Man vs Wild
After consulting for the Sierra Nevada episode I was called again to consult for Desert Island. I was told this episode would be filmed somewhere in the south pacific. This time I was off to the beaches of paradise.
Meanwhile back at the ranch
What survival knife did Bear Grylls use during the Sierra Nevada and Desert Island episodes? Many people have a desire to know. And what Grylls wears on his person and has packed in his survival kit. We have done our best to answer everyone's questions. Such as the boots, shoes, pack, canteen, or anything else, (except his underwear of course), he uses.
The Raft
I'll write more about the raft that we built for the Desert Island episode for Man Vs wild. I designed and this raft based on the ancient Chinese's sailing rafts that once plowed the waters of the Pacific Ocean. It had two hulls one that floated in the water with the waves and the top hull or super structure that was the steering and living space on the raft.
Bamboo Poles and Coconut Husk and Banana Tree fiber
I built the raft from local bamboo, the majority I cut by hand and dragged to a location where I could burn the bamboo poles to length. The process was as close to traditional materials as I could make it. I used Coconut husk and Banana tree fibers to wrap and tie the raft together. I also used store bought rope as needed as we were under a time line to complete construction. You can see a photograph of this raft in action on the Bear Grylls Desert Island Episode Blog Post.
Consulting with Man Vs Wild
I've written that my whole experience with Bear Grylls and everyone on the show. Including the producers and staff were wonderful to work with. The whole gig was much fun, and I met many great folks who helped make these episodes a success.
In conclusion
If you're a fan of Man Vs Wild, then you will enjoy scrolling through the large and long comment section here. Enjoy and feel free to leave a comment. But play nice please. Thanks!
Hi Steve,
I would do an online search for BCA Back Packs in the UK. Bear often brought his own gear with him when on a shoot.
Thanks for your question.
I just re watched season1 episode 4 where bear is dropped in the Alaskan mountain range. I noticed he was wearing a bright blue BCA backpack for the duration of the episode. I have not been able to find out what pack it is. PLEASE HELP. When he bites into the raw salmon you can clearly see “bca” on the shoulder strap. Also after his swim when his skiff sank you can clearly see “bca” on the front of his pack when he is putting he wet shirt in there. I am a collector of climbing/hiking/skiing packs from all over the world and must have this pack!!
Hey Peyton,
I’m not sure about the backpack, but he is known for using North Face. As far as his shirt, chances are it is from his clothing line with Crag Hoppers. Hope that helps.
I was wondering whta kind of backpack Bear was whereing in the episode he did with Jonathan Ross when they were in the jungle. and the shirt brand if you can find that out would be awesome. thank you
Hi Adam, North Face If I remember correctly.
what kind of pants does he wear in the Sierra Nevada episode?
Hi,
I love watching ‘Born Survivor’ and I’ve been trying, for ages, to find out what make backpack Bear Grylls is wearing in the episode where he is in Transylvania (Romania), season 3. I’ve tried everything I can think of ,but with no results. I’d really appreciate it if you could give me a hand!
Thanks a lot!
Hmm, not sure. I would continue searching for his Fan page on the net. Maybe someone who reads this post will know.
How do you go on Fan vs.Wild with Bear Grylls?
Hi!!
In the China episode, what type of boots is bear wearing? They look like the same boots in his Urban Survivor show.
Thanks!
Jesse
Chicago, IL
His shoes are by Merrell and they are the Chameleon Hex series.
Hi folks,
Im a big fan like most of the folks on this site. In reference to an earlier post concerning Bear’s 550 cord bracelet, a site called survivalstraps.com offers them. They are located in FL and are family operated. Bear was seen wearing a green one in a recent episode (FYI).
V/r, John
I am moving to norcal soon, this year and can’t wait to do this class!!!
The shirt will be on craighoppers.com the bear knife is a rob bailey custom. They used to cost 800 usd but are no longer taking orders. The waiting list is currently 6 years long and they make the knife by hand. I did find a great knife made similar almost 100% FOR 2OO.
haha oops i meant to say tomorrow night :/ sorry
caren,
there is a new episode tonight! at 9 PM he is in Canada and actually gets hurt and has to be flown out on a helicopter. WATCH IT TONIGHT!!!
R
Matthew,
I saw a website that tracks all the clothes that are worn by Bear Grylls on Man Vs Wild…the site is called outdoorsurvivalclothes.com the forum should prob be able to help you figure out what shirt he is wearing. Chances are that it is NOT a fruit of the loom. i hope that helps.
R
I just want to know what shoes he wears!!!!!!! Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hello..
my husband and I love to watch man vs. wild…hope there will be more exciting episodes to come..
Thanks Tony.
You might have a look round on ebay.
Hi Matthew,
as far as we can remember – Fruit of the loom. Seriously.
hey guys i just want to ask a question you know the shirt that he wears in Sierra Nevada its a grey shirt kind of tight? What kind of fabric is it because i desperately want to buy one and it would really help me if somebody could tell me. thanks
just wanted to say that Man vs Wild is awesome. I learned a lot. I hope that you guys keep having good success. Being a nature freak, i would love to know how to collect a bear g. survival knife to add to the collection,
Hi Tony,
In the Man vs Wild series, Bear demonstrates a variety of potential survival scenarios to keep the show exciting.
We do not believe that the Discovery Channel program is promoting bad survival decisions, but incorporating the ‘what if’ in extreme survival situations people have actually found themselves in.
But we definitely agree with you, that taking unnecessary risks is most often then naught, not the best move.
This is TV entertainment. Something to always remember.
Thanks for your comment Tony.
Hello,
I really enjoy watching the series and have picked up a lot of things on Man vs. Wild. The only thing I dont really care for is I feel Bear takes some uneccesary risks. Other than that, I feel this is a great show and I will continue to watch it.
Keep up the good work
is there any bear grylls summer camps in america
I just saw the panama episode where he was swimming from sand bar to island and wearing a knife in a sheath on his leg. can anyone identify what kind it is?
Hi Kayla.
Kirsten of Craghoppers sent me this note –
“I have spoken with team Bear and they said the following to me:
‘We can confirm that Bear currently wears and has worn (for as long as he has been wearing Bear Grylls by Craghoppers clothing) the Bear Adventure Long Sleeved Shirt, which has sleeve ventilation but no back ventilation. We can not comment on whether he is wearing a Columbia shirt in any particular episode referred to below, as this could have been filmed previous to him designing his own gear.’
Bear also wears the Nosquito Long Sleeve Shirt on a few of his shows.”
Hope this helps Kayla.
My husband swears that Bear wears Columbia fishing shirts on the show, but the ones that do not have the vented back. Can you please confirm the brand and type of shirt that he actually does wear because I cannot find the non vented Columbia shirts anywhere? Thanks!!
Kayla
I’ve been reading through the prior posts trying to catch up to speed and a thought occurred to me. Now that Bear has seemed to settle on the Bailey knife to use in every episode, the discussion on knives seems to have trailed off a bit. For me, part of the fun was working with everyone else in the thread trying to ID what was used in each episode. Those days were fun, was it this knife or that knife? Screen and video captures, searches for commercial blade manufacturers, and such. That was fun as a team effort, and I’m still subscribed to the member’s blog dedicated just to the knives used in the various episodes.
Now that I’m back and able to get online again, I’m hoping to continue the discussions here and on the survival knife thread here. My own blog is now being updated to finish the cross country motorcycle trip I took just before being deployed, as well as several articles on gear (including knives) that I developed while deployed and just before having to go off for surgeries galore.
Glad to be back!
Hey all! I’m back from several months of surgeries and physical therapy and finally off the d****d painkillers too. Just wanted to say I like the new look…and that I’m trying to find our old thread.
Shoot me an email, the old phone number has been discontinued.
I just stumbled upon this site, and I must say it is pretty awesome. I was just skimming through the top questions, a good site for knives is uscav.com. I just bought an ontario knife from there. Its nice, holds a good edge. They also have Ka-Bars which are low price and awesome. Many marines swear by them and so do I. Check out the site it’s great.
Bears knife is made by Bayleyknife. It is made of RWL powder steel weight is about 7ozs cost about $300.0I own one and it is a fantastic knife. This is the one piece knife. He has used 2 on TV the only difference is one is serrated and the other isnt.
I am also interested in knowing the make/model backpack bear uses.
Let me just say this. Bear’s show is on TV. TV is entertainment. If his show wasn’t entertaining, it wouldn’t be on TV. Now that that’s cleared up, they guy does some amazing stuff episode to episode. I mean he’s out there and regardless if he has a camera crew alongside him, he’s doing it. It’s not filmed on set using a bungee harness with a bluescreen backdrop. He demonstrates situations and survival techniques and makes it all damn entertaining. Granted, his pole vaulting from boulder to boulder, hanging from every verticle cliff in his path and chimney climbing down a tree and a rock face is not exactly the safest survival method nor is it one that the average Joe has the skillset to even attempt… but it is one way possible to manage the survival situation he is presenting. Even if I was a master climber with spider man agility, if I was filming a show like this you could be sure I’d have a safety line strapped securely to me from time to time. Doesn’t make it fake, make is smart.
Personally I like the show versus the other guy that is the sleeping pill equivalent.
Hello, Does anyone know what make/model Bears backpack is?
Hi,
I’m interseted in the pouch he uses to store his belt, flint, and other key items (not his backpack). Craig or anyone — do you know?
Hi, I watch Bear Grylls all the time…and i’m curious…on a lot of his adventures to hotter territory, he wears his SOG seal pup knife on his belt, a small buttpack, and also…it looks like a leather strap or some kind or strap that goes around his shoulder like he is carrying something. But then when i follow is down to his lower body, it looks like it is attached to his belt which is carrying his knife and buttpack…what does that thin shoulder sling do exactly?…he wears it in a lot of his episodes…Hope to hear from you soon…Thanks
Frank
Hi, i have met Eddie (Bear Grylls) and too have 4 years SAS under my belt. I know a lot of his things he uses now are either UK military, custom made or available to buy at most Military Surplus stores. If you need to know anything just ask me through here and i will assist when and where i can.
And to Ryan, i think he knows what he is doing pal. He trains people in survival situations. Everything he eats is edible and killing is part of life. Its necessary. Stop eating meat if your so bothered about it, its all the same
you can order straight from craghoppers bear grylls line if you are will mandatorily pay nearly $40 to ship it to the US
Where can I find a pictured step by step of how to make a daisy chain strap like Bear’s?? Any help is appreciated
Hey PJ,
unfortunately they are currently unavaliable in the US. We hear from Craghoppers that they are hoping to make them available sometime this year. You can order direct from Craghoppers. Let them know we sent you.
Does anyone know if his craghopper nosquito pants are available here in the US?
could someone tell me who makes the grey pants with the black kneepads that bear always wears????
What pants does Bear wear with the the reinforced knees and backside?
I was watching the part 1 of the Patagonia episode and noticed Bear’s rainbow colored beanie and it looked like it said BG on the inside of it when he flipped it up, which im assuming means bear grylls, but I was just wondering if anyone knew where he got it from.Thanks.
Thanks for the insightful post William.
Hey, I don’t watch TV, too many tons of garbage to sift through for the occasional diamond. However, I have downloaded all the episodes of M vs W from iTunes last week and have watched them all, some more than once.
Great work to all involved in the show… thanks you. (Having been a climber, I’m always impressed by the camera man/woman doing all those moves with a camera too!)
The show, is really about more than survival, more than eating things we don’t usually eat. It is a graphic reminder that the world we live in, is much more than the modern human world most of us in the West inhabit. It is important to remember that all this stuff, the house, cars, roads, schools, and TVs are just inventions, and cultural creations of the human mind. The animal world, the natural world, the “Wild” that Bear and you all takes us to, is out there and while it seems foreign and dangerous, it is the world that created us, and that we share with all life. We are a product of that natural world. We have gotten so detached from that world that we can’t actually live in it for very long, even Bear, is in a hurry to get back. So, it is a great work you all are involved in.
As for Ryan’s concerns about killing and eating animals… it is interesting to remember that modern humans in western countries think food comes from stores, all clean, wrapped and priced per pound… we are so isolated from the killing, skinning, and butchering. Ryan remember you kill and eat fellow organisms all the time,(even plants) you just let someone else do your killing for you.
A final note:
I just read about Bear’s injury, and while I am a new viewer, I feel somehow, like an old army buddy… funny how that works? I wanted to wish Bear, and his family all the luck and a speedy recovery.
My prayers are with you.
Paladin gave us a call today.
He’s home form playing in one of those big sandboxes on the other side of the world. He made it home mostly in one peace, but is in great spirits and happy to be home.
Paladin asked us to let all his friends here on this thread to know that he’s okay. He should be online in a few days and will be adding his humor and expertise here soon.
Welcome home buddy, and glad to have you back!
Dear Ryan,
(sigh), Bears a real human Ryan, not made of clay.
Your concerns regarding “eating animals ” on the show, please address to the folks at the discovery channel.
Though we appreciate comments regarding the show, these types of comments would be better served if you post them directly to Bear on his blog.
Here’s the link Ryan. – http://beargrylls.blogspot.com/
i think bear should stop killing and eating any animal he sees for “the sake of education.” He is endangering his life for no reason and has a full crew with him. he is a fake
In response to Kerrie Watson , Try Craghoppers , they carry a complete line of Bear’s clothes. Your husband is a lucky man!
I read most of the articles about matches and other various fire starters. I, myself, have never started a fire without using a match or lighter. I should try other methods. The one I have adopted works well with me. I carry one of those storm lighters for two reasons. One to light a match and to use on my car door lock if frozen. I carry small boxes of wooden matches in two ziplock plastic bags along with my lighter to keep them dry. I only use the lighter to light the match to preserve the fuel in the lighter. I have never lost a match and I can use the lighter all year without refueling. In otherwards the lighter is my survival tool for emergencies. I am thinking of getting a fire piston that I saw used on another survival show. I do like Bear’s show. I have picked up a lot of tips. The only comment that I can make about wilderness is DO NOT PANIC if you get lost or caught in a wilderness survival situation. This is easier said then done.
Can you please tell me where bear got his red coat with grey panels, on his trip to Patagonia??? am desperate to buy this for my husband for Xmas.
Hi Ben,
drop us an email from our contacts page and will discuss your options for camp with us this summer.
thanks! i am also looking for a wilderness survival camp for this summer ive looked everywhere and all of them treat you like little kids (im 14 and will turn 15 march 22) do you know of any good ones? thanks!
Hi ben,
spend some time reading this thread and many of your questions will be answered. The best place to write Bear is through his blog Ben.
what kind of shoes does he ware, and what kind of back pack, and what shoes. i have a diving knife that looks just like his, its serated on the top and is very easy to sharpen. iv tried writing him but it doesn’t work, or he just doesn’t write back. do know how or if i could write to him.
thanks!!! im a big!!!! fan!!!!
For those looking to collect MvsW knifes, Cabelas has the Buck Iceman for less that $8.00 and $4.95 shipping, which is EXTREMELY below others.
Ed
Hi again, I want to purchase/complete seasons of Man vs Wild; where can I get the episodes Rockies, Moab Desert and Costa Rica?
Are they supposed to be included in the 4-DVD set since they were all part of Season 1? (episodes: Disc A: EUROPEAN ALPS, SIERRA NEVADA; Disc B: ALASKAN MOUNTAIN, AFRICAN SAVANNAH; Disc C: EVERGLADES, ECUADOR, KIMBERLEY; Disc D: MEXICO, ICELAND, SCOTLAND).
Thanks!
8-x
Very well researched information. I’ve book marked your site.
Regarding all of the interest in the Gerber LMF II, and in the SEAL Pup, they are both excellent knives but head-to-head comparisons are impractical as the two knives are worlds apart in their potential applications. A better comparison would be between the SEAL Pup and the GERBER Prodigy(the little brother to the LMF II). These two knives compare somewhat more favorably even if the Prodigy is still a heavier knife. Also, the SOG Field Pup should be given consideration as a competent stash or pack knife. Either manufacturer offers an excellent tool once the parameters of use have been established.
Hi, I want to purchase/complete seasons of Man vs Wild; where can I get the episodes Rockies, Moab Desert and Costa Rica?
Are they supposed to be included in the 4-DVD set since they were all part of Season 1? (episodes: Disc A: EUROPEAN ALPS, SIERRA NEVADA; Disc B: ALASKAN MOUNTAIN, AFRICAN SAVANNAH; Disc C: EVERGLADES, ECUADOR, KIMBERLEY; Disc D: MEXICO, ICELAND, SCOTLAND).
Thanks!
8-x
Regarding Knives:
I do not use a serated edge blade ever ouside of my home.
While they are useful, the serations are designed to protect the cutting edge (the part above the seration). This concept was developed for use in kitchens where using ceramic and other hard surface cutting boards dulled the tradional straight edge knife quickly. Great for the kitchen but not for outdoor expeditions or survival.
I tend to go with what is tried and true.
I have only two knives I use on any outing.
1) U.S.M.C KA-BAR Fighting/Utility Knife
I don’t think you could ever go wrong with this knife by your side.
Blades are Hi-carbon USSI 1095 steel hardened and tempered to resist breaking under severe pressure and to accept and retain a super sharp edge, but also an edge that can be restored with reasonable ease even in the field.
This knife is still a favorite personal knife among many marines today.
2) USN Mk3 Mod 0 Combat knife:
One of the standard flight knives of US Navy SEALs, combat divers and other special forces.
It has a straight edge w/ a serrated saw on the back edge of blade.
Also has a hole at base for attaching a lanyard.
It is a bit on the heavy side, but I happily sacrifice its weight for its balance and dependency. (it is a solid knife)
And both of these knives I picked up for under $50 each at Army/Navy/Military Surplus stores in pretty good condition (aside from needing some sharpening).
I have a couple that I keep for display and nostalgic reasons, but the others I use, as it is what they were made for.
Hope this info is helpful to some.
JOEL!! i agree, my cousin is called Joel and has also recently purchased the Bear Grylls water bottle/canteen from surplusandoutdoors.com and he has the same problem. I think that ebay is your best bet, however my cousin wont listen to me with the ebay idea.
sas
I just recently purchased the SOG Seal Pup and the Gerber LMF II. These knives are completely different from each other.
The SOG is nice and small, light and quick, whereas the Gerber is massive and a little heavy with a much bigger handle. While I think I like the SOG better, I prefer the handle on the Gerber as it’s rubber and bigger which makes it realy easy to use. After not too long shaping some wood with the SOG, my hand was spent.
Both seem to have unique advantages though. I wasn’t able to strike my flint with the Gerber which was a smooth knife back, but the SOG has grips all the way long it and makes for easy work with a flint.
The Gerber seems tougher and more like a knife you’d want if you were really in a survival situation as it’s heavy duty. It also has 3 holes on the handle which make it easy to attach to a stick to make a spear.
Anyway, thought I’d share because I know there’s been a lot of question about the two. However you look at it, both knives are awesome.
I absolutely love Man vs. Wild. First off to anyone who trash talks Bear, remember he was with the SAS, and has accomplished 3 world records. That says a lot. Anyway, to the real reason to post, Im a camping specialist at REI and there are some really cool items that the survivalist might like to pick up. One is the M.H. Bertucci watch. Whats cool is that its analog (so you can do the compass thing Bear does), its titanium so its really light weight, no pins to be pulled out (the bars are welded in) so its really strong, nylon band for fast drying and lastly, it has a sunken bezel so its harder to scratch the glass.
Another cool item is the Benchmade fixed griptilian blade. It’s really strong, the top is thick (so you can baxh a rock on the top with hurting it) and has a nice sheath.
Another thing on knives, just remember expensive knives (SOG, Benchmade) tend to have expensive metals/harder metals. This means that they stay really sharp for a long time, however when they become dull they become harder to sharpen. If you go with a cheaper knife (gerber, victorinox, etc) they dull much faster however they are much easier to sharpen on ones own.
Great site btw, Go bear!
What about Bear’s canteen. I’m sure this has already been brought up I can find it above.
here is a pic of the sheath he is using in the last couple of episodes.
bailey knife
hope this helps.
Noah K.,
you took all the mystery out what knives Bear uses on the Man Vs Wild episodes.
That’s okay, folks will appreciate the info.
I too was curious about the waist pouch Bear has been using lately, I wouldn’t spend $700 bucks on a knife with his name on it, but I do like the little pouch, think it would be a good fit with my micro survival kit…
-J
Incase you havent figured out yet the knives that Bear Grylls uses here are a list of them…
Buck Iceman
Titanium Pro Dive Knife
Wenger Serrated Mountaineer Knife
Gerber Gator Serrater with Clip Point
Buck Iceman
Titanium Pro Dive Knife
If you are wonder about his knife he uses the most it is a custom made knife that cost about $850.
So I hope that answers all the questions you have about Bears knives.
hey i was wondering if anyone knew wat watch would be good in any survival situation under $70
I want to know the waist pack bear is using to store his knife in? Can anybody help me out?
what kind of knife is bear using now i can’t find it anywhere? you know the side sheath. please help…………………..jeff
your awsome
Hey, does anyone know what Jacket Bear is wearing in the “Andes Adventure” on the Patagonian glacier.
It’s Red and Grey, and says AQUA-something on the sides…
Also, does anyone know what boots he is wearing?
Also, what’s the yellow fleece that he’s wearing?
Any help would be cool, Thanks alot : )
love live BEAR GRYLLS!!
Hey all! I managed to get the 3G connection working along with the laptop on battery power. As Mark had stated earlier I had planned to be at the Edge camp for the awards and to meet everyone attending. In fact, I left Missouri yesterday morning for my trip out. As may have been reported on the news, a severe storm hit the northern area of Kansas City last night, which has damaged or destroyed many homes. One of the homes lost are friends and though I’d just finished getting a rental property ready for occupation by a widow who had lost her husband in the war, I must now race back to get another which had just begun renovation ready for a family of friends who are now homeless. I’ll need to get power and water restored and the kitchen & bathroom fixtures re-installed double time to make it ready for occupation by the family until they can get back on their feet.
I’ll post more as soon as I get back to town and can assess the situation. I’m fine, just had to take shelter from some small hail and heavy rain last night. I’m at a plaza area on the Kansas Turnpike and should be back in the KC area in a couple of hours.
New Man vs Wild episodes start this Fri night May 2nd!!!
Greetings Paladin,
good to hear you have friends, old and new along the way,
we hope the weather is kind along your travel route. I’m packing my gear and will be off to Shasta camp next week. A week of awareness skills, then we begin our preparation’s for The Edge Camp.
The Edge is going to be a great camp and we appreciate your generosity Paladin for throwing in a Cold Steel UWK knife to the second place winner. Thanks! Who knows maybe you will be their to personally award your generous gift.
We also want to thank SOG Knives of Everett WA. for their gift of one of their great knives, and Craghoppers, a very British Company, for their gift of trousers (The new Bear Grylls line.) to the winner!
Monday April 28, is the last day to send in your essay for the Edge camp, but if your interested in attending the Edge we have a few spaces available but we will be closing registration soon.
G’day all! I’ve managed to survive the trip so far, though getting the internet communications gear to function all together at the same time has been not as successful. I’ve made the blog updates for the first days of travel and will be getting everything up to date by the end of this weekend. As you’ll note in the first day’s entry my comments on taking a sleeping bag and such didn’t work out as planned. Instead I opted for additional food stuffs to give away to the homeless as I traveled and left the sleeping bag, pad and fuel can behind. As things went I ended up without any hotel stays or stays at campgrounds either as I met with more people and spent more time with folks than planned. That’s one thing I like about this initial excercise, I’ve allotted plenty of time between most way points to allow for unscheduled stops and stays. Comfort is a relative term when catching rest at a rest area picnic table or in a city park. It’s not a suite at the Hilton by any means, but even without the basics you can get the job done. 🙂
As Mark posted, don’t forget to get your essays in for the Edge camp! I’ll donate a Cold Steel UWK knife to the second place winner. I’ hope to see some of y’all at the Edge!
Hi folks,
To learn more about THE EDGE
What possibly could you be waiting for?
Thanks Mark & Celeste! That sounds like a great idea. I added a 2 gallon fuel can to the bike’s load which of course cascaded into a reconfiguring of the load from scratch. I don’t normally travel on the bike with my laptop and have a new wireless internet attachment to hook into a 3G network. The backpack has been removed in favor of a duffel bag to divide the weight horizontally across the rear seat and saddlebags and the laptop case and sleeping bag have been rearranged to sit lower behind me. If I hadn’t made the changes this morning I’d be riding with a load taller than me on the bike. *LOL* This should work though, and as a bonus the sleeping bag will act as a backrest along with the duffle – clothes side toward me and food side toward the rear.
Yeah, you read correctly, the old man is taking a sleeping bag. Not that I’m getting soft in my addled years, but though it’s in the 80’s here during the day there was snow in Flagstaff the other day and as I’m doing a northern and easterly route there’s expected to be hard freezes this week as far east as Kansas City. I decided that the ole Wiggie’s bag could stay in service a few more weeks before moving on to the fleece bag. 🙂
Heading out this morning and will post as I can in the evenings. This will be a roughing it trip with no hotel stays planned until I’m on the other side of the Mississipi. I’ll be finding out which truck stops have the best showers and which campgrounds have hot water. *L*
Later, *P
JT, contact my buddy Richard Cleveland of Earth School, He’s in North Carolina, tell him I sent you, he has camps for your sons age group. Feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions.
Paladin, thanks for the up date on your motorcycle trip to raise awareness for our returning vets and contractors who have served overseas.
I have been thinking recently about starting a thread for our Men & Women serving overseas, and at home in the armed services. They are going to need all our support and a safe place to talk about stuff and make connections for whatever they will need to adjust back to this crazy world.
I’ll get something going here sometime next week, and maybe when you have time you can post up-dates on your trip, comments and observations, and will keep your link to your blog spot up and going.
Thanks Paladin
Hi all! Getting ready for a cross country motorcycle trip to help raise awareness for our returning war veterans – soldiers, sailors, and airmen, as well as the contractors who also serve in combat zones.
In getting ready for this trek I’ve posted some updated equipment reviews on my blog paladins walk about.blogspot.com/. I have a lot more to post, but time is a fleeting thing with so much going on.
As we remember our veterans, please also remember our contractors who also serve. Contractors provide support that would otherwise require additional military personnel to be deployed. They not only provide security for our bases and convoys but are also truck drivers, cooks, pilots, medics, and teachers among many jobs filled. Some are EOD specialists working on land mine removal and detection/elimination of IEDs, while others are teaching the indigenous military forces so that our own military’s instructors can teach our own forces getting ready to deploy. I know that contractors have received some bad press in recent months (namely Blackwater) but such actions are not the norm. All the contractors are not trigger-happy war junkies and without them we’d be seeing about another 20,000 troops deployed. Also, please understand that though the contractors may be paid more while overseas they have no support system once they get home. No VA benefits, nothing, not even mention in the news when killed and not part of the KIA tally. A truck driver suffering PTSD from having his 18-wheeler shot up time after time in convoys because they can’t get an Iraqi or Afghan driver to take the trip is left to provide their own support once returning home.
If y’all see me on the road give a wave or say hi.
Mr Administator or anyone who can help,
My son is 11 and Man vs Wild and Survivorman are his favorite shows. Can anyone tell me if there is a survival camp in the Southeast that I can send him to or attend with him this summer.
We live in West Georgia and would love to find something in this area
thanks
Johnny
Constantinos- Victorinox knifes are good pocket type knives. I got my first for XMAS when I was 9 years old and still have it. It is a bit rough looking on the casing, but takes and edge and works great. I have a Tinker in a survival box, that if I ever get around to it I will post some pictures of. I am proud of what I have been able to pack into that small case.
Ed
Paladin, glad your back and well. Thanks for the input on the Gerber Harsey. I put it in the back of my mind and now reading your post I will pick one up. Ok, maybe two.. My wife calls it “one of my obsessions.” Another being flashlights. At least if the SHTF I will be ok for a while with lights and edged tools. 🙂 I should have bought stock in batteries though. Going back to the Merrell Chameleon discussion, I myself do not have a pair but have had over the years several pairs of Merrell shoes and have loved them all, jungle mocs are nice for walking, easy hikes and “camp shoes” also if you got into a situation you could push them pretty hard if needed. My point was more to the fact that buy what your budget allows.
“Anders Says:
February 7th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Which jacket does he use in the french Alps? The yellow and black one.”
The North Face Mountain Light looks to fit the bill. I have a Mountain Light from the ’90s, and it’s very similar, with on a few things different.
Good to have you back Paladin. As always thanks for the help and great info.
Hi all! I’ve just returned home from that big sandbox well east of Arizona and I’ve got to say I really missed y’all. 🙂
I’ve got several more knife field tests to post, but I do want to answer Edward’s question on the Gerber Harsey Hunter here briefly. I purchased a Harsey Hunter to begin field testing last summer. It was listed as a discontinued model so wasn’t sure I should include it in the testing. The lure of the positive locking sheath is what convinced me to buy it and the results are that it is without a doubt a KEEPER. To secure the blade in the sheath you simply slide it in normally. the upper guard will click past a spring loaded stopper and the blade is secured – no other snaps, clasps or straps are required around the handle. To release the blade grasp it normally and push on the release with your thumb. Practice generally gets you to the point of pushing down as you grasp it so no extra steps are necessary. I don’t know if this was ever jump rated by the military but it did survive two jumps and a dozen plus fast rope trips, not to mention daily carry on my left leg by the boot.
For cutting, it was shaving sharp right out of the box (which is what I expect from a manufacturer) and it holds and edge very well and sharpens quickly. I’ve used it as a general utility knife for opening everything from mail to MRE pouches, cutting line and what passes for vegetation in the desert for concealment/camoflage and shelter/observation post building. It also served well in a couple of close quarters situations where it was the closest of my three fixed blades to get to.
The handle offers a positive grip with its rubber coating and ergonomic shape. The palm swells on the sides of the handle are wide, but they fit my large hands very well. Medium or small sized persons may find it an uncomfortable grip but not always. I loaned my black one to a buddy in my outfit who was 5’6″ and about 140-150 pounds and he had no problem with it.
The blade is six inches with a modified clip point and unsharpened false edge. The point is strong and gives good penetration with a strong thrust and the spine is thick enough to make it a lasting piece of equipment.
I liked this knife enough to order another one, the first was black and the second is desert tan. Both have performed well and a Harsey Hunter has in fact officially replaced my Boker Applegate-Fairbairn combat dagger I’d carried on my leg for about ten years. Though it shows as discontinued I’ve had little trouble finding them online – especially on eBay.
Speaking of eBay I’m listing several of my older knives this week along with some of those I tested last summer. My Applegate sold tonight within an hour and a half of listing it – which surprised me as it’s seen a LOT of use over the last ten years but it has been well cared for.
A really good knife (pocket knife actually) is the Victorinox one handed trekker it is a hair shaver and really sharp especially with those serrations. Its really lightweight and its very strong, i would recommend it to those who don’t want to spend an amount exceeding 50 dollars.
Hi all,
we just received a email from a fellow who had a lot of negative things to say about Bear Grylls and the Man Vs Wild show on the Discovery Channel.
Which is fine. My only beef was the lanquage he used.
His email address, “eat my crotch”, what a silly individual, besides his comments let me know that we had another blow hard wasting our time, of course I spamed him.
He did make a point that I have to agree with, “Get out and camp”. Crotch man, thats no doubt the truest words you have ever spoken.
He he.
Crotch man has a great point here. He talked big, no doubt a great armchair survivor. I’m sure he will enter an essay for a chance to win our free extreme edge survival camp.
Maybe he will, and I hope he does. This gives crotch man the opportunity for redemption.
Speaking of the EDGE survival camp, take a chance, face the music, and register for
THE EDGE extreme adventure with Mark Wienert.
A quick note on Merell chameleon wraps. They fit me great with my high arch, and wide feet.
One of the nicest light hikers I have ever worn.
I wrote a similar comment to Edward’s a few months ago, but left out what he said about the Merrells. I have the chameleon wrap (I think) and they are fantastic! I have a low arch and they are the only shoe/boot that I can walk in for long periods of time without any significant pain in my arches.
Thanks (Mark?)
I have a variety of Gerber knives and tools and only once or twice found one I didn’t like and typically that was more a folding knife/being left handed issue. 🙂
I may just spend the $30 or so and test it out, worst case scenario I throw it in a tool box as a beater.
Hi Edward,
welcome back and thanks for your comments. Gerbers are great knives but I myself have not had the opportunity to try out the Harsey Hunter.
hopefully someone will respond to your question who has used this knife.
This reminds me I need to pick up a K-bar and have it available for my clients at camp this season.
Cheers!
Now a question: anyone put a Gerber Harsey Hunter fixed blade through some work? I am looking for something a bit smaller than my beloved K-Bar for fishing and such and this seems like a solid knife with all the features, but was curious if anyone has beat it around.
Well it has been a while since I posted, nearly 2 months since I have been to the board. I was surprised to see the seeming obsession with Bear’s clothing, down to the socks, which I hope was in sarcasm. Some have said “I didn’t read the entire thing (blog) because it is too long” but many of the questions have been throughly discussed previously, and regardless hold a great deal of information so they are worth a read.
As far as the clothing, I think it comes down to your needs, where you are going, and your budget. You can buy what “Bear wears” but it may not work for you, or your climate, and for most their budget. There are many good companies out there that make this type of gear, the one thing Bear routinely wears which I would endorse as many would is the brand boot he wears, they are spectacular, but pricey if you are looking at a budget entry into outdoor gig (however there are less expensive Merrell boots which are great too) So read the board, be realistic and get what you need and can afford. Just my 2 cents.
Which jacket does he use in the french Alps? The yellow and black one.
bear uses a bayleyknife
I have been watching Man VS Wild with some interest and I love the knowledge that I gain from the program, but I am concerned with how many foolish choices Bear takes while supposibly teaching how to survive. I have seen him willingly get soaking wet by jumping into water numerous times, (hypothermia anyone?) careen through the night spured on by what he “thinks” might be a bear. Panicing and running through the night is a great way to sprain an ankle or injure yourself. Anyone who has ever had to rely on their own self and not have a back up team of medical experts would never act as bear does in the woods. I have the greatest suspicion that his whole show is a staged performance.
What is the SOG Hunter Revolver? It is a combination bone saw and knife blade with gut hook that revolves or pivots from a center pin on the handle. Admin here, the review is no longer available. But check out the Best Survival Knife for my two cents worth on survival knives.
Interested in our extreme survival camp with Mark Wienert and Lifesong Adventures?
Follow this link to learn more- THE EDGE
The pants are from a british company and are called the
NOSQUITO MOVE TROUSERS.
P.S.
You could do worse than Cold Steel’s SRK.
It was designed for survival. I don’t own that particular knife, but do own several CS knives and have found them quite durable.
If you do want a survival knife, a blade of less than six inches will be best. Too much blade makes small chores more difficult. (ie: digging splinters out, or prepping food). Most branches needed for shelter can either be broken off by body weight alone, or cut with the smaller blade. You really don’t want to be felling trees with your belt knife.
And while I’m not a survival expert by any means, I believe that the above is just common sense after handling more than a few knives.
I think many on this board are missing the point.
I haven’t read all of the posts, there are just too many.
It was posted above that Bear uses a mix of knives to simulate
what you may have with you when you need to survive.
And on Bear’s blog he states that he has punished many knives and
wasn’t happy with any of them.
If you get a diving knife for survival, you won’t like it. It is made of stainless steel and meant to hold up when exposed to salt water. It will not hold an edge, or sharpen up as well as a high carbon steel.
Bear wasn’t using a diving knive because it was the best choice, he was using because he was stranded on a desert island and only had a diving knife with him…..get it?
Have you had a look at his new $750 knife? That’s the knife he recommends when surviving. But for that price you should have bought a plane ticket and stayed out of the woods! :o)
what socks does bear grylls wear?
What type of boot is Bear wearing now?
what dose bear use to hold his water bottle
Hey Ryan,
appreciate you sharing with us about using diesel as a fire starter.
I’m just a bit biased mate, so please forgive me. Having operated diesel equipment most my adult life I have found it to be something that can pollute very quickly. Carrying it around in a bucket to start your wood stove or fireplace, mixed with good dry sawdust, it works fine I’m sure. But unless someone else can tell me they use it in the field, in the winter…well I’m just not a big fan of using it for winter back country ski or snowshoe trip fire stater.
Sam Mix,
Sorry, the link has expired.
What kind of pants does Bear typically wear (the ones with the black knees)?
“The company that makes Bears knife makes the same exact knife without the signature for about $350 less same steel same design handle style everything.”
Thanks for the invite BillyKen.
Would love to visit your beautiful country sometime, enjoy a brew and watch the scenery, thanks!
You have some serious snakes down your way, the bushmaster for one I believe.
Hello all,
Thanks to Admin. Here in Costa Rica, they take out Man vs Wild, no more shows on cable tv. the summer is comming here and I start vacation time in couple weeks, I get my Extrema Ratio knives just one week ago, they are amazing, super strong knives hair shavers out the box, I buy the MPC folder, the shrapnel and the fulcrum, great knives, I hope use them enough this summer, happily for me last year the law change and you can carry 12cm blades, the MPC is 11.5cm blade and become my EDC is a super knife, they are a little spensive but worth each dollar.
Here in Costa Rica the big game hunting is limited to whitetails and Wildboars, there is small hunting too, in the jungles are many fruits and is easier survive than other colder places. Fishing is great too, rivers, Arenal lake and the oceans, all are close here, you can go to the Pacific to Atlantic in one day driving (stoping to eat and taking pictures to the beautiful womens we have here), is not the best place in world but have some advantages, is some of you come here some day just tell me, We can go to drink some beer or to walk to some volcano, there is many things to do All welcome, Recommend you check xtreme knives. com , excelent service and great knives there, even with out the land free shipping for me, Good luck
Hey, just sayin what a lot of us use up here in the Canadian bush. If you put it in a solid, sealed container (nalgene maybe) you won’t have to worry about smell. I’ve never backpacked with it–so I just have it in a icecream pail. Sawdust should just be damp with it. There shouldnt be unabsorbed diesel, that’s too much.
You just need a half a shot glass worth and it starts rain or shine. Flammable enough to start a fire but not so much that you’re ever in danger lose control.
Here is a great fire starter that doesn’t smell, it works great and all the components are readily available. Petroleum jelly AKA Vasoline saturated cotton balls. Rub in some Vasoline on some cotton balls and store in a 35mm film container. Great fire starter even works great if you just have a flint for ignition source.
BillyKen,
Your English is great. If I could speak Spanish so well.
Would love to hear more about where you live and the animals and plants that you and your daughter like the most.
We, Celeste and I, think it’s very cool that you are educating your daughter in nature.
Very Cool!
Hey Ryan,
You’re exactly right-diesel is not as flammable as gasoline. A heads up, don’t even think about using gasoline as a fire starter.
It combusts very quick and if it gets on you, will burn you so fast that you won’t even know what hit you. It evaporates quickly which can be a saving grace.
Gas that is lit in a closed container is basically a bomb. Not a toy!
Using diesel as a fire starter is smelly, smokey, will contaminate clothes, back pack, everything. Did I mention food?
A lousy idea for a fire starter.
A candle and tinder. Great fire starter!
Question of the week…what is tinder? Who can tell me an give me an example.
As per way earlier discussion on firestarters, mixing diesel and sawdust works very well. Diesel isn’t as flamable as gas. It’s reliable, cheap and compact.
Found out the knife that he used– I think on the Panama episode… Kinda pricey though, I think I’ll go with the SOG. It was custom made for him be Robert Bailey and you can get one for about $750.00
Mark gave us the link here for Craghopper Pants, a UK company. But REI equipment and other retailers in the US carry the pants. Link no longer working.
On the new episodes airing in November 2007,I notice Bear wearing Pants with knee pads of some sort. What brand are they?
One folding knife that Bear uses in a few episodes is easily recognised as the Gerber Gator Folding Lock Back (the clip point w/partially serrated blade version).
I was some of season 1 episodes again and Bear is wearing Merrell Chameleon Wrap Stretch Gore-Tex® XCR® or Chameleon II Stretch. I read a post saying he wears a “British Merrell” called a Chameleon Slam with laces. But I think it is possible Bear might have took the elastic lacing out and replaced it with parachute cord or another type of nylon lace (not a bad idea). Either way he wears Merrells. Great shoes for hot and wet situations. Also good for climbing with the vibram rubber sole.
I have a question. In this new season of man vs wild bear wears these pants w/black patches over the knees. Does anyone what pants they are? let me know
Hello,
mark, I prefer gator is a great knife, but, what you want to do with the knives is the most important, I’m a Outdoors fanatic, hiking, trekking, mountain biking, climbing, fishing, Hunting, just named, and there is always a best knife for each situacion.
I collect knives since 12 years old, I got 36 last october, I have several knives in my collection, none is better, than other for me, upon the activity I’m planing chosse my blades, but by general rule I carry 3 knives, one SAK or multitool, one clip folder 3″ or 4″, and some fixed blade large enough for heavy tasks. Try to make a good selection based on your own judgment, select knives acoording to your budget first, always buy the best quality you can, and second but most important buy something you like and make you fell good, something make you proud, when you have a good knife in your hand you feel it, is not necesary see the brand or designer, almost any knife with the appropriate care will work fine, no like some people that says “is not a good Knife I run a test on it, and was chopping steels bars the blade broke, or I was just carving in some rocks and the tip broken”, there is tools for any job, just choose the right one, an be safe always, remember the knives don’t cut, the people with knives cut, Good Luck. (Sorry all, english is not my first lenguage, accept corrections, for learning process)
Mark, I dont like either. Ever since buck moved to china I think there knives have gone down hill. I have never like Gerber since I keep breaking there blades. I’m a big fan of benchmade or kershaw. I also think the puma game warden is also a great all around knife.If you want a opinion on sheath knives then i suggest the usn mk 3 by ontario or the seal pup. Either knive can take a beating and keep on cutting. there you go for what it worth.
In case anyone else was curious about what clothing Bear wears in the new season, as I was, it is a brand called Craghoppers, and is a British company. Not sure if they deliver to the U.S., but their website is http://www.craghoppers.com. Cheers!
I am loving Man Vs. Wild. What a quality show. For those saying it’s rigged…of course it is. Bear even says things like “we’ve put a snake here so I can show you what to do if you encounter one…”
His purposes are two-fold. First, to teach many survival skills in a small amount of time. Secondly, to entertain. I think he surpasses those goals in a genuine, thoughtful way. Take it all with a grain of salt if you must, but it’s a quality show as far as I can tell, and unlike the other mindless TV out there, this show actually TEACHES you something.
Bear definitely makes me feel like a lazy bum, but I’m getting excited about camping more when I get back to the States.
I hope Bear keeps up the great work. Seems like a great guy on top of it.
whats better the buck iceman or gerber gator serrated edges? i need to know
Excellent points Matthew!
Appreciate the feed back gear and on serrated edge knives. We are working on a gear page and hope to have it up sometime this winter.
Serrated edged knives in our experience at Lifesong Survival Camps, do not perform well for much of the work our students perform such as carving.
Cutting bone as you mention, wire, rope, plastic, I think they may perform better than a edged knife in most cases.
My article on Survival Knife may be helpful to mark.
Mike — Let’s not forget that this is TV. He jumps from 50 feet up because it is exciting to watch. I enjoy the heck out of it.
For MARK and mark (if they aren’t the same) — Please don’t buy gear because it’s what Bear uses. What he uses from show to show varies depending on the environment. Go to your local outdoors store, tell the helpful sales person what you want and what type of use it will get, and let them show you three or four different brands and get their recommendation. Or, research your choices on the internet and try to find the one you want on Campmor.
This is especially true when it comes to knives. I found out a couple of weeks ago that my serrated Gerber Gator is good for cutting through the ribcage of a deer but not so good for cutting the connective tissue holding the organs in the thorasic and abdominal cavities. So next time I’ll try something else, maybe my SOG Seal Pup. Figure out what you are going to be using the knife for and then purchase what you can that fits that criteria. You don’t need a Bayley knife to sharpen sticks for smores and a keychain Swiss Army Knife wouldn’t be a good choice for gutting and skinning wild game.
Bear used to wear a Breitling emergency watch, same as Les Stroud, but now he is sponsored by Bremont watches and currently wears them during episode of MvW.
please tell me what kind of backpack bear uses cause it seems to be water proof and durable, and thats exactly wat i want thanks mark
ok thanks for ure answer nick and i was just wondering if u could cut down some small trees with it?
have spent many years in the oil exploration business at the sharp end (seismic exploration) and Bear goes places and does things I wouldn’t consider going or doing – but why drop 50 feet from a helicopter when all you have to do is tell the pilot to fly lower?
only nitpicking – I know how unpleasant some of his escapades really are, and if he spends time somewhere comfortable half way through, wouldn’t we all??
mike t
I don’t know much about the buck iceman, but I do have the gerber gator serrated knife and I love it. So like I said before, I would recommend it to anyone.
Hey MARK!!!
Get a grip. Read this thread and it will answer all your questions.
You to Scott.
what knife is better a buck iceman or a gerber gator serrated edges?????????? please answer, because i need to no which 1 to get for my witer hiking trips. thankyou
any one know what kind of backpack bears uses
Hello everyone…I’m an outdoor fanatic and I myself have the gerber gator folding knife with the serrated edge. It’s light weight and very durable. I love it and would recommend it to anyone. In the majority of the episodes I have seen in which Bear has a folded blade knife, the knife he uses is the gerber gator folding blade with the serrated edge. I think he has used that knife on more episodes than any other ones.
What about Strider Knives (www.striderknives.com)? They are “Hard Use” Blades – I haven’t seen them mentioned here……..
what kind of backpack does bear grylls use?
anybody know what bear grylls favorite knife is???
Anyone know what kind of watch he wears during his episodes?
Man vs. Wild is based on the premise that a man is dropped unprepared into a wild area and needs to reach the safety of civilization. The Tom Brown Tracker is not something you would “just happen” to be carrying around in normal activities. A knife which I recommend for survival which you might be able to carry around more easily is the “TOPS Black Rhino Paracord knife.” Note that having a section of paracord is VERY handy, for a multitude of tasks, ranging from lashing the full tang blade to a stick to make a spear, making snares or traps, tie a tornequit, to making a flail type weapon, like a nunchaku. A nunchaku tool can be made from 550 paracord and 2 healthy branches. the resulting tool is great for swatting at and stunning small game, and is much more effective than a club, and can even be used to stun fish after they are baited to the surface of the water, by something as simple as spitting or dropping berries to attract them to the surface. Nunchaku is also good for swinging over your head as you near a bird nest full of eggs for breakfast. The birds will buzz you and you may just stun one with a nunchaku. Boot laces could also be used, or a web belt could be used in a similar manner as paracord, but you would not ever want to risk losing or damaging your boot laces. Well fitting footware is crucial! If you can, lace your boots with 550 cord.
KNIVES – I noticed many people discuss knives here. I highly recommend the “Tom Brown Tracker survival knife”. It is for serious survival experts. Every aspect of the knife has a purpose related to its use as a survival tool. It is not small and it is not lightweight, however, it can be carried in the SOB (small of back) just around the kidney area where a belt is worn. When worn on the belt in the SOB, the knife is comfortable, accessible, and balances well. From hunting, chopping, skinning, slicing, or pounding, this particular knive will outlast anything else I have seen. The added size and weight is made up for by performance and utility. It allows you to keep a keen edge for tasks as skinning, and a coarse edge for chopping. this knife can cut through metal, wire and heavy plastics, which are commonly found as “junk”, but in a survival scenario, that material could be used to construct other tools (metal spear head, fishing hook from scrap wire, etc.) This knife was seen in a movie called “The Hunted” and I wanted to suggest it to anyone who was not familiar with it. The Bear “Grylls knife by Bayleeknife” is also very good with less features, but lighter weight.
BillyKen,
Great points about Sogs Pentagon and traveling in Europe!
Carrying a provocative knife like the Pentagon would definitly raise some eyebrows and could make a person un-popular with local athuorities.
I carried a regular sheath knife when I travled through Canada (I was 15 years old at the time.) when one day at a local gas station where I had stoped to use the rest room. I was acousted by a man who felt threatened by my knife even though I had it in its sheath, a 15 year old kid, and minding my own business. So, If your carrying a knife, where ever you travel, keep a low profile.
For Todd,
First the blade of the Pentagon is to large for most country restrictions, second and most important for me, the Pentagon is a back up knife for fight, is not a camp knife, the point is neddle and could broke easy on hard works, I use it for self defense and is a great knife for that, If you go to Europe start your trip with a Mora #740, and learn how is over there, and maybe could get some special knife for the rest of your trip, take care and good luck.
Hey Todd,
Check out the restrictions for carrying in knives in Europe before you go,
I Think they have many laws regarding knives we don’t have in the US.
Happy turkey everyone! Were off for a few days, then back to it.
Mark & Celeste
Hey I am planning to take a two year long hiking/backpacking/touring trip through Europe would a sog pentagon be a good knife to use, it is lite and has a serrated side of the knife which is ideal, any other thoughts on other knives besides the ones that are listed.
Phil,
Check out Anza knives as well.
These are beautiful knives, very sharp, and easy to sharpen. We have been using them at camp recently. One of our students turned them on to us. They are made from files. A process they use removes the brittleness from the blade. You can read about it here on their website.
Good knives! And apparently popular with collectors.
Hi Phil,
yes we do have a review for Sogs- Hunter Revolver coming soon.
Celeste put it to task in Washington during her recent wildlife surveys and has spoken very positive about the Revolver. (I’m hoping she will write her review soon after Thanksgiving.)
She loaned the knife out to a friend who used it successfully in field dressing an Antelope. We hope to hear from him soon as well.
Let me know how you like SOGS Trident Folder when you get a chance to use it.
The Seal Pup is a simple, lightweight, tough fixed blade knife, no frills.
It has good weight for back packing and tough enough that it will absorb abuse on the trail and around camp.
There is another knife that is gaining popularity throughout the wilderness survival school community; The Mora. I have used Ragnar’s to purchase my knives, great selection and excellent prices.
http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html
I have both of these Mora knives #511, #740, available for students at camp. High quality Swedish Steel, and a great edge for carving. Which we do a lot of at camp. You can’t beat the quality for the price, everyone should have one of these knives in their vehicle or as great camp knife. There not a sexy knife, but lots of my students really like these knives, and I do to.
Mark,
Back in June you’d mentioned that you started field testing the SOG Hunter Revolver. Did you ever write something up on what your impressions were?
I did see the review on Bladeforums, and it looked pretty impressive. The only problem I had with taking the BF review by itself was that it seemed to be a quick check and not a duration-type check.
Not too long ago your pointed me in the direction of the SOG Flash II. After looking at that knife along with others, I think I’m leaning towards the SOG Trident Folder for my in-the-pocket knife around the campsite. I have a Navy Issue survival knife fixed blade, but I don’t think it’s exactly what I’m looking for when I go backpacking, although I’ve always brought it with me. After reading all the reviews here of the SOG Seal Pup, I was going to take that advice and get one, since it is a bit lighter and seems to have really good reviews.
However, if the SOG Hunter Revolver was performing well for you, I thought that might be the knife to have for me so that I could break down some of the dead wood around our backpacking sites for firewood. It seems that it might make the job a bit easier, and kill two needs at once.
What have your impressions been?
Someone had brought up in an earlier post the shoes/boots that Bear wears. Most of the time he is wearing the Merrell Chameleon Wrap Stretch Gore-Tex XCR’s or some other Merrell brand boots depending on the terrain. I have owned these shoes for quite a while, they are the best shoes I have ever owned, whether I am hiking, climbing, biking, running, or just doing my day-to-day activities they are very comfortable slip on shoes that are extremely versatile. They keep your feet warm in the cold, cool when its warm, I recommend these to any level of outdoor enthusiast. Check out their website, they have shoes for any activity.
Hi all, I real almost all the thread, there is lot of information and great links too, I’m a knife knuts, collect them since 12 years old, I have 36 now, I study and practice all around knives, I want to be grateful for all the comments than help to learn more, I have several off the knives you mention here and want to get all the rest, but is to difficult to me, I live in Costa Rica and there is few stores to sell knives and almost none sell good knives, the mail here is a crap and buy from Ebay and Amazon bring me lots of trouble, I married and with to kids now my knife collections stop growing some years a go, I leave my trips to the jungle my climbing weekends and my huntings, just keep practice self defense and knife fighting, and become instructor of selfdefense.
Since the show of Mr. Grylls start here, I fell a reborn on me and want back to the jungle and teach camping to my 7 years old dauther, I have flashes on my head the all the great moments I live out there, remember when buy my SAS survival manual 20 years ago the original one from Lofty, then all this thanks to Bear and his show.
I hope the best for him and all the crew of MvW and hope all you enjoy every of your trips out there, is the best some one can do.
And just to re-start my Outdoors life again , I order 3 excellent knives from Extrema Ratio; The Fulcrum, the Shrapnel (geocamo), and the MPC folder, I buy them from XtremeKnives, I really recommend you to see the place sell other brands too, great prices and the best client service I get ever, I’m just waiting my new knives for my new travel to the rain forest the best test for them.
Thanks all and keep writing, is a very nice thread.
I’ve heard the new show advertised on Live365 but wasn’t able to catch it. As soon as I post this I’m off to troll the net for a torrent of the show.
Did anybody catch the new episode tonight? He really disemboweled a camel? The animal rights activists are going to love that one. I suppose if I could stomach watching him rend a Zebra with his teeth I might be able to handle the camel shot. Depends on how it was done, I suppose.
My daughters and I have started reviewing the second season. I know we’re a few months behind, but we’ve been busy with life and stuff. The Everglades episode is up and Bear is using a new knife, the Buck Zipper. Click on my link and let me know what you think.
Has anybody here used a Buck Zipper before? I’ve held one in my hands but not had an opportunity to whack it about. Any feedback on it? I really liked that rubberized grip. Sure seemed like it would be solid to hold if it was wet.
Cheers!
Chaos By Design
check this site out for flints. I know I saw Bear with the scout model.
Hope this helps
Can you tell me the brand/model of the flint Bear uses on the show?
Thanks
Courtney,
Bear has used several different models of knives in the past, but he now has a signature model he uses. It costs about $700 US and here is the link to it.
ps. I’m sure it’s a great knife, but you’re paying for the the name to some degree. I doubt anyone in here would recommend spending $700 on any ‘survival’ knife.
Hi Courtney,
I have been noticed that lately Bear has been using a Gerber Gator clip point which you can non-serated for around $39.00. I’m going to pick one up.
Good Luck!
Hi Courtney,
continue to read what folks have recommended here on this thread, follow the links, and look for some of the knives Bear has used in Man Vs Wild.
A lot of knife manufacturers make both non-serrated and serrated knives,
like SOG Knives
Good luck!
For you adventure junkies and extreme adventure warriors –
THE EDGE
Based on my experience with Bear Grylls and Man Vs Wild & Born Survivor.
My boyfriend loves the show “Man vs. Wild” and really wants a knife like Behr Grylls. I don’t have ANY clue where to even begin but he doesn’t really go camping and he’s not going to actually USE it for survival so I don’t really want to spend too much money on it. Anyone have an idea for a nice knife that isn’t serrated that he might like and where to get it?
no in the scene when he is in the mining house and he looks at the wiew you can see that its a bca backback but i hope someone else see this.
Glad to hear you enjoy the thread here Erick.
Jonas, the pack on the Alaska episode…not a North Face?
Thanks everyone for all your questions, comments and input.
Thanks for the link to your site Mark. Have checked it out before and have sent the link to many friends. It is truly the holy grail of all things relating to Bear Grylls.
Thanks again,
Erik
Hey. awsome site but can somebody please tell me wich backpack Bear Grylls used in the Alaskan mountain episode?
I Know its a BCA backpack but i dont know the name on it.
jonas
Hi Dougllas,
Drop me an email through my contacts page and I’ll get back with you on your question regarding teen camp for your daughters.
Hi Cos,
I haven’t used the SOG Trident myself, but it looks like all their folding knives: much more than just a pocket knife.
If you end up purchasing one Cos, let us know how you like it.
I just have one question is the Sog trident a good pocketknife.
Mark, can you recommend any survival camps in Utah that would be good for newbies like my daughters?
Survival Camp for Teens – Lifesong Wilderness Adventures.
Clash of the Titans Dirty Dave?
Come spend a week with me and you’ll be easily part of that group, and kick some butt to boot.
Well why do you think they hired me?
hey everyone.. ive read a lot of whats here.. i myself love the outdoors and all things associated with it. hunting, camping, trail riding/walking, and definitly survival and survival gear.
and as for bear grylls… i’ll tell you all what i would LOVE to see in an episode.
i wanna see bear and les stroud do a duet show. maybe compare one method to the other persons method.. drop em both in a very remote place together and let em stay out there for 2 weeks and make it a 1 hour special show. now that would be awesome.
hope my knifetest link helps someone out with deciding what knife they like. personally i have two of the gerber lmf’s and i love that knife. very tough blade.
Hi, here is an interesting site that provides some tid bits on survival. Check it out. Some good thoughts on making a survival kit. Link no longer vialble.
I just caught a very short Bear interview on Fox News. If I heard things right, there’s a new show on this Friday night. 🙂
Phil,
good steel makes a big difference in the quality of a knife and the toughness of its edge. Sog uses excellent quality steel in their knives as do many knife manufacturers out there. Living here in the humid wet coast of Oregon, keeping a carbon blade free from rust is a constant job.
I pulled out one of my Frost knives to share at class, and the darn thing had began to rust in just a week in between camps.
The choices can overwhelming for the best knife. The Flash II may not fit your needs, but for a lightweight, tough, quick release blade, its got to be one of the best out there and I LOVE MINE! As I said before, its not going to take the punishment like a fixed blade knife will, but it holds an edge, (I use it all the time.) I also use a sharpener to keep my knives sharp, an important concept.
Contact SOG with your questions, tell them you spoke with with me about the Flash II, and have them give you a run down on the steel they use.
For a lightweight backpacking fixed blade, I like SOGS Seal Pup.
Check it out.
Have fun!
Thanks mark for the direction to the SOG knives. They look good, lightweight, and easy to use with one hand. How does your blade hold up? Do you find yourself sharpening often? Since I’m new to the knife research, for some reason I keep seeing S30V advertised as a good material and I don’t see it in the SOG knives. Maybe it’s not that important. You obviously have plenty of experience and know what you’re talking about.
By the way, I do have a fixed blade knife, I believe it was a US Navy issue. Unfortunately, I bought it before I found this thread and before I understood that some blades need to be oiled. It’s rusted now, but I’m sure it can be salvaged. It seems to be a good knife. But I’m really looking for one that I can carry in my pocket on my trips so that I don’t have to keep going back to my pack for a knife.
Phil
Alternative healing, herbs, herbalism, medicinal plants.
A reminder folks for Tuesday, November 06, 2007, at 7:AM PST, you can hear Mark Wienert on Airamerica with Bethany Staffieri and Amy Gleason, on their Internet Radio show; Global Healing.
They interview many interesting guests in their quest to share their vast knowledge with listners on natural alternative healing.
Please tune in!
Hi Phil,
have you checked out SOG folders? I use my flash II everyday. If you refuse to use a sturdy fixed blade for your camping trips, then you have to check out the Flash II. Its light weight, functional, with the clip it slides nice and deep in the front pocket of my pants. In this position it stays out of the way and you hardly even know its there. Easily used with one hand with its super quick blade release, has plenty of blade for the kitchen or carving. But it won’t take a beating with a rock like Bear demonstrates on some of the Man Vs Wild episodes. I wish he would cut that out! I cringe every time he comes out with a rock in hand.
One thing, I don’t like serrated edges on my knife unless I’m cutting a loaf of bread, or I’m being an electrician.
Serrated edges are good if your around the shop, ranch, Iraq, auto shop kinda stuff. I am just not impressed with serrated edges for the type of bush craft we do.
I’ve been away too long. Great discussion as usual, though I have to take issue with Matthew’s comments. I don’t think American viewers are sheep anymore than any other TV viewer in the world. Besides, it was the British press that made the hullabaloo about Bear’s show being “fake”. It was just a shameless headline grab and poor Mark had his words twisted out of context.
(I’ve always wondered what Bear had to say about those quotes with Mark. Would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during that conversation. I suspect it was a lot more cordial than the British press would have liked.)
At any rate, I saw that Man vs. Wild had returned to the TV today. I didn’t have a chance to catch them, but it looked like Season Two. Any word on the longer two hour versions of the first season yet? I can tell you folks that the Discovery Channel’s store now lists a FOUR disk set of Season one available for a Dec. 10th release. If we’re lucky we’ll be treated to those extended episodes real soon. I’ve always felt that the crew was just as rugged as Bear was. Maybe we’ll even get to see Mark in his element. 😉
The knife question seems to have been hit over and over in here, but for some reason I can’t stop reading. What is it about boys, men, and knives?
Anyway, I find that I’m in the same situation as a few in here, but not in the same circumstances as most. It seems that most of you are looking for a real survival knife. I’m just looking for a good knife that I can take on backpacking trips. Yes, I know this question has been answered many times, but I still can’t seem to find what I’m looking for, and my head is hurting from all the reading and searching. So, I’ve returned to one of my favorite threads for possible guidance.
My wish list would include the following: Locking folder knife that I can carry in my pocket, S30V material, light enough (if possible) that it won’t pull my shorts off, partial serration, and I’d really like it to be able to open and close with one hand. Ease of sharpening would be a bonus I guess, but since I’m not the world’s greatest sharpener, I’d rather have a professional sharpen it for few bucks…that way I could get something that held an edge a little longer.
I’ve looked at the Gerber Gator line, and it just didn’t seem to really have what I wanted, although I liked the look of the blades. If it was an option to get it made in S30V material I’d probably go for it even though it doesn’t advertise one-handed operation. The knife that I seem to be leaning toward at the moment is the Gerber Freeman S30V folder. I’ve only seen it so far at Cabella’s online, although I’m sure it’s in many places. The only downside to it really is that it doesn’t have any serration. The weight sounds like it might be a small con during my typical trips, but I can overcome that.
I don’t really want to spend $300+ on a knife, so the Freeman S30V folder is really tempting at $89.00. I wish I could get my hands on one to feel and see it, but there isn’t a good knife shop anywhere near me.
Right now I have a Gerber Para…$25.00 knife that I got in the checkout line. Obviously it’s not the greatest of knives, and was dull right out of the plastic package, but I love the lightweight of it and the very easy one handed operation. Granted, the lock that holds the blade open and gives the easy of operation isn’t going to be the best lock in the business, but then again, I’m not climbing trees with it.
Anyone have any feedback on the Gerber Freeman S30V Folding knife? Or any other direction to be pointed?
Thanks a lot for your assistance and all the effort in keeping this thead going.
Phil
Check out the recent reviews on the tracker knife on the survival knife article.
Hi Folks,
First Circle Survival Camp – Lifesong Wilderness Adventures.
Hey rgarcia,
here is the link to my knife review article.
Hei:D
Do you know wich backpack Bear uses in the episode when he is in the Alaskan mountains?
Hey mark where are your old knife reviews. I’ve been reading this post since march, and have actually read the entire thing, but I don’t remember seeing your knife reviews. thanks a lot for this wonderful forum it’s great and I have learned a lot. I think what you guys do is great. I wish I had the time to get out there more,and most of all learn half the things you guys teach, but all in due time I guess. And by the way I am in no way let down or disappointed with MVW, bear grylls, or discovery. I guess people just down know or understand the time it takes to do these shows, or to learn and master these skills that many of you have acquired over years. Not to mention that much of survival is opportunistic and it is hard not to stage this on a T.V. show and still get it in the show. Anyways thanks guys for the great opportunity to get to know many of you, and for the great job you’ve done. Don’t forget any skills, techniques, or reviews that you guys would like to post would be greatly appreciated. Even though I don’t get to do a lot of weekend trips, anything I can learn in my back yard might save my life one day. Thanks for everything guys
Good to hear from you guys that are moderator/crew – it is unfortunate that people can’t understand the balancing act you guys are Bear are subject to in order to do a TV show as well “keeping it real.” If people would understand that it is a survival show that teaches survival techniques and not a “documentary” of Bear’s survival they’d be able to enjoy the show much better.
I really have learned a lot from Bear – I think of him as a “teacher” more than a “superhero,” which is what others have come to expect.
Gotta say – the funniest thing I’ve seen Bear do was in Australia I think – where he caught that snake, and carried it around all day… then he swims across the river with it – being so very careful to keep its head above water (and swimming with one arm!)… and then he takes like two steps out of the river on the other side and swings it through the air and bashes its head in! I was just thinking… “BEAR! Why didn’t you kill it BEFORE you swam the river!!??”
Anyways, I love the show – I take it for what it is – and I’m glad to hear that filming is still going on.
Kinda makes me embarrassed – being an American – when I hear about how wrapped up the tabloids/media are, and how “pissed off” the Armchair Quarterbacks are at all of this… Go get a flint and a knife and head out to the woods – even if its just for a few hours – and work on your survival skills. There’s nothing easy about it – but the skills that Bear shows will surely come in handy.
Do you know when the next new episode of man vs. wild will be on?
Looking forward to the new episodes, wish they were filmed in HD with all that amazing scenery. Anybody know what jacket Bear is wearing in the Mexico Copper Canyon episode? (It’s an orange and grey shell with the logo on the right sleeve, but of course Bear didn’t keep still long enough to read it.)
I read the article last week. It pretty much confirmed what I already thought. The American public are a bunch of sheep who don’t understand how TV is shot. When they hear things like some shots took several different takes to get they cry “fake!” all the while missing the irony that they, who are sitting on their couches thinking how cool it would be to make a shelter or start a fire with a flint, are the fakes.
Bear still rules and will have some awesome shows for us come November.
Good to hear from you Paladin. Looking forward to your up-dates.
I’m off for camp for a couple of weeks in the Siskiyou’s of northern Cal.
Found this interesting new blog; yes. I know the author. You have to check it out, very cool.
The November edition of is out with Bear Grylls interview. I’ve a few words as well. Would like to hear any comments regarding the article. Links no longer working.
Hello all! I’m back in Arizona and am trying to get my gear cleaned and stowed and have a ton of notes to go over that need to be put in my blog updates. My work required me to go across the big eastern lake to another sandy area for a time, and internet connectivity is spotty there at best – just barely enough online time to handle personal business. A family medical emergency has brought me back home and a controversy with one of my contracted employers will likely keep me in the home territory for a couple of months.
Give me some time as I trudge through some 20+ hour days and I’ll get those promised updates to the blogs out as soon as I can.
A quick scan of the board here gives me the impression that the MvW show is now back on the air and that they’ve incuded more behind the scenes stuff. This sounds great! A friend also has told me that there’s a Survivorman episode coming up that takes place in the Arizona sonoran desert, a must see for me so I can figure out where he’s at in this wild & wonderful, if dry area. Cool today at only about 82 in Tucson, so it looks like I got back to AZ in time to enjoy the fall.
After this posting I’m off for a much needed head cleansing ride through the mountains near Prescott on my cruiser, but will be back online late Sunday for posting.
P
Hey, let’s be careful out there!
For any Man Vs Wild fans; season 2 kicks off in the Sahara on November 18th. Either one episode for 2 hours or a 2 part episode back to back.
Thanks for the update, Mark. I appreciate your enthusiasm for the show and your willingness to be transparent in the way television shows are done. I held no illusions that Man v. Wild was filmed as a tv show. Didn’t matter and I didn’t care. It continues to be an absolutely fun show to watch and I am really looking forward to the new episodes. Bear helped me remember that I once loved the outdoors and because of that reminder I am spending far more time out there and look forward to teaching my daughter how to be a “mountain woman”.
When you wrote that about Bear being strong and fast, it made me think of his Everest book. If he wasn’t what he put himself out there as, he never would have hit that summit. Amazing man, that Bear.
Hey all.
I have to say the last few posts here have the distinct impression of a funk.
Like maybe someone has given up. I see it in students sometimes; it’s the type of feeling that will slowly suck the life blood from you.
Survival teaches us that attitude is everything. So the show wasn’t what you thought it was. Maybe Bear can’t be the super hero you thought he should be, because he has a TV show. And well, honestly, that ties a fellow down.
Imagine you’re primed for an awesome adventure! You’re off to bag a peak. It’s going to be tough, but you’re ready for it. You’re on the trail gaining altitude, legs pumping, and the scenery fantastic and getting better, when someone calls you back and says we have to start all over again; didn’t get the shot right.
So try that on maybe 4-5 times in a row. Now you’re working hard, really hard, but you haven’t even got anywhere near the top of the peak yet. The director wants more shots.
It’s getting late, the temperature’s dropping, the lights failing, everybody’s hungry. You keep pushing till you get it! That’s TV! That’s what actors do for TV shows.
Understanding what Bear goes through, the whole crew to shoot an episode is really an amazing feat!
The way the tabloids describe the making of the show is so ridiculous, they make it sound like every body’s sleeping and eating blueberry pancakes. If you turned the Bear loose without his camera crew, most folks could not even begin to keep up with him. The guy is strong, fast, and maintains a super attitude. Even when he’s put in an overwhelming amount of hours day to day, every body’s cranky, and he’s making sure we get the right shots for the show.
Survival is tough; you have to know what you’re doing. It may look easy on TV, and Bear makes it look easy, but it takes a tremendous amount of training to master the survival skills he demonstrates.
So cheer up you guys! Kick back and enjoy the show for what it is. Entertainment! If you want to be a part of that, and feel what it’s truly like to experience outdoor adventure, then sign up for our First Circle Camp. We have space available…just for you!
A special note here. Outside magazine is doing a spread on the whole Discovery-Man Vs Wild-Born survivor, Bear Grylls controversy in the November issue. Celeste and I are interviewed, Bear, and some other folks I understand. Should be an interesting read. And no we didn’t get paid for this, though I suppose maybe we should have, for all the baloney that has been written about me.
Hey I was even talked about in the tabloids…thats so funny to me, only in America. One of the questions we were asked; “Do you think the show purposely gave false survival information”? I never imagined anybody would think that. Of course not! What could they be thinking. I was really caught off guard by the question. That’s a question of integrity. I think Discovery still has some of that. I would hope so. Everything that was shown in the Sierra and Desert Island episodes are up-front-solid survival crude! Rich and oily, the right stuff, take it to the bank!
So come on folks cheer up! Its autumn, leaves are turning, snow’s on the peaks, turkeys are getting fat, pumpkin pie almost here, more episodes of Man Vs Wild on the way, and I’ll have more knife reviews for you next month.
What could be better?
I am glad to see that others feel this Man vs Wild is just entrainment and not serious survival. Don’t get me wrong I do enjoy watching the show but I wouldn’t even consider trying half of those stunts Bear pulls in his episodes. Because if you injure your self in a real survival situation and don’t have your camera crew with you it could be life threatening. I also noticed they added a disclaimer statement to the show.
Be smart,be safe and take Man vs Wild with a grain of salt.
Joe
John,
I’m having some of the same feelings of disappointment. I enjoy good TV and maybe was a little naive about how good or lucky Bear always seemed to be. Some of the staged scenes are OK, the dead deer and sheep for example, but the rabbit in the snare is a bit much, especially when the original scenes were left in where he makes it look like the snare actually worked. The rabbit was in the Scottish Highland episode and in that same show he “made“ a half dome shelter even though he wasn’t going to stay in it.
Bear is a good teacher on some of the techniques and I hope will continue to entertain us and share his survival training. I’m still planning on watching the new shows, but will watch more for entertainment than in awe.
Michael
I don’t know what anyone else’s opinion is, but watching the redone episodes of “Man vs. Wild” really has me quite disappointed. I was a huge fan of the show, and, after the news broke about some aspects of the show being exaggerated, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. But now that I watch the shows, I am very surprised to find how little of the show was actually real. In fact, I doubt if Grylls ever slept out on location.
What do you guys think about it? I will continue to watch the new shows, but proabaly not with the same amount of enthusiasm.
R.Lewis,
thanks for your post.
The Buck Nighthawk
When traveling in the National Parks in Alaska, Glacier Bay. We were required to carry pepper spray for the Griz. I understand your position about pepper spray, either way, awareness and bush savvy is the best protection from a Griz encounter. (leave the bacon at home.)
When you work for the US Fed. in Alaska, in Griz country, each group is required to carry a shotgun with slugs as well, but the first two shells chambered are poppers to scare the Bears (Hopefully) without having to injure or kill a Bear. A wounded grizzly is a very dangerous animal. I’m not sure about BC, but more people are hurt by Black bears in Alaska, then by Grizzly.
North west Vancouver Island BC, has the most aggressive Cougar attacks on the continent I understand. One theory suggests its because of hunting the lion for so many years has created a very aggressive animal.
Western Canada is some of the most remote, rugged, and gorgeous country I ever had the pleasure to be in. Thanks for sharing what you carry in your pack, great stuff!
I live in Western Canada.
When hiking in remote wilderness areas I carry a fixed blade Buck Nighthawk.
I also carry a Swiss Multi-Tool.
I have a thick nylon belt with a super strong carabiner type buckle.
The belt itself is light and extremely strong. It can support double my weight and a knife sheath fits “snug” on it.
My multi-pocketed but small back pack contains matches, water, snare wire, small waterproof binos, fish hooks, line, food etc.
I carry a Remington 12 Gauge pump action synthetic with full stock and tube extention for bear and cat protection.
Slugs not Buckshot!
No Pepper Spray-Don’t want it blowing back into my face in a wind.
I am not a “Survivalist”.
I want equipment that is well made and reliable should I end up in a “survival” situation.
Remember that I am talking remote areas with Grizzly and Cougar.
I wear Meindl hiking boots (8 years old and going strong).
One of our student’s from last camp; a retired police officer, who currently instructs classes in edged weapons. Turned Celeste and I onto a custom knife maker – Anza Knives. Check out their knives.
Hey Edward,
I had a chance to check out the Surefire flashlight you purchased. Looks great! Has blue, red, and infra red filter attachments you can purchase as well. Thanks for the post.
A couple of weeks ago I asked about a good flash light. I got a response about Maglites, which I have. I opted to pickup a Surefire Nitrolon G2. I paid about $35 for it will shipping, I have had it for about a week and a half and love it. It has a nice housing with a textured tube for good grip. And SUPER high output for light, it is amazing the beam this thing puts off for under 40 bucks. The housing towards the lens gets a bit warm with consistent usage of 15-20 minutes, but based on the output it doesn’t surprise me. Just wanted to pass it along in case any others are out there looking!
Ed
Thanks Jon, after I read my posted response I saw my initial error with the 1 versus 2 hours.
Actually Edward, I said the new season shows are 2 HOURS LONG! At least that is what the website says. We will see….
Hi folks.
First Circle Survival Camp is now in Oregon. Lifesong Wilderness Adventures
also does anybody know much about Kersaw knives? thank you
when does the new season of man vs wild start?
Jon that is great that the shows will be an hour now.
There is going to be a MvsW marathon on Monday. so that should be cool just to catch some that I don’t have on Tivo.
Survivorman did a “behind the scenes” show this past week which was really interesting. I think if MvsW did something similar it could help with preventing future questions like they have had as of late.
Pretty neat that the shows will now be 2 hours long instead of 1 hour. I read this in his blog below…I can’t friggin wait…..
I am off this week to start filming the rest of Man Vs Wild Season Two. I’m a bit daunted but definitely excited, and the environments are now even more extreme. They include the Sahara, Patagonia, Panama and Siberia…in winter.
The new shows will also now be two hours long, instead of one – partly because so many of the locations are so remote, but also so we can go into greater detail, and show the behind the scenes work, including the crew’s role.
Man Vs. Wild 4 DVD Set is now scheduled for December 10 release date.
A student at our last Circle camp enjoys watching Survivorman. He mentioned that he did have a problem with one episode where Les drinks water from a suspect source without treating it in someway first. I haven’t seen the episode in question, but its always better safe than sorry when drinking from unknown water.
We also had two students at this same camp who both had experienced Giardia from bad water. Not something you want to go through.
Hey folks, please remember this thread is not about bad mouthing anyone! This includes “Suvivorman’s” Les Stroud. If you like Survivorman and want to post about it here, that’s great! If you don’t like the show and want to discuss it here, that’s great, and we encourage you. But lets give Mr. Stroud the respect he deserves by not calling him derogatory names. Other forums may be into that, but here we can discuss without personal attacks and enjoy this thread to help each other out, have some fun, and learn about knives, their uses, and other interesting wilderness survival topics.
Thanks.
Dont forget poking his head in a big hole in the side of the river bed that was ocupied with wasps! Idiot! Funny though.
Hi,
Does anyone knows wich type of boots Bear used in the european alps?
I like Bear, I think he is more interesting, probably because he is also more “high risk.” I think Survivorman is closer to real life. If you really were screwed somewhere, you would use everything you could find to survive. Les Stroud makes me laugh too, he does some STUPID stuff, half-assed shelters, drinking untreated water, SETTING HIS SHELTER ON FIRE!!!! etc. As much as it makes me laugh it gives me some things to think about when I am out in the woods, or if I am ever in a similar situation.
The major problem with Survivorman is he always uses something artificial to survive. I have seen him use parts of a motorcycle and car in his quest to survive. One episode was about sled dogs. I personally do not see myself in that type of survival situation where I need to learn how to survive without eating the sled dogs food.
Survivorman is dry. Bear is RAW!!
SURVIVORMAN IS DRY IF YOU ASK ME. BEAR IS WAY BETTER!
MAN VS WILD VS SURVIVORMAN THOUGHTS? COMMENTS?
I noticed that Bear’s Blog has a picture up of him climbing with a crew member filming him.
What sticks out most to me is that Bear is trying really hard to be transparent this time around. I get the feeling that this is more like what he wants to be doing rather than the way BBC or Discovery marketed him. Now with all the supposed leaks, he gets to do more of a show that he wants to do and I’m pumped about that.
There will always be detractors, but the “controversy” has very little to do with Bear or his integrity: it’s all about the production and the decisions they make. Could Bear say no to them? Sure, but then he’d be out of a job.
Also, Discovery’s website has Sept 24 down for some reruns so it looks like they are almost back up and running. Can’t wait to buy the DVD!
hey people whats new hunting season soon over here can’t wait better get the baynot sharp and the bike full of gas bear finally back on the air were im from its been forever but hes back bye for now
does anybody know when bear will be back on. Need some more showes on the dvr
Where has Bear gone? 🙁
Show is delayed to be back on, DVDs weren’t released as expected on 9/4/07 with now no definitive release date. This sucks!
Hi,
Does anyone knows wich type of boots Bear used in the european alps?
Bart
Hello all! I know it’s been a while but I’ve been out in the field and this is the first chance I’ve had to post. I’ll be in a hotel late tonight so will try to get some updates sent out for here and my blog by morning if it’s possible.
P
Hi Edward
mag flashlight they are the best flash lights in the world you can not break it I got mine 3 years ago my dad still has one from 15 years ago and it still works mag is a great company and they have a life time warranty I like them it the only flashlight I use
Just wanted to say that I really hope everything gets cleared up for Bear and the show! Stay strong!
Thanks for your support T.A. I’m sure Man Vs Wild will be better than ever with the up-coming new series.
Mark.
Looking for a good flashlight.
I am looking for a good flashlight that is small, but has good light output. I am interested in the Surefire Nitrolon series, they are solid and have good reviews, the G2 and G2Z lights. I have an Inova light that I like, and a Petzl headlamp, but am looking for a small tactical type light like these. Any ideas, advice or other would be appreciated. I know Surefire makes some sweet lights, but I am not willing to pay the prices they want for their higher end systems.
Greg and all fans of M vs W,
Maybe it’s time to start a campaign like the fans of Jericho did. The fans of Jericho were the ones that sent all the nuts to the network trying to persuade them to keep Jericho on the air.
It’s a place to start or maybe everyone could send some of Bears favorite survival food, Grubs to them.
Man Vs. Wild DVD will not be released on 9/4/2007 as scheduled due to the allegations of some portions of the show being staged. I can care less if any or ALL of it is staged. It is a great show that teaches you how to survive. You will not find the DVD for Seasons 1 or 2 anywhere. You can find individual episodes for sale on ebay which are 43 minutes long per DVD. They are hard to find. Discovery quit selling all Man Vs. Wild DVD’s. The show has been off the air for a month and is not scheduled to return until Sept. 23. However that also might change.
im thinking about getting a sog seal pup elite
its a pretty good website cause of the deals. but i was just wondering if anyone had any opinions on the knife (i dont think anything has been written on here yet). im mostly going to use it for camping and some backpacking trips. im also split between the serrated and plain edge blade any opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Jack, looking around I don’t think they are being released until early Sept. You can go on Ebay and buy them out of Australia, I found it for ~36.00 plus shipping if you want it that bad. There are few people selling them on there too saying it will ship 9/5/07 and such. If you find it elsewhere or are successful, please let me know.
hey guys do you know where i can buy man vs wild seasons 1 and 2?
haha edward thats awsome, i do remember that show totaly reminds me of it. Is there any proof survivor man is alone cause some of those camera shots would be impossible. Yeah i saw him drink unboiled water not a smart move haha. few more weeks? i looked are those new or re-runs? Im glad the show is still on i was scared, if im not out drinkin at the bars friday night or with freinds im at home with my fiance watchin some bear haha.
Joe, your appetizer comment made me laugh. My parents just came back from an African Safari (non-hunting of course). Their guide told them that if they got lost or didn’t listen they were “Snickers Bars” something ” soft, chewy, bits that are crunchy and easy to eat.” Definitly puts it in perspective. I like to camp and know somethings, I am always learning, but I would be screwed if I had to survive in some of the environments Bear does. Bear kind of reminds me of the Worst Case Scenario show that used to be on. It isn’t something that is fun or easy, but if the sh:)t hits the fan, you have some options. If I didn’t have TIVO I would be in complete Bear withdrawal. Survivorman is funny to watch, he does some dumb things like in the Amazon episode drinking unboiled/treated water, he even says “I need to boil water, I have been paying for it.” 🙂
Only a few weeks and BEAR Is BACK!
HEY mike my dad had a knife for me its a nato baynot and it has a saw and sharping stone 6 inch blade and very sterdy im going to use it to make a raft with it and i hope you in joyed your hike and swim with your daughter bye for now.
Just wanted to come on here and say a few things, People saying Bear Gryllis is a fraud is absurd. He knows what hes doing and he knows how to survive, Leave it to the media to smear a great person, theres not many people who can climb mount everest or even do or know half the stuff bear knows. People are so brain washed with the media they automatically agree with them which is stupid. Who cares about all this drama. I commend him and any survivalist on what they do. Its amazing eye opening stuff and makes me look at my dull life behind a officedesk. The people opening there mouths to say hes a fraud ask your self this could you do anything he does? Id say you are SOL if you stranded in the middle of a african desert, i would be an appetizer for a lion.
😉
Cant wait for the new season of Man vs Wild.
BEAR ROCKS PEROID
Chris you are correct, spending a fortune on a knife is illogical for most. How many people are going to want to hit a $300 plus knife with a chunk of wood (let alone a 700 dollar one) or use it like an axe, chop, risk looking it, breaking it, etc. I sure the hell wouldn’t, and if I spent anywhere near $300 on a single knife, my wife would kill me.
I like knives and always have. I own a variety of knives (far too many according to my wife) and I have NEVER spent more than $50.00 for a single one of them. I struggle with spending $40. I want a Sog Seal Pup, but aren’t ready to pony up the $$ since I love my Kabar and don’t really need it. My suggestion is go some place you can handle them and see what fits you, what you like, and research to see what fits your needs, is reputable etc, then decide, you may surprise yourself. For example, I own many Gerber knives, but after handling the ASEK (LMF II) I didn’t like the feel of it so I would never carry. Some hear love one but hate one that someone else loves. Get what you need, what will last, what you want, and what you can afford, period!
Ed
There is literaly NO WAY I am going to pay $700 for a knife. I am not as enthusiastic as some i guess, but I cannot justify that amount of money. i read through Paladin’s blog on knives and he said it perfectly:
“…high dollar custom knives usually end up in a display case and not in the field where they could be used. Rather than an expensive paperweight, we want a work horse knife that can be used and abused. Though most custom knives can fulfill that task the average person is unlikely to do so with a blade they spent several paychecks on and possibly waited three to five years for.”
Exactly!
Has the show been cancelled?
Nick,
Mark here. No, the show has not been cancelled. It will be aired once again with new episodes in September.
I found out what knife he uses, it’s a Bayley knife, Bear Grylls designed it himself (£350). You can visit Bayley website
Good luck :)!
Thanks for your post Mark. 😉 Mystery solved! Actually Mark this is a relatively new twist to the knives Bear has used in the first two series.
So far this trip has been interesting. First west to California where I was able to spend some time in the water near Oceanside….Camp Pendleton actually. Later that same day we were preparing for a night jump and ended up flying back towards Arizona before the light turned green near Yuma. Last in the lineup I was on the ground less than fifteen minutes before we were hit by a sand storm mixed with a small bit of rain and a lot of thunder & lightning. As usual, sand and dust were in everything and by the time the exercise was over Saturday anywhere that sand could rub, chaff or irritate it had found its way to that spot or spots. Same O’ Same O’ as that goes, nothing new there. For the storm my shemagh worked well, though I wish I had several more with me. One benefit of being a contractor is that I get to choose my own equipment the majority of the time.
I’ll be traveling again tomorrow through Monday and should be posting again Monday night.
Survival Freak:
The knife Bear used in the Ecuador episode (Amazon) was a Gerber Gator, partially serrated folding knife. It wasn’t a buck knife.
thanks edward! I think I’ll return the camo knife I got and get the black one scince black is my favorite color. I was going for the knife he used in the ecuador episode, but i found that and went for it until u showes me an even better knife. thanks again.
I too have a an experience with buck knives. my parents have a fixed buck knife in our home emergency/survival kit. its nice but they dont let me use it because its in the kit and only for the kit, even though im 17!
Survival Freak:
Amazon has the same knife with the black handle for $15.63.
It seems that people either love it or hate it, few are in between. I have a Buck fixed blade that my father had, it has 20+ years on it easy and is indestructible.
i found a model similar to the ecuador knife. i got it and its really tough and no matter what i put up against it , it wont grow dull as easy as other knives.
Paracord??’s
Thanks guys for the info!
MM
As others have said, Paracord is great, don’t leave home with out it. I have used it for shelter building, and anything from lashing gear, tying down stuff in a truck, to securing a tree in my front yard during a Monsoon. I usually get it through Cheaperthandirt.com you can get 300′ for like 12 bucks plus shipping, surplus stores work too if you have one close. There are lots of places that sell “Military STYLE” cord like sportsmans guide, it is rated to around 150 pounds, but doesn’t last, especially in the AZ sun. Good luck. I read somewhere to trade out hiking boot laces for paracord, never breaks and that way if IT hits the fan you can pull out the 7 strands, use the sheath for the lace and now have 14 two foot strands. If you are cutting paracord, cut it with a flame when possible, that way the lines don’t fray, I use a cigar torch it is super fast.
does anybody know the model in the ecuador episode? I dont want a fixed blade just yet so i want to start off with a non-serrated folder.
Hi Jared
Who makes the knife you’re looking at? Do not by a hollow handle because all of them are most likely to be in 2 parts I have one I never use it because it’s a pace of junk it broke in 2 so I do not buy hollow handle knives read what mark rote about them he think so to if you are looking for a good knife go with the big name knives and if you looking on e bay ask the seller if its made in chine some ppl buy copies of name brand knives like buck cold steel ka bar and sell them on e bay you think your getting a ka bar but you getting a chap knock off that you can not put a edge on and the first time you go out in the field with it its going to brake so always ask the seller if it made in America
mike i have a question theres a knife on e bay that im looking in to and i was woundring if you could tell me if it’s any good special forces knive NOT the jungle one but the regular one with some fishing stuff and a compass my dad wants me to make shur its good one check it out for me plz thanks
Jared,
Mark here. If you are considering buying a survival knife with a hollow handle that is filled with fishing line, compass, and such. Forget it! Read my article regarding survival knives here – Survival Knife
Those knives that you are talking about are not worth the effort.
Good luck!
HI mike i hope you have fun with your daughter but if you go swimming check for under tows fish with big teeth or a sharp spine logs rocks currents stuff like that and be parped for any thing but have fun.
Hi all! Sorry for delays in posting but I got my travel orders yesterday and have been on the move. I’ll post as I can but will be traveling solid for at least the next month, so we’ll get to test the laptop link to the internet via my cell phone for a while. 🙂
MM, “real” para cord meets the minimum specifications by the military for function in parachutes, though it has thousands of other uses too. The official designation is MIL-C-5040H TYPE III Parachute Cord, which has a seven strand interior core surrounded by a braided nylon sleeve for the exterior. The break strength of the cord is rated at 550 lbs, hence the nickname of 550 cord. This cord usually comes in black, white or OD Green (OD = Olive Drab).
Some commercial manufacturers also meet the strand and weight specifications, but most do not. I use a lot of the Wal-Mart type cord for wrappings, lanyards, key chains, bracelets, and lines for tarps & tents. I usually buy the camoflage color because it’s easy for me to identify at a glance if it’s the cheap stuff or the real thing. A 50 foot section of this cord at the discount store is about $1.47 but don’t use it for more than mundane purposes as it’s break weight is about 140-190lbs at best. The packages are marked as “Do not use for climbing or for load bearing” or something similar.
Genuine 550 cord normally runs about $7.00 per 100 foot hank, so the cost isn’t much more for something that could really hold your weight if necessary. Still, I wouldn’t advise using it as a climbing rope. Parachutes have numerous cords to hold a soldier and equipment and the weight limit for a drop is about 350 pounds using a chute.
*P*
PS Another issue is durability. Genuine MilSpec 550 cord is far more durable than the discount store variety. The cheap stuff isn’t bad when used for general purpose things you’d use string for, just don’t attempt to trust your life to it. For around the house and camping/hiking it’s okay, but I use the MilSpec stuff in my primary emergency kits.
Paracord/para cord???’s
What is the difference between 5 strand and 7 strand paracord. The 5 strand that I looked at had 5 fuzzy strands in the inner core, came in about 15 different colors and was priced at $.04 a foot.
Michael
I’ve got a smith and wesson extreme ops and i know very little about knives. I don’t know how i should sharpen it , if any different than regular
pocketknives, and how hard i should work it.
But you all know what you’re talking about!
help? 🙁
Dimsum,
Mark here
Looks like you have the extreme ops model with the serrated edge. I recently purchased the Spyderco Knife Sharpening System and this system allows for sharpening serrated edges. My experience so far has been positive as has been the experience of several other folks on this thread. Paladin has also mentioned that he has used this system for many years. You would sharpen this knife like any other knife – the difference would be sharpening the serrated edge, which is done by using the edge of a hard stone and filing the cup or cutting side of the serrated edge. Finish by flipping the blade over and stroking the flat side of the serrated a couple of times to knock off any burs.
ROFL MR & MM!
Therapy? Whazzat?
As I mentioned to a member of my team last week, “You’re in a high stress job being led by a former legionnaire suffering from PTSD , define what you mean by a crazy day?” 😉
Just remember that there’s a difference between survival, hard routine (subsistence level activity during recon/observation operations), ultralight hiking; backpacking & camping. A few days in the wild doesn’t have to be cold, wet, tired and miserable. While some of us get paid to do just that it generally does not engender a desire to return time and time again for further “enjoyment”. If it does, then like me, you must’ve landed on your head one too many times out the hatch of the C130 and (of course) all bets are off.
Basic survival skills are important to know and it’s also important to practice them so that you know what to do when the need arises. Mark and Celeste at LifeSong provide a great resource into the knowledge and the expanding circles build more skills and more opportunity to use those skills learned from the core first circle class. Even after the classes though, take those skills and practice them.
Sure enough, the skills learned can help you survive if you’re in trouble, lost or some other circumstances have forced an unplanned extension to your planned hike. They can also help lighten the load in your pack. Basic survival, however, is not going to make for what most would consider a fun weekend in the woods.
Ever since I discovered the popularity of shows like MvW I’ve imagined some misguided businessman coming home on a stressed out Friday afternoon, pulling over to the side of the road and plunging into the nearest wood with a Dasani water bottle, a victorinox executive pen knife, and a granola bar. Ummmm….never mind….that sounds too much like…..nah….I used an explorer, not an executive….er…did I say that out loud?
“Paladin? Paladin? It’s time for your meds now, put down the keyboard and step away from the computer. Good boy!”
😀
Michael R.,
No therapy needed…
We’re all here because we’re not all there!
🙂
Got that right! Very good!!!
Mark
Michael Richardson:
As our other Michael (MM) suggests, and as I mentioned in my book review of “The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Knots & Ropework”, Bear likely uses a combination of the Barrel Hitch for the bottom & Sides of the canteen/cup combination and Jug Hitch for the neck .
Taping the swing-out handles is not unusual, but it’s been noted that Bear likely taped his canteen due to glare into the camera lens. Early episodes show the unit without the tape, while later ones show it with tape, so it’s likely done at the request of the crew. Military people will often tape up anything that makes noise when on patrol. Anything that clinks, clunks, clanks or clicks gets taped, tied or removed. Even a half-empty canteen will create noise as it sloshes about. This can be deadly for a soldier on patrol, and an irritant to the hiker on the move.
One other option that only a few here have mentioned is why not just buy the cover to go with the kit? The cover secures the entire unit together and then it can secure to a belt, pack, or whatever strap configuration you desire. It also adds the benefit of a bit of insulation to help keep the liquid in the canteen cooler for longer.
*P*
Okey-dokey MM and Paladin! I’ll give ‘er a try!
Again, thanks for all the answers and thoughts. Maybe….I need therapy???
Michael
Hey Paladin,
Ok, I have the NATO canteen, I have the paracord daisy-chained, and am waiting for the instructions on how to attached that sucker to the canteen. It looks like Bear uses some kind of black tape stuff around his canteen to hold the handles of the cup in and to attach the paracord. Any idears?
Also, let’s take a long shot here…
Why doesn’t someone “in the know” or a buddy of Bear just post the directions as to how he holds the paracord on the canteen? Life is made up of a bunch of little things (like knives and how Bear attaches his paracord to his canteen….)
Anyhoo, thanks Paladin for all your posts with my silly little questions.
Michael
Hey everyone i just got my gerber lmf knife and i love it its very sharp and i also recently purchsed the buck iceman bolth greath knives
Cook cup info…
I was in an Army Surplus store this weekend and found a US made cook cup very similar to what Bear uses. It fits nicely on the bottom of the plastic US canteen. The store I was in had them priced at $7.50 for the cup, $2.50 for the canteen and $4.50 for the cooking base.
I did a quick search on E-bay and found it.
Michael
I have noticed a few folks in Texas interested in survival camping down here. Just curious if anyone has found a good resource on primative techniques down this way? several trips tp Borders and Barnes/Noble has only turned up Texas floura and fauna not much on primative ways.
-J
I was wondering if anyone knew what model of North Face jacket Bear wears in the Swiss Alps episode. It’s yellow with gray patches on the chest and elbows. I think someone said it was the “M Mountain Light” model, but it doesn’t seem to quite match up. Any ideas?
HEY ADAM, how are you liking the Gerber LMF II? Thats the knife I am thinking on picking up. Any reviews would be appriciated. It looks like a great knife!
There has been an ongoing discussion about Bear’s canteen and how he secures it to himself with the para cord. I’d responded with the daisy chain and an example of how it is tied, but just realized I hadn’t posted on how to tie the canteen itself.
From what I’ve been able to see from the shows it looks like he uses a simple barrel hitch. How to tie the knot can be found in the book “The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Knots & Ropework” by Geoffrey Budworth, founder of the International Guild of Knot Tyers.
you can also find the book at Barnes & Noble in their larger book / coffee table size book section. My copy was $7.98 which made the reference book a steal.
*P*
Just a few lines to say Man v Wild and Bear Grylls is great to watch. His narration is the key, well spoken, witty, typical British humour which is refreshing.
My daughter and I will hike down a gorge next week (low risk) and have a chance to mimmick Bear and his cliff jumping and swimming. Cheers
Hi Mike! Have fun in the water. But remember to check what’s under the water before you jump.
Mark
Miguel,
An an eariler post also talked about the Oilcamp mug. It fits on the bottom of a Nalgene bottle. Check them out at campmor.com. Mine just came in few days back.
Michael
Regarding the type of jacket that Bear wore in the Mexico episode. It is a Stormtech H2Extreme. I think the color has been discontinued however. Very good outerwear.
Douglas, thanks I think. I have a family member who is involved with home schooling in California.
I sense I am getting a bit bored (snore) with this Dude Vs World stuff… lets talk about something exciting and wonderful like –
Berries!!!
Fresh yummy wild berries! Celeste made a big pan of Blackberry cobbler the other day, wow, it’s so good. The thimble berry’s are still around but not for long. Thimbles like the Red Huckleberry, are delicious and one of my favorite berry. Blue Huckleberry’s are just beginning to come on.
The Sal-al are ripening fast (Another Northwest Berry.) and incredibly high in flavonoids, which have been used for strengthening capillaries- mucus membrane fragility. For folks who are susceptible to nose bleeds, munching on these Berry’s can be helpful. A terrific survival food, and when dried can be stored for later use (With the Blue Huckleberry.) when other berries are all gone.
If your out collecting berries, chokecherries, fruit of this nature in large Bear (Grizz) country – Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, ect, be careful!
Make lots of noise when picking. Bears are putting on fat for their long winter nap and can be very focused on eating and may not notice that you have sidled up next to them with your berry basket.
If they take your basket from you, my advice is to not make any argument about being to the berry patch first. Also they don’t appreciate any negative comments regarding their delicate odor. I would suggest; just tip your hat and slowly, carefully, back away, and refrain from any rude gesture and find another berry patch… far away.
Happy picking!
Hi,
Where can I buy the British 58 pattern canteen??
Sorry if you’ve alreay answered that!!
Thanks!!
i am taking a trip to nothern Russia with 1 friend we are only bringing 3 sets of clothes steel toe boots, 2 flints, 2 pocket knives, and 2 canteens. we will be up there for 2-3 months in the summer of 08 and we will come out when we do
we got this idea from reading “Into The Wild” great book and then we decided to continue with the idea after seeing Man VS. Wild.
THIS WILL BE THE BEST SUMMER OF OUR LIVES
i almost forgot we are are gona record it to show to friends and family
Sounds like a fantastic adventure! But why are you considering taking Steel Toed Boots?
Mark
I was wondering if anyone could give me any information on the type of knife Bear uses in the costa rica episode. I would greatly appreciate it
thanks.
Hey Andrew, the information you seek is within this thread…but you have to search it out. Plus as you search you will find lots of great information posted by us as well as many of our informative guests.
Mark
So I know that this has come up before. I can’t find any listings for Man Vs. Wild in the next 2 weeks. I was hoping that with shark week being over they would get a couple episodes out there. Anyone know when they plan to make a decision? I am going to be sad if they really leave it off the air permanantly.
Hey guys-
A couple of friends and I are looking for a good place for some survival camping in Texas. If any of yall have some good suggestions that would be much appreciated. By the way just bought the Gerber LMF II and am looking forward to giving it a test run.
A while back wildman6 was talking about his Fijian Cane knife. A home made one at that. I did a search
He also talked about the “Bolo” field knife. I had one for a year, loved the style. It was produced by Ontario knife. They are not making it any more. The steel used in their Bolo, a carbon blend, was to soft for the tough rigorous applications I use big blades for. The original Bolo –
Thanks Mike and Chris for your post’s and positive support for Bear.
And to all who enjoy the show, thanks.
Hi
I think MvW is a great show I in joy learning how to do stuff that you can use if your camping or backpacking. I find some things he dose useful.
But there are things he dose that are dangerous and I would not do. but again I love the show. Who cares if the stuff that was said was true! it all comes down to if you like the show or not most of what he said was true so I m going to watch it. If you believe what ever one said I have some ocean front property in Arizona you can buy 🙂
I will also post my support. I think that it is a awesome show. I will say that while I was suprised at first, I just sat here and debated it with my wife (taking the side of the show). The show is here to entertain and to show us tips that may save our lives, not to prove that Bear can conquer the world by himself. I love the show and hope that it airs for many many many seasons to come.
Hey Jack S,
Thanks for the post and support for Bear.
Hey mark thank you for clearing everything up i love the show watched everyone have all of them on my tivo box bear rocks and i and can not believe what people are saying about bear after he broke is back in 3 places and was the youngest British climber to climb everest i can not wait until season 3 thanks again
Greetings all. I’ve just returned from our Lifesong Teen Adventure Camp in northern California. Where real men & women drink rice milk! We all had an awesome time! A great group to be sure.
Thanks for all the questions and comments on this string. We really appreciate all the information and help you folks are sharing. Thanks!
I think that it was not the seal pup. It was talked about earlieer on this thread. The concensus was that it was the titanium dive knife.
on the pacific stranded island episode i believe he uses a knife called the seal pup. it’s a nice light weight knife and the sheath has a nice feature that lets you cut paracord or similar things without taking out the knife.
Hey recondave,
check out SOG Knives and look for the knife your describing. Happy tracking!
Mark
Thanks a lot for all your suggestions on the sleeping bags, tents, and packs. I really look forward to stocking up on all this equipment and heading out into nature.
Hey guys i have one more question i have also been looking for a new folder and have narrowed it down to 2 choices the Gerber gator or the buck iceman which one do you guys think is a better knife?
Thanks for the info. And I did read your review on the master hunter as well. I found it very informative as well.
Thanks Michael for the advice on the watch
Bryan,
For overall purposes your likely best choice between the two would be the SRK. It was designed a Survival Rescue Knife (hence the SRK moniker) and for extra tough use in a variety of situations including the military. Now, I’ve had a Master Hunter for many years and it’s a very good knife and as tough as they come, but with it’s 4″ blade it doesn’t do some things as well as a larger knife can, such as chop wood and brush. You can see my reviews of the CS Master Hunter I’d posted here previously, but while I would feel good with either knife if I were dropped in the middle of nowhere I’d be happier with the SRK because I know that shelter building and firewood gathering will be that much easier. (Of course, if you read my other posts you’ll also know that I’d be tickled if I had my trailmaster 😉 but it’s not a requirement nor do I recommend it for everyone).
Again, both are good quality knives and both will last for ages and do what you need them to do. If your primary leaning is for a good hunting knife for skinning, general camp chores, skinning & dressing game, and works great in the kitchen too then the Master Hunter is the one I’d recommend. For an all around survival knife that can do all the above and cut the lock out of a car door or chop wood and makes a decent combat blade too, then the SRK would top the list.
Jack S,
Sorry, I don’t know what model. If I remember correctly it was stainless steel w/ a black nylon band. I’ve seen a couple of different styles at Sam’s Club usually around Christmas time or Father’s Day.
Michael
Quick question. For MvW purposes which knife would best be suited: the Cold Steel SRK or the Cold Steel Master Hunter?
Hey thanks Michael do you now what model it was???
Jack S.,
I don’t own one, but I saw a Wenger that had been lost in a lake for a year and was still running when found.
We SCUBA dive and one of the guys in our group took his watch off to work on his on his boat. He sat his watch somewhere on the boat and forgot about. It fell into the water and by the time he remembered it he had moved his boat and couldn’t pinpoint the location. A year later we where all at the same location and my son’s where playing in the mud, catching frogs and other things and found it. They brought it up to the group to show what they had found and the owner was there and asked to see it. He washed it off and put it on. The nylon band even cleaned up.
Michael
HI john if you want a sleepingbag thats portable look for a army surplus they can be rolled up pretty small and look for a good set of hiking boots the army sleepingbags i find confertable but make sure you can fit in and make sure your wife can fit in one to when i was 9 i borrowed my dad’s i could have used it as a tent so get the. Make sure you have a flint and matches or what ever you prefer have a safe trip. oh as for tents i suggest colmen works great up north.
Ok, back to the canteen line of questioning: Is that black tape I see on his canteen? Wondering why he does that.
Michael
The Wonderer
A buddy and I compared survival kits and info last night and got out the sweedish firesteels to try our hand at starting a fire. We tried the cotton balls for tinder, which I had seen others posting about way back somwhere in this thread, and they worked great. But, in my opinion, even better is dryer lint! That is the best tender ever. If a spark merely touches it, it is in flames. I also experiemnted with the magnesium block, that you cut shavings off of and then scrape the striker with the back of your knife, which works fine. The back of the knife produces more sparks on both strikers….even on the swedish firesteel. My friend also has a palm tree in his back yard, so we tested the palm hair like Bear did in the Everglades episode. The palm hair was a little difficult to start by itself, but then we put some drier lint under it and it lit instantly, followed a few seconds later by the palm hair going up in a flaming mushroom cloud.
Hey guys i need a new watch that is not digital but is good for camping, climbing, hunting, and fishing any suggestions??
Hi, I have to say, with all the hype over what knife he uses… Wouldn’t it just be better to get one that suits you? I’m personally just going with a Ka-Bar 12″ Bowie. Simple yet effective. And who ever put the links for the flint and steel sites… Thank you!
Oh, and I do have one question. I really need a jacket and from the moment I saw Bear do a tumble roll off the heli in the new Mexico episode I wanted that jacket. SO WHAT IS THE JACKET HE IS WEARING IN THE MEXICO EPISODE?
Hi John,
Celeste here. Sorry to have taken so long to respond to your question. I’ll start with the sleeping bags.
Car camping or hiking makes all the difference in the type of bag you choose. We have several styles. For car camping I suggest the square bags with fleece linings. Mark just purchased a nice bag and for the life of me I don’t remember the brand. He’s not hanging out on the ridge top where I can get him on his cell, but I’ll get the info to you as soon as I speak to him. I know he loves it. We had a Wegner for car camping and it was nice, but a little short for Mark. It washed nicely and the filler did not clump, but it was slick and would not stay on our pads very well. I suggest you research the fill and the exterior cloth. I no longer remember what the rating was on it.
Mummy bags are what I use the most. I currently have an Alps 0 degree bag, a Columbia 0 degree and a North Face 35 degree. I use the North Face for very warm weather and expedition hiking. It packs down to about the size of a windbreaker making it very light and easy to pack. It is not warm however and has minimal fill. It does well in 50 degree weather or higher. The Alps is my favorite. It is wider than the Columbia, warmer and the fill does not pack down. I combine the NF and Alps when it gets below 30 and I’m toasty. We lose most of our body heat through our heads and the mummy bag cinches down like a hood making it a little more convenient than a square bag when it’s cold. All of the bags I mentioned here are under $100. I would start out with a bag under $100 until you know what you like. Then I would look for a good bag with the type of fill you will utilize the most. I use down for cold climes, but don’t get them wet. Just an aside…there are sleeping bag covers. I use one that has a waterproof bottom and a nylon top. Light weight, easy to pack and they add a lot of warmth and keep your bag dryer, especially in humid areas. I also use it to throw my clothes in to keep them dry and or shoes and boots to keep crawly things out.
Other things to consider, are movement while sleeping, length of bag. For most men, I suggest a longer bag. If the store will allow it, crawl inside and wiggle around to see how well it fits. Also if you wear clothing inside the bag some liners do not allow the material to slide easily and you end up struggling to straighten out your pj’s in tight quarters.
Backpacks – again depends on what you are using it for. If you are just taking day hikes out of camp, then I suggest a day/weekend pack. I have a North Face day pack and Kelty weekend pack. Both excellent. Here is what you need to consider.
Day/Weekend, Expedition, Mountaineering and Fanny packs. I am assuming you don’t need a mountaineering pack, they have lots of straps and usually no outside pockets. I won’t go into them here.
Expedition packs are used for the long haul, a week or more. There are internal frames and external. I haven’t used an external since the 70’s so someone else will have to advise you there. In all packs the back padding, shoulder straps, waist belt and breast strap are key. Ultimately for expedition you want everything adjustable. On weekend/day packs there is not usually an adjustable internal frame, but everything else should be. Size, shape and pockets. Most packs come in S/M/L and or they have lengths and carrying capacity associated with them. I’ll focus on day/weekend packs and if you want more info about expedition let me know.
Try them on and fill them up with stuff. If you can take a sack of items you think you will be carrying and fill up the pack with them. Most stores will allow you to do this and get a kick out of it. Otherwise, ask if you can fill it up with items from the store. A lot of packs come hydration ready. This can be great for most people. I don’t care for them due to my aggressive use of packs. I prefer to carry Nalgene water bottles inside zippered pockets at the sides of the pack. If your pack only has nets for your water bottle secure them to your pack with rope or a carabiner.
The shoulder straps should not impede arm movement, nor dig into your underarm area. The belt should be wide and the bottom of the belt should ride on the top of your hip bones. The wider the belt the easier it is to adjust and it’s more comfortable. I suggest a breast strap no matter what. The heavier the pack the more stress to your back. The breast strap helps keep the pack closer to your shoulders and less stress on your lower back. It also keeps your pack in place and less movement is more comfortable. Both my packs have three adjustments up/down for the breast strap. Maybe more important for a woman’s physique.
Next are the pockets. I like numerous outside pockets for quick snacks, camera, binoculars etc., much easier than having to dig through the main compartment. I also like outside straps for cinching down the pack making it less likely to catch on brush. I crawl through a lot of brush and downed timber. I don’t have to worry about my zippers getting caught and opening up my pack for expensive items to fall out.
So, comfort, comfort, comfort. I can’t stress this enough. Water is one of the heaviest items you will carry so take water to put in your pack when you try it out.
Fanny packs….I love them. I have a fishing fanny pack that has cinch down water carriers on both sides, a nice roomy main compartment and two zippered pockets on the belt along with several outside zippered compartments. It’s amazing what I can pack in it. Provides me full range of movement and I can swivel it around to the front for easy access and strap it bandolier style when wading in deeper water or over my head if the water is chest deep. I purchased it from Cabellas. I don’t know where else you might find it and mine is at least six years old. Not a hole in it and the zippers are intact. I’ve abused it plenty.
Tents are climate oriented as well. So barring cold and wet, I will make suggestions on ease of setting up. I personally do not like trying to slip the tent poles through sleeves in the dark and even in the day they catch and tear and cause me no end of irritation. Get a tent with a good floor. I also recommend using a ground cloth of some sort. I usually use a tarp, great for wet climates. Ventilation is another big thing for me. Condensation can make you miserable. Next is the tent cover, just make sure it allows ventilation and has some moisture resistance. You will probably only need a three season tent. The other things to think about are poles, I like fiberglass, they don’t bend like aluminum, but they do break. I prefer stand alone to staking, but if you are car camping you can carry a rubber mallet, still I’ve been in some pretty nasty spots where trying to drive a tent stake left me with a sore back and bent stakes.
If you are tall, get a tent that is long enough for you to recline in comfortably and still have room for your gear and or partner! I suggest shopping at a store that has several set up and ask if you can crawl inside….take your shoes off. It would be terrible to find out your tent makes you claustrophobic twenty miles from your car. One final comment is about WIND. If you camp in a windy area, get a tent cover that goes down to the ground otherwise, you may return to find your tent has taken flight.
There are a lot of inexpensive tents that work just fine. Good luck in your search and if you need any more info, someone is bound to have the answer.
Have fun!
Related to knives, I know there has been discussion about the Gerber ASEK knives. I saw a buddy this weekend who is a USMC pilot, and in our discussion with him and other pilots, I learned they get issued a Gerber automatic knife, not the ASEK knives as often stated when deployed. I thought it was interesting. The ones that have been deployed described it to me and my friend preparing for deployment., but I can’t find anything close to it, do companies (or Gerber specifically) make military versions of things that they wouldn’t sell to civilians or publicize? The Gerber 06 automatic is the closest to what they described, but it isn’t exact.
Mike, I enjoyed the knifetest website, it was interesting. I like the Buck Nighthawk short 4 7/8 inch blade VS 6 1/2. My only cause for pause is the sheath. I am weary of nylon sheaths and fixed blades. I live them for my folders, and even a few knives I have that have a kydex insert within the nylon for the blade. I guess I just prefer something rigid between my body and a blade.
I know we have been talking about knives, especially the ones Bear uses, I would suggest looking on Ebay, I just got a folding Gerber Gator for 15 bucks brand new, box sheath etc. It will be nice to have when I don’t want to carry my Ka-bar, and besides, I can always use another knife. 🙂
John, I live in AZ and have a Columbia bag that is rated to 40 or 50 degrees. I went camping about 2 weeks ago and it got down to 41 or so one night, I felt it in my toes but that was about it. I threw on a pair of socks and was fine. It is fleece with a cover on it. You can get them for $20-25 at amazon, campmor etc. They zip together too for a double bag, but I haven’t done it. It also can be used as a liner and add 10-15 degrees warmth to another bag. I like that it packs down small, to about 10 inches tall and the diameter of a 2-liter bottle. I keep a fleece blanket in my bag in a trash bag at the bottom, it serves to add warmth when needed, and I always have it (and it is dry!).
The guy who is selling this claims Bear created this knife. I dont know if its true, but Just wanted to share:) Very expensive too!
Michael,
You’re right, the fleece bags are good, either alone in warmer weather or as bag liners. They can add up to 15 degrees when used as a liner inside another sleeping bag. For my trips here in the desert I use either a fleece bag or a GI poncho with poncho liner.
Car camping can be fun and it’s a cheaper way to go cross country on trips. If all you’re going to do is rest for 8-10 hours before hitting the road again why spend $50 plus on a hotel room when you can get a tent site at a KOA or other campground for $15. For car camping I do have to recommend the KOA’s though, they’re guaranteed to have hot showers. This comes to mind as I recall one 40 degree morning in Colorado not too far north of Denver when I stayed at an unbranded campground and stepped into a freezing shower. *L* Summer time in AZ no problem with cold showers, but 40 degrees in the mountains? Eh, I’ll take warm water please.
Btw….just recovered my computer as it crashed last night. Had to restore it from a ghost image dating back to May so I’ve got to redo a lot of writing.
John,
Look at the Slumberjack bags. They have some that are rated to 40 degrees (more like 50) but are pretty small and light weight. I have one that compresses down to about the size of a football.
Fleece bags from Wal-Mart are a great 2nd bag or a bag liner that will add about 10 degrees to a bag.
If you can, get bags that zip together. On cold nights you can share body heat with your wife! 🙂 Back in the fall we were on a campout where the temp dropped down to around 30. Frost was on the top of the tents and water bottles were starting to freeze. Some of the people on the campout had some Northface bags that were rated to 0 and complained of being cold, but my wife and I were in our 40 degree double-wide bag and stayed pretty warm. We put one of the fleece bags down first (on top of the air matress) then the double-wide and then another fleece bag on top. One of the advantages of car camping is you can take almost everthing you own!
Michael
Thanks jared. I plan on camping in the Texas hill country, so I don’t imagine it will get too, too cold. I’ll look into the Kodiak backpack. As far as sleeping bags, I’m having trouble finding one that is compact and portable, yet comfortable.
HI john for back pack’s i suggest kodiak for a back pack i have one and it serves me well. for sleeping bages it all depends how cold it’s going to get if your sleeping bages change from summer and winter. tents get some thing that well last you a long time. but an army surplius can help you with every thing rember two ways to light a fire and may i suggest strike any were matches and a flind cliped to your belt but try a pratice camp out in your back yard with your wife. bye jared
OK than mike did you notice what the steel is on it the country it came from and i would like to know. I hope it serves you well as my old one did to me and my dad. its my new fixed blade knife is more of a game knife and takes forever to build shelters with but great in cleaning fish all look in to it though.
Hello all. I’ve read a lot of this in search of guess what, bears dive knife. I know there have been a lot of answers, and most seem to even be off the subject now. But, I just had to say that I watched a lot of slow motion and paused frames, and I’m still not convinced that “we” found the exact knife. And that doesn’t matter, b/c there are several nice dive knives w/ that blade style. AND, I saw that people refered to the guthook on these knives, but, being dive knives, they are line cutters. Gut hooks are usually positioned differently. I have skinned my share of deer (I live in kentucky and have done it for pay), and I can’t see dressing a deer w/ this kind of knife. Anyway………
One other thing I wanted to share was my favorite tool ever. I have a Fijian cane knife that was brought back by a friend who frequents the island. Made of old high tempered saw blades, you can do everything from cook on it to chop down good sized hardwood trees. Goes back to that old “if you could take one thing……..” The only equivilant you might find is a bola style knife/machete. Y’know, curved out blade, long handle, but very thin. One in our circle made one. Pretty nasty lookin’. One thing we do is a 3 day “expedition” down a local creek (nearly a river) and I would never leave this baby at home.
Cheers.
I hear that Bear Grylls is a christian, which is so encouraging for me. I love the outdoors and for someone like him, with so much knowledge and experience, to even to take time during the show to marvel at God’s creation is so awesome!
Michael (MM) I saw the Survivorman episode where he drank from the lake without boiling the water. The problem with drinking unboiled, treated water is you also don’t know how the wildlife interacts with the water. Is there a dead moose floating out there somewhere? You never know. There are stories of people drinking water from “untouched” waters to hike a bit and find some carcass in the water upstream. I would rather be safe than sorry, Les had no reason to not boil the water (no emergency).
Ed
has bear use his cup on every show
What do you guys suggest as far as backpacks, sleeping bags and tents? I’m planning my first real camping trip with my wife and would like to hear what you guys suggest before I buy.
Hi Jared
No you can’t have my knife I use it in my shop of cutting up boxes if you still need help with buying a knife I would ask Paladin
He dose a lot of knife testing. You should look at this site it helped me out a lot they do all they canto brake theses thing to those knives they can because of this site mi thinking of getting a buck night hawk
Paladin,
Did you notice Les (Survivor Man) in the Canada episode drink from the lake without boiling/purifying the water first? This was where we was talking about “marking” his camp to keep bears away. Is the water in certain parts of Canada safe to drink straight from the lakes?
Michael
Love the show, and love this site! Lucky to come across it. I read it today, and may have missed it, but saw a number of people asking how Bear ties the para cord to the canteen.
Please, someone, shed light on this. It is the question I was trying to get answered when I got (happilly) lulled into reading this entire thread a few hours ago!
HI mike im back and my offer still stands all take your rambo knife if its the 9 inch one im ;ooking in to the other knife as well army sulpies is always good quilty but to be safe all look more in to it tho groing old were i am i don’t like the city my mom for a summer vactaion i want to go home so i can use a knive bye for now
Douglas and Ladies!
Forgive me for not responding sooner. I posted your comments, but hadn’t had time to read everything until now. Bravo, very nicely done!! Your efforts and commentary are very much appreciated. We look forward to more.
My views on MvW,
I think the outcry, if it can be called that, is more to do with honesty than anything else. Do honesty and television go together? Not often in today’s world but there used to be a certain level of integrity regarding documentary type programs. With today’s “reality” shows and docu-dramas the line has been turned a deep shade of neutral gray and can’t often be found anymore.
Because the show has billed itself as educational and has used a documentary style format the general expectation is that when the statement is made of “All I have with me is a knife, a water bottle, and a flint.” and “The crew is not allowed to interact or aid me in any way unless there is a dire emergency.” the audience tends to take it at face value because it’s an educational documentary type program.
Yes, it should be obvious to most that the camera crew is right there on scene to film Bear getting down from his parachute stuck in the trees as if they had Onstar built in to Bear’s water bottle and teleportation devices to get to the right spot. It’s also possible that they had radio communications with him to guide him to a landing zone since his “no assist” claim won’t be considered to have started until he’s actually on the ground. Then again it’s also entirely possible that they staged the chute snags afterwards. Parachuting into trees on purpose is a deadly risk so I wouldn’t be surprised if he were to have landed in a clear DZ and had the caught in the trees part filmed elsewhere. It’s preferable to having the host/star be impaled on a branch or seriously injured.
I watch the program because I find it entertaining more than educational. The two most common causes of death in the wilderness are falls and drowning. What does Bear “teach” us on his show? He teaches us to go down quickly because we just can’t wait to find another route down. He teaches us to jump into frigid waters from 70 foot heights, not knowing the depth of the water below. I mention these because they’re the two most common peeves posted in many forums about the show. Me? I know better so I’m not about to do such things unless there was absolutely no other option. Still, I’m entertained at his antics and his Fear Factor type visuals of eating grubs, larvae and such. If it were me I’d state that it (whatever “it” happened to be”) was edible and do the eating (and retching) off screen. I’m reminded of Paul Hogan in the scene from “Crocodile Dundee” where he’s talking to the character Sue Carlton regarding eating the grubs and sugar ants and yams. “Are you having any?” She asks. “Me?” replies Dundee, “…Well, you can live on it, but it tastes like sh**.” {said as he starts opening a can of food.}
It’s been said that Bear has admitted the PFD in the one episode, but it’s also been pointed out that it was an admission only after he was called on it. Therein lies the rub for most of the complaints, credibility. Up to that point there was still the line about being unaided, but after it was proven he admitted it. This is sort of like Washington and the cherry tree. Dad sees the son standing next to the chopped tree holding an axe…of course the truth is going to come out. Between that and other reports and slips during interviews about Mars bars and the on-camera statements that he made the raft in the island episode himself puts the host’s credibility into question. To have this come out less than a week after it was revealed by multiple sources that Bear did not actually fly over Everest really darkens the credibility of Bear as a person. This is a shame as on-camera he seems to be a very likeable guy and he’d be one I’d like to spend an evening with sipping on pints of Guiness and a bottle of Glen Livet. As far as MvW/Born Survivor is concerned, if they’d been up front about dramatization and/or dropped that “no assist” tag line and coupled it with an announcement during the show that he was going to use a PFD due to insurance requirements but you could still do the same thing with your pack and hole filled garbage bag I don’t think there would be an outcry of lies and it wouldn’t have hurt the ratings either.
I’ve seen comparisons made to Les on Survivorman and to Steve Irwin. Mr. Irwin always was up front about the cameras and his interactions with them and week after week his ratings soared, mainly due to his personality coupled with a very obvious love of his work and animals. There’s no reason Bear couldn’t do the same. Les Stroud has an informative show but he’s far from perfect himself. On his most recent episodes Friday night (swamp and Canada) he forgot his rain pants in a frigid rain storm; didn’t prepare the pond lily roots properly and made himself sick; hunted for snails and caught two, said he was going to hunt for more but didn’t; started a fire without having wood collected; and hung around camp doing nothing for two days while he was ill and depressed. In the swamp episode he built a summer shelter and got cold, but didn’t alter the shelter and was cold again, and waited another night after that before he finally added to the shelter to keep warm. Yes I was entertained, but I’m not sure I really learned anything more from that program than MvW except more of what not to do. Are all three shows educational? Yes, to a point. Are they all three entertaining? Yes they are.
The issue with MvW is that they need to be up front about what’s going on and this means the production company as well as Bear. It may be entertainment but also treat it like the documentary style it is and don’t try to hide things. Does anyone care if Bear stayed at a resort during preparation for the show or afterwards? I doubt it. However if he stayed at the same hotel while he’s out there trying to convince the masses that he’s having such a horrible night sleeping in his hastily built debris shelter then there’s an issue.
I like the program and think Bear is a great presenter/host and I hope that they continue the series as it’s fun to watch. I would like to see more honesty up front about things and not wait until they’ve been caught to own up to the “cheating” as it’s been called.
As far as the paragliding over Everest is concerned, if he did get that high he set a world altitude record. Why not be satisfied with that instead of claiming he flew over the peak of Everest? Again, here’s where personal credibility comes in. If it’s been faked it will come out eventually and waiting to tell the truth until after the fake is discovered causes the person to lose a lot of credibility.
G’nite all and here’s to hopes that MvW will be back this week.
Edward & Dro,
The “Blast Match” works very well. Backpacker did a review of it in their October ’06 Survival issue and I’d been using mine already for a few years. One of the BPM field testers had the spring fail on theirs and it still worked without it. I’ve been using mine since ’99-’00 and have never had a problem with it. When the product description mentions a shower of sparks, they mean it. Unfold the cover and the flint rod springs out. Press on the steel and push downward sharply and the sparks are driven right into your tinder.
Another one that’s survived years of use and done well is the “Strike Force”. It has both the flint and striker steel and has an added advantage of the handle being a storage area for emergency tinder. Mine is black, but it also comes in blaze orange.
What Bear has used in the MvW series is the Swedish Fire Steel. Usually it appears to be the army model but I think I saw a red handle on one episode but I’m not sure. The Army model is thicker and lasts longer while the red one is the Scout model. The scout is rated for 3,000 strikes while the army one is rated for 12,000. I’ve used these on and off for years also and they work fine.
Hello Everyone! Celeste here, Mark back at camp. I suppose I must respond to the comments concerning Man vs. Wild. First let me thank all those who have kept a proper perspective on the subject. Man vs. Wild is not a documentary, it is entertainment with information about survival. I don’t believe anyone commenting here has personal knowledge about what occurs behind the scenes on Man vs. Wild, making all information second hand. We prefer not to encourage or spread unfounded, unsubstantiated or false accusations about anyone. If anyone is disgruntled, unhappy, disappointed with what you think Man vs. Wild should or should not be, please keep it off this post. There are many other venues willing to promote negative responses.
Thanks to all for the many hours you spend answering questions and sharing your hard earned knowledge. It’s great connecting with everyone and hearing about your lives.
Josh,
First and foremost, the owners of the board have the right to delete any post they wish and for any reason. I’ve seen posts from you, including your rather rude comparison to nazis. New users to the board are on moderated status to help prevent spam from clogging up the posts. Even after being removed from moderated status, the software here on the website may automatically moderate posts with certain content. Many of my posts get moderated because I make several posts in a short time. Others are moderated because I include multiple web links. Look at the bottom of the screen and you’ll see that this site uses “Bad Behavior” as one of its tools to keep out spam. When I see that I have a post that’s been moderated I don’t get upset. I know Mark or Celeste will get to it eventually and let it go through. I’d much rather have this screening than have the board filled up with advertisements on how to make certain parts larger, smaller, softer or more firm. 😉
Lighten up and if a post did get deleted perhaps it was more of a language usage issue than commentary on the show.
Doug!as,
Thanks for your blog! That’s a great idea and kudos to you and your daughters. The blog is informative and easy to navigate through what was what for each episode. Congratulations! I’ve added it to my bookmarks but please post the link whenever you update the blog.
Edward,
I was south on this trip, between Casa Grande, Gila Bend and Ajo. I also skirted the Luke AFB range. I covered a lot of miles on this trip, but since it was volunteer work mixed with testing I did it on two wheels more than two feet. 🙂 There are a lot of 4×4, and bike trails through this area and often portions of the trails become overgrown by branches and other brush. Normally I’d be content to let nature take its course, but then what happens is is that when faced with an inconvenient obstacle many people will take their trucks, dirt bikes, and mountain bikes around it. I’d rather not go chopping on a tree, but pruning a few branches is often the lesser problem when compared to new tracks being carved around the problem area as a bypass. A few pruned branches is unsightly, but a ten foot swath cut through the brush on either side of a low overhanging branch is far worse. Thus this trip was part of a volunteer effort in conservation. 🙂
When I got back from my business trip late the night after I posted about the sand and rain storms I packed up the dual sport (KLR 650 rated for both road and dirt) and headed south before sunup. I normally trek ultra light but this trip had over 20 pounds of steel for the various knives tested, and I also did some of my “Wal-Mart as an outfitter” testing too. I was nearly overloaded on the bike between gear and extra water & fuel containers mounted on the rear in place of the usual saddlebags. I ended up taking just two of the smaller digital cameras instead of my 35mms. A military issue folding shovel (entrenching tool) was added to the gear on this trip as well, since I rarely go out and not find a four wheeler stuck in the sand or mud somewhere. With this being monsoon season, a shovel and extra materials for the first aid kit seemed seemed prudent. An extra tarp, an extra poncho (my normal one is used as a sleeping bag with a liner tied in, and a rain suit I was pretty much set along with my regular kit.
I did some hiking on the trip too, leaving the bike secured to trees or saguaro, and enjoyed the scenery.
josh48315, I imagine Mark and/or Celeste will address your issues, I am guessing you haven’t read this thread in total otherwise you would know that you are not the first person to say that aspects of MvsW are questionable, like the life jacket in one of the river episodes etc. There have been other posters that have made statements of their opinion or belief that did not present the show in the best light, and they were allowed to be up, so you may want to wait before you start throwing terms around like NAZI. Otherwise you simply present yourself as ignorant and limited in credibility.
Dro, if you search the discussion you’ll find that the canteen comes up many times.
Some of the comments even have links where you can buy one.
As for the flint, I’m sure it depends on the episode, but in the Iceland episode it looked like he was using something like this because of the red fob on the flint . What do you think? Am I close? Link no longer viable.
why is the admin deleting my posts? because they speak the truth that bear used outside sources during shooting and even slept in hotels? admin is very nazi like.
Paladin, where did you test in AZ? I like the Whitemountains up near Alipine and Mt. Baldy, but have also gone south Sabino Canon, Mt Lemon, and other areas. I have never taken a Javelina, but have eaten them.
Ed
Dro,
There are a lot of good types out there, I have heard good things about the “blast match” but never used it. In one episode I could see something red in his hand when he was using his flint/steel. I was wondering if it was like one of the Kershaw systems for flint and steel. I think a good flint and steel will work regardless. The one I commonly use is an old boyscout one, I got it when I was like 10, but never was a Boy Scout. I always looked at the Kershaw ones as they are nice, but never needed to spend the money since my one still works and has for years.
As far as the Canteen, go back a few posts and there are several references to it.
I haven’t seen any mention of Al Mar knives? Especially the SERE Operator knives as well as their SERE folders. I’ve been recommended these knives by reps from A. G. Russell. They are definitely more expensive, but look to be very well made.
Anyone have any experience with these?
What kind of flint does he use and canteen?
I love this thread. It’s chock full of info. Good job, Mark and Celeste…
My daughters and I have put together a blog answering the very popular question “What knife is Bear Grylls using in X episode”. We just finished identifying the knives for the first season and are now working on the second. We’d like to invite your readers to check our answers and catch any mistakes we may have made. We’ve done a lot of research so we think we nailed the identities of the knives correctly, but we’d like to be certain.
Now, concerning the “Bear is a big old faker” meme going around, we’ve lurked here over the past few months and never realized that the Mark here was the notorious “Mark” of the Sunday Times article. So our blog entry about the controversy is cheeky and completely ignorant of the fact that Mark Wienert is the same guy who was always defending Bear here. We’ve updated our entry to reflect that new information, but we wanted Mark to know we think he’s an A-OK guy who was probably just mugged by the MSM. Here’s hoping Bear doesn’t get even by replacing all your gear with Hollywood props. 😉
i was wondering what knife bear used that was serrated on one side and fine on the other?
Jane,
If the theme is MvW then I’d agree with Josh on the Gerber Gator II, but with the plain edge. Serrated edge knives are difficult at best to sharpen in the field without a proper sharpener for the job. Any quality plain edge knife that is kept sharp can cut through anything a blade with serrations can. One of the reasons for serrations is because a good number of folk don’t take care of their blades well enough and need the serrations to cut difficult material, but if the knife is kept sharp the serrations are unnecessary. This is especially the case when you have a short bladed knife such as the Gator II, if it’s a 50/50 split between plain and serrations that leaves you with just 2 inches of plain blade to work with. Just my opinion of course, but unless you’ve got a conical diamond sharpener or a triangle ceramic for sharpening serrated edges you’re out of luck as sharpening a serrated blade on a normal whet stone will ruin the serrations. One last note about serrations and use on MvW. Take a look at the dive knife used in the Costa Rica and Island episodes. This knife was plain edge on one side and serrated on the back/spine of the blade. I don’t recall Bear ever using the serrated portion for any of his cutting on camera, but at the end of the Island episode you can see where the serrations had been bent and battered from using the large sticks as hammers to cut large pieces of wood.
Here’s a link to all three options for the Gerber Gator II: link no longer viable.
The choice of a gut hook is a matter of preference but I believe it was a gut hook model that was used in the Everglades episode.
The plain edge with gut hook is one of the many knives I spent the last week field testing and it performed well. The gut hook worked well on small game – jack rabbits and javelina (small wild pigs).
What ideas do you have for the rest of the theme? Water bottle, flint & steel, or what? This sounds like a great idea. The pack used most often is Jansport I believe but any good quality day pack should work well. Sierra Trading Post has closeouts and overstock deals on many models, and if he’s above or below average in height or breadth, the Lowe Alpine day packs come in sizes based on both torso length. That has saved my back lots of hardship over the years as I’m a tall and broad shouldered.
I think that it is missleading the way that the show starts saying that the camera crew cannot help. I think that the spirit is the same though. He does show many good and useful tips/tricks/whatever. I still enjoy the show and although i do not believe that It is as impresive as when i first started watching the show, I will continue to watch faithfully. I still dig the show!
Yeah I saw something on the wire about BBC4 accusing Man Vs. Wild of skimping on the “survival” aspect. While Channel 4’s acusations border on ridiculously offensive, I think the important thing to note about the points Josh made is that Bear apparently was against deviating from doing things himself, and (at least in one case) was overrided by Discovery producers.
get the gator II serrated, drop point or clip point doesnt really matter
I’m still shopping, and I feel like such a girl with these questions ..
The theme of the gift is “Man vs. Wild” and I’m going to authenticity. So, I’m going to purchase the Gerber Gator, but I notice that it comes in serrated and .. not serrated. Which do ya’ll suggest?
Thanks Paladin!
Thanks for the info on building the daisy chain.
Just wanted to say that I love the show. I’m not a survival expert and the last time I even went camping was when I was about 12 or so. I tried to get my friends and family into it but most refuse because its “soooo staged.” I never expected the show to be 100% real and I understand that he’s just trying to teach us, and I love it! I just hope the next season doesn’t turn into a contest to see what nasty things he will eat etc.
Keep up the good work Bear and crew!
Jane,
Bear has used many different knives in various episodes, a Joe Diver knife in the Island and Costa Rica shows; a folding Gerber Gator in Ecuador, and a fixed blade Gator in the Everglades just to name a few. 🙂 He also has his own knife out now which he’s supposed to be using in season 3, but it’s from a custom maker and costs about $700 US (350 UK pounds). With the dollar going weaker against the pound it may reach up there to $800.
The Gerber LMF you mentioned is a good knife and several here who have purchased them have given the model high praise. The LMF comes in two flavors, the Infantry and the ASEK (Aircrew Survival & Escape Knife). The main difference is that the Infantry comes with one leg strap while the ASEK comes with two leg straps and possibly a seatbelt type cutter. The knife itself and the sheath are the same.
Hi All,
I’ve tried to read all of your entries about the ever-popular Bear Grylls knife. My boyfriend and I are avid fans and I’m looking to purchase a Bear Grylls-esque knife for him for his birthday. After much reading, I’m still unsure if someone discovered the coveted knife or not .. if you did, let me know! If not, could someone let me know if
Gerber LMF II Infantry , Coyote Brown, 22-41463
is good. It’s on amazon.com ! THANK YOU SO MUCH !
Hey all! I’m back! I have a lot of writing to do from the product tests and to answer some of the questions directed my way. For a look at how the daisy chain is done check out this website:
This site not only shows the knots photo by photo, but also animates the creation of the knots.
Getting back to the subject of sharpening or sharpeners that was posted a while back, I’ve done some product tests on some new items as well as can give reviews on the materials I’ve been using for years. I’ve broken things down to these categories:
Sharpening at home
Sharpening in the field
How to sharpen a blade with various sharpeners.
Is this pretty much what everyone is looking for? Which do y’all want me to post on first, home, field or how-to?
John, how do you cary the Nato Water Bottle and Crusader cup? Bestglide is coming out with a specialized drop leg pouch but I can’t seem to wrap mine around my waste comfortably.
One guy has asked about Bear’s canteen & what kind it is. It is called, Crusader Integral Survival Unit. WOW! Fancy name for a canteen right? Bear only uses the water bottle, & the cup canteen for cooking and or for boiling. I have had mine for a couple of years now & use it when I go camping in the Big Bend, or fishing out of Galveston. & it is a must have! You can puschase one through a company called bestglide.com They are shipped out of Robinson, Texas. All The Best Guys. John.
I haven’t spotted the daisey chain that bear uses yet( just started watching), but it is a simple techinique that climbers and mountaineers use to carry long peices of cord or webbing. I used to do a lot of rock climbing, and all of my anchor webbing was carried in a daisey chain. For any length of webbing or cord: 1) Fold it in half from end to end 2) tie an overhand knott in the looped end, leaving a small loop at the end 3) now hold the knott in left hand and grab a section of the doubled chord just below the knott in your right hand. Make a bend(like the lower case letter n) and push it up through the hole of the loop fromed by the knott. 4) Now hold the loop you just formed and repeat step 3. Continue to do this until you work your way to the end of the doubled length of cord. 5) at the very end, you can pass the last small peice of doubled cord through the last loop so that it won’t come un done. To access the cord quickly, just undo that last little piece and then pull, and the entire daisey chain will unravel in a flash.
Once you have made the daisey chain, you could tie it into a sling and clip on your water bottle or accessories. I assume this is what y’all are talking about with Bear carrying his water bottle this way.
Edward,
From Wikipedia….
A daisy chain, chain sinnet, chain stitch or monkey braid is a method of shortening a rope, extension cord, or other cable while in use or for storage.
To tie:
1. Create a loop in the rope.
2. Bend the working end of the rope into a U-shape and slip this U through the previous loop.
3. With one hand, pull on the working and the standing ends of the rope. With the other, pull on the U-shaped length. A new loop will form and the previous loop will become a new stitch.
4. Repeat steps 2-3 until the rope has been sufficiently shortened.
5. Tie a half-hitch through the last loop.
To untie: untie the half-hitch and pull on the working end of the rope or cable.
I would be interested in knowing more about the Diasy chain system Bear uses if anyone can share more, I would appreciate it.
Izzy,
Cheaper than dirt, Ebay, surplus stores are all good places to look. If you watch ebay, I have seen some go in the low $30’s. If your looking for the “extreme D2” series than you are going to pay more, $75 plus easy, but I have always been very happy with the standard Ka-bar. I know from reading about the experiences of others (and seeing the effects) the “old school” leather handled ones are nice, but not good in wet, damp climates. The handles over time don’t do well with the moisture.
Hi
Thanks josh48315 for the tip on knifetests.com it’s a great site. I love how they test all the brands Thanks. ever one who is looking to buy a knife should see this site they do some crazy stuff to those
knives.
HI mike its jared and all take your rambo knife if you don’t want it as long as its a 9 inch one but all look into this other knife on e bay its a army avitor knife cammo and has two pouches on the side of the sheth so if you loose your knife you won’t loose your gear i don’t know who makes it but the army has it so it should have a good quilty to it so think about it i woun’t be on for a couple of dayes so bye for now jared
they also stab through metal, test tip strength, how much a knife can be bent and pried until it snaps, ease of chipping, etc, you name it they test it. like i said before you will be surprised at the different brand name knives of those that aren’t as good as you think and those that you think wouldn’t be as good but can take a hell of a beating and can still be what a knife should be.
everyone should check out knifetests.com these guys buy popular knives from all different brands and try EVERYTHING with them and completely destroy the knives and rate them to see which knives truly can withstand different abuse types and can still chop, pry, cut, slice, etc. you’d be surprised at the brand name knives that really aren’t as good as you think.
Izzy you can get a Ka-Bar that cheap at either army/navy surplus store, or Ebay. There are different kinds of Ka bars but dont go for the most expensive … personally, dont think its worth it. Unless you really want and, can afford top of the line..
Bear wears Merrell Chameleon Strech shoes on most of his episodes. I work at Cabelas and sell them. I noticed on one episode though, Hawaii, he wore something else. I presume because of the active volcanoes and lava.
edward, where did you find the Ka-Bar for 40$’s?
Lawrence,
Thanks for the info. I’ll take your advice and do some “googling.”
I, too, am interested in how Bear attaches that daisy-chained paracord to his canteen and then easily unties it from his waist. Interesting stuff.
Michael
I bought a Rambo knife once when i was 12. I took it camping and there I go walking through the woods and decide to chop off a sapling. As soon as i did that(no joke) it broke the handle and put a big dent in the blade. Needless to say I was mad. The following weekend I bought a SOG tigershark and I still have it. In my opinion you can get a very high quality knife for 118$ cause thats what they costs.
hi jared
who makes the knife your buying find out what its made of if its easy to sharpen dose it Dose it hold n edge its good you are looking at other knives look tell you find the one the knife you will use day in and day out its up to you and your bank account which one you get
Link no longer vialble.
Here is the Knife.
Hi mike i found another knife on e bay only if you clip it to your belt the survival sulipise it two pouches on the sheth the knife is about 7 inch and comes with a wet stone and the knife is sarted at the top. and the rambo knifes you have to get use to the size my dad has a 10 inch and i got use to it but thanks for the advice and if you don’t want your rambo knife all take it off your hands if its the 9 inch one.
ps thanks for the e bay tip its helping me with find more and a gigger slection on survival knive’s
I have been reading the SAS Survival Handbook and have a question. In the Australian Outback episode, Bear drinks his own pee because he hasn’t found water yet and it is so hot. I have heard it is o.k to drink your pee and that it is sterile. But in the SAS handbook, the author states that you should never, ever drink your own pee or saltwater (I know why with saltwater). Instead, you should use a solar still to distill the water out of your pee. Is this an inaccuracy? Who is right? I never want to be in this position, but just wanted to know the “correct” answer on this topic.
Hey John,
I get this question a lot from my students. I do not recommend drinking urine as a way to hydrate. If you’re fully hydrated you can drink your urine because its mostly water. However when you become dehydrated the amount of toxins in your urine rise. Salt water will not hydrate you. Drinking saltwater will cause you to hallucinate and become disoriented, and quickly dehydrate. I have read of people who have trained themselves to drink saltwater; a sip now and then. But they still hallucinated and became dehydrated if they did not have fresh water to drink. Solar Still work great for urine or saltwater as long as you have the parts for one and lots of sunshine!
Mark Wienert
Best Survival Knife Blog post – Lifesong Wilderness Adventures
Hi JARED
The stuff in the knife is never any good I took it all out and put water proof matches and a hook and line in it for fishing and stuff.
I do not like the rambo knives because they to long for most stuff I do .to put your matches and survival stuff in the handle
Is not a good idea because if you lose the knife there goes your stuff. if I were you I would buy the big name knifes because they are generally the best for the money. I got mine because I was young and like the look of it but now I know more about knives and now I m going to buy a knife I can use.
As far as the clothing discussion. I had a pair of Northface convertible pants, but have switched to REI brand. There is no difference that I have found between quality and reliability, but they are less expensive. There are plenty of companies out there that make these, but the “quick dry” or “never wet” features of them is great. On my trip I used a pair of REI pants and a breathable rain jacket, and fished in the rain. I never felt wet, and my pants dried quickly. I like how light they are too. Cotton is heavy even when dry, but when wet it weighs so much more.
Ok, back from the White Mountains here in Arizona. I said I would follow-up on the Ka-Bar as a chopping tool. I am thoroughly impressed. I have never used a knife for chopping more than taking a sapling for spear fishing, hiking pole etc. I wasn’t concerned about the knife, I have beaten a Ka-bar pretty badly before, I was more concerned with user error, so just in case I had a Gerber backpaxe with me (I never needed it). Friday I was able to collect dry branches for firewood and chop them down into manageable pieces with the Ka-bar.
On Saturday I had rain for 4-5 hours. After setting up a tarp for shelter over my tent (gotta love paracord) and to keep some space dry, I set to work. Some people up the road took off once the rain came and left some fire wood; being an opportunist I collected some of it. I used the Ka-Bar and a solid piece of Aspen as a hammer. I made quick work of a variety of woods to make small shards of fire wood that I knew would burn quick in the rain. I cut pine, aspen, and oak without any problems. I then went and collected some “green” wood from the bottom of some trees to have a dry base to start my fire on when I needed it. Throughout the weekend I took upto and slightly over a 3” diameter sapling or branch with the Ka-Bar and at times using something as a hammer for help. I was concerned about if it would dull the blade, but each night I had no problems gutting and cleaning my dinners of trout or anything else I needed. I had no issues with the knife and it still has a good edge too it, some of the coating came off from using it to split the wood, but that doesn’t matter to me, once it gets really ugly I will refinish it, or just pay $40 bucks for a knew one and let my wife use this one in her garden for digging.
For this trip I also purchased a Olicamp Space Saver Cup 5-6 bucks from Campmor, it is a cooking cup that can attach to the bottom of a Nalgene bottle. I was skeptical if it would stay on because it simply slips over the bottom of the bottle, but hiking, fishing, and such it never fell off. I also liked it because it had stamped measurements inside up to 16oz. I know some have their own views about Nalgene bottles, but I like them and really liked the cup. It doesn’t add any real weight and gives your bottle a solid metal bottom.
hi mike i went on e bay and found the knife but i could get the one i want but i don’t know if i should get it i did find another one with a cammo case but not the rambo it pretty good but i might still want the one from the first moive in between two and the one you have is from rambo 3 i want the one from rambo 1 9 inch bye for now
hi every body i haven’t seen as many espiodes as some of you have because were i live it as been reclen’t canceled so now i have to watch it on you tube so can someone put all the you see on so i can keep up with the conversisons plz and thankyou bye
mike were i live i can’t get to some of the places i want to go with a 14 inch knife and my dad had one as a kid and it worked for him his was a 6 inch and he had it for years. and yes the saws are genarly useless but i could get a better quilty one from the army my dad has access to stuff like that and i always carry a back up swiss army knife in my pocket worst comes to worst i could end up like bear im the rockies with nothing but make do with what ever iv got but thanks for the tips though and the other equpitment in it is it any good bye for now JARED
mike the one i want is 9 inch and my dad can get some more saws from the army and problety better quiltey and what stell is you knife
bye for now jared
Hey everyone, I was wondering what jacket does Bear wear in Copper Canyon because it doesn’t look like his old M Mountain Light Jacket that he wore in the first season. Another thing, I don’t know if I’m just looking in the wrong places but what was the knife he used during that episode? And in general, where does he shop for clothes because even though he’s out in the wild covered in dirt he always looks so damn stylish…?
Hi Jared
I have found that a Rambo knife is generally not the best knife to have
I have one like he but never use it because its to big and the saw on the back is useless
But if you think you need a 14 inch knife than look on ebay you can get one for 25.00$Dollars that’s ware I got mine
Dose any one know were i can get a rambo knife for the right price i found the knife on line but it was 119$can and i don’t have that money to blow on it if any one knows were i can get for the right price canadian tell me plz bye for now
Micheal Richardson,
From what I can remember from earlier discussions in this forum and don’t hold me to this. I don’t think you can buy them here in the U.S. but i’m not sure. Maybe somebody else will know. Try google. I would first suggest that you search the forum for that discussion and maybe there you will find your answers.
I’m new to the forum and find a lot of the material useful. Paladin, I had a question for you… (well, maybe more than one)
I saw the picture of your kukri. I was wondering how you like it. What would you normally use it for? I’m considering getting one, so the research continues. I own many knives (from SOG and Kershaw folders, to Buck and Outdoor Edge Kodi-Pak for field dressing game, and small 3 blade pocket knives). However, I don’t have a sturdy “work horse” I can use for everything else. Do you know anything about the products from Himalayan Imports? They specialize in the BirGorkha Khukuri made in Nepal.
Also, I noticed you said you coming “back” to Arizona. Do you live here? I’m a desert dweller myself.
Anyone know what jacket Bear is wearing in the Scotland episode? It’s the two tone red jacket.
i checkout out that bear grylls knife at bayleyknife they’re charging 350 english pounds for it!!!
Just watched the Outback episode and it had a couple of close up shots of the paracord Bear uses to carry his water bottle. As Paladin stated earlier it is a daisy chain for the shoulder and waist straps. The next question is how does he make the waist strap where he can fasten and un-fasten with only one hand? Inquiring minds want to know. 🙂
Also noticed he’s using a BIG knife in this episode. I just caught a quick glimpse of it when he was building his shelter.
Michael
Lawrence,
Does that mean we here in the States cannot order and then have shipped the shoes that Bear wears? I thought most anything (especially shoes) could be had from the other side of the puddle.
Michael
Dutch,
The shoes bear grylls are wearing are only available in the UK. They are chameleons but they have laces instead.
Frank,
Bear doesn’t use a seal pup. He uses a JoeDiverAmerica knife. These questions were answered earlier in the blog. Go there to get more details.
I agree with frank this show is awesome the only thing tho is that a lot of the stunts bear does would require a lot of core strength. its awesome how he gets scared at night also
I know Bear uses a Buck “iceman” in one episode and a SOG “seal pup” in another….
I love the show, it one of the few show that I’ll watch repeats of over and over. The guy is a certifiable bad ass….too much so. A lot of people would get themselves killed trying to do the things he does so easly….it’s cool to see him do it, but it more a how-to for special forces, who else could replicate most of what he does?
I just got a military style survival knife and was wondering if any one has heard of it, it’s the Bear 11 Tac II Drop Point by bear and son cutlery and it has a locking sheath.
Bear Grylls for President
Lawerence you may try rat knives
(if you cant click on it and go straight to the page im not very good with computers)
Hey, so i’m in the market for a good knife and ive decided on the sog seal pup, but i was wondering what separates the seal pup from the seal pup elite besides twenty bucks? Also if the boots Bear wears are merrell chameleon wrap stretch gore tex xcr’s how does he have laces on that one episode? Doesn’t stretch mean that anti-lacing system or am i totally wrong?
I live near a lot of temperet forest which i live to explor in im conserting in getting a bigger fixed blade knife i have a 5 inch fixed blade but its more of a game knife and im looking to get a wilderness survival knife perferd 6/7 inch with hollow handel for survival gear and would like to know were to get one with good steal and good price but has to be able to go on my belt recquirred by law and makes it handy for some of the outdoor actives i enjoy doing i was lost befor and the knife i had didn’t cut it it was ok but i needed more please some one point me in the right direchen.
Been a while since I posted anything but I’ve read the strings. several points readers should go through the string as many of the questions are already answered.
Josh if you’re still looking the Gil Hibben Pro Alaskan has a 3/16 440c blade about 6″ long micarta handle leather sheath retails ariund $99 but you can get them for $50 or less, from sites stocking united cutlery. It works for me. As a folder I have an old “Bear Paw” but Schrade has gone or been sold and apparently the quality has dropped. I picked up a CS Stingray limited numbered rosewood handle in Crystal City DC 16 years ago still good . For everyday the Spyderco Harpy “Hannibal Lecter” takes some beating single hand opening razor sharp serrated blade.
I found the SOG mini pentagon useless in the Jungle (too small) I would recommend if you are going to a jungle take your favourite blade and buy a cheap >$5 machete when you arrive. Give it to a local when you leave.
The CS Bushman though strong has a flaw and it is recommended to hone the blade to a single bevel it goes in then in again grind it to one.
A colleague bought a Gil Hibben see above and used it in the Amazon and the Peruvian Mountains and was happy with it.
I know cotton kills but check out the Tactical 5.1 vest they are uncomfortable when soaked in tropical sweat (personal experience) but you can pack a lot in it and it works as a layer.
Crag Hoppers make a superb long sleeve shirt UV resistant dries in minutes (pick em up in sales!) and the North Face make pants which unzip the dry quick as well.
Still folk mention the Type 58 water bottle. Use the mug it comes with and pack the steel one you have to buy it separate, or wedge it together with a piece of cork then tie the mug to the base. Trouble is it becomes a pain when you want a drink. But it might stop you drinking all your vital water too quick Logic .
Be careful out there.
Does anyone know where I can buy a swamprat knife. There website doesn’t show any.
ur ben find a army surplus or used outdoor gear store they should have a canteen like his and the cup that the army uses for cooking keep looking
survivor jared
Daniel,
I’m not sure what belt Bear wears on every episode, but I’ve seen him wear a “riggers” belt on more than one. It’s a very strong nylon belt that has an extra loop for securing yourself to a safety line (such as when Bear is standing on the runners of the helicopters. It can also act as a rapelling safety harness, and I think he used it as that on one episode.
BlackHawk and Spec-Ops make riggers belts. I tend to prefer Blackhawk but both make fine products. Here’s a link to a riggers belt available through BQ. They’re a reputable distributor and have been around for years.
Izzy,
Good eye in recognizing the kukri. My Ghurka Kukri and Trailmaster are two of about four or five knives that made it through Hurricane Charlie a few years ago. The knives in the survival packs made it through, but most every thing else was scattered in the debris. The weeks following Charlie and his friends who came to visit southwest Florida really put those two through more field testing than I ever really want to go through again. It’s also one reason I tend to put a very small bottle of gun oil in my pack since then. Days and weeks of short provisions, hard work mucking around in the aftermath, and the wet salty climate took their toll on a number of blades that were recovered and unceremoniously tossed in the refuse heap. A couple of drops of oil in a tropical salt climate can save your carbon bladed knives…and it helps in fire building too if you need. 🙂
If your TiNi finish coating wears through to the steel you might consider using a cold blue to touch it up. The “blue” is really blue-black and the more coats you put on the darker it’s going to be. I wouldn’t worry about it until you get a lot of wear though. A few scratches here and there aren’t going to hurt anything, just keep the blade clean (and make sure it’s clean before going into the sheath, even for a moment) and oiled and you shouldn’t have any problems.
As for blueing the edge, I wouldn’t. First, the excess blue needs to be removed using 0000 steel wool, which would kill the edge of the blade. Second, you’d have to blue it every time you sharpen the knife. Since it’s the edge of the knife that is used the most, any surface rust that might find its way onto the knife will be removed the next time you sharpen it.
Here’s a CS Recon Scout factory second that I brought with me on this trip. Sorry, on this trip I just brought a basic digital camera and no studio lights so you’ll have to bear with me in using a ACUPAT bandana instead of the hotel bedsheet as the backdrop. 🙂 This knife had been in storage in its sheath for about four years in a storage room in Missouri until recently. Other than a light oil treatment before putting it away it’s had nothing, but the edge is still shiny. As a working blade, a few swipes on the sharpener will keep it that way.
Here’s why it’s a second. The knife is perfect in all respects with the exception that it was part of a batch that got a bad bath when receiving its black coating. Instead of sandblasting the knife and redoing the coating they sold it at a reduced price and it’s twin has held up great over the years and is now a part of my eldest son’s equipment.
Dave,
In regards to the canteen I’ve looked at the DC website where Bear states that he uses a daisy chain loop of parachute cord so that he has extra cord to use during the adventure if he needs it. He’s right in that by using a daisy chain loop he gets a LOT of para cord in a small package. From watching the re-runs on DC this week it looks like he has the shoulder loop secured to the cup handles and the waist loop is either separate or possibly just one long length. I can’t be sure but it looks like he has a single width of cord looped over the neck of the canteen to form an X to secure it to the cup.
Kary,
Great video! That just made my night, thanks! 🙂
MM,
Sounds like you’ve already got a very good blade. I don’t have any experience with this maker or knife, but it sounds great and if it’s worked well for you then I’d say stick with it. 🙂
Also, thanks for the confirmation on the lock failure on the Ecuador episode. I was supposed to be back in AZ tonight but have been delayed by a dust/sand storm back home. It’s monsoon season so I’m still gone for yet another night.
Bear uses a Gerber Gator partially serrated knife and for about 45 dollars is an excellent knife. One of the fixed blade knives he uses is a custom knife he designed. There is a close-up picture of the knife at Bear’s website. I enjoy the series, however, one of the rules I was taught in survival situations, was never to rush and take unnecessary risks. Jumping into extremely cold water would come under this. I understand for the sake of the show, Bear has a sort of deadline to make, but he frequently takes risks only a survival expert would take and- CATCH 22- that is not what this show is supposed to be about. It is supposed to be about a TYPICAL hiker, camper, etc.
To answer Paladin’s question…
Paladin Says:
July 14th, 2007 at 2:09 am
Tivo anyone? I got home late tonight and missed a good part of the Ecuador episode where Bear is in the Amazon and didn’t get to record it. If someone did manage to see it or has a recording of it please take a look at the scene where he’s chopping down the big bamboo poles in his attempt to make a bridge over the rushing stream. For a moment there it looks like one of the hits with the stick he’s hammering with causes the lock on the folding knife to fail. It’s just a brief look but just before the camera cuts away after the last hit the blade tilts downward while it appears the handle remains in the same position. I know it counts as abuse of the knife to do what he’s doing, but just want to know if the lock actually failed on the folder.
Yes the lock fails when he is working on the cross supports for the bridge.
Michael
I was wondering what shirt (the blue one he always seems to wear, just a collared long sleeve button up) that was.. If it was anything special other than just normal cotton
And also, wouldn’t happen to know what kind of belt he wears, seems like the same one in every episode.. but I need a nice sturdy belt so I can attach my knife to via sheath and so on and so fourth. Thanks!
Daniel,
Bear does not generally wear a belt except for the para-cord that he uses to tie his canteen to him. North Face makes synthetic lightweight pants that have zippers around each leg that allow you to turn pants into shorts. Celeste and I both wear pants like these. They are fast drying and hold little moisture, perfect for our rain forest environment on the Oregon coast. Gary also mentions long sleeve light weight shirts you can purchase via North Face as well.
Nice one kary! Very funny, especially the GAS!! Good stuff
Hi Mark! It’s Kary from Mississippi. I just recently got hooked on Man vs Wild and watched the Sierra Nevada episode. During the credits Mandy and I both yelled “Mark!” when it showed the survival expert credit. That’s so cool.
Anyway, I came by the web site to see if you had any info about it and sure enough, there it is.
I recently made a Man vs Wild spoof that you all might enjoy. It even has a quick cameo by the bow drill that Mark taught me to make. If any of you want to learn the skills you see Bear use in the show, take a class from Mark. He knows his stuff.
Kary & Mandy what a surprise! So good to hear from you! Kary and Mandy did a lot to support me when I was down in Mississippi, Thanks Guys, and wonderful to hear from you! Drop me a note from my contacts page.
thanx for the info paladin. i see the first pic is a Ghurka Kukri. nice.
i had one more question though. since the blade comes with a coating that will prevent it from rusting, doesnt sharpening the blade remove the coating? would it be good to blue the knife after sharpening it to protect it from rust? and do you know if that would affect the appearance of a TiNi coatd blade? ( i prefer black instead of blue)
Have you guys seen the new Red Scorpion Six WSK. It’s made like the old beck WSK but with a longer blade and it has alot better of a saw on the back than the tom brown. This knife, I think, is awesome.
Field test: Timex Expedition with compass
See Timex website
MSRP: $70
Actual purchase cost: $37 at Wal-Mart in May 2007
Display: LCD Digital with Indiglo night light. Time displays in either 12 or 24 hour time formats.
I don’t usually wear a watch as between heat, humidity, and general grit and grime lodged beneath the band is irritating to the skin. I’ve also been in situations where a watch has caused my hand to be stuck, such as in a rock using a fist to generate a handhold and then not being able to get the hand out without some delay and fuss. Normal day to day living has me checking my cell phone for the time more than anything else, but in May I opted to try out a new watch from Timex that had several features to it I wanted to try. It’s now on my wrist pretty much daily and is likely to stay there for a good while.
Time zones: This watch is capable of being programmed to three time zones and each is easily changed as your travel requirements dictate. You can also easily set the watch to display the required time zone as the default until you’re back from your trip. This serves me well for a lot of travel between Florida, Arizona and Missouri.
Timer & Stop Watch: The usual fare here with lap times as well.
Alarm: This model watch comes with 3 alarms which can be set as well as an Occasion reminder for special occasions (anniversary for instance).
Hydration timer: This is a unique feature and an important one for use during workouts or hikes in arid climates such as the deserts here in Arizona. Set the hydration timer and the watch reminds you it’s time for fluid intake even if you’re not thirsty. A general guide is, if the temperature is below 100 degrees (F) drink .5 liters every hour. If the temperature is over 100 degrees (F) the intake should be 1 liter every hour. Carry as much water with you as you can, and when it’s half gone it’s time to turn around and head back.
Compass: The watch includes a digital compass that provides cardinal points (N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, etc.) as well as degrees. Declination can be set East or West to adjust the watch compass to your current local area maps.
The compass worked great in navigating by the cardinal points through unknown areas of Fort Worth, El Paso, and Albaquerque, including getting around construction traffic on unknown side roads. Setting the declination for the area makes the watch compatible with road and trail maps and through two months of testing the watch has kept up with both my Silva and MilSpec Lensatic compasses.
I’m not ready to abandon my tried and trusted compasses to the Timex, but short of an orienteering contest, the watch performs well. Using the watch and normal compass to set bearing and the watch proves making direction checks a breeze, even while on the move.
Water resistance: The watch is rated for 100 meeters. I couldn’t test the maximum depth, but it has handled water immersion very well, including sitting at the bottom of a swimming pool for three days, and in a bottle of kool-aid in the refrigerator for two.
Overall: The watch has performed very well and is reasonably accurate for the compass, something I’ve not seen on most other digital compass watches for under $300. Technology has improved over the years and costs have come down, making this watch a bargain. It’s even held up as far as vibration goes from a hard test of 400 road miles attached to my motorcycle’s frame. 🙂
Thinking I needed to buy another knife, I’ve been reading the posts the last couple of days to see what I could find out about the knives that Bear uses, but I’ve just about decided I might already have the a near perfect knife for me. With that being said I like to suggest to so some of you to take a look at the Knives of Alaska Bush Camp. I haven’t put mine through the tests required to call it a true survival knife, but I really like the feel. Here’s what KofA has to say about it…
The “Bush Camp” Knife is a large 10-1/2″ long, full-tang, .14″ thick knife with a 6″ drop-point blade. The handle is our black rubberized “Suregrip”. The knife is designed for rugged bush camp field-dressing and cook shack duties. The blade steel is D2 with a Rockwell hardness of 58-59 and has the hunter`s non-glare matte finish.
Another item that I almost always carry with me is the SOG multi-tool S62 Powerlock with V-cutter. What sold me on this multi-tool is the hard wire cutter. You can notch a quarter or cut a fishhook with ease. The one-handed open of the pliers is a plus too. I didn’t care much for the leather case that came with it and quickly moved to a nylon case.
Mark and Celeste keep up the GREAT work!
Michael
Bluing / Blueing
Izzy asked “what is the advantage of blueing a knife?”
The short answer is that basically there isn’t one. The blueing process is a chemical treatment to steel to help prevent rust and is most commonly done on firearms through a process called “hot blue”. The parts of the firearm are heated, as is a liquid tank containing the blueing chemicals, and the part is then dunked in the tank for a specified period. It is then removed, oiled, and polished.
Cold blue is usually done by the owner of a firearm as a touch up to areas that have had the original finish wear off. This is mostly for looks as the cold blue process offers minimal rust prevention (far less than the hot blue performed by the manufacturer or a gunsmith).
What does blue offer a knife? Mostly it reduces the perceived reflection off of the blade (dark colors reflect less than bright shiny polished steel). It can also act as a cover up for older carbon steel blades that have been stained from use (tree sap, blood, small amounts of rust, etc.). Blueing on a knife also offers a small amount of rust prevention.
Many outdoor knives today come with a protective finish. Because knives are used often that finish is subject to a lot of wear which reveals the carbon steel beneath. To have the knife refinished with the same material is usually cost prohibitive considering the original cost of the blade, so some will opt for using cold blue to touch up the worn area. Some even remove the original finish at some point and blue the entire blade.
Again, mostly it’s for appearance and personal preference of the owner when it comes blueing on a knife. I like it on some of my knives and touch it up after returning from the field if it’s needed.
Here’s an example of a good blade that’s clean, but has been stained from use. By stained I mean that ordinary dish detergent and/or soapy SOS pad won’t get it out, but the steel isn’t damaged. I’ve enhanced the image to bring out the stains more.
Here’s an image of my CS Trailmaster which I blued using a cold blue method. Why? I like the look. I saw William DeFoe’s blade in the movie “Flight of the Intruder” where he used a CS Trailmaster and after ten years or so decided that I’d finally blue mine. 🙂
One thing though, if you plan on blueing your own knife. First, it needs to be a carbon steel blade (stainless steels require a different chemical). Second, it’s very hard to get an even coating using cold blue. Here’s a closeup of my own Trailmaster. It has seven coats of cold blue and is oiled and still gets a lot of use, so I touch it up as required.
Mark,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m far from what I’d call an expert, just someone who has tasted the dirt of five continents and done some brash stupid things over the years and lived to tell about it. My grandpa told me that it’s best to learn from other people’s mistakes. I try, but keep making plenty of my own anyway. 😉 I’ll be posting to the sharpeners soon.
oh yea..santoku. thats what i meant 😉
one more thing. what is the advantage of blueing a knife?
Izzy,
I have a variety of knives CRKT, Gerber, Buck, Colt, and Case XX. I don’t have any Sog or CS knives, I am looking at a Seal Pup and don’t care for the CS, I can’t say why exactly, they just don’t work for me, and as Paladin stated, that probably means I won’t carry it then. But too the Ka-Bar.
I have a normal Ka-Bar (11″ inches or so) with a partially serrated blade, Kraton handles and kydex sheath brown grips/sheath black blade. I like the knife for a variety of reasons, I am a lefty, so I am picky, I like that the knife is designed to be ambidextrous which the Ka-Bar is, you see this often with the sheath and pommel as being a problem. The kydex sheath has lashing points to tie to the leg and it doesn’t matter which direction you insert the blade into the sheath. The blade holds a nice edge. I haven’t tried any serious chopping with it, but I am going into the White Mountains on Friday so I should be able to test there. The handle is textured so it doesn’t slip (I too fish and this was important) there is the steel butplate which is great for a hammer. The handle is a good diameter for my hand. The kydex sheath is thin and wide I took about 15″ of paracord and wrapped it around the sheath so I always have it with me. The sheath laso has a fat strap on it which has a belt loop. I hope that helps you. I too am interested in the sharpening discussion; I use the traditional stone, but would be curious to know what else is out there. Izzy I am guessing the knives in your kitchen are Santoku not sudoku. 🙂 I will share about the chopping after my trip this weekend.
Dave,
From what I have gathered with watching Man VS Wild, Bear uses a waste strap and a shoulder strap. I figured this out in one episode where he took off the shoulder loop, took off his sweater than started walking, I had to rewind a few times to notice that it was still attached, also when he runs it doesn’t bounce like you would expect it too if only on a shoulder loop. From what I can tell the shoulder loop looks like simple cord, maybe paracord, but I can’t see the waist attachment. I would be curious to know too what it is. On a related topic, I just found a “cooking” cup that will supposedly attach to the bottom of a Nalgene bottle, it should be here Wednesday and will also be tested this weekend, I will share how that worked out too next week.
Hey, Mark, thanks for the feedback on Nester, I will probably try to get into a course in 2008.
Ed
Celeste and I are really enjoying the discussion here on the many different knives folks are interested in and the experience you have with them.
Paladin, appreciate your tremendous input! Your experience with a variety of knives are of great help to the many who enjoy this thread.
Also check out the Traditional Skills Gathering.
for those who can make it this summer should be a great experience.
Our good friend Greg Weiss (We have never met, but a great guy.) will be instructing as well.
Check out his website nativeways.
Greg also sells Frost/Mora Knives from Sweden. These knives, I own several and have them available for my students at camp. They are not very sexy but excellent knives for the price and very good carvers!
Does any one know what kind of long pant bear wears when he goes on the Hawaiian island?? i know there are probably North Face but im not sure what kind.
Hi Paladin
Thanks for the advice I think I will try The Buck model 650 Nighthawk you will have to tell me how it works out thanks
hello, i posted before but i just wanted to say that im new to the interest in knives. i dont really go camping that often, but i do go fishing alot and i am obessesed with man v wild so i wanted to buy a nice survival knife. from what ive read in the forum there are couple nice knives that many ppl like. i dont really think id like the gerber lmfII because it is very heavy from what ive read. the scuba knife is cheap and looks nive but im wating for a review. ive narrowed it down to the SOG seal pup elite or the ka-bar black short fighter.
all this is just from research and reading forums. i need some more advice since this is my first knife, and i will probably buy it online, i was wondering how i should decide my specifications? size of the blade? ive seen all the comments about the cold steel and they seem amazing. the only thing is i cant see myself spending a fortune on one especially because it is my first knife.
well, mainly i wanted adivce on what ppl think about a good strong beginning knife. edward you said you have a ka-bar. can i get more info on how you like it? also i was wondering if you guys can start th subject on sharpening. i have a couple sudoku knives in my kitchen that need sharpening and i was wondering if i should sharpen them by myself or find someon who can do it.
oh and sheaths. kydex or nylon?
Folks,
I think this is great I just started doing some research on what knife Bear uses, and two hours later I figured I better just jump to the end to see what ‘s new. I think I’m going to try the Seal Pup. I do love the show Chattanooga, TN
Yeah, to the privious Dave, yup–$700 bucks for that Bayley knife. Although it really is an awesome knife, $700 is just plain crazy. They don’t need to charge that much, it’s probably a 1000% mark-up. $89.00 for a SOG or Buck, just as good. But there will be some freaks out there (no offense, you know who you are) that will actually buy this knife. I guess that’s okay if you really can afford it. Can someone please tell me how Bear straps around that canteen to his body so it dosen’t swing all over?? I like that idea,,instead of loading down my daypack with a heavy waterbottle. Thanks.
Mike,
I don’t have any first hand knowledge of the Buck Strider models beyond pictures on the web. Perhaps someone else here to has tried them out can lend a word or three. You might also do a Google search for “Buck Strider” review and see if that brings up some items for you. The Buck model 650 Nighthawk in its various incarnations has stood up well. I’ve tested two of them and the blade balances well, has a good thick spine, holds an edge reasonably and isn’t hard to sharpen on a river rock. The point works good for penetration and for light carving and in 18 months of owning them neither has suffered a tip breakage. From my understanding the Strider models are supposed to be more sturdy.
Please let us know what you find. My upcoming round of tests are going to be the Gerber Big Rock, Gerber Harsey Hunter, and the Walmart Ozark Trails discount hunting knife. If I can get one in before the end of the month I’m also going to test one of the Mora Swedish knives someone mentioned in an earlier posting. I’ve got a lot of brush clearing to between Tucson and Gila Bend so that’s the likely spot for the blade tests. Next month I hope to get farther north and more into cougar country to hopefully get a new layout of images.
Chris & Bigmanwoods;
Purpose and fit are two of the most important decisions in a choice of knife. You’re right Chris, if the knife meets all other expectations and it doesn’t fit the hand well then it’s not likely to be carried and not likely to be used or there when needed. There are a lot of good makers out there, and just because I favor big and heavy knives like the Trailmaster or Ghurka Kukri doesn’t mean that its the best choice for everyone. If I know I’m going to be dropped into some unknown place with nothing but a knife and water carrier yeah I’d want them badly. 🙂 However, for a day trip through the desert for fun and images, nearly any knife will do, including that $10 Wally World special I mentioned in an earlier post. The SOG would obviously hold up better for more uses. For me the Pup is small in the hand and somewhat uncomfortable, but for a long hike where weight is a concern I can see why many would pack this one. My ex has small hands and her choices in hiking and survival knives are the Ontario version of the pilot survival knife, a CS Master Hunter (She uses one in the kitchen too), and a SOG Seal Pup Elite. She also has a CS LTC Kukri for use when doing trail clearing and brush clearing around the house. Its lighter weight than the Ghurka Kukri works better for her. Hmmm, now I’m wondering if some of my inventory after Charlie the ‘cane visited might have ended up at her place. 🙂
i would love to go to the camp you were talking about but my job, wife, and wallet will not allow it but if anyone knows of any camps in arkansas or close i would like to know about them
Mark here: I understand completely bigmanwoods. First, dump the wife, keep the job and wallet…whoops did I really say that?
Hi paladin
I m going to buy a knife and would like to know what you think .the buck Strider ML or the Strider
Fb with the to Tanto blade look nice and buck is a good company (I have a 110 folder and it’s nice) I would like to know what you think of there knives I live in a small town in Ohio and the sport store has Gerber
And buck so I would like to know what you think of the buck knives and what one you would buy thanks
Mark,
That’s awesome! I’m making plans for the 2008-2009 seasons and definitely have Lifesong on the list. Please post the schedules for those seasons when you get to it and put me on your email list. 🙂 Now if I can just figure out how to get the IRS to accept it as a business expense. 😉
Inspired by our experience with Bear Grylls and Man Vs Wild – as well as the UK version – Born Survivor, we have developed the ultimate challenge; “The Edge”.
The Edge is what it sounds like. Wilderness skills, survival, and challenge!
Not for the faint of heart!
Hi Bigmanwoods,
The SOG Seal Pup Elite is an excellent choice for a great knife.
If you’re serious about learning the skills Bear Grylls uses for his series and much more, then I must recommend our wilderness survival camps.
You will begin your training at our First Circle Camp; an adventure in the awesome skills of wilderness survival and nature awareness.
i just started watching the show a few weeks ago and now i am hooked it is at the top of my list on my tivo i have been looking for a good all around knive and i am leaning towards the SOG Seal Pup Elite also i was wondering if anyone knows of some classes i could take on the weekend along with good equipment for a reasonable price. thanks and i am a huge Bear fan and never miss a chance to tell my bestfriend who like that other guy
I will agree that CS have some outstanding testing done. They publish more on their knives capabilities than any other knife company. I will not lie and say they are not very capable knives. I hate to say it, but i just don’t like them though. They aren’t apealing to me. Granted, I am not a major bushcraft person. I have never had to have my life depend on a knife so that would probably sway my vote, but they are just not appealing knives to me. I don’t feel that they fit my hand well, I don’t like the way they sit in my pocket or belt. But again, they have some AWESOME proven tests for thier gear. The knives stand up to tremendous strain and hold an edge for seemingly forever. They locks are impressive. I am sure that anyone would be pleasantly surprised by thier experience with them.
Hey All!
Love the show Born Survivor that aired in the UK, aka Man vs Wild in the US! Looking to but the book that accompanies the series here in the UK: Bear Grylls Born Survivor, should be a cracking read. However, I just wanted to ask the eagle eyed amongst you, that in the Mount Kilauea episode Bear’s rucksack changes from black to a burgundy colour then to black again!?! Anybody else notice this?
Josh,
I carry a number of knives, at least two whenever I’m out in the wild. This is because I’ve been in life or death situations and had a blade fail so now I make sure I have a backup. That’s been my habit for more years than I can count and it’s a hard one to break. The only knives I have that have proven themselves time and again are the CS knives. Even when testing another blade in the wild its the CS knives that are my backup. Please see my previous post on them.
Do I like all of their advertising? No, not all, but I don’t like all of anyone’s advertising be it knives, cars or home improvement or hardware stores. I could complain for ages about advertising versus reality when it comes to the expert knowledge and amount of training advertised versus the reality of going into a Home Depot or Ace Hardware store in my local area when trying to find something. 🙂 Seriously though, my point is that the product has to perform as it’s advertised or better and each of my CS blades does just that and more. They’ve kept me alive in the wild and in combat and they are the blades I don’t think twice on when going out and about for any reason. I can’t say that about others.
I’ve tested other knives and do carry other brands from time to time but always have my trailmaster, recon scout, or other CS knife available. I’ve got a Gerber Harsey Hunter on order and picked up their “Big Rock” model yesterday to test for camp use and bush craft. I may not use their lockback folders any longer (had an LST break its lock cutting cardboard and slice a finger deeply, and had 4 warranty replacements before I gave up) but I do like many of their fixed blades. Their para frame model uses a liner lock mechanism which is stronger and I’ve put 70 pounds on it and had the lock hold so I carry it for general daily use. Their covert folder has a good unique lock, but the point of the blade is too thin and it broke after two stabs into a 2×4 and snapping it sideways.
Getting back to the point though I’ve never had a CS knife fail me even under severe warranty busting extreme abuse so I do stand by them. Everyone I’ve met who has used a CS blade has been very satisfied with them. Some of my general use CS knives are factory seconds, yes seconds. They have performed as well as their front line bretheren and more so since I’ve always felt even more free to abuse these blades than the production line firsts, which has led to my often mentioned statement that I’d trust my life to a CS 2nd before I’d do so for some other makers’ top end products.
But that’s just me and my two cents. 🙂
im just very hesitant about purchasing cold steel because i have heard that they are bad knives and that they are mostly a marketing company that just want to sell ok knives and arent as good as they say they are.
Josh,
I would not recommend the Benchmade as I’ve had little success with that company’s knives over the years. I’ve had four (both folder and fixed) and not a one stood up to average field use much less hard or extreme usage. I’ve had locks fail on their folders (and have the scars to prove it) and have had their fixed blades break at both tip and the handle. If you search on this page you’ll find that there’s other postings here on this forum by others who have had problems with the Benchmade products. I just can’t personally recommend their products for anyone for any purpose, though I know many swear by them.
Either of the CS products would do you fine. Their San Mai is a sandwich of a hard steel in the center surrounded by more flexible steel on the sides, which makes for a a very durable and flexible knife that won’t break easily and maintains a keen edge. I have the Master Hunter in their carbon V steel and it’s excellent. This is the knife I presented to both of my sons when they were ready to start hunting and have also given some to friends who use them hard. I have one in my hunting and backpacking kit as well as in the kitchen. Yes, the kitchen, I prefer it to most chef knives of similar size and it doesn’t hurt the blade when I cut into bone. If I ever need to replace either of my current master hunters I’d purchase the san mai version in a heartbeat.
The SRK is an excellent knife also. You can’t go wrong with either of these choices. The SRK has a longer blade and if there’s only going to be one knife in the inventory this is where I’d suggest putting your money. The SRK can take a beating and still come out ahead. It will also give you a little more reach in a fight, but then we’re not talking about combat here, we’re talking bushcraft. For me a survival knife has always had to do double duty as a combat blade, but for bushcraft, wilderness survival, camping, hiking or hunting, the choice is simply a matter of preference. They’ll both perform well for a lifetime.
I’m late to this thread, but I don’t hink anyone hase mentioned Onterio knives in all this discussion. They’re well worth looking into. I’m especially fond of my TAK-1. It’s a great knife and you can find it for cheap.
Also, anyone looking to buy a knife should really check ebay. You can find great prices on there. For example, the TAK-1 retails for about $130 but you can find in on ebay for $80.
Hi Dave, Do you mean Ontario Knives? Yes we have discussions regarding their knives on this thread.
Mark
I also noticed what looked like the knife folding. I feel like I have seen him use the Gerber gator the most of all the knives I have seen. I noticed the gerber emblem on the sheath on his belt this tiem too. I also noticed that I could not see a life jacket under Bear’s shirt floating down the river this time 🙂
I think the knife from the Ecuador episode is a Gerber Gator.
i’m looking for a good survival knife that is obviously sharp and durable and tough. i need something to chop wood, cut through metal, hammering, pounding, prying, etc? right now i’m looking at the benchmade fixed griptilian
the cold steel SRK
or the cold steel master hunter
which is a better steel for what i mentioned above and for other surviving? the griptilian is 154cm with a stated hardness of 58-60, while the SRK is AUS8A and master hunter vg 1 san mai III. the cold steel knives have no stated hardness, which makes me hesitant. also, if there is a better knife out there than these ones i have found, then let me know what it is. i don’t want to buy a knife and then realize i should’ve spent the money on something better!
p.s. i think bear was using the gerber gator in ecuador. although the gerber gator doesn’t have a lanyard hole in it, and his did, so i think he drilled it himself. and if the lock failed, he might’ve hammerined into it, or just closed it right away.
Dear Admin,
I have read most of this thread over the last 3 hours but didn’t read the whole thing I was wondering if you taught survival or outdoor safety courses or if you could give me some information on where to find a good one. I’m more than willing to travel and I currently reside in Massachusetts.
I was also wondering if anyone had any feed back on the Gerber LMF II A.S.E.K.. Here is a link to the knife, let me know what you think.
Uruz 4,
Yes, we do teach wilderness survival for both adults and teens. See our Calendar page of the website.
Mark Wienert – Lifesong Wilderness Adventures
Tivo anyone? I got home late tonight and missed a good part of the Ecuador episode where Bear is in the Amazon and didn’t get to record it. If someone did manage to see it or has a recording of it please take a look at the scene where he’s chopping down the big bamboo poles in his attempt to make a bridge over the rushing stream. For a moment there it looks like one of the hits with the stick he’s hammering with causes the lock on the folding knife to fail. It’s just a brief look but just before the camera cuts away after the last hit the blade tilts downward while it appears the handle remains in the same position. I know it counts as abuse of the knife to do what he’s doing, but just want to know if the lock actually failed on the folder.
Thanks!
Edward,
Thanks for the info on the Gerber Harsey. I’ll put up a report on the Harsey Hunter as soon as it arrives and I have some time to put it through its paces. It’s the positive locking for a leg knife that I’m looking for and that’s why I”m getting it. Further research on the knife today though (pricing at other sites) shows it to be a discontinued item. Perhaps they’re ending production of this model in favor of their new Big Rock model camp knife.
You’re right, Wally World does have a lot of items for the newbie and the old fart alike for outdoors.
Saw your note about the school here in AZ…I like the name of their “walkabout” course. Where in AZ is it? I wonder if Mark & Celeste know of the folks. With the heat we’ve got down in the valley I’m tempted to play host to a desert class next year if they have the time. It was 114.3 (F) in the shade at 1600 Thursday by my digital thermometer outside at the car port. Officially at PHX it was only about 109 but that’s a good ways away. I’m out west past Goodyear.
What knife did he use in tonights episode? It was a folding knife and he chopped an entire tree down. Thats for sure the knife i would want to be carrying. If anyone knows what brand it is.. shout it out! thanks!
It says S/E next to the product in most cases that means “special edition” I was also wondering if this is a special edition of the knife and if the price is reasonable. Thank you for any help that anyone can give me.
Paladin, I don’t have any experience with the Harsey Hunter, but I have two other Gerber Harsey knives and like them greatly. I have a variety of Gerber knives and tools and have no complaints. I am also a lefty, you could look at the shorter Ka-bar which is what I use with the kydex sheath and Kraton handle, I have had good luck with it. If you get the Harsey Hunter, let me know your thoughts.
Has anyone tried this knife? It’s the Gerber Harsey Hunter. It appears to have a sheath that will work either right or left handed and it’s advertised to be positive locking for retention with a push button release. I’m going to give it a try along with the scuba straps mentioned the other day and see if this will work out as a good leg knife instead of the dive knife. I found one post that said the handle on that dive knife didn’t seem sturdy, so I’m going to avoid it for now.
Mark or Celeste have you ever heard of Ancient Pathways, LLC or Tony Nester? They run a school here in AZ, and have some interesting courses, like “the resourceful nomad” and a “walkabout” basic survival course. Just curious if you knew them.
Hi Edward,
yes I have heard of them, I understand they have a very good program.
Mark
Hey Paladin, Wally World sells Ozark Trail and Outdoor Products. I got a Ruck Sack Pack from them (outdoor products). It looked great, came with a rain cover ha! (great for Arizona where I also live) straps, a daisy chain and would take a bladder. I paid around 24.95 for it. I used it a few times and then the seams started to fray as did the strap attachment points. I took it back to Wally World because I only had it for 2 weeks, after reading online about it I realized I was not alone with the problems. Wally World is good for some things, they sell name brand Knifes, buck, Gerber, CRKT etc, they also have good fishing gear, stuff sacks, and tents. Target I would say has better packs (Wenger and Jansport). I have found that with reading gear reviews and such you can get far better deals from places like Campmor, REI clearance sales, and even Ebay at times. I have found some great deals, even Craigslist here in AZ has good camping stuff from time to time. I got rid of a lot of my gear when I graduated college for $ and now on a budget I have been rebuilding it for a trip to the White Mountains next weekend and getting back into it. If you shop around, I think you can get most of the “essential” gear for under $250 and still be name brand/Qualty stuff.
Celeste,
That shot was taken not far from route 14 if I remember correctly. I stopped along the way and did some day trekking for several hours before having to force myself back onto the road to make it to Devil’s tower and Keystone, SD to do a shoot at the Sturgis bike rally that year. I love Wyoming in the spring and summer, and the fall too if I don’t get caught in a sudden snow storm. I don’t handle cold weather very well these days but the winters are great too as long as you don’t have to drive in it. 🙂 It seems that a few bad cases of frostbite on my feet many moons ago give me problems in cold weather though the rest of the body is fine with it. I don’t know if there’s a medical reason for it or if it’s just psychosomatic but I tend to avoid temps below 20 degrees.
Mark/Celeste (?) The post came through on the other thread where I’d originally posted it, so you didn’t delete it. Thanks for reposting it just in case! Y’all are great folks and I hope to be able to make my way up to Oregon next spring/summer to attend one of your classes. It’s been a few years since I last was in the northwest territory…it seems these days my work keeps me in desert or tropical climates.
Just curious, did anyone order the titanium pro point dive knife or the Joe Diver knife mentioned in earlier posts? If so what’s the opinion on it? One item I found when looking at the 123 Scuba site was the quick release rubber straps. These can be used to secure whatever knife you want to your leg, especially since many of the knife models today come with Kydex or SecurEx sheaths. Use some para cord through the sheath holes tightly to create loop slots and thread the straps through the loops and wham, you’ve got yourself a leg carry setup for your knife. I’m going to order a set of straps to try this with either my CS Kobun or my Bokker Applegate-Fairbairn to see how it works. I’m still very curious about the dive knife though…especially since the sheath works for either right or left handed use. How’s the blade? Does it hold an edge? Does it cut well? Is it full tang? How’s the grip?
Josh,
The steel used is only part of the equation. The treatment of the steel is the main determining factor of the end product. I’m by no means a master metallurgist so forgive me if I get a few things incorrect from time to time, but in general the purpose of the blade is chosen first and then the steel is chosen depending on the primary use. The steel is then treated to a specified hardness and toughness that determines the overall strength, hardness, edge holding ability and flexibility. Each type of steel has its own qualities and the compromises decided upon for the blade primary purpose are usually dealt with in the heat treatment and quenching process. For example, a softer steel might be treated for more hardness in order to maintain an edge longer, while a harder steel may be treated to a lesser hardness to make sharpening easier or for more flexibility. Whew! I hope I got that out so that it makes sense. 🙂
The “San Mai” steel you referred to isn’t a single steel, it’s a sandwich of two different steels…a softer steel on the sides to give the blade flexibility and a hard steel in the center to give it strength and a good edge. Japanese swords were made similarly with the steels folded thousands of times. The end result between the two processes are similar, a blade that is both very strong and one that is very tough (flexible).
AUS8, VG1, 154cm and s30v are all good steels and neither one is “better” than the other except in a sense of which one is best suited for a specific knife design for a specific purpose using a specific treatment method. The stainless steel blades at CS are treated and then cooled (quenched) with a method that puts the steel in temperatures of -120 degrees (F) while many makers use air quenching. This not only helps make the blade hard and strong, but also makes the blade resist wear better. Could you do the same with s30v? Yes you can. The main thing is that this maker has researched various types of steel that could be used for the intended purposes and the heat treatment planned to produce blades that they believe provide the best combination of strength, flexibility, edge holding and ease of sharpening. Based on my experience with their blades over the years I can’t argue much with their choices as it works. Over time they have changed the steels they use to provide the best product they can. Most of my carbon blades are what they termed as Carbon V, but now they use what they have named SK5; and the stainless steels used to be Aus8, but are now either that, VG1, VG10 or 4116 Krupp. I have a Kobun, SafeKeeper II, and PeaceKeeper II are all made using the 4116 Krupp which are my latest purchases from CS and they are performing great.
Are the blades tough and flexible and do they hold an edge good? How about a blade that gets punched through a 55 gallon drum several times, punched through the hood of a car, then a car door several times; cuts through items such as a fist full of parachute rigging, a fire hose, a combat boot, bungee cords, rope, penetrate a military flak vest, open a tin can of food, and stabbed into a 2×4 several times snapping the blade to the side putting stress on the tip…all of that and have the knife come out with no damage to the point? Well, that’s the SRK survival rescue knife from CS, and it’s all on video. 🙂 Here’s the link to the knife, and there’s an excerpt from the video you can view on that page:
The video covers the bulk of their product line and is double sided. One side shows their “Solid Proof” video on their knives and the other side shows their sword, spear and blowgun videos.
I don’t work for these folks but I damned sure wish they sold stock in their company as I’d buy it up in a heartbeat all that I could afford. 🙂 I’ve got several brands of knives including Buck, Gerber, SOG, and Bokker, but if it were me parachuting into the wild with just a canteen, a flint, and a knife it would be one of my CS knives that I’d stake my life on….because I have and they’ve met the challenge.
By the way, it’s hard for me to criticize as some have done the stunts that Bear pulls on some of his shows. He gives warnings about what he’s attempting to do, which is good, but the acts themselves find me flashing back to some of the dangerous stunts that the late Steve Irwin used to do, but especially my own self. I’ve been known to get rather close to the wildlife in order to get a good photo, and have been known to rappel down a cliff face just to get a better angle on a shot of rapids in a raging river. Do I recommend everyone do it? Nope, simply that I weigh my own skills versus the risk involved and decide whether the risk is acceptable.
On the discussion of gear for the wilderness we can all come up with many items and brands costing from as little as a few dollars to hundreds (if not thousands). A few years ago BackPacker magazine was going to do an article on high dollar items versus low budget gear on a field test hike using gear purchased at a discount store like Wal-Mart. I don’t know if they ever actually did it though as (due to frequent travel) I don’t keep a subscription and purchase copies at the news stand.
I’m a freelancer and am semi-retired and don’t have the size of income I used to have years ago so I’m rather budget conscious these days. Well there’s that and the fact that Hurricane Charlie pretty much blew away most of what I’d spent the bulk of my life collecting…which is one reason I’m now in Arizona instead of Florida, was forced to move.
Anyway, most of us have to gauge our purchases of wilderness gear against other things such as house/rent payment, car payments, and those things like groceries, clothes, kids and family. I think we’d also be in agreement that we should buy the best quality gear we can afford for our intended purpose. Sometimes though, the twain don’t meet and we’re forced to buy a somewhat lesser item to make do with until we can afford the item we want. But what do we “make do” with? What can we get at the local Wal-Mart that can meet our needs until we can get something better?
I’ve been traveling on occasions for one purpose and then found myself with some free time to get out of the city for a few days and explore the countryside, but as it wasn’t a planned outing most of my regular gear would be back home. As a minimalist I don’t normally worry about tents and in southern climates don’t usually worry about sleeping bags either. I’ve managed to do two to four day stints in the wild with nearly everything purchased in a single outing at Wal-Mart and a hardware store.
As much as I’ve hyped the CS knives, I recently purchased a Wally World store brand fixed blade (I believe that Ozark Trail) is their store brand but I could be wrong. It’s full tang, a barely 4 inch blade and made from what appears to be 420J stainless steel. Not what I’d call good, but have been curious to know how well it stands up beyond yard work. 🙂
So how about it…given a budget of $250 or there about, is it possible to assemble a workable survival kit / hiking gear from what’s available at a discount store? What items would they be and how well do you think they’d work? A walk around the sporting goods department shows that they now have hydration bladder packs and better quality day packs than they used to….and having done it before for real I know it’s possible so how about it?
I’m still very much of the opinion that after the brain the knife is the most important item, but if we can find other items at Wal-Mart, Target, K-mart, etc. that are serviceable that helps us save towards our dream blade. 😉
If we get a list together I’d be willing to do a field trial out here in the desert, or perhaps farther north into the mountains between Prescott and Flagstaff. I won’t be jumping into any rivers unless it’s just for fun though!
Just an idea but wanted to get y’alls opinions going.
The Shoshone Forest and Northwest Wyoming are my roots. You were hanging out in my childhood playground. I still have a small place on the Clark’s Fork River.
Celeste
mark i love reading what you wrote about cold steel. i am looking for a tough, strong, sharp outdoor/survival knife that can take plenty of abuse, and it loks like cold steel might be what i will buy. you said you used the knives as foot and handle steps when climbing? that’s pretty strong. i also like that they are good for chopping wood. what is the best steel that they offer? i noticed they dont offer 154cm or s30v which is some of the strongest steel, and i wonder why they dont use that. they use aus8 or vg1 san mai something. have you ever had tips break off or chips from using the knives to pry? how are they so strong with only aus9 or vg1? they seem pretty good though
Bear is a beast. He is the craziest man on earth. He can scale rock faces like it’s his job. All animals shall fear the rath of a hungry Bear on a mission. He is a god among mere mortals.
Paladin,
I apologize for my tiredness and believe I deleted your post by mistake. I appreciate the time and effort you all put into this forum and we most certainly want your valuable commentary to reach everyone. When Mark returns from the mountains he will want to respond to all the great information he’s been missing. Celeste
Paladin says:
My quest for the perfect knife or best knife started in the 70’s. Back
then for a combat knife the general choices were a KaBAR, a custom
Randall which at that time had up to a two year wait period after the
order was placed, or a knife by Gerber (the Mark II or Command II).
Between the articles I’d read and word of mouth I had chosen the Gerber Mark
II. Initial tests of the blade with chopping and cutting showed it to
work well, but in its first use when it really counted had the tip
break on a rib and it nearly cost my life. Since then I’ve been trying to
find the best blend of a knife that could fill the shoes of a survival,
camp, hunting, and combat use. Through the years I’ve come to
the conclusion that the “best” knife is a long short straight curved
blade that is light and heavy and is both carbon and stainless steel. 😛
In other words, it don’t exist. While the designs of some blades
may overlap in their suitable tasks there isn’t really “one” knife th
at covers everything. It’s all a compromise and one should look to
the primary intended use for the main design and then give or take the
compromises depending on the likely secondary uses for the blade. In the
end the user should purchase the best quality knife they can afford
based on the compromise they’ve chosen.
In the US I’ve been in various environments from Florida swamps and
Everglades to Montana’s Bear Tooth Mountains to the South Dakota Badlands
to the deserts areas of the Southwest (Big Bend, Palo Duro Canyon, as
well as New Mexico and my present home in Arizona). I’ve spent a good
deal of time in various areas of Africa and central America and have put
more than a few knives to rigorous if not extreme tests, most of which
border on abuse.
I’m like Mark in that I prefer a heavy knife and I like mine with a
long blade (7″-9″). Tasks such as skinning require a bit more care and a
different technique as Mark mentioned but with experience a large knife
can accomplish just about any task a small one can do, but it doesn’t
always work in reverse.
Those interested in an excellent quality production knife should check
out Cold Steel. ( http://www.coldsteel.com/ ) I came across this
company in the 80’s when they introduced their Tanto line and over the years
find that they have many standards that are in line with my own
ideals. I have several different models from this company but their
Trailmaster and Ghurka kukri knives have followed me into the wild more than
any other and they have proven themselves over and over again. My
trailmaster has been with me for ten years or so and has never required more
than general sharpening even after splitting wood or shopping down a
dozen saplings up to 5″ thick or clearing debris from tornadoes and
Hurricane Charlie. The same goes for the Kukri, which has cleaved trees and
branches up to 4″ thick in a single blow.
I’m not an accomplished climber like Bear, so I’ve been known to wedge
my knife in for a hand or foot hold so I can get that perfect shot with
my camera. I’ve also used their thick spines to hammer nails and
break through concrete and they have held up far beyond expectations.
I’ve owned and tested their Master Hunter, Recon Scout, Recon Tanto,
and SRK knives among others and they each perform oustanding. The Recon
Scout is a 7″ version of the Trailmaster by the way and it’s lighter
than the Trailmaster’s 9″ blade. Their SRK knife, by the way, is now
the issue knife for US Navy personnel going through BUD/s training
(training to be SEALs).
Their folding knives are one of the few makers I will carry and quite
frankly I haven’t ever found anything negative about the company in all
of the years I’ve dealt with them and their goods. There are other
companies products I like and I will write more on them later, and if
anyone is interested I’ll give detailed field test information on any of
the ones I’ve dealt with. I should have some photos up within a few
days.
Thanks for having this site and for the open discussions!
Josh,
You are correct. There are limitations for stunts such as Bears’ in many wilderness areas. Some of those limitations are safety oriented due to political issues and repercussions from injuries and possible fatalities. So, it’s play by the rules or no go! Bear and his crew put in grueling hours which can cause mishaps due to extreme fatigue and often hunger. I admire the energy and dedication of all involved.
Celeste
yeah it is the iceman, but he also has used the gerber gator a lot as well. and also in one episode, i don’t remember which one, i think the rockies, bear floats down a river alone. it’s a deep river with lots of rapids and he is able to stay afloat easily. if you look you can see a life vest under his shirt. it is bulging through, plain as day, the exact shape of a life vest bulging out from under his shirt. i understand that they did it for safety, because he could’ve easily drowned in the rapids or had his head hit on a rock and been knocked unconscious and become swept away by the river and drown, but it is lame that they don’t mention it and let him use a life vest. correct me if i’m wrong on the episode but i think it was the rockies.
G’day all! I’ve been reading the forum since this past Friday night, shortly after watching Man vs Wild for the first time. Gotta say that I enjoy the show, and after skimming a few hundred posts in other forums I think I enjoy this one the most. There’s some good discussion on here and some good information too. I’ve taken notes and have a lot to comment on but will be brief in this intro note.
I’ve been involved with the outdoors and minimalist wanders and adventures in the outdoors for more than 30 years. I’ve hiked the AT (in sections – life has not permitted me an opportunity to do so all at once as it’s far too much time off from work and family). For most of that time I’ve been most likely to pack an extra lens or camera base or a few dozen rolls of film over another item of convenience – the shot being more important to me than a tent, so I tend to travel according to my needs based on what’s important to me at the time which almost always includes a camera and a good quality knife.
I’ll detail my standard kit later but one item I do believe is very important is in choosing a folding knife, especially one which may be your primary blade out in the wild. It’s already been mentioned that a blade that locks open is important due to the simple fact that a non-locking blade can close on the fingers if pressure is applied in the direction of the fold. When choosing a locking folder please research the knife’s lock mechanism and find out how strong it is. This is as true for every day use as well as for a survival situation. I’ve had three reputable manufacturers locking blades that have failed on me and have the scars to prove it. I consider myself very lucky as others have lost fingers so I’m content with having learned from the events and look to the scars as reminder when I hear about this or that knife being the next great folder. There are very few makers and models of folders that I’m willing to risk life and limb by, and for me personally I’d rather have a discount store brand fixed blade for $10.99 than most folders on the market today, but that’s me and my experience.
For 30 years or more I’ve spent thousands of dollars trying to find the one “best” knife out there and over that time I’ve found what works for me and what doesn’t, what doesn’t live up to the hype and what quietly slips through the jungle and excels. I’ve had a lot of knives that have ended up tossed or in yard sales while at the same time I have some very good solid working blades that meet the needs of various treks and tasks.
Getting back to the folding knives, think about the abuses that Bear puts the knives to. Chopping wood with a 3″ to 4″ folding knife isn’t what most of them were designed to accomplish, nor is using it as a pry bar or beating on it with a stick or rock to split wood. Most manufacturers would call that gross abuse, but they are tasks common to knives whether at home or in the wild. Many locks will fail after such usage as it weakens the joint at the lock, especially on many folders that are put to use as an emergency pry bar. In the field we often find ourselves having to make a folder perform as a fixed blade and they usually aren’t up to the task for more than a single outing.
Find a folder that can take abuse to the spine of the blade and retain the lock. In a safe environment add a lot more pressure/weight against the lock than you estimate you’d ever have to make the knife bear and if it holds up after that then you can call it serviceable. A folder you can put in a vise and do pull ups on is one to bet your life on when the chips are down, but there are few makers that have a lock strong enough and even fewer still that are willing to show that. Buyer beware.
Thanks Celeste for the info. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside again.
I’ll watch for that slick move when the show runs again.
No need for any further nerveousness about the eyes. Last night was the night before we leave on our long campout and as the little boy in the commercial says, “We’re too excited to sleep!”
Edward, you can goes to the website that bear endorses which is called itchyfeet. They have those canteens there.
I have to agree with dirk. My dad found a cutco knife and gave it to me to sharpen. It took me about 2 hours to get a good edge on it but when i did it was extremely sharp and still is. The best thing besides edge retention is the comfortability of the knife. It feels like it melts into your hand. Very nice knife.
Great question Michael. If you’ll notice in the Sierra shoot when he is stripping after landing in the lake, there is a second string/cordage that is around his waste. He pulls it down and steps out of it.
Edward, glad you are still with us. There are regulations required for filming in different areas and as such certain “realities” are altered. It is very valuable you recognize the distinction and shared it with everyone. If you decide to take the plunge with the SOG, I don’t believe you’ll be disappointed.
Thanks to all for making this a valuable and informative arena. Put those eyeballs back in Michael…you’re making me nervous.
Celeste
I stubbled upon this site, and thought I would put in a quick note on knifes. I have quite a bit of experience with knifes, I woodcarve, camp, hunt and survive with buddies all the time. THE BEST knife and company I have ever come accros is Cutco. Google it and check out there hunting knife. They have a straight edge, or what I’m really getting at here, the Double-D edge. They have the patent for this and, thrust me its the best edge in every mannor of strenth, usefulness in every situation, and durability.
And all Cutco knifes have a lifetime warranty, and if you ever want it sharpened, they with do, just pay postage.
Please guys, check them out, and buy if your in the market, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED.
I know some have shared their complaints about Man VS Wild, I watched the Alps episode today and never have seen it. I have seen (I believe) now every episode and this is my first complaint. When he shows you how to deal with going through the Ice it is really unrealistic. I think it would have been more realistic (and far more dangerous of course) for him to show what you do when you go in and don’t have extra clothes or a fire all ready going. The way he presented it was I believe weak in comparison to the reality. When I grew up in New England we were hiking in January, I slipped and slid down an hill and landed chest deep in icey, snow covered water, I was lucky to have 3 other people with me because I was soaked as was my gear, and we had no fire. I think he didn’t really show how every single second counts once you get out of the water and on solid ground. Otherwise I love the show, and watch it for bits of information as well as for the entertainment value.
Silly question, but just how does Bear secure that NATO canteen to his side? I see the cordage crossing his torso, but there must be something else he does to keep it from flopping around as he jumps and runs and eats wierd things that ain’t dead yet.
Nice website here. Enjoyed the reading. Yes, I read it in one sitting. Yes, my eyes have left my body and are somewhere in space.
I found this page a few days ago and just finished reading the entire thread. Really enjoyed it.
For Steve,
Yes it was the Costa Rico episode where he got sick. He wakes up tells you he isn’t feeling well then you hear him retching off camera.
My question is in relation to the cup/canteen setup he uses. I have found 2 links through this site, one lists it for just shy of $50.00 and the other for like $10.00? Obviously there is a discrepancy here or I am missing something, if someone can give me a good idea of where to get it at a good price, I would greatly appreciate it. As far as the knives, I have a standard Ka-bar 11″ with the Coyote brown Kraton handles, and love it. I looked at the Gerber LMF which is a fantastic knife, but heavy I have a buddy who is a marine pilot and carries it in his jump bag. I have been looking at the seal pup for a lighter option when camping, but just haven’t taken the plunge yet.
To Annoyed…yes he most certainly does make a raft out of driftwood in the Sierra episode, but not with a knife as Joel indicated.
Eli, Bear is an adventure junkie. He received a vast amount of his training in the military and life’s experiences.
K. Williams, somewhere in the string of commentaries posted here is the information about his watch. European made, and one he used in the military.
I don’t have cliff jump info, but he stands as the youngest Britain to climb Everest without oxygen.
Steve, yes he has become ill, unfortunately, by drinking untreated water. If memory serves me, it was during his Costa Rica episode.
Thank you all,
Celeste
Annoyed. . . good call on the Iceman knife. I do recognize it. I do think that I have seen him use the Gator the most though. The handle on a few episodes had been thicker than The Iceman, but I do remember it. Good call. A good looking knife to be sure. I am asking again if anyone has any experience with the Benchmade Presidio folding knives though. Just hoping really.
Does he ever get sick or cramped up from the water or food he eats?
Annoyed, he did make a raft in the Sierra episode from driftwood, but he didn’t use a knife; you must be getting it mixed up with the Costa Rica episode.
What kind of watch does Bear wear? Is there any way to find out what the biggest cliff jump (into water) he’s done? Also, he mentions being a serious climber… what is the hardest route he’s done?
I am wandering where he got all of his training?, because he couldnt have gotten all in the military.
Bear did use a raft in the Sierra episode. He made it from driftwood.
Mark is presently unavailable for comment. Celeste here.
“Annoyed”, I believe you have the Sierra episode confused with Costa Rica where Bear also makes a raft. We appreciate the information and inquiries readers have shared.
Well i like the design of the knife is there another knife that has that design?
The folding knife Bear uses is not the Gerber gator, it is the iceman from buck. Secondly in the firsts posts in this long boring thread, it stated from the admin that a knife was not used in the serria episode. He used his folding knife to chop a tree limb off, and was hitting the back of it(the knife) with a rock to make a raft out of drift wood.
I JUST found this, it’s from Bear’s blog on his website: http://www.beargrylls.com/
I have had so many enquiries about what knife I consider best for all round performance blade.
Well, I have tried so many different ones during the filming of these ‘Man Vs Wild”s & ‘Born Survivor’s’, and if I am honest, none of them were quite right, (although in their defence. I did give them all a bit of a beating!)
So instead I have teamed up with Bayley knives and together have designed what I believe to be the most versatile, tough and practical knife available anywhere today.
Ironically, it has turned out very similar to ones we used in the SAS…but that is a beside…in conclusion, it is the knife I am currently using in any new episodes.
Posted by Bear at 11:29 Links to this post
I dont know if somebody this already but i think the knife bear uses in the costa rica episode is a blue reef dive knife (not sure) I saw the episode a day ago and im like wow that looks like the knife i just ordered online.
I could have sweared that i just posted and the post dissapeared now. Anyway what is the knife bear used in the costa rica episode? I had mentioned blue reef before
Anybody have any comments on the scrapyard brand knives. preferably the dumpster mutt. i would like to hear some feedback on these knives.
Why is Bear Grylls the man?
Josh, what about the Doug Ritter rsk mk3 survival/utility knife or the becker bk10. They may not be it, but im still looking
don’t buy that, it’s not worth the $700+. it is a good knife, but certainly not worth the price. they’re using the bear grylls name to put a big price tag on it.
I have been looking at the presidio and mini presidio by benchmade as a good folding knife pocket knife. With a difference of only half an inch I don’t know that I will really care witch one, just price. I happen to liv e in AZ so there are no legal restrictions to the automatic versions. I think I am going to go with the seal pup for fixed though with the nylon holster. it will also hold your multi tool witch will be nice for backpacking and treking. if anyone has first hand experience with the 5000, 5500 presidio, please let me know. I would probaly go with the non automatic versions if they were at least assited opening knives. i also have found that I don’t like the “tactical” paint on knives (like the tiger stripe, or black) because I find that it gets scratched or what-not.
Hey guys,I asked before where i could buy the Bayley knife that Bear Grylls uses.What i meant was i went to there website and it said that it was only avalible in the UK is there any other place i could buy it from?? Thanks.
i’m looking for a full tang fixed blade knife. preferably a drop point style blade, but the drop point doesn’t matter too much if everything else i’m looking for fits: S30V, 154CM, or BG-42 steel, preferably S30V. from 4″ to 6″ in blade length, give or take. at least .15″ blade thickness, preferably something thicker. can’t seem to find a knife like that, so if anyone can help me, any info would be greatly appreciated.
zknives is a good website on explaining different steel types.
i checked out benchmade, and the model 155 presidio and the 156 csk were both on the long side, and the 156 is only made with D2. i really liked the model 151 griptilian, but at .12″ thick it is a thin knife, which isn’t as strong as a thicker knife which is what i am looking for. i also like the model 220 fixed resistor, but i feel the blade length is just a bit too small. so i’m still on the search for the perfect knife…
benchmade table of steels: http://www.benchmade.com/
AG Russel Knives table of steels:
hope this helps. if you need more just google or wikipedia it.
I know the Rockwell Scale might not be exactly what you were looking for Lawrence, but it’s worth a start. The knives I’ve looked at all had Rockwell ratings. But I’m not really a specialist, so I can’t offer more research.
No hard feelings, btw. It’s just a pet peeve of mine.
hi all
dose any one know about the Chris reeve knives I think they are worth
the money but if not i will not buy one.If any one knows about them I would like to know.
I think the sog gov tac look like a nice knife if any one knows about it I would like to know before I buy it.
Thanks
you can watch many shows commercial free (including man vs. wild) link no longer viable.
thanks,
amak
p.s. killarnaey, ireland (where i am now) is great for hiking with beautiful seneary
you can watch many shows commercial free (including man vs. wild)
thanks,
amak
p.s. killarnaey (where i am now) is great for hiking with beautiful seneary
IS THEIR A WEBSITE OR BOOK OF KNIFE STEELS AND THEIR CHARACTERISITCS AND OR USAGE
^killarney, ireland
JOSH,
CHECK OUT THE BENCHMADE MODEL 155 FIXED PRESIDIO OR THE MODEL 156 CSK. THEY FIT ALL OF YOUR REQUIREMENTS.
SORRY JOSH, I WAS THINKING OF CARBON V. BUT ANYWAYS GET THAT VIDEO AND IM SURE YOU WILL BE IMPRESSED SUCH AS I WAS.
Anybody know what kind of handheld camcorder Bear is using on Man vs Wild? I looked around yesterday to try and find out some info but all I could find was that they used Sanyo mini cams mounted in their helmets for the flight over everest.
lawrence,
what blades do they have that are S30V? i could not find any…thanks…
JOSH,
YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT COLD STEEL. THEY USE ALOT OF S30V AND ARE SAID TO BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST KNIVES AROUND. IF IT HELPS GET THEIR SOLID PROOF VIDEO AND WATCH WHAT THEY PUT THEIR KNIVES THROUGH TO GET THEIR STANDARDS. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OR IF THIS INFORMATION HELPS.
I know theres a lot of different knives and gear he uses and it occurred to me but other than repeats i dont have anyway of rewatching the episodes but….almost all shows nowadays thank the companies whose items they use. So couldnt you just watch the credits and get at least a brand name. Im not sure if they thank the companies whose gear they are using or not but I thought it was worth a shot if anyone has access to rewatching the episodes.
^ i really wish there was an edit post button. i forgot to include BG-42 as a blade material. i’d like the knife i’m looking for to be S30V, BG-42, or 154CM…
^^ i would also like a serrated edge, but just a little, because too much of a serrated edge is unnecessary. if anyone knows where i can find a knife based on my requirements, please let me know.
i’ve been doing a lot of research and learning over the past couple weeks, and i no longer want to go with the lmf II or the seal pup elite. the knife i am looking for, i haven’t found yet. i’m looking for the perfect survival knife. based on my reading and research, i think a great survival knife should have a full tang, be a drop point blade, and should be about 3/16″ thick, with a blade material of 154cm or CPM-S30V (aka S30V). i’m searching, but haven’t found a knife that meets those requirements. correct me if i am wrong on anything, or if i am being too strict on my knife requirements. thanks…
The shoes that bear wears are merrells but they are not the Chameleon Stretch, they are the Chameleon Slam. The basic difference is that they have laces instead of the neoprene sock with cord. Unfortunately you can’t buy them in the US, they are only available in the UK for around 65 pounds. You can buy them from itchyfeet.com which is the site bear endorses.
ERROR 403 is still popping up after a submission.
does anyone know if their is a wilderness school in the tennessee area.
I have cute little skinny feet so the width of the Vasque boots isnt a concern for me.
Did Bear ever use the buck iceman and does anyone have a review on one.
Hi
I m a knife nut I know a lot about them because I have tested a LOT.
I like the buck 110 it is hard to brake that’s what I use. I like the SOG Gov-Tac.
But if you want a good survival knife go with a Chris reeve
It is made out of one piece. it has a hollow handle
To put stuff in. and if you think you need bears knife it’s a bayley
He made has own go to bayleyknife.com you will see it there
just check out gerber gear and look at the gator knife. they have different styles:folding blade, fixed blade, serrated, or non serrated.
Ty asked: “My question is what would be the best hiking boots to buy for sloppy, muddy conditions?”
Great question Ty. You would want a boot that is water proof, yet it must be able to breath because of all the humidity in the air. Consider changing your socks two, to three times a day. Clean socks and frequent changing is the key to keeping your feet in good shape especially in the wet and on such a long trek as the one your proposing. I’m really interested in what you come up with for boots. Please let us know what you end up purchasing before you leave. Then I want to hear all about it when you get back. Awesome trek Ty, have a blast!
Hi, Celeste here. Some of my work associates and friends wear Vasque and love them. I find they run narrow. If this is your experience also, please advise. I personally have wide feet with high arches and I have not located a Vasque boot that accommodates my needs. Let us know, thanks!
I love Vasque boots. My 1st pair lasted me almost 10 years! I just got another pair they are Vasque Sundowner Summit GTX they are the best backpacking boots they make and well worth the extra coin.
^ oh and is it clip point or drop point?
Thanks do you know if it is serrated?
the folding knife on a few episodes…it is a gray colored blade with a black rubber handle, and i’m pretty sure it’s the gator II by gerber. pretty sweet knife, i bought it for my dad, he likes it a lot, and it’s a cheap price too.
Hey guys i am new to the forum i knew a while back you were trying to figure out what folding knife bear was using and i was wondering if you ever figured it out? thanks Bear is awesome
Lawrence,
I haven’t had the opportunity to try out the new Tracker knife. The only models I have used are the old Beck Tracker, which are not made anymore by Beck. Let me know how you like it if you buy one. Any feed back on the new Tracker knife would be appreciated.
Kyle, you will find Bayley’s web site link here on this thread.
on the internet
Hey guys,where can i buy bear grylls bayley knife at??
Hey all, busy with camp. Will do my best to get answers to many of the questions of late. I’ll be off to Shasta for 2 more weeks of camps next week. Celeste will be monitoring and helping out while I’m away.
Thanks.
it seems as though bear uses the gutting knife mentioned above (the hunter revolver or something) in the everglades episode. his knife has the exact shape of that one. howver, it doesnt look like it has the other folding part. id like to get a sog seal pup elite or maybe a kabar short combo ( pretty cheap compared to everything else…dont think my parents will let me tho the closest they let me come to a knife was a flip coleman which im pretty sure are not reputable for their durability or sharpness
mark hasnt said much today
They say that the tom brown tracker is the ultimate survival knife but that could be a sales gimmick. I live near smokey mountain knife works which is a huge knife showplace and they had a tom brown. I ask to see it and when they put it in my hand it was heavy for such a samll knife. the blade was at least 5/16ths wide and felt great. The only problem is it’s $240.
Love the show and have learned much from this thread. I am getting ready to leave to Costa Rica soon for 85 days of backpacking. My question is what would be the best hiking boots to buy for sloppy, muddy conditions?
Thanx
hey mark,
what is the “best” knife for all around survival
thanks,
amak
mark,
What are your thoughts on the Tom brown tracker. I would very much like to know before i purchase it.
amak,
I’ll check on the problem you are experiencing with our comments. Thanks for the heads up.
We may be able to accommodate you at our Houston Camp next year.
your site has an error every time i click submit comment it says error: then a bunch of numbers and stuff but then i go back and click post again and it says i’ve already posted it and it shows up like a day later
if u can do anything it would be nice but if not thats fine
thanks,
amak
hey,
i think this has been floating around a little but will you have any survival camps in texas (houston) area that a 13 year old clould attend for the summer of 2008
thanks,
amak
josh the lmf 2 is the only knife i’ve held out of your selection but it is very durable and stays pretty sharp the only bad thing about it is that it’s heavy, very heavy
well off to ireland for 2 weeks so i wont be on for a while
Hey everyone,
I have been silently reading this thread for a long time and I have found it to be quite informative. I have been searching for a good knife for a while and I just took Mark’s advice and ordered an SOG Seal Pup. The price for the seal pup on Lapolicegear.com is half the price than on the SOG website and it includes the nylon sheath which costs an extra $25 on the SOG site. It should arrive tomorrow and I am looking forward to using it. I’m going fishing and camping in the boundary waters for a week. After that I’m going backpacking in the Grand Tetons and in the Wind River Range for three weeks. I plan on putting this knife to the test. I would like to report back and tell you all how the knife worked out.
Thanks,
Jack
that website sucks frye, ive been to a ton of other random websites and their prices were cheaper. amazon.com is the best. getting back to the thread and away from the advertisement, has anyone read my 2 posts that are a couple posts up? im still torn between a seal pup elite or the lmf II.
I am looking to purchase the Tom Brown Tracker. I have wanted the thing for a long time, but it is so expensive. I would like to know from somebody that has used it if it it truly as good as they say it is and if it’s worth that price. Also I would like to share with everybody a knife that i have stumbled upon called a katz hunters tool knife made by katz knives. you can see it here at katz knives. This knife is expensive but has all the qualities that a person should ask out of a survival knife. thanks
After reading this long, fabulous thread, I just wanted to suggest another online resource to shop for knives and survival gear- One Stop Knife Shop. They carry a bunch of the SOG, Columbia River, Fallkniven, and Gerber knives (and others) as mentioned throughout this thread, and all KINDS of firestarters.
The items are already heavily discounted and they match prices on anything in stock at another online retailer. The guy who owns OSKS also runs Bladeforums.com so he knows his stuff and will sit on the phone with you for half an hour if he has to to help you figure out what you need. You know, not that I’ve ever had to do that to him.
here are the links to the metal hardness where i got my info from:
HRC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_scale
AUS compared to HRC and other blade steel facts: crkt
so according the wikipedia site, an HRC between 55-62 is good, and it looks as if AUS 8 has an HRC of 56-58. so according to this, i think the lmf II and seal pup elite are about the same.
I have one of these pelican cases like Jason Meredith, I really like it. If you’re looking for a good personal survival kit case you should look towards these. Different sizes are available, I own the 1030.
See REI.
i cannot decide if i want the seal pup elite or the gerber LMF II. sogs are great blades, but the lmf II looks like it would be better for hammering and chopping wood since it is heavier and also looks bigger and wider than the seal pup elite. i would like to get all dimensions of both knives, thickness, width, etc. ive heard the lmf II is great for chopping, how is the seal pup elite for chopping? also the seal pup elite doesn’t look like the bottom of it would be very good for use as a hammer. also which blades are made with the best metal? ive looked up on wikipedia HRC 58 which is supposed to be a very good strong hard metal, which the gerber lmf II is made of. the seal pup elite is AUS 8, which i think is about the same as HRC 58. im not sure, so if anyone knows any more than i do please let me know. if i were to go with the sog, i would like to get the silver color blade, but the seal pup elite’s silver blade is not serrated. the seal pup has a silver serrated blade, but im afraid of buying it as it is not as strong as the seal pup elite. im pretty confused on which knife to purchase. any help greatly appreciated.
Hey Josh48315,
Mark Wienert here. The Gerber LMF II is twice as heavy as the SOG Seal Pup Elite. If your willing to trade extra weight for chopping then the Gerber is a good bet. The Gerber is also a bit more of a tactical knife for specific applications. If your involved in emergency or military services where serrated blades can be of great help in cutting heavy nylon strapping like seat belts, then serrated blades are a must. The hard point on the end of the Gerber handle is for breaking helicopter windshields in case of emergency escape measures. Good luck on your decision.
hey i have a gerber compact sport, and am very happy with it. but i hav’nt really taken it out and done any major cutting with it (only a 2.4 inch blade) but does Bear recomend a multitool like that? (with the assortment of tools)
Mark r- left this comment below regarding his experience with Bench made knives. I pasted this comment here, because there are quite a few comments regarding Benchmade knives on this thread.
Mark r says: “I’ve found a heavy durable knife such as an original ka-bar to be most helpful with trees and brush for shelter, yet can be made sharp enough out of the box to slice fresh meat,……BUT I HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH BENCHMADE KNIVES, they break like twigs under any kind of real pressure,..my advice “buy a big strong knife for big strong work”
Mark Wienert says: I am curious about the type of “pressure” Mark r- applied with his Bench made that would made it break. I agree with Mark r- that you need a well made strong knife for tough work. Anything less will let you down. Check out -www.sogknives.com for a strong knife that you can depend on!
I have a SOG Flash II folder that is awesome! Its a sturdy folder with a drop point, lots of steel for a small knife and rugged durability for a folding knife. The locks are very strong, safe in the pocket, and efficient. Also I really like the quick release action of the blade when I need it out fast. SOG makes a variety of very well put together folders.
Also I have been trying out SOGS Seal Pup fixed blade.
The Seal Pup is light in weight for a tough knife. My students at camp this week have been using the Seal Pup and are very impressed with this knife. Its light enough to easily take back packing with you, and tough enough to perform any job you ask of it in the bush. Several of my students of expressed their desire in purchasing this knife for their own. We highly recommend the Seal Pup.
We also have just began to try out SOG’s Hunter Revolver – no longer sold
This combination knife, gut hook, wood/bone saw is made especially for the hunter. We have been running the Revolver through our famous “Lifesong Knife Trials” and will give you our opinion on this interesting combination knife soon.
Celeste really like this type of combination in a working knife. As a hunting guide in Wyoming, Celeste learned to appreciate the gut hook, and folding saws are a tool that she uses almost daily in her Wildlife Research work. So she will be doing her own Field Test on the Hunter Revolver, I’m especially looking forward to hear what she has to say about it.
All of the knives we test are run through our “Field Trials’, where the knife being tested is used in everyday wilderness survival type applications. We look for: strength, durability, comfort, simplicity, blister factor, and usability factors. We also consider sharpness, cutting ability, and edge longevity. We see how well the knife performs for its job, and give the knife plenty of opportunity to prove itself out.
Not that anyone’s active on this thread anymore, but I thought I’d share. I don’t think I’m going to get the Rant DPT. Not reallya full tang, and for $30 more, I can find a Benchmade 151 (fixed Griptilian), which is basically a less expenvise Doug Ritter (equipped.com) knife. Not as thick, and not as high-grade carbon steel, but very comparable. And much more solidly made than the Rant.
I’ll probably be using the blade for everything from making kindling to dinner. But it looks to be a good balance for me. Plus it has a lanyard hole, and the sheath is lefty-friendly.
P.S. in the episode of MvW that just aired (Iceland), I think Bear was using that Gerber Gator folding knife again :-p
Also, I’ve been “hunting” for a survival knife of my own. After reading Equipped.com and this thread, I thought I’d let you guys know I’m looking at the Benchmade 10505 (AKA Pardue Rant DPT). It actually looks a lot like Bear’s Bayley knife, but it’s only USD60. It has everything I think I need, shiny surface, smooth blade, gritty handle, full tang. Made of 440C stainless steel, too.
Thought you all might want to know. I know it’s only a “red class” Benchmade (less $ and quality than some), but for what I want to use it, it looks perfect.
>>Nick said: What watch is Bear wearing in the everglades episode?
I think I read on his Web site he’s been field testing watches for a UK watch company just out of the gate, Bremont. The pic on the Web site of him with the watch looked like it was from the Everglades show.
Nice one, mate
Nice link for the gear, good find. This is my first post on here after discovering this site a few days ago, and i’m glad to see there are so many people out there who enjoy Man vs Wild as much as I do. Bear is a great person and very inspiring if you read his books like I have. To spend a couple days backpacking with him and squeezing as much survival knowledge out of him as you could in a short few days to me would be like winning the lottery, it would be a great experience. I believe at the start of the first season wasn’t there a contest to get to meet Bear or something like that? Well its good to see there are so many fans out there, lets hope the show continues for quite a few seasons!
Here is the link from Bear’s website to some gear he uses. Link no longer valid.
i’m not sure about what kind of shirt it is but this website-link no longer viable, has and excellent selection of long sleeve shirts with upf protection against uv rays which i’m pretty sure he uses, may not be the same brand but these shirts are medium priced, not gonna hurt your wallet.
I have been watching this forum for a while and I want to thank you guys for your hard work and input on the clothing and materials that Bear uses. I have been trying to figure out what kind of long sleeve shirt he wears. Its grey and he wears it quite a bit especially in the new episodes. Anyone have any ideas?
And by the way, thanks for the tips regarding the SOG seal pup. I’m ordering one tomorrow!
Wow! I’d just like to comment on this great thread. I read the whole thing today; it took me almost 3 hours! (not combined; i’d go blind!) Anyway, this has taught me so much about survival, and has led me to some great other sites. I am planning on attending a camp next season up in Shasta (I reside in The Bay Area). Again, thank you so much for all of the info. I’m an avid Bear Grylls/Man Vs. Wild fan.
Thanks again,
Paul N.
Bear has made his own “perfect” survival knife, it looks like an SAS knife and has no serrated edge. You can look at it @ bayleyknife.com. Me personally, i love the kabar short fighter combo. excellent knife and cheap. If it lasts for marines, it will definately last for you.
Does anyone know what kind of pants Bear is wearing in the everglades episode? Thanks for your help.
The everglades episode was awesome! The Discovery channel had a fathers day marathon of Man vs Wild on all day yesterday and I watched some of it. He is deff using a diff knife in each episode. He brings a knife that will work best for the enviroment he is going into. I.E. the gut hook in everglades with the gators or other animals with tough skin he might have to gut. Swiss army knife in the alps episode. Non folding black handled partially serrated in the jungle. Folding knife in Africa I beleive. I am leaning toward the Gerber LMF II for my knife of choice.
In the everglades episode I am fairly sure he uses a different boot than in the other episodes, does anyone know what kind it is? Also, in the one where he is placed into shoot, I forget where it was, but it was in a desert somewhere with canyons and he had to go into one to find water and it had a dead squirrel in it but what kind of shoe was he wearing then when he climbed up the canyon wall?
i just went and watched the everglades episode on TIVO and then checked out the knives that have been provided. in the everglades Bear uses the Buck Zipper Knife
What watch is Bear wearing and what type of knife does he carry with him in all episodes??
Thanx
What watch is Bear wearing in the everglades episode ?
Yeh, the Evergaldes episode was over here in England, about 2 months ago, it was part of season 1 for us, so was the Mexico, Copper Canyon episode, maybe he’ll use the Bayley knife in the other episodes, like good ol’ Scotland and Iceland
The Everglades. I thought he’d use the Bayley, but this one looks like it has a gut hook.
That Bear Grylls Bayley knife is 350 british pounds, thats almost $700 US dollars!!!!
you make a great point amak, I’m extremely hesitant to buy one without handling first because so much of knife preference is feel
i came across a great book even tho im only 13 the dangerous book for boys is great at teaching u how to do/ make “stuff”
thanks,
amak
hey bryan,
the gator 2 i prefer over the gator for durability and feel (your preferance) and the kabar is a good company even tho i havent used that model the first on i’ve never heard of bet looks good. you should handle them before taking preferance also look at case knives they are very durable, sharp, and comfortable but im not sure if they have a survival type knife.
hope i gave a little help,
amak
Hi Niko,
In the Sierra Nevada episode Bear wears a cotton “Haines” long sleeve T-shirt.
In the Desert Island episode he wears whats called a Safari shirt. Nothing high tech about bears shirts, just comfortable cotton. Which of course is the worse material you can wear in a survival situation. When wet, cotton allows no dead air space for insulation between your skin and the shirt.
Hence the material chills the body. Think about blue jeans and how they feel when wet on a cold day.
Does anyone know what top he wears? it looks pretty light and comfrotable. It must be good as he wears it in every episode… anyine know of any similar tops?
Thanks for dropping by glyphdoc.
The Cressi-Sub Norge…not it.
Throwing my hat in the ring for an attempt at the Bear knife:
The Cressi-Sub Norge Knife?
Hi Mark,
What is the difference (and advantages/disadvantages) between a clip point knife and a drop point knife?
Thanks
Hi Conner,
I don’t know of any camps that Man Vs Wild or Survival Man are instructing themselves. But take heart, when your a bit older our programs, while not taught by the two gentlemen you speak of, would serve you just as well.
Thanks for your question Conner.
hi yes im a outdoors boy and i would like to know if any of u know any good survival summer camps wiht man vs wild and survivor man i think its really neat and would like to go to a camp for a mouth or two over the summer.
ty conner
Hi Bryan K,
I hope you get some insight from folks who have used the knives you have listed, or know some about them to help you with your decision.
Not to confuse you further… but I will. Check out the SOG Trident folder
and their other folding knives
SOG knives; I have found them to be a excellent choice for a variety of tough field applications.
I’ve been reading this site and many others as I have been trying to find a good affordable folding knife for wilderness/survival purposes, from what I’ve seen on here and other places, I’ve narrowed my choices down to just a few. I was wondering if anyone could help steer me in the right direction, give me some opinions of the few I’m deciding between, or perhaps suggest any others that I haven’t even considered. Links no longer viable.
also I’m wondering if a clip point or a drop point knife would be best, and also how concerned should I be about the thickness of each knife in question as some of them don’t even list the thickness
thanks
Bryan K
it seems that everyone is very interested in the equipment bear uses. i dont understand why someone with the right access cant just ask him. i know he is a busy person and is probably tired of people harrassing him but a quick post on this site would make alot of people happy and save alot of time for everyone.
is there any survival courses in N Ireland thanks
Hi Alex,
Yes we do! We have a camp exactly what you are looking for. Its called “THE EDGE”
Great question!
Do you know if there are any camps like the show where they teach you some stuff and then just throw you out in the wild to survive on your own? Thanks.
I’m interested in the knife he used on a recent show where he was cutting up a Zebra carcass and cutting off pieces of meat. The knife was a large folder with a recurve blade, framelock, I think. Anyone recognize it? Thanks!
Okay smarty amak,
what knife was it?;)
wow u are way off that isnt even close to the knife :{0
amak
ya not to smart to step in a fire but hawaii was fun
thanks,
amak
Guys am i way off or is the knife used on the Hawaii – Mount Kilauea episode an Emerson Commander . Thanks
Mark here,
I Just wanted to mention that we truly appreciate every one’s input here even though we don’t always see eye to eye. Everyone has taken time to comment, help folks, or to ask questions, express themselves about Man Vs Wild, survival knives, gear, a whole host of important threads, and we truly thank you for visiting us and this community.
I also wanted to mention, Celeste and I were out yesterday running a trail for our wildlife survey, when there in the dust, a pug mark of a Cougar made earlier in the day shown like a bright star in the failing daylight. Always a thrill to see; the sort that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up…not this time, but just the same it made our day.
On the way home tonight on the gravel roads, a Cougar jumped out in front of the jeep, loping down the road for a bit then off into the brush. Perfect day! Oh did I mention the bull Elk we came across sharing the trail as well?
Hey amak,
Celeste loves her pair, though I don’t think she will be testing there insulation in the campfire any time soon. They are worth the price, a remarkable moccasin type fit.
Good to hear from you again.
Thomas LePage,
In the early 70’s I had just spent three months in Arizona, outside globe. I was doing desert solitaire when I met a born again fellow who had 11 children. His wife, an amazing women, was stashing food for her and the children to make their break to a mountain cabin somewhere in Arizona she said was paradise.
When you spoke of the Salt River, I was reminded of the time when exhausted and and overheated early that April, I jumped into that wonderful river…I immediately left all of my breath hanging in the air from the sudden shock to my body that the Salt was a frigging cold $%#@ River!
Just goes to show ya, just because the river is in a Desert, doesen’t mean its always going to be warm.
Thanks for your input. We look forward to meeting you when you make your way out here to Oregon country.
Oh, and we concur; folks please don’t depend on your cell phone to get yourself back home safe and sound.
Thanks for the words of wisdom!
hey,
i got the merrell gore-tex xcr chamellion wraps they are awesome great ankle support and very rugged the rubber is virtually burn proof after steping on a bon-fire good insulation also.
worth the price
thanks,
amak
To the admin, great site and wonderful thread! I will be looking at your circle camps in the future – we are moving up to Oregon in a couple years, and I think it would be great for my children to learn survival skills for that area prior to our hiking and camping there! Doubt if the desert skills will be as helpful in the coastal region we are looking at (The farm is in Ione, but we are prefer the coast…).
In response to Ben Waller’s great advice – Bring a phone… LOL!!!
Last time we ran the Upper Salt River here in AZ. many of my clients wanted to know if I’d be available on the phone (people panic when the sys admin is going to be gone for a couple days – a week about gives ‘em cardiac arrest!)… Now I know my clients generally don’t get out much, at least not into the areas I tend to go, but the whole idea people have that somehow a phone is going to be a survival tool in the middle of nowhere just makes me laugh. First you have to have a cell tower somewhere close so there is a signal – and if you’re playing in canyon lands, well, that’s still not likely to help you, until you find a way up to a ridge at least. I’ve been to numerous areas were a sat phone would be of questionable help as far as that goes, but our normal “lost in the woods” person is likely to only have their local cell with them, if even that.
Then there is the little issue of battery charge. These suggestions remind me of the lady who brought her hair drier on a Grand Canyon trip. Honest, she brought it out the first morning and wanted to know where she could plug it in. We pointed to a big rock just off the river and told her she could plug it in under it… She started laughing – halfway over to the rock we had pointed out, took her that long to figure out we were joking. She was a much better person, in our humble opinion, by the end of the trip. Or at least she was much more in tune with the wilderness.
But these are the people most likely to get lost in the woods. Any advice they are given that is honest and helpful is a far sight more advantages then implying a phone is going to help them. If they are very lucky, great – but chances are the phone is just going to be extra weight, and one had best hope they have a full charge. Even then they’d be lucky to have a battery left when they got somewhere it could get a signal.
Lil ole me-
Just a note on the your comment regarding my statement about Browns influence to the primitive skills community. You must not have been aware that Brown consulted for the movie “The Hunted.” We also look forword to your application to our First Circle Camp this season or next.
Also we want folks to know that we stand firm here with our feelings about our clients safety at Lifesong Adventures. Regardless of the type of course we run, Our Clients Safety Comes First!
We are capable of recognizing for the safety of the client, and to insure a great experience for them as well, the symptoms of dehydration, sun stroke, hypothermia, AMS, depression, or any other life threatening condition. Even the most athletic individual, experienced or otherwise can become sick or disoriented on a bad day.
One of the first things that you learn about people who suffer from any of the above symptoms in real life, they are very often incapable of self-diagnosing what their experiencing. People become very disoriented, confused, cannot think or talk coherently. They rarely if ever ask for help because they do not know what is happening to them.
It is the responsibility of the guide to look for these symptoms especially where the weather, terrain, and other conditions show a likely hood of possible stress to the client.
One other point here. We are not a boot camp, we don’t treat our clients that way. We have found that teaching our clients how to connect and understand the natural world allows them to flow with, not against nature, insuring a positive and powerful experience. So you would not find our students marching in 100 degree heat, with little or no water during the hottest part of the day, thats not survival training! That’s called something else.
Hi James,
You asked if Bear cheats? I don’t understand this part of your question.
You also asked If he gets help from the film crew, ect. This is a made for TV production where Bear does all of his own stunts for the show. Some very extreme stunts where Bear finds himself quite exposed to the elements along with the camera crew. The production company hires experts, consultants like Celeste and I, that know the plants, animals, environment, and historical survival techniques of an area where they wish to film and we advise.
Does Bear jump in the ice lake in the Alps episode? You bet he does!
Does Bear ever cheat? Get help from the camera crew or anyone else? Food? Shelter? Do they every plant everything like the ropes on the European Alps episode? Thanks
Hey Joel,
The answer to your question is here on this thread regarding Bears knife on the Costa Rica episode.
You’ll have to track it out.
Let me know how you do.
Sorry to ask, as it has probably already been covered, but what knife does Bear use in the Costa Rica episode?
hi Mark!
i was originally going to reply to the thread/post, but figured that anymore comments by myself would be hijacking your thread from its original intentions, and i dont want to do that. so i figured id email it to you, but the character limit is 650 characters for your email… ive no way to get this to you without posting.. so feel free to edit/remove this after you read it if you like as i do not want to hijack your page, ooooooooooooor leave it if you see fit.
first please allow me to say that im VERY sorry that anything ive said was construed as “mud slinging”. that was not and IS NOT my intentions.
i dont believe i have said anything untrue, i believe i clarified that my opinions were based upon my own research and observations. im sorry that simple conversation is such a sensitive subject. i purposefully left out examples of why i chose to seek my knowledge elsewhere, just so that i would NOT be accused of mud slinging.
i also left his knife alone and didnt express my opinions about it, or his statements that it is the perfect survival knife, i felt that would be mud slinging, irregardless of the opinions and feelings of those i have discussed it with that have used it in survival training, ‘Trackers’ and non “Trackers” alike. everyone has their opinions, and i believe that as long as they are based upon rational thought and research with knowledge built in, its not mud slinging, its simply expressing an opinion.
i stated that Tom Brown Jr. is highly regarded and respected by many, that ALOT of people go thru his courses, and many are repeat students that think highly of him. i fail to see how this is mud slinging. i believe that for an instructor one of the highest respects paid is for people that respect you enough and think highly enough of you to return for more courses, is quite an acheivement. especially considering that i dont consider the price of most survival courses to be a trivial matter. i also believe that some of the highest praise for an instructor is both what their peers say about them, and what they dont say about them.
i also believe that the quality of student an instructor turns out speaks volumes about their schools and courses. there is a whole topic of different examples that can be covered here, but anyone that puts their name or their school behind an image, they are either directly or indirectly responsible for the quality of instructors and instruction that is done. they are also responsible for the quality of student that “graduates” from their course. some people REALLY benifit from that little bit of extra time, or a moment or two of one on one instruction, and it shows in the student at the end of a course.
i fail to see how a persons interest in the well being of the enviroment has anything to do with wilderness survival, im sorry but green living and enviromental concerns, while important, commendable,and admirable, wont keep you alive in the wilds. not unless you go to the extreme of stating that without caring for our enviroment there will eventually be nothing to survive on, wich IS true.. but its quite a leap from the basic survival course.
i too heard about the incident wich you speak of, and youre correct, it was NOT a “Tracker” school that was involved.
to put things into perspective though, the individual that died may not have been physically suited for THAT particular survival course.
this is a good example of what it means to research your courses and your instructors thouroughly. that way both YOU and the INSTRUCTOR are on the same page. if a person requires a course where their hand is held the entire way, and someone is always there to supply them with the basics, then thats the course they need to seek. if a person requires a real life survival course where there IS the risk of dying, then by all means, THAT is the course that they should seek. there is an old saying.. “Train as you fight”. i believe, as sorry as i am to say this, that the individual in question may not have been suited for that course. if im not mistaken i believe there was also mention of his preparing for the course in a manner that was not to the instructors guidelines/advice. in the end we are ALL responsible for our OWN actions. the individual could have taken alittle more time, he could have drank alittle more water, he could have rested and recouperated alittle more. sure the instructors COULD have gave him water, but instead they chose to allow the individual to reach deep down into his core being and drag out that part of him that is neccessary to TRUELY survive when things get going rough and it seems impossible (something iirc was part of the beliefs and teachings of the school in question). I BELIEVE that the individual may simple have just given up, but being that neither of us were there, and neither of us is the individual involved.. its all armchair quarterbacking. id not blame the instructors, in the end the STUDENT has the right and RESPONSIBILITY to say, ENOUGH, UNCLE, call the truck, please go get me some water, im done, keep my money, i quit, this course is NOT for me. everyone has THAT choice in a course. how far they take their training is up to THEM.
i am unsure about what exactly this means:
“I have been hearing this baloney for years from the self-proclaimed survival skills crowd, and frankly I’m tired of it.”
but maybe its something that is better left alone without mucking up your post/thread any further.
Tom Brown Jr.’s school and himself has done ALOT to revive the interest in primitive skills.. that is correct, as i said before, he has GREAT marketing, and he does see ALOT of students ran thru his courses. there is no denying that.. but to say that he has done more than anyone else in MY opinion may be misleading… not to sling mud, but im sure youre familiar with the controversy between him and i believe it was Larry Dean Olsen. so in the end who is responsible for what is pretty moot because each person is going to come to their own conclusions… and THAT is what my point was… DO YOUR RESEARCH AND COME TO YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS ABOUT WHAT INSTRUCTOR IS RIGHT FOR YOU. pretty easy.. no mud slinging involved. btw with the mentality of people today, Hollywierd has probly done more for the resurgence of primitive skills than anyone else, from Jeremiah Johnson on up to The Hunted,and on to shows like Man vs Wild…. wtc.
the problem with forums is theres invariably mud slinging and $h!t talking, stories, untruths, etc. but its still a good place to get a feel and even the biggest loudmouth can teach someone SOMETHING. as my Dad used to tell me as a child… its better to be thought of as an idiot, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt, but i believe that everyone has something to teach. the biggest benifit of forums besides being a sounding board, is to locate those local to you, network, find friends with simular interests and practice your skills and learn from each other. be it from the same home town, or from the otherside of the world. noooooooooooooow i just hope i havent removed all doubt… 😉
one final thought and ill stop taking up your bandwidth with this and ill return to trying to contribute positively to your post/thread…. while i believe your reply and immediate responce to my previous words with the conclusion of mud slinging was alittle emotionally based, i commend you and respect you greatly for the composure you showed, and your lack of censorship. that speaks highly of yourself and your beliefs. thankyou for that.
Tom Brown Jr. should be happy and proud to have a friend such as yourself, and for what its worth, a man thats willing to stand up for his friends, the world would be a better place if more were like that. my respects again.
Respectfully,
Lil Old Me
Dear “lil ole me.”
Thank you for your post, and providing advice regarding survival instructors and schools, knives, ect. Very informative for folks who enjoy this thread.
But why the mud slinging?
I have been hearing this baloney for years from the self-proclaimed survival skills crowd, and frankly I’m tired of it. Your recommendations on researching outdoor schools and instructors is the best advice for any consumer. But lame by coming to my post and throwing mud, I’ll be it nice mud, said in a very nice way, its still mud.
One of the largest and most respected outdoor survival schools in the country recently lost a student. He died of dehydration because the instructors failed in their primary responsibility as guides. (It wasn’t the Tracker School by the way) the clients safety comes first, always with me. At Lifesong Adventures we don’t sit around the campfire and bad mouth other schools or instructors, we don’t have the time, were to busy learning and having fun.
Many of the survival forums, ones that you have mentioned in your post, are so filled with cursing and mud slinging that I personally won’t waste my time reading them.
Tom Brown Jr. is a friend of mine. One of the most generous people I know. I studied with Tom for many years because of the philosophy he teaches. It resonated deeply within me, and is the foundation of my inspiration to teach. For me, as with Brown and many others, the skills are doorways to a richer experience in wilderness and every day life.
I do not need to defend Tom Brown Jr, other than to say that first he is a human being with all the same faults and goodness that we all have. Second, he has done more for reviving primitive skills in the last 30 years, than any other school in this country or the world for that matter.
As a guest instructor at his California standard class back in the 90’s, I met a first time student who worked for a major power company in Moss Landing, CA. This amazing young man was so inspired by Toms books to make a positive difference in the world, that he was able to reduce the amount of airborne pollutants from the exhaust stack of the co generation power plant where he worked.. by 50%! This guy was inspired! And made a positive difference that rippled throughout the whole world. You don’t have to like Brown, but don’t sling mud if you don’t have first hand experience with the Man.
Thanks, we do appreciate your prospective.
Keith
see the post I put up on May 10th or get the belt pouch which will take the cooker
Gary
i havent read the entire thread, but i believe the folding knife shown in this link previously posted:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29223080@N00/343022004/
that knife looks ALOT like a CRKT folder i bought awhile back. Ryan Seven is what sticks in my head. try google and see what you think. if it is.. its a great knife and one of my favorites. if its not.. i apoligize for the misdirection.
i dont have cable TV, but i was able to catch the jungle episode while on vacation.. loved the show for its entertainment value. it has some knowledge and information in it, and is a hell of alot better way to spend time than watching “Survivor”! if i had cable. id probly watch the show weekly just for the fun of it, and to see how another man does things.
an affordable durable blade that wont set you back a fortune.. check out the CRKT Kasper. great blade for the money.
the RTAK is a great choice for a large fixed blade, chops well and lends itself to regular camp chores. its also affordable.
for those on a better budget… check out Tops Knives… great product and a well deserved reputation.
anything SOG is going to be a great product. the Seal Pup is an awesome knife and well worth the money.
hard to go wrong with the good old KaBar USMC Fighting Utlity. bought mine 15 or so years ago, beat the dog crap out of it, chopped thru 8″ logs with it deep enough to bend/break them, batoned it thru rounds, etc and its held up 100%! if you have the time to research the tests that the originals were subjected to during WW2 i think youd be suitably impressed. i know its the best money i think ive EVER spent on a knife, and its the one knife that if i need to grab and go, it goes with me! some dont like them.. but lets face it.. if they were crap, theyd never have been produced for so long, in such high numbers, and wouldnt still be used today in the day of hightech steels and knives that are designed to withstand incredible abuses that no sane person would subject their knives to. sermon over….
as far as books to start learning with..
id suggest Larry Dean Olsen (never met him but a true been there done that man, based upon what HIS peers say about him).
David Alloway (dearly departed and missed greatly) as far as im concerned was THE BEST Desert Survival Instructor in the USA, he has a book that is WELL thought of and HIGHLY regarded “Desert Survival SKills” and amazon carries it.
Ron Hood (great guy, real friendly and the man that id trust my own family with, his website survival.com) produces some excellent videos, his wife Karen has a nice series called cave Cooking, they also have a forum and is a GREAT place to discuss, learn and share survival knowlege and information…
Buckshot of Buckshots Camp has some very nice videos as well, another man that lives by what he teaches.
the SAS Survival Manual by John Wiseman, if youre aware of the couple inacuracies in it, its about the only “survival manual” ive read that covers things as well as it does… other opinions may vary.
with that said, and based SOLELY UPON MY OPINIONS AND PERSPECTIVES, AS A RESULT OF MY READING AND RESEARCH IN CHOOSING A SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE, READ THAT AS NO LIBLE OR SLANDER BEING COMMITED, IMPLIED, OR OTHERWISE INTERPRETTED… i cant in good consience recommend Tom Brown Jr. or his books, while i have no first hand dealings with the man, BUUUUTT suffice it to say that there has been MORE than enough controversy and unanswered questions about him, and he does nothing to help himself out. but then again.. he DOES have some GREAT marketing and runs ALOT of people thru his school. Google him and do your research and decide for yourself, thats what I did when it came to determining who was who and where i was going to start my education. granted “Trackers” love him to death, buuuuuuuuuuuutt again if you spend some time with google, and you also pay attention to the quality of students they seem to turn out based upon peoples reports, observations and opinions…. there have been ALOT of VERY happy students, and repeat students that go back to his school for more advanced courses, so there are ALOT of people that love him and RESPECT HIM HIGHLY… im just trying to say do your homework and research on any potential instructor you go with, be it by seeking instruction from a book, a video, or the person themselves. after all… you wouldnt marry the first woman, or man you see when you walk out your front door in the morning, you wouldnt hire a contractor without research or references, and YOU SURELY WOULD NOT PLACE YOUR LIFE OR YOUR LOVED ONES LIVES IN THE HANDS OF AN INSTRUCTOR WITHOUT PLENTY OF RESEARCH AS WELL!!
other instructors…
Christopher Nyrges (probly butchered his last name) runs a school in SoCal that teaches edible plants.
Aboman, aka Joe Bigley, Salmon Outdoor School up in Montana or Idaho. i forget wich.. is VERY HIGHLY THOUGHT OF AND RESPECTED by those “in the know”… do your research on him, i feel he is a VERY good choice of instructor. heres a book he wrote that may be helpful:
Abo Man Wilderness School.
Landy… im drawing a blank on his last name at the moment.. Windwalker is his handle on the Survival.com forum, was running survival courses out of SC iirc.. a VERY likeable, friendly man, may be worth looking into if your in that area….
and we can NOT forget Randall’s Aventure Training… a VERY HIGHLY regarded Jungle Survival school. they have their own forums and is a grat place to learn and research.
there are ALOT of choices out there for a survival instructor.. some good.. some bad… and some in the middle.. PLEASE take the time and do your research, find an instructor that is RIGHT FOR YOU!! dont take my word for them, or anyone elses. locate a potential instructor, call them up, talk to them on the phone, ask what they teach.. tell them what you hope to learn, and what you expect out of a survival course, find out if their course will fill your needs… ANY instructor worth their salt will be willing to discuss other instructors or schools that may better suit your needs or location. my personal opinion, AVOID instructors that beleive they are the end all be all survival guru’s. also ASK other instructors what they think about a potential instructor youre considering. generally most instructors are willing to discuss each other in a fair and unbiased manner.
ALSO FORUMS ARE A GREAT PLACE TO GAIN FEEDBACK ON POTENTIAL INSTRUCTORS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND OTHERS IN YOUR OWN AREA WHO SHARE AN INTERST IN WILDERNESS SURVIVAL! FORUMS ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER TRAINING THOUGH, AND AS WITH ANYTHING SURVIVAL… PEOPLE CAN AND DO DIE, SOME SURVIVE AND SOME DONT, KNOWLEDGE IS YOUR FRIEND, AND THE MORE YOU HAVE, THE BETTER EQUIPPED YOU ARE!!
hope this is helpful to some, and i apoligize for the length of it.
Respectfully…
lil old me 😉
Kieth,
The 58 water bottle pattern has been in service since the 80’s. The British armed forces kept that specific design but it issues the newer 90 pattern pouches or otherwise known as the PLCE way of attaching military gear. It is very similar to the US MOLLE system but based on the NATO way of doing things. In fact i personally use the Crusader system but not because Bear uses it. I looked at the American GI water bottle as well as using Nalgene bottles for what i needed. The fact is the products above are high quality units but for my specic puposes i chose otherwise. You need to choose what works for you not what he choose because itr works for him.
I wish you all the best and remember, it’s not what you know, it’s how you apply it. “Ray Mears”
-mgb_tracker
Hi All,
I’ve been reading all the different posts submitted, and found the information great. So much so, I ordered the 58 pattern waterbottle, crusader cup and cooking unit ( with gel fuel sachets), which have just arrived, and i also put through an order in the states for the Sog Seal Pup Elite. (I live in Ireland!). Really looking forward to putting them both throough their paces in a couple of weekends time, however i was wondering if anyone else has, or recently purchased the crusader cup and cooking unit. My issue is that it does not seem to fit together properly as every website, including its manufacters ‘ bcb survival’ states. I wanted to have it all slotted into one another and attached to me with a lanyard (much the same as Bear) for ease of transport. Am i just plain think in the head – DONT answer that – or is there a special technique to attaching the cooker to the mug. Any help would be much appreciated! btw, Great site Mark, very informative, and Bear Rocks!!!
Several species of Strept can cause meninigitis, commonest is Group B which is usually found in neonates the child infected or colonized during birth, Strept pneumoniae which from the name comes from chest infections then to the blood then the CSF and Group A this one is rarer but comes from the group which causes necrotizing fasciolitis the flesh eating bacteria, this is the one that spreads fast they put a marker pen stripe on the infected limb at the red edge then come back in an hour or so to see if its progressed. Usually causes sore throats, infected skin and cellulitis both like all these things they can spread.
I read Ben’s post and in some points he is right and others not so, yes many of us may be couch potatoes wanting to know irrelevant details, but that is true of every recreational pursuit. The point in this is we learn some stuff and take an interest. We go out and look at like and for things rather than accept them. For example Bracket fungi as tinder, take some home burn it eat it, identify the trees, the spoors, etc. In the UK we do not wilderness as you do in the US there is only one square on the hikers scale maps of the entire country devoid of any features. Roads and streams, railwys houses are all within easy hiking distance. Yet still the idiots get lost and die, we get changes in weather in the mountains which can and do kill the unprepared, people climb in bad weather and the rescue services who I admire have to find them. The point of a show like MvW is to entertain and to inform and to show people whats out there, what can happen and how to deal with problems. It may not be your life you could help save someone else and that would be a good day.
Gary
Yes thanks Gary, and thanks for the tips.
The Doctor didn’t know which type of bacteria had caused the infection though she did mention several possible Streptococci that are known to infect through water polluted by cattle or the rotting corpses of spawned out salmon, which was the case, both present in the stream that Celeste was surveying at the time of her infection.
Rivers, stream, creeks, and even some springs that are frequented by great numbers of cattle or people we must assume are polluted.
Thousands of people every summer throng to the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and with that people being who they are, leave their fecal matter along side the road or trail uncovered where it pollutes the water ways directly or indirectly transferred by wild animals.
Following the rules of outdoor sanitation can make a huge difference in keeping our streams and rivers free of fecal bacteria that makes us sick and spoils our pristine wilderness area’s.
1. Bury your crap! Along with the toilet paper 6″ to 8″ deep in the ground. Let natures decomposing bacteria break down the fecal matter and turn it into soil. Well away from streams, lakes, camp, and trail.
2. Any other toiletry items, double or triple bag, and pack out with you. Please dispose of diapers accordingly.
3. High Alpine area’s above 10,000′ organic matter breaks down very slowly. It can even be hard to find soft soil to bury your crap. In that case make a depression as deep as the soil allows, do your business and cover well with large rocks. At least two hundred feet away from streams or body’s of water. Many popular Alpine destinations here in the states you are required to pack out your crap, the US Park Service or US Forest Service provide bags or you can purchase the necessary bags when you sign for your wilderness permit.
I do have to mention my use of the word “crap” in this comment. I apologize if I have offended anyone, yet I use this adjective to make a point…I’ll be it a smelly one, if you leave your stool where it can become part of your drinking source…well enough said about the C-word. Cheers!
Mark,
In all honesty I’m not certain I tend to deal with the sample end looking for what caused it. I can say for certain only one type of bacteria can penetrate unbroken skin, that is Leptospira which causes Weil’s Disease, You can get infected hair follicles as the bacteria use the oil secretion as food. There is a bacteria which is associated skin infections in people working with fish, meat and in the Vetinary profession This is Erysipelothrix rusiopathiae, (Google Erysipelothrix should give information but do not confuse it with Erysipelas with is a skin condition usually associated with Streptococci) Most are easily treated with antibiotics the important thing with Antibiotics is complete the prescribed course to prevent organisms becoming resistant. Hope this gives you something to look up and answers some questions.
I noticed an earlier posting regarding attaching the Steel Mug to the Type 58 water bottle. You can ram the Steel one over the plastic mug that comes with it then tie them. The handles of the plastic one make it stay in place, but I shall go with a specific pouch and then you can keep a plastic film cannister in with it that contains some water purifying tablets, a few aspirin, advil or ibroprufen painkillers and some Lomotil (diarrhoeal “stop” tablets for use in an emergency) if you can get some.
Gary
Thanks Gary, very interesting information about meningitis.
Celeste my partner, working on a fisheries research project developed a very painful case of Cellulites contracted from polluted water. (We think.) Apparently the bacteria can enter the body through the pores of the skin or a hair follicle, the bacteria does not necessarily have to have a cut or abrasion of the skin to cause an infection.
It was very painful for her and was treated with antibiotics which relieved the pain and symptoms after several days. Are we correct in understanding that Cellulites can become Meningitis if not treated properly? What are your thoughts Gary?
With regard to Mark’s question It would depend on which bacteria, virus or other caused the Meningitis, so I can’t hazard a guess. Menigitis can be caused by several different groups of Bacteria, also viruses and some yeasts. In some cases a person has the symptoms (meningitis) the Spinal fluid can show a raised number of white cells yet no reason is ever proven The type of white cell is a marker Lymphocytes indicate viral meningitis and Neutrophils indicate bacterial meningitis usually. But as with everything there are exceptions
Gary
Greetings Mr. Waller,
Ben Waller Says:
May 6th, 2007 at 8:04 pm e
I stumbled upon this site quite by accident. I have read a fair amount of what has been written here but not all of it.
What I am about to say is not meant to insult or demean anyone. The moderator of this site may well decide to toss my comments, which matters not at all as I will not be returning here. But I think that it is important that I say what I think so that I will have done all that I can do to help each and every one you “get it”.
Answer:
“It would be difficult, indeed, if we tossed your comments for you to help anyone “get it”. Unfortunately if you do not return to the site, you will never know what response is given. We feel what you have to say is important and we believe most of the individuals who comment here are aware of the dangers encountered and are determined to keep their outings safe and fun.”
I would suggest that everybody who reads this newsletter get themselves a copy of Cody Lundin’s “98.6, How to Keep Your Ass Alive”. It is the only survival book worth a damn that I have ever read (and the only one I will ever recommend) because it starts at what is essentially the beginning and the end of survival, which is core body temperature management. What knife, what umbrella, what underwear…all this other stuff is just a pile to be sifted through by television-watching couch potatoes.
Answer:
“There are many books published on the art of survival and have valuable information to be gleaned. We still feel participating in a class and learning hands on is far superior to attempting to understand survival techniques from a book.
As for the TV watching couch potatoes, there is valuable and sound information as well as entertainment to be found through this venue, just as there is good and poor information contained in books and good survival instruction and poor. It behooves everyone wanting to know how to survive to learn as much as possible from valuable sources about proper clothing, footwear, and equipment.”
If your idea of fun is to be out in desert or high-country or other respectable wilderness twenty or more miles from a road, alone, at night, without a GPS or a cell phone come hell or high water and you want it to continue to be fun then you should get some real survival training and I for one believe that you should start with Lundin’s book.
Answer:
“When a person(s) go into any wilderness landscape, I believe it is meant to be fun, challenging, spiritually renewing or it may have some other personal meaning. For whatever reason, individuals who interact in these types of forums are searching for ways to make their journey safer and more rewarding.” Frankly I’m tired of the importance placed on cell phones and GPS units. I work in the wilderness and neither of these products is helpful when cell phones are out of range and you are stuck in dense timber with a GPS unit. (A more reliable and valuable tool is the compass if you know how to use it.) We teach primitive survival skills for this reason….you cannot rely on many modern techniques to get you out of a serious situation.
It’s like Cody says “Survial SUCKS! I don’t want to survive, I want to LIVE!” You do that with your head, which has absolutely nothing to do with the brand of fixed or folding knife you carry.
Answer:
“You are correct when you say survival is mental. It would be very remiss of us, if we took people into the wilderness naked with no equipment and expected them to survive, which is really what you are suggesting. It is important to discuss survival equipment and smart to know what equipment is likely to help you keep that core temperature at 98.6 degrees. No one I know thinks survival is fun when their life is at stake.
Most people are looking for enjoyable and safe experiences when they choose to enter unknown landscapes. This is why we discuss proper equipment, clothing, etc. for anyone wanting a wilderness experience. But, that is only 25% of what we teach, the rest is mental, emotional and physical preparation.”
And here is the main point I want to make: This television “virtual experience” nonsense is dangerous. Endorsing the “Survivor Man” mentality just makes more work for Search and Rescue and I know because I’ve been the one who, too many times, has had to bag the body of some enthusiastic idiot who thought that equipment, not intellect and emotional control, would be sufficient to support his breathing habit.
Answer:
“Again in some cases television can give the wrong information as can books. We cannot control what people watch on television, but we can give proper instruction to those who ask questions in this forum and possibly dispel any improper information. There will always be those who believe they are indestructible and make more work for Search and Rescue even if they read Mr. Lundin’s book. We can only hope through information that they will be helped in some way. Having a well made knife or remembering what Bear Grylls says about safe drinking water could very well tip the balance of survival in their favor. Information is mental and gives a person a reason to keep trying.
Your association with Search and Rescue sounds painful for you. For that I am sorry, but people as yourself will always be needed to help those who find themselves in an unexpected survival situation. As survival experts, we too have been called on to track missing individuals and it is most disturbing to locate a person in a deceased state. Which is why we teach survival in all it’s forms, with modern equipment and without.”
Dont’ be the next idiot.
Answer:
“Alas, that is why everyone is here, they are not idiots. They’re learning from one another.”
Good luck to you all.
Ben
Answer:
“They won’t need luck if they have good information and equipment, they will be prepared.”
“Thank you for your perspective, Ben.”
We highly recommend Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales.
Gonzales book addresses much of Ben’s concerns regarding the mental aspects of choosing “survival” over death.
Celeste & Mark
Gary appreciate all the information on polluted water and your knives.
Regarding the Meningitis episode, we narrowed her infection down to a stream that contained high amounts of dairy cattle fecal matter. Is there a possibility at all that she became infected with Meningitis by inadvertently ingesting a very small amount of this water?
Going back over the posts. in January the Admin mentioned Meningitis can be contracted as water borne. I deal with bacterial meningitis and gut infections for a living. The main organisms of bacterial meningits are usually found in the respiratory tract and passed person to person. However Salmonella, E.coli (o157) Vibrio (Cholera and the shell fish associated V parahaemolyticus) and water borne. Commonest cause of gut disturbance is replacing the normal flora with local flora can be just as damaging. Dysentery, food poisoning Cholera etc can all be picked up from contaminated water the best advice is boil it as that kills all bacteria and parasites. Giardia is not new it’s known as “Beaver Fever” and is a protozoan which causes major, politely, gastric unrest, it usually takes more than one course of antibiotics to kill it also the drug used means you cant’s have a brew and or chaser without being even more ill. Be as careful with water as you should be with food. Boilling is best, you can add permanganate or a chlorine tablet, permanganate can also be used to treat fungal infections, add if mixed with anti freeze will create a fire.
Treat it with care!
I’ve upgraded my pack knife as I stated earlier but I still have the Schrade Bear Paw folder which served me for over twenty years camping throughout Europe winter and summer and at one point at -30. Also the big Smith and Wesson Bowie but that’s too big as a hiking knife.
The Leatherman PSTII is my preferrred Multitool, but I still carry and use a Swiss Army Knife every day for a variety and if anyone out there wears glasses or shades get the optional screwdriver which screws down the corkscrew as it really works on the little screws on glasses (spectacles) and shades.
Being prepared for what we hope never happens makes us better, get the stuff but learn how to use it.
Gary
Scott,
Thanks for the kind words. As far as we know Bears watch is a Breitling – an aviation watch.
Thanks for your question.
I really have appreciated reading the above and have learned a lot. I came in here in hopes of learning what watch Bear wears? I just watched the African episopde again and the watch he wore had what appeared to be a bright green face. The watch company he is testing for does not have a similar model on their website. Further up in this thread, I read that someone thought he wore a Breitling; maybe so, but I am skeptical that is correct since they are known for aviation watches. What kind of watch does he wear?
Thanks, Scott
I stumbled upon this site quite by accident. I have read a fair amount of what has been written here but not all of it.
What I am about to say is not meant to insult or demean anyone. The moderator of this site may well decide to toss my comments, which matters not at all as I will not be returning here. But I think that it is important that I say what I think so that I will have done all that I can do to help each and every one you “get it”.
I would suggest that everybody who reads this newsletter get themselves a copy of Cody Lundin’s “98.6, How to Keep Your Ass Alive”. It is the only survival book worth a damn that I have ever read (and the only one I will ever recommend) because it starts at what is essentially the beginning and the end of survival, which is core body temperature management. What knife, what umbrella, what underwear…all this other stuff is just a pile to be sifted through by television-watching couch potatoes.
If your idea of fun is to be out in desert or high-country or other respectable wilderness twenty or more miles from a road, alone, at night, without a GPS or a cell phone come hell or high water and you want it to continue to be fun then you should get some real survival training and I for one believe that you should start with Lundin’s book.
It’s like Cody says “Survial SUCKS! I don’t want to survive, I want to LIVE!” You do that with your head, which has absolutely nothing to do with the brand of fixed or folding knife you carry.
And here is the main point I want to make: This television “virtual experience” nonsense is dangerous. Endorsing the “Survivor Man” mentality just makes more work for Search and Rescue and I know because I’ve been the one who, too many times, has had to bag the body of some enthusiastic idiot who thought that equipment, not intellect and emotional control, would be sufficient to support his breathing habit.
Dont’ be the next idiot.
Good luck to you all.
Ben
Hi Gary,
An idea with the steel handle for the Bushman is to wrap the handle with para cord or something similar for hand comfort and have the handle cord available for an emergency. Needs a sharp knot to hold it together though. I’ll check out the SOG Trident.
Thanks Gary.
My son hikes using a Cold Steel Bushman which is simple cheap and idiot proof disavantage in the cold or wet as the steel handle he’s getting a SOG Trident as #1 pack knife wtih the other as backup.
Here’s the link to the type 58 bottle there are other suppliers and I don’t know what international carriage rates are UK is £4.99
Thanks for your post Jeremiah!
Fantastic that you hiked the PCT, 2,300 miles – awesome! Are you ready for the British Columbia to Alaska hike? I am, would love to take a season off.
Our point here Jeremiah on whatever trail your hiking, where ever you happen to be in this incredible world, do not assume that because its a trail its going to take you someplace safe.
That’s why its important like you say – a map is a good thing to carry with you. If your running out of food, the right trail to the nearest road that takes you to the closest store is always a plus for me.
I little bit of research about folks who have become lost shows us that even the best can become turned around in well marked wilderness or state park locations. And most often its folks who don’t have the experience of the outdoors, but not limited to inexperienced hikers only.
I tracked a women in Yosemite back in the 90’s who actually became lost very close to the Badger Pass road. She became disoriented and panicked, crossed over the main trail that takes you to Dewey point. She ended up drowning in Bridalveil Creek.
People do lots of things that seem, after the fact hard to understand why they made a particular decision. The PCT like you say, is a freeway, and you could no doubt hike most of the trail with your eyes closed, it must have been an amazing experience. What was your favorite part of the Pacific Crest Trail if you have one?
Our Shasta Camp location is just a ridge over from the PCT, near MT Eddy, in the Klamath range.
Mark – Admin
Thanks again Jeremiah.
I didn’t read all of those posts but I do want to respond to the discussion on the Pacific Crest trail and how easy it is to follow. I hiked 2,300 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail two years ago, so I do know what I am talking about.
It is a very easy trail to follow, especially when there is no snow. I would strongly advise against this, but I know several people who hiked the entire trail and didn’t use a map. I can only recall a few places where there was a little bit of confusion on where the trail was going, but after looking around for a minute it was easy to figure it out. It would be pretty hard to confuse the PCT with a game trail. There is a huge difference between the two. On the PCT you can see where switchbacks and trail improvements have been made. Game trails don’t have that.
The administrator mentioned a few situations where someone had gotten lost when hiking on trail. There are always going to be a few exceptions to a rule, but in general it is pretty easy to find your way back to civilization by following hiking trails, especially if you have a lot of experience in the outdoors.
If you were completely lost and you were following Bears rule of going downhill until you get back to civilization, it would be very foolish to cross over well maintained trails which are quite common in the Sierra Nevadas.
It was called Born Survivor in the Uk and I got the acompanying book, neither detailed the knives. The water bottle is as posted a British Military Type 58 the stainless steel mug comes separate. If anyone’s interested they also make a DPM pouch for it which will hold a hexalite folding mini cooker. I can find the webiste in the UK and list if required (prices around $25 for the mug $12 for the canteen and $35 for the pouch in the UK plus mailing costs)
I want the details on the knives used, the one in the Alps was a Victorinox folder, and I think the one is Costa Rica may have been a Gil Hibben United Cutlery Alaskan Hunter/Guide with a gut hook. I just got one of the Pro Hunters as a pack knife. It has no serrations but the blade is only one side so it’s safer when handling at night, and the handle is finger grooved they list around $85 but are much cheaper on ebay also the scabbard/sheath is thick hide. another advantage is the blade which around 5 inch long but 3/16 thick, few knives are this thick.
Also the knife in Copper Canyon I think was a SOG but I don’t know which. I own a mini Pentagon which is excellent until I took it to the Sumatran Rain Forest where it was pretty much useless. Choose a pack knife to suit your environment. Basic rule blade should be on one side and no more than 12mm long. Always tie it to a length of good cord, about 1m 1.1 yards.
There is plenty of info on contents of survival kits and put your own together but make sure you know how to use the stuff in it. Bear made using a flint and steel look easy, it requires practice, better do that in your backyard then when it becomes essential. Tip one of best things to use to start a fire is a tampon, steal one or two from your wife or girlfriend or buy the cheap ones, they burn real well if you open them up, also they are sterile, wrapped and great for use on wounds if you’ve cut yourself with the new knife you got on ebay first time in the woods.
Bracket fungi the ones that grow on the side of trees burn well, as embers for lighting other fires and are not poisonous.
Morgan,
Bears Bayley is priced very high I agree. I was reading some on Bayleys site about how they make their knives and I see that their production volume is limited, hence I’m guessing here, one of the reasons Bears knife costs what it does.
Check out this link on SOG knives. This fellow from Louisiana makes knives, but his production is very small and highly specialized – link no longer viable
Click on the Reggie Barker link – Border Guard Forge.
I am interested in getting a knife and was looking at the Ontario RAT-3. Anyone have it or know about it. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.
I also have the SOG seal 2000 as well as the Seal Pup. I would recommend either for durability, edge holding ability, and its ability to withstand rust, although the 2000 is much more knife than I recommend for outdoor excursions. A little too bulky.
Not sure if it’s been clarified yet…way too much reading, but the shoes Bear wears most of the time is Merrell Chameleon II. I have two pair, one which is almost like a sandle, and they are the best hiking/backpacking shoe that I’ve ever wore. Super comfortable and almost indestructible.
I have a Seal Pup as well. I was asking why it was not serrated because for 350 bloody euros I expect a bit more out of a knife. I honestly believe that he was pressured by numerous knife manufacturers to endorse their knives, and Bayley had the best offer.
Even if that isn’t the case, it is unfortunate that he would endorse a knife that costs an arm and a leg. Bear himself stated “it’s not about brands, it’s what you know.” He also said that climbing shouldn’t be an expensive hobby which confuses me further.
Bear seems like a decent enough guy, I just hope money doesn’t go to his head.
Thanks Ed Clarke for the link on Bears Bayley Knife.
It looks to be a strong knife which is about time bear had a decent knife, compared to most knives Bear has been using on the series. Though I’ve only seen the first series.
The double lanyard holes are a interesting touch on the knife. A little para cord wrapping, a stout staff and you have a ‘quick spear.” Great looking knife though, like the design very much. Again I like the strong back knives for heavy work, important to my uses for a survival knife.
Would love to try the Bayleys out sometime.
I have been working a ‘Quick Bow’ – survival bow, out of a stave of wild Rhododendron using my new SOG Seal Pup.
The Sog Pup is light in weight compared to my SOG Bowie, (Light weight knives are great for backpacking!) so in making my Quick Bow I have to utilize a wooden mallet I made of the same wood to take wood off quickly…I use the mallet to pound on the back of knife as I worry the wood off the stave.
I have been taking pictures of the process and hope to eventually have them up here on my site for your viewing pleasure. The more I use the Sog Seal Pup the more I like it. SOG no longer is making this knife.
Of course, it you go onto bayleyknife and click Bear Grylls. It is £350. The best knife around IMO.
Ed
What kind of shoes is Bear wearing in the Pacific Ocean episode? They are black and I was think they are North Face but I wasnt sure.
Well done Bear!
Its a nice looking knife, nice and compact with a strong blade and solid back. I’m partial to strong backs on knives because I use them with a mallet frequently for taking wood off quickly – saves the arm.
The link to Bayelys knife – no longer viable
Morgan.
Serrated edges on knives can be really useful for specific cutting. A lot of tactical knives are serrated and are used by the military to cut themselves free of things like heavy strapping, seat belts, in vehicles or choppers, cutting or stripping wire and many other uses, which serrated knives do very well.
Serrated knives are difficult to sharpen in the field though they generally stay sharp for a long time. Anybody ever sharpen a serrated knife by hand?
Why does the knife that he has “teamed up” with Bayley Knife not have serrations?
Hi Edwin,
Which episode of Man Vs Wild did you see the SOG knife used?
His knife is a SOG. This is the knife British forces (including special forces) use. It has a textured rubber grip and comes in all styles but mostly one half serrated side and one full sraight edge side. Hope this helps. Comments to my email are welcome.
Hey
I visited Bear Grylls web page where i discovered that he has designed his own knife for extreme survival, very strong, long lasting blade.
charlie.
Not sure if you guys have seen this yet but bear tells you what knife he uses on his website. I think hes had it specially made and is similar to the one used in the SAS.
Anyway check it out, sorry cant remember the name but its on his homepage. great site btw, thanks
Andy
Hi
I heard a live interview on BBC Radio One with Bear and he’s already finished shooting the next series of Born Survivor/Man v Wild and is planning a third.
Thought you’d like to know
how come the florida episode never aired?
it did in europe, but over there the show is called born survivor, not man vs. wild
i just watched it, he’s in the swamp with gators and such. its a good one. i always learn something watching this show.
Just for people looking for a good survival knife i bought my girlfriend a cold steel (cant remember the name) for about 30$ (was great deal) and the blade holds a razor edge and is beyond reliable. I do a bit of hunting and backpacking along with scuba and snorkeling and i have a Boker Beluga which i swear by. Has the seration on the bottom and has a thick top for hammering which i preffer to something with serations on the top which you end up hitting when you try to hammer on the blade from the top. Also its a larger knife but comes with a very nice sheath and leg straps along with the handle being drilled with holes to reduce weight.
The one i have has a black flat finish so no shine to atract hungry things underwater. More expensive knife but on anything my life might depend i would rather pay the extra than wish i had. I havnt had to survive with the knife but i wouldnt want any other knife on me if i had to. On a seperate note i carry a kershaw pocket knife along with my boker in the woods and to be honest a small pocket knife is far more practical for skinning animals and cutting up food to cook and taking out splinters ect. The extra weight of a spare knife doesnt bother me and having redundancies for things you need doesnt hurt. (matches and a flint as an example)
Kev R,
Appreciate your comments.
Ed Clarke, the website you left with us about the knives – ? Maybe you could help us a bit more with the site address.
Thanks.
For folks who are interested in the watch bear wears check out their website here – http://www.bremont.com/
sure looks like bear grylls using a floatation device under that hooded top going down the river.& how did he get the fire going so fast after coming out of it?think ill stick to ray mears
Andrew H here’s a survival tip for you.
1. Pick up your remote control.
2. Choose the button to change channel and press.
3. You are now safe. You have survived. You cannot be influenced, irritated or misinformed by Bear Grylls.
Everyone who has contributed an opinion has done so in an informed way. Perhaps you need to re-visit some of the skills Bear demonstates in the show. An example of which is lighting a fire by friction with the sweat dripping onto your ember (Desert Island episode). I would much prefer to see anyone overcome a ludicrously simple problem instead of demonstrating the perfect technique.
And yes it is a show designed to entertain. And Bear takes risks. But I have a little knowledge of SAS survival training and its not designed to be pretty, only effective in an extreme situation.
No doubt we all want to be wannabe survival guru’s and as I’ve said earlier I would trust the guys on this thread in a survival situation. However until it happens we don’t know how we would react. All Bear is demonstrating is the fragility of our bodies when it comes up against Mother Nature. And perhaps extreme techniques will be our only option. So I for one congratulate Bear on removing the safety net most Survival shows cast around the “expert” and truly show what we might encounter for real.
Apologies for the sarcasm, but you are no doubt a big enough guy to appreciate there is no malice behind the delivery.
Andrew H
Thanks for your post. Some folks feel like you do that Bear Grylls is promoting and advocating dangerous survival techniques. Some of the other forums about the show call Bear all kinds of names, accuse him of much and look with disdain at everything he does.
When I consulted for Phil Keougans “Adventure Crazy” that aired on the Travel Channel, lots of folks had opinions about me doing that as well. Things like I was selling out, pathetic, its a stupid show all-that stuff.
The episode I was on is called ‘Showgirls in the Desert. The things we consultants have to put up with.
Andrew H. do you recall aron Ralston, the adventuresome young guy who had to cut his arm off when it became pinned by a slab of rock?
I when in my early twenty’s had to down climb 80’ of nearly vertical granite at an elevation of over 11,000 ft in January after sumiting a peak. I had made the critical mistake and found myself stuck between life or death. Mastering the self along with my skill of climbing allowed me to survive that day.
I helped rescue a fellow in the upper Merced river in Yosemite park who had fallen in the swift moving stream but was lucky enough to pull himself up onto a boulder, he should have been dead!
I cannot speak to the other shows in the Man Vs Wild series, however the two that I worked on we shared survival techniques that really work, the same techniques I teach in my courses here in the states.
A very effective survival tool is a throwing stick or Rabbit stick as they are also called. I have had people state on this forum that the throwing stick is not a viable survival technique. That’s why I’m available to teach folks about survival, there are lots of myths out there and lots of truths people consider myths.
There are many people who believe you cannot make fire by rubbing two sticks together.
First Circle Camp you’ll learn how.
I was just thinking about the Desert Island scene where Bear is climbing up out of the Ocean after finding a water container. The rock was nasty and loose. I had found myself in the same situation on some cliffs on the Lost Coast of California while I was exploring for a route around a bluff.
The rock here was very bad and loose as well. I had to dig foot holds and hand holds to keep from sliding down the slopes. Anyway I digress here.
Your right when you say that Man Vs Wild is TV entertainment you are absolutely correct.
Mark i also have a Flash 1 in aluminum, the Flash 2’s little brother. It really is a great knife. I personally EDC the Trident for its weight and I really like the groove functionality. If you like SOG’s like I do, you should check out their site, they have a new folder coming soon called the Vulcan. Looks to be built like a tank with their awesome arc-lock and VG-10 steel.
Cheers!
If I was even tangentially invo