real test is going from point A to point B. It's one thing to test the bag camping, it's another to test it to see if it's practical hoofing it for 3 days~ I would've also cleared away the leaves & pine needles away from my fire space~ All I kept thinking was, "man, I hope that fire doesn't spread......" Good video~~~ It's always fun to camp out like that quasai under the stars~ Side note: looks like all the kit you used was the calorie bars, the magnesium, the life straw, & the spark set. I usually frown upon stagnant water, especially where deer are known to be lurking around. Filters will filter, very few will remove pathogens~ I would've boiled that water~
one of the things that stood out for me while watching, is that going out in teh woods is not neccesarily 'comfortable', more likely 'challenging' and probably 'uncomfortable'! People romatisize and dream about it. But when you have to rely on that option, when the SHTF, 99,9% of the people will have a really tough time. It gets easier after soem days, surely, but that is the rough part - to get through teh first 72 hours without panicing or damaging yourself (or loose valuable gear!) Thansk again!
I finally got got a chance to try my skills at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. ...and failed miserably. ..it was raining. ..everything was wet...and I could not make a fire. ..was cold and really need to practice all of this in real time......watching a video and actually doing shit, is completely different. ...especially if there is weather involved. ...but I have been doing a lot better at survival now...and testing out gear...it's hell out there. .lol
Great video. This is the first video I have seen where someone actually took their get home bag out into the wilderness and tested it. I am very pro TEST FROM HOME and I think you took this to the extreme. You not only tested your gear, but you tested the scenario as well. Thanks for that. I will be subscribing to your ch.
"COLD" is a relative term. In northern Indiana, January is not short sleeves and bare heads. It's hunkering down and hoping winter doesn't kill you. Nice video!
HarleyWood23 So true, Harley. I think a good "car bag" is a great idea and even true whether one goes into an isolated area or just going into town. One would be surprised over how little traffic there is in severe weather, even on well-traveled roads. You got me wondering what's under my truck seat. lol
I enjoyed this video. It just wasn't what I expected by the Title of testing out a get home bag. I was expecting so see someone actually "get home". It would be a test if say, you had your wife drive the truck home, and then you actually get home using the contents of the bag.
Of course. It's all relative to your location. The concept of being prepared should be the same though. Thanks for watching. Check out my Summer Fail test. th-cam.com/video/20FVA2Xshuw/w-d-xo.html
Way to put your kit to the test. Not too many people actually do this but now you know exactly what works for you and what you do and don't like. Recently walked about 20 miles with my GHB and was somewhat disappointed with the fit of the pack and the shoulder straps were not very comfortable. Anyways just subscribed and can't wait to see more from you.
Nice job! It is very refreshing to see the failures along with the successes. I appreciate your honesty, and the takeaways afterward. What could you have done differently that would make it better. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the video! I've watched this several times and consider it one of the best in the survival/prepping videos. Not many of us actually get out and test our systems overnight.
I don't understand why people are giving you a hard time for the weather where you are. Seems a bit self centered to me. People should prepare for where they live. This is where you live and you're preparing for it. Good on you.
Hello from Oklahoma! I know this is a three year old video. But, good stuff. After doing what you've done here a couple times, I now carry a 10 or 12 inch folding saw in both my trucks, along with a hatchet or "camp ax" as well as at least one knife, (fixed blade, full tang). Also each truck has its own get home bag with a 12 x 12 poly tarp. I made hobo pots from large peach cans. Stuff I was really needing. Hope others find this helpful. Everyone should really get out and do some testing of there kit. Thanks for the video. And God Bless!
Double D Thanks man. That’s good feedback. I did a recent update video and you’ll see I’ve adopted a few of the items you mention. Check it out: th-cam.com/video/0p37sQHedPg/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the video. I am putting my GHB together now and this helped a lot. If it rained the night before or the night you were out I guess you might have been real uncomfortable. Thanks again.
Good video. It's amazing the things you find in you vehicle. Shame you didn't find a Big Mac or some such. Good information good idea to try before needing. Thanks.
Hey next time you do this heat up some rocks around the fire and take them to bed with you. Rotate them out so you always have two. Also heat up some water in your water bottles and take them to bed as well. You will use your fire more efficiently. Just a suggestion
I took my son into the woods a few years back to show him the importance of being able to build a survival shelter. He learned real quick how much energy and time consuming it was to build a good shelter. It was around 40 degrees that day and snow storm was coming so it made the experience that much more real. I used only a small hatchet and saw. The saw was the Bahco Laplander which is a AWESOME foldable saw. I just picked up a ESEE 5 for my birthday a few weeks ago so that will perhaps be my next video.
I like your videos brother. This is exactly what I want to do. Always been camping with the misses and kid with dedicated "camping" bags and gear, but want to take my get home bag and give this a shot. Keep up the informative work!
#1 Defence against the weather is the clothing on your back. ''Dave Canterbury 101'' Up here in Yellowknife Canada you can get stuck out in some pretty desolate areas, there are literally millions of millions of hectares of boreal forest. And bears lots of bears, so I keep bear spray in our vehicle for 3 seasons.( We don't really do the gun thing, I think I only know 3 people that own a gun) But the government had built little cabins along the only highway in or out of Yellowknife for that very reason they even are equipped with little wood burning stoves.. Now the winters here will go down to -50 Celsius so I invested in some high quality mylar blankets and wool clothing as well. Best defence for weather like this will be a super shelter... But totally makes sense to test the gear especially in the winter! Great vid man thanks and cheers from Canada
good job Harley - showing things as they really are. I know, the videos are 2.5 years old, but it still has value for me. Saw both teh summer and winterchallenghe. WHen looking back now 2.5y later, what would you do different in both cases when you look back? Thansk brother.
great question. In summer, i would DEFINITELY set up camp closer to water. I would be in better physical shape (which i am now), and i would also have a redundant source for purifying water. I could have boiled it, but i was so physically exhausted at that point, i just gave up. It was a great learning experience. For Winter, i actually enjoyed that trip. Not sure what i would have done better, other than maybe took more time to prepare my shelter and firewood, instead of hunting for a meal. That first night was a little chilly and i barely had enough wood. Thanks for watching. Hopefully i'll redeem myself with another summer video in the next month or two.
thanks Harley - I learn so much from practical videos like this! The thing is, that the physical exhaustion from carying a pack, the nuisance of little critters (especially ticks), the challenge to find drinkable water, and the extreme difficulty to really find food in the woods when you need it, are really much much harder then people think. What I learned when I was building my shelter in teh forest and stayed out there a lot, is that I needed to refocus, calm down, and see what nature actually had available for me. I had to learn to look at my surroundings through the eyes of teh actual realistic space where I was, cuz there are things available. But it took some time to get that. Most peopel go in a location with their ideals and big plans, and not counting on things toi have their own dynamic. And that is hard and can be life-threatening... The positive sid eis, taht as soon as you do adjust to teh actual reality of a location their is abundance there and I felt really completely at peace and in harmony with that environment. ANd that truely is a gift... thansk again bro
Thanks for the video. I liked how you tried walking with your pack. At the end of the day that could be what you need to do ... Walk to a destination, and if your pack is to heavy..... !!!
One thing I must say is that clear all the leaves away from the fire as some who was affected in a bush fire and living somewhere where there are a lot of bush fires all ways be careful one item I would recommend is a broom head to clear leaves away.
Great idea for testing a set up! We all need proficiency more than extra gear. I will add, humbly, starting a fire without clearing out all of the flammable debris would be a dangerous set up in average conditions. In dry conditions it is extremely dangerous.
You did not clear the ground around your camp fire that's a fire hazard. In areas that freeze you need more insulation between you and the ground, 55 gallon contractors garbage bags you could scoop up the leaf litter and use them for a bed and wind walls emergency ponchos and so on.
great video, this video taught me that i need to carry some type of small 1-2 person fully enclosed quick tent designed for the snow or extreme weather and north face type sleeping bag also designed for the snow or extreme weather in my car, and only create a fire for food/water filtration etc, thanks for this video, good insight on the real world survival tips
Great share! How far is it to walk to your BOL? Have you hiked to it to see how long it will take you to get there? I agree with you, I think that some sort of sleep system would've been better for you, especially when it was that cold. At least you went out there for the night. Thanks for the share.
So this is more of a Get Home Bag than a BOB. I keep this in my truck to help me get home in case SHTF while I'm away from the house. I thought about hiking home from work, but it's 25 miles and I would go right through downtown Atlanta. There are a lot of logistical concerns with that...like not getting robbed. Lol. It would be a good video though.
HarleyWood23 That would be an awesome vid if you did one on getting home. Though, you do have to think realistically about the logistics of getting home or to your BOL if the crap were to hit the fan real hard and there was no transpo for you. You'd have to hoof it. For us it would be holy Crap, cause we are truck drivers and anywhere out side the state of Texas would really suck. We have bags in the truck for that just in case, and even for a winter break down, you never know. But, you should really try to have some kind of plan for getting home if you had no transportation. Still a good series. Thanks again.
Fantastic video dude! Once my GHB is complete, I want to try the same thing. Planning is good, but the proof is in the execution. Smart man for taking it to the test. And damn, that looks like my neck of the woods, Georgia. Sub'd and look forward to more vids!
Thanks man. It was a lot of fun, and a great learning experience. I'm gonna do another one soon, with a new sleep system and my new bag setup. Check out my revised bag here: Maxpedition Zafar vs. Falcon 2 :: Review
My only thoughts are One with the hammock which personally i dont think would be a bad idea specially if you put that space blanket on bottom to keep heat in and block wind then sleep in bivey, two you should try not to grab all stick and cut shit down( i know you didnt) near your camp cause its concealment and wind breaks, three i would recommend a good machete like a tops or even the sog jungle canopy for all wood processing (chopping,splitting) and use your little knife for fine work and four with you normally not carrying your rifle (this is just an idea) but keep a mag of cci shotshell for a pistol if you have one in your bag, you can kill small game and pick out pellets and good for snakes.
Awesome video! I'm just about to watch the summer one. Just a few tips I think that would help you out. When you fill your canteen, put a sock or bandana or something over the mouth to filer out the larger particles. Your life straw will last longer. Second if you build a self feeding fire, you won't have to get up to stoke the fire as often. I think the guy from hedgehog leatherworks does a video on the self feeding fire. Again awesome video. I want to get out and test my get home bag as well :)
Well done! And a fine idea to test your survival bag and record it. You probably learned a lot more with this experience than by watching all those pack content video. And by sharing your experience, you surely have helped a lot of us think of things we should add to our own bag (for exemple I didn't have an axe in my bag either!) So thank you!
Daytrix bars are good but kind of bland. What I like doing if that's the only source of sustenance is essentially make oatmeal like meal. Mash a couple of bars up on boiling water add a little honey (always have honey in my bags) and bam some decent hot moral food. Loved the video.
there's alot small farms in Midwest and you have to think about co opt . You hell grow good. Feed the lives stock, do chores, security what ever needs to be done and thats,how your going survive in long run because country folks will survive!
It's an "overnighter" in 30 degree weather. I'll take as much time as it takes to stay warm. The video also allowed me to test many of the items in my bag and identify items that I wish I had had. It's more than most people do with their get home bag TH-cam reviews. I'm not sure what you expected the video to cover, but thanks for watching
Like # 79. Man, i wish i had friends like this. i would love to get out and "play" in nature like that. Good tips, good advice, and great actually walking the prepper walk instead of the preppers that just talk the talk. Dude! Tell us more about those Fox Squirrels!!!! Those sound totally insane! Could you make a video hunting some??
Thanks for the support. Great idea about hunting those squirrels. I'm headed back out this week, to do a late spring overnighter. I'll spend some time hunting them.
Nice video. I'm in N.West Ga. I'll be testing my GHB pretty soon. My "worse case scenario" puts me about three days from home so I need to be damn sure everything works.
Hammocks are great in cold weather, you just have to put something under you like a wool blanket! There are other options as well, point is; hammocks are great all around, if you know how to use them.
Good video. How did the water taste from the straw? I have same straw. Haven't use it. Did you get sick later? Secondly, were you worried about causing a forest fire? Did you construct fire in a way to prevent that worry? Thanks
Captain Sunday water tasted great. didn't get sick at all, and that water had me worried. I probably should have cleared the ground a little better before lighting that fire, but everything turned out fine. Thanks for watching.
your weather and ours in sc is about the same, I keep paper towels in my trunk two rolls of t paper in zip lock bags and napkins lol , if you camp you know why, thanks for ur videos !
This video actually inspired me to make my own survival kit so when I get stranded I can reliy on my survival kit thanks bro u really did a good job bro I thank u u inspired me bro thanks 😃
you mention'd a axe, you might want to think about a camp axe or maybe a tomohawk. i've got a coldsteel rifleman hawk and after maybe 20 minutes of prepwork to the hawk you can use it to do some damage ! it would probably allow you to process alot more wood in a shorter amount of time not to mention using it for making your tent stakes and pounding them in
Most carry a get home bag in their vehicle but yet don't carry basic items to keep your vehicle running. Simple things like an extra belt, spare gas, fuses.
Great video with tons of information but where do you live that it's 30 at the lowest in January because in western PA it's heavenly to get that at midday in January xD. Still a great video with tons of useful information keep up the great work!
I have a question that may sound dumb to the advanced outdoorsman but I am learning. So my question is when you start a fire like you did when it is dry everywhere and so much dry needles etc.. On the ground how do you keep it from spreading like a wildfire or encroach on your shelter while you sleep? Thanks for your advice in advance
You are correct. I should have cleared the ground more. It didn't end up being an issue cause everything was just a little damp, but I shouldn't have taken the risk.
Thanks for the reply, I'm not smoky the bear 8) I just don't want to fall asleep and wake up to a worse situation lol. Would it be worth while to maybe surround a fire with small rocks to contain it or what's your recommendation? I am new to this and it's better late than never to learn
HarleyWood23 I like the video's where gear and ideas are actually put to the test. I especially envy anyone who can escape work and family long enough to conduct a proper test. Most of whats put up on YT is guys going thru a backpack on the kitchen table. I have done the Boundry waters in January and I was in the 205th Artic infantry lite division (reserve) for a few years. We slept in tents and pulled patrols at 40 below but, theirs always a saftey net with military training. If you showed signs of hypothermia or frostbite the medic and a warm tent was close by. I live in Minnesota so winter requires a little more gear. Just keeping a canteen from freezing solid can be a challenge. Keep doing the vids. I need to atleast see someone else getting into the woods if I can't get out myself.
Hmmm. Even with the life straw I probably wouldn't drink that water without boiling it. Had it been moving then maybe. I'm really forgetful and I would mess around and drink or wash with it without realizing it isn't clean lol
You should put some rocks around your fire they 1. Don't let your fire burn the forest when you fall asleep 2. When you fire goes out they radiate warmth for ages so you stay warm
Please clear the leaves and contain your fire! You are basically laying in a bed of tinder. If you want to make it easy, cut down a small branch off a sapling and use it as a makeshift broom. Pines work the best.
A hammock can do fine in the cold (even 60 degrees colder than where you were). It is likely even better than sleeping on the ground with just a thin fleece under you. Check out shugemery's youtube channel. You'll learn a lot about hammocks. I saw from your summer system that you have a hammock set up. Basically, you need insulation beneath you (in a hammock or otherwise). People will use sleeping pads and/or underquilts for this in a hammock. When you lay down on a sleeping bag you compress the material. Compressed material will not retain as much heat because it cannot trap as much air. An underquilt goes under your hammock and stays fully expanded for maximum loft and warmth because it isn't being compressed between your body and another surface.
Consider augmenting your GHB with stuff kept in the vehicle ON PURPOSE for survival. More cordage, plastic tarps, FOOD, fresh water, axe, machete, extra ammo. Oh, and an extra pack/carry bag or two for the extra stuff or if you have others with you.
great suggestions. Thank you. The extra pack is a fantastic idea...just in case the wife is with me, and not in her own vehicle. I didn't reveal everything that i keep in the truck at all times...if you know what i mean. Can't give away all my secrets.
lol: 30 degrees is not a cold night! Up here in the frozen tundra of the north woods it doesn't get cold until it's at least -10! Believe me, our winter reality is much different and just a wee bit more dangerous, meaning we take diferent steps to survive than you need to. Still, great video, I enjoyed it. Peace
+Dana Johnson Cold is here in Yellowknife -55 Celsius daytime highs, Jan and Feb are the coldest months of the year And winter is 7 months of the year. In June there's still ice on the lakes.... I took a arctic survival course it was for 4 days! And man oh man it was cold but learned so much.. Def taking it again next year! cheers man
In nearly every video I see the people (peepers) have everything they think they need but couldn't run 1/4 mile to evade danger. Or much less carry all there items for a long distance! 😂😂😂😂 Fitness people , fitness!
You literally collected firewood and sat in front of a mylar blanket for 8 hours. How was this a test of your bug out bag ? Ive done this dozens of times with far less than what you have in that bag and I consider it a good time.
In the natural woods not a campground you don't need a knife,saw,or axe to cut firewood you can gather different sizes and like you did with the bigger stuff just burn in half.
you don't need that big of a fire big fire means more wood and more work you could have had a small fire closer to your shelter rather than bigger and farther away plus always have so extra clothing in your bag to layer up at night
Ever tried this in -25-35C ? That's what I'd call cold in January. In Estonia I've tried it few times. It's fucking hard but it's refreshing. You should try that kind of survival :)
Thanks David. I have one in there actually. I just never got cold enough to break it out. You can see my bag contents here: My Get Home Bag Review :: Maxpedition Falcon II
Decent vid, you need more training on your fire skills. Granted you got the fire started with the potential to burn down the entire area. Clear the ground, use a foundation of sticks you'll be good. Also, watch a vid on feather sticks, not even close friend. Otherwise pretty good. There is a difference between preppers and bushcrafters. Bushcraft skills will let you survive if you're prepared.
1 to 3 days.... That's how long it will take the majority of us to walk home. This can be very complicated or very simple it's really up to you. Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain! No one gonna carry your shit for you! Guy's really think about what you NEED and what you don't! The simpler you keep it the better off you'll be all year round!
yep, this was filmed at my hunting property, just north of Macon. I live in Marietta, and my dad lives in Blairsville. Very familiar with North GA. Is that where you are?
yeah a BOB is in the case of something really bad happening the fire would not be optimal, it's like that girl in the hunger games that made a fire.... dead, the army taught me one thing when looking out for others trying to kill me never make a FIRE lol
Jason Gurganus Thousands of people have to leave their home without notice each year in the US (floods, fires, extreme weather). Hundreds of people get unexpectedly trapped overnight each year in the US (hikers, vehicle breakdowns). When was the last time anyone in the US needed to fear being shot if they started a fire and were seen by others? Be real man. Yeah, it's possible something could happen where not starting a fire and remaining hidden is ideal. But, here in the real world where people get stuck outside unexpectedly every month of the year having a fire for warmth and being seen is what saves people's lives.
if you anyone who reads this is getting an axe I would suggest a fiskers if that's how you spell that but this description based on personal experience is a little unfair because that has been the only axe I've ever had so take it with a grain of salt... it chops like a beast taking huge chunks of wood out with every swing the handle on my fiskers x11 is hollow so it's extremely head heavy and swinging it one handed is a little tiring the handle is comfortable but a little slick so some hockey tape would do you good so overall it preformed well but is also tiring to swing and the edge WILL roll or chip if you miss and hit pebbles or Grable that is in the dirt so carry a small whetstone or field sharpener and get a longer one then my x11 so that you can use it comfortably with two hands
Axe, hmmm, could take a nice length of saw blade, and make a bushcraft bow saw with it, and from there process all the wood you want. Also would be much lighter, and more efficient than an axe...
99.9% of the Jokers on TH-cam say what to do or how to do it but never do it. You did it. I like it man
real test is going from point A to point B. It's one thing to test the bag camping, it's another to test it to see if it's practical hoofing it for 3 days~ I would've also cleared away the leaves & pine needles away from my fire space~ All I kept thinking was, "man, I hope that fire doesn't spread......" Good video~~~ It's always fun to camp out like that quasai under the stars~ Side note: looks like all the kit you used was the calorie bars, the magnesium, the life straw, & the spark set. I usually frown upon stagnant water, especially where deer are known to be lurking around. Filters will filter, very few will remove pathogens~ I would've boiled that water~
It's called backpacking.
When you make a fire ALWAYS clear the brush away from your fire. You can burn the entire forest down! Good job testing your kit.
one of the things that stood out for me while watching, is that going out in teh woods is not neccesarily 'comfortable', more likely 'challenging' and probably 'uncomfortable'! People romatisize and dream about it. But when you have to rely on that option, when the SHTF, 99,9% of the people will have a really tough time. It gets easier after soem days, surely, but that is the rough part - to get through teh first 72 hours without panicing or damaging yourself (or loose valuable gear!) Thansk again!
I finally got got a chance to try my skills at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. ...and failed miserably. ..it was raining. ..everything was wet...and I could not make a fire. ..was cold and really need to practice all of this in real time......watching a video and actually doing shit, is completely different. ...especially if there is weather involved. ...but I have been doing a lot better at survival now...and testing out gear...it's hell out there. .lol
respect, man!!
Great video. This is the first video I have seen where someone actually took their get home bag out into the wilderness and tested it. I am very pro TEST FROM HOME and I think you took this to the extreme. You not only tested your gear, but you tested the scenario as well. Thanks for that. I will be subscribing to your ch.
Thanks Steven
"COLD" is a relative term. In northern Indiana, January is not short sleeves and bare heads. It's hunkering down and hoping winter doesn't kill you. Nice video!
Yeah. Good point. Everyone should prep for their own immediate environments. Lately I've been switching out my weather gear seasonally too.
HarleyWood23 So true, Harley. I think a good "car bag" is a great idea and even true whether one goes into an isolated area or just going into town. One would be surprised over how little traffic there is in severe weather, even on well-traveled roads. You got me wondering what's under my truck seat. lol
I enjoyed this video. It just wasn't what I expected by the Title of testing out a get home bag. I was expecting so see someone actually "get home". It would be a test if say, you had your wife drive the truck home, and then you actually get home using the contents of the bag.
winter camping in a t-shirt.... pretty sure we have different ideas of "winter"
Of course. It's all relative to your location. The concept of being prepared should be the same though. Thanks for watching. Check out my Summer Fail test. th-cam.com/video/20FVA2Xshuw/w-d-xo.html
Way to put your kit to the test. Not too many people actually do this but now you know exactly what works for you and what you do and don't like. Recently walked about 20 miles with my GHB and was somewhat disappointed with the fit of the pack and the shoulder straps were not very comfortable. Anyways just subscribed and can't wait to see more from you.
Nice job! It is very refreshing to see the failures along with the successes. I appreciate your honesty, and the takeaways afterward. What could you have done differently that would make it better. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the video! I've watched this several times and consider it one of the best in the survival/prepping videos. Not many of us actually get out and test our systems overnight.
I don't understand why people are giving you a hard time for the weather where you are. Seems a bit self centered to me. People should prepare for where they live. This is where you live and you're preparing for it. Good on you.
Hello from Oklahoma! I know this is a three year old video. But, good stuff. After doing what you've done here a couple times, I now carry a 10 or 12 inch folding saw in both my trucks, along with a hatchet or "camp ax" as well as at least one knife, (fixed blade, full tang). Also each truck has its own get home bag with a
12 x 12 poly tarp. I made hobo pots from large peach cans. Stuff I was really needing. Hope others find this helpful. Everyone should really get out and do some testing of there kit. Thanks for the video. And God Bless!
Double D
Thanks man. That’s good feedback. I did a recent update video and you’ll see I’ve adopted a few of the items you mention. Check it out: th-cam.com/video/0p37sQHedPg/w-d-xo.html
I think you did a good job,,,, trying your stuff out,, putting yourself in a scenario to see how it would go. You've done more than I have. Great job.
Thanks for this video. The biggest thing I can take away from this video is how much work will go into setting up your spot in SHTF/GH scenario.
Good point regarding trying out all the stuff under somewhat controlled conditions. Good vid.
Holy crap this is gonna be good. Will watch in full this week.
Forget the haters. At least you did it, man. 👍🏼
Thanks for the video. I am putting my GHB together now and this helped a lot. If it rained the night before or the night you were out I guess you might have been real uncomfortable. Thanks again.
Get yourself a MSS they are well worth the money and provide a good nights sleep even with no fire. Thanks for the great video!!
Good video. It's amazing the things you find in you vehicle. Shame you didn't find a Big Mac or some such. Good information good idea to try before needing. Thanks.
Hey next time you do this heat up some rocks around the fire and take them to bed with you. Rotate them out so you always have two. Also heat up some water in your water bottles and take them to bed as well. You will use your fire more efficiently. Just a suggestion
I took my son into the woods a few years back to show him the importance of being able to build a survival shelter. He learned real quick how much energy and time consuming it was to build a good shelter. It was around 40 degrees that day and snow storm was coming so it made the experience that much more real. I used only a small hatchet and saw. The saw was the Bahco Laplander which is a AWESOME foldable saw. I just picked up a ESEE 5 for my birthday a few weeks ago so that will perhaps be my next video.
I like your videos brother. This is exactly what I want to do. Always been camping with the misses and kid with dedicated "camping" bags and gear, but want to take my get home bag and give this a shot. Keep up the informative work!
Thanks man. I appreciate the support
#1 Defence against the weather is the clothing on your back. ''Dave Canterbury 101'' Up here in Yellowknife Canada you can get stuck out in some pretty desolate areas, there are literally millions of millions of hectares of boreal forest. And bears lots of bears, so I keep bear spray in our vehicle for 3 seasons.( We don't really do the gun thing, I think I only know 3 people that own a gun)
But the government had built little cabins along the only highway in or out of Yellowknife for that very reason they even are equipped with little wood burning stoves.. Now the winters here will go down to -50 Celsius so I invested in some high quality mylar blankets and wool clothing as well. Best defence for weather like this will be a super shelter... But totally makes sense to test the gear especially in the winter! Great vid man thanks and cheers from Canada
That has to be one of the most unsafe campfires I have ever seen...
good job Harley - showing things as they really are. I know, the videos are 2.5 years old, but it still has value for me. Saw both teh summer and winterchallenghe. WHen looking back now 2.5y later, what would you do different in both cases when you look back? Thansk brother.
great question. In summer, i would DEFINITELY set up camp closer to water. I would be in better physical shape (which i am now), and i would also have a redundant source for purifying water. I could have boiled it, but i was so physically exhausted at that point, i just gave up. It was a great learning experience.
For Winter, i actually enjoyed that trip. Not sure what i would have done better, other than maybe took more time to prepare my shelter and firewood, instead of hunting for a meal. That first night was a little chilly and i barely had enough wood.
Thanks for watching. Hopefully i'll redeem myself with another summer video in the next month or two.
thanks Harley - I learn so much from practical videos like this! The thing is, that the physical exhaustion from carying a pack, the nuisance of little critters (especially ticks), the challenge to find drinkable water, and the extreme difficulty to really find food in the woods when you need it, are really much much harder then people think. What I learned when I was building my shelter in teh forest and stayed out there a lot, is that I needed to refocus, calm down, and see what nature actually had available for me. I had to learn to look at my surroundings through the eyes of teh actual realistic space where I was, cuz there are things available. But it took some time to get that. Most peopel go in a location with their ideals and big plans, and not counting on things toi have their own dynamic. And that is hard and can be life-threatening...
The positive sid eis, taht as soon as you do adjust to teh actual reality of a location their is abundance there and I felt really completely at peace and in harmony with that environment. ANd that truely is a gift... thansk again bro
Thanks for the video. I liked how you tried walking with your pack. At the end of the day that could be what you need to do ... Walk to a destination, and if your pack is to heavy..... !!!
One thing I must say is that clear all the leaves away from the fire as some who was affected in a bush fire and living somewhere where there are a lot of bush fires all ways be careful one item I would recommend is a broom head to clear leaves away.
Really enjoyed some of the comments on this one!!! Great video man!
Kudos to you for trying out the bag, a real learning experience.
Mary Cahill
Thanks Mary. I did a very tough summer version too. Video here: th-cam.com/video/20FVA2Xshuw/w-d-xo.html
Excellent video and a great look into what you experienced. Stay safe out there. Scott
Thanks man
Great idea for testing a set up! We all need proficiency more than extra gear. I will add, humbly, starting a fire without clearing out all of the flammable debris would be a dangerous set up in average conditions. In dry conditions it is extremely dangerous.
You did not clear the ground around your camp fire that's a fire hazard. In areas that freeze you need more insulation between you and the ground, 55 gallon contractors garbage bags you could scoop up the leaf litter and use them for a bed and wind walls emergency ponchos and so on.
love your video bud, so informative and your a good talker, i subscribed to your channel...keep it up.
I quickly learned to carry bright cordage with me recently after running a few test lol, great video btw
great video, this video taught me that i need to carry some type of small 1-2 person fully enclosed quick tent designed for the snow or extreme weather and north face type sleeping bag also designed for the snow or extreme weather in my car, and only create a fire for food/water filtration etc, thanks for this video, good insight on the real world survival tips
Great share! How far is it to walk to your BOL? Have you hiked to it to see how long it will take you to get there? I agree with you, I think that some sort of sleep system would've been better for you, especially when it was that cold. At least you went out there for the night. Thanks for the share.
So this is more of a Get Home Bag than a BOB. I keep this in my truck to help me get home in case SHTF while I'm away from the house.
I thought about hiking home from work, but it's 25 miles and I would go right through downtown Atlanta. There are a lot of logistical concerns with that...like not getting robbed. Lol. It would be a good video though.
HarleyWood23 That would be an awesome vid if you did one on getting home. Though, you do have to think realistically about the logistics of getting home or to your BOL if the crap were to hit the fan real hard and there was no transpo for you. You'd have to hoof it. For us it would be holy Crap, cause we are truck drivers and anywhere out side the state of Texas would really suck. We have bags in the truck for that just in case, and even for a winter break down, you never know. But, you should really try to have some kind of plan for getting home if you had no transportation. Still a good series. Thanks again.
Fantastic video dude! Once my GHB is complete, I want to try the same thing. Planning is good, but the proof is in the execution. Smart man for taking it to the test. And damn, that looks like my neck of the woods, Georgia. Sub'd and look forward to more vids!
Thanks man. It was a lot of fun, and a great learning experience. I'm gonna do another one soon, with a new sleep system and my new bag setup. Check out my revised bag here: Maxpedition Zafar vs. Falcon 2 :: Review
nice video! it's fun to watch people actually testing their kits vs just talking about them!
thanks man. i did a summer one also...that didn't go so smoothly. Check it out: th-cam.com/video/20FVA2Xshuw/w-d-xo.html
HarleyWood23 hah as you said this is was watching the summer video those bugs!
My only thoughts are One with the hammock which personally i dont think would be a bad idea specially if you put that space blanket on bottom to keep heat in and block wind then sleep in bivey, two you should try not to grab all stick and cut shit down( i know you didnt) near your camp cause its concealment and wind breaks, three i would recommend a good machete like a tops or even the sog jungle canopy for all wood processing (chopping,splitting) and use your little knife for fine work and four with you normally not carrying your rifle (this is just an idea) but keep a mag of cci shotshell for a pistol if you have one in your bag, you can kill small game and pick out pellets and good for snakes.
Awesome video! I'm just about to watch the summer one. Just a few tips I think that would help you out. When you fill your canteen, put a sock or bandana or something over the mouth to filer out the larger particles. Your life straw will last longer. Second if you build a self feeding fire, you won't have to get up to stoke the fire as often. I think the guy from hedgehog leatherworks does a video on the self feeding fire. Again awesome video. I want to get out and test my get home bag as well :)
Thanks man. Yeah, i should probably add a handkerchief to my bag.
Well done! And a fine idea to test your survival bag and record it. You probably learned a lot more with this experience than by watching all those pack content video. And by sharing your experience, you surely have helped a lot of us think of things we should add to our own bag (for exemple I didn't have an axe in my bag either!) So thank you!
When it comes to collecting wood and you think you've enough for the whole night, double it.
Daytrix bars are good but kind of bland. What I like doing if that's the only source of sustenance is essentially make oatmeal like meal. Mash a couple of bars up on boiling water add a little honey (always have honey in my bags) and bam some decent hot moral food.
Loved the video.
there's alot small farms in Midwest and you have to think about co opt . You hell grow good. Feed the lives stock, do chores, security what ever needs to be done and thats,how your going survive in long run because country folks will survive!
You want to test your ghb but you're spending hours getting fire wood and sitting up your camp, how many weeks do you want it to tae you to get home
It's an "overnighter" in 30 degree weather. I'll take as much time as it takes to stay warm. The video also allowed me to test many of the items in my bag and identify items that I wish I had had. It's more than most people do with their get home bag TH-cam reviews. I'm not sure what you expected the video to cover, but thanks for watching
Like # 79.
Man, i wish i had friends like this. i would love to get out and "play" in nature like that.
Good tips, good advice, and great actually walking the prepper walk instead of the preppers that just talk the talk.
Dude! Tell us more about those Fox Squirrels!!!! Those sound totally insane! Could you make a video hunting some??
Thanks for the support. Great idea about hunting those squirrels. I'm headed back out this week, to do a late spring overnighter. I'll spend some time hunting them.
Look at your pile of wood and when you think you have enough double it.
Nice video. I'm in N.West Ga. I'll be testing my GHB pretty soon. My "worse case scenario" puts me about three days from home so I need to be damn sure everything works.
my things work
+Logan Walker who cares?
Hammocks are great in cold weather, you just have to put something under you like a wool blanket! There are other options as well, point is; hammocks are great all around, if you know how to use them.
Good video. How did the water taste from the straw? I have same straw. Haven't use it. Did you get sick later? Secondly, were you worried about causing a forest fire? Did you construct fire in a way to prevent that worry? Thanks
Captain Sunday water tasted great. didn't get sick at all, and that water had me worried. I probably should have cleared the ground a little better before lighting that fire, but everything turned out fine. Thanks for watching.
Brian, awesome video man! I've wanted to do something like that for a while!
Thanks man. It was definitely a learning experience.
You have a lot of ground litter around your fire. Trying to burn down a forest?
Processed = step on stick. I love it entertaining~!
lol 30 degrees in winter. try this here in Wisconsin, 30 degrees is a heat wave. great video thanks for posting
Ha. I'm sure. It's call relative though, and I am sure I would need a much bigger bag if I was preparing for an area like yours.
HarleyWood23
ya my bugout bags involve a lot of blankets lol
your weather and ours in sc is about the same, I keep paper towels in my trunk two rolls of t paper in zip lock bags and napkins lol , if you camp you know why, thanks for ur videos !
ha. good point. I have wet-naps, but not the ziplocks. Good idea.
This video actually inspired me to make my own survival kit so when I get stranded I can reliy on my survival kit thanks bro u really did a good job bro I thank u u inspired me bro thanks 😃
you mention'd a axe, you might want to think about a camp axe or maybe a tomohawk. i've got a coldsteel rifleman hawk and after maybe 20 minutes of prepwork to the hawk you can use it to do some damage ! it would probably allow you to process alot more wood in a shorter amount of time not to mention using it for making your tent stakes and pounding them in
Yeah. I bought the Zippo Woodsman. Check out my review of that. Wasn't impressed. I know carry a knife that I can use to baton/split wood.
Most carry a get home bag in their vehicle but yet don't carry basic items to keep your vehicle running. Simple things like an extra belt, spare gas, fuses.
Great video with tons of information but where do you live that it's 30 at the lowest in January because in western PA it's heavenly to get that at midday in January xD. Still a great video with tons of useful information keep up the great work!
Thanks man. I live in Georgia. It gets down to single digits here, but not often. 30 degrees is pretty typical for our winter.
30 degrees ?! That's NOTHING i live in Ireland and it's fuckin FREEZING in January (daytime or night time)
Damo 007
it's all relative man. you prepare for your reality and i'll prepare for mine.
I like the Mainstay emergency ration bars better. Just a personal taste. if you haven't tried them.
I recommend those MainStay 3600 bars as well. :) I also have Survival Tabs.
I have a question that may sound dumb to the advanced outdoorsman but I am learning. So my question is when you start a fire like you did when it is dry everywhere and so much dry needles etc.. On the ground how do you keep it from spreading like a wildfire or encroach on your shelter while you sleep? Thanks for your advice in advance
You are correct. I should have cleared the ground more. It didn't end up being an issue cause everything was just a little damp, but I shouldn't have taken the risk.
Thanks for the reply, I'm not smoky the bear 8) I just don't want to fall asleep and wake up to a worse situation lol. Would it be worth while to maybe surround a fire with small rocks to contain it or what's your recommendation? I am new to this and it's better late than never to learn
My 7 year old learned some thangs.. Thanks!
things*
also idf you were to put the back of the tarp further out it would warm if more efficently, trap the air almost
If its January and you're wearing a T shirt you are already off to a good start.
i had thermals underneath, but you're right, our winters in GA aren't that bad. It's all relative to your geographic location.
HarleyWood23 I like the video's where gear and ideas are actually put to the test. I especially envy anyone who can escape work and family long enough to conduct a proper test. Most of whats put up on YT is guys going thru a backpack on the kitchen table.
I have done the Boundry waters in January and I was in the 205th Artic infantry lite division (reserve) for a few years. We slept in tents and pulled patrols at 40 below but, theirs always a saftey net with military training. If you showed signs of hypothermia or frostbite the medic and a warm tent was close by. I live in Minnesota so winter requires a little more gear. Just keeping a canteen from freezing solid can be a challenge. Keep doing the vids. I need to atleast see someone else getting into the woods if I can't get out myself.
Hmmm. Even with the life straw I probably wouldn't drink that water without boiling it. Had it been moving then maybe. I'm really forgetful and I would mess around and drink or wash with it without realizing it isn't clean lol
You should put some rocks around your fire they
1. Don't let your fire burn the forest when you fall asleep
2. When you fire goes out they radiate warmth for ages so you stay warm
You're totally correct.
+HarleyWood23 i see about 3 to 5 car brake down each day driving to work 25 miles
Please clear the leaves and contain your fire! You are basically laying in a bed of tinder. If you want to make it easy, cut down a small branch off a sapling and use it as a makeshift broom. Pines work the best.
You Mentioned the Preppers Vault. Where do you live? I am in Kennesaw GA
man i was waiting for the snow . lol am from wisconsin come here for a 3 day winter camp ?? i go mid winter when its nice and cold
A hammock can do fine in the cold (even 60 degrees colder than where you were). It is likely even better than sleeping on the ground with just a thin fleece under you.
Check out shugemery's youtube channel. You'll learn a lot about hammocks. I saw from your summer system that you have a hammock set up.
Basically, you need insulation beneath you (in a hammock or otherwise). People will use sleeping pads and/or underquilts for this in a hammock. When you lay down on a sleeping bag you compress the material. Compressed material will not retain as much heat because it cannot trap as much air. An underquilt goes under your hammock and stays fully expanded for maximum loft and warmth because it isn't being compressed between your body and another surface.
+zero11010 Shug is awesome and like me hes from minnesota so he knows cold.
I have a three day assault, kit from the army but I made it for me for my birthday that was just a few minutes ago
Consider augmenting your GHB with stuff kept in the vehicle ON PURPOSE for survival. More cordage, plastic tarps, FOOD, fresh water, axe, machete, extra ammo. Oh, and an extra pack/carry bag or two for the extra stuff or if you have others with you.
great suggestions. Thank you. The extra pack is a fantastic idea...just in case the wife is with me, and not in her own vehicle.
I didn't reveal everything that i keep in the truck at all times...if you know what i mean. Can't give away all my secrets.
I'm surprised he didn't burn down while he was asleep, he didn't clear any of the pine needles away from his shelter.
Your out testing great job. I'm doing the same.
lol: 30 degrees is not a cold night! Up here in the frozen tundra of the north woods it doesn't get cold until it's at least -10! Believe me, our winter reality is much different and just a wee bit more dangerous, meaning we take diferent steps to survive than you need to. Still, great video, I enjoyed it. Peace
Thanks man. It's all relative. I prepare for where I live. We can hit the single digits, but I can't imagine negative temps. Thanks for watching.
+Dana Johnson Cold is here in Yellowknife -55 Celsius daytime highs, Jan and Feb are the coldest months of the year And winter is 7 months of the year. In June there's still ice on the lakes.... I took a arctic survival course it was for 4 days! And man oh man it was cold but learned so much.. Def taking it again next year! cheers man
In nearly every video I see the people (peepers) have everything they think they need but couldn't run 1/4 mile to evade danger. Or much less carry all there items for a long distance! 😂😂😂😂 Fitness people , fitness!
Good video, how many hours would you say it took you to set up camp?
Thats a really good time, takes me about that deciding which end i want my head!! Dont forget to do a tree test by kicking a few ^^
Including gathering fire wood, about 90 minutes. Just the camp part was only about 30.
You literally collected firewood and sat in front of a mylar blanket for 8 hours. How was this a test of your bug out bag ? Ive done this dozens of times with far less than what you have in that bag and I consider it a good time.
Lol I live in Nevada and yes it was here in Nevada ,reno
That was a good video Sir. wondering if you were in Texas?
Thanks. No. I'm in Georgia.
Good video, thanks for sharing.
In the natural woods not a campground you don't need a knife,saw,or axe to cut firewood you can gather different sizes and like you did with the bigger stuff just burn in half.
Funny, Not really gear for winter. Good learning experience. Next time try, it in the rain.
True, but the video was not really about winter gear. It was about testing my GHB during winter.
I would bury some rocks from the camp fire and sleep on top of the warm ground, I tested it and it works.
Good learning experience!
you don't need that big of a fire big fire means more wood and more work you could have had a small fire closer to your shelter rather than bigger and farther away plus always have so extra clothing in your bag to layer up at night
Smaller fires means adding more at night. A long fire would of been fine with less processing of the fuel. Calorie game.
Ever tried this in -25-35C ? That's what I'd call cold in January. In Estonia I've tried it few times. It's fucking hard but it's refreshing. You should try that kind of survival :)
+LeDobermann88 yeah, i bet. We got down to -13C last year. Definitely not a night to be in the woods. Thanks for watching.
Great demo !!!!!!!
Good video check out the sol escape bivy
Thanks David. I have one in there actually. I just never got cold enough to break it out. You can see my bag contents here: My Get Home Bag Review :: Maxpedition Falcon II
Decent vid, you need more training on your fire skills. Granted you got the fire started with the potential to burn down the entire area. Clear the ground, use a foundation of sticks you'll be good. Also, watch a vid on feather sticks, not even close friend. Otherwise pretty good. There is a difference between preppers and bushcrafters. Bushcraft skills will let you survive if you're prepared.
1 to 3 days.... That's how long it will take the majority of us to walk home. This can be very complicated or very simple it's really up to you.
Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain! No one gonna carry your shit for you! Guy's really think about what you NEED and what you don't! The simpler you keep it the better off you'll be all year round!
Dude where did you get the replacement G10 for that 0200? Ive been looking to replace mine.
It's actually at 0350. It was a special edition that ZT made with the brown scales. Check out my video on it. th-cam.com/video/twJXlPeWyIM/w-d-xo.html
Good job bro but keep that AR closer.
where do you live! i want my middle of january to be like that!
Georgia
Was gonna say - looks like middle to south GA. Flat and lots of pines. You ever get up to north GA?
yep, this was filmed at my hunting property, just north of Macon. I live in Marietta, and my dad lives in Blairsville. Very familiar with North GA. Is that where you are?
+HarleyWood23 I'm in Cherokee county on the Little River. Stumbled across your video and realized u know what u are doing.
yeah a BOB is in the case of something really bad happening the fire would not be optimal, it's like that girl in the hunger games that made a fire.... dead, the army taught me one thing when looking out for others trying to kill me never make a FIRE lol
Jason Gurganus Thousands of people have to leave their home without notice each year in the US (floods, fires, extreme weather). Hundreds of people get unexpectedly trapped overnight each year in the US (hikers, vehicle breakdowns). When was the last time anyone in the US needed to fear being shot if they started a fire and were seen by others?
Be real man. Yeah, it's possible something could happen where not starting a fire and remaining hidden is ideal. But, here in the real world where people get stuck outside unexpectedly every month of the year having a fire for warmth and being seen is what saves people's lives.
Hello mate , good video thanks for sharing , atb Martin
if you anyone who reads this is getting an axe I would suggest a fiskers if that's how you spell that
but this description based on personal experience is a little unfair because that has been the only axe I've ever had so take it with a grain of salt...
it chops like a beast taking huge chunks of wood out with every swing
the handle on my fiskers x11 is hollow so it's extremely head heavy and swinging it one handed is a little tiring
the handle is comfortable but a little slick so some hockey tape would do you good
so overall it preformed well but is also tiring to swing and the edge WILL roll or chip if you miss and hit pebbles or Grable that is in the dirt so carry a small whetstone or field sharpener and get a longer one then my x11 so that you can use it comfortably with two hands
Axe, hmmm, could take a nice length of saw blade, and make a bushcraft bow saw with it, and from there process all the wood you want. Also would be much lighter, and more efficient than an axe...