Pocket Preps: Fire Starters & Tinder Buyer’s Guide

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Man’s obsession with fire dates back thousands of years. You can imagine the fascination of those who first realized their ability to harness it. We’re sure it caused conflict between those who had it and those who wanted it. Whether that looked like a scene from Quest for Fire is debatable. Fire was and still is primal, and in the survival space, fire is just as important now as it was back then. It’s a technology that lets us treat water, heat our shelters, harden our tools, signal for help, and more. To those who’ve ever spent a cold and wet night in the woods, you’ve probably wished you could trade places with those sitting comfortably by a roaring fire. The fire starters and tinder in this article can help you avoid being in that uncomfortable position in the future.

Fire Starters & Tinder Buyer's Guide

You’re only as good as your skillset and the tools you carry. You should have strong fundamental knowledge of how to build fire paired with the best modern tools you can afford. Primitive friction-fire starting skills are invaluable if you have nothing else but compact, reliable, and durable fire starter tools that shorten the time you need to prep and start your fire are the better option if you remembered to pack them before you left home. While the traditional skills earn you cool points, making fire by any means is the goal and there’s absolutely no such thing as cheating. If you need to use the butane torch from your garage to get the backyard fire going or a road flare in the middle of the wilderness, as long as you survive, don’t worry about what others will say.

We’ve come a long way from the primitive technology that caught our attention generations ago. There’s a long lineup of modern fire starters available today that pack serious capability in the palm of your hand. We’ve assembled a collection of fire starters that early man would’ve clubbed someone over the head for.

EXOTAC TinderZIP

Dimensions
3 inches long

Weight
0.1 ounce

MSRP
$9

URL
exotac.com

Notes
We love multi-purpose gear. Swiss Army Knives, duct tape, peanut butter … some things work well in multiple roles. The boys over at EXOTAC came up with an ingenious way to carry tinder in the TinderZIP. At first glance, this looks like a normal zipper pull with a plastic cord lock at the end. TinderZIP can attach to your zipper pulls and help you open or close your jacket, to your pocketknives as a fob for easy retrieval, or it can be used in its alternate role — fire starting. All you have to do is free the cord from the plastic endpiece, pull out the tinder found inside the outer braid of the cordage, and fluff the end with the spine of your knife. It’ll take a spark or a flame and once it lights, it’ll burn for about a minute. TinderZIP burns like a candlewick and can save the fuel of your lighter. Each package comes with five units that’ll let you replace the main zipper and hand warmer pockets, leaving you with a couple to practice with.

Pros:

  • 1-minute burn time
  • Easily forgotten until needed
  • Water resistant

Cons:

  • Clothing dependent
  • Requires prep before use

Shomer-Tec Fire Buttons

Dimensions
3/4-inch diameter, 5/32-inch thickness

Weight
0.1 ounce

MSRP
$10 magnesium, $16 ferrocerium

URL
shomer-tec.com

Notes
You probably have owned a magnesium fire starter bar at some point. You probably either wore through the ferro rod glued in place or the glue broke off. The magnesium bar has fallen out of popularity, but it’s still an effective tinder if used correctly. Shomer-Tec Fire Buttons caught our eye for their ingenuity and innovation. These buttons can be sewn into your clothing and forgotten about. They scream escape and evasion kit since that was the idea behind their design. These buttons are made from magnesium and ferrocerium and work just like the traditional magnesium bar. Of course, you’ll get a fire started better with both, but if you lose the mag button, you can still use the ferrocerium button on its own.

Pros:

  • Easily forgotten about until they’re needed
  • Discreet design

Cons:

  • Small size makes it difficult to use with cold hands
  • Not easily transferred between garments
  • Awkward scraping technique needed

Live Fire Gear Live Fire Original / Sport

 

Dimensions
3.11 inches (original) / 1.89 inches (sport)

Weight
0.9 ounce (original) / 0.5 ounce (sport)

MSRP
$10 (original) / $7 (sport)

URL
livefiregear.com

Notes
Live Fire is a really interesting product that can be reused over and over. Instead of burning once or in a single way, Live Fire can be used with varying amounts of flame by regulating the amount of tinder exposed. All you have to do is open the container exposing the fabric inside that’s impregnated with a proprietary blend of fuel. We like the fact it can be lit with just about anything including a paper match, butane lighter, or ferro rod. Once it’s lit and used to ignite your natural tinder or kindling, you retrieve the Live Fire, close the lid, wait for it to cool, and throw it back into your kit. This lightweight little fire starter fits perfectly in small emergency kits and can even be rubber-banded to a knife sheath for use with a ferro rod also carried there. Available in larger original size or smaller sport size.

Pros:

  • Adjustable flame size
  • Easily reusable
  • Will ignite with flame or spark

Cons:

  • Easily lost in a pocket
  • Reusable after lighting but closing and pocketing too soon can burn the user

Zippo Emergency Fire Kit

Dimensions
4 inches by 1.13 inches

Weight
0.1 pound

MSRP
$13

URL
zippo.com

Notes
Zippo has a well-deserved reputation in the fire starter community, thanks to generations of use by soldiers and outdoorsmen. In addition to its recognizable shape, the sound a Zippo makes when it opens immediately gives away its presence in the dark. Zippo has expanded their lineup beyond their classic and slimline series of lighters. The Zippo Emergency Fire Kit works much like the flint wheel of a traditional Zippo lighter. The paraffin wax-coated tinder is stored in a waterproof container to keep it dry; it ignites with the spark and burns long enough to get your campfire going. All you have to do is remove a small wrapper around the tin and unroll it. This fire starter can be dummy corded with the molded-in lanyard hole, and it can be operated with a single hand.

Pros:

  • This fire starter floats on water!
  • Up to a five-minute burn time per tinder piece

Cons:

  • Flint wheel isn’t protected if dropped
  • Contains moving parts that may be fragile

UCO Gear Titan Stormproof Match Kit

Dimensions
4.125 inches long

Weight
2.9 ounces

MSRP
$11

URL
ucogear.com

Notes
Sometimes, it makes sense to carry a fire starter most people know how to use. Since they can be found in most homes, matches fit the bill, but standard paper or box matches are flimsy and burn out fast. Titan Stormproof matches are not your average box matches. To reference the popular internet meme, if you’re standard matches, Titan matches are the guy she tells you not to worry about. We’re not kidding, these matches are about the diameter of a ballpoint pen, and they burn aggressively with large match heads. They’re like miniature road flares, and they’ll burn underwater if temporarily submerged. The name “stormproof” is appropriate, as they’ll continue to burn in the strongest winds.

Pros:

  • Up to 25-second burn time
  • Easy to use just like standard-size matches
  • Extremely wind and water resistant

Cons:

  • Fragile match heads
  • Each match is single use and takes up space quickly

S.O.L. Fire Lite Fuel Cubes

 

Dimensions
6.29 inches by 8 inches by 1.77 inches

Weight
0.2 ounce per cube, total weight per package 6.88 ounces

MSRP
$8

URL
surviveoutdoorslonger.com

Notes
S.O.L. Fire Lite Fuel Cubes are great multi-purpose fuel tabs. They burn exceptionally well, can be used in the campfire, or they can be used with solid fuel tablet stoves. They’re made with an ethanol jelly that will actually burn on extremely damp surfaces. We like the ability to cut these down into smaller fire starters to extend the number of fires you can make from a single package. Even the package the cubes come in can be used to carry tinder scavenged off the land, and it has enough capacity to house a ferro rod and lighter too.

Pros:

  • 8-minute burn time
  • Burns clean; nontoxic and odorless
  • Works with most solid fuel folding stoves

Cons:

  • Bulky
  • Boil time listed on package is possible in ideal conditions, not all conditions

Prometheus Design Werx Ti-Fire Steel MK2

 

Dimensions
5.325 inches overall, 4-inch Ferrocerium, handle diameter 0.618 inches

Weight
2.5 ounces

MSRP
$49

URL
prometheusdesignwerx.com

Notes
Prometheus Design Werx is always on the cutting edge of product designs. The Ti-Fire Steel MK2 takes fire steels to a new level. The handle of the Ti-Fire Steel MK2 is made from titanium, and the texture of it will remind you of a pineapple grenade. The inside of the handle is hollow and is revealed by a threaded cap. It can easily hold petroleum cotton balls or similar tinder until it’s needed. Perhaps one of the best aspects of this fire rod is the threaded rod that can be replaced when it gets worn down. That said, a ½-inch ferro rod will last thousands of scrapes and even more if you use it sparingly.

Pros:

  • ½-inch rod produces exceptional sparks.
  • Handle texture offers great grip, even with cold and wet hands

Cons:

  • Potential to lose the handle cap
  • Doesn’t come with a dedicated scraper

 

Android Malware: 105 Million Users Victimized by “Dark Herring” Apps

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When you think of malware, what do you envision? Many people immediately think of computer popups, viruses, or ransomware that interferes with their desktop workstations or laptops. However, cybercriminals are spending more of their time pursuing the other computing devices we all carry on a daily basis: smartphones. Mobile devices are a prime target for malware, so we shouldn't forget that they're vulnerable to it. Case in point, 100+ million devices in 70+ countries were recently affected by the Android malware known as Dark Herring. Zimperium, a digital security company that collaborates with Google to fight malware, called Dark Herring “the longest-running mobile SMS scam” they've discovered to date.

What is Dark Herring Android Malware?

A breakdown of malicious Dark Herring apps. (Graphic courtesy of Zimperium)

Dark Herring Android malware is based on a huge network of nearly 500 innocuous-looking mobile apps that were distributed through the Google Play Store and other third-party app stores.  These apps were first discovered in March of 2020, but many of them were likely circulating long before that date.

According to the Zimperium report, these apps seem relatively ordinary at first glance: “[the apps] appear harmless when looking at the store description and requested permissions.” They spanned a wide range of categories, including games, productivity tools, photo editors, phone personalization apps, and sports trackers. The apps are reportedly fully functional, so users are more likely to leave them installed long-term. “These apps are not just clones of each other or other apps, but are uniquely produced at a high rate to deceive traditional security toolsets and the potential victims.”

To make the scam convincing to a wider audience, the Dark Herring apps automatically changed their language and content based on the user's IP address, a feature Zimperium called “exceptionally versatile.” Users in the USA would see variants of the apps meant to target English-speakers, while users in Russia or China would see versions tailored to them.

Countries with users who have been targeted by Dark Herring. (Graphic courtesy of Zimperium)

The report indicates that 70 countries were targeted by the Dark Herring Android malware applications. The map above from Zimperium indicates these countries in yellow; countries highlighted in red were assessed as higher risk due to their lack of consumer legal protections that would help victims recover money lost to mobile phone billing scams.

Once users installed one of the malware apps, they were eventually directed to a page that asked for their phone number. This might have seemed like an ordinary 2-factor authentication check, but it was more sinister. Zimperium writes, “In reality, they are submitting their phone number to a Direct Carrier Billing service that begins charging them an average of $15 USD per month. The victim does not immediately notice the impact of the theft, and the likelihood of the billing continuing for months before detection is high, with little to no recourse to get one’s money back.”

Two examples of Dark Herring malware with hidden fees. (Graphic courtesy of Zimperium)

Download statistics show that more than 105 million Android devices around the world have installed at least one of these malicious Dark Herring apps. Zimperium's statement reinforced the relatively sophisticated nature of this criminal enterprise: “The cybercriminal group behind this campaign has built a stable cash flow of illicit funds from these victims, generating millions in recurring revenue each month, with the total amount stolen potentially well into the hundreds of millions.” The hundreds of varied apps under the Dark Herring umbrella also provide command and control (C&C) data to the creators in a systematic manner, indicating that the malware developers built these varied apps to work together as a system. This seems to have inspired the name — these Android malware apps are like individual fish in a cohesive school.

Current Status and Lessons Learned

Thanks in part to the Zimperium report, Google has removed all the known apps related to this Android malware from the Google Play Store. The scam services and phishing sites related to these apps have also reportedly been deactivated. However, Zimperium says the Dark Herring malware is still available through third-party app stores, and is likely still present on millions of devices, creating an opening for the creators to victimize the same devices with new scams at a later date.

As a result of the huge profits generated by Dark Herring, it seems likely that the creators will apply their skills toward new forms of malware in the future.

This should serve as a reminder to be wary about the apps you install on your smartphone or tablet. Even if apps seem legitimate, have positive reviews, and are available through official app stores, these factors are not guarantees that they're not malicious. If an app seems suspicious, consider whether you really need it, and read all the fine print carefully before submitting any personal information (including your phone number).

For more cybersecurity tips, check out our previous articles:

What If You’re Forced to Endure a Blizzard Without Utilities?

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Early in 2021, Texas faced record-low temperatures that caused millions to be without power. Think about that for a second. Even in one of the most industrialized nations in the world, Mother Nature dealt a huge (and freezing) blow to commerce and living conditions. As human beings, we’ve become dangerously over-reliant on our climate-controlled life and amenities. Although this winter storm was a freak occurrence, there’s no doubt that its estimated death toll of 230 could’ve been reduced by better preparation.

Now, imagine yourself stuck in an area with frigid conditions where you must forgo many of the resources you might’ve stockpiled at home. Whether you live in a locale that could potentially be affected by severe cold during the winter months or you just happen to be vacationing somewhere remote, do you know what it’d take to survive if immediate help from first responders is nowhere in sight and utilities are disabled? How can you use the resources at your disposal to survive plummeting temperatures?

The Blizzard Scenario

Situation type
Blizzard/power outage

Your Crew
You and two friends

Location
Chandalar Lake, Alaska

Season
Winter

Weather
Snowy/windy; high 4 degrees F, low -10 degrees F

The Setup

 

Illustrations by Robert Bruner

You and two friends have been planning an Alaskan hunting trip for several months. You rent a remote hunting lodge in a rural area near Chandalar Lake that’s only accessible on foot. Although it’s wintertime and you knew the weather would already be brutal, the forecast is anticipating a blizzard. Since it’s too late to cancel and get a refund, you decide to roll the dice and make the best of it, hoping the weather will turn around and become more favorable.

After arriving at the airport, you and your friends rent an SUV, stop to buy some food and other provisions, and venture down a long dirt road to a designated parking area before heading out on foot to the lodge. The path up to the parking area is a windy uphill track, which would make getting back down nearly impossible in heavy snow, and you have no idea if the road below is regularly cleared or not. It’s inconvenient, but you have to make several trips back to the car in order to carry all your supplies to the lodge. However, you’re confident your experience will be a positive one and you have enough food and water to hold you over for the few days you’ll be there.

The Complication

You bring a small battery-operated radio to get updates on weather since cell service in this area is practically non-existent. Daylight is also compromised by the fact that sunrise in this part of Alaska typically happens around 11 a.m., with sunset occurring around 2:30 p.m. You settle in for the night with winds picking up and heavy snowfall, hoping that the weather will pass you by. You rise early to trek out to the hunting blinds and wait, but the snowfall is practically at window level now. You and a few friends have to force the door open to push the snowpack back far enough to even get a leg through the door. In other words, your situation is getting grim, and you decide not to risk getting caught in the continuing blizzard by going out to hunt.

The radio is saying the blizzard is one of the worst in the state’s history, and it’s anticipated to go on for two weeks. Then, the unexpected begins happening. Power at the lodge goes out. The gas system soon freezes over, as does the water, meaning you have nothing to drink except what you brought. There’s no heat in the lodge except for an old potbelly stove that you’ll have to go procure wood for. The food and water you brought isn’t going to last a couple weeks. What do you do? Try to get back to the car, which may be compromised by an impassable road? Attempt to walk until you find help or cell service? Try and wait it out? What’s the best course of action for this situation? We asked cold-weather survival expert Jerry Saunders and forester Patrick Diedrich for their takes on the situation.

Forester Patrick Diedrich’s Approach

Thinking about spending a multi-day trip in an environment as majestic and foreboding as Alaska can be an exhilarating — and perhaps intimidating — proposition. Living in the relative comfort of the lower 48 means that I have access to just about anything I could want, including close proximity to developed communities and their emergency services. As I plan for a hunting trip to one of the most remote locations in North America, knowing in advance that a severe blizzard is on the way, I use one word to guide my planning process: redundancy.

Hunting in freezing temperatures can be tricky in the best of circumstances, and I want to be confident that my friends and I will have an enjoyable trip, regardless of a massive snowstorm on the way. When I come back home, I want to stock my freezer full of freshly harvested game, not to nurse frostbite. I start thinking about the most likely scenarios my friends and I will find ourselves in the middle of and work from there. Out of everything that could possibly happen, at a minimum we’ll need several strategies to stay warm, hydrated, and consume enough calories to maintain a healthy metabolism in cold conditions.

Pre-trip planning also includes doing a little research on the behavior of the plants and animals in the region, doing some map reconnaissance and identifying nearby towns or useful natural resources. One of the most important things anyone can do before heading out into the wilderness — whether it’s for a few hours or a few days — is to let someone know where you’ll be and how long you plan to be there. Before I find myself in a place with no cell reception, I let friends and family know what’s going on. Since we’re going to an isolated lodge in central Alaska, it may also be a wise decision to reach out to local emergency services, and just let them know where we’ll be staying. If they don’t hear from us after an extended inclement weather event, they’ll know to at least check on us after things have calmed down.

 

Backcountry Living
After disembarking from the plane in Alaska, the first thing I do is ensure I leave the airport with a 4WD vehicle. The higher the ground clearance the better, in case the snow starts to accumulate on the road on our way there. My own vehicle would have a strong tow strap and some emergency gear, and I’d try to acquire this for the rental. If these items are unavailable, other than giving the vehicle a careful inspection and filling it with a full tank of gas, I’ll just have to drive more slowly and be extra cautious while heading to the lodge.

Since it seems like hunting for dinner may not be an option, I’m going to need extra provisions. On the way to the lodge, we stop at the nearest store and load up. High winds and blowing snow almost always result in trees over power lines. No power can render any steps to keep water flowing or heat radiating completely useless. Sure, there’s plenty of wood to burn in the surrounding forests, but acquiring firewood is physically intensive. Pair that with working in the cold, and the average adult could potentially burn thousands more calories than they would under normal conditions. This means preparing extra calories, ideally foods high in fat, protein, and sugars. We buy as many extra nuts, canned meats, and snacks like granola or peanut butter as we can reasonably bring with us.

Calories accounted for, we double-check to make sure we have packed everything we’d normally bring on a camping trip, plus a few specialty items for hunting in the snow — sleeping bags rated for freezing temperatures, tarps, and wool blankets to stay warm. Items made of modern wool are a great way to reduce the amount of gear I need to bring and avoid having items out of commission if they get soggy. Redundancy as my mantra, I make sure to pack enough so if anything important gets wet or broken, I have some kind of contingency. Tools for starting a fire, such as lighters and matches are a no-brainer, but having a few extra is better than running out when you need it most. For preparing firewood, we need an ax and a crosscut or bowsaw. Chainsaws are a nice luxury, but they also require fuel, sharpening, and firm footing on the ground — all of which may be unavailable, and too cumbersome to stock up on. Snowshoes and a sled for easily moving a carcass or firewood will also make life much easier.

After triple-checking our supplies and arriving at the parking location, we quickly begin moving our supplies from the vehicle to the lodge. Two of us will make any necessary trips to get all the gear and food up to the lodge, while the third begins looking for more firewood and kindling. Restocking a healthy supply of firewood before leaving a lodge or campsite is considered the pinnacle of proper backcountry etiquette. But, even if we find a good stash of dry wood when we get to the lodge, it’d be prudent to collect as much as we can before the snow starts to really starts to fly in earnest. In this region, it’ll most likely be paper birch or sitka spruce that burns with the highest amount of BTUs, and as an additional bonus, the resinous bark of paper birch will light on fire wet or dry. Upon completion of the move-in, we hunker down for the night with flashlights and the emergency radio on standby.

Staying Toasty
Knowing in advance that a winter storm is moving in, waking up to rapidly accumulating snowfall isn’t alarming. But losing power and heat changes this outing from a hunting event to a survival situation. Using the final moments of the propane heat to get organized and come up with a plan is critical.

Getting everyone into the same room as the potbellied stove, we systematically seal all drafts with wadded paper, duct tape, or whatever we can find. We’d also need to ensure that the flue on the stove is open, and that the chimney is free of any obstructions or perforations to avoid succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning. Everyone stacks as much firewood as we can find close enough to the stove that the radiant heat will help dry out any moisture. We then summon our inner children to build a multi-layered living room tent out of some of the tarps and blankets we brought. This is going to be an A-frame-style shelter with the back sealed to the floor and the opening facing the stove. Doing this creates an insulating effect between us and the interior walls, reducing the amount of fire we need to burn to stay reasonably warm.

One of us will always be on fire duty, watching the potbellied stove to ensure the fire is burning continuously. The designated fire attendant will also monitor our emergency radio for any important messages relayed by the National Weather Service. The remaining two people can either catch some shut eye or use any breaks in the weather to go in search of more firewood and food.
If we leave to gather more supplies, we must be careful not to allow too much warm air to escape. Much like an airlock on a spaceship, instead of leaving directly from the stove room, we use an adjacent room to venture outdoors. This may mean having to use a window closer to the ceiling if the snow is too high, or tunneling our way up using the outside wall of the lodge as a guide. Some buildings this far north even have what are called “doors to nowhere” exclusively for this purpose.

If the weather persists much longer than our supply of wood is lasting, we could use the axe and saw to start breaking down any wooden furniture or cabinets to keep the fire from dying. The worst-case scenario would be having to cannibalize the wooden structure of the lodge to a point that using any more material would expose the warm room to the outside. This could be avoided with thorough initial preps and a watchful eye on weather conditions.

Hunting in the Snow
Maybe the storm will not be as terrible as predicted, and we’ll get to do what we came for. Waiting comfortably in one place in the cold is an art that’s not as easy as it sounds. Wearing multiple layers that I can vent while moving from lodge to blind, and vice versa, will avoid excessive sweat accumulation.

Bringing a day pack will allow room for additional gear or give me a place to store layers to prevent overheating. Additional items to avoid cold injuries and ensure a successful hunt would be a face mask and ski-goggles, hand and boot warmers, trail mix, a thermos, binos, and an emergency fire-starting kit. Hunting this deep into the backcountry means I will most likely not have to stray too far from the lodge to yield results, and I don’t feel like having a satellite phone or some other expensive GPS communication is absolutely necessary. But a reliable compass and a roll of neon flagging will help me get to and from the blind without getting disoriented. If visibility worsens and white-out conditions seem like a possibility, I’ll retrace my path and head back immediately.

Nourishment
Having three square meals a day isn’t as concerning as staying hydrated. Even if we’re unable to hunt, and we run out of our provisions, we’ll survive for several weeks if we stay warm and have access to sterile drinking water. A silver lining to this scenario is that we have frozen water in abundance all around us. By keeping that potbellied stove fired up, we can continuously melt snow and boil it to kill any harmful biological contaminants. If there’s access to certain evergreen trees, there may even be needles and scales to make tea rich in vitamin C. Our initial preps should help us avoid any serious hunger concerns, but to be safe, we’ll ration food by dividing it into as many days as the blizzard is forecasted to last. Eating before trying to go outside to hunt or gather wood may give us just enough energy to perform these tasks without becoming overly fatigued.

Fighting Panic
Keeping spirits high is just as important as warding off the cold and staying hydrated. Having a positive mental attitude has been scientifically proven to help people heal from injuries faster and avoid getting sick. Many of us are not used to the prolonged absence of sensory stimulation, so being isolated in silence can be unnerving. Staying focused on the duties that need to be done instead of dwelling on the dire circumstances is one way to avoid anxiety. Another way could be to come up with games or find something to keep our minds and hands busy, such as working on ways to improve our living situation.

Cold-Weather Survival Instructor Jerry Saunders’ Approach

Rolling the dice on a possible two-week blizzard in Chandalar, Alaska, would be a very calculated decision. I wouldn’t even consider attempting a gamble like this unless the plus two that I am bringing are seasoned veterans of the cold as well. If I’m going on a sketchy backcountry adventure, I want several trusted people to know where I am and do as much as they can to get me out, but only if they can do so without compromising their own safety.

In 1991, a Canadian C-130 Hercules crashed just 12 miles from the base it was tasked with resupplying. Due to a severe blizzard, it took the Canadian military over 30 hours to get to the crash site. Many people died due to exposure (-60 degrees F) and many more people willingly put their lives at risk to save them. Being stuck in a cabin for two weeks is an inconvenience — don’t turn it into a survival situation for everyone.

PREPARATION

Comms Plan: If I know a blizzard is coming and there’s a possibility of my 72-hour hunting trip turning into a future survival documentary, I’m going to call the lodge owner prior to departing the lower 48 and ask about contingencies and available resources in the area. I’m going to leave my detailed itinerary with my emergency contact and give them explicit instructions to “notify everyone” if I don’t call within 24 hours of my planned re-contact time. I may not be in immediate danger, but it’s nice to be a blip on more radars than less.

Bring the Right Gear: One of the best pieces of gear you can take with you to an extreme cold-weather environment is a ticket for an extra checked bag. It doesn’t matter what I’m already carrying. I use an old G.I. sea bag because it’s long enough to hold my larger items and robust enough to keep gear from tearing through. Snowshoes, ax, Silky Big Boy saw, avalanche shovel, large cold-weather boots, and most of my heavy weight down items travel there to pad it. Spend the time beforehand acquiring the proper sizes and clothing for the environment. I’d avoid a travel plan solely based on attempting to rent or purchase these items upon arrival. Remote locations are notorious for having unreliable supply chains and making wrong sizes “work.”

Map Study: Print hard copies. Then laminate these hard copies. Everyone gets one, and everyone is clear on basic routes to key items, such as the nearest airport or best medevac route. Even on a sunny day, this is an important lifesaving precaution. Technology is great, but the cold has a nasty habit of draining batteries and with the forecasted blizzard, having low to no reception should come as no surprise.

I like to use www.caltopo.com to print my maps. I can add and remove layers as I see fit, and it has tools to measure distance and mark my route. For a trip with this much risk involved, I definitely want to have magnetic azimuths and distances from the lodge to the hunting blinds and any location that may aid my exit strategy, such as the parking area and the airstrip.
Along with map and compass, I carry a Garmin InReach. This acts as nav and part of my comm plan also, but I don’t heavily rely on it.

Dress for Failure: “Tighty whities” have no place in the tundra. I say that because it’s funny and it catches your attention, but the infamous tight, white, cotton undergarment is a perfect example of what not to wear. The old adage “cotton kills” is meant to be a stern warning, but not always true. Cotton isn’t recommended as an undergarment because it’s absorbent and holds the sweat next to your body. Having that moisture in contact with your skin is what robs your body of heat. However, wool and many other synthetics do not absorb the moisture like cotton, but transport it from inside of the clothing to the outside and allow it to evaporate away using your body’s natural radiation. That’s called “wicking.”

Avoid tight-fitting clothing as it can constrict your blood flow. If you’re not walking, loosen your boots and when you’re on the move, don’t over-tighten them.

Dress in layers. The base layer is next to your skin and consists of undergarments if you so choose, and a lightweight wool shirt/pant combo. The mid-weight layer goes over the base layer and usually consists of a quarter-zip fleece and fleece pant combo. On top of that goes the heavy down layer. I have many pieces of down for different levels of warmth, but for blind hunting below zero, I want the heaviest stuff I have. Finally, the environmental layer consists of materials meant to be impervious to rain, wind, and snow, but it should still have zipper vents for when I’m on the move.

Only bring wool socks. Don’t skimp here. Wear only one pair unless you buy the next size up. Two pairs in the same size will be too constricting.

A la Carte: Two items I carry in my hunting pack for emergencies are a MSR Windburner personal camp stove and two freeze-dried meals. These are typically compressed as small as possible and wrapped in duct tape for the best storage.

Going into an extreme cold-weather environment, I know that my calorie intake will need to increase from the recommended 2,000 calories a day to somewhere closer to 9,000 calories a day. While on a ski trip into the Arctic, I was eating a pound of butter and six chocolate bars a day, on top of the three meals I was eating already, and I was still losing weight. So, buy lots of butter, chocolate, and bacon.

A practice I put in place a long time ago when travelling to remote northern villages is that when doing my planned stop at a grocery store for supplies, on top of everything else I buy, I always make sure to pick up one of those 12-pack boxes of ramen. If I can, I buy the spicy ones — they warm you up faster. For around $6, you can have 12 extra meals, supplement current meals, or just have something to leave behind for the next guy.

Buddy Check: Verify that you have redundancies within your group. Make sure up to the departure date that you’re talking and asking each other the tough questions. Did you leave a solid contact plan? Do you have the meds you need? And make sure to know who has allergies to what.

CRISIS

Horse and Rider Concept: Imagine for a minute that your brain is a horse. Horses are more quick and powerful than you and I will ever be, but also highly emotional. If you’ve ever seen an out-of-control horse, you know that’s a problem. Now also imagine a small but very rational rider, controlling the horse and not allowing it to run wild. You need to be that rider at this moment.
Priorities of work become very defined at this point. You need to dig out, ensure proper ventilation, stay dry, warm, and fed. You have all that you need at the cabin. At this point, attempting an exit strategy could serve to only further compound the problem.

W.I.N. (What’s Important Now?): With utilities out, I’d immediately transition to the woodstove. Dig yourself out of the front door, or if you have to, go out a second story or loft window if available. With bad visibility, I’m going to tether myself to a secure part of the house using paracord or some other secure makeshift leash. If there’s a woodstove, there may be a woodpile lying around. This is one of the key things I look for when taking initial inventory at a rental cabin.

IBT (Individual Based Tactics): While I’m working outside, the other two of my group can be inside improving and insulating a new place to sleep. Close what doors you can and hang a covering over open doorways to act as an airlock. I’ve even used my SOL two-person survival blanket and sewing needles from my survival kit to accomplish this task.

THE LAST FRONTIER

If you’ve never worked with a wood stove, here’s a crash course of everything I’ve learned in the last six years of heating my cabin with only wood.

Cold air is heavy. Start with a relatively clean stove. Make sure all the ports are open — you want it to draw as much oxygen as possible. The initial moments of your fire need to be really intense in order to push the cold air up and out. If it’s only snow blocking the stove pipe, it will burn up and through it, but if it’s ice, you’re going to have to clear it.

Burn it wide open. It might be tempting to try and dampen the fire to make it last longer, but this makes it more prone to smoke and increases the risk of a chimney fire. Who knows when it was cleaned last? Play it safe and burn it to completion. If your room is small, you won’t need to keep it going non-stop.

Clean but not too clean. Ash is insulative. You’ll need to clean out the stove at some point. Clean out enough to allow sufficient space for the burn, but leave about an inch of ash on the bottom of the stove. Toss the ash outside to help give you traction on the ice and snow.

Gather wood. You need a sled. It’s a staple of any northern hunting lodge. You don’t really use backpacks in over-the-snow travel, you use a sled to disperse the weight onto the snow behind you. If you can’t find one, make it. It’ll take about a full-size tree a day. Birch will be your most easily identified tree here. You’ll know it by its white bark that peels off like paper. Save the bark because this is some bulletproof tinder. This is why I never travel without my ax and a good saw like the Silky Big Boy. With this saw/ax combo, it takes me roughly two hours to process a tree to ready to burn firewood.

Create a routine. Take turns getting wood, splitting wood, and cleaning the stove. Chores such as this can become a choke point and create discord in the group.

UTILITIES

With the power out, there’s no electricity for the well to draw water. Grab a pot from the kitchen, and pour what water you have in it. “It takes water to make water.” By just throwing snow in a pot, you can impart a seriously burnt taste on your water. If it’s a large enough pot, it’ll just lightly steam all day and put back the moisture in the air that the woodstove will take out.

Be aware that propane is an odorless gas, but has an added chemical called mercaptan. Mercaptan gives it the offensive “rotten egg” smell. If you smell this at any time, you must get out and ventilate immediately. As far as troubleshooting the gas system, here’s what I know: Start at the tank, lift the protective cap on the tank, and check the gauge first, so you know if you even have gas. Then, follow the copper line to a regulator — it looks roughly the size of a hamburger and will usually be brown or white. While propane doesn’t freeze until it reaches around -44 degrees F, sometimes the regulators can stick or become frozen. If it appears frosted, you may be able to wrap a few of the disposable handwarmers around it and wrap it with a towel to gently rewarm and insulate it. Don’t forget to explore the property. You might find other heating options, such as a propane grill outside, or a Mr. Buddy Heater stored with ice fishing stuff.

DON'T FORGET THE OWNER'S CLOSET

Most of the rental properties that I’ve frequented up north, and I know the ones I take care of for people, all have an “owner’s closet.” This is a survival situation treasure trove. It’s usually stocked with family photos, the water heater, the owner’s personal tools, booze, and an emergency cache. Accessing it only requires the SERE Pick Bogota picks that I keep in my Wazoo Cache belt. In the worst case, a mechanical breach and an apology check would probably suffice.

This is a serious inconvenience, a true survival situation, and a sh*tty day all rolled into one. Given recent events in Texas, an extreme cold-weather event isn’t just isolated to the far north anymore. Have a plan for your home, make an emergency cache and maintain it. Be prepared and be responsible for your own life. No plan survives first contact, but with enough preparation and training, you’ll see the sun on the other side.

While some may entertain the idea of having to trap mice or rodents inside the lodge for food, please consider that many owners utilize rat poison in their rodent control plan. Many of these poisons such as Bromadiolone are very potent and have the ability to cause “secondary poisoning.” Such poison is an anticoagulant and can cause you to bleed out internally.

Conclusion

Climate control, GPS, and modern plumbing are things most of us will always take for granted until they’re taken away. But these are relatively new technologies when compared to the entire span of humanity’s existence. Something to always think about when considering a survival situation is that, if humans couldn’t live without these amenities, our species would’ve perished long ago. No matter how deep the snow, how frigid the temperature, or how seemingly insurmountable the odds, we can persist if we attack the situation with unrelenting determination.

These tips and techniques are, of course, applicable to any urban environment that may also be suffering a cold spell. When people are freezing to death in a major metropolis, it should be glaringly obvious that everyone needs to understand how to protect themselves from being deprived of daily conveniences and utilities. Taking winter survival courses from accredited instructors and stocking up on the aforementioned clothing and supplies can go a long way in an emergency.

Meet Our Panel

Black and white photo of Patrick Diedrich. Patrick Diedrich

Patrick Diedrich is a seasoned survival expert with over 20 years of experience. He served as a Cavalry Scout, volunteered as the Training Officer for Superior Search and Rescue, owned and operated his own Consulting Forestry business, and dabbles as a novice knife maker. A Michigan Technological University graduate, he’s contributed to several publications like founded Vargold3T.com—a platform offering free survival courses—and now manages Recoil Offgrid as the Editorial Content Director. Patrick’s experience in managing real-world disasters, and his commitment to sharing his knowledge makes him a trusted and respected figure in self-reliance.

Black and white photo of Jerry Saunders. Jerry Saunders

Jerry Saunders is a Marine Corps veteran, Scout Sniper, and former Staff NCO in charge of Survival for the United States Marine Corps, Mountain Warfare Training Center. He has trained U.S. and foreign military units across the globe and is internationally recognized for his work in cold weather survival. Saunders recently moved his company Corvus Survival up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where he holds private survival classes and operates a small custom knife shop all while rebuilding an old homestead. Learn more about him at corvussurvival.com.

Gear Up: New Survival Gear for January 2022

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OffGrid Utility Bag Window Kit

NOTES
You don’t need to be a superspy or a tier-one operator to be concerned about online security. Everyone should be. After all, as the world and its processes become increasingly digital, so too are the criminals. That’s why OffGrid LLC (a tech company not to be confused with this publication) offers the Utility Bag Window Kit. It comes with three bags of different sizes, each made of lightweight, Faraday technology that provides heavy-duty protection against intrusions made through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, cellular, RFID, or FM radio. That means each bag shields its device from any outside network so it can’t be hacked, tracked, or even detected. Plus, each bag is flexible yet durable and wear resistant, so they’re ideal for traveling.

CONSISTS OF
3 bags for a laptop, tablet, and mobile device

MSRP
$330

URL
offgrid.co

Legend Compression Wear Cold Weather Merino Wool Tactical Boot Socks

COLOR
Coyote Brown

MSRP
$25

URL
legendcompressiontactical.com

NOTES
We’re big fans of wool — especially wool blends. Why? Because this super fabric is moisture wicking, odor resistant, and temperature regulating. And it continues to provide warmth even when wet. Nowadays, it’s combined with nylon and spandex to increase comfort and mobility while eliminating itchiness. These cold-weather socks from Legend feature all of the pluses of wool with one added benefit: compression. These mid-calf socks provide mild pressure and arch support to encourage blood flow, reduce soreness, and combat foot fatigue — all essential attributes when you’re hiking, rucking, or patrolling in boots. Moreover, dense terry cushion helps retain heat in frigid conditions. Worn by U.S. special operators around the world, these Legend socks are also flame resistant and incredibly durable.

Nutrient Survival Peanut Butter Bar Meals

SERVINGS PER CAN
10

MSRP
$35

URL
nutrientsurvival.com

NOTES
Did you know that your long-term caches don’t have to be stacked with only MREs and hardtack? Nutrient Survival makes a whole array of food, snacks, and beverages that don’t just last long but taste good, too. One such example is its Peanut Butter Bar Meals. Made of rolled oats, brown rice crisps, milled flax seed, and roasted peanuts, each serving (two rectangles) provide 14 vitamins, 14 minerals, Omega-3, Omega-6, 290 calories, 14 grams of protein, and 39 grams of carbs. While their shelf life is 18 months (and not three to five years like other survival snacks), the Peanut Butter Bar Meals are easily the most delicious and nutritious we’ve reviewed in this market.

True North Tradecraft Pandemic Measures

FORMAT
PDF

MSRP
$7

URL
truenorthtradecraft.ca

NOTES
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re already stocked up and handling the current situation pretty well. But we’re big advocates of doing periodic review of the fundamentals, which is why we recommend Pandemic Measures by Boris Milinkovich of True North Tradecraft. (He has served more than 20 years in the Canadian military and federal law enforcement.) His 40-page booklet is an easy-to-read and well-organized set of guidelines for making it through the current COVID-19 crisis, but also preparing for any future disasters. It also touches on topics that other manuals often miss, such as emotional needs that stem from isolation. Pandemic Measures makes a great gift for friends and relatives who you want to encourage to pursue preparedness.

Mantis Laser Academy Training Kit

CONTAINS
Pink Rhino laser, two sets of targets, mini tripod, large tripod, a set of target holders, laser cartridge extraction stick, portable carrying case, and access code to Mantis Laser Academy

MSRP
$149

URL
mantisx.com

NOTES
Everyone remembers the Great Ammo Shortage of 2020. Back then, if you were doing live-fire training, you were forking over double (or triple?) the cost for what a box of cartridges used to be, dipping into your ammunition stockpile, or just not training all that much. That’s why we’re pumped to see the Laser Academy Training Kit. This unique kit uses a laser cartridge that drops into your handgun’s chamber and fires a beam down the barrel every time the firing pin strikes it. These laser “shots” hit a Mantis target that is analyzed by your app-enabled phone or mobile device. This kit allows for a multitude of training drills — all without having to burn a single live round.

CRKT Catchall

OAL
10.25 inches

MSRP
$80

URL
crkt.com

NOTES
If the RAT-II isn’t beefy enough for your upcoming adventure, consider this fixed blade from Columbia River Knife & Tool. As its moniker denotes, the Catchall is a versatile edged tool that can excel in a variety of scenarios — whether it’s a hunting trip, a campfire cooking session, or an out-and-out survival situation. This 5.51-inch-long blade is made of high carbon stainless steel, giving you plenty of strength and power for skinning game or batoning firewood. Its modified sheepsfoot shape still has a strong tip for defensive thrusting or for more precise cutting for prepping meals. While the glass-reinforced nylon handle is more contoured than we prefer, it does fit comfortably in our medium-sized hands. It comes with a polymer sheath.

Adventure Medical Kits MOLLE Bag Trauma Kit 1.0

DIMENSIONS
7.87 by 5.51 by 3.54 inches

MSRP
$55

URL
www.adventuremedicalkits.com

NOTES
Whether you take a nasty tumble during a hike, encounter a car collision on your daily commute, or inadvertently cut yourself while chopping veggies, accidents happen. Fortunately, the MOLLE Bag Trauma Kit 1.0 has what you need to treat wounds before emergency services can arrive. As its name implies, it’s designed to be attached to your modular pack or chest rig and has enough supplies so that you can venture out from your basecamp for a day or two. It comes with 2-foot QuikClot dressing, bandages, dressings, and medications to handle the most common types of wounds, bleeding, and fractures or sprains. If that’s not enough, it comes with a compact medical guidebook that contains 100 illustrations for treating outdoor injuries and illnesses.

GORUCK Task Force Dagger Jacket

COLORS
Black, Black and Green

MSRP
$195

URL
goruck.com

NOTES
Our first reaction after putting on this jacket was, “Wow. This is a badass jacket.” Which was kinda surprising because at first glance it doesn’t look that different from most other fleece jackets. But this GORUCK jacket naturally hikes to the front of the line. Why? First is the Polartec 300-series fleece, which isn’t just super soft and comfy but also breathable despite being able to retain a lot of warmth. Its lightweight polyester yarns can also repel moisture and dry quickly. Next is its top-quality manufacturing — the jacket is durable, abrasion resistant, and won’t pill under a rucking backpack. Plus, it has two front zippered pockets and a chest zippered pocket. Made in the USA.

UPKnife UPK-T1 Rocket Tool

OAL
3.82 inches

MSRP
$30

URL
upknife.com

NOTES
Many one-piece multi-tools are more gimmicky than useful. Fortunately, the Rocket Tool falls in the latter group. Made of 154CM stainless steel, it’s a smartly designed pocket tool that can house in its center either a 2-inch hex bit or two 1-inch bits, which aren’t included. But what is included are heavy-duty O-rings to secure your bit(s) while increasing grip comfort. The two “hooks” on either side are dual claw pry arms. On the top end is a No. 2 Philips driver, and just below that is a 1/4-inch hex box end, which can also hold a bit. And on the opposite side sits a flat pry bar with a center split. The Rocket Tool is compact, lightweight, and functional.

Liteband Activ 520

COLOR
Night

MSRP
$50

URL
liteband.com

NOTES
Liteband brings a revolutionary approach to headlamps by providing a 210-degree beam of light from a low-profile headband. Its design allows for a much wider area of illumination while distributing the weight on your head more evenly. This bucks the traditional design, which tends to have a heavy and bulky light source in the front that provides a narrow field of light. Designed for hikers, campers, and outdoor athletes, the Activ 520 has five modes, including red, flashing, and a high of 520 lumens. It can run for up to 26 hours in low mode on a single 1,800-mAh rechargeable battery. Plus, it has an IPX4 rating, meaning it’s waterproof and can resist dust, debris, and impacts.

Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener

WEIGHT
4.6 ounces

MSRP
$35

URL
worksharptools.com

NOTES
The Guided Field Sharpener isn’t just lightweight and easy to use, it has five sharpening surfaces with built-in guides to restore and maintain a wide range of tools, from fixed blades and serrated folding knives to axes and fish hooks. There’s even a leather strop to get that final polish. Held in place by strong magnets, the two 4×1-inch diamond grit plates can be removed by hand to reveal two archery broadhead wrenches on one side and an open compartment on the other to store tinder, matches, or other small items inside the body of the sharpener. Brilliantly designed with quality workmanship, the Guided Field Sharpener is one of the best manual sharpeners available today.

Ontario Knife Co. RAT-II

OAL
7.125 inches

MSRP
$50

URL
ontarioknife.com

NOTES
While we love expensive knives, when it comes to a blade for everyday carry or a sojourn into the backcountry, we keep the safe queens at home and instead look for an affordable yet reliable model. The RAT-II certainly fits that bill. Made of AUS-8 stainless steel, this drop-point blade is sharp, versatile, and rust resistant. While the handle is made out of budget nylon, it does have just enough texture to give you a firm grasp, and the bone color makes it easier to find in a pack or if you dropped it in some foliage. Designed by Randall’s Adventure Training and manufactured by Ontario Knife Co., the RAT-II is a trustworthy knife in the field that won’t break the bank at home.

First Look: Magpul & Maztech X4 Smart Rifle System

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In the early days of aviation, fighter pilots navigated with a magnetic compass and aimed their guns with iron sights. Today, that's almost unthinkable. Modern pilots are able to use heads-up displays and sensors to maximize their combat capabilities and cut out guesswork — imagine if the same could be done for shooters on terra firma. At SHOT Show 2022, we were able to take our first look at a new suite of technology that's taking on this challenge in the commercial AR-15 market: the Magpul x Maztech X4 smart rifle system.

What We Know About the Magpul x Maztech X4 System

One of the prototypes of the Maztech X4 FCS on display at SHOT Show 2022.

This X4 “sensor fusion” system will consist of many modular elements, but the core is the Maztech X4 FCS (Fire Control System). It's essentially a scope mount that converts a standard 30mm or 34mm low-power variable optic (LPVO) into a smart optic with a heads-up display. If you already own an LPVO, you can simply drop it into the X4 FCS mount to enhance its capabilities.

Magpul rendering showing the FCS data overlay.

This display collects data from other components in the Magpul x Maztech X4 family. With an X4 LRF laser rangefinder module, it is capable of showing range to a target and indicating the recommended hold-over based on ballistic data. We're told you'll be able to input custom rifle and ammo profiles into the unit via a USB port, and will even be able to adjust data on the fly using a control knob on the side of the X4 FCS unit.

If you equip your rifle with Magpul's X4 PMAG and grip module, it will also provide an electronic round counter to track how many rounds are remaining in the weapon, and how many are remaining elsewhere in your loadout (e.g. on your belt or chest rig). Representatives at the company's SHOT Show booth demonstrated this functionality using mags filled with dummy rounds. The round count data can be displayed on a cylindrical unit that attaches to a picatinny rail (pictured above), can be viewed through the FCS scope overlay, or can even be communicated wirelessly to other members of your group.

Magpul's promotional video reiterates that the X4 system is not just intended for multi-million-dollar government contracts — it will be commercially available to the public, and “its components won't have the high prices normally associated with advanced technologies.” At this stage, no exact pricing has been given. Maztech says the X4 FCS will be available in the fourth quarter of 2022; release dates for the other components are unknown at this time.

Too Good to be True?

On one hand, we're excited about the prospect of using technology to improve shooting accuracy and efficiency. Being able to glance through the reticle and know the exact range and corresponding hold-over for a target would be very helpful, and we've always wanted round counters since we saw them on the M41A pulse rifles in Alien.

On the other hand, there are still a lot of questions at this early stage of the Magpul x Magtech X4 system's development — these include reliability, durability, battery life, ease of use in the field, and cost. We weren't reassured by the fact that we couldn't even touch the FCS units on display at SHOT Show (we tried and were reprimanded by a booth worker, who said they're still fragile prototypes). Task & Purpose voiced some similar concerns in their writeup about the system.

Hopefully the development process continues and bears commercially-viable results, because we'll be disappointed if this turns out to be vaporware.

Jerry Saunders Interview: At Home in the Inhospitable

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In the turbulent world we all experience these days, too many people are finding themselves in survival situations that require knowledge or a skill that they haven’t yet acquired. Disrupted supply chains, extreme weather events occurring with increased frequency, and violent civil unrest have pushed millions of humans into scenarios where they discover a startling gap in their knowledge. Unfortunately, that realization may come too late, and the knowledge gap may lead to injury or even death. However, if you know where to look, there are instructors who have extensive training and experience in survival situations who are happy to pass along that lifesaving wisdom. Jerry Saunders — Marine veteran, bladesmith, and founder of Corvus Survival — is one such individual.
Jerry has an extensive background in a myriad of survival situations and is responsible for implementing the most comprehensive survival training course in the U.S. Marine Corps. When RECOIL OFFGRID connected with him, the opportunity to pick the brain of someone with such a distinguished background on the topic of staying alive was too fortuitous to pass up. Upon arrival to an undisclosed location in a nondescript building, we captured a glimpse of Jerry’s extraordinary accomplishments.

Interview with Jerry Saunders of Corvus Survival

RECOIL OFFGRID: Tell us about your time in the service and what you did.

Jerry Saunders: My time in the military as a Marine was very eventful. I foolishly wanted to get right to the war part, but I didn’t know any better, so I got sold into Security Forces — fortunately as part of the Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team. Its acronym was F.A.S.T, so naturally we referred to it as the Fake Ass Seal Teams. You get a lot of good gear and damn good training, but at the end of the day, you’re doing expeditionary security anywhere in the world in 48 hours. I got shipped down to Cuba and did the famous fence line mission from A Few Good Men.

Our team was sent to Bahrain then into Turkey, where we were keeping an eye on Hezbollah. We ultimately ended up performing non-combatant evacuation operations with cruise ships and decommissioned ferries to help evacuate Americans from Lebanon in the early 2000s when they were getting into it with Israel. We sailed and cross-trained in Ireland, Spain, Jordan, Egypt, and provided security for ships in the Suez several times. In 2010, when the earthquakes decimated Haiti, our sniper team spent three months living on the beach and backpacking daily MREs drops to the affected mountain villages. I spent time in Iraq as a machine gunner working closely — sometimes too closely — with EOD. The last deployment I did was to Helmand province of Afghanistan as a Scout Sniper with the infamous 3/2 Scout Snipers. After deployment, they were looking for guys with fresh battlefield experience to fill instructor roles, and I got sent out to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California. I was there to instruct the Mountain Scout Sniper Course, but also realized that the USMC Survival program was no more. After months of pestering and a phone call from the other side of the world, they agreed to let me use the Sniper cadre to revamp and reinstate the survival program. Through this, many of us were able to go to courses all over the world, become internationally certified, and bring back that knowledge to produce the best product we could for the United States Marine Corps.

What were some of the most valuable lessons you took from your military experiences?

JS: Boiling it down to just a few is a tough one. The mind controls the body, and the body is a hell of a lot tougher than you think. Some people think you have to be old to have a ton of experience. A firefight can feel like its lasting a lifetime, but you just learned a thousand lessons in 4 seconds.

Put effort into the people beside you so that you can trust them when your life is at stake. The military offers you something that civilian life doesn’t typically, which is the opportunity for friends to prove themselves in some really sh*tty situations. You don’t normally see people’s loyalty displayed like that anywhere else. I think finding those people in your close community that are loyal and that you can network with is one of the most important things you can do. Invest in the people around you.

What led you to transition to teaching the general public?

JS: Nobody was teaching it quite like I was, and once I tried it, I was kind of blown away at the lack of knowledge the general public had. I had to dial things way back. In one class, a student actually asked me what part of the tree was the bark. So, I’ve developed my own blend of primitive/modern/military survival, and I’ve made it so that everything is quantifiable. If you can quantify something, you can then replicate it, and replicating survival skills when you need them is the whole point. A huge thing for me was that it was a way to give back to a nation that supported me while I was in the military. Now I get to empower somebody to be self-reliant, and you always get the good feels when you do something like that. That alone is its own reward.

Above: End of course photo, Yellowstone National Park SRT, Helena, Montana.

How did your military experience influence your approach to survival instruction?

JS: I have to say I’m incredibly fortunate. I’ve had a lot of training and many opportunities to get it right. I’ve also had a lot of opportunities to mess it up. Having such a large number of students means you get to learn a sh*tload of mistakes at once without even having to make them yourself. The military also gave me a good sense of organization. I’ve yet to experience any survival event, school, or bushcraft event where I thought the instructors had their skills down and could control the students. Managing people and holding their interest is an art. The military training I went through gave me a strong platform to base my instruction on. You’re being taught how to professionally stand in front of and transmit information to a large crowd of people, and the military trainers don’t take it easy because they want to produce a new generation of instructors that transmit the instruction well.

I was able to travel all over the world, and one of the most important lessons I learned was to pay attention to the locals in whichever region I was in. Food is the key. I used to dive for lobster in Cuba, and I would take them to the Jamaicans that worked there. Food works miracles (and a bottle of rum). But they showed me how they were cooked, and we ate, drank, and danced. After spending time in over 48 different countries and learning the various methods of how people went about living their lives, it has given me a wealth of knowledge and skills to draw from. A lot of people think that making a fire with a bow drill or killing rabbit for food by hitting it on the back of the head is the pinnacle of survival, but there is so much more to it than that.

Above: Jerry on a flight to the South East side of Denali to teach Japanese film crews about avalanche safety.

How do you convince the average urbanite of the value of survival skills?

JS: They have to have an interest in the first place. There are a lot of movies and YouTube videos that often spark somebody’s interest. But for someone who doesn’t look into that sort of thing, all you can really do is bring up news stories for references, things that happen, just to get them thinking about potential scenarios where they would benefit from having basic survival skills. Many times, people show up to a class who have had an accident or a close call and realized their lives could depend on knowing a little bit more. When I was teaching in California, I was actually seeing a lot of successful people attending my courses — doctors, lawyers, and personal trainers from the bigger cities. A common misconception in urban centers is that if something happens, you always need to get out of the city. People would attend training because they realized they needed a new skill set to hopefully be successful in those situations. I would do my best to manage their expectations and teach them valuable skills that work in the urban/rural interface.

Define the Corvus approach to survival instruction. What’s your specialty?

JS: I take a skill and break it down, quantify its parts, and by doing this, make it easier for almost anyone to replicate it. I also tailor my training to my audience. What works for a Special Forces team in the mountains, will be much different from a family just looking for skills to make their Yosemite camping experience a little comfier. Many people come with the attitude that to survive, you have to suffer. But I always reassure my classes that I’m not just going to send them out to be miserable — who pays for that?

Above: Jerry discusses with the author natural tinders available in the Great Lakes Region.

As long as my students can understand a few key concepts and don’t mess up too bad, that’s the biggest thing. I always get asked on the second day of training, “What are we going to do today?” My reply is always, “First, we are going to fix whatever you hated about your shelter or skills you messed up on day one.” As for my specialty, being a winter survival expert, I have gone through the most extreme winter survival courses on the planet. So, I would have to say surviving in freezing conditions is something I have a lot of experience with.

What do you think are the most typical survival situations that people will face in their lifetime?

JS: First off, don’t do shrooms in parking lots, I’ve seen that more than once. But really, I see people relying on a cell phone too much. And it is understandable because it is such a useful piece of technology. It’s communication, navigation, your light, your personal synthetic intelligence. It’s just about everything you could need. So, what happens when you’re in a situation and you only have 2-percent battery left? Pretty soon you are going to realize how inadequately prepared you are. It never fails — when those people get rescued, they always hold up their phone to you and say, “I don’t know, it just died.”

Exposure to cold is another big one most people will encounter. Winter weather kills more people than all other natural disasters combined. If you look at the stats on driving in icy conditions, cold-weather injuries, it’s a huge risk. You have to understand elevation and temperature change in elevation in the mountains out west. When it snows, people from the city go to visit the snowline, and they have very little experience with cold weather. It could be 72 degrees at the bottom of the mountain and 14 at the top. So, they go up there with shorts and a T-shirt and end up getting hypothermia. Exposure is probably the number-one situation people will be affected by. Lack of understanding of your environment and how to adequately dress and prepare for it is huge.

Trail cutting is a mistake many people make, and it’s one of the worst things you can ever do. People think they are heading in a certain direction, and the next thing they know, they are slipping or falling. And depending on the fall or the proximity to help or other people, many times people don’t survive that.

Above: Jerry guides the author through the fundamentals and proper technique of bow and drill friction fire.

If someone only had time to learn two or three survival skills, what should they focus on?

JS: If we ignore soft skills (situational awareness, adaptability, etc.), I feel medical skills are important. You really want to learn those initially in a situation where you can establish a base of knowledge when you are not under duress. Then, tress test the hell out of it — educate, adapt, and then endure.

Fire-starting would be next. Building a fire really lends itself to medical, survival, security, and communication. We talked about how serious exposure is, so knowing how to get a fire going is really important. But managing that fire, cooking on it, making water safe to drink, and signaling for rescue makes it almost as useful as your iPhone.

Which wilderness survival skills do you feel could be easily adapted to urban environments?

JS: Shelter and security are important, and not just finding a building to get out of the rain but staying insulated and safe. Fairly recently, Texas comes to mind. I was watching that, and I was blown away. Many people don’t understand how insulation works, or even how to dress properly in cold weather. How many rabbits do you see chilling next to a campfire in winter? It can be done with less than you think. That homeless guy sitting on the corner knows how to stay warm. Many people could benefit from a cup of coffee and a sit down with that fellow.

And I think an awareness of how fire can be beneficial, but also harmful in an urban setting would be good to develop. It helps you understand the dangers. There were a lot of carbon-monoxide-related injuries occurring down there, so clearly understanding proper ventilation is important. It happens up north all the time too.

Above: Jerry demonstrating a friction fire to a group of students in Southern California.

What are some common mistakes you see people make during survival training?

JS: I always ask my students the question, “Who’s comfortable using a knife?” And everybody kind of laughs it off. And every time, I get somebody who cuts themselves pretty seriously. Nobody uses knives as much as they think they do, especially in survival applications.

When it comes to building shelters, most people start out making something my dog could barely sleep in. Before they start out on their own, I’ve given them proper instruction and built an example for them. The common adage comes to mind: “There is never enough time to do it right, but always time to do it again.” I always let them start out in their shelter, but they do have the option of popping up a tent when their shelter isn’t working out. The next day, they actually listen and learn what went wrong and have a renewed vigor to improve their shelters for the better.
Lots of students forget my instructions. Add a little fatigue with something as simple as a 1½-mile walk, and you might just forget your name. For example, when we try to start a friction fire with a bow drill, and I tell them they need a stick that is perfectly straight and 10 inches long, some will bring back something with a near perfect zigzag.

Above: Sometimes when learning a new task, someone has to step in and say, “Start over and try again.”

What are the biggest misconceptions beginner survivalists have before training?

JS: Having talked to my students before the course begins, many think that they’re going to starve, go hungry, or that it’s going to hurt or be painfully fatiguing. If you’re not used to the feeling of hunger, it can cause some people to panic. Even if they eat the day prior, and know they will eat the day after, it’s the number-one thing they fear. You need to learn and acquire skills before you can use them.

How often would you recommend the average person to practice survival training?

JS: I think at least once a season in an environment you are familiar with. And if you’re unfamiliar, train with a reputable instructor the first year. Not just some guy who just dresses like a character, has a huge following on social media, and will leave you with zero retainable assets. If you live an outdoor life and even if you don’t, incorporate those skills into your daily routine. Light your grill with a ferro rod, use your gear, check your kits, and don’t let your adaptable mindset get lazy. Skill fade is a real thing, and if you are noticing that your memory of your survival skill is growing hazy, that’s probably a good time to go and practice it again.

What survival tools do you think people should carry on them at all times?

JS: Something as simple as a lighter, a good pocketknife, and knowledge of how to use them could help most people endure many short-term survival situations, or avoid them altogether.

Above: Jerry strips down, piling his belongings in a tarp, before using it in a quinzhee snow shelter demonstration.

Have you noticed any trends in people’s attitudes about survival?

JS: Yes. 2020 pushed a lot of people outdoors. People want adventure, travel, excitement, and the perfect Instagram pic. As a result, search-and-rescue teams have been busy. When the influx of people not used to how to conduct a multi-day hike or even a strenuous day hike has risen, so do the number of injuries or worse, perceived injuries. The off-road/overland industry is also booming right now. Not everyone gets it right the first time.

Above: Jerry teaching proper fitment of snowshoes at the start of a weekend survival class. Talkeetna, Alaska.

We heard you recently moved cross-country and started restoring an old homestead. What lessons have you learned from that transition?

JS: I loved living in Yosemite National Park, but the wildfires, earthquakes, rolling blackouts, landslides, and houses crushed by massive tree failure due to 15 years of drought can get old. Moving up to the Great Lakes Area was a strategic decision and largely based around the availability of fresh water, healthy forests, and lack of wildfires. I drove a sand-point well by hand last week. I hit water at 8 feet, and when it started flowing, I couldn’t help but smile because it means so much more after the drought.

Having worked and lived in extreme cold weather, I didn’t think twice about moving in the dead of winter. But it was -41 degrees F the day I moved in. No packing tape or Rubbermaid on the planet stands up to that temp when you’re trying to move. It was just me moving things back and forth, and I ended up getting frostbite on one of my fingers again, constantly shoveling snow to get things where they needed to be. We did move in the dead of winter, but something I repeat to myself often is just because you’re a badass somewhere, doesn’t mean you’re a badass everywhere.

Moving in the blind to a new town really forces you to build reliable connections with the people around you. Social media isn’t a thing here. It’s just real people. When the snow gets deep, it’s you and the people living next to you who are going to count the most.

Above: Jerry discussing a proper prone shooting position and recoil management. Matanuska Valley, Alaska.

What are the most valuable lessons you learned from living in those types of situations out west?

JS: The truth behind the old folk tale about stone soup. Don’t wait till the bad times to be good to your neighbors. Helping your neighbors when they need it in the good times and being an active part of the community does nothing but make everyone more resilient when the lights go out. Blackouts were pretty common; an example of how we pulled together as a community is stone soup. I forget if the highway was out, or if it was another blackout, but everyone’s food was going bad, and no one could get groceries without an eight-hour round-trip drive.

One of the Park Rangers organized a food-sharing program, and it was huge for the community. That might seem dorky or not grayman cool, but it’s real life. I forget the exact verbiage of the African quote, but I think it applies to a small town as well, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” In that region, it was a huge blow to the community if someone moved because we all relied on each other so much. Everybody has a “survival” skill that can be useful, even if they don’t know it. Being an AC repair mechanic in the middle of BFE desert during the middle of a heatwave might be just as useful as knowing how to start a fire when it’s cold.

Above: Jerry holds a piece of chert, char cloth, and a Corvus Carrion knife while showing one method for using a carbon steel knife to start a fire.

How did you get into knifemaking, and how have your designs evolved over the years?

JS: There are several reasons that I decided to start making knives. Sometimes I would find myself in situations thinking that a different knife design would be much more efficient than the style I had. I also think there is something cathartic about forging and bladesmithing that calls to many veterans. Initially, I started small — the minimal amount of tools in what was just a closet on the back of the house. As my skills improved, I upgraded to one of those portable tent-shed things, and when we moved, I had the entire basement to myself. Now I have a dedicated out-building with many tools and machines. So, it has just grown incrementally over time. When I make a design I think I will like, more often it turns out that others feel the same way. The designs themselves come from a culmination of experience. I’ve put so much time into researching and building them to be the best I know how to make them.

Above: After placing an ember into a bird’s nest of dead fern leaves, Jerry blows on it to coax it to flame.

Do you have any memorable stories from your work as a survival consultant for film and TV projects?

JS: Japan has this survival show where they take a pop-star celebrity, give them 24 hours to train, put them in a survival situation, and see how well they do. The show hired me to do the training, off-camera consulting, and act as the medic for the crew. One night in Canada, the temperature dropped past 80 below zero and it turned into me keeping the entire production crew (10 people) alive. At one point I had one cameraman’s feet in my armpits and the other’s feet around my waist trying to rewarm their toes in the tent.

One day, the celebrity I was helping tried to harpoon a seal by attaching his knife to a snow shovel handle to act as the harpoon. Basically, he had to wait by this hole where the seal would come up for air, and when it did, spear it and drag it on top of the ice. But the guy couldn’t stand still longer than a few minutes and gave up. I think the show paid $2,000 for the license to harvest the seal, so I asked if I could try.

One of the local Inuit elders we were working with gave me permission, and I spent the next two hours waiting for that seal to come up. It finally surfaced and I sent the harpoon into it. Once it was in, I now had this big rope in one hand that I needed to use to pull it up onto the ice and a big ice pick in the other to chisel it out of the ice. The thing weighed over 100 pounds. It was icy, bloody, and just a mess, but I finally got it up onto the ice. When it was over, the Inuit elder walked up with a huge grin, told me he has never done that with a harpoon, and held up his 303 Enfield rifle. But the meat was very rich, and everyone enjoyed the meal.

Final Thoughts

A wise man once told me, “You never know where the road of life is going to take you.” Whatever your age, geographical location or system of belief, there will come a time when you must rely on what you know to adapt to a situation. Jerry’s insight into the human condition and his experience in a multitude of life-or-death scenarios give him an advantage that most of us don’t have. But if we follow his advice, learn a few critical skills, and develop friendships with the individuals living around us, we might just have enough collective wisdom to comfortably weather the next hardship that comes our way.

About Jerry Saunders

Hometown
Winston-Salem, NC (currently living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula)

Education
USMC Scout Sniper
Federal Law Enforcement Officer
EMT
Firefighter
SAR Technician

Childhood Idols
“Flint” from Louis L’Amour novels; Albert Johnson aka “Mad Trapper of Rat River”

Recommended Reading List
Deep Survival by Lawrence Gonzales
Anything by Jack Carr
Hard copies of DIY books on just about anything

Favorite Movie
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Somehow it perfectly captures the feeling of traveling and experiencing things for the first time.

Favorite Drink
Nonalcoholic: “Bullfrog” Red Bull mixed with Blue Cherry Gatorade
Alcoholic: Old Fashioned, whiskey, sweet

Favorite Quote
“Sometimes you just got to pee in the sink” — hugely debated but usually attributed to Charles Bukowski

Military Experience
Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Leader (operations in Cuba, Bahrain, Lebanon)
QRF Team Leader for 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines (Iraq)
Scout Sniper Team Leader & Platoon Sgt.
USMC Chief Instructor of Survival at Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport
Honorary Estonian SERE Instructor
Lead Survival Instructor for the Warsaw Initiative Fund information exchange

URL / Social Media
www.corvussurvival.com, Instagram: @corvus_survival 

Jerry's EDC Gear

Wazoo Survival Cache Belt, includes:
– Signaling mirror
– Fishing kit (line, hooks, weights)
– Snare wire
– Backup mini ferro rod and ceramic knife
– Procamptek Fire Plug
– 4 mini chem lights
– Serepick Bogota picks
– Waterpro tabs and waterbag
– Dime light (white)
– Mini waterproof compass
– Wazoo Fresnel Lens

Corvus Carrion (Burnt Hemp wrap handle with a divot for bow and drill; Rhodesian IWB Kydex sheath with Ulti-Clip Slim 2.2). Made by me.

Victorinox Farmer with Alox scales (modified with a divot for bow and drill).

Gray BIC lighter with child safety removed.

Plain Sharpie. Not an NPE tool. (Became a habit from being an EMT and writing on medical tape all the time. Transferred to marking on knives all the time).

How to Choose a Homestead Property

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We’ve all heard the saying, “location, location, location.” Real estate professionals commonly employ this phrase to emphasize how the value of similar properties can differ substantially, depending on where those properties are located. In other words, with all else being equal, location can (and usually will) dictate the appeal and value of a structure or a parcel of land. To many people, desirable homestead locations often have certain traditional characteristics, including scenic views, stable neighborhoods, top-rated schools, proximity to quality healthcare, public transportation, entertainment, and shopping. Others might consider more practical things, such as safety, economic development, jobs, population density, taxes, personal freedoms, elevation, and maybe even the ability to live a sustainable, self-sufficient life.

When it comes to surviving a natural or man-made crisis, however, homestead location becomes even more significant, and there are many more factors to consider. Some of these elements can help you gauge if a particular location is desirable, and whether moving there can actually help you tip the scales of survivability in your favor.

In this article, we review some of the factors to consider when assessing homestead locations for livability and survivability. We also review some of the ways to you manage a process that can at times seem completely unmanageable and overwhelming: evaluating all the variables for relocating to a safer and more “survivable” location.

How a Homestead Improves Your Odds

When it comes to survival, where you choose to live, work, and play can make a huge difference. A preferred location can tip the odds heavily in your favor. A poor location, on the other hand, will most certainly have the opposite effect. The truth is, all locations come with some level of risk, and all will require some degree of adjustment and compromise.

Life holds absolutely no guarantees for any of us. The very best any of us can hope for is to take steps that afford us every possible advantage. We are, in effect, playing the odds and hoping that those odds come out in our favor as much as possible. This isn’t rolling the dice; it’s more like “loading the dice.” While there are many things that you’ll never be able to control, there are also many other areas where you actually have options; and here’s where you should focus the majority of your attention.

Choosing a Property with Due Diligence

All important decisions should begin with thorough research, and an accurate assessment of the facts. In order to make solid, well-reasoned decisions, you’ll need not only information, but accurate, well-researched information. This process will help you gather, study, weigh, and consider as many of the variables as possible.

Above: Strategic Relocation, North American Guide to Safe Places, 4th Edition by Joel M. Skousen and Andrew Skousen has long been a go-to resource for relocation research. In the 4th Edition, the authors have updated the state-by-state reviews to reflect demographics and other significant changes.

For purposes of this article, here are some factors to consider:

Patience: Give yourself sufficient time to do solid research on a location, and to digest and analyze your findings. There will be lots of unknowns that gradually reveal themselves as you conduct your research. This is probably the most significant part of the process. If you rush it, you’ll short-change yourself.

Objectives and priorities: If you don’t clearly define what you’re looking for, you’re not likely to get it. Outline your objectives/priorities and keep that list front and center.

Keep an open mind: Never begin your research with bias, or preconceived notions of what you think, or hearsay. Look at everything with a “fresh set of eyes” and with absolutely no prejudgment.

Test your information: Throughout the course of your research, you may run across conflicting and contradictory information. Treat all this data, regardless of its source, with a healthy dose of skepticism.

Document your findings and keep good records: Start a file for each state or area that you’re considering, and organize your findings in an easy-to-access spreadsheet/folder. You’ll likely go back to the same information many times. It’ll be far more effective and efficient if you organized your findings from the very start.

Homestead Considerations

What’s the best location for increasing your chances of surviving a natural or man-made crisis? The simple truth is that there’s no “best” location. Every place, no matter how attractive it may seem at first, will have its pros and cons. What you choose will depend largely on your particular needs and circumstances. A location that might be ideal for one person, could end up being the worst possible choice for someone else.

Above: Coastal regions offer beaches, boating, and fishing. Access to a boat may also provide options for leaving an area quickly and without having to deal with the usual traffic. However, these regions may also be prone to storms and flooding.

Below are some of the more important categories that you should consider in your overall search parameters:

Population density: This is very significant. No matter the crisis, being close to a largely populated city center has the potential to make things much worse. The larger the population, the larger the chance of man-made problems arriving at your doorstep. (See “The Big Three” sidebar.)

Weather/climate: Cold or hot, humid or dry, windy or calm, quality air or pollution. All of these things matter, and oftentimes may even affect your overall health. Look for areas with mild to moderate climate, and try to avoid extremes. Also consider the length of the growing season, rainfall, flooding, and overall weather patterns, especially if you plan on growing your own food.

Jobs: No matter how self-sufficient you may be, you’ll most likely still need some income. Traditional jobs are the most common source of income, but also consider working from home, or operating your own business — maybe even a home business. Research local regulations before you dive head-first into a business venture, since some states require all sorts of licenses and permits.

Economy: A thriving, growing and diverse economy offers the best chances for financial success no matter your particular circumstances. But a thriving economy will also attract people from far and wide, and can usually result in higher real estate prices, traffic, congestion, and an overall higher cost of living.

Hospitals and healthcare: Access to quality hospitals, physicians, specialists, dentists, and other medical facilities is often overlooked. Depending on your age and overall medical condition, this may or may not be high on your list of priorities, but remember, emergencies happen whether you plan for them or not.

Shopping: We’re all consumers, and no matter how self-sufficient and independent we may be, we all need to shop. Do you mind driving long distances to pick up groceries, or do you need more convenient options? Also, the further goods have to travel to get to you, the more expensive they will be. Consider visiting some of the nearby shopping centers. It’s amazing what you can learn by looking around and interacting with locals.

Public services: Having a wide array of public services can be a convenience to some and a burden to others. Remember, everything comes at a cost. The more services you get, the more taxes you’ll pay. Finding a balance is key. In some rural areas you’ll need to plow your own roads, pay monthly subscription fees for fire department and EMS services, and you can forget about public transportation. Also, find out how reliable the grid power is, how often it’s down, and if there are any alternatives.

Environment: Usually this refers to the natural environment and its overall health. Lots of areas in the U.S. have suffered tremendous damage at the hands of irresponsible corporate entities who have disposed of toxic waste into public waterways or landfills that eventually leak and contaminate the land. Also consider soil quality and study the type of crops that thrive in the area.

Education: Unless you plan to homeschool your kids, or grandchildren, the quality of the local schools is most likely very important, especially to young families. Research the local school districts, class sizes, technology use, percentage of certified teachers, grades, and rankings.

Above: Survival Retreats & Relocation – A Guide to Finding Your Secure and Sustainable Home by Jonathan Rawles and James Wesley Rawles is an excellent resource for starting your research. It’s also good for fine-tuning your search parameters using in-depth analysis and data specifically targeted for folks interested in the preparedness lifestyle, freedom, and self-sufficiency. 

Cost of living: The overall cost of living will vary widely from one area to another. This should never be overlooked. If you expect your income to remain the same, or even decline, factoring in the anticipated cost of living is critical. Look at how your target location compares to neighboring states, and other comparable locations in similar cities or states. Fuel, heating, cooling, taxes, food, insurance, utilities, education, etc. — all these things add up. Start a spreadsheet and compare to other locations you might be considering. Do a cost benefit analysis; one area may have higher taxes, but may offer better schools, more public services, etc.

Taxes: Taxes represent a large chunk of most family budgets. Considering that just about everything we do is taxed, you’ll want to determine the overall tax burden. For example, some states like Florida, Wyoming, and Texas, have no state income tax, while others like New York, New Jersey, and California impose substantial state income taxes on top of the federal income taxes. Make sure to also consider sales tax, property taxes, and local taxes. (Tip: Research bordering states when considering a location. This will sometimes yield unexpected benefits, such as tax-free shopping a short drive across the state border.)

Homestead exemptions: Some states offer homeowners homestead exemptions on their primary residence. This represents a major advantage in two ways: (1) it may save you on property taxes; (2) it protects and shields your primary residence from some creditors. Certain states provide an exemption for the full value of the home, while others provide little to nothing.

Debtor rights: While all U.S. consumers have somewhat equal rights under federal law regarding debt collection, most states also have their own laws. Some states actually provide stronger protections. These protections are important and can often shield you, and your family, against overzealous collection efforts. Some states make it very easy for a potential creditor to levy against all your assets, including your home. Other states have laws that protect you and your assets, especially your primary residence.

Sustainability and self-reliance: Living a life of sustainability and self-reliance requires knowledge, skills, and having access to the proper resources. Geography, climate, and natural resources all play a role. Look for locations that provide an abundance of natural resources, including wood, water, and game.

Above: Many areas around the country offer mountain views and the possibility for remote living. But mountains also offer protection, security, and opportunities for harvesting natural resources like wood and game. 

Crime, security, and safety: Crime imposes an extremely high cost on society and its individual citizens. Few factors affect the quality of life in a community more than crime. Think increased police presence, increased security expenses, higher home and auto insurance rates, but also the physiological and emotional toll of living in fear. Note: True crime sometimes hides in the shadows. At first glance, a community may look nice, but the well-manicured lawns and picturesque downtown may not tell the full story. Research actual crime statistics, and look for specifics like the percentage of violent and property crimes, crimes per square mile, and how these measure up against national statistics. You can also call the non-emergency police number and request recent police call logs and crimes in a given area.

Self-defense and gun laws: Your ability to protect and defend yourself and your family is, and should always be, a top priority. Avoid, at all costs, states that restrict your ability to protect yourself and your loved ones. Also consider the laws that dictate when and where you may deploy a firearm in self-defense, and what your legal duties may be when using that firearm.

Water: Will you be relying on the public water system, your own private well, a river or stream, or rainwater collection? Where does public water come from? Are those sources safe and reliable? If the public water system fails, or is somehow compromised, would there be a reasonable alternative? It’s important to know that some states have laws strictly regulating rainwater harvesting, while other states encourage and incentivize it.

Traffic: Look beyond commute times, and also research roads and road conditions, traffic patterns, traffic enforcement, and how drivers in the area are rated. Some states/cities are notorious for bad drivers, horrific accidents, and to no one’s surprise – exorbitant auto insurance rates.

Insurance costs: Auto insurance, homeowner’s insurance, even life and health insurance can vary depending on where you live. In areas with high likelihood of natural disasters (think hurricanes in Florida), you’ll pay a premium for homeowner’s coverage.

Air travel/airports: Being close to an airport can bring enormous advantages, but it comes at a cost — noise, traffic, congestion, pollution, and even potential aviation accidents. But if you’re forced to travel often, this may be a trade-off you’re willing to consider.

Overall wellbeing and livability: Certain locations feed the soul. For some, the mountains provide a deep calming connection to nature; others prefer being close to the ocean or a lake. The practical aspects of survival are very important, but so is being happy.

Above: A free-flowing river or stream can often provide many options including a reliable water supply, and opportunities for fishing and hunting, since water usually attracts game.

There are, of course, many other factors to consider. Entire books have been written on this topic, and we recommend that you read some of these books. Two of the most popular are Survival Retreats & Relocation – A Guide to Finding Your Secure and Sustainable Home by Jonathan Rawles and James Wesley Rawles, and Strategic Relocation – North American Guide to Safe Places, 4th Edition by Joel M. Skousen and Andrew Skousen. Both of these are excellent choices and will provide you with a wealth of material to consider, as well as insights, ideas, and suggestions on how to expand your research.

The Big Three: Common Homesteading Problems

Above: Large urban areas are heavily congested, and have an extraordinarily high cost of living. Because of the population density, many of these urban areas have become very dangerous, especially during or after a natural or manmade crisis. 

The People Problem
Population density can become one of the biggest dangers to your safety and wellbeing, before, during, and in the aftermath of a crisis or public emergency. There’s a very simple reason for this — during a crisis, these areas are likely to experience the most severe and extensive eruptions of violence, looting, rioting, and overall civil unrest. This isn’t mere speculation; history has confirmed this sad reality time and again — when the SHTF, many people will be at their worst. Add to this a finely tuned infrastructure and supply chain that may be unable to keep pace with sudden changes to demand for food, water, sanitation, and public services. The more people there are in a given geographical area, the more precarious the situation will be. And as a disaster accelerates, trying to escape a high-density population center will become extremely difficult, if not impossible, unless you were able to get a jump on everybody else.

Personal Freedom
Where you choose to live can make a tremendous difference in how you live your life. Government regulations, limits on how you can use your property, how you can teach and educate your children, how you can make a living, and how you can feed yourself — all these things matter.

Some states seem to regulate even the smallest activities, while others tend to leave citizens alone to make their own choices and live their own lives. An intrusive government will always have a tendency to desire more power over you, and often even abuse its power. When considering your options, focus on locations with local and state governments that put a high value on personal responsibility, self-sufficiency, and freedom.

Risks – Natural and Man-Made
When considering the potential risks, people often focus on natural disasters, while ignoring or downplaying man-made disasters. Yet both are dangerous, and both can kill. Consider that no state is free from natural disasters, and that you’ll usually trade one set of dangers for another. While the coastal states can suffer flooding, hurricanes, and other offshore hazards, many interior states are affected by tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, mudslides, or even volcanoes. No matter where you live, there’ll always be risks. Avoid power plants, superfund sites, and areas affected by toxic contamination. Hazardous waste sites are scattered throughout the country. There are more than 1,300 of these “Superfund Sites” where toxic chemicals and other contaminants were dumped for years, polluting soil, water, and air.

The Great Migration

While there have always been patterns of migration throughout the United States, according to a U.S. Migration Report from North American Moving Services, 2020 saw Americans moving in record numbers. While some moves may have been influenced by COVID-19 and the fallout from lockdowns, job losses, and failing businesses, Americans continue actively leaving big cities for more rural locations as they’ve done in previous years.

This annual study tracked nearly all interstate and cross-border household relocations from January 1, 2020, to December 11, 2020. Here’s a breakdown of the top states that Americans were moving to and leaving in 2020.

Top Inbound States:

  • Idaho (70%)
  • Arizona (64%)
  • South Carolina (63%)
  • Tennessee (63%)
  • North Carolina (61%)

Top Outbound States:

  • Illinois (69%)
  • New York (65%)
  • California (64%)
  • New Jersey (64%)
  • Maryland (61%)

In general, Americans are leaving the Northeast and Midwest in favor of the warmer climates, and the lower cost of living typically found in the Southeast and Southwest. Florida, Texas, and Colorado round out the top eight states for inbound moves. The full report, including an interactive map of the U.S, and a downloadable version of the report is available at www.northamerican.com/migration-map.

Wrap-Up

While there’s no such thing as a “perfect” homestead location, there are many safer locations to consider. Doing your research and taking advantage of existing resources can not only save you time and money, but can substantially increase your chances of success in finding a location that not only addresses your needs, but also provides an increased level of safety, security, and protection from both natural and man-made hazards.

Sources
> www.survivalrealty.com
> www.joelskousen.com
> www.census.gov
> www.northamerican.com (2020 Migration Report)

Books
Survival Retreats & Relocation by Jonathan Rawles & James Wesley Rawles
Strategic Relocation, North America by Joel Skousen

About the Author

Richard Duarte is an urban survival consultant, writer, and firearms enthusiast. He’s the author of Surviving Doomsday: A Guide for Surviving an Urban Disaster and The Quick Start Guide for Urban Preparedness.

First Look: Trailblazer Pivot 9mm Rifle

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At SHOT Show 2022, we ventured into the basement in search of hidden gems. If you've ever attended the show in Las Vegas, you'll know that this level of the convention center is typically filled with smaller companies and startups, so it often breeds some of the most interesting (and bizarre) new products. One firearm that we found there might fall into either category, depending on your personal opinion: the new Pivot 9mm rifle from Trailblazer Firearms.

How the Trailblazer Pivot Works

Unlike most folding rifles, the Trailblazer Pivot does not fold in half via a hinge in the midsection. Instead, the upper and lower halves of the rifle unlock and rotate 360 degrees in either direction. The locking mechanism is controlled by a button at the front of the lower receiver, and it includes a safety feature that prevents the Trailblazer Pivot from folding if the bolt is forward or if a magazine is inserted. There is also a manual thumb safety lever.

Click here for a video of the Pivot we recorded on the show floor.

Overall length in folded configuration is 20.9 inches. Unfolded, it measures a maximum of 29.7 inches. Width is just over an inch, and unloaded weight is 5 pounds.

Pivot Additional Features

The Trailblazer Pivot has a full 16-inch barrel, so it's classified as a rifle and can use an adjustable buttstock without requiring an NFA tax stamp. The barrel is threaded for addition of a suppressor or muzzle device. Most of you will be pleased to learn it takes Glock 9mm magazines, which are plentiful and relatively inexpensive (if you don't already have a bag full of them).

A cavity in the stock accepts another Glock mag, so you can carry an extended magazine (such as the Magpul 21-rounder seen here) when it's time to pack the rifle. Since the early prototype we handled wasn't quite ready for mass-production, the mags felt somewhat loose in the stock, but we're told this retention will be corrected for the final version.

Both the upper and lower receivers of the Trailblazer Pivot feature M-LOK slots for accessories such as flashlights and foregrips. The upper also features two sections of Picatinny rail for optics and backup iron sights.

As a result of its slick folding mechanism and outside-the-box design, our colleagues at RECOIL awarded the Trailblazer Pivot “Best of the Basement” for SHOT Show 2022. That might sound like a backhanded compliment, but as we mentioned earlier, we love to see unusual and creative products like this one in the lower level of the show. We hope to give the Pivot a full review once test samples are available later this year.

For more information on the Trailblazer Pivot 9mm rifle, go to TrailblazerFirearms.com/pivot-rifle.

First Look: Valhalla Tactical ODA Weapon Light Switch

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Valhalla Tactical is a company that doesn't have the same brand recognition as big players in the flashlight market like SureFire, Streamlight, Modlite, and Cloud Defensive. However, they've introduced some innovative machined aluminum products that may have flown under your radar. First came the Baldr weapon light, with an extremely compact body and offset mounting plates that allowed users to mount it close to any rifle's handguard. Next came the Rukh optic mount, which features adjustable angle and a clever removable RMR battery compartment. At SHOT Show 2022, the owner showed us a new weapon light switch called the Valhalla Tactical ODA. Think of it as a joystick control for your flashlight — it sounds weird, but after trying it, we want one.

The Valhalla Tactical ODA Light Switch

If you've ever picked up an XBOX or Playstation controller, you'll be familiar with how the ODA works. It can be pressed in any direction to activate the light momentarily, or can be pushed inward to click the light into constant-on mode. This is especially useful for setups where rail space is limited and attaching a tape switch may not be an option. It's not an overly-sensitive hair trigger, nor is it a switch you have to manhandle to activate — it feels just right.

To be blunt, we thought we'd dislike this design when we first saw photos on Valhalla's social media pages. But handling it at SHOT Show quickly won us over. The large polymer joystick is easy to use from any angle, and you can even wrap your whole hand around it and simply tighten your grip to activate the light with your palm. No longer are you limited to turning on the light with the tip of your thumb.

Better yet, the Valhalla Tactical ODA allows you to return to a standard tail cap at a moment's notice. Just grip the ring around the joystick and unscrew it to reveal a rubber clicky button.

Valhalla Light Body & HRT Tactical Head

The ODA was developed in-house at Valhalla Tactical, and the prototype version seen here was machined to match a new multi-fuel light body design that can accept 18650, 18350, and CR123A batteries. Thanks to the standard thread pitch, this body will accept SureFire Scout and Modlite heads, but in these photos it is paired with an AWLS (adaptive weapon light system) head created by HRT Tactical. That's why you'll notice Valhalla and HRT's logos in these photos. We're told the HRT Tactical AWLS head can produce 1,700 lumens and 90,000 candela.

If all you want is to add an ODA switch to your existing weapon light, we're also told that there are plans to produce switches for other common light bodies in the near future. The SureFire Scout tail cap is coming first, and the Cloud Defensive REIN tail cap may be released later. At the moment, you'll need to get the ODA and light body together.

SHOT Show 2022 Award

Our sister publication RECOIL magazine gave out four “Best of SHOT Show 2022” awards, and our editorial team decided to give the Best Accessory award to Valhalla Tactical for the new ODA. One after another, our editors tried the switch and decided it was deserving of recognition.

Post-Prototype ODA Changes

Since the Valhalla Tactical ODA seen here is a pre-production prototype, there will still be some fine-tuning before it's released to the public. This will include additional texture around the circumference of the joystick to provide better grip in wet conditions. The Valhalla Tactical team also let us know that the joystick can be replaced by removing a single screw on the underside, so they're considering creating a few different shapes and sizes (for example, a shorter rounded nub). This also opens up the possibility of adjusting sensitivity by adding or removing spacers between the ODA and the tail cap.

For more updates on the Valhalla Tactical ODA, go to ValhallaTactical.com or follow @valhalla.tactical on Instagram.

First Look: Holosun PID Weapon Light

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Although SHOT Show 2022 officially begins tomorrow, today at Industry Day at the Range we got our hands on something brand-new for the first time. Holosun showed us their unreleased weapon light, known as the Holosun PID. The example in these photos is serial number 001, and we're told we were the first media outlet to see it. Read on for the initial specs and details.

The New Holosun PID Weapon Light

You may notice this light's name is a not-so-subtle reference to the term positive identification (PID). A weapon light allows you to positively identify your target before you decide to fire, so this name makes a lot of sense.

We don't have all the specs yet, but we'll share what we've been told so far. It offers a maximum output of 1,000 lumens in high mode, as well as a 500-lumen low mode. It uses a rechargeable battery, and features a USB-C charging port on the underside of the light, shielded by a protective rubber flap. The battery can be charged without removing the PID from the gun, or removing the battery from the housing.

Beam pattern is said to be intermediate, with enough throw for medium-range outdoor use and enough spill for close-quarters indoor use.

The Holosun PID is controlled by ambidextrous paddles that allow for momentary (press and hold) and constant-on activation of the light.

As for holster compatibility, we're told it fits nicely into common duty-style holsters that accept the SureFire X300 or Streamlight TLR-1, such as those from Safariland. That's a good start, but it's likely that molded Kydex holster manufacturers will still need to create new molds for full compatibility the new Holosun PID.

One especially interesting piece of news is the price point. We're told the Holosun PID will be priced substantially below other 1,000-lumen WML competitors, with an MSRP of around $120. That means street prices are likely to be under $100 once the PID becomes widely-available.

For more information on the new Holosun PID weapon light, keep an eye on Holosun.com in the near future.