Photo by miracles83. Used under Creative Commons.

You're out in the wild, breathing in the fresh air, and enjoying being one with nature. You've got your camp set up and you're looking forward to a relaxing time. Things are looking pretty good. Suddenly, you spy something that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It's a wild animal, and it isn't one of those cute, cuddly ones either. Wild animals are unpredictable. They can choose to ignore you and blithely go their own way. Or they could do the charming thing and attack you.

What do you do if an animal does attack you? Do you run? Stand your ground? Stab it with your survival knife? Play dead? It all depends on the type of wild animal you have confronting you. So, read on and learn all about what you can do to avoid becoming the next thing on a wild animal’s menu.

Bear Attacks

Photo by Heath Alseike. Used under Creative Commons.

Bears might look cute and cuddly on TV, but all of them, no matter what species, can be deadly. Like any wild animal, bears attack when they feel threatened, or if they are protecting their young. They also attack if you appear to be competing with them for food. And then, of course, there are the bears that attack you because you are food. So, what do you do if you ever encounter a bear? Below are some tips that should help.

• Never run. Regardless of the species of bear you’re facing, running will only trigger the attack.
• Don’t make eye contact so you don’t appear aggressive.
• Back away slowly but never turn your back on the bear.
• If it’s a black bear or a polar, then make loud noises. It might drive the bear away.
• If it’s a black bear and it appears to only be doing a classic bluff attack (trying to scare you away), then make yourself appear larger by waving your arms over your head. 
• Make sure that the bear has an escape route so it won’t feel cornered and attack.
• Try to move upwind of the bear. This allows it to scent you as human, alerting it to the fact that you are not its normal prey.

Now, if the bear is going straight at you with its head down and watching you closely, you might have to fight for your life. Your first line of defense is your bear pepper spray. If it still hasn’t stopped and is now up close and personal, try to hit the bear's vulnerable points - its eyes and nose - as hard as you can, using whatever weapons you have at hand be it your survival knife, a pot, or a jagged rock.

Mountain Lions

Photo by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Used under Creative Commons.

You've probably seen how a mountain lion catches its prey in the wild. It will stalk the prey until it finds the right moment to strike. So, if a mountain lion thinks you're a viable food source, then you can be sure that when it attacks, you're seriously in trouble. If you are unfortunate enough to tangle with one, fight back aggressively; use anything you can get your hands on as a weapon - your survival knife, a rock, a stick, your pack, etc. Try to hit its eyes and stay on your feet. Convince it that you are not easy prey.

If you ever encounter a mountain lion in the wild, don't run, turn your back, try to hide, or crouch down. All of these actions will trigger the animal's instinct to attack. Stand tall and try to look bigger than you are. If the mountain lion shows aggressive behavior, make loud noises (i.e. shout), wave your arms, and throw rocks.

Moose

Photo by SOG. Used under Creative Commons.

As knife lovers, we all have our beliefs, superstitions, and idiosyncrasies regarding knives. Some knife owners would never allow another person (with the exception of their SO) to touch their knives. Some don’t buy certain knives because of an “unlucky” serial number--like one having 666. I’ve even heard of one man who has a tendency to buy knives that have serial numbers that contain significant dates such as 1776, 911, or 1415. Like any group of fanatics, we knife lovers are not immune to superstitions, so, to embrace knife fanaticism, today I bring you 26 superstitions all about our most beloved subject: knives.

26 Knife Superstitions That May Surprise You:

#1: Placing a knife under the bed of a woman giving birth is believed to ease her pain during labor.

#2: Sticking a knife into a cradle's headboard is believed to protect the baby. Thrusting it into the door of a house is also believed to provide protection.

#3: In Greece, putting a knife with a black handle under your pillow is believed to keep away nightmares.

#4: Hundreds of years ago, people believed that placing a knife across another piece of cutlery was a sign of witchcraft.

#5: One prevalent belief still held by people today is that gifting a knife to someone will cause the relationship between the giver and the recipient to be severed. To prevent this from happening, the recipient should give a "payment" to ensure that the relationship will not be cut. A small coin is the most popular "payment" given. Some givers often tape a penny to the blade so that the receiver will simply just return it as "payment."

This superstition actually dates back to the Vikings who believe that gifting a knife to someone implies that the receiver isn’t able to buy himself a good enough knife to kill the giver so he has to be given the knife for free. Thus, to avoid the intended insult, Vikings would “sell” a knife to a friend extremely cheap – the cost of one copper coin.

#6: Never stir anything using your knife (like soup or coffee) because that would bring bad luck. There’s even a lovely rhyme to help you remember: stir with a knife and stir up strife. One variant of this superstition includes the fact that the bad luck will mean pain or stitches.

#7: Two knives crossed on a table will cause a quarrel. It is believed that uncrossing or straightening them immediately will prevent bad luck or a quarrel from happening.

#8: Some knife owners believe that you never truly own a knife unless it has "bitten" you (tasted your blood). Once a knife has taken its owner's blood, the owner will never sell or trade that knife with anyone. A similar superstition states that a knife that has “bitten” its owner will stay sharp longer and is less likely to accidentally cut its owner.

#9: Some knife owners also believe that you should never close a knife (either folding it in or putting it back in its sheath) if someone else has opened it because it is bad luck. Some have even given knives away just because this happened.

#10: Bad things will happen if a knife falls and sticks into the floor.

#11: In Iceland, it is believed that when a knife is dropped by someone while cleaning fish and the knife lands pointing in the direction of the sea, the fisherman will get a good haul the next time he goes fishing. If the knife falls and points towards land, the fisherman will not catch anything the next time he goes fishing.

#12: Getting a knife as a gift from your lover means that your love will soon end.

#13: Another superstition suggests that when a knife falls to the ground, a man will soon visit.

#14: A knife made of steel is believed to protect you against curses and fairies.

#15: In Finland, a knife given as a gift is a sign of respect. This is especially true for various clubs and organizations, privately or government held. The knife, a Finnish fixed blade outdoor knife called a puukko, is given to trusted employers or contacts and always presented with the handle first to signify trust and friendly intentions.

#16: It is bad luck to say the word "knife" while at sea.

#17: One old wives' tales about white-handled knives is that they can tell you if your future spouse will be dark or fair by spinning it around. If the knife's handle comes to rest pointing at you (or whoever is asking the question), then that means your future spouse will be fair. If the handle points at anyone else, your future spouse will be dark-skinned.

#18: Another common superstition is that you should never put a combat knife back into its sheath if it hasn't drawn blood because it will fail you in battle.

#19: In some parts of America, people believe that sharpening any blade after the sun goes down is bad luck.

#20: Some hunters believe that the knife you use to kill game (not dress it) should never be handled by a woman.

#21: Slicing hot cornbread with a knife implies cutting your luck. A similar superstition says that piercing bread baked by a pregnant woman with a knife (or any pointed utensil) may cause the baby’s eyes to be poked out.

#22: If you cross your knife with your spoon after eating, you are indicating that the food didn't taste good and that you're wishing the cook to have bad luck.

#23: To make sure that a pregnant woman will give birth to a boy, the husband needs to stick a knife into the mattress of her bed.

#24: In China, it is believed that sleeping on a bed with knives under it will scare away evil spirits.

#25: According to Russian folklore, a knife laying with the sharp side up means that murderers are being born while it is left this way.

#26: Some knife owners, particularly those in the Philippines, believe in coating the blade with their blood if they accidentally cut themselves with it.

And, there you have it--twenty-six beautiful representations of what it means to revere knives (perhaps a little too much?!) As a word of warning though, if you decide to take up any of these superstitions, most women you know won’t take kindly to your stabbing a knife into the headboard of their babies’ beds. That’s one instance where people are wrong who say “it’s the thought that counts.” Just thought you might want to know.

What about you? What are your knife idiosyncrasies or superstitions?

Photo by True New Zealand Adventures. Used under Creative Commons.

Clothes make the man (or woman) even if you're only camping or hiking in the wild. Obviously, we're not telling you to dress fashionably. But what you wear while you're out camping is very important. A poor choice in clothing could turn what should have been an enjoyable trip into an extremely uncomfortable one. And sometimes, your clothes could mean life or death in the wild.

So, what do you wear when you go camping or hiking? Well, most of what you will need will depend on what season it is and the location you're planning on visiting. If the weather’s cold or you’re going to be high up in the mountains, obviously you’ll need clothes that will keep you warm. Hotter weather will mean lighter or less clothes. Before we get into the nitty-gritty details of clothes though, we’ll first focus on the one thing that matters most – your shoes.

What's the big deal with shoes? Well, should you happen to buy hiking or camping clothes that aren’t quite right, you can always supplement or subtract. If the weather is too cold for what you’re wearing, then you can wear more clothes. If it's too hot, wear clothes that are lighter (or just take off a layer). Unfortunately, if you're wearing the wrong shoes, you’re stuck like a pig who mistook quicksand for a muddy paradise. Your shoes can only go on or off. They don’t adhere to the supplement or subtract principle. With the wrong shoes, you’re risking foot pain, discomfort, or even injury (not great when you depend on your feet to get you home). So, if you're going to go hiking, there's only one option for you - hiking boots.

Hiking Boots

Hiking boots provide your feet ample comfort while making sure that there is limited flexibility at your ankles which prevents you from easily twisting your ankle (or worse) when you slip, stumble, or fall. They also help you maintain your balance even if you're walking on uneven ground. And if you’re against having sloshy muddy feet as you hike, you’ll definitely want hiking boots. They are usually 5-7 inches high, so your feet will be protected from any mud or water you encounter on the trail. (They incidentally also act as a great place to carry a small survival knife like the Cold Steel Super Edge 42SS).

Photo by Rebecca Siegel. Used under Creative Commons.

To choose your hiking boots, the only thing you'll need to concern yourself with is the fit. While it's also good to listen to the advice of a salesperson or, better, an experienced friend, their recommendations won't be worth anything if the boots don't fit your feet comfortably.

Toe Space: Make sure that there's enough space in front of your toes when you're trying a boot on. This "feature" ensures that your toes won't keep hitting the front of the boot whenever you're hiking down a steep hill (an instant recipe for ingrown toenails).

Ankle Space (or lack thereof): Also, your boots of choice should not give your ankles much space. Too much space can cause your foot to slide up and down inside the boot while walking causing blisters.

Heavy Hiking Socks: Another tip you should keep in mind is to bring heavy hiking socks with you when you buy boots. This way, you can test the boots without having to guess how much space the socks will take up.

Take a Stroll: Lastly, try to spend as much time as you can walking with the boots on while you're inside the store before you consider buying one to ensure that you have found the right fit.

Rainwear

The next on our list is rainwear. No matter what the weatherman says, there's always a chance of rain especially high up in the mountains. Sure, a little bit of rain never hurt anyone, but getting soaked will not only be particularly uncomfortable, it can also lead to hypothermia if you stay wet when the weather is quite cold.

Your rain gear should be waterproof rather than water-resistant. This is because the latter only means that it will prevent you from getting wet when it's just light rain but not if it's a drenching one.

Your rain gear should also be breathable; it should allow your sweat to evaporate. It wouldn't do you any good if you got drenched by your own sweat rather than rain. Sweat is not any dryer or more comfortable. 

Another consideration is venting. Your rain gear should have venting features like pit zips to increase its breathability. Adjustability and fit are features that you will also need to take into consideration. Having a rain jacket and pants that have an adjustable hood, cinch cords, and cuffs can help seal out the rain better. Your rain gear should also have enough space for you to be able to wear layering underneath while also allowing you to have a full range of motion.

Clothing

When it comes to hiking clothes, anything made of cotton is a no-no. Though cotton is really comfortable to wear, it has no insulation value when it gets wet, whether it be from rain or your sweat.It also gets another strike on the “fail” board because it is extremely hard to dry out. So, what should you choose? You want to get clothing that is made up of synthetics, wool, or silk - all of which provide excellent insulation even when they're wet. In addition, you should choose clothes that easily dry out when wet. The easier they are to dry, the less clothing you'll have to bring with you.

Another tip that you should keep in mind is layering. Though it makes sense to bring heavy, warm clothes if you're going to be hiking in cold weather, it's actually better if you choose several lighter layers of clothing to wear. This is because air is trapped between the layers (actually adding to the insulation value of your clothes). Another plus with layering is that you can take off layers when it's too hot or put more on when it becomes cold.

What else will you need? Below are some of the other types of clothing recommended for hiking:

• heavy synthetic/wool socks or liner socks
• roomy nylon "convertible" pants that can become shorts if needed
• synthetic or silk underwear
• nylon or synthetic t-shirt
• light, fleece sweater
• shell parka or windbreaker
• mittens
• wool or synthetic knitted cap or hat

As you get experience in different terrains and in different seasons, you’ll fine tune your excursion wardrobe to be perfect for you. If you’re not at that point yet, follow these clothing guidelines and your hiking trip is sure to be a success.

Photo by Steven Guzzardi. Used under Creative Commons.

With all the hullabaloo about the end of days, economic collapse, zombies, and the frequent occurrence of natural disasters, it isn't surprising that many people have started to take prepping more seriously. After all, you never know when you'll be in a survival situation. There’s not going to be a big, booming voice from the sky telling you that the end of the world as we know it is coming in 2 weeks, 5 days, 9hrs, and 21 minutes.  It always pays to be prepared. Unfortunately, prepping isn't exactly cheap, but if you take the time to look, you’ll realize that you don’t have to be King Midas to get a good start prepping. To help you get started stocking up, I’ve compiled a list of 10 essential survival items that cost $25 or less. Now, THAT, you can do!

10 survival items that cost $25 or less:

1.) Cold Steel Peace Maker II 20PBL

A survival knife is arguably the most important tool that you'll ever need in any survival situation. Of course, you never know when you’ll find yourself in such a situation, so it might be a good idea to have a great survival knife with you at all times. This is exactly what Cold Steel’s Peace Makers do for you – enable you to carry a fixed blade knife very discreetly. It's expertly designed for versatility - hunting, fishing, skinning, self-defense, and other utility tasks that you'll need to accomplish while lost in the wild.  

2.) LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Video by: gideonstactical
Knife on Deck: Buck Hood Punk 0065BKSBH

Today’s knife review of choice is the lightweight little brother of the Buck Hoodlum--the Buck 65 Hood Punk knife--the prince of the campsite. From the tip of the blade to the butt of the handle, this survival knife measures 11 inches and weighs a measly 7.4 oz. Include the sheath and you’re at 13 oz. You’re not going to tire out using this knife!

Let’s talk some specifics though.

The Blade

With the Hood Punk, you’ve got a 5160 powder-coated steel blade measuring about 5 5/8” with a 57-59 HRC. The 5160 spring steel is very similar to 1095 but is tougher and more durable. The high carbon spring steel does mean that you should expect a little bit of rust to show up especially if you’re living in a humid area. The flat, gray powder coating on the knife is definitely not a heavy duty, long lasting job, so it won’t take too long to wear some of that coating off.

When you get a chance to hold this piece of royalty in your hands, you’ll notice that the 3/16 inch blade thickness is consistent from butt to tip. The blade itself is a pretty classic, slight clip design. It’s got a great amount of belly with a nice full, flat grind, and this is why we say the Buck Punk is the prince of the campsite. The full, flat grind with all that belly is great for feathering, whittling, slicing, and food prep in general. Buck grinds all of their knives at 13-15 degrees, so this blade is sure to give you a really aggressive grind angle for any work you’re going to do around the campsite.

The Handle

The Buck Hood Punk is hollow-handled and covered with micarta handle scales. The screws make it easy to take on and off and the hollow handle creates a little bit of space that can be used to carry matches or tinder (super useful in a survival situation). The main complaint about the handle is that the micarta scales are a little rough. A file is an easy fix to that issue though.

What else? The handles are equipped with a shock mitigation system to give you a bit of ease with heavy use. The grip is very comfortable and cups the hand well. The thumb ramp and finger choils make for a comfortable hold whether you’re choking up on the knife for more detailed work or a more relaxed grip for slicing or carving.

Other than the sharp-edged micarta handle scales, the only other potential negative about the handle is the thumb ramp. Some knife enthusiasts say it’s completely unnecessary while others are disappointed that it has no jimping. For most people, though, it’s not really a problem.

The Sheath

The sheath for the Buck 65 Hood Punk knife is a bit of a conundrum. It’s got some neat features. There’s a pocket on the front side that’s big enough for a multi-tool, mini survival kit, or even a sharpener. It’s M.O.L.L.E compatible and comes with 550 paracord so you could lash it around your leg or a velcro attachment system so you can attach it to your belt without having to take your belt off. It’s pretty flexible for different carry styles.

For the knife, the sheath includes a big, plastic insert and dual lashing to keep it in place. There’s a snap strap that fits around the handle as well as paracord with lashing to keep the knife pretty sturdy in the sheath.

Gideonstactical is not alone in his feelings about the sheath being bigger than what the knife needs. If you bought the knife wanting to take advantage of all of the features sheath, then the sheath is a great part of your purchase. However, if you bought the knife because of how streamlined and lightweight it is, the sheath will be a bit of a disappointment.

Gideonstactical recommends a 6 inch Spec Ops Sheath as a great alternate sheath option.

Performance

The Buck 65 Hood Punk knife is a great all around camp knife. Being a smaller knife, it’s not a great chopper, but it performs better than most knives its size. It’ll definitely get the job done, but you’re also going to spend a good bit of energy.

The Buck Punk is a sturdy piece of steel so for batoning, anything 5 inches or less in diameter is going to be a piece of cake. The finger choils also give a nice grip for feathering and slicing. If it ends up being a food slicing knife, it’s not going to turn your food into baby mash.

Why We Like the Buck Hood Punk 0065BKSBH

The buck 65 hood punk is overall an awesome, lightweight backpacking/camping/survival knife. It’s incredibly tough and durable; it’s a knife that will last you a lifetime. As a Buck Knife, you know that it’s made in the USA, and, as usual, has Buck’s “forever warranty.” Interested in checking it out? May I present to you the Buck Hood Punk 0065BKSBH.