Hot Disaster Preparation Posts
How To: Tie the Sailor's Knot
The Sailor's Knot: learn knot tying. The Sailor's Knot is also called The Anchor Bend, Carrick Bend and Full Carrick Bend. It's easy to tie, does not slip easily in the wet, and is among the strongest of knots - it can't jam and is readily untied. Tie the Sailor's Knot.
How To: Tie the general Clove Hitch knot
The Clove Hitch Knot: Learn knot tying. Although not a very secure hitch, the Clove Hitch knot is quick to tie and easy to adjust - ideal for securing fenders and the like. Use this knot tying animation to learn how to tie the Clove Hitch knot. Tie the general Clove Hitch knot.
How To: Tie the Sheet Bend Knot & Double Sheet Bend Knot
Sheet Bend Knot: Learn knot tying. Other titles for the sheet bend knot include, The Bend, Simple Bend, Ordinary Bend and Common Bend. The sheet bend knot is a quick way of jointing two ropes. The Double Sheet Bend on the right, is no stronger than the single, but is more secure. Tie the Sheet Bend Knot & Double Sheet Bend Knot.
How To: Tie the Anchor Hitch or Fisherman's Bend knot
The Anchor Hitch or Fishermans Bend Knot: Learn knot tying. The Anchor Hitch or Fishermans Bend knot is related to the round turn & and two half hitches, but is more secure. Typical use for this knot: attaching a rope to a ring, eg. on an anchor. Tie the Anchor Hitch or Fisherman's Bend knot.
How To: Tie the Sailor's Short Splice knot
The Sailor's Short Splice Knot: Learn knot tying. Watch this knot tying animation to learn how to tie the Sailor's Short Splice knot. This knot is an ideal way of jointing ropes. Tie the Sailor's Short Splice knot.
How To: Tie the Sailor's Eye Splice knot
The Sailor's Eye Splice: Learn knot tying.
How To: Tie the sheet bend Boy Scouts knot
Watch this knot tying animation to learn how to tie a sheet bend knot for your boy scouts requirements. Use a sheet bend to tie together two lengths of rope of dissimilar weights. The sheet bend knot will come in handy, so pay attention. Tie the sheet bend Boy Scouts knot.
How To: Tie the trucker's hitch Boy Scouts knot
Learn how to tie the Boy Scouts trucker's hitch knot. The Trucker's Hitch (Lorry Knot in the UK and parts of Canada) allows the scout (or sailor or whatever) to easily tighten a rope, yet easily untie the knot. Its most common use is for tying loads (thus the trucker moniker) such as a canoe to a cartop, a tarp to trailer or any application where a very tight rope is needed. It provides the advantages of a block and tackle, without the heavy hardware.
How To: Tie the bowline Boy Scouts knot
Learn how to tie the Boy Scouts knot the bowline. The bowline knot is used to make a non-slip loop in the end of a rope. While it is used for climbing and rescues, a Figure-8 Loop Knot often is best in those situations. Remember to end the knot with the tag end of the rope inside the loop. And thanks to those scouters and boaters who helped remind me of this point. Tie the bowline Boy Scouts knot.
How To: Tie the sheep shank Boy Scouts knot
Learn how to tie the sheep shank Boy Scouts knot. A sheep shank knot has two uses. First, you may use it to shorten a rope and maintain its strength for pulling. Its most useful purpose, however, is in situation when you cannot retrieve your rope. When lowering yourself over a rock (with no intention of returning up the face) how are you going to retrieve the rope that it tied to a rock or tree at the top? Tie a sheep shank knot close to the top end of the rope. Maintain tension on the rope a...
How To: Tie the tautline hitch Boy Scouts knot
Learn how to tie this Boy Scouts knot. The tautline knot builds a loop that will easily get bigger - by sliding the knot up the rope toward the free end. But, when pressure is applied to the loop, it will not get smaller. Its most common use in Boy Scouts is on the ropes that attach a tent to tent stakes in the ground. The loose end is attached to the tent. The loop goes around the stake and the knot slides by hand to tighten or loosen the rope. But the tautline hitch knot will not slide by i...
How To: Tie a Sliding Splice Knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the sliding splice knot.This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Sliding Splice Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie a Sliding Splice Knot with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie a Turk's Head (Woggle) decorative knot
Learn how to tie the Turk's Head Woggle Knot. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Turk's Head Woggle Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie a Turk's Head (Woggle) decorative knot.
How To: Tie the Monkey's Fist knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Monkey's Fist Knot! This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Monkey's Fist Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie the Monkey's Fist knot with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie a Matthew Walker knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Matthew Walker knot! This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Matthew Walker Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie a Matthew Walker knot with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie the Crown Sinnet knot with a knot tying animation
Learn how to tie the Crown Sinnet Knot. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Crown Sinnet Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie the Crown Sinnet knot with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie the Chain Sinnet, Chain Stitch, or Monkey Braid
Learn how to tie the Chain Sinnet Knot. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Chain Sinnet, Chain Stitch, or Monkey Braid Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie the Chain Sinnet, Chain Stitch, or Monkey Braid.
How To: Tie a Timber Hitch (Lumberman's or Countryman's Knot)
Learn how to tie the Timber Hitch (Lumberman's or Countryman's Knot). This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Timber Hitch (Lumberman's or Countryman's Knot) fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Tie a Timber Hitch (Lumberman's or Countryman's Knot).
How To: Tie the Boy Scout Sheep Shank knot
Learn how to tie the Sheep Shank Knot. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Sheep Shank Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your Boy Scout requirements. Tie the Boy Scout Sheep Shank knot.
How To: Tie a tensionless hitch with a knot tying animation
Watch this knot tying animation (fast or slow) to learn how to tie the tensionless hitch. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the tensionless hitch Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie a tensionless hitch with a knot tying animation.
How To: Tie a hasty webbing harness for search & rescue
Handy technique for search & rescue, learn how to tie a hasty webbing harness with this knot tying animation. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Hasty Webbing Harness Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie a hasty webbing harness for search & rescue.
How To: Tie the Sailmaker's Whipping Knot
Learn how to tie the Sailmaker's Whipping Knot. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Sailmaker's Whipping Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie the Sailmaker's Whipping Knot.
How To: Tie the West Country Whipping Knot
Learn how to tie the West Country Whipping Knot! This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the West Country Whipping Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Tie the West Country Whipping Knot.
How To: Coil an unnattached rope
Learn how to coil an unnattached rope. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can coil an unattached rope fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip. Coil an unnattached rope.
How To: Survive a bear attack
Learn how to deal with a black bear or grizzly encounter with Shannon Davis and Ted the Bear. Black bears are distinguished from brown bears by lack of a prominent shoulder hump; a Roman profile or sloping nose and forehead instead of a dished forehead; and shorter, thicker claws for climbing versus longer, more slender claws for digging. Although brown bears are generally bigger, size is not a dependable indicator. Also, fetal position is often recommended as opposed to lying prone as shown.
How To: Tie a 6 Lead by 7 Bight Knot on the Turks Head Tool
These short videos show how to tie a 6 Lead by 7 Bight Turks Head on the Turks Head Tool. These videos introduce the Turks Head Tool, the Turks Head Cookbook recipe format, and some basic methods that may be used to tie Turks head knots.
How To: Fight off a vampire
You never know when you'll have to defend yourself against one of these bloodsuckers, so be prepared to bring a vampire to his knees. While you may not believe in vampires, there are those that do. In any case, prepare now for a hypothetical attack from the un-dead and you won't have to kick yourself later. You will need garlic, a cross, rice, grain, or seeds, holy water, a wooden stake, an axe, matches, and some water. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to fight off a ...
How To: Tie the adjustable bend knot
The Adjustable Bend, demonstrated in this how-to video, was invented by the Canadian climber Robert Chisnall sometime before 1982. More accurately a coupling of two identical knots, the bend is a great way of lengthening or shortening two rope ends tied together. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to tie the adjustable bend knot.
How To: Tie compound double coin knots
This how-to video shows the basic technique for compounding Double Coin Knots. This video a starting point for learning complex compound knots and the techniques used to create them. Follow along with the step-by-step instructions in this video survival training tutorial and learn how to tie compound double coin knots.
How To: Start a first aid kit
A well stocked first aid kit is a good tool to have at home at any time, and it will help you be better prepared in the event of an emergency. It's also a good idea to have a kit with you while hiking, biking, camping or boating. While kits can be bought preassembled, you can also build your own. For more information on keeping and creating your own first aid kit, take a look. Start a first aid kit.
How To: Avoid insect bites while hiking
Insects can be a big nuisance while you are hiking. Different parts of the country and different parts of the world have different kinds of stinging, nasty, biting insects. Preventing insect bites is easy with these tips. Get advice on backpacking, hiking, and the great outdoors in this how-to video.
How To: Make matches waterproof
Matches aren't going to do you any good once they get wet. Even in plastic, water can leak and ruin regular matches. Waterproof your matches, like in this how-to video. Then when you're camping our in the great outdoors, you won't be caught without a way to make a fire. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to convert regular matches into waterproof ones.
How To: Start a fire with a magnifying glass
Follow along with the steps in this how-to video and find out how a magnifying glass can be used to start a fire.
How To: Make char cloth
Char cloth is just a piece of cotton that's been burned. It's a great way to easily start a fire. Check out this survival training how-to video and learn how to make char cloth.
How To: Treat poison ivy, oak, and sumac with jewel weed
Jewel weed is found in swamps lakes and wet places. This how-to video demonstrates using the jewel weed stems on the infected area until the bumps or blisters break open. Jewel weed has a chemical that neutralizes poison ivy, oak, or sumac oil, so it's okay to scratch with Jewel Weed. Jewel weed also works well on mosquito bites, burns, and skin diseases. Find out how to treat posion ivy, oak, or sumac with jewel weed by watching this video outdoor safety video.
How To: Replace an MSR Sweetwater 5 Micron pre-filter.
An MSR sweetwater micron pre-filter will purify water to drinking quality. It's a handy water filter to take along on camping trips or outdoor activities. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to replace an MSR Sweetwater 5 micron pre-filter.
How To: Use a Millbank bag water filter
A Millbank bag is a great way to filter water into drinking water. While bacteria is not removed by a Millbank bag, large debris is filtered out so the water can be boiled or purified by other means. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to use a Millbank bag to filter water in nature.
How To: Clean an MSR miniworks backpack water filter
An MSR miniworks water filter is a small backpack style water filter that's great for purifying water while camping, hiking, or anytime in the great outdoors. The filter can get dirty over time, and will need maintenance. Watch this video survival training video and learn how to clean an MSR miniworks water filter.
How To: Start a fire with a magnesium fire starter
By scraping a magnesium fire starter with a blade, you can create a spark to start a flame. This is basically the same idea as flint, rubbing rocks together, or sticks, but a little bit more foolproof. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to make a fire with a magnesium fire starter.
How To: Use a magnesium fire starter
This is how to use a magnesium fire stick. Steps: