Survival Skills

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Check out Dennis Lewon's author page.

Down to your last match? This fast-to-make kindling “bouquet” will light the first time, every time.

One of our favorites from the vault: a master entertainer spills his secrets for spinning unforgettable yarns.

Place your fuel wood in the right places to create a fire that behaves exactly how you want.

You’ll be very sorry—and very, very smelly.

Find the right logs, sticks, kindling, and fuel to make a campfire.

Campfires-gone-amok are the most common source of human-caused wildfires. Make sure yours is out cold.

You probably carry one of these already (right?). Now, make the most of it with these seven life-saving techniques.

Even the dullest of pocket debris can become a survival implement. Use a paper clip to catch dinner, treat wounds, and even start a fire.

Learn to dissect a cellphone to make a spear, snare, signaling device, compass, and more in this how-to guide. Photos by Creek Stewart, willowhavenoutdoor.com

Individually, dryer lint, cardboard egg crates, and candles seem pretty unglamorous -- not to mention useless as survival tools. But combine them and they transform into an unstoppable, rainproof firestarter. Snow, wind, mud: We’ve tested this nuclear opt

Nothing but a plastic bag? Use it to waterproof clothes, signal for rescue, and more.

A tossed soda or beer can is never a pretty sight in the wild -- but it could be your ticket to a much-needed meal if you find yourself stranded near a body of water. With some floss (or scavenged line), even a child can assemble a simple, usable fishing

Everyone has a pile of plastic shopping bags overflowing out of a kitchen drawer or pantry just taking up space. So, make a survival tool out of ‘em – specifically, a strong, durable waterproof rope, which you can braid without any tools. All you need is as many plastic bags as you can get your hands on and a pair of scissors.

Master hypothermia treatment to get your partner out of a tight spot.

Now your chow is marinated in white gas. Are your edibles still eatable?

A survival guide for backpackers who are desperate for clean water.

Dirty water clogs filters, hampers UV purification, and makes chemicaltreatments less effective. Find a better water source or clean what you have.

Two kayakers survive a howling inferno by clinging to their crafts in the middle of a frigid lake-and then hypothermia threatens.

Wet, cold, lost, hungry: In desperate times, nothing improves your changes of survival more than a roaring blaze. We tested every fuel source under the sun to show you how to start a fire every time.

Need to find food in a crisis? Just foraging for fun? Learn to raid nature's pantry, which is full of easily harvested, highly nutritious meals.

Caught out on a bright day without your glasses? Things could turn ugly if you lose your vision. Learn to prevent and treat a sunburned eye.

Everyone brings a shirt or bandanna into the backcountry. Here, 9 ways to increase its usefulness.

While accidents do happen, it's what you do about them that can be the difference between life and death.

Learn which wildlife you should most worry about, and how to react if you come under attack.

A hiker's worst enemy is the earth's downward pull. Here's how to prevent falls, and survive rockslides and avalanches.

Losing daylight and don't have a tent? Don't panic: We tested three shelter-making techniques that will help you survive the night. Plus: Three bomber bivies.

Maximize your spark's potential with a tinder bundle that will burn anywhere.

If you suspect you're off-track use the sun to help orient you and determine which direction is true north.

When you’re lost or injured, you need a foolproof way to get your rescuers’ attention. Ted’s testing team tried more than 25 devices—here are their ratings of 9 top tools.

Identify this high-altitude killer.

Dangerously thirsty in the desert?

Use what you have at any given moment to alleviate a medical emergency in the backcountry.

You've done it now. Gone on a simple walk and gotten lost, or broken your ankle. It's cold. You didn't bring gear. Don't just curl up and wait. Get a fire going.

Thinks it's difficult to build a fire on snow? Think again with these tried and true tips.

Put that hooch to good use with these tips for starting a fire, treating water, and even signaling for help.

Long before satellite beacons, humans thrived in the wild with the best technology available: a knife. And with that one tool and some basic knowledge, they fulfilled all life-sustaining needs.

Fast, hassle-free, ultralight,–we explore five different water treatment scenarios and the right system to use.

Make a fire fast with this pocket-sized tip

Seeing a bruin up close is a Yosemite highlight. Unless it's too close.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

How to find emergency water in the backcountry.

How to signal for help if you get lost.