Blog - Page 3 of 11 - Tactical & Military Surplus Gear

Cold-Weather Sleep Systems Without a Subzero Bag: Layering Strategy, Vapor Barriers, Ground Insulation, and Condensation Control

Temperature Reality Check: Why “Warm Enough” Sleep Systems Fail in the 20s Cold-weather sleep systems fail for predictable reasons. It’s rarely because you didn’t buy an expensive enough bag. Related Articles: Bear-Proof Camp Food Storage: Hang Systems, Canister Strategy, and Scent-Control Workflow to Prevent Night Encounters Backcountry Food Safety Without

Backcountry Wound Care When Rescue Is Delayed: Cleaning Methods, Dressings, Infection Prevention, and When NOT to Close a Cut

Priorities when a cut happens far from help: control bleeding, prevent shock, protect the patient A backcountry cut is rarely just a “skin problem.” If rescue is delayed, your priorities look a lot like disciplined field medicine: stop life-threatening bleeding, keep the person warm and calm, then move into cleaning

Hypothermia in the Field: Early Recognition, Afterdrop Risks, Rewarming Priorities, and Improvised Warming Techniques

Hypothermia is a performance failure, not a temperature number What hypothermia really is in the field Hypothermia starts when your core temperature drops low enough that your body can’t keep up with heat loss. In the real world you often won’t have a thermometer. Even if you did, you don’t

All-Weather Firecraft: Processing Wet Wood, Reliable Fire Lays in Rain/Snow, and Keeping Coals Alive Overnight

Why All-Weather Fires Fail: Moisture, Heat Loss, and Timing Rain and snow don’t “put out” your fire as much as they steal your heat budget. Every wet stick you add forces the fire to spend energy boiling water before it can climb in temperature. Related Articles: Night Camp Control Procedures:

Backcountry Food Safety Without Refrigeration: Clean Water Workflow, Cross-Contamination Control, and Safe Leftovers

Food Safety Discipline When There’s No Fridge and No Backup Backcountry food safety is mostly about systems, not heroics. In the military, you learn quickly that small lapses compound. One dirty canteen mouth or one knife used for raw meat and then for tortillas can turn a good trip into

Rope Systems and Mechanical Advantage in the Field: Anchors, Z-Drag Hauls, and Raising/Lowering Loads Safely

Mechanical Advantage Starts With a Real Problem: Moving Loads Without Breaking People or Gear Why mechanical advantage matters more than muscle If you’ve ever tried to drag a stuck vehicle, haul a heavy pack up a bank, or raise a litter over a ledge, you already know the problem: the

Low-Tech Early Warning Perimeters for Camps: Trip Lines, Noise Makers, and Sector Assignments (Without Electronics)

Why Low-Tech Early Warning Perimeters Still Matter A camp perimeter is less about “defending” and more about buying time. In the field, time is what lets you wake up, get oriented, and make smart decisions instead of panicked ones. Low-tech systems do that quietly and reliably, without batteries, signal, or

Shelter Site Selection and Camp Layout: Wind, Drainage, Widowmakers, and Defensive Positioning

Reading Terrain Like a Platoon Sergeant: Macro Site Selection Choosing a site isn’t just about finding something flat. It’s about predicting what the ground and weather will do while you’re asleep, tired, and not paying attention. Related Articles: Bear-Proof Camp Food Storage: Hang Systems, Canister Strategy, and Scent-Control Workflow to

How to Make Strong Cordage in the Field: Natural Fibers, Braids, and Strength-Testing for Real Loads

Why Strong Cordage Matters When the Load Is Real Cordage is a tool, not a craft project If you’ve spent time in the field, you already know cordage is never “just” cordage. It’s a structural component that turns sticks into a shelter, a tarp into a weatherproof system, and loose

Route Planning and Risk Assessment with Topo Maps: Terrain Traps, Handrails, Bailout Routes, and Turnaround Rules

Reading Topo Maps Like a Planner, Not a Tourist Before you ever pick a route line, commit to this mindset: most backcountry problems aren’t pure navigation mistakes. They’re judgment mistakes under pressure-fading daylight, weather rolling in, fatigue, and that quiet urge to push a little farther. Related Articles: Avalanche Terrain