Blog - Tactical & Military Surplus Gear

Rope Systems and Mechanical Advantage in the Field: Anchors, Z-Drag Hauls, and Raising/Lowering Loads Safely

Mechanical Advantage Starts With a Real Problem: Moving Loads Without Breaking People or Gear Why mechanical advantage matters more than muscle If you’ve ever tried to drag a stuck vehicle, haul a heavy pack up a bank, or raise a litter over a ledge, you already know the problem: the

Low-Tech Early Warning Perimeters for Camps: Trip Lines, Noise Makers, and Sector Assignments (Without Electronics)

Why Low-Tech Early Warning Perimeters Still Matter A camp perimeter is less about “defending” and more about buying time. In the field, time is what lets you wake up, get oriented, and make smart decisions instead of panicked ones. Low-tech systems do that quietly and reliably, without batteries, signal, or

Shelter Site Selection and Camp Layout: Wind, Drainage, Widowmakers, and Defensive Positioning

Reading Terrain Like a Platoon Sergeant: Macro Site Selection Choosing a site isn’t just about finding something flat. It’s about predicting what the ground and weather will do while you’re asleep, tired, and not paying attention. In the field, we used a simple mindset: pick a position that still works

How to Make Strong Cordage in the Field: Natural Fibers, Braids, and Strength-Testing for Real Loads

Why Strong Cordage Matters When the Load Is Real Cordage is a tool, not a craft project If you’ve spent time in the field, you already know cordage is never “just” cordage. It’s a structural component that turns sticks into a shelter, a tarp into a weatherproof system, and loose

Route Planning and Risk Assessment with Topo Maps: Terrain Traps, Handrails, Bailout Routes, and Turnaround Rules

Reading Topo Maps Like a Planner, Not a Tourist Before you ever pick a route line, commit to this mindset: most backcountry problems aren’t pure navigation mistakes. They’re judgment mistakes under pressure-fading daylight, weather rolling in, fatigue, and that quiet urge to push a little farther. In the military, we

Lightning Safety in the Wilderness: Terrain Choices, Group Spacing, Shelter Myths, and What to Do After a Strike

How Lightning Really Injures People Outdoors Lightning safety in the wilderness is mostly about decisions you make before the first rumble. Once a storm is overhead, you’re reacting with limited options, limited time, and often limited communication. The good news is that lightning risk isn’t random. It concentrates around terrain

Wilderness Water Storage and Transport: Keeping Water Clean, Preventing Freezing, and Avoiding Container Contamination

Why Wilderness Water Storage and Transport Fails in Real Life Water problems in the backcountry usually do not come from a lack of gear. They come from small process mistakes that compound over hours and days. You can do a perfect filter or chemical treatment at the creek and still

Primitive Trapping Systems for Survival: Deadfalls, Snares, and Placement Strategy (With Safety and Ethical Guidelines)

When Traps Become a Survival Liability (And How to Prevent It) The real problem: wasted energy and false confidence Primitive trapping is often taught like a shortcut to food. In practice, it can become a time sink that drains calories faster than it provides them. If you build complicated sets

Backcountry Cooking Without Cookware: Stone Boiling, Spit Roasting, and Earth-Oven Methods

When Cooking Without Cookware Actually Makes Sense Cooking without cookware is less about proving you can and more about solving a real backcountry problem. Maybe your pot got crushed, you forgot stove fuel, or you’re trying to cut weight and still want hot food. The key is understanding that “no

Food Preservation Without Modern Gear: Smoking, Drying, and Rendering Fat for Multi-Day Survival

Start With the Real Goal: Slow Spoilage, Protect Calories, Avoid Illness Multi-day survival food preservation isn’t about making gourmet jerky. It’s about buying time by removing what microbes need most: moisture, warmth, and easy access to nutrients. Smoking and drying reduce available water, while rendering turns perishable fatty tissue into