Surviving outdoor camping days is one thing but surviving outdoors in times of disaster is another. Here are 5 brilliant outdoor survival hacks in case you’re stuck in the wild with only camping provisions in hand.
Fire Starter Outdoor Survival Hacks
Chips & Puffs
If you’ve run out of fire starting supplies but need to build a fire for warmth or cooking, try using chips! It doesn’t matter what brand of chips you use. Most chips and puffs are fried in high heat, coating them with grease and fat which eventually increases flammability.
Shop: Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips, Party Size
Dorito chips, for example, can burn for 3 minutes. That’s enough time to start a fire and one you won’t be able to do with a lighter. If you do have success with using a lighter to build a fire, you’ll have used up most if not all of the fuel in it. Watch how Dorito chips burn:
Drinking Water Outdoor Survival Hacks
Collect Rain Water
There are a few ways to get safe, drinking water outdoors in case you ran out of water supply. One easy trick is to collect rain water via a tarp and almost any other container. Some suggest collecting dew water from leaves and other foliage. There is no guarantee that you can gather a good enough amount of drinking water from that. But in times of disaster, even the tiniest amount of water could save your life.
Build a Solar Still
Another drinking water hack that’s been around for four decades is the solar still. The contraption operates under the greenhouse effect principle, which means that you can get clean water from almost anything, even urine! With a solar still, moisture evaporates, rises and condenses on a plastic ceiling. What you get is water that’s safe to drink! See how to build one in the video below.
If you have the space for a water filter in your rucksack, why not pack one along? It could very well be useful in times of need.
Food Outdoor Survival Hacks
Check it out: The Bushcraft Field Guide to Trapping, Gathering, and Cooking in the Wild
Trying to eat without having food supplies is tricky but if you know where to look, you might just be able to eat 3 times a day! Thanks to Mother Nature, our surroundings are filled with edible things such as plants, fishes and even insects. Just a few tips to get you started:
If it’s brightly-colored, don’t eat it.
This applies to plants, insects and other animals. Colorful ones are usually poisonous so you might as well go hungry than end up poisoned.
If you can’t identify the plant, don’t eat it.
Get: Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods
Experimenting with edible vs toxic plants is not a good means to survive outdoors. The rule is, if you don’t know what plant that is, you better leave it be. Some plants are highly poisonous while others could give you life-threatening allergies.
Almost all insects are edible.
Shop: Survival Guide: Eating Insects – How To Survive With Edible Bugs And Learning Entomophagy
If you’re really at the end of your rope and only see crickets and ants among many other insects around you, consider yourself saved! Almost all insects are edible. But please do not eat spiders, millipedes, centipedes and anything hairy. They could very well be venomous or poisonous.
A low tide is your friend.
The sea is home to thousands and thousands of marine life that are usually edible. Of course, you should always err on the side of caution and follow your instincts. But overall, fish, shells and other marine life are safe to eat.
Cook your food if you can.
Whether you’re grilling, boiling or frying, cooking your food helps get rid of parasites and other bacteria that could cause stomach upset or even food poisoning.
Shelter Outdoor Survival Hacks
Tarp Shelter
See: Grizzly Tarps 8 x 10 Feet Blue Multi Purpose Waterproof Poly Tarp
You can actually set up a tarp shelter with your usual camping gear. Provided you have high quality tarp in a size enough to cover everyone. Learn how to put up emergency shelter using a tarp, skates and a pole (or a tree branch) in the video below.
Oversized Poncho
If you’re alone, an oversized poncho is a viable emergency shelter option. You’ll need to find the right tree for this one. Otherwise, it looks pretty easy to do:
First Aid Outdoor Survival Hacks
It’s hard to treat minor accidents when you’re outdoors camping and forgot to bring a first aid kit with you. But it’s not impossible.
See: Olde Thompson 20-Ounce Mediterranean Sea Salt Crystals
For cuts and wounds for example, you can use clean water and salt to create a saline solution. A normal saline solution recipe is 1 teaspoon of salt for every cup of clean water. If you’re bleeding, simply apply pressure on the area for 15 minutes and it will stop. If not, you might want to cover it up with a clean cloth, bandage or even a clean panty liner!
Surviving in the wild is pretty tough but we’re hoping that these outdoor survival hacks help you in one way or another. If you like this post, you might want to check out:
Self Sustenance Farming: How to Get Started + Essentials
The Ultimate Survival Kit Actually Only Needs 5 Items to Keep You Going
What to Pack for a Missile Attack Survival Kit
Just a disclaimer – We have partnered with these companies because we use their products and/or proudly trust and endorse them – so we do receive a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for services. Often, we are able to negotiate special discounts and/or bonuses, which we will pass on to you via our links. We often get short notice on sale items available for 24-48 hours as we will pass these savings onto you.
