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There are many reasons why people have had to run through the wilderness and practice survival evasion against much larger forces in a desperate pursuit of their freedom or life. Ranging from world wars, ideological or ethnic genocide, or widespread chaos and a failure of civility. Regardless of the reason, when it’s required, the skill becomes much like a parachute to a man falling from the sky — extremely helpful.
Initiating the first phase of evasion should occur as soon as it becomes clear that avoiding a larger, more powerful force is necessary. Again, it could be an undercover operative getting discovered and needing to break contact. Or a downed helicopter pilot, waking after a crash far beyond the friendly lines. Or perhaps it’s a small family trying to get to their bug-out location safely during the zombie apocalypse. Whatever the circumstances, the first phase is immediate actions, and it’s the “oh sh*t” moment when you realize you’re being hunted.
Make use of your surroundings to blend in and avoid detection from pursuers.
Survival Evasion Phase 1: Immediate Actions
If you still have communication capabilities (and aren’t “NORDO” — a real term meaning “no radio”), calling for help should be a top priority. For military personnel, this might involve using covert electronic methods to avoid detection, such as activating the IMM button on a Combat Survivor Evader Locator radio. Civilians can achieve the same goal by discreetly notifying a trusted contact, perhaps by sending an email to let them know you’re enacting your plan and will be on the move. Tools like a Garmin InReach or other satellite communication devices are excellent options for staying off the grid while sending out a call for assistance.
If you’re carrying sensitive information, it’s critical to eliminate anything you won’t be taking with you. This means destroying anything that could give away your plans or location. For military personnel, this is referred to as “dash-one” procedures — making classified equipment and data completely unusable. For civilians, it’s about ensuring there’s no trace of where you’re headed or how you plan to get there. Even something seemingly harmless, like a map folded to highlight a specific area or smudged with oil from your hands, could tip off a pursuer. Notes written in shorthand or unencrypted coordinates can be gold mines for anyone tracking you. These small details are exactly what enemy intelligence teams look for. Don’t give them that advantage. If you have to keep certain sensitive items, always have a plan to destroy them if capture becomes imminent.
A hide site should provide enough shelter and security to afford a brief respite before moving on to the next evasion phase.
At this stage, it’s crucial to gather all necessary and available resources. Consider everything you might need to accomplish quickly and efficiently. Focus on items that can aid your travel, minimize your visibility, and won’t weigh you down. Whether it’s grabbing your go-bag or packing up your Jeep Wrangler, this is often the first step that comes to mind. Now is the time to put all those carefully planned preparations into action. If your vehicle is out of commission, salvage what you can — improvised tools or parts could make all the difference in the journey ahead.
Keep your five basic survival needs in mind:
1. Communication 2. Health 3. Protection from the elements and threats 4. Sustenance (water and food) 5. Efficient travel
Focus on quickly gathering items that support these essentials without weighing yourself down. If something can make a difference in one of these areas and you can grab it without compromising your mobility, take it.
If your situation begins with a high-speed impact or a chaotic ambush and you’re dealing with serious injuries — like bleeding heavily — address those first. However, if it’s something minor that you can push through, dig deep and stay focused. Don’t let hesitation or delay put you at risk of capture. Many POWs and hostages found themselves in that position simply because they didn’t act quickly enough to start moving when they had the chance. Time is critical — get moving as soon as possible.
Good use of camouflage effectively breaks up the outline of features that might give you away.
Survival Evasion Phase 2: Initial Movement
This phase is all about “getting off the X,” a term that means moving as quickly as possible to escape immediate danger and avoid being a stationary target. It’s about rapid movement toward your intended goal, ensuring you’re not where the threat expects you to be. The only exception to this rule is if you can immediately create a false trail to mislead less-skilled trackers, buying yourself more time and distance. Which direction should you head? That depends. Do you know where you are? Having a general sense of your location is critical for making accurate decisions, which underscores the importance of studying terrain and maps beforehand, especially in unfamiliar areas. You need to know both your intended destination and where you might encounter adversaries along the way.
For military personnel, this relies heavily on how well you absorbed the pre-mission briefing. You’ll likely have an evasion plan of action (EPA) detailing the direction to move, approximate distances, and other crucial information like communication plans, authentication codes, and methods for securing transmissions.
Don’t neglect camouflaging your gear.
For civilians, this falls under the category of worst-case scenario planning. Ideally, before engaging in high-risk activities, you’ve accounted for both your MDCOA (most dangerous course of action) and MLCOA (most likely course of action). In simpler terms, this means preparing for the worst possible situation while also anticipating the most probable challenges you’ll face. Planning ahead is the foundation of successful evasion.
Speed is your best security. How fast can you move? If you don’t have electronic devices that can be tracked, any pursuit will begin at your last known location. Your priority is to create as much distance as possible from that starting point as quickly as you can. Focus on time, distance, and terrain. Your goal is to delay and mislead your pursuers at every opportunity. Use tactics like creating false leads, setting misleading trails, and carefully masking your direction of travel. Small, quick actions can make a big difference: Sweep away tracks, restore disturbed foliage to its original position, and stick to hard surfaces to avoid leaving prints in loose or wet soil. Every second you gain and every sign you erase increases your chances of staying ahead.
Distance is critical. You need to put as much space as possible between yourself and your pursuers, ideally in a direction they won’t anticipate. Successful evasion hinges on being unpredictable to the enemy while remaining predictable to recovery forces or allies. Outpacing your pursuers is essential. If it means upgrading to a bicycle, commandeering a boat, or finding another unconventional mode of transportation, so be it. Creativity in your travel methods and routes is key to maximizing separation from your last known location and staying one step ahead.
Terrain is your ally. Think harsh, rugged, unforgiving terrain that slows your enemy down and disrupts their pursuit. Use the landscape to your advantage with terrain masking to stay out of sight and seek dense overhead cover to evade aerial threats like drones, FLIR, or thermal imaging. Remember, the hardest paths for you to navigate will be just as challenging for your pursuers. If they’re using tracking dogs, focus on outsmarting the handlers. After all, the dogs can only move as fast as their human counterparts. Instead of striving for an impossible goal of leaving no scent or trail, focus on strategies to outmaneuver and outlast the team chasing you. Use their limitations to your advantage.
Exploiting easy hide sites like this cave will save time, but make sure to conceal the entrance and any trails leading to it.
Survival Evasion Phase 3: Hide Site
No one can keep running indefinitely, so when you’ve reached your limit, it’s time to find a concealed spot to rest, regroup, and address your security needs. Use this pause to strategize and take care of any injuries that weren’t immediately life-threatening but still need attention before they worsen through blood loss or infection. If your med kit isn’t up to the task, it’s time to get resourceful. Channel your inner MacGyver and improvise to maintain your health. Look at what you have on hand. Could it serve as a splint, sling, or pressure bandage? Creativity and quick thinking here can make the difference between staying in the fight and being forced out of it. Communication is absolutely critical in a situation like this. Make every effort to reach out to your recovery team or anyone providing assistance to share your condition and location, as well as to receive updated intelligence. If there’s a closer quick reaction force available or if enemy positions have shifted, you’ll be grateful you took the time to establish contact. Flexibility is key, and your plans will need to adapt to changing circumstances.
Maintaining effective communication can be tricky when you’re in hiding, since the best concealment spots often have poor signal. Strive to find a location that balances concealment with connectivity, ensuring your device — whether it’s HF radio, SAT comms, or even a covert ground-to-air signal — can function effectively. Staying in touch with recovery forces or allies is crucial to getting out safely. Ration your food and water carefully to maintain your energy. While rest is essential, security takes priority. If you’re with a small group, establish a rotating watch schedule to ensure someone is always on guard. If you’re alone, set up early warning systems to alert you to approaching threats.
Sensitive information, like maps or important notes, should be destroyed before pursuers can use it for their own intelligence efforts.
Conceal yourself and your equipment to minimize your signature. Consider the adversary’s capabilities. Use visual, auditory, and thermal camouflage as needed. Continuously improve and maintain your concealment by reducing shine, noise, and any unnatural colors or shapes. If necessary, incorporate natural materials like foliage, ash, or mud to blend in with the environment. Effective camouflage is a skill that can always be refined.
When it’s time to move, leave no trace of your presence. If complete erasure isn’t practical, eliminate as much evidence as possible. Your safety — and that of those coming to help — may depend on how well you cover your tracks.
Use all your senses to detect potential pursuers. Sounds, smells, and visual signs can give ample warning if you’re being situationally aware.
Survival Evasion Phase 4: Evasion Movement
It’s time to move from your hide site. Ideally, you’re venturing out under the darkest skies, the harshest storms, or the most extreme conditions nature can provide. Wind masks noise and movement, rain erases tracks, and snow buries them. Adverse weather combined with the cover of darkness creates the perfect conditions for evasion. Minimize daylight movement unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.
Now, it’s a delicate balance between speed and security. Move with the silence of a shadow and the invisibility of a ghost. Stick to dense terrain and deep shadows where visibility is minimal. Eliminate your sound and light signature and take care to leave no trace. No footprints, no broken foliage, no clues that could betray your path.
Stop, look, listen, and smell (SLLS) — make this a regular habit. These moments of heightened awareness can be the difference between detecting the enemy first or being discovered. Can you catch the scent of smoke, diesel, or cooking food? In dense foliage (where you should ideally be), your senses of hearing and smell are often more reliable than sight. Stay sharp — your survival depends on it.
If you do get discovered, you’ll want to try to break contact, but remember you’re back to Phase 2 and now they have an updated last known. This is doubly bad because this also means they know which direction you’re traveling, if they didn’t before. So, stay hidden and fade into the background. Caution is the better part of valor here. Let your primal instincts for survival heighten your alertness, and you may be surprised at what you feel.
Taking shelter while evading should be clandestine, and not stand out as an obvious place someone is hunkering down.
Trust your gut. If something feels off, it likely is. Pay attention to pre-event indicators, such as things that seem out of place for the time of day or location. Equally important are the subtle absences — situations where you expect something to be present, but it’s not. Maintaining strong situational awareness is a constant effort and one of your most valuable tools for staying ahead of potential threats.
When crossing linear danger areas, like roads, power lines, or firebreaks, it’s essential to conceal your direction of travel. Avoid crossing in a straight line that aligns with your overall movement; this makes it easier for trackers to follow your trail. Always move from one point of concealment to another, and whenever possible, cross at a sharp bend or curve rather than along a long, straight section. Steer clear of open terrain and populated areas, as these increase the risk of being spotted or compromised. Instead, navigate around these obstacles, using natural cover to remain hidden and maintain your security. Prioritize stealth and unpredictability in every move.
Be careful not to leave obvious signs behind, like broken branches, disturbed leaf litter or footprints.
Survival Evasion Phase 5: Recovery
Your journey finally concludes when you’re either discovered or reunited with friendly forces. This could mean arriving at your bug-out location alongside trusted allies, reaching a forward operating base, or linking up with a local asset in a designated area for recovery. Whatever form it takes, this is the moment you’ve been striving toward for hours — or even days — and it’s as welcome as an ice cream truck in the middle of the Sahara.
Remember, you may be linking up at a designated time and place, or you might need to flag down someone aligned with your cause. In either case, getting noticed could require prearranged signals or on-the-spot improvisation. If you have electronic communication with your recovery team, that’s ideal. If not, be ready to get creative. A bit of reflective material, a flare, or even a whistle can grab attention when needed. Contrasting fabric or an object you can wave in the air could also do the trick. If you’re equipped, tools like tracers or IR lasers can be effective as well. Whatever your method, have it prepared in advance to deploy quickly in case of an unexpected sighting.
Be careful though. Surprising your allies in enemy-controlled territory is a quick way to learn that friendly fire is anything but. Always ensure your actions are non-threatening — think of the classic hands-up gesture, like a French salute. More importantly, be ready to authenticate your identity to avoid any confusion. Even if a team of pararescuemen is fast-roping out of an HH-60 Blackhawk and kicking down your captor’s front door, they’ll need to confirm it’s actually you before loading your battered self onto a stretcher and getting you out.
Help your rescuers by making authentication simple — they’re risking life and limb to bring you home. Once you’ve confirmed your identity and linked up with them, you’ll finally be in safe hands. From there, you can recover and start planning how to secure a decisive victory against the adversaries who had you on the run in the first place.
“Amat victoria curam” — preparation creates victory.
About the Author
Michael Caughran served as a U.S. Air Force SERE specialist, equipping aircrew and warfighters for their worst scenario behind enemy lines. Founder of ARC, a veteran operated training company, he actively teaches survival as well as combative and defensive firearm courses around the country.
Peter Magnin’s path to becoming a survival expert reads like something out of an adventure novel, blending raw experiences in military service, immersive journeys into primitive skills, and years spent guiding expeditions through some of the world’s most challenging environments. From SERE training with special operations personnel to brain-tanning moose hides and leading survival courses in the Amazon rainforest, Magnin’s insights into survival, bushcraft, and mindset reflect hard-earned lessons. In this interview, he shares his journey, the critical differences between survival and bushcraft, and why a knife, a lighter, and situational awareness can mean the difference between life and death.
Training in the U.S. Air Force sparked an intense desire to forge survival skills in a multitude of environments.
Interview With Peter Magnin
How did you first get started in survival, and what sparked your interest?
Peter Magnin: It started when I was a kid. My dad was from northern Wisconsin, a classic woodsman. Every summer, we’d spend weeks at a little cabin near Mellon, Wisconsin, during peak mosquito season. He’d be out there fishing, completely unfazed by the bugs while my brothers and I were miserable. I remember watching shows like Survivorman with Les Stroud, and I’ll admit, even a little Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls. Those early influences planted the seed, but it didn’t click for me as a real path until I joined the Air Force. At my first duty station, I met SERE instructors who were teaching survival skills full-time, and that was it. I knew I wanted to do that. I was fascinated by the idea of turning a childhood love of playing in the woods into something professional and impactful.
Can you describe your role in the Air Force and how it led you to survival training?
I joined the Air Force in 2012 as an aircraft hydraulics specialist and later became fully qualified as a crew chief. My first assignment was at Mildenhall in England, working on MC-130s — aircraft made for high-intensity, special operations missions. At 18, I was thrown into a world where everything was high stakes, and it made me want to push myself further. There were SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) instructors stationed at our base to train flight crews and special operations personnel. I didn’t even know SERE existed before that, but seeing what they did immediately hooked me. I approached them, told them I wanted to train with them, and they made it happen. For the last six months of that assignment, I spent most of my time learning from those instructors. Field ops, navigation, and survival scenarios — it shaped everything that came after.
You deployed to Africa, which was a pivotal point in your career. What happened?
That deployment was rough — small unit, poor conditions. We had porta-potties, sometimes holes for bathrooms, and maybe one shower a week. I worked 14- to 16-hour days for months, and eventually, I developed skin infections that turned into MRSA. The only medical care was a Navy nurse in a shipping crate handing me antibiotics — 20 or 30 pills a day. It destroyed my gut. When I came home, I started losing weight, 50 pounds in a few months. Eventually I was diagnosed with a digestive issue that got me medically retired. At the time, it was devastating. I’d been on track to retrain as a permanent SERE instructor, and suddenly that door was closed. But, in a way, it pushed me down a different path.
How did you recover after the military, and what role did survival play?
Recovery was slow — months in bed where I couldn’t even mow the lawn. I couldn’t do much physically, so I started reading survival books and watching YouTube videos just to stay engaged. It went from five books to 10 to 100. Eventually, I decided to stop just reading and start doing. When I was finally healthy enough, I began experimenting with skills in the woods. I realized pretty quickly how hard survival was despite all the theory I’d learned, and that’s when I found my first mentor, Terry Barney, through a bushcraft forum. He taught classes that gave me the hands-on instruction I needed. Survival became a lifeline for me; it gave me a sense of purpose and a way forward.
Is there an important difference between survival and bushcraft?
Survival is about staying alive, getting seen, and getting help — at any cost. It’s practical and immediate. Bushcraft, on the other hand, is about using natural materials to live comfortably in the wilderness. There’s overlap, because in survival, you might need to use bushcraft techniques, like building a shelter out of logs. But survival has different priorities. If you’re lost, you should signal for help before wasting time on a fire or shelter. That’s the mindset difference. People blur the lines, and it can get dangerous when they treat bushcraft like survival.
You spent three months at Jack Mountain Bushcraft School. What was that like?
That experience was life changing. You don’t really understand something like a primitive shelter until you sleep in it, tweak it, and live in it for weeks. At Jack Mountain, we spent every day immersed in skills: carving canoe paddles, brain-tanning moose hides, and cooking every meal over fire. The firewood management alone gives you a whole new perspective. It’s grueling work, but that time is critical. I completed the Journeyman Program, which was a massive list of skills and challenges — weeks in shelters, animal tracking, plant ID, expedition planning. Only one person had completed it before me, Sam Larson from Alone. That program pushed me further than anything I’d done before.
How did you go from that to getting involved in guiding jungle expeditions?
I met Joe Flowers at the Global Bushcraft Symposium in Canada. I’d already mastered boreal forest skills and wanted to challenge myself with something new: jungle survival. Joe noticed my experience as a wilderness EMT and trip leader, so he invited me on one of his Amazon expeditions. During that trip, he kept giving me more responsibilities, and by the end, he told me, “You’re coming back next year, but you’re working for me.” Since then, I’ve guided trips with him every year and even led some of my own for media projects. Now it feels like my whole year revolves around getting back to the jungle.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had in the jungle?
There are so many, but one that stands out was my first time with the Matis tribe. They decided to catch an electric eel — 7- or 8-feet long — hiding in a muddy puddle the size of a chair. They spent hours crushing vines to deoxygenate the water and scooping out mud until the eel finally surfaced. When they speared it, I couldn’t believe something that massive had come from such a small puddle. Later, I tried catching one bare-handed as part of a Matis “rite of passage” prank. It shocked me so hard that my entire body seized up, and I fell backward. It became tradition. At the end of every trip, anyone who wants to try catching an eel can jump in with me. Most people don’t last long.
What critical skills do you rely on when guiding expeditions in the jungle?
The two most important skills are awareness and managing group dynamics. Awareness in the jungle is critical because the consequences of small mistakes are amplified. I’ve pulled countless thorns out of people’s legs and feet because they weren’t paying attention to their surroundings. The Matis can run barefoot through dense jungle while looking up at monkeys in the trees. They have this incredible ability to process subtle environmental clues, like how a tree fell or the way water ripples. Most people don’t have that awareness. On top of that, managing expedition behavior is essential. I constantly check in with people, watch for fatigue, and make sure no one is pushing themselves to the point of injury. Whether it’s machete cuts or venomous insects, you need to stay ahead of problems before they escalate.
What’s your must-have survival gear in the jungle?
If I had to narrow it down, my essentials are a knife, a lighter, a headlamp, and water. A whistle for signaling is critical too. Over the years, I’ve refined my kit to make sure I always have it on me, even when swimming. I designed a knife that clips onto swim trunks and doesn’t rust, and I use Exotac’s waterproof lighter holder to keep my fire starter safe. The jungle gets pitch black at night — no light gets through the canopy — so a headlamp is non-negotiable. The right gear can mean the difference between being comfortable and being miserable, or even between life and death.
What mindset is most important in a survival situation?
The mindset that matters most is maintaining a positive mental attitude, but that’s not something you can just switch on. It has to be trained. You need to put yourself in tough situations and practice staying positive under pressure. I like to use the analogy of an apple: You can go through life thinking you’re an apple, but when you’re squeezed, orange juice comes out. Survival situations reveal what you’re truly made of, and the only way to prepare for that is to test yourself. Over time, those experiences give you a baseline to draw from, which can make all the difference when things go wrong.
How do you stay prepared in extreme environments like the jungle?
Preparation in the jungle comes down to paying attention to the smallest details. Something as simple as improperly setting up a tarp can lead to your sleeping bag and gear getting soaked, and in the jungle, that’s a serious issue. I’ve seen people lose machetes or have their packs invaded by ants because they didn’t take precautions. It takes a week or two of being out there to develop the right mindset — double-checking your kit, keeping things off the ground, and always thinking a step ahead. Preparedness is a constant effort, but it’s what keeps you comfortable and safe in extreme conditions.
How do you prepare your students for survival scenarios?
I focus on breaking down concepts into the simplest steps and making them relatable. For example, one of my mentors, Andre-Francis Bourbeau, used scenarios to challenge students’ assumptions. He’d take people out on a snowmobile, strip them of essential gear, and create situations where survival seemed impossible. The point was to show that survival is about the simplest solutions, like blowing a whistle for rescue instead of overcomplicating things. When I teach, I emphasize practicality. For instance, with fire-building, I’ll show students how to start a fire with one match and kerosene, because that’s what survival is about. Then, we work backward to harder techniques, but I always prioritize what works in a real emergency.
How do you differentiate your teaching for different audiences?
The skills themselves don’t change, but the way I teach them does. I tailor my examples and stories to the audience, whether it’s enthusiasts, military personnel, or first responders. A big part of being a good instructor is learning how to teach. I’ve spent years not just honing my survival skills, but also studying how to communicate them effectively. You can be an expert at something and still fail to teach it if you don’t know how to connect with people. Every group is different, and understanding how they think is key to making lessons stick.
What’s the most common mistake people make in survival situations?
The most common mistake I see is a lack of awareness. Moving too quickly and not paying attention to what’s happening around them. In the jungle, this often leads to stepping on black palm thorns or running into ants and wasps. I’ve seen people get hurt because they missed subtle clues, like the way a tree fell or the presence of vines that indicate hidden dangers. Survival is about slowing down and observing your surroundings. Most mistakes happen because people are rushing or panicking, and the jungle punishes that behavior harshly.
What draws you to teaching primitive skills?
Primitive skills are powerful because they strip everything down to the basics. When you learn something like bow drill fire, you’re creating an element of life — fire — using nothing but your body’s energy and the materials around you. It’s humbling and empowering at the same time. At Jack Mountain, we had to log hundreds of bow drills, tracking weather, humidity, and wood types. To make it even harder, we were encouraged to burn our sets after every fire, so we’d have to start from scratch each time. Those experiences taught me not just the skills, but also the patience and determination needed to succeed in challenging environments.
Do you have any advice for beginners starting survival training?
My biggest advice is to take classes. Watching videos and reading books is fine, but there’s no substitute for hands-on learning with a vetted instructor. Survival skills are tactile. You need to feel the bow drill, see the ember form, and make mistakes with someone guiding you. It’s also important to start with the basics and build from there. Don’t jump into advanced techniques until you’ve mastered the fundamentals.
How do you vet survival instructors?
Vetting survival instructors can be tricky, but the key is looking into their background and mentors. The best instructors are usually part of a lineage. They’ve trained under someone reputable and can trace their knowledge back to the greats. Hands-on instruction is non-negotiable. I can tell within 30 seconds of watching someone on Instagram whether they learned a skill from YouTube or a real mentor. If you’re serious about survival, do your homework on who you’re learning from.
Are there any resources you would recommend to those interested in survival?
There are so many great resources, but one I always recommend is the Bushcraft USA forum. It’s been around for years and is still active today. It’s a great place to find knowledge, connect with experienced people, and learn at your own pace. For books, I’ve read hundreds, but I’ll always suggest starting with a handful of the classics:
SAS Handbook by John “Lofty” Wiseman
Bushcraft by Mors Kochanski
Outdoor Survival Skills by Dean Olsen
What’s next on your survival journey?
Right now, I’m cofounding a nonprofit called Veterans in the Wild with a retired Navy chaplain. We’re running wilderness trips for veterans, and we’ve already got 10 trips lined up this year. It’s a big undertaking, especially with a toddler and a newborn at home, but it’s a passion project I believe in. Beyond that, I’m continuing to improve the jungle expeditions I lead every year and taking on private instruction and media projects through my LLC, Peter Magnin Survival. My goal is to keep teaching, learning, and sharing these skills with as many people as I can.
About Peter Magnin
Hometown: Sumter, South Carolina
Education: Associate of Science, Fish and Wildlife Management
Recommended Survival Schools:
Boulder Outdoor Survival School
California Survival School
Jack Mountain Bushcraft
Howl Bushcraft
Favorite Food: Homemade beef bulgogi
Favorite Movie: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Favorite Quote: “The more you know, the less you have to carry. The less you know, the more you have to carry.” -Mors Kochanski
Oh, the great outdoors. It’s the perfect place to escape the chaos of the city and reconnect with nature. But what happens when your day hike goes wrong, and you find yourself stranded in the wilderness overnight? That’s precisely what happened to me, and boy, did I learn the importance of packing the right hiking gear.
It all started as a simple day hike, but the weather had other plans. A sudden snowstorm hit; before I knew it, I was lost and alone in the wilderness. I realized I was in for a long night. But thanks to my trusty pack and strong mindset, I was able to make the best of the situation.
Mission Specific
I used to go for speed and miles in the woods. These days, my goals remain simple: hiking, crafting, cooking, and foraging. Regardless of all the gear, a person doesn’t need much — or the latest and greatest hiking gear — to have fun in the woods.
Coming from a hiking and backpacking background, I always gravitate toward lightweight gear. While this term may have several meanings, my style is extreme. Gearing up to battle with Mother Nature is unrealistic for me. If I did, I’d be day hiking with at least 100 pounds of gear. That said, all the hiking gear here is perfect for a day in the woods and can be utilized for survival.
Coming it at a mere 4 ounces, the SylvanSport Hacky Pack is an ultra-lightweight storage option.
Hacky Pack
Having a backpack is an essential, no-brainer piece of kit on a hike unless you fancy a haversack. However, a small, super lightweight pack can be multi-functional. Small packs keep you lowkey and prevent overpacking. I discovered SylvanSport gear a few years ago and was particularly impressed with their Hacky Pack. This backpack is lightweight, durable, and perfect for carrying a day’s worth of gear. It also comes with two side mesh pockets for water bottles, a hidden back pocket stash, and a hydration bag slot. Cool fact: The backpack can quickly transform into a 4-inch ball, making it more portable.
The pack compresses down to a 4-inch ball when not being used.
Its impressive 4-ounce weight is what initially caught my attention. Although it’s not as large as my Gossamer Gear backpacks for longer trips, the Hacky Pack is still impressive, with a capacity of up to 40 pounds. Heck, I don’t even have enough gear to fill it up for an overnight summer trip, let alone a day trip. The compact SylvanSport Hacky Pack will help you get your pack and hiking gear weight down. It keeps essentials close and easily accessible on the go and offers the added bonus of a trailside hacky sack.
The Tuff Possum Multipurpose Sit Pad not only provides back support for the pack, but it can be used as a signal and sit pad, and has many other uses.
The Frame
The Hacky Pack is a frameless pack, which is where the Tuff Possum Gear Multipurpose Sit Pad comes into play. It offers padding and rigidity to the pack, and comfort in camp or on trailside breaks. The blaze-orange color is a signaling panel, while the pad aids in fanning the flames and branding up a fire. The sit pad provides an excellent place to put tinder and kindling when snow or dampness is imminent. The Velcro opening easily stores tinder like birch and poplar bark, lichen, and grasses.
Gear is useless unless it’s available when you need it. The right storage pouch can make things more accessible when it counts.
Belt Pouch
Truly a lifeline, I use the Tuff Possum Pocket Possibles Pouch for all my ditties and essential stuff. I carry it in my pack to the trail, and then it always stays on my belt. Survival hiking gear is useless in a pack that may be out of reach for whatever reason. Signaling, first aid, and fire-starting gear should be accessible at all times. The pouch is the last thing I take off for the night in the wilderness and the first thing that goes on in the morning.
Shelter Now
When a simple day hike takes a turn for the worse, finding shelter becomes a top priority — and a reliable tarp can be a lifesaver. Lightweight, easy to set up, and offering critical protection from the elements, a tarp is an essential piece of hiking gear to have on hand. Set it up quickly and take cover — it’s a small investment for big peace of mind.
Surprisingly, not many day hikers don’t keep a tarp with them — they should. The Coalcracker Bushcraft T6Zero comes in at 6 ounces and sets up in minutes. It’s a 5×7-foot tarp with two tie-outs that can be attached to a tree quickly. It fits in a cargo pocket and makes a good pillow on breaks. I’ve spent about 50 nights under this bad boy in snow, wind, and typhoon rains in the jungles of the Philippines.
Hydration
While hiking, I use a simple aluminum water bottle and a Platypus 2-liter water bag. The bottle can boil water in a pinch and is an easily accessible trail drink stored in the Hacky Pack side pocket. The Platypus has a larger reservoir and makes a great pillow set on top of a pair of shoes.
Because they’re heavy and clog in silty water, or freeze in the winter, I haven’t used a filter in several years. Instead, I use iodine tablets worldwide and a bandana to filter sediment if the water is nasty. I also take advantage of any fire to boil water whenever possible.
Multiple types of fire starters are a must.
Firestarters
There’s no better place for redundancies than with fire. Matches, lighters, Ferro rods, and manufactured tinder should always be carried on a day hike or multi-day expedition. I favor Uberleben Ferro rods and their Tindar Wick for my style of woods rambling.
Signaling
In my book, having two or more ways of signaling is paramount. Run your own experiment and see how loud and for how long you can yell for help. Do that, and you’ll appreciate a loud whistle. Blowing a whistle in groups of three is one of the universal distress signals that experienced hikers, pilots, rangers, and SAR personnel are trained to recognize. Additionally, I always carry two signaling mirrors on a carabiner and in my Wazoo Cache Belt.
There isn’t much you can’t do with the right cutting tool.
Tools
Using cutting tools and cooking are a big part of my focus outdoors. Preparing wood and food for a cook fire takes skill and practice to become second nature. As a knife and tool aficionado and survival instructor, I carry fewer tools than most people. I always have a Victorinox Camper Swiss Army Knife in my pouch. In colder months, I add a tomahawk and a 3- to 4-inch fixed blade in the Eastern woodlands. Paired with a stout baton, I can get a lot done.
From late spring until late fall, I carry a long blade, usually an authentic Parang or Bolo. It serves as my chopper and wood splitter and replaces a fixed blade for food prep and crafts. With my long blade, I can always get super-fine, curly shavings that quickly take a spark from a Ferro rod. Having spent considerable time in blade cultures worldwide, I’m comfortable having one primary tool to maintain, which saves weight when afoot.
Hiking Gear Accessories
Gaiters: You won’t catch me in the woods without my Outdoor Research gaiters for my trail runners to keep debris, snow, and nasty ticks out of my footwear.
Leather Gloves: A pair of these are indispensable for a woods trip. They’re helpful for wood preparation and cooking. I’ve used them as knee pads, potholders, and insulation. They also add safety to tasks like building shelters and working with sharp objects. Leather gloves give temporary superpowers, making hands immune to heat and sharp abrasive things.
Bandana: Here’s a versatile accessory that’s a must-have outdoors. Due to its countless uses, I carry it in my pocket or possibles kit. It can serve as a headband, sweat rag, washcloth, toilet paper, and face shield from the elements. It can also be used as a sun protector, signaler, bandage, potholder, water catch, and stage one of water filtration. All in all, a bandana is a true unsung hero of camping and survival gear.
Neck Gaiters: Like bandanas, neck gaiters can do the same and may have a slight advantage because they are tubular. These camp gems can replace a beanie, and two can offer maximum face, neck, and head coverage. I use two Wazoo Gear neck gaiters for cold weather and emergency signaling.
Earbuds: Listening to music on your phone can provide a much-needed distraction and a sense of familiarity that can help your psyche.
First Aid: I don’t carry a massive first aid kit. I take Gorilla Duct Tape (all weather), hand sanitizer, triple antibiotic ointment, Carmex, and superglue. Anything outside of that realm, and I probably need primary care beyond the scope of a first aid kit.
Rain Gear: The Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite waterproof hooded rain jacket is hard to beat for a budget-friendly yet effective rain jacket. It’s made with breathable, non-woven fabric, features a full-length zipper and adjustable hood, and is both wind-resistant and packable.
With a little strategic planning, gear can be multi-functional and light weight
Final Thoughts
If your day hike goes wrong, having a reliable back-pack with the right hiking gear can help you survive the night and return safely. Always pack essential gear, practice skills beforehand, and expect the unexpected. You never know what Mother Nature has in store for you.
Tracking is one of humanity’s oldest survival skills, honed by necessity and refined by generations. Yet, in our modern age of convenience, the primal art of tracking often feels like a relic of the past. That was the premise of “Grayside Hunter,” a two-day urban tracking course taught by Freddy Osuna, founder of Greenside Training. As the only Native American-owned and operated tracking school, Greenside Training offers a perspective deeply rooted in tradition while addressing contemporary challenges. Here are some of the key lessons I took away from this transformative experience.
Freddy Osuna of Greenside Training shows us how far we can see with our peripheral vision.
Urban Tracking: A Modern Skill with Ancient Roots
Day one began in a classroom setting, where Osuna laid the groundwork for understanding tracking. He reminded us that the ability to track is hardwired into human nature — our brains evolved to recognize patterns and interpret the world through observation. This skill, once critical for survival, has practical applications today in search and rescue, law enforcement, wildlife conservation, and even urban environments. But beyond the scope of those who protect and defend, learning tracking skills can help boost critical awareness skills important to the average citizen.
Tracking, Osuna explained, is not just about following footprints but about “reading the story written in the sand.” Each step is like a word, and many steps form sentences, creating a narrative that reveals the quarry’s movements and intentions. Using the analogy of separating quarters from a pile of mixed coins, he demonstrated how our brains, once trained, can quickly identify patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed or get lost in the noise.
Small details will help the tracker determine if they’re following the correct track or not.
The Human Advantage
Osuna drew an insightful comparison between modern humans and our ancestors, likening us to domestic dogs and wolves. While we’ve grown reliant on modern conveniences, our fundamental tools for survival remain intact. Sight, smell, and hearing are as sharp as ever — they just need retraining.
He emphasized how tracking training reignites these primal instincts, enabling us to perceive and interpret “sign” or evidence of passage. This skill, he noted, has life-or-death implications in various fields, from combat operations to anti-poaching efforts.
Oblivious to the fact they are under observation, the quarry meet at a restaurant to make an exchange.
Primal Learning and Visual Perception
One of the most fascinating parts of the course was learning about human visual perception. Osuna broke down how our eyes and brains process visual information, including the three visual fields: full view, peripheral view, and central view. Our saccadic eye movements — subtle, constant shifts in focus — are evolutionary adaptations designed to detect predators and anomalies in our surroundings. The human eye also has a blind spot because of the way the optic nerve attaches to the retina. Our brains stitch this spot in by something referred to as “perceptual fill,” another important visual adaptation.
By training these visual skills, trackers can identify minute details, such as the subtle shine change of disturbed soil or the outline of a boot print. Osuna’s description of our blind spot — where our brains fill in missing information — reminded us of the importance of conscious observation and avoiding assumptions.
The inside of a vehicle can be turned into a mobile observation post.
Rules of the Trail
During the classroom portion, we learned a helpful mnemonic to remember foundational tracking principles. These were encapsulated in the acronym TRACKING:
• Tracker sets the pace. • Record your starting point. • Always know your position. • Confirm aerial spoor with ground spoor. • Keep visual on the track with team position. • Identify the tracks you wish to follow. • Never force a track to conform to preconceptions. • Get into the mind of your quarry.
These rules were reinforced through drills, where we practiced identifying individual characteristics of tracks, such as tread patterns and stride anomalies. We also learned how environmental factors like light and terrain influence the clarity of tracks.
Using high-powered optics, Greenside trackers carefully observe their quarry from a concealed vantage point in a parking garage.
Urban Tracking: A Unique Challenge
Day two brought the ultimate test: tracking quarry through downtown Tucson, Arizona. The mission began with a briefing scenario, not a real-world situation of course, but certainly one that could plausibly arise. A law enforcement agency requested assistance in tracking three suspects from their last known point. Our objective was to locate and observe them, gather evidence of their movements, and, if possible, confirm whether or not they make some sort of exchange.
Split into three teams — Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie — we started tracking from the suspect’s truck in a parking lot. Using track traps and transference points like dusty patches or scuff marks on sidewalks, we followed their trail. Each team faced unique challenges in interpreting subtle signs while navigating the complexities of an urban environment, including hard surfaces and crowded areas. Communication became critical as we coordinated movements, relayed findings, and maintained situational awareness.
The teams worked together relatively seamlessly, balancing speed with caution to avoid losing the trail or alerting the suspects. By observing from a distance and using cover effectively, we eventually spotted the suspects meeting at a designated location. From an observation post in a nearby parking garage, we confirmed their identities and documented their exchange with photos and notes.
Osuna concluded the exercise by demonstrating how to establish long-term observation posts and the nuances of using optics effectively in urban environments. We were then shown how a vehicle could be transformed into a mobile observation post, without a passing pedestrian being able determine what was happening inside. This hands-on scenario brought the principles of tracking to life, emphasizing teamwork, observation, and adaptability in a setting far removed from traditional wilderness.
Our class was a diverse crew. From construction workers, to cooks and chemists, we all walked away with an amplified awareness of our urban environment.
Final Thoughts on the Grayside Hunter Urban Tacking Course
Greenside Training’s Grayside Hunter course was a journey into rediscovering an ancient skill that remains relevant in our modern world. The urban tracking scenario demonstrated how cities, despite their structured appearance, mimic wilderness environments. Streets and buildings funnel movement much like natural terrain, offering opportunities to predict and follow a quarry’s path. Yet, urban tracking also presents unique challenges, such as numerous hiding places and potential for eliminated ground spoor signatures for the untrained observer.
Osuna’s teaching method, inspired by a long lineage of hunting and tracking experts and combined with how children learn languages, made complex concepts accessible and memorable. His blend of tradition, science, and practical application highlighted the universal value of tracking — as a tool for survival, a way to connect with our primal nature, and a means of seeking truth.
By the end of the course, I left with more than a Greenside Training patch and Tracker tab. I gained a deeper appreciation for the art of tracking and its role in bridging the gap between the natural and urban worlds. No matter who you are, or what your background is, the lessons of Grayside Hunter offer invaluable insights into both the wilderness and ourselves, proving that the skill of tracking has no boundaries.
One of the hardest diagnoses to make in a perfect world is that of abdominal pain. It can be a challenge in the austere setting, but it’s not impossible. This article will cover some topics to explore further and some common causes of abdominal pain. There are many books on the subject of abdominal pain.
Abdomen Sections
However, one that gets passed around the halls of surgical residency is Cope’s Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen (now in its 22nd edition). This book is worth having in your library if you plan on being medically astute in the austere setting. One of the helpful parts of the book is that it divides abdominal pain into quadrants and provides potential diagnoses for each quadrant. Although Cope’s delineation of pain may be beneficial, it may be better thought of to divide abdominal pain into six sections as shown in the photo below:
The abdomen is divided into sections.
• Section 1: Common ailments include gastritis, gastric ulcer, pancreatitis, and duodenal ulcer. • Section 2: Moving clockwise around the abdomen, includes kidney stones, splenic injury/laceration, constipation, and colonic ileus. • Section 3: Could also see constipation, colon inflammation, and kidney stones. The ovarian cyst could also be seen in the lower aspect of this section. • Section 4: Could include bladder stones, bladder outlet obstruction, prostatitis, urethritis, sigmoiditis, and proctitis. • Section 5: Contains the start of the colon, appendix, right ovary, and kidney stones. • Section 6: The last in the sections, could encompass kidney stones, gall bladder/cholecystitis, liver inflammation, and colon issues like constipation.
This list isn’t meant to be complete. However, it’s meant to be a starting point to investigate further.
Natural remedies for constipation.
Abdominal Pain: Constipation
This is probably the most common disorder that’ll be seen in the off-grid scenario. It is often described as a hard, lumpy stool with less than three bowel movements a week. Dehydration will contribute significantly, as the colon’s primary function is to consolidate waste and absorb water. The pain from constipation can present throughout the abdomen as the colon travels from the anus upward toward the left rib cage.
Pain then traverses across the abdomen to the right rib cage and then down to the right lower part of the abdomen. The pain is usually described as an ache but can also be sharp. People may say that they have gone to the bathroom multiple times despite having the pain. Don’t let that piece of history fool you into some other diagnosis. Usually having a bowel movement will ease the pain. Failure to relieve the constipation can lead to a blockage of the colon. This can potentially lead to a rupture of the colon, infection inside the abdomen, and even death. This would be an extreme case, however, and usually, the pain drives the patient to seek help before it gets to this point.
Things to try if constipation is present include a magnesium citrate supplement, as the adverse effect of magnesium toxicity is diarrhea. Of course, rehydration is essential, and previous RECOIL OFFGRID articles may be helpful to review (read “Managing Dehydration” in Issue 28). Foods like bananas, garlic, onions, and leeks all contain prebiotics, which may be beneficial. Another good food is grandma’s favorite, prunes. There may be some trial and error in determining how many prunes it will take to relieve constipation. This would be good to know before the scenario presents itself, especially if there is a tendency toward constipation in a typical environment.
Natural remedies for kidney stones.
Abdominal Pain: Kidney Stones (Nephrolithiasis)
These never seem to present themselves at a good moment. The sharp, knife-like pain can start at the kidney and travel into the labia or testicle. It doesn’t have to radiate, so don’t rely solely on the radiating pain for diagnosis. The pain of kidney stones is quite memorable and never forgotten. Sometimes there can be blood in the urine associated with the traveling kidney stone. If there is a feeling that urine won’t come out at all, that is a medical emergency and needs an evaluation by a medical professional. This can mean a stone has blocked the tube (urethra) as it leaves the bladder. Failure to relieve the obstruction can result in kidney failure, heart failure, and death.
Hydration is the key to helping the stone travel down the tube from the kidney to the bladder and from the bladder out of the body. When the pain from the kidney stone hits, movement, such as walking, is one of the first things to try, along with hydration. Some natural remedies to try include lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. These have citrate, which can help break down the calcium in the kidney stones. Dandelion root juice can increase urine output, which may help eliminate the stone.
If a fever develops, antibiotics (ciprofloxacin) can be taken orally. However, this may not be enough, as the infection could be in the kidney (pyelonephritis), which would require intravenous antibiotics and the care of a physician.
Natural remedies to help with appendicitis.
Abdominal Pain: Appendicitis
Rarely will this go away on its own with rest, antibiotics, and fluids. It’s often in need of surgical intervention and supervised medical care. Classically, the pain starts as a dull ache around the belly button and then migrates to the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, into Section 5. Often, a loss of appetite occurs. Some surgeons will say that dehydration can play a part in the development of appendicitis, but not all agree.
Although nobody really has a definitive cause for appendicitis, things like infection, tumors, and stool lodged in the appendiceal opening can lead to inflammation that causes the pain. The pain pattern can vary widely, which is why it’s often misdiagnosed. Suspicion of appendicitis must be high for any right lower quadrant pain, and medical treatment must be sought. Failure to diagnose appendicitis in a timely manner could lead to rupture of the appendix. This causes infection in the abdomen and possibly death.
While in transit to a medical facility, a trial of natural anti-inflammatories may be helpful. Things like strawberries, blueberries, green leafy vegetables (kale, spinach), and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, can help with inflammation. Willow bark contains salicylates (like that found in aspirin) and may be helpful. The problem with taking the willow bark, as well as hydration, is that if surgery is an option, it may be delayed until the stomach contents are emptied. Salicylates may provide additional risk due to the increased risk of bleeding during surgery. Caution should be used if appendicitis is being considered in the austere setting, and early diagnosis by a medical professional is essential.
Natural remedies to help with ovarian cysts.
Abdominal Pain: Ovarian Cyst
If appendicitis is nebulous in the way it presents, ovarian cysts are a close second. Most of the time, an ovarian cyst creates no problems. Sometimes, a cyst can produce pain, whether it’s a dull ache or a sharp pain. Bloating can also accompany an ovarian cyst. There could be pain upon sexual intercourse. Fever, nausea, vaginal discharge, or bleeding are also possible presenting signs and symptoms. The ovaries are located in Sections 4 and 5 in the diagram. Usually, the pain is one-sided and can be mild to intense in nature.
These cysts will typically resolve on their own. The situation becomes more concerning when the ovary twists (ovarian torsion). This can lead to intense pain, fever, and weakness and requires evaluation by a physician as well as emergency surgery to repair the torsion. Failure to seek help could result in a loss of blood, infection in the abdomen, and, in rare cases, death.
One thing to keep in mind is that if there’s a personal history of an ovarian cyst, the likelihood that a second develops at some point is possible. If they have developed in the past, there should be familiarity with the pain pattern. Treatment for these is usually time, hormones, or surgery. Since the problem stems from too much unopposed estrogen, natural remedies could help to a small degree.
Vegetables like kale, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts can help the liver clear the estrogen a little better from the system. Also, by adding fiber, the colon can pack up the estrogen and eliminate it so it does not get reabsorbed into the body. Things like whole grains, fruits, and oats can add dietary fiber to help with regular bowel movements.
Keep in mind that stress can decrease the progesterone in the body, leaving the estrogen unopposed. This creates a scenario where an ovarian cyst could be a potential problem in the austere setting due to the increased stress.
The current version of this helpful book can be found online at Amazon.com
Conclusion
Abdominal pain in the austere setting can be an enigma. Knowing a little information can be helpful but often not adequate to diagnose and treat the ailment. Knowing when to seek medical attention is critical to preventing a more serious casualty. Although four examples were presented here in this article, there are many more ailments to cover. Further reading on this topic is warranted to become more astute in the diagnosis of abdominal pain.
Covert Physical Surveillance (CPS) is a powerful tool, often employed by law enforcement to gather intelligence, monitor suspects, and pursue criminals undetected. But these techniques aren’t exclusive to the good guys. Increasingly, CPS is leveraged by criminals to stalk, intimidate, and even victimize unsuspecting targets. Understanding how CPS operates — and more critically, how to counter it — is vital not only for those in law enforcement but for civilians, too.
The threat isn’t just hypothetical. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Stalking Victimization Report (2019), about 1.3 percent of individuals aged 16 or older — equating to 3.4 million people — were victims of stalking that year. While this figure represents a slight drop from previous years, the danger remains very real. Disturbingly, only 29 percent of stalking victims reported the crime, with women affected at twice the rate of men. Among those impacted, 67 percent feared serious physical harm or even death at the hands of their stalker. Recent incidents in California illustrate just how CPS techniques are applied in real-world criminal scenarios. A rising trend of “follow home robberies” has left police and communities on high alert. At least 17 gangs in Los Angeles have been employing CPS methods to tail unsuspecting victims as they leave high-end stores or restaurants. These criminals wait for their targets to be isolated, such as when entering their homes, before launching brazen attacks to steal high-value items like jewelry and watches.
In one incident, a woman leaving a jewelry store was tailed, confronted, and eventually forced to hand over her valuables. This type of attack, fueled by calculated surveillance, is becoming disturbingly common as robbers learn to exploit CPS strategies once reserved for law enforcement. These examples underscore a need for greater awareness and understanding of surveillance techniques. Whether law enforcement uses CPS for legitimate purposes or criminals adopt similar tactics to prey on civilians, knowing how to recognize — and counter — surveillance is an increasingly essential skill.
Law enforcement watches for signs of erratic driving in the traffic ahead.
Surveillance 101
At its core, CPS is the practice of discreetly observing a subject without their knowledge. It’s a staple of law enforcement operations, used in everything from narcotics investigations to fugitive tracking and SWAT intelligence gathering. While technological tools like drones or satellite imagery may seem to dominate modern-day surveillance, there’s no replacement for boots-on-the-ground, real-time observation.
Surveillance allows law enforcement to track a suspect’s movements, gather intel on their associates, and even identify patterns of behavior that might signal when and where a crime will occur. But CPS also serves a dual purpose. The same skills used by law enforcement to protect communities can be flipped on their head and used by criminals for nefarious purposes. Knowing how CPS works — and being able to spot when someone is using it on you — is critical in today’s world.
Is the same vehicle following you wherever you go? It may be someone with bad intentions.
Filling in the Training Gaps
Training lies at the heart of a successful surveillance operation. Many law enforcement officers, despite working in environments where CPS could be vital, receive little formal training in this area. This was one of the key reasons behind the creation of a four-day course recently offered by OPTEMPO Training Group in the Bay Area.
Instructors Matt and Chris shared their combined expertise, teaching participants how to effectively observe a target without being noticed. Many participants admitted that their surveillance experience had previously been “on the job,” with little to no formal instruction. This course allowed them to fill in those gaps, gain new skills, and refine their existing techniques. In law enforcement, CPS is used to track suspects in real-time, ensuring that officers can intervene at critical moments without alerting the target. But CPS also has broader applications — particularly in the realm of self-defense and personal protection.
One of the course’s standout lessons was the reminder that CPS tactics aren’t limited to law enforcement. Criminals often use these same techniques to stalk and target vulnerable people. In an era where 67 percent of stalking victims fear being killed or physically harmed, it’s clear that understanding how CPS works can provide a civilian with the awareness they need to stay safe.
A person’s attire can be a sign that they are up to no good.
Key Lessons
The four-day CPS training course provided by OPTEMPO Training Group in San Ramon, California, emphasized several key principles for anyone involved in surveillance or concerned about being watched. Here are some of the most important lessons: Communication is the key to success: The foundation of any surveillance operation is communication. For law enforcement, this means radio communication must be clear, concise, and discreet. Participants in the course learned that miscommunication — or even using a radio improperly, such as holding it too close to the mouth — can compromise an entire surveillance operation.
For civilians, communication means alerting someone when you suspect you’re being followed. Whether it’s through an emergency app, a phone call to a trusted friend, or alerting security in public spaces, quick and effective communication is crucial to evading potential threats.
Vehicle choice and setup: Surveillance often takes place in vehicles, so blending into traffic is essential. Instructors taught participants to avoid using easily identifiable cars, such as unmarked police vehicles or vehicles with modifications that draw attention. Instead, vehicles that don’t draw attention work best. Participants practiced subtle methods to stay unnoticed, like managing visibility and using simple props. Civilians can apply this knowledge by being mindful of cars that seem out of place or are behaving unusually, such as repeatedly pulling up behind them or stopping for extended periods without reason. Similarly, it’s worth remembering that appearances alone don’t always reveal someone’s true intentions.
Positioning and staying hidden: A significant part of CPS involves using the environment to your advantage. Surveillance officers are trained to use reflective surfaces, parked cars, alleyways, and other features to keep an eye on their target without being seen. The aim is to keep a safe distance while still observing carefully. Civilians should take note of how they can use public spaces to protect themselves. For instance, heading to a crowded shopping mall or public building can make it harder for someone following you to stay hidden. Being aware of your environment is key to avoiding unwanted attention.
Avoiding telltale signs: In any surveillance operation, drawing attention to yourself is the last thing you want to do. Matt and Chris repeatedly emphasized that small mistakes — such as holding a radio too obviously or wearing tactical or law enforcement-style clothing — can give a surveillance team away. Participants were guided to avoid noticeable actions that could attract unwanted attention while observing.
The same principles apply to civilians. For example, if you repeatedly notice someone following around wearing something out of place — like a hoodie on a hot day, or something not often seen in the area — then perhaps they’re inadvertently giving themselves away as up to no good. Blending in with the crowd can be a safety measure as well. Wearing low-profile clothing and avoiding flashy or distinctive accessories can help you blend in, since criminals often target people wearing expensive jewelry or other accessories. For instance, rookie 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall was the target of an armed robbery in broad daylight over his wristwatch. He survived being shot in the chest, but countless others aren’t as fortunate.
Rehearsals are conducted in the classroom before practicing the skills on the streets.
Counter-Surveillance: How to Stay One Step Ahead
While law enforcement uses CPS to catch criminals, it’s crucial for civilians to understand how to spot when someone is watching them. Knowing basic counter-surveillance techniques can help you avoid becoming a victim of stalking or other crimes.
Recognizing Surveillance Indicators
The first step in protecting yourself from surveillance is knowing what to look for. If someone is following you, they might exhibit several telltale signs:
Multiple turns in the same direction: If after making frequent or unnecessary turns, you notice the same vehicle improbably following each of those, it could be someone trying to follow you.
Lingering vehicles or pedestrians: A car that pulls up behind you multiple times or someone who seems to be watching but avoids eye contact could be signs that you’re under surveillance.
Erratic driving or behavior: Abrupt lane changes, stops, or U-turns can be indicators of someone attempting to keep up with you.
Change Your Routine
One of the simplest ways to avoid being targeted is to be unpredictable. Criminals rely on patterns of behavior to plan their actions. Whether it’s driving a different route to work, parking in a different place, or changing your schedule, small adjustments to your daily routine can throw off someone who’s trying to gather information on you.
Go Public
If you suspect someone is following you, head for a well-lit, crowded area. Whether it’s a shopping center, a grocery store, or a police station, being in a public space makes it much harder for someone to maintain covert surveillance without being noticed. It’s important to keep moving until you’re sure you’ve reached a safe destination, since it’s easy for a tailing criminal to jump out and carjack their victims. Sticking to the right side of the road and avoiding getting stuck at a left-hand turn will minimize the chances of having to stop before reaching safety.
Trust Your Instincts
Matt emphasized throughout the course that trusting your gut is essential. If something doesn’t feel right — whether it’s a person who seems out of place or a car that’s been tailing you — it’s better to act on that instinct than to ignore it. Calling a friend, heading to a public place, or even alerting authorities can prevent a dangerous situation from escalating.
Several layers of communication provide much needed redundancy. Many hours are spent simply watching for signs of criminal intent, which is a true test of stamina.
Keeping Law Enforcement and Civilians Safe
Law enforcement’s ability to conduct CPS is a critical component of modern policing, but it’s not a skill that can be mastered overnight. Many officers receive only minimal training in CPS, learning much of what they know through the potentially dangerous method of trial and error. This is where dedicated surveillance courses like those offered by OPTEMPO Training Group become invaluable.
The recent Bay Area CPS course provided participants with a hands-on opportunity to practice surveillance in real-world environments, refining their skills and preparing them for the challenges of tracking suspects in the field. As law enforcement faces increasingly complex threats, having officers trained in the nuances of surveillance ensures that they can protect their communities more effectively.
And while CPS training is primarily for law enforcement, civilians and businesses can benefit from understanding these tactics as well. Criminals use many of the same techniques to gather information on their victims, whether for stalking, robbery, or other illegal activities. By learning how to spot surveillance and adopting counter-surveillance strategies, civilians can protect themselves from being targeted.
Using mirrors to observe is a less obvious method than staring directly out of a window. A bad actor may do this to avoid suspicion.
Vigilance in a World of Surveillance
In a world where everything from phones to traffic lights seem to be keeping an eye on things, it can be easy to become complacent or tune out surveillance as background noise. However, surveillance is a tool used by people with bad intentions just as much as it is by those who protect us. Understanding the techniques of covert physical surveillance and applying counter-surveillance strategies can mean the difference between becoming a victim or staying one step ahead.
Law enforcement officers rely on CPS to track criminals and keep communities safe, but as we’ve seen from crime statistics, criminals are also using these tactics to stalk and prey on vulnerable individuals and other targets. By recognizing the signs of surveillance, staying unpredictable, and trusting your instincts, civilians can take proactive steps to protect themselves. The training provided by organizations like OPTEMPO Training Group ensures that law enforcement remains vigilant, skilled, and prepared to handle the evolving threats they face in the field.
In the end, the most important takeaway is that surveillance — whether by law enforcement or criminals — is happening all around us. If you feel that you, your home, your business, or someone you love is being watched, contact your local law enforcement before it’s too late. Staying informed, aware, and prepared allows us to navigate this reality with confidence, ensuring our safety and the safety of those around us.
When trapped behind enemy lines or lost in the wilderness, survival often comes down to resourcefulness, adaptability, and grit. Human ingenuity has always been the best tool for evading capture and staying alive. But how do elite operatives manage to escape hostile environments, traverse perilous terrain, and ultimately make it home?
Will Fowler, a military historian and writer, delves into the strategies and techniques employed by some of the world’s most elite special forces in The Special Forces Guide to Escape and Evasion. From the jungles of Vietnam to urban war zones, this guide provides a peek into the mental and physical training that enables soldiers to thrive in the face of insurmountable odds.
The 411
Fowler’s book explores the art of evading capture, a skill that begins long before pursuers are on your trail. He explains the importance of understanding how to mask your movements, blend into the environment, and anticipate the tactics of those seeking to apprehend you. Throughout a variety of environments and ecosystems, Fowler provides strategies to remain undetected, such as avoiding high-traffic areas, using natural cover effectively, and creating misleading signs of your trail. He draws from real-world military operations to showcase how these techniques have been successfully employed under dire circumstances.
The book then transitions into the core principles of survival, covering essentials like shelter building, fire-starting, sourcing water, and foraging for food. Fowler details how to construct a shelter using minimal materials and explains the science of fire-making in wet or windy conditions. The water procurement strategies go beyond basic advice, including techniques such as creating solar stills or tapping into vegetation for hydration. Foraging is explored not only as a means of sustenance but also as a way to understand the environment, with guidance on identifying edible plants and avoiding toxic ones.
Once captured, the book emphasizes conduct after capture as a critical phase of survival. Fowler outlines how to remain mentally resilient, gather information about your captors, and find ways to subtly prepare for escape. He discusses psychological strategies to withstand interrogation and manipulation while maintaining composure and focus. The goal, he explains, is to survive and create opportunities for escape without compromising one’s safety or giving in to despair.
Fowler explores hiding and evading during the journey to safety, as well as the triumphant return to friendly territory, referred to as the “home run.” Hiding and evading require not only stealth but also knowledge of the terrain and the ability to adapt to changing conditions. Fowler details how to construct temporary hiding places, use natural features for concealment, and evade pursuit dogs and tracking teams. The “home run” is the final phase, where evaders must navigate the last stretch to reach safety, often requiring communication with allies or signaling for rescue without alerting enemies. Fowler highlights historical accounts of who completed their escapes, using their stories to inspire readers and reinforce the importance of determination, skill, and perseverance in survival.
The Verdict
This book isn’t just for survival enthusiasts or history buffs — it’s a goldmine for anyone looking to better understand human resilience. Fowler presents his material in an approachable way, making it equally useful for seasoned survivalists and beginners. That said, the content does lean heavily on military contexts. If you’re looking for purely wilderness survival strategies, you might find some chapters overly tactical. But for those who appreciate the intersection of survival psychology and practical skill, this guide is hard to beat. The Special Forces Guide to Escape and Evasion is a testament to the ingenuity and endurance of those who refuse to surrender. Whether you’re prepping for the worst or just want to push the limits of your knowledge, this book deserves a spot
About the Book
Book & Author: The Special Forces Guide to Escape and Evasion By Will Fowler
Winter’s chill can hit like a punch to the chest, but the right kit turns frosty ground into just another stretch of road. We’ve pulled together gear that holds its own in teeth-chattering conditions — boots that fight off numb toes, a beanie hiding a spare key, and tools that earn their keep when the mercury dives. Ahead, you’ll find a few standout picks that kept us warm, a range of gear that really earned its keep in the freeze, and a final rundown of the top performers that rose above the rest.
At first glance you might think the Crazy Creek Hex 2.0 is just another lightweight camp chair. Well, it’s not. Keeping you warm and dry is an ultralight 8mm-thick closed-cell foam packable seat that can double as a short sleeping pad. The Hex 2.0 rolls up to just 4 inches in diameter and weighs in at a mere 1.45 pounds. Not only will the high-density cored closed-cell foam keep you warm, the 210d coated ripstop nylon shell will also aid in keeping you dry while you take a load off by the fire, river, or sit on a cold aluminum bench at a football game.
This chair is virtually indestructible with its carbon-fiber-reinforced fiberglass stays and rubber and nylon hinges. At 21 inches tall, the Hex 2.0 gives plenty of back support for comfort. At 16 inches deep and 17 inches wide, the user has plenty of real estate to be comfortable sitting or sleeping in the Hex 2.0 from Crazy Creek.
Helikon-Tex builds on the legacy set forth by frontiersman with the Swagman Roll. It’s a hybrid piece of gear. It’s a lightweight synthetic poncho liner at its core, but is also a blanket, sleeping bag, and an under quilt for a hammock. The loft of the Climashield insulation provides enough warmth in cool weather to keep you comfortable without being bulky. In cold weather, it may not be enough to keep you comfortable, but it’ll keep you alive in a pinch. In subzero temps, it’s a welcomed addition to a sleeping bag as a liner.
The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating helps keep the user from getting soaked in a storm without compromising much needed breathability. Measuring 57 by 78 inches, the Swagman Roll is compatible with the standard USGI poncho. It has a warm hood and a zippered chest pocket that doubles as its own integrated storage pocket and fastens in front and behind the wearer to seal in the warmth. Available in 11 solid colors and seven camouflage patterns.
This Hand Warmer offers a lot of versatility and seamlessly integrates with your outdoor recreation or tactical gear. Velcro attachments allow the user to attach to a plate carrier as a dangler or wrap them directly around their belt as a stand-alone pouch. The Hand Warmer was specifically designed to keep the wearer’s hands warm in cold and wet conditions.
Made from water-repellent 500D Cordura with grid fleece interior that helps to keep dexterity in the fingers. The addition of elastic cuffs at each end help to seal in the heat. Zippered pockets front and back can be fitted with chemical hand warmers to increase the heat if needed to truly guarantee the wearer keeps full mobility of their fingers. The design has a slim profile that ensures it stays out of the way when not in use. Defense Mechanisms offers the Hand Warmer in 16 colors and patterns that are made to order.
The Cache Beanie is a high-quality, warm, merino wool watchman-style cap. With a thick design and a 3-inch cuff, this beanie won’t cause hot spots or itching. There’s a hidden pocket in the fleece-lined headband for your cache. The pocket is wide enough to accept a credit card and expands enough for a few small emergency items such as a spare key, mini ferro rod and striker, or hunting license. The hidden pocket is secured by a low-profile Velcro closure and camouflaged by the “Made in Colorado” tag.
This tag doubles as a pull tab to access your hidden gems. Inside the pocket is a sewn-in lanyard loop for added retention of important items. Each hat is hand-loomed, trimmed, and stitched in the United States. Offered in six colors and one size fits most.
A great feature of the A.T.A.C. 2.0 is that there’s very little break-in period required before they’re ready for a long trek. Waterproof and breathable, the A.T.A.C. 2.0 has 400 grams of insulation, making the boots warm enough for cold conditions without adding bulk or overly hot. A full-length dual durometer Ortholite footbed helps your feet stay dry and comfortable on long days in the field.
The Achilles’ heel area — where taller boots typically become uncomfortable, and requiring longer break-in periods — has ample range of motion due to a small scalloped-out flex zone. Oil- and slip-resistant sole, full-grain leather toe, 840D nylon upper, waterproof, full-lace front, medial zipper, and lateral knife pocket provide the security, stability, and durability you need while on the trail or on shift.
Table One Hard Top is a highly condensed packable backpacking camp table. Manufactured from a proprietary DAC aluminum alloy built for strength and durability, its frame and legs collapse down to a manageable 16 by 5 by 4 inches and tuck neatly into an included carry case. A top constructed of 600D polyester resists harsh conditions.
Five polycarbonate sheets sewn into a Z-fold top keep it rigid. Setting it up takes about one minute, and Table One Hard Top weighs just 2 pounds, yet still supports up to 110 pounds. Measuring 15 inches high and 23 inches long, it’s more suited to sitting beside someone rather than under them. Legs remain consolidated much like tent stakes. A shock cord runs from each attachment hub to its corresponding legs, and each leg section connects directly to the one ahead. This design ensures components stay close at hand, minimizing losses during low-light setup or takedown.
It’s no secret that water purity has taken some hits lately, with contamination lurking in sources we rely on every day. Chemicals from intensive farming, industrial runoff, and pharmaceuticals seep into supplies, posing legitimate health concerns. Epic Water Filters, in partnership with Nalgene, stepped forward to tackle this issue. Their NSF-certified filters target common threats like chlorine, lead, and PFAS.
Each kit includes two filters: Everywhere Filter, suited for any fresh water source and capable of removing over 200 contaminants — metals, bacteria, viruses, and cryptosporidium — and EveryTap Filter, built for public water and effective against 70 different pollutants. Each filter can replace more than 550 single-use bottles, easing pressure on landfills and oceans. Nalgene bottles are inherently BPA and PFAS free, offering well-known durability and a dependable, leak-free design. Installing or swapping filters is simple, and each one provides roughly 75 gallons of clean, safe drinking water.
Stormrider Underlord acts as a low-profile EDC under belt designed to pair seamlessly with a fully outfitted battle or range belt — holsters, pouches, magazines, and all. Its outside surface features loop Velcro, providing a secure bond to the belt’s hook Velcro. An internal Velcro adjustment system, combined with a loop keeper, takes the place of a bulkier Cobra buckle.
This simple omission cuts weight, cost, and visible profile. Each Underlord includes 8 inches of loop Velcro on the inside: 4 inches ensure a solid closure and another 4 inches allow for easy sizing adjustments, handy for anyone carrying an inside-the-waistband holster. Its pliable nature keeps things comfortable, yet still rigid enough to serve as an everyday utility belt. Stormrider offers seven base colors along with five loop Velcro color options to match personal preferences.
Personal information protection matters more now than ever. Criminals target all kinds of data, and details from hotel key cards, credit cards, licenses, and badges are no exception. Vulnerable info could grant access to bank accounts, offices, and even homes. Celtic Shield, proudly American made, provides a wide range of material options — brass, copper, titanium, aluminum — and various finishes like Cerakote, anodizing, patina, and laser engraving, making each piece easy to customize.
Choose a money clip or band, a plain slick cover or a challenge coin cover for cherished items or even fit in an Apple AirTag for added security and convenience.
In the spirit of leaving no surface unused, Grayfighter seizes every inch of your holster with a low-profile approach to tourniquet carry. Consider SRC-4, a uniquely designed addition crafted for outside-the-waistband pistol holsters. Choose from classic leather or laser-cut Tegris as the chassis material. Lightweight and incredibly durable, SRC-4 follows a modular layout that accommodates small accessories — marking devices, flashlights, spare magazines — on its three-panel MOLLE field, along with a tourniquet at your holster’s forward edge.
Tourniquets remain firmly secured by a 1.5-inch elastic band compatible with popular models: North American Rescue C-A-T 7, SOF T Wide, and Snakestaff Systems. This elastic feature allows quick retrieval of life-saving gear under stress. Compatible with Safariland holsters, Blackhawk T-Series, and Alien Gear Rapid Force, SRC-4 arrives in a variety of color choices from Grayfighter to suit individual preferences.
Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie
QUANTITY: 2-Pack, 3-Pack, 4-Pack, 6-Pack, Base/Car Unit
Rapid Radios might be the solution if dealing with a HAM radio’s complexities isn’t appealing. Rapid Radios Nationwide Push-To-Talk is straightforward, taking only a brief moment to learn its menus and functions. Group chats can include up to 200 people at once, or choose a single user for private communication.
As long as everyone involved owns a Rapid Radio, you’re all set. Distance and usage face no limits if you stay within the United States. No monthly fee, no tests, and no license are required. Each unit arrives with an activated SIM card lasting a full year. Renewing service costs $50 per year. Rapid Radios have seen action during recent disasters across our country with proven success. Just push and talk.
Quick Feather was designed as a highly functional everyday carry folder that also delivers style. Sealed stainless steel ball bearings ensure smooth, reliable blade deployment. Measuring 2.85 inches, its tough, corrosion-resistant VG10 steel blade locks securely via a knurled liner lock. A partially tri-serrated blade features flat peaks for easier maintenance than traditional serrations.
To honor its fire-starting roots, a 90-degree milled segment along the spine pairs perfectly with a ferro rod. Dark gray G10 scales maintain a reliable grip in damp conditions and hold up well over time. Scales also support a reversible, tip-up pocket clip accented in bronze. Quick Feather arrives with two styles of deep-carry pocket clips, providing options to suit individual preference.
ASAP 20 is built for short-duration missions and activities, yet hardly lacks in features. The weather-resistant tri-closure front — a signature Mystery Ranch detail — opens to reveal a five-panel Velcro MOLLE field for accessories, a three-liter water bladder sleeve, and a zippered pocket. Zippered lid includes an additional zippered pocket inside, keeping small items separate and accessible.
Two internal side pockets, each equipped with a MOLLE panel, form the pack’s front when zipped, enabling extra gear attachments. Contoured padded shoulder straps promote circulation for comfort and won’t interfere with rifle slings or other equipment. A breathable airdyne mesh back maintains airflow. A 1-inch waist belt keeps loads secure during rapid or dynamic movement and can be removed if not needed.
Vigilance doesn’t fade just because we’re unwinding outdoors. Fith Ops provides numerous trip-wire-based perimeter alarms that are simple to set up, keeping campsites secure. Consider the 12 Gauge Digital Alarm, a visual and audible deterrent aimed at scaring away both human and animal threats. Its 130dB alarm continues sounding for about 60 minutes, while the strobe flashes for up to four hours.
A one-hour charge fully powers the system, and that stored energy lasts between three and six months, depending on weather conditions. Enjoy passive, non-lethal protection that’s safe around kids, pets, and livestock. Manufactured in the United States from 6061 aluminum, it’s weather-resistant and expandable, accepting flares, 12GA blanks, and — when paired with an adapter — 209 primers.
A purpose-driven multi-tool designed to handle all essential outdoors tasks, with some critical thinking covered for you, Leatherman’s Signal comes in a wide range of colors, from standard earth tones to more playful options like guava or aqua. Slim and efficient, it holds exactly what’s needed in an outdoorsman’s tool, leaving little room for extras. Aptly named “Signal,” it includes a detachable ferro rod and scraper to start a fire. Signal conceals a frame-lock wood saw and a semi-serrated knife blade on opposite sides for quick access.
Once opened, needle-nose and regular pliers with replaceable cutters become the standout features. A hammer pommel integrates a 1/4- and 3/16-inch box wrench, a 1/4-inch bit driver, and a carabiner/bottle opener. Inside, find a lockable awl with thread loop, a bit driver, and a can opener. A nylon belt holster arrives in the box, and a pocket clip adds a finishing touch that enhances both function and style.
The Spectrum UV is a full-size, duty-grade flashlight machined from 6061-T6 aerospace aluminum. Body dimensions accommodate gloved hands comfortably during extended use. Inside, dual-fuel technology provides a choice between rechargeable 18650, or single-use CR123A batteries. A multi-function tail cap cycles through momentary-on, lock, and constant-on modes with a simple rotation. A small selector button on the head allows easy navigation through multiple color settings, plus a high-lumen strobe mode.
Color modes include red for reducing visual signature and preserving night vision, blue for tracking in snow and fog while highlighting blood, and UV for detecting biometric signatures and hidden security emblems in documents. ASP includes a USB/USB-C retractable charger and a rechargeable 18650 battery to complete the package.
Simplicity meets reliability in this three-season foam mat, crafted in Finland from cross-linked closed-cell plastic. Air pockets in the base shield users from cold and moisture, and dimensions of 20.5 by 73 inches (plus a mere 0.4-inch thick) provide a comfortable surface without hogging all the pack space. Folding up to just 20.5 by 6.5 by 5.5 inches and weighing only 9.5 ounces, it’s a breeze to carry in the mountains without worrying about damage.
Simple elastic loops hold it in place, or latch onto a backpack for easy transport. Foam mats take up more room than inflatable models but are dependable and hassle-free. Inflatable pads have a smaller packed size and offer higher comfort, but they can be punctured. Anyone looking to attach a sleeping pad outside the pack — while keeping things worry-free and easy to handle — may find this foam mat a great choice.
RECOIL OFFGRID’s Top Picks
Now that temperatures have dropped across much of the United States, we’ve been preparing to stay warm in the field. Throughout our testing, everything performed well, but two pieces of gear really stood out. We don’t mind cold weather on its own, but once toes start going numb, all the fun goes out the window.
First up are the 5.11 A.T.A.C. Boots. We were surprised by how comfortable they felt right away, keeping our toes warm without any break-in period. Part of that success came from picking the right socks to help retain heat. Despite their rugged appearance, these boots have an athletic feel and handle cold ground with a thick, lightweight sole. The high-top style also provided solid ankle support when stepping over fallen branches and tackling hilly terrain.
Our second standout item is the Hand Warmer from Defense Mechanisms. It’s tough to use a knife, tie knots, or even work a zipper when fingers go numb. This warmer has front and rear zipper pockets that fit chemical hand warmers, which kept our hands functional and safe in low temperatures.
Though these two items might seem like basic choices, they were the foundation that helped us stay comfortable long enough to enjoy the rest of our gear. Each time you leave the trail for the backcountry, remember that good planning and smart decision-making are your most valuable preparations. With those in place, you’ll be ready for whatever winter throws your way.
What Gear Keeps You Warm?
Got your own proven way to fight the freeze? We’d love to hear it. Maybe there’s a trusty piece of equipment you swear by that didn’t show up here, or you’ve put this month’s gear through its paces and have stories to tell. Tag us in your winter posts or email offgrid@recoilweb.com. We’ll keep your best ideas on ice, and, who knows, you might see your contribution featured down the road.
Lock picking is a skill that elicits a lot of different feelings in people when it’s brought up. Some think of crafty criminals breaking into homes, while others think of spies employing discreet tools to ply their trade. While both these situations can be true, the reality of lock picking is that it’s a skill that prepared-minded people value for both emergency and everyday situations. It’s a common misconception that lock-pick sets and bypass tools are illegal. However, most states and municipalities have no restrictions on carrying lock picks beyond the intent to use them in a crime. In fact, most basic lock-picking sets are inexpensive and accessible to everyone.
Before we get into how to pick a lock, let’s look at some of the practical reasons why we would need to pick a lock.
In an emergency, locked gates may inhibit our ability to bypass blocked or damaged roads. This decoder bypass tool made short work of the gate’s combination lock.
Practical Everyday Lock Picking
One of the most straightforward reasons to learn lock picking is being stuck in one of the most common and frustrating situations people face: getting locked out of the house. This is exactly why I got started. After locking myself out and having to climb all over my house to try and find an open window, I was eventually able to kick in a small basement window and squeeze myself through it. I could’ve spent a few hundred dollars and had a locksmith come out, but for the price of a few scrapes and bruises, I learned some valuable lessons. First, my home security needed improvement because of those basement windows. Second, if I had lock-picking skills and a lock-pick set, I could’ve easily avoided any discomfort in this circumstance.
Since then, I’ve been in a few situations that being able to pick locks proved valuable. I’ve found myself returning later than expected during a day hike to find the parking lot gate locked. Being able to quickly bypass the pad lock and relock the gate allowed me to egress from the parking lot and saved the park ranger a trip. This is a more common occurrence than people think, as I have spoken with several avid outdoors people who have been in a similar situation.
Beyond that there have been quite a few pad locks that have had lost keys and dial locks that we have long since lost the combinations to that needed to be opened. With all these examples, it’s clear to see knowing how to pick a lock can aid us on a day-to-day basis, but what benefits does this serve in an emergency?
When SHTF, valuable resources like the propane tanks may be locked behind gates and cages. Having the ability to pick or bypass the lock can quickly and quietly give you access to what you need to survive.
Lock Picking in an Emergency
In emergencies, especially in urban environments, the ability to pick a lock can help us access supplies, obtain shelter, or egress an otherwise closed-off area. A news story that comes to mind occurred in upstate New York. There was a major winter storm that left numerous people stranded in their vehicles. The quick thinking of one man saved several lives when he opted to break into a local school and gather people from assorted vehicles to take shelter indoors.
While this action was technically breaking and entering, no charges were filed because of the nature of the emergency. In this case, a window was broken, resulting in repair expenses. If anyone in the group was proficient at lock picking and had a lock-pick set with them, the people would have been able to access lifesaving shelter without the need to destroy any property.
Locked out? Lock picking provides a quick and inexpensive way to get back in.
How to Pick a Lock
When we look at the question “how to pick a lock,” there isn’t really a single, straightforward answer. This is mainly due to the large number of different lock-pick sets and tools available and all the different types of locks that exist. You can take any lock, from the simplistic Master Lock all the way to cylinder key locks and even electronic locking systems, and there will be numerous tools out there to bypass each of them.
“Lock Sport” is a term that you may come across while researching lock picking. This refers to lock picking as a hobby and, in some cases, a competitive sport. As with many skills and tools that move into the realm of hobbyists, there will be many opinions out there as to what tools are great and what tools are not so great. For the novice or those who are just interested in learning how to pick locks for emergency preparedness, it’s best to avoid the hype of the latest and greatest and stick with some of the tried-and-true classics.
Ultimately, learning how to pick or bypass locks comes down to having the proper tools and a lot of practice. Let’s look at some of the basic tools used to bypass common locks and how they function.
Anatomy of a Lock and How Lock Picks Work
The inside of most standard locks looks remarkably similar. Inside of a rotating cylinder, there are several pins attached to springs that must be pushed up to certain levels to release the lock. The grooves in our keys are designed to precisely do this.
When we’re picking a lock, instead of using a key we’re using small tools to manually push the pins into place. There are several distinct types of picks out there; some are designed to push single pins, while others are designed to move multiple pins at once.
Beginner Lock-Pick Sets and Tools
Beginner lock-pick sets typically include three different types of picks and at least one torsion wrench. The torsion wrench is a simple tool that allows the lock to be turned into the open position once the lock picks have done their job. For most people, mastering a beginner set will give them the skills and tools they need to open most common locks that use keys including padlocks and door locks.
For beginners, the rake-style pick is one of the most commonly used tools. It features a series of small bumps that slide across the lock’s pins to push them into position. Once the pins are aligned, a torsion wrench can be used to rotate the lock and open it.
Another tool that beginners should learn to use is the single hook pick. Although this pick moves only one pin at a time and is much slower than rake picking, it helps novices develop a better understanding of a lock’s structure and mechanics. Just like the rake pick, a torsion wrench will be used to turn the lock to an open position.
The last type of lock pick that’s usually found in beginner pick sets is the comb pick. The name itself is a bit of a misnomer, as it’s not a pick at all but a bypass tool. The comb pick functions by mimicking a key, pushing all the pins up simultaneously. While it works quickly, comb picks are generally effective only on low-quality padlocks and are unlikely to open high-quality locks, such as those used on house doors.
Common Bypass Tools
We discussed the comb pick being a bypass tool, but what exactly is a bypass tool and how does it differ from a lock pick? To put it simply, a lock pick allows the user to manually engage individual pins while a bypass tool is designed to completely go around the security measures built into locks. Bypass tools aren’t as versatile as lock picks; each one is designed for certain types of locks. While they lack the versatility of traditional lock picks, with a little practice they can typically defeat their intended lock in seconds.
Combs
These are designed to defeat cylinder locks commonly found in Master brand and other similar-styled locks. There are different comb lengths that work for unique styles of locks. Combs work by inserting the comb into the lock face, which will push all the pins up to disengage the lock.
Quick Sticks
This simple bypass tool is designed to bypass low-quality padlocks by completely bypassing the pins and directly disengaging the lock. Simply insert into the lock face and push it up to disengage the lock clasp.
Jiggler
This bypass tool is designed to defeat wafer locks. Wafer locks are named after the flat wafers used internally instead of pins. These types of locks can be found on some mailboxes, filing cabinets, desk drawers, older car locks, and RVs. Wafer locks present a unique challenge, as the internal parts can be easily damaged if the wrong key is used or in aggressive picking, making it unable to disengage without physically removing the lock. To use a jiggler bypass tool, simply insert it into the lock face and gently move it around until the lock can be disengaged. It’s important to note that car locks require specific types of jigglers that are becoming increasingly ineffective due to electronic lock technology.
Decoder Shims
These bypass tools are designed to defeat locks without keys such as luggage locks and combination padlocks. Like quick sticks, the decoder shim is pushed up through the side of the number dial to quickly disengage the locking clasp. Practice Locks
While not an actual lock-picking tool, practice locks are essential to helping the novice develop their skill set. Practice locks offer a cut-away window to allow the user to see what’s going on inside the lock while they are practicing picking. These provide a deep sense of how a lock works and how each of the tools we are using impacts the internal components of the lock.
A set of lock picks and the skill to use them are a great addition to a functional EDC setup (items pictured Tuff Possum Entry, ZT0308CF, ASP Defender Sport, Fenix PD 25R).
Practice, Practice, Practice!
By reading the descriptions of how each of these tools works, it sounds easy to do. I wouldn’t classify any basic lock-picking activity as difficult, but it does require finesse and dexterity that’s only developed through practice. Starting with practice locks and moving to standard locks is a fantastic way to get a feel for both your tools and a feel for distinct types of locks and brands of locks. I emphasized finesse for a good reason — lock picks may be tools, but they are delicate precision instruments. Applying too much force even to high-end hardened steel and titanium lock picks will result in bending and snapping. In the beginning of your lock-picking journey, slow and steady wins the race.
The Tuff Possum Bogota Set fits discreetly in the Wazoo Cache Cap.
Nick’s Personal Lock-Pick Sets and Bypass Tools
The sheer number of different lock-pick sets and bypass tools on the market can be overwhelming for those new to the art of lock picking. Here are some of the tools that I use and rely on to get the job done.
This kit has all the picks and bypass tools to tackle the most common locks.
Main Kit: Tuff Possum Entry Kit
Tuff Possum’s Entry Kit is a compact kit that includes all the basics you need to get most lock-picking jobs done. The Entry Kit has three different double-sided torsion wrenches, allowing you to apply six different levels of tension. The kit also includes five different picks, three rakes, a hook, and a half diamond. All five picks are held together by a rivet so nothing gets lost, and you can easily switch tools if needed. There’s also a bypass tool set held together by a rivet that includes three combs, two jigglers, and a quick stick. There are also two stand-alone EZ Decoders. This setup gives you everything a beginner user needs to get started and effectively pick locks. For everyday carry, I keep it all in the optional Compact Lock Pick Case, which tucks discreetly into any pants pocket and some coin pockets.
The Entry Kit also includes a few more advanced tools, which includes a set of warded lock picks used specifically for warded locks and an EZ Card that can easily bypass many locked latch doors such as gates and home interior doors.
This has been my go-to set for a while due to the compact size, versatility, and quality steel construction of the tools. The compact size of these tools can make them challenging for beginners to practice with, but Tuff Possum offers an affordable beginner kit featuring full-sized tools. The pick profiles and tension wrenches are identical to those in the entry set, ensuring a smooth transition as users progress.
Lock picks are an ideal addition to your urban SERE kit (Tuff Possum Bogota Set, Superesse EDC SERE Kit, Silcock Key for accessing water in cities).
Discreet Carry Option: Bogota Set with Covert Key Slip
Although the Entry kit is very compact, I also like to account for the times where I may not have those items in my pocket, or in the event I become separated from my primary lock-picking set.
This simple set has a Bogota Quad Rake and a Single Hook Pick (again from Tuff Possum) with the backsides of each acting as a tension wrench. While not as versatile as a full set, the ability to clip it to my pants button with the Covert Key Slip or stash it in my Wazoo Cache Cap as part of my compact SERE kit ensures I always have backup lock picks on hand.
The Grim Workshop “Sparrow Bushcraft” Signature Survival Card is an ideal compact addition to your wallet of Wilderness Kit.
When out in the wilderness, there may not be a need for a full-sized lock-picking kit, but as we discussed earlier there are moments when we may need to defeat a lock. Having some tools available rounds out my wilderness survival kit.
Grim Workshop is renowned for creating ultra-compact survival tools, including dog tags, Altoid tin kits, and their widely popular survival cards. Among their offerings in the realm of lock picking and escape and evasion, one card stands out for blending high-quality lock picks with essential wilderness tools: the Sparrow Bushcraft Signature Survival Card.
Created by Bill Roque, also known as Sparrow Bushcraft, this card reflects his dual passions for lock picking and outdoor adventure. It features several effective pick styles, a four-pin comb bypass tool, multi-step tension wrenches, and two serrated saws that also function as tweezers. Measuring roughly the size of a credit card, it fits seamlessly into a wallet, sitting discreetly alongside a Wazoo Fire Card to cover key outdoor survival needs.
These tools are crafted from high-quality stainless steel, built for durability, and designed for repeated use. They can easily be reattached to their original spots on the card thanks to a tacky backing material.
Final Thoughts
This covers the fundamentals of lock picking and using bypass tools. With these tools and a bit of practice, you’ll soon be able to tackle most common locks, taking a big step toward becoming more self-reliant. Lock picking has many practical day-to-day applications and will serve you well in many scenarios.
But the basics are only the beginning. The art of lock picking offers endless opportunities to explore, from specialty tools and advanced techniques for complex locks to electronic bypass devices for more modern systems. There’s always more to learn and master.
