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Real World Urban Survival Tactics: An Interview With Richard Duarte

Not every survival situation ends up out in the wild… Sometimes it’s the concrete jungle (urban survival) that you’re forced to contend with. That situation calls for a different type of preparation.

Richard Duarte doesn’t fit the prepper or survivalist stereotype the mainstream media and many movies love to perpetuate. Not many of us do! He is a highly-educated professional who slips into a suit and tie and ventures out into the real world on a daily basis. At the same time, he fully understands the dangers, both man-made and natural, which are looming around the next corner. In fact, in many ways Richard Duarte is just like all the rest of us who are focused on preparedness!

At the same time, he fully understands the dangers, both man-made and natural, which are looming around the next corner. In fact, in many ways, Richard Duarte is just like all the rest of us who are focused on preparedness!

Richard Duarte Shares His Top Tips for Urban Survival

Richard Duarte urban survival Expert

Richard Duarte is a practicing attorney in South Florida who was inspired to adopt the preparedness lifestyle after surviving Hurricane Andrew in August 1992. He consults, writes and lectures on urban survival and disaster planning. Duarte is also a big firearms enthusiast and a strong proponent of the Second Amendment. His books include Surviving Doomsday – A Guide for Surviving an Urban Disaster, The Quick Start Guide for Urban Survival.

What was the motivation for the Quick Start Guide for Urban Survival?

To answer this question I need to back up a bit. In 2012, I wrote Surviving Doomsday – A Guide for Surviving an Urban Disaster. I purposely kept the book short, 180 pages, and devoted a chapter to each of the survival basics.

Over the next two years, people kept telling me that they really wanted to get prepared, but they just didn’t have the time to sit and “do a lot of reading.” Initially, I was frustrated by this. My primary goal is to reach as many people as possible and to help get them prepared. However, I also understand that people are busier than ever.

One day, it occurred to me that just about every product we buy comes with an owner’s manual and a quick start guide, since few people actually have the time (or desire) to read the manual. This got me thinking: what about a quick start guide for preparedness? I began working on it the very next day. The Quick Start Guide (QSG) is compact and to-the-point. It contains everything people need to get started with their preparations — and nothing they don’t. It’s easy to read and follow, but it’s jam-packed with all the necessary information. It also includes lots of color photos, illustrations, diagrams, lists and detailed shopping lists in each chapter. It’s an illustrated road-map of sorts to make the preparedness journey a whole lot easier.

Many people actually end up getting both books. Surviving Doomsday contains a lot more detail and substance, and the QSG allows readers to access all sorts of useful information quickly and easily. The QSG also serves as quick reference guide. Now there’s absolutely no excuse for anyone not to be prepared!

What got you interested in prepping?

In the early 1990s the term “prepping” didn’t even exist. After my close-call with Hurricane Andrew, I started doing a great deal of research and reading any survival books I could find. Eventually, I came across some good material, but I also found a lot of information and advice that just wasn’t very practical or realistic for urban dwellers. Back then, much of the focus was on wilderness survival, and threat-specific preparations. The wilderness advice missed the mark for urban dwellers. The threat-specific approach that was too narrowly focused to be truly effective. I knew that there had to be a better way. I also knew that I wanted to focus my efforts where I could get the highest return for my prepping investment of time and money.

It was around this time that I started to formulate what I would later call the Core Survival Elements (CSE) – Food, water, first aid, sanitation/hygiene, security/self-defense, knowing when to stay put (bug-in), and when to get out (bug-out). These are the things that will help keep you alive no matter what calamity comes your way, natural or man-made. For many people this was the first time they could actually start to focus on the survival basics for the urban environment.

Why did you become passionate about sharing your preparedness knowledge and advice with others?

Initially, I never intended to write books on preparedness, or any other topic for that matter. That came much later. My early efforts were focused on putting together some preliminary notes to help my close friends and relatives start making basic preparations. It pained me to see just how unprepared many of them were.

In them, I saw a piece of me years before. I had gotten hammered so hard by Hurricane Andrew, and I didn’t want to see something like that happen to any of them. Those early notes eventually turned into Surviving Doomsday and subsequently the QSG. If my writings help even just one person to avoid the hardship that we lived through, it will have been well worth all the effort.

To what degree does where a family chooses to live factor into their preparedness plan?

Where a person lives drives much of what they do and how they will do it. The vast majority of the population of the United States lives in densely populated urban centers. This can be a big problem when a crisis strikes. Large cities are home to some of the largest and most sophisticated banking and commercial centers the world has ever known. These industries drive a large portion of our economy, employment, and growth. All this tends to create jobs and opportunities, which in turn attracts lots of people.

These densely packed concrete jungles are also home to millions of full-time residents. These folks consume vast quantities of food, water, electricity and other goods; all of which must be trucked in every day to satisfy the almost endless demand. It all seems to work out just fine, until it doesn’t. During a disaster or public emergency, large cities are usually the first to feel the severe pain when the electricity and water stops flowing, and the consumables stop arriving.

Even a short interruption in this vital supply chain can be devastating if people aren’t prepared. For this, and many other reasons, people who live, work and play in urban areas need to have supplies, skills and a plan, or plans, for short and long-term survival. Accepting this reality is the first step in protecting yourself, and being prepared.

Even Richard Duarte must have prepping fails. What have you learned?

My biggest all-time fail was getting caught asleep at the wheel during Hurricane Andrew — we walked out the morning after with nothing more than the clothes on our backs. In those very difficult months that followed, I realized just how lucky we were to be alive. I promised myself that I would never allow anything like that to happen again.

Over the years, however, I have tried many different approaches to preparedness and I made many mistakes along the way. Preparedness is a process of trial and error. Finding out what works for you and your family isn’t always fast or easy; but it’s so worth the time and the effort.

What should people concentrate on when trying to figure out what works?

Preparation & planning for the basics (water, food, 1st aid/medical, security/self-defense, sanitation/hygiene, and knowing when to get out, and when to stay put). Many people totally neglect the basics.

Folks also vastly underestimate the risks, and overestimate their abilities. They just don’t realize how quickly the average person can become dehydrated; or how important basic security/self-defense is during a disaster. Many people also overthink their planning and end up doing nothing. Preparedness is a lifestyle, and each person’s plans and preparations should evolve with their changing needs and circumstances. richard duarte Urban Survival Kit

Surviving Doomsday and the QSG both encourage the reader to think for themselves. The books provide the survival basics and the framework. Then they guide the reader to customize their plan and preparations to their particular set of circumstances. No two plans will ever be the same, because none of us are exactly the same. We show readers how to get started to find what works for them and their family.

If you could go back and add one more bit of information about urban survival to the book, what would it be?

Anytime I write anything I always have to fight the temptation to keep going back and adding additional information. At some point you just have to let go. If I could, I would add more on the type of gear folks should consider having and specific recommendations. I would also go into more advanced preparedness skills, mindset, and planning strategies. I am actually working on a third book, and these are some of the topics I will be including.

As I said earlier, your preparations and plans must evolve and improve over time. Once you have addressed the survival basics, it’s usually time to start working on more advanced skills, plans, and preparations.

What three patented “urban Survival” tips would you give to newbie preppers?

Just dive in and get started. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will start to realize what is practical, reasonable and realistic for your circumstances. Remember, just because something works for some self-professed survival expert doesn’t mean it will work for you and your family. Focus on the survival basics, formulate a plan, test your plan and your preparations under real-world conditions, and then use your findings and insights to improve your plans and your preps. Preparedness is a lifestyle.

An untested plan is about as good as having no plan at all. It could even be worse, since having this plan might lure you into a false sense of confidence. Give yourself room to improve your preparations over time and test everything before you place your trust on it.

Forget the fantasy. A disaster and the resulting chaos always looks very different than anything you might imagine, or what you routinely see on TV. Never forget that fiction is meant to be entertaining. You must plan for the real world.

If people want to find Richard Duarte, where should they look?

I have had to scale back on appearances at shows and expos due to time constraints. But, I have been busy writing for a number of publications including Recoil/OffGrid and S.W.A.T. Magazine. I also post a lot of content on my blog Quick Start Survival and on other social media.

Many of my magazine articles also appear on my blog and are available for free to my readers courtesy of the folks at S.W.A.T and Recoil/OffGrid. I may pop-up at some shows later in 2017 but I’ll make sure to post those events in advance at QuickStartSurvival.com. And lastly, readers should keep an eye out for my third book in early 2018. No spoilers at this point, but it will pick up where Surviving Doomsday and the QSG left off.

Do you agree with Richard Duarte and his tips for prepping? Let us know in the comments below!

If Richard Duarte and his story of Hurricane Andrew seemed familiar, read our Hurricane Survival Tips and stay prepared!

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

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Homemade Weapons You Can DIY To Awaken Your Inner Caveman

Learn to make your own homemade weapons so you’ll have a fighting chance in a survival situation where all you have is nature.

[You Get One FREE] Weird Little Knife Drives TSA Crazy!

How to Make Homemade Weapons

Why Should You Learn to Make Homemade Weapons?

Let’s say you got lost in the wild, and you somehow forgot or lost your Cold Steel Leatherneck Tanto 39LSFT (or whichever is the best survival knife for you). What do you do?

While your situation is most likely not quite as bad as Tom Hanks had it in Castaway, let’s face it. The only way you’re gonna get out of this situation in good shape is to let out your inner caveman.

Let me explain. Our very primitive ancestors lived in a time when every day was a survival situation. Any tools or weapons they needed had to be made from scratch.

So, should you be unlucky enough to have only the shirt on your back while you’re lost in the wilderness, you’ll have to follow suit. Let the training of your inner caveman begin.

Today’s lesson: how to make DIY weapons in the wild with only the resources nature provided you.

How to Make a Knife | Homemade Weapons

Having a knife, any kind of knife is probably one of the best things to happen should you suddenly find yourself in a survival situation. You can use it to help you find food, build a shelter, and defend yourself against wild animals.

So it’s highly fortunate nature is waiting like a momma at a craft table with lots of materials you can use to create one.

1. Stone Knives

Bone, shell, bamboo, wood, or even an old aluminum beer can may work to perform the puncturing function of a blade. You know you’ve seen these a million times when you’re out hiking.

They’re easy to crack or break or shape into a fairly sharp point which will do in a pinch. Unfortunately, you’re not going to be able to use a chicken bone or an expertly-shaped aluminum can point to skin, chop, baton, or any of the other necessary functions of a survival knife.

This is where the stone comes into play. I’ll start by saying making a knife out of stone isn’t easy, but it can be done.

You’ll need three things: a core rock, a hammerstone, and a pressure flaker. Remember, you’re going to be smashing these together in true caveman fashion.

So, having stones you can reasonably grip in each hand is going to make your life a lot easier. Although, it’s definitely an option to stand poised over one rock smashing down on it.

You, with a two-hand grip, pounding until you’ve chipped away at it a bit. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

2. The Core Rock

rock formation background | Homemade Weapons You Can DIY To Awaken Your Inner Caveman | homemade weapons | deadliest ancient weapons

The core rock is what you’ll be making into a blade. Find any large stone, preferably made from obsidian, slate, chert, or flint with a relatively flat side.

In case you weren’t a rock collector in any of your previous lives, here’s another way to decide if a rock meets the requirements for good knife-making material. Tap or click a rock together with another rock and listen for a ringing sound (like glass).

The more rock sounds like glass, the better it is as a material for your core rock. If you can, choose a rock which is already a bit sharp to reduce the amount of time you’ll need to shape it.

3. The Hammerstone

The hammerstone is a medium-sized, spherical rock, preferably made of granite. It will be used to smash, chisel, chip and shape the core rock.

You’ll be using it to chip off pieces of the core stone and to narrow the edges to a blade shape.

4. The Pressure Flaker

The pressure flaker, or flaking tool, is a rock with a sharp point to help you refine the blade’s edges. You’ll use your flaking tool after you’ve thinned the edges of the stone with the hammer stone to make the “blade” sharper.

When you start making your knife, you’ll want to be sure to wet the core stone to shorten the time it takes to shape it into a blade. Begin by striking glancing blows near the edge of the core rock with the hammerstone.

Chip away at the core rock until you get the general shape of a blade. Then, use the flaking tool to refine the edges you need to sharpen.

You can also use a stone with a rough surface such as a sandstone to sharpen the edge. Use some rope, cloth, or leather to lash the base and create a handle.

If you are having troubling shaping the rock into a knife, you can opt to create stone blades instead. Check out the videos below to learn how:

Part One:

Part Two:

How to Make a Spear | Homemade Weapons

south african zulu spear | Homemade Weapons You Can DIY To Awaken Your Inner Caveman | homemade weapons | deadliest ancient weapons

We’ve talked about how to make a spear using your best survival knife in a previous article. The same principle applies here.

Even without your Cold Steel Leatherneck Tanto 39LSFT or whichever survival knife you normally bring with you, you can still make a spear using your newly made stone knife. To make a spear, you’ll need to find a five-foot-long stick tough enough to endure repeated short or long-distance throws.

First, pick the end of the stick which has a more rounded tip and use your stone knife to start shaving to create a spear. Once you’re done, be sure to heat the spear over some hot coals to make your spear sharper.
As an alternative, you can also make a spear by tying your knife onto a stick. Find a stick which is about an inch wide.
Measure about 2 inches from one end of the stick. Mark the point, then split the stick into two until you reach the 2-inch mark, creating a sort of Y shape.
This will create a space where you can stick your stone knife before you lash it on with some twine, cord, or rope. To lock the blade in place, put some moss or lichen in the remaining space.
If you haven’t had time to fashion your knife out of stone yet, you can also use broken pieces of shell or glass or splintered bamboo or bone and secure it to the end of your stick.
If you find a way to split your stick without a knife, you can insert the splintered bone or bamboo into the wedge and tie it off like you would when turning a knife into a spear.

How to Make a Weighted Club | Homemade Weapons

While sharp pointy tools are all well and good, you can never go wrong with a blunt homemade weapon. You can use it for hammering or bludgeoning something such as a weighted club.

The weighted club could be one of the deadliest ancient weapons. To make one, you’ll need the following: a piece of wood around 14-16 inches, a medium-sized rock, and some rope.

Once you have all the materials, you’ll need to wrap some lashing 6-8 inches from the end of the stick.
Split the same end until you reach the lashing in order to create a V-shaped notch. The rock you picked out should be shorter than the length of the split.
Insert the stone then lash it securely (above, below, and across the stone). The lashing on the stick above the stone clamps both sides of the split together providing the first point of security, so it’s especially important to create a good, tight lashing above the stone.
You’ll want to make sure you bind the split ends securely so the stone won’t fall off whenever you use it to hammer or pound on something.

This video from Wannabe Bushcrafter will show you how to make a bamboo knife:

Now, hopefully, you never find yourself in a situation where making homemade weapons is going to be a necessity for survival. But, if you do find yourself in such a quagmire, this little bit of information and inner caveman training may be what saves your life.

Which of these homemade weapons do you want to make? Tell us your progress in the comments section below!

Up Next:

Go to our Survival Life Store to shop some of our favorites self-defense tools and gear!

***Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.***

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on April 11, 2014, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

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5 Home Remedies For Chigger Bites

Know these home remedies for chigger bites, or better yet, avoid the bug's bites in the first place with helpful tips included here!

In this article:

Home Remedies For Chigger Bites

What Is a Chigger, Exactly?

Chiggers are members of the arachnid family. They are extremely tiny, and my guess is you won’t even see them as they jump from the tall grass onto your skin and/or clothing.

Adult chiggers are about 1/60 of an inch and have eight legs. The larvae are red, wingless, six-legged creatures which measure less than 1/150 of an inch.

Because of their red color, you might be able to spot the larvae when they cluster together, especially on white clothing.

What Is the Arachnid Family? It is a large group or class of invertebrate animals where the spiders and scorpions belong.

Where Do Chiggers Live?

Chiggers reside in tall weeds and grass, berry patches, and wooded areas. They could be in your backyard, by the lake, or your favorite hiking trail.

They are most active in summer and fall afternoons – the warmest part of the day.

Identifying Chiggers Bites

Only the larvae bite humans and they tend to choose warm, moist areas of the body.

Chiggers also have claws which help them grab onto your skin. The chigger then attaches its mouth to the skin and injects saliva.

The saliva contains an enzyme which breaks skin cells down to liquid form. Your body responds by hardening skin cells around the saliva, creating a tube (cyclostome) through which the chigger sucks the dissolved skin cells.

Chiggers can stay attached and feeding for several days before falling off.

When the chigger falls off, you are left with reddish bumps. You may notice a bright red dot in the center—this is a remnant of the tube your skin formed in response to the chigger's saliva.

The bumps may look like welts, blisters, pimples, or hives. Bites generally appear in groups and get larger for several days to a week.

While many insects bite exposed skin which is easy to get to, chiggers like to bite in folds of skin as well as places where clothing fits tightly on the skin. Most chigger bites occur around the ankles, waist, armpits, crotch, or behind the knees.

Home Remedies for Chigger Bites

Just remember, no matter what, DO NOT SCRATCH THE BITES! I know, easier said than done. But, breaking the skin on a chigger bite can lead to infection.

Here are 5 home remedies to help with the itching and swelling.

1. Vicks Vapor Rub

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Vicks Vapor Rub can put an end to itchy chigger bites immediately and will even reduce the risk of blisters. It’s the cooling menthol in it which relieves itching by affecting itch receptors in the skin.

Steps:

Take a hot shower (use antibacterial soap.) Pat dry your skin with a soft towel.
Take a small amount of the vapor rub and add some table salt to it.
Mix well and apply to the affected area.
Repeat if the swelling continues (otherwise, there is no need to repeat the process)

2. Cold Compress

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A cold compress can help reduce the itching associated with chigger bites. Its numbing effect helps reduce the sensation of itchiness.

Steps:

Wrap some ice cubes in a thin cloth.
Apply the compress to the bites for 10 minutes. Repeat if needed to relieve itching.

3. Baking Soda

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Baking soda is another effective remedy to reduce rashes as well as itchiness. It acts as a natural acid neutralizer which helps relieve itching and reduces the risk of infection.

Steps:

Add 1 cup of baking soda to a bathtub filled with cool water.
Stir well and soak in this water for 15 minutes and pat your skin with a soft towel. (Do this once daily)

Another remedy using baking soda:

Prepare a thin paste of 2 teaspoons of baking soda and a little water.
Apply the paste on the affected areas and leave it on for about 10 minutes.
Rinse it off with cool water.

Note: Do not use this remedy more than once or twice a day. Never use baking soda on broken skin or open wounds.

4. Oatmeal

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Oatmeal contains anti-irritating, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties providing instant relief from itching–one of the common symptoms of chigger bites. It is recommended to use colloidal oatmeal, meaning oats which are ground into an extremely fine powder.

(You can accomplish this yourself by grinding regular oats in a sealed Ziploc bag, using the backside of a spoon to crush the oatmeal.)

Steps:

Add 1 cup of colloidal oatmeal to a bathtub filled with warm water
Stir thoroughly
Soak in this mixture for at least 15-20 minutes
Repeat 2-3 times a day

5. Olive Oil

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Olive oil can also be used to get relief from the irritation and inflammation. It is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants which reduce itching and facilitate healing.

Steps:

After rinsing the affected area with water, apply olive oil to the chigger bite.
Reapply several times a day.

Another option using olive oil:

Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and apply on the affected area.
Repeat a few times a day.

Tips to Avoid Chigger Bites and Chigger Bites Infection

As summer and fall are prime time for chigger bites, it is best to take the following precautions:

When hiking, stay in the center of the trail and avoid brushing up against vegetation.
Wear long sleeves and long pants when going into the woods.
Apply mosquito repellent on your hands, feet, and exposed skin on your arms before going outside.
Shower immediately after being outdoors and use antibacterial soap.
Wash your clothes in hot water.
Resist the urge to scratch because breaking the skin on chigger bites can lead to a possible infection.

This video from Online Pest Control will show you tips to avoid chiggers and ways to get rid of chiggers:

Chigger bites much like other insect bites aren't only discomforting, they can be dangerous too. Many of these insects including chiggers carry diseases in some cases.

The best way to deal with these bugs is to avoid them or control them with our tips here. But, if you're so unlucky, you also now know the best home remedies to chigger bites!

Have you had to deal with chigger bites before? Tell us how, including more useful tips which worked for you in the comments section below!

Up Next:

Go to our Survival Life Store to shop some of our favorites self-defense tools and gear!

***Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.***

Home Remedies For Chigger Bites | https://survivallife.com/5-home-remedies-for-chigger-bites/

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on June 28, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here

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9 Good Reasons To Carry A “Survival Stick”

Arm yourself with a survival stick, get savvy with it, but first, find out why as you read on!

In this article:

Survival Stick: An Underrated Multipurpose Tool?

The Survival Stick in History

A walking stick or a survival cane were popular in the 17th and 18th centuries as a decorative show of power and a defensive replacement for a sword. Yet, the truth is our ancestors have been using them for thousands of years, and for good reason…

…They work! Even the animal kingdom is smart enough to know just how useful these are:

(It may be hard to see, but this gorilla is holding a walking stick to gauge the depth of the water as she sloshes along)

A walking stick is not a new or revolutionary idea. In fact, the use of a walking stick predates history and its use continued on for generations including this present time.

Yet, it is one which is more often than not overlooked. When most people think of a walking stick, it is usually paired with a top hat or seen as a crutch for someone with a walking disability.

Far too few people even realize how important a walking stick can be, especially to someone in the outdoors. We will dig a little deeper into the many uses of a survival stick and maybe safely say, it could be the first multi-purpose survival tool.

Practical and Survival Uses for a Survival Stick

Walking sticks are also known as trekking poles, pilgrim's staffs, hiking poles and hiking staff have quite a few different uses:

1. Survival Hiking Stick

Hold the survival stick in front of you and you can use it to clear your way by parting brushes and branches or leaves and thick tall grasses. You can also use it to clear spiderwebs, especially if you're not too fond of spiders.

Other insects, animals, poisonous plants, and even animal dung can get in the way. Use a survival stick to inspect or poke at those things if you are unsure, and never ever your hands or your feet.

2. Survival Stick for Support

Hiker in Caucasus mountains is crossing mountain river | Good Reasons To Carry A "Survival Stick" | hiking staff
Making your way through an uneven terrain will be more manageable with a walking stick for support. Whether you're going up or down, use the walking stick to either slow you down or hold you up.

You can use your walking stick like breaks to keep you from speeding down or use it to latch on to a rock or crevice when you're climbing up. Besides for yourself, you can also use your multipurpose stick as a support for your tarp emergency shelter.

3. Fetching/Reaching Things

It happens–a supply or gear falling on water, mud, puddle or in an area you dare not walk into. You can fetch or reach for those items with a stick.

It also happens where you need an item over a physical barrier and only a stick can fetch the item for you. You can also reach for fruits, nest, or other food sources up a tree or high structure with a stick.

4. Walking Staff Weapon for Self-Defense

To use a survival stick as a weapon, make sure it's a sturdy stick with a finished look and not just any stick you found along the way. You can use it to defend yourself from an attacker whether it's human or animals.

I would suggest to train yourself in some form of martial arts using a stick like a baton as a weapon to have a better handle at it.

You can also fashion a spear with your stick by tying a survival knife on one end. Don't throw this spear though or you risk damaging or losing your knife and stick.

Hold on to your homemade spear and only use it to thrust at your target.

5. Balance

Hiker is crossing the river in Sweden | Hiker in Caucasus mountain | Good Reasons To Carry A "Survival Stick" | survival hiking stick When you're crossing a log bridge over a stream or you're going through the stream itself or other bodies of water, a walking stick can help you balance so you don't fall over. If you're walking through a muddy or rocky waterbed, a walking stick will help you up.

If you're up for it and if the body of water isn't too wide across, you can also use a long stick like a pole vault to cross over so you don't get yourself wet.

6. Gauging Depth

Relative to crossing bodies of water, a survival stick is handy in identifying dips beneath the waters which could cause you to stumble. You can also use the stick to identify where it's safe to take the next step.

You can also use this simple trick with the stick when you're traveling in deep snow, marshland, and even the dessert.

7. Carrying Gear and Supplies

Use your survival stick to help you carry gear and supplies. Pack your supplies with a shemagh, tie it tight to one end of your stick then place the stick over your shoulders in hobo fashion.

You can also carry more supplies with your survival stick. Even today, a carrying pole is used by indigenous people all over the world to carry heavy supplies you never thought possible.

Hang bags of supplies or jars of water on either side of the pole or stick, putting a stopper like a notch or tie on both ends so they don't fall off. Place the center of the stick over your shoulders and balance your load to your destination.

8. Club

Man carrying blue backpack | Good Reasons To Carry A "Survival Stick" | walking staff weapon
Use your survival stick like a club to knock obstacle down. A pillar of rocks or other objects may be on your way and a sturdy stick can help you safely knock those.

If you are in a building with glass doors or windows or inside a car, you can break the glass with a stick. Make to knock over pieces around your entrance or exit with the stick, too.

9. Fishing Rod

You only need to bring a fishing kit and your survival stick will make a good fishing rod. Tie a line on one end of your walking stick and fish away.

A DIY fishing pole is actually effective and many a fish has been caught this way.

As you guys and gals already know, I am a stickler for carrying things only if they have multiple uses. This guy managed to fit almost an entire survival kit into a walking stick he built from scratch, for under $20.00.

Check out this video from SOS 2054 I found, and find out for yourself, too:

A humble walking stick will indeed surprise you with what it can do for your defense, convenience, safety, and survival. Since you know now the practical and survival uses of this primitive multi-purpose tool, it won't surprise me if it lands a top spot on your list of survival tools for camping, hiking, or SHTF.

What other uses can you think of for carrying a “survival stick”? Let us know in the comments section below!

Up Next:

Go to our Survival Life Store to shop some of our favorites self-defense tools and gear!

**Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on October 11, 2013, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

This Article Was First Found at survivallife.com Read The Original Article Here