• Leon Pantenburg | Survival Common Sense

  • SEARCH

FEATURED POSTS

Green Lakes, Oregon mountains, purify water

Videos: Ten+ survival items under $20 each that work really well

 557 400 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Your survival gear needs to work, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need the most expensive stuff. Here are 10 excellent survival items that cost under $20 each.

read more
knivesshipfree.com, best knife store, best knives

Survival Knives

Video: Two best beginner knives for kids – and under $20

 600 400 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

What is the best first knife for a beginner? Here are two contenders that can handle just about anything.

read more

Hunt|Fish|Camp

Try this simple rig to catch fish anywhere

 448 299 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

What’s a good rig for beginners to catch fish with? Try the so-called “Carolina” or slip-sinker rig. It relies on a sliding slip sinker, swivel and snelled hook.

read more

Making Fire

make recycled fire starter, make firestarter, best survival firestarter

Video: Surefire way to start a survival fire in standing water or really wet conditions

 600 300 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

The more desperately you need a survival fire, the harder it will be to start one. That’s Murphy’s Law, and it is generally true. Here are three common items that virtually guarantee that you can get a fire started, even under really adverse conditions. In this case, the technique is used in standing water.

read more

Emergency Shelter

best cold weather socks, buffalo down socks, bison socks

Five tips for choosing the right socks for outdoor wear

 481 400 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Socks are often an afterthought. But your sock choices are really important and can make the difference between comfort and safety outdoors . Here are tips for making the best socks choices. 

read more

Survival Gear

The Battle Horse Feather Stick, top, is based on the classic Scandinavian do-it-all knife design.

Review: Battle Horse Feather Stick may be the ultimate Scandi knife

 600 299 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness
2

Love your Mora™ knife, but want something tougher? Check out the Battle Horse Knives™ Feather Stick™.

read more

Survival Skills

How to enjoy hiking in the rain

 593 400 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

It sounds counter-intuitive, but hiking in the rain can be fun. Here’s how you can learn to love it. Or at least not dislike it. Too much. Regardless, rain happens. Here is how to make the best of the situation.

read more

VIDEOS | TIPS & HOW TO's

Dutch oven survival kit, dutch oven, make survival kit
Video: What you need to make a Dutch oven survival kit
 600 300 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Beginners frequently ask for a list of tools to get started in Dutch oven cooking. So, here’s a basic, bare-bones list.

charcloth, making charcloth, char cloth
Video: How to make charcloth, a miracle survival kit fire starter
 600 300 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Catching a spark and blowing it into a flame is a skill that can save your life. Properly-made charcloth will easily catch a spark and grow into an ember.

This T-18 Mora knife has had the sheath modifed for safety and is moderately priced. (Leon Pantenburg photo)
Best beginner knife? We (video) review the Mora 840 Companion
 600 335 Survival Common Sense Blog | Emergency Preparedness

Take a hard look at the Mora 840 Companion if you’re looking for the best beginner knife.

Leon Pantenburg writes a survival skills blog with tips and techniques to help typical folks survive an unexpected urban or wilderness emergency, using their common sense and emergency preparedness training. Topics include survival knives, survival clothing and camp cooking, making a fire, emergency shelter, hunting and fishing, competent survival skills and survival gear reviews.