tow hooks, storage lockers, and an outdoor shower connection. Under the hood rests a powerful 381hp 5.7-liter V8 illuminated by an underhood LED lighting system.
Above: A peek under the hood of the 78-Series Toyota Land Cruiser customized for overlanding by E7
More About Bring A Trailer
For the uninitiated, overlanding has become a popular pass time over the recent years, with outdoor enthusiasts finding innumerable ways to update and equip their vehicles to handle a slew of on and off-road challenges. The idea in most cases is to take a four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle, add parts and gear that improve its off-road capabilities while allowing one to essentially live out of it, and drive it into the remote areas. Kind of like going on an adventure hike, but with wheels, shelter from the elements, and potentially avoiding those pesky nuances like dangerous wildlife, sprained ankles, or clouds of mosquitos.
Vehicles listed on Bring A Trailer could be a potential way to get started in the realm of overlanding, and it doesn't necessarily have to cost 200k like the custom 78-Series discussed earlier. The Jeep Wrangler below fits the bill, and sold previously for 55k.
Above: Overland modified 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. Source of photo and the Bring a Trailer listing found here.
Or this Land Rover which, at the time of this article, is up for bid for 45K.
Above: Overland-Modified 1997 Land Rover Defender. Source of photo and listing found here.
Someone who is good with tools and tinkering can buy what they need to improve their overland rig, and spend the weekend making upgrades in the driveway. But for those without the time, or the know-how, may find it difficult to experience the excitement overlanding can offer. Bring a Trailer has the potential to circumvent this problem by listing pre-made overlanding rigs. No engineering effort required. Win the auction and the buyer has a bonafide overlanding rig with all the bells and whistles. Bring a Trailer also has an All-Terrain Vehicle category in case you need to take overlanding to the next level by deploying a quad, trike or snow-machine.
Above: Although it's not what you'd normally think of as an overland vehicle, this unusual 1964 Hus-Ski 200A snowmobile caught our interest. Source of photo and Bring a Trailer listing found here.
For more auctions of custom, rare, and unusual vehicles, check out bringatrailer.com. The site boasts over 1 million registered users, so you're likely to find more than a few builds that suit your needs.
One of the more interesting blade styles is the Hawkbill blade. They have an old history and are used in everything from gardening to combat and personal protection. Of course, one of the more famous designs is the karambit. This time out we avoided ringed karambits, as they’re in a category all their own. Steve Tarani and others who specialize in karambits and the arts in which they’re used maintain that it’s the curved blade, even more so than the ring, that makes a knife a karambit.
Not popular as a chopper like a machete or Kukri, the Hawkbill blade excels at slicing and cutting. These knives have a pointed tip but typically aren’t used for stabbing like a dagger. Hawkbill knife blades in the West were most commonly fixed blades and slipjoints used for gardening and utilitarian chores such as cutting carpet or linoleum. The design would evolve over time, although we chose an example of the utility type knife as well.
Aside from self-defense or pruning, the Hawkbill excels at cutting rope, webbing, netting and line because the curved tip holds the object you’re cutting against the sharp edge. If there’s a drawback to these types of knives, it may be maintaining the edge on a curved blade. Whetstones and straight sharpening devices won’t work here. You can either send them back to the maker or manufacturer, visit or send to a professional knife sharpener, or invest in a round-shaped sharpening stone or rod. It’s a natural shape in that it often follows the same shape as the claws of raptors, big cats, bears, or other animals and that may be part of its inspiration.
The Hawkbill surely runs the gamut from minuscule to extra-large and from basic utility to self-defense. It may not be favored by everyone, but they definitely fill a niche for most knife users.
Kershaw Knives
Launch 10
Kershaw Knives is mostly associated with their speed-assisted knives, but they’ve been making autos for almost as long. The Launch 10, nicknamed “the Claw” by employees at Kershaw, is their take on the Hawkbill design. This is a sub-2-inch blade auto, which should make it legal in most areas, like California. It definitely packs a lot of cutting power into its small size and a Hawkbill blade makes complete sense for that reason.
Pros:
The blade is made from CPM154 — that means it’s tough, razor sharp, rust resistant, and sports an easily maintainable edge.
Very small and handy, this knife performed well as a cutter, and the factory grind was just about perfect.
Fires like a rocket every time like all autos should function
Cons:
The pocket clip is a bit too tight from the factory for fast access.
Although legal in California, it can be hard to find in some areas.
Spyderco’s Harpy may have been one of the first of the modern tactical Hawkbill blades put out by a production knife company. If you know the history of the company, this design pairs a classic knife style with Spyderco’s patented serrations, and it’s perfect for cutting rope, webbing, fishing nets, etc., particularly in a wet or maritime environment. Spyderco designed it for the commercial fishing industry. A hole in the handle helps the blade dry while it’s closed. One of the company’s most effective and influential designs, models such as the Merlin, Tasman Salt, and others followed in its footsteps.
Pros:
VG10 steel is easy to maintain, wear resistant, and rust resistant.
Lock-back mechanism offers strength and security.
The clip can be positioned tip-up, tip-down, left-handed, or right-handed.
Cons:
Can be hard to obtain due to demand
The stainless handle can get slick under wet conditions; some texturing would be welcome on this one.
Toor Knives is one of those companies that constantly surprises me with the quality of their offerings. The Karsumba is their take on the Karambit without the distinctive ring to make it more concealable. The Micarta handles offer a no-slip grip, and the look and feel of the FlexTech Kydex is nothing short of amazing. This is one of those knives that once you pick it up, you don’t want to put it down.
Pros:
Very comfortable in the hand, particularly in the reverse grip.
The blade is made from CPM 154; it’s tough, razor sharp, rust resistant, and sports an easily maintainable edge.
Although it’s obviously intended for self-defense, it performs all tasks well.
Cons:
Availability can be an issue. Toor Knives tend to sell out quickly once they’re in stock.
Mounting it on the belt for ideal placement and deployment took a bit of adjusting. I like how makers and manufacturers give you the options, but sometimes we need suggestions, too.
Böker USA is the American division of Böker Knives who has been making knives, swords, and hardware since the 18th century. The Hawkbill knife hearkens back to an older time period when the average pocketknife was the slip joint and the average Hawkbill knife was more of a utilitarian knife as opposed to a fighting blade. The jigged bone handles with stainless steel bolsters, shield embedded in the scales, slip joint, and a nail nick opener remind one more of the knives used in scouting. The hollow-ground blade is 440C and came decently sharpened from the factory.
Pros:
Very light and easy to carry in the pocket
A good starter knife for a young person who needs to learn knife safety by two-handed opening.
440C is a great steel that’s easy to sharpen and rust resistant. At one time it seemed to be the default steel for pocketknives.
Cons:
Slipjoint knives do not lock, so use care with hard-use-type tasks.
Some modern users may not like the lack of a clip. This just drops in the pocket or fits in a belt sheath.
Elvia is a knife design from the mind of Ed Calderon. You may have read his writing in the pages of this magazine or his online posting as “Ed’s Manifesto.” It’s based on the type of knife his mother used to carry; she could use it as a kitchen knife or as a fighting blade to protect her family in Mexico. A number of custom knife makers have produced the design on behalf of Calderon, but Emerson’s may be the only factory take on the knife. Emerson himself has joked about starting a knife company just to satisfy the demand for this model. It’s advised to take a class on the use of this knife with Calderon as it behaves a little differently than most folders.
Pros:
154CM steel is razor sharp, rust resistant, and sports an easily maintainable edge.
Excels at cutting and slicing, even in the kitchen
Strong titanium liner lock
Cons:
If you can’t wait for Emerson Knives, the secondary market will have a serious bite regarding price.
It’s only tapped for clip use for right-handed users. Emerson can tap the other scale for an up-charge.
Some knives grab you when you first see them from across the room, and the Grumpy by Bastinelli Creations definitely fits that category. It might not fit what you think of when you think “knife,” but it certainly fits the bill in more ways than one. The Grumpy is more of a sickle, scythe, or Japanese Kama-inspired blade. I was a bit hesitant to include it, but had to once I realized its utility and saw a role for it on my pack for wilderness excursions. Made of M390 with Micarta handles, it rides in a Kydex sheath. This piece won the Best Factory Tactical award at the 2022 BLADE Show West.
Pros:
M390 is a super steel that’s hard, exhibits great wear resistance, and probably the ultimate in corrosion resistance.
Razor sharp with a small, serrated section on top of the blade for added utility.
The rubber belt loop carry attachment works well for keeping the blade in an upright and ready-to-go position while remaining secure.
Cons:
May be large for concealment in urban environments
You may need to carry another knife for most EDC tasks.
Reese Weiland is a custom knifemaker from Florida known for his iconic Hawkbill blades. The Rastor is his signature knife, and this same blade style is used on many of his other models. Sharp readers will notice it is the profile for the Microtech Hawk. This example has a Twist Damascus blade and blued Damascus bolsters with pre-ban elephant ivory scales and scrimshaw by Presidential Scrimshander Michael Hasbun. A blue sapphire is set in the thumb stud.
Pros:
This is a true custom knife, and this model can be ordered in a variety of steels and handle materials.
The hollow ground blade slices like a razor.
No bearings, etc., yet the knife opens and closes extremely smooth
Cons:
This particular example may be a bit too much to have on as an EDC knife. However, the knife can be had in a variety of different ways.
No pocket clip or sheath for carry unless you have a sheath made
There may be a long wait for one of these or a high aftermarket price.
When you're planning a road trip, food and drinks are a necessity. For trips on major highways, it's easy to make a pit stop at a convenience store to buy sodas and snacks, or hit a grocery store or restaurant for larger meals. However, when you're venturing off the beaten path — especially for multi-day off-road expeditions — you'll need to bring all your food and beverages with you. While it's true that you could rely entirely on shelf-stable MREs and freeze-dried camping meals, these items are often costly, unappetizing, and/or unhealthy due to high levels of sodium and preservatives. The ability to bring real food — fresh meat, eggs, cheese, fruits and veggies, and so on — makes every trip more enjoyable, whether it's a half-day solo outing or a cross-country family expedition. Fresh food isn't just tastier, it's healthier and more cost-effective than vacuum-packed “camping food.” This realization led me to upgrade my 2022 4Runner overland vehicle build with a Dometic CFX3 fridge, which runs on AC power from a wall outlet or 12V DC power from a vehicle or mobile battery pack.
First, let's take a look at the pros and cons of mobile 12-volt refrigeration.
Why Use a Fridge Instead of a Cooler?
Virtually everyone already owns a regular cooler or ice chest, whether it's an old Coleman or a fancy new Yeti. These insulated containers can keep things cold for a few days with the addition of a couple bags of ice. That said, there are numerous reasons most American homes switched from insulated iceboxes to electric refrigerators nearly 80 years ago. Many of these reasons also apply to storing food at campsites and in vehicles. Here are some of the problems associated with ice-filled coolers:
Ice melts quickly. In warm climates, or if your cooler isn't very well-insulated or sealed, your ice may melt in 48 hours or less. Then you'll need to go buy more, which leads to our next point…
Ice must be re-supplied frequently. Buying ice is not expensive, but the cost does add up, and it's certainly a hassle. More importantly, there are many places where you simply won't be able to resupply — multi-day camping or hunting trips in remote locations, for example.
Food safety is a serious concern. Ice keeps your cooler extremely cold (maybe even too cold) at first, but the temperature gradually rises over time as the ice melts. In the beginning, you may freeze food inadvertently; at the end, perishable items such as meat and dairy may creep up into the >40°F “danger zone” where bacteria thrives. Nothing ruins a day faster than puking your guts out due to spoiled food.
Ice makes a mess. Once it's melted, you're left with a cooler full of tepid water that leaves remaining contents soggy. And if your cooler's drain doesn't seal perfectly, that water may leak and soak all your other gear.
Coolers can be surprisingly expensive. High-end, American-made coolers can easily set you back $400 to $600, especially if you want features like wheels and latches. You can always buy the bargain brand for a fraction of the cost, but it might not be as durable or as well-insulated.
Above: All this food fit into our CFX3 55IM fridge, with room to spare and no concerns about melting ice. The removable baskets make loading and cleaning easy.
If you're a serious camper, hunter, or overland enthusiast, 12-volt refrigerators alleviate many of the problems above, but they're not without drawbacks. Here are some of the downsides to buying a mobile fridge:
High up-front cost. Fridges aren't cheap, especially if you're seeking one large enough to feed a whole family for several days. Dometic's current offerings range from $500 to $1,400. However, we'd argue the long-term benefits outweigh the cost.
They're only as good as your power source. In many cases, this is as simple as plugging your fridge into the 12-volt outlet in your vehicle, but those outlets typically only provide power when the engine is running. If you're parking longer than a few hours, you should have a battery, power bank, or solar panel that can keep the fridge running and the food cold until you start driving again. (I'll explain how I rectified this later.)
Dometic CFX3 55IM 12-Volt Fridge
Once I decided to pick up a 12-volt fridge for my 4Runner project, I quickly settled on Dometic, a company that has been a leader in mobile refrigerators since 1968. Dometic fridges are popular in the RV and “van life” markets among folks who live on the road for months at a time, so I figured they'd offer a dependable solution for the shorter camping and overland trips I have planned. Specifically, I chose the Dometic CFX3 55IM model, which offers a 53-liter storage capacity and built-in ice maker. That capacity is equivalent to 83 soda cans, and should have no trouble holding enough food for a small family for a week. MSRP for this model is $1,080.
Above: The ice tray contains two removable ice cube molds.
This fridge is a single-zone model, so aside from the small ice tray, it keeps all its contents at one temperature. It can be set as low as -7°F to keep food frozen solid, at a more typical 36°F for refrigeration, or as high as 50°F to conserve energy and keep non-perishable contents cool.
Above: The area above the ice tray is ideal for storing smaller items like canned drinks.
Dometic's VMSO3 compressor uses standard R134a refrigerant, and can run on either AC power from a wall outlet or 12/24-volt DC power (rated at 8.9 amps) from a cigarette-lighter-style automotive outlet. A pair of 6.6-foot cables are included for each power source. Thanks to a vibration- and noise-reducing housing, the compressor is also surprisingly quiet; it's rated at 48 dB(A), and I had no trouble sleeping in the 4Runner right next to it.
Above: A drain plug at the bottom of the Dometic CFX3 allows users to wash out the fridge easily.
Unlike residential fridges that get a constant supply of “clean” electricity from the power grid, mobile fridges are designed to run on vehicle alternators, batteries, and solar-powered systems that have much greater voltage fluctuations. The Dometic CFX3 has smart voltage regulation to deal with inconsistent or “dirty” power sources. Its three-stage dynamic battery protection system ensures the fridge will turn off before it fully depletes your truck's battery — in a worst-case scenario, your food will get warm, but at least you won't also be stranded. (For deep-draw dual-battery systems, you can limit or disable this safeguard.)
Ice Maker The “IM” in this fridge's name indicates that it features an ice maker with two removable silicone ice cube trays. When the ice maker is turned on via a menu setting, it'll produce 50 small cubes of ice in a few hours. It's just right for a nice cocktail at the end of a long day on the trail.
Controls & Monitoring Through the CFX3 mobile app for iOS or Android, users can connect to the fridge over Bluetooth (short range) or over a WiFi network (for remote access). This offers the ability to power the fridge on or off, see current DC voltage, and check temperature history in the last hour, day, or over the course of a week. On this same graph, energy consumption data (in amp hours per hour) is tracked to help you forecast how long the fridge will run under current conditions.
Above: The CFX3 mobile app offers control over all the fridge's settings, including WiFi network access and battery protection level. If the fridge is connected to an external battery, the Low setting can be used to keep the fridge running until the battery drops to 10.1V, extending run time; Medium shuts off at 11.2V and High shuts off at 11.8V.
It's possible to set an alarm at a temperature threshold, alerting anyone in the vicinity if the fridge starts warming up due to low battery or ambient conditions. The app can also send a notification if the lid is left open for more than 3 minutes.
Without the aid of the app, the CFX3's functions can be controlled through the built-in weatherproof buttons and color display. The display prominently shows input voltage, WiFi and Bluetooth status, current temperature, and any alerts or notifications the user has configured. A setup menu allows the user to turn the ice maker on or off, change temperature units, adjust battery protection level, configure wireless network settings, and more.
An Unpleasant Surprise: Warranty Exchange
Above: The three screws that were supposed to retain the latch were seemingly never installed at the factory. This was only the beginning of the issues with the first CFX3 I received.
When I received the CFX3 fridge and excitedly removed it from its box, I noticed the latch on the lid seemed crooked. After taking a closer look, I realized all three of the small screws that were supposed to attach it to the lid were missing, and the latch fell out in my hand. I scoured the box, but the screws were nowhere to be found. This was mildly annoying, but I figured I could always ask Dometic to mail me some replacement screws — not the end of the world. But that was only the tip of this iceberg (no pun intended).
Above: Plugging in the fridge resulted in a bright red error message on the display as well as the mobile app.
As I plugged in the CFX3 fridge for the first time, the screen greeted me with a bright red message: !WARNING 33. After checking the manual, this warning code indicates compressor failure. I followed the instructions and power-cycled the fridge, but this error persisted and the compressor refused to start on AC or DC power. Thinking that this fridge must have been built at 4:50pm on a Friday, I picked up my phone and called Dometic customer service. A helpful and sympathetic young lady listened to my description of the issue and walked me through some troubleshooting steps, but eventually determined that the unit was defective and would need to be exchanged under warranty.
Above: Warning 33 corresponded to a compressor failure. This meant I had received a defective fridge and would need to exchange it under warranty.
Dometic provided an RMA shipping label, and I boxed up the fridge and dropped it off at a local FedEx store. Twenty-seven (yes, 27) days later, I received a replacement CFX3 55IM. Needless to say, this was a frustrating experience and certainly not what I expected from a $1,000 product from a well-known brand. However, this is a sample size of one, and I may have simply been very unlucky.
Thankfully, the replacement fridge had a properly-installed latch and a functional compressor, so I proceeded with testing.
In the Field
I took my new Dometic CFX3 fridge out on a three-day camping trip for some field testing. Ambient temperatures ranged from about 30°F at night to about 65°F during the day. Before the trip, I plugged the fridge into an AC power outlet at my house to “pre-cool” to my desired setting of 36°F, and then packed it with food. Next, I loaded it into the back of my 4Runner and connected it to the 12V DC plug on the front of my Goal Zero Yeti 1500X power station (as reviewed in Issue 52 of Offgrid). The Yeti was connected via a Yeti 12V car charging cable to a DC plug in the back of the 4Runner. When the truck is running, it charges the power station which provides stable power to the fridge; when the truck isn't running, the fridge runs solely off the power station's battery.
Above: The Yeti 1500X provided more than enough power for the fridge, as well as my other electronic devices.
During the trip, the CFX3 mobile app showed a stable internal temperature that only fluctuated up and down slightly as the compressor cycled on and off. The insulation appears quite good, and the latch clicks shut for an air-tight seal. If I'm being picky, it might be a little too tight, since I did have to remind my friends to give the lid an extra firm push to make sure it closed.
Above: Screenshots showing internal temperature and power consumption in 50-degree ambient temperature (left) and 80-degree ambient temperature (right). Note that the Ah/h graph scale is not consistent between the two screenshots; don't pay attention to the height of the bars, only to the numbers they indicate.
My Yeti 1500X battery has a rated capacity of 1,516 watt hours, or 140.4 amp hours (Ah) at 10.8 volts. At a full 12V, that works out to 126Ah. During the trip, power draw hovered around 0.5Ah per hour on average, which equates to a total of 36Ah over the course of the 72-hour test.
In simpler terms, the fridge used a little less than 30% of the power station's capacity in three days (about 10% per day).
Above: In long-term off-grid settings, a solar panel can be used to recharge the Goal Zero Yeti during the daytime.
Granted, the cool to cold weather was ideal for this test. Later, I tested the CFX3 in 80-degree ambient temperatures, and it consumed about 1.4Ah per hour on average. Under these warm conditions, it will use roughly 72% of the Yeti 1500X's battery in three days (about 24% per day). Keep in mind that opening the lid frequently will increase energy consumption. These run times may also be extended by changing the fridge's battery protection mode to allow lower minimum voltage.
Regardless of the weather, I should have no trouble at all running the CFX3 fridge for several days on the Goal Zero battery without needing to start the truck's engine or plug in a solar panel.
Closing Thoughts
Despite my frustration towards the defective unit I initially received and the delay in receiving a replacement, my experience with the CFX3 fridge improved dramatically once I got one that wasn't a dud. The fridge feels sturdy and durable, fits nicely into the back of my 4Runner, and has tons of space for food and drinks. I loaded it with bacon, eggs, hash browns, and salsa for breakfast burritos, plus cream for the coffee I made in my JetBoil each morning. It held cold cuts, sliced cheese, and condiments for sandwiches at lunchtime. For dinner, we had more steaks, burger patties, and brats than we could eat. All that barely put a dent in the cavernous capacity of the CFX3 55IM — it's amazing how much room you have for food when your cooler isn't half full of ice.
I was pleasantly surprised by how quiet and energy-efficient the CFX3 was in the field. My Yeti battery had no trouble running it for several days, and should be able to manage a week of typical use in cool weather. And the ice maker, while not necessary, is an added luxury that impresses everyone when you're 50 miles from civilization.
Any time it's not sitting in my vehicle, I keep this fridge plugged in to the wall in my “man cave” as a mini-fridge for drinks. There's also an emergency preparedness value to consider — if the power goes out due to a storm, I can load perishable items from my home fridge into the Dometic and run it off battery power. The food doesn't spoil and the day is saved. Keep that one in mind in case you need to convince your spouse that your $1,000 fridge isn't just for keeping beer cold.
For more information on the Dometic CFX3, go to Dometic.com.
Mounting the right optic to your firearm is one of the most important modifications you can make. When it comes to targets way out in the distance, a magnified optic can make shooting precisely much easier. The Sightron S1 4-12×40 G2 is waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof and will have you on target in no time. It features a variable magnification range of 4x to 12x, and a 40mm objective lens that provides a wide field of view. The multi-coated optics deliver bright and clear images even in low-light conditions. Built to withstand the recoil of most rifles, it features a nitrogen charged, O-ring sealed one-piece main tube constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum. With several reticle options available and 1/4 MOA adjustments, it can be fine-tuned to handle long-range tasks.
Looking for a modern twist on a medieval gauntlet? These gloves were designed to keep your knuckles from busting, while still being agile enough to thread a needle. Wiley X Durtac gloves are a type of tactical gloves designed for use in several outdoor and work environments. They’re constructed with durable leather and nylon, providing a high level of protection while still allowing for dexterity and flexibility. Knuckle protectors and reinforced fingertips add additional protection in high-impact areas. The gloves also feature a soft, synthetic leather palm for a secure grip and a hook-and-loop wrist closure for a snug fit. Designed to withstand harsh conditions, the gloves are ideal for anyone who routinely abuses their hands, such as law enforcement, military, construction, and industrial work.
Designed with a feminine fit, which contours to the body for maximum mobility and comfort, the Sitka Women’s Jetstream Jacket is a high-performance hunting jacket designed specifically for the ladies. It’s made from GORE-Windstopper fabric, which is both waterproof and breathable, keeping the wearer dry and comfortable in a wide range of weather conditions. Featuring recycled polyester fabric with polyester micro-grid fleece interior, a synthetic insulation material that’s both lightweight and warm, the Jetstream reduces bulk without diminishing the heat. Equipped with various pockets, including chest and hand pockets, the Jetstream provides ample storage space for hunting essentials. Pit-zips increase airflow when you’re on the move, reducing moisture buildup from perspiration. With a multitude of colors and patterns to choose from, the Women’s Jetstream Jacket is suitable for any hunting season and weather conditions.
COLORS
Elevated II, Laurel, Lead, Mud, Optifade Subalpine, Sitka Black
Easily one of the most overlooked EDC items, the right light will allow one to navigate when the lights go out or even temporarily disorient an assailant. Streamlight’s ProTac 2.0 is a compact, high-performance flashlight designed for use in a wide range of applications. It features a high-powered LED that provides up to 2,000 lumens of light output, with a beam distance of up to 262 meters. Powered by the Streamlight SL-B50 protected Li-Ion USB rechargeable battery pack and has a maximum runtime of up to 25 hours on low and up to 2.5 hours on high. The ProTac 2.0 features a multi-function push-button tail switch that allows for easy operation even with gloves on and has three different operating modes: high, low, and strobe. Constructed with 6000 series machined aluminum and coated Type II MIL-Spec anodized finish, it’s impact-resistant and waterproof. Compact, lightweight, and easy to carry, it’s perfect for hunting, camping, security, and other outdoor activities.
Way back when farming and food preservation was how most of civilization survived, people lived by the old saying “waste not, want not.” As inflation rises and food becomes more precious, finding ways to preserve the food we have before it goes bad is increasingly important. Fortunately, dehydration is the most simplistic way of keeping food around for a long time, and Chard provides an elegant tool to do just that. The 8 Tray Stainless Steel Digital Dehydrator is designed to dry fruits, vegetables, meat, herbs, and more. It has eight spacious trays with a total drying space of about 9 square feet, allowing you to dry large quantities of food at once. Equipped with a digital thermostat and timer, the dehydrator allows you to set the temperature and time for optimal drying results. The temperature range can be adjusted between 95 and 176 degrees F, allowing you to dry a wide variety of foods. Its clear tempered glass door lets you monitor the progress of your food without having to open the door and interrupt the drying process.
One of the biggest complaints about women’s pants and leggings is the deliberate lack of functionality. Varusteleka has developed a solution by designing leggings that offer more than comfort. The Särmä Adventure Leggings are a versatile and durable outdoor clothing item designed for rugged adventures and demanding activities. Made from a high-quality, abrasion-resistant fabric that’s both breathable and quick-drying, the leggings are comfortable to wear and easy to care for. Featuring multiple pockets, including thigh pockets for storage of essentials, a hidden key pocket, and belt loops for accessory clips, these leggings have plenty of storage space. Reinforced knees and seat for added durability will keep unseemly holes from wearing through the fabric. The waistband is adjustable, and the belt loops allow for a multitude of belt types, further increasing its versatility. These are a great choice for anyone looking for something more than gym or casual wear.
Even more important than a steady supply of food is a source of clean drinking water. And being able to filter water isn’t relegated to backcountry hikers and survivalists. If the power goes out and the water in your home stops flowing or there’s a contaminated municipal water supply, having a filter as a backup could turn a serious crisis into a mild inconvenience. The Sawyer One Gallon Gravity Water Filter is a portable water filtration system that utilizes gravity to filter water from sources such as lakes, rivers, streams, or even a faucet. It includes a 1-gallon water bag, a dual-threaded mini filter, and a cleaning plunger. The filter is capable of removing 99.99999 percent of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera, and E.coli, and 99.9999 percent of all protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium. The filter is also incredibly easy to use; just fill the bag with water, hang it, and allow the water to pass through the filter into a container or hydration system below. It’s also easy to maintain, with the included cleaning plunger allowing for easy cleaning and prolonging the life of the filter. The Sawyer One Gallon Gravity Water Filter is a reliable and efficient way to filter large amounts of water for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and backpacking.
Footwear is literally the point where your own rubber meets the road, and what you choose to keep your feet in optimal condition matters. The Deckers X Lab G8 Boot is a high-performance boot designed for extreme outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering. In case you military folks were wondering, it’s AR670-1 compliant. Its fully lined upper with spacer mesh makes it breathable while keeping feet dry and allowing moisture to escape. The boot is designed to provide excellent stability and support, thanks to its lightweight Vibram outsole and high rebound PU midsole. The outsole is also designed to provide a good grip on various terrains, making it suitable for use in rugged environments. The G8 has a traditional lace-up design that allows for a customized and secure fit, and weighing in at 2.5 pounds, it won’t bog you down when a situation calls for speed and agility.
Helle Knives is a brand that has specialized in the fusion of beauty and functionality for three generations, and every blade they make follows in that tradition. The Nord, a traditional, fixed-blade knife, is a potent work of art crafted by this intrepid Norwegian company. Designed for outdoor use, such as hunting and camping, it features a 5.79-inch Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel blade that’s both strong and sharp. The wooden handle is made from stabilized curly birch and is designed to fit comfortably in the hand, providing a secure grip even in wet conditions. Each sheath that the Nord comes with is made from traditional leather and provides a belt loop for easy carrying. Polished to a near mirror finish and sharpened with a Scandi grind, it’s an elegant and practical tool that’s built to last.
Have you ever watched a movie of the Red Dawn variety and wondered to yourself, What would it be like if that actually happened? Well, wonder no more, because Rip Rawlings has wargamed a similar scenario that’s perfectly plausible and entertaining to boot. The Kill Box is Rawling’s second installment of a series that follows protagonist Tyce Asher, a Marine Corps combat veteran, on his relentless campaign to resist a Russian incursion on the American continent. As a Marine Corps infantry and Reconnaissance Officer with over 23 years of active-duty service, Lieutenant Colonel Hunter Ripley “Rip” Rawlings IV is able to infuse his writing with a vast amount of personal experience. Running the gamut between tense calm to explosive action, this series is sure to have you on the edge of your seat wanting more. Better yet, it might even get you thinking about what you might do in that situation.
As remote and hybrid work becomes increasingly popular, the need for a portable office is also on the rise. The Helinox Tactical Field Office is a versatile piece of outdoor gear designed for use in various outdoor activities such as camping, hunting, and military or emergency management operations. It’s a lightweight and compact table that can be set up and taken down easily, making it easy to grab from a vehicle or carry to a more remote location. The Tactical Field Office also features built-in organizers that include a large inner storage pocket, MOLLE loops, and tie-down points, allowing you to keep your gear organized and easily accessible. Compatible with other Helinox gear, such as chairs and cots, it’s easy to create a complete camping or hunting setup. Others have even used it for a mobile triage station, but it could also be a great way to move an office to the beach.
Not all optics are created equal, and it’s tough to find serious viewing power in smaller models. But ZeroTech has created some binos that are impressive in both capabilities and in price. Designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the Australian Outback, Thrive HD 8×25 binoculars are a high-performance set of binoculars that are both shock-resistant and waterproof. Featuring a compact and lightweight design, they’re easy to carry and handle without feeling like they are getting in the way. The HD’s comfortable and ergonomic design, rubber lens covers, and a center focus knob allow for easy and precise adjustments. The binos also come with a carrying case and neck strap for easy transport and storage. Equipped with multi-coated HD lenses, the Thrive HD provides a sharp and clear image, even in low light conditions. They have a magnification of 8x and an objective lens of 25mm, making them perfect for a wide range of applications.
Most of the training events we cover in this column are courses on how to shoot — whether it’s long-range shots with rifles, fast strings with pistols, or how to manage the oft-intimidating self-defense shotgun. This one is a little different. Last summer, we had the opportunity to attend two lectures put on by career LEO and firearms trainer John Hearne. Hearne has dedicated a significant amount of time to high-level academic research in some topics that may, at first glance, sound dry to the average shooter. These were full-day lectures, with zero range time and a lot of very in-depth technical and historical discussion. We don’t say any of this to dissuade you from his courses. On the contrary, we highly recommend you attend any of his lectures if you ever have the chance. The first was Who Wins, Who Loses, and Why — an in-depth look at a range of factors pertaining to how human beings are biologically programmed to react under life-threatening stress, and how to build effective training programs around those factors. The second was Defeating Violent Criminals, which focused on some historical case studies of the worst-of-the-worst bad guys, and how much a motivated criminal can accomplish when they apply their nefarious worldview and skillset.
Who Wins, Who Loses, & Why
In Who Wins, Who Loses … Hearne starts by peeling back the surface layers of some commonly overused training tropes. For example, many self-defense courses touch on the concept of the “fight, flight, or freeze” response. Almost none of those courses discuss how or why this decision-matrix is hardwired into the most primitive part of our brains. He goes on to explain that, in caveman days, man’s greatest threats-to-life were large natural predators: think lions, tigers, or woolly mammoths. Most of these creatures have vision-processing patterns based on movement, since they’re wired to chase fleeing prey animals like deer or antelope. So, in ancient times, freezing in the face of a perceived threat made a lot of sense. This evolutionary understanding can also explain phenomenon like auditory exclusion. If you have to fight off a massive four-legged animal with a spear, do you need acute auditory input to win that fight? No. This deep-set biological wiring is why, even today, soldiers or LEOs report having no recollection of hearing anything during a gunfight — because that neural processing power is re-routed to things like increasing blood flow to major muscle groups for fighting or fleeing. Likewise, tunnel vision is a side-effect of evolution being optimized for one-on-one encounters with a large predator on the plains, as opposed to squad-based movement in a 360-degree urban environment. This layered understanding of why the human body responds the way it does led to perhaps our single biggest revelation of the course, succinctly worded by Hearne as follows:
“The shift of an opponent from a rational response to an emotional one is arguably the most important point in human conflict. The fighter who can push his opponent to an emotional response while remaining in a rational response has the greatest probability of winning.”
This quote puts a much sharper biological point on why the famed OODA loop is so important to prevailing in interpersonal violence.
Defeating Violent Criminals
Defeating Violent Criminals is a crash course in the darkest parts of the human psyche. Hearne uses two main historical case studies to convey these lessons: the Newhall Incident of 1970, and the Miami FBI shootout of 1986. These are both high-profile incidents with wide pop-culture recognition and mountains of available background information, which makes them great teaching tools.
The rest of the course covers both Newhall and Miami in painstaking and immersive detail, focusing deeply on the human aspects of the perpetrators and officers involved. At various points, Hearne includes information from their childhoods, criminal or LE careers, accounts from family members and (un)professional resumes over the span of their respective lifetimes. He points out a disturbing but documentable pattern of these personality types operating in pairs or small groups to commit the most heinous of crimes. Newhall, Miami, North Hollywood, the Toybox Killers, the Murder Mac van killers, the Manson family … some of the most infamous crimes in history, all of which include teams of like-minded murderers who managed to find each other and team up to increase the magnitude of their crimes. Coming face-to-face with such a team may be one of the lowest-probability survival scenarios, but it carries one of the highest levels of danger for the intended victim — which, in our opinion, makes it an incredibly important scenario to prepare for.
Final Thoughts
We were immensely impressed with both the thorough research put into these courses, as well as Hearne’s low-key, approachable, and conversational presentation style. The availability of these courses is tragically sparse, but we hope to see his teaching tempo increase in the future, and look forward to bringing you some more content by and about him in coming issues.
Mix a mechanical engineer who used to design equipment for the military, with unquenchable passion for exploring wilderness, and you get: Outdoor Element, a company that specializes in unique and innovative outdoor gear. Each of their items comes with loads of versatility baked into their design, and here we are taking a closer look at their range of patented Multitool Firebiners.
What is a Firebiner?
A Firebiner is a variation of the commonly used carabiner. Carabiners come in a wide range of styles and load bearing capabilities, and are a commonly used piece of gear for many outdoor enthusiasts. From high-angle technical rope, to keeping a canteen in a handy position, there are endless uses for this simple item. But for one of Outdoor Element's founders, Mike Mojica, the carabiner just wasn't versatile enough. Multitools are often used as a common EDC item, so he decided to take carabiners to the next level by cleverly building a plethora of useful tools into the design. There are several models of Firebiner, and many colors to choose from.
For those of you ultralight hikers or campers meticulously weighing everything you carry, the original Firebiner weighs a mere ounce, and comes equipped with: a flathead screwdriver, bottle opener, utility blade, hang slots and has a 100lb carrying capacity.
Firebiner Variants
The Fire Escape Multitool Firebiner is much like the original but with a little more beef. This one has a dedicated seatbelt cutter, a tungsten carbide window breaker, an oxygen tank wrench, and can carry a load of 125lbs. Every style of Firebiner lives up to its namesake by having a built in EverSpark wheel that throws a directional stream of ferrocerium sparks on to the tinder of your choice. Engraved near the EverSpark wheel is an arrow which indicates which direction to spin the wheel. This arrow can also be used as an aiming tool by aligning the tip of the arrow towards the tinder you are looking to ignite. Being able to aim the stream of sparks is especially useful if time is a factor, or if the surrounding area is susceptible to unintentional combustion.
I recently attended a Fieldcraft Survival tracking fundamentals class taught by Craig Caudill, the Director of Nature Reliance School. A writeup on this class will appear in Issue 57 of our magazine, on sale in August, so keep an eye out for that. A couple days after the tracking class, I was able to connect with Craig on Zoom for an interview to get to know him a little better, and get his thoughts on topics related to the class, survival skills, and tracking in general.
RECOIL OFFGRID: I know you covered a little bit of this in class, but could you tell us about yourself and your background?
Photos courtesy of Craig Caudill / Nature Reliance School
Craig Caudill: I grew up in Kentucky and have been basically living in the same small town here in Kentucky ever since. I grew up doing hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities, a whole lot of camping … I’m 52, so back during that time parents were like “get out of the house and come back tonight sometime.” And so that’s what we did — spent a lot of time outside. As I got older, I started challenging myself both from a hunting perspective and an outdoorsman perspective. I did a couple of 30-day trips into the woods with nothing but a knife to advance my skill set and actually learn where there were some deficiencies — some strong deficiencies — in my skill set.
That was my early 20s. So I spent the last 30 years improving upon those deficiencies and continuing to grow the skills that I already had. The Nature Reliance School, that is my school that I founded in 2006. And that primarily grew out of teaching some martial arts students. I taught martial arts full-time for a number of years and some of [my students] wanted to learn outdoor skills. So I started teaching them that. It just kind of snowballed in a good way when survival TV stuff started happening [like] Bear Grylls and Dual Survival. And that popularity started growing anybody that had a school. I was a benefactor of those shows because there was a lot of interest that was brought into it.
How long have you been tracking and teaching tracking specifically?
CC: Tracking my whole life, and teaching tracking about 10 to 12 years now. It used to be, I was teaching maybe once or twice a year. Now I’m teaching once a month, if not more. I love it. If I could teach tracking every day, I would.
Above: Craig Caudill's book, The Secret Signs of Nature: How to Uncover Hidden Clues in the Sky, Water, Plants, Animals, and Weather, has been published in seven languages.
And how long have you been associated with Fieldcraft Survival?
CC: Affiliated with them for about a year. Kevin Estela, who is the Director of Training, and I have been friends for a number of years. When he went to Fieldcraft to work full time, Mike Glover asked him if there was anybody he wanted to bring on as instructors. He had four or five of us — he knew what our skill set was and he wanted to bring us on. And I was fortunate to be one of those guys.
Above: Longtime OFFGRID contributing writer Kevin Estela has been friends with Craig Caudill for many years.
So I know you’ve mentioned, even just now, a few other people that have survival schools. How would you say that your approach to teaching tracking specifically differs from some of the other big names in the space?
CC: That’s tough to answer and stay professional, but I will say this. In everything I teach — and particularly in tracking this comes out — I think I want everybody that comes to my class to become a tracker. And so there’s never a time, or at least I don’t feel like there is, where I feel like I want to overshadow the people in class. I want the people in class to become better at this, at the topic of tracking, before they leave, let alone after they leave. I want to help them develop their own skill set without me. The truth of the matter is I’m a big fan of tracking. I think it’s just enhanced situational awareness. It’s good for the world. So the more trackers I make out there, then the world’s a better place in my opinion.
From that perspective, to be a good tracker, you’ve got to put a lot of time in. And so the hardcore truth is that people typically are going to take the class and be done. But there’s also always one, two, three people in class who are bit by the bug and will become trackers for life, in an in-depth way. I’m not one to try and teach a class so that people will come to a level two. I’m not that guy. I am a guy who wants to teach people and give them as much as I can, such that it’s usable information in one class. And then if they come back, great.
Awesome. That touched on the next thing I wanted to ask: what do you think the difference is between a good tracker and a great tracker? Is it just practice, or is it something else?
CC: Two things, I would say. One is, yeah, practice. Putting dirt time in. You gotta put a lot of dirt time in. And one of my teachers, Cole, said that that the difference between a good tracker and a great tracker is that a great tracker knows when he or she’s lost the sign and is OK with it. And I’m paraphrasing there, but I really liked his definition, so I use it myself. You heard me say that in class recently — that it is, I think our ego really gets in the way of doing a lot of things, particularly when it comes to tracking.
You’ve got to set your ego aside and just let what happens on the track happen. Sometimes you’re going to lose the sign and you just are OK with it — not that you don’t want it, you want it, you want to acquire it and you want to stay on it as a tracker. But you also recognize that you’re going to lose it. It’s just a fact. And instead of being upset and seeing that as a problem, I think the difference is that great trackers are just okay with that aspect of tracking.
So, I know you do a lot of training for military and police and you’re about to go out with a fish and wildlife crew. Is there is a big structural difference in the class when you teach those groups, versus civilians?
CC: No, especially in a day-long class, there’s really no difference at all. The only difference that would be recognizable from somebody that was looking on the outside is typically those guys are carrying their firearms and kitted out because usually that’s what they’re going to be utilizing and carrying when they’re out performing the action of tracking. I usually have them practicing and training in that kit, and I don’t typically do that with your average ordinary folks. But the structure and the way of doing things is virtually the same.
There’s a couple of things we’ll do in a in a law enforcement/military type class that are needed by them, but not really needed by me and you, specifically as it relates to ID recognition.
And I’ll just briefly — just ever so briefly — touch upon small unit tactics. Typically my mode of doing that is I will ask somebody that’s there that teaches their small unit tactics to assist me when we get to that point, when contact is made. I know how other schools teach it, but a lot of those other schools have experience that I don’t have in making contact. I’ve trained in that, just like a lot of people that are freedom loving Americans. I do a lot of training on making contact, but because I haven’t had that experience, I would rather, when we get to the point of making contact … I want somebody on the inside that does that to teach that portion. And I don’t do that with the typical class that I teach, like for Fieldcraft, or even for my own school, Nature Reliance School.
I know one of the big points you made in class was that tracking is a science. So when you look at advances in technology around drones and sensors, do you see these having a major impact in tracking as a discipline, or not so much?
CC: Yeah, without a doubt, they’re a very useful tool in an actual track line. And when I say tracking, what me and you were talking about is visual tracking. There’s also canine tracking. There’s also technology tracking. And these are three categories where a lot of people who do what I do would break it down and focus and study on those different areas. But bringing them together is a game-changer. And whether technology is drone or ground sensors or whatever, it’s a force multiplier.
Above: Craig Caudill showed us various types of sign that can aid in tracking, such as this broken plant. It's an obvious disturbance in the environment.
However, when I get a chance to work people, my particular ability lies within visual man tracking because that’s what I’ve done all my life. You know, I’ve tracked things — whether it be people or animals — all my life. And so being able to share that is where I stay within my wheelhouse. Let the intelligence gatherers and intelligence analysts gather that information from drones or sensors, and do what they do best and add that to the tracking and put it all together so that you’ve got a usable set of information.
So, what are the three most important things that you would hope a student takes away from attending one of your courses?
CC: About tracking specifically? OK, number one would be a heightened situational awareness of the outdoors. And because it doesn’t matter where I teach and what I’m teaching, if I’m teaching man tracking for a military or law enforcement crew, I’m still going to touch upon animal tracking so that they can recognize the difference between let’s say deer tracks and human tracks. That way they don’t get off on a set of deer tracks when they need to be on a human.
Above: In a video on his Instagram page, Craig Caudill shows some of the differences between a domestic dog track and a coyote track.
Number two, is the ability to track slightly. Well, I shouldn’t even say that. The ability to track as best as somebody can. When a person comes to me, I want them to leave a tracker or a better tracker than they were when they showed up.
And number three, the big thing that I want people to have when they leave is the ability to continue developing their skill set after they leave. Meaning I try to lay out the skills, techniques, and exercises people can do to develop the skill of tracking. I like to equip people with the skills or mindset necessary to continue tracking.
