SURVIVAL - THE TRUE SURVIVALKIT (what you REALLY need to stay alive) 

A bodybag makes a great permanent shelter!

Knowledge is the key to survival

Finally! A survivalist who actually gets it!! Survivalmike actually gets it! No sales pitch, no brand recognition, just sage advice on the 4 basic principles of survival. I think this is the first time I have ever watched a video like this where the narrator wasn't trying to sell me on his favorite BOB/shelter/knife/gun/container combo. Nice work!!

Every time I get too tangled in to survival and bushcraft kits and gadgets I watch this to go back to basics.

Spectacular. It is always about the basics. One thing that has always bothered me, though. A pretty large percentage of humans have significant vision problems. It’s always seemed to me that vision hindrance in survival is a death sentence. So my kit includes 2 extra pair of glasses with straps.

Apparently, in 2020 toilet roll is the highest priority in people’s survival kits........seriously though good video man.

This guy makes me laugh! His delivery is priceless, but the info is sound.

“Helps with the charcoals when you have poisoned yourself” favorite line

We will never run out of water here in England, it rains every fucking day ahahaha

This is hands down, the simplest, most realistic, most useful information I have ever discovered on the internet.

This is why technology is good, this is free information that they not educate you in school. This is real education.

Knowledge without practice is worthless, knowledge without spirit is worthless, you need a healthy balance of knowledge, skill, spirit, gear.

One of the best and most realistic survival videos I've seen. I've been studying survival tactics for my whole life. But I've also been homeless a few times. The first time, I was homeless for over a year in Vermont; the second time was three months in a suburban survival situation; and the third time . . . I'll have to get back with you on the duration of that adventure another day. Only the second time was it my choice. The first and present were/are conditions beyond my control. You never know when and how life is going to suddenly change. And in my situation, I'm fresh out of family to fall back on. (Relatives and family are not the same thing. One loves you.) Suffice it to say, my survival bag is based on real life; not just scenarios, survival books and RU-vid videos. I've streamlined my bag, and I don't have anything that doesn't have a real [daily] purpose. Things that hardly ever get used are worthless weight; except for a med kit, which you don't want to have to use. The heaviest things in my bag are actually books, because knowledge is the most important thing you can carry; and I can't trust mushrooms and herbs to memory. I've eaten grubs, boiled bark and rocks, and foraged for mushrooms and herbs. I have the means to fish, spear frogs, hunt, and trap. Believe me, most of your time is spent keeping a sharp eye out for food - and it almost never comes to you, which means that you're always on the move. This may sound kinda lame, but . . . I'm a real life survivor, and I approve this video.

"Shitty button compass" That's absolutely true, people buy them things and think they got their "navigation system" covered 😂 I also love seeing people's "minimal day pack" and the bag is like 30 pounds of stuff, the Seminole Indians would go out for 3 days with just a knife, fire kit and a bag of some edibles. My minimal kit for 2-3 days would look something like this... 1)knife (no less than 4 inches) 2)fire kit (lighter, fire steel, matches) 3)water bottle with a filter 4)small amount of cordage 5)cheap 8x10 painters tarp 6)bag of some type of fruit and nut or lentil. 7)and a small, bright, quality flashlight

Following a recent house fire I find myself "homeless." Like most people into bushcraft, I had mountains of gear. Its all gone. The stuff I miss most are the family portraits, baby videos, ECT. Anyway, I managed to save a few things: an old canvas duffle bag, my "A" frame tent from my Civil War reenactor days, a small back pack, 2 Victronox "Spartan" Swiss Army Knives, an Opinel #8 carbon steel folder, a Silva compass, 2 Wolf Creek Forge fire steels and a handful of flints, a ferrocium rod, a small magnifying glass, a MSR stowaway stainless steel pot w/ lid, a Silverfire Survivor rocket stove, a Kelly Kettle, a couple wool blankets , and my Tilley hat. Everything else was destroyed. I had a US Army arctic canteen and cup until a thief stole it. The small knives are ok for small chores...although I have found the stainless steel SAK's difficult to sharpen under field conditions using improvised sharpening stones. Carbon blades are very easy to maintain using stones and crockery I have scavenged. I went to an army / navy store to buy a Kabar, but $80.00 was too expensive. I bought a 1984 British MOD ( Ministry Of Defense) 3 survival knife. Using a file, then a rough stone I found, then progressively smoother stones until finishing with a piece of broken terra cotta , I got a very workable edge. I love this knife! Bushcraft was always a hobby. Now it is life. In 7 weeks Things will probably normalize once the property is sold and I love home to Texas. Till then I'm using this as an opportunity to put these skills to EVERY day use. I don't think Ill ever treat bushcraft as a hobby ever again as long as I live.

This man speaks the language of facts. Survival gear industry is a business. It's goal is not to save lives, but only to make money, and it follows the regular marketing guidelines to fool people. A good knife will never be called a "survival knife" by the manufacturer. No good brand would be purposefully narrowing it's audience while their products have much wider use. The only exception may be the very few survival gear brands powered by ideas, not profit, such as "Pathfinder" by Dave Canterbury. Don't look for "survival" gear - learn what you need in your emergency kit from videos like this, then look for the best manufacturers of every piece of gear separately.

"The more you know the less you need" Mors Kochanski

For a survival course at cadets, I built a wood lean-to shelter with a wire saw (which cut all the wood I needed without breaking), I had lots of 5-50 paracord, about 600ft of the stuff, when you split that down to it's 7 strands, that is a lot of shelter building cordage. Once my shelter was made, and water proofed with pine spruce and leaves I used 1 (of my 2) silver blankets as the inside of the roof with duct tape, which made it wind and rain proof as well as keeping the heat in, i folded the other silver blanket in half, filled with leaves, sealed with duct tape for my top blanket, for bedding, lots pine spruce's, about 2ft high with 2 bin liners, filled with leaves on top of that, when the fire was built, it was toasty warm, I had a Gore-Tex Bivi bag, for which I didn't use, because the system was warm enough, the Bivi at least, made a great pillow. For water storage, I had two food bags inside a spare pair of socks, with a water purifier tablet each, for fire making, we had a fire steel, tinder was the outer sleeve of the 5-50 paracord with birch-wood shavings, combined with a cotton wool bud, it was alight after 2 strikes. I had a full-tang 5" paracord knife to baton fire wood and make feather sticks. I had a metal bottle and a Stainless-Steel mess tin (our luxury items), but we were instructed how to boil water or cook food with a sheet of Tin-Foil and 4 metal tent pegs (to make a grill for food or for support stands for the tin foil if it was the only way to boil water. I even had enough paracord to make myself a crude Chair hammock, which it totally orgasmic when you have only sat on the floor for a few days, combined with the bivi as padding, nice and comfy. So IMHO, my survival kit will be. A Stainless Steel Mess Tin (as the case for most of these items). At least 300ft of 5-50 paracord (make a belt out of it, or a sash, woven water bottle sling). about 50ft with the survival kit. Duct tape (take it out of the role for a compact sized package). Wire Saw. Full-Tang blade (baton wood, strike your fire steel) Fire-Steel attached to a bit of fat-wood to use as emergency kindling.Compass (Silva are my personal favourite), But you can use your analogue watch to find northFood Bags (at least 2).Bin liners (at least 2 thick ones).Silver Blanket (Again, at least 2, 3 is better).Tin foil (I took 4ft of the stuff, Folds into nothing).500 ml Metal bottle (£1 from poundland these days).Bivi bag, a bulky item, (especially my old Gore-Tex one) for which I didn't use but makes a great back up, you an even use a large wheely binbag with a silver blanket (made into a sleeping bag) insulated with leaves.A modest first Aid Kit with extra aspirin, plasters, alcohol wipes, water purification tablets, Salt and sugar sachets (Homemade Electrolyte Replacement Fluids), cotton balls, another food bag, a small sheet of tin foil, ear plugs, matches, small fold away knife, small torch. You know what to include.Apart from the paracord, bivi and metal bottle, all of which will fit inside the mess tin. A Bumbag on your person at all times.

I may have commented on this video before, but this is hands down, the absolute best kit video out there. Best of the Best. Thanks.

This guy is the MOST realistic man I've found on survival... He speaks the truth, and knows what the reality of a survival situation actually is... My hat's off to you mike... great video

I'm not really sure why there are so many thumbs downs on this vid. I've watched it a couple times now, and I have to say, it does a very good job of clarifying the most crucial elements of surviving in the wilderness. Thanks! [Update 7-19: Watching this video again I'm reminded of northwoods canoeist/hiker Cal Rutstrum who insisted most survival kits were unnecessarily complicated and heavy. He insisted that anything that didn't get your ass out of the emergency situation and back in your comfortable living room ASAP wasn't worth carrying. Basically, he carried a compass or two, maps, a sturdy cutting tool, water and some fire-starting material. Nowadays, he might also include a Personal Locator Beacon or similar.]

I'm only 20 seconds into the video and I'm already loving this dude! He has already said everything I've been saying about these wanna-be preppers

Now this is a video worth watching.. not some guy trying to peddle something for a corporate giant... just straight up, good, honest, and time tested advice. No recommendations for equipment. Excellent video!

Folding Saws are also important, and cheap.

Mike, this video remains one of my very favorite "Realistic" Videos about survival. Thank you for producing it.

I just found this video. Thank you for reinforcing what I have been telling people for years. You can have the best gear money can buy but if you don't know how to use it it's only dead weight. People need to learn and practice what they have learned. Great job with your explanation

"Survival isn't pretty at all." Very nice reminder

You are so right. There is no glamor in survival. You tell it like it is. Most are caught off guard and have no idea how to survive. This is among the BEST survival videos l have ever seen !

Tarps are important, especially the Orange and Red ones which do not blend with the forests and such, and are good for being spotted by planes or helicopters. Always carry a bright colored tarp.

The 5 C’s are a great packing list. Cordage Cutting tool Combustion Cover Container

This is probably the best survival/EDC/Get home bag video that I have seen on youtube, small, lightweight, easy to carry and run with if necessary and only useful stuff that could be used

So TRUE. You got think of them things that are NEEDED not WANTED.EG cell phones,boom boxes,T.V., that will hand to a body bag. Good one.

Hands down one of the best videos on the topic I've ever seen

Man. I guess I'm getting old. I forgot that I watched this before! lol I loved it twice! Be blessed again. John

That is one thing I learned in 22 of being in the Army: you don't need as much as you think you do. A good knife is essential, a large plastic bag (or two) or a tarp of some type, a cup or bowl, string or light rope (I like crab line personaly) and I would add salt and pepper. With those basic items you can live quite comfortably for quite some time. I added the salt and pepper because, yes, you might have to eat worms or something. The primary key to survival is simply not wanting to die. Get that in your mind first and the rest you can easily figure out.

That is the best fire steel I have ever seen! Turns fatwood on a leaf into a roaring campfire! WOW!

The best video about survival techniques I even seen!!! Great job mate. Good luck...

The best survival item is what's between your ears if you don't have good sense it doesn't matter how many survival items you have, you can't fix stupidity.

This is the best, most to the point survival/survival kit video on youtube. The items you mention will all fit in a very small pouch or pack. It has to be something you will have on your person, not left in your pack or at your campsite. My friend and other SAR personnel spent 2 days looking for a hiker who was a few days overdue in his arrival at Mt Katahdin (the northern terminus of the AT). The hiker had put his backpack down and wandered around near what was to be his last night campsite before reaching Mt Katahdin. He attempted to find his equipment and campsite but was unable to do so. His compass, maps, knife, fire starting items were in his backpack. He spent 2 very cold nights without his sleeping bag and the other items I mentioned. My point is, you have to have this stuff on your person, not in your backpack. His backpack was never found. Thats a tough way to learn a lesson.

Wow amazing. Thanks for the video.

Awesome Mike, very informative yet artfully done. Thank you for taking the time to make the video.

There is something magical about a person with a accent talking real shit and using profanity.

Still the best video on survival gear on YT.

Thank you for stressing the point. Preparing YOURSELF is the best prepping you can do. Anything else can fail you.

Thank you Mike this is the kind of info I was after, God bless! Subbed

A woods man from sherwood forest england . My tip scout for the parts you will need watch be still listen to what is happening s round you do not crash through the forest silent is needed

Thanks Mike. Your recommendations are the most valuable of this kind on the Internet, hands down. I like your practical, no bullshit approach to survival. Best wishes.

Retired Army combat vet of 32 years, Good video, I will say, pretty comprehensive. I read a few comments, and so I will add this and not repeat what other have already said. Everything I need for basic survival I keep in my car, boat and home fits in a small, 10lb waterproof bag. Don't complicate it more or you'll won't be able to carry it all. Learn to filter your water, just boiling it doesn't mean it's potable. the charcoal he was talking about, learn the medicinal uses of it, man that stuff can save your ass(literally). Activated charcoal can do so much and has so many other health benefits. Survival, is as mental and physical as you can ever expect. People die when they don't have the mental or physical stamina. You can have every tool out there and still not have the mental or physical ability, you're likely die. So, take the dogs on a walk, hit a gym, walk or run two miles a day. Cardio is better than strength any day. Most of your SF guys are twigs that can run for days. Sorry no neck marines, but being big doesn't mean you're healthy enough to survive. Still love you guys tho LOL I will state the obvious, but bugs, they suck and it can be demoralizing, and present health issues. So, learn how to kills or keep them away. Mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, flies, spiders, scorpions are all major health hazards. learning simple things will make you slightly more comfortable. Also, PRACTICE these skills, because if you wait till you find yourself in these situation(s), you're pretty much done. Practice in your backyard or camping. Try for a day to eat just off the land or trap something. It's hard as hell. I learned how to track because i would try it for days and realized my skills were weak AF. Teach your kids, your wife or anyone who is willing to listen. you increase your chances the more you know and the more others know. ALL of these skills are perishable, so practice, practice, practice. To those who say bring a bic lighter, yea great, do that too, but when it runs out of fuel, then what? A fire starter last soo much longer. Also, how many time have you tried a bic lighter and it didn't work?? I'm all about the flint n magnesium starters. keep two of them. they are in my car and my boat GO kits too. I would add maybe a collapsible shovel and a axe/hatchet, life straw for temporary EMERGENCY water needs. I like to travel light and fast. Again, good vid. Thx.

While reading the comments I came across this person named cindybinn2001 or something who focused on the language rather than the content .. A REAL survival situation isn't gonna be nice pretty and clean its gonna be HARDCORE and yep even she will change how she speaks if she finds her self trying to stay alive .... Thank you for keeping this REAL

JUST FOUND YOUR VIDEO - GREAT JOB & SUBSCRIBED ! Glad to see you emphasized how your survival kit is literally a matter of "life or death". I fear many so-called "preppers" treat it like a weekend camping adventure, or something "cool" to show their friends !

Just rewatched this - STILL one of the best. Would love to see more vids like this from you.

knowledge is the key to survival

Finally, a breath of fresh air. Very informative. Subbed and liked mate. Be well and stay safe.

right off the bat your opening statement is so true ! nice kit Mike , great video enjoyed ! atb john

hardcore mdfka from Austria with Love ! but truely it won't help if you are unable to leave your city. Faith is what we all need.

I have been making outdoor gear for 20 years and I have quite a bit of experience in the backcountry and mountains. Your advice is some of the best I have heard. Very practical and no nonsense approach to building a perfect survival kit list. Thank you

Love the basic mentality man, I am I the US and am flooded with information via tv, Inet, social dialogue, and more, more over I have learned a long time ago this romantized works only for entertainment, this video recsptures the primary functions of a life substainabilty kit at its core... great video bud....Aim4 Survival - Out

Good video young fella. I too teach wilderness survival. However, I call it "indigenous survival" (using only what can be found in your immediate surroundings). Knowledge is indeed paramount. Although, there is one greater key to survival and that is the "will to survive". Simply, the determination to survive. With the will comes "improvisation, adaptation and overcoming" any obstacle. Any and all gear can be, improvised or adapted. Therefore, if one has "the will to survive" a means to do so can be found. Knowledge and/or gear only facilitates your chances of survival.

Yes, the best no nonsense video,, thank you

this is one of the best videos I have seen on survival. Well said and well done. I just clicked the subscribe button. thanks Mike for keeping it real!

A great video with some important advise, nothing beats having good quality kit and getting experience under your belt ...you rock Mike! ~Peace~

Great vid sir. The only criticism that I have is to Always have more than one way to make fire. From best to least, I carry 1) A Lighter, 2) Rainproof wooden matches, and 3) a ferro rod (and of course my knife)... Above all, My knife is my primary carry always!. With a knife, you can pretty much take care of all that you need even when you are without and your blade is all you have, you will live, the rest just makes it easier). As a minimalist myself, I choose all of my gear this way. ie, multi-use items will save your ass. Again, great vid... thanks for sharing.

Yo! Best survival video ever. No bull shit. No ad campaign so you can boost patreon. You’re awesome man!

I’m a Real Survivalist that has lived months of my Naked in the wilderness on Naked and Afraid and I loved your video. You laid it out damn good. The only thing I would recommend is that the fire starter have magnesium so tinder is essentially built in and the knife be heavy enough to chop and not just carve. You Rock!

well survivalmike meet bushcraft rebel love the video great imfo and vary well done

I agree with Lilly. This is one of your best videos!...very engaging. God bless. John

Great vid. Love the rain too. Your info is among the most helpful I've seen. Thanks

This is the most no nonsense video I have ever seen. I enjoy it very much. Thank you.

Great video mate! Yeah in Australia hiking in the summer I always carry a large plastic sheet for all the reasons you say but especially catching water dripping off cliff faces, what seems like a few little drips soon amounts to litres to drink yourself sick almost in almost no time LOL.

The price of one firesteel can also purchase you several Bic lighters, which are a lot less fuss and not about to fail over a 3 day SHTF scenario.

I have watched this video several times. The most practical and real survival kit. After all these years, still one of the best videos out there.

Best video so far on RU-vid. Great kit and you can carry more. Food fishing kit. Snare wire and med kit. Good job from Glenn Catt. Oh ya and you need a folding Saw.

Good video.... Thanks for posting. Too many people are risking their lives on untested survival kit items.

Ferricome rod is good to have, but we don't live in stone ages, throw a couple of Bic Lighters in your pack..

Congratulations my friend ,the most realistic survival video i've seen.great job !!!

I truly enjoyed the vid for the more realistic approach to staying alive. Thx Mike for the no frills vid, keep them coming!

I would add salt. Salt depletion can kill you in a week and it's very hard to find salt in nature in most places away from the ocean/sea. I would add a spool of fishing line and a package of hooks for easy food. Fishing line doubles as string.

Thank you so much for making this video i bought everything that i need to survive allready for sure that nothing can get me down and it cost around 20-40$ i am from finland so sorry my bad english

Thank you for this video. Knowledge is life!

One of the best videos on this subject, hands down! Short, concise, and to the point. Liked, subbed, just wish I'd found your channel sooner. Now I'm going to watch more. Thank you. Ciao.

Thanks for the entertaining video, Mike. I think you missed out the three most important items, though. Real life 'survival' situations usually happen because someone is either badly lost, badly hurt or ill, or both. A good map and compass and the skill to use them, or a GPS prevents the first, and a really serious first aid wound kit might temporarily deal with the second, but if things are really 'life and death' you need a rescue so a GPS emergency transmitter may be your only hope. The survival kit fantasy most people have is that lighting a fire, making a shelter and eating some worms will somehow save them in a real life threatening situation. It won't.

Awesome vid Mike. All the information excellently and entertainingly conveyed.

Great video No commercialism. No marketing. Good repetition of statement at beginning about "Knowledge". Thanks 👍

Spot on!!! the real basics/ essentials :)

If I could add one thing to that (and I'm not trying to be funny) is pills to stop the runs, British soldiers were having to cut themselves out of their underwear during the Falklands war even though they were using water purification pills. It will get you some time when you are outdoors for long enough, that one wrong shellfish, that water source that was just a little too much for your water purification pills or even changing from your usual urban chlorinated to Rocky Mountain pure mountain run off can give you the runs. It can mean the difference between life and death or just ruining a good weekend. Not going to break the bank either.

jub jub jub des video daugt mir gut`! schön das du mitziehst`!

I have my survival kit list on a simple spreadsheet, so I can add / remove items (with their weights) depending on the time of year, climate, terrain & aim of the trip. Lightweight double-skinned TENT (forget tarps, useless), L/W inflatable mat & sleeping bag, hi-tech bivvi bag, stove & food etc. But here we are talking about survival when you haven't got your favourite gear, when the single most important piece of equipment is between your ears. Nice vid mate.

I absolutely agree with bawsx! This is top tier info presentation. As is said, one can build from the basics, but the core is knowledge.

That stuff and a first aid kit.

Map and good compass -- you don't want to be stuck out there forever, especially if no one knows where you are so you can't count on help coming.

"...Otherwise, a bodybag is the last piece of survival gear you'll need" Spoken with an Arnold Schwarzenegger-ish accent... Priceless!

Fire steel should be considered a backup. Butane, disposable cigarette lighters are light, carry hundreds of lights and are inexpensive. Flame produces a fire faster than spark.But overall, an excellent presentation. I like the heavy duty stainless steel canteen, which can be used to boil water. Beats Lexan any day, for multiuse.I used to teach survival in Spokane, Washington back in the 1970s, as a member of Spokane County Search & Rescue. Here's a tip I came up with and have passed on for more than 40 years: buy some of those "trick" novelty birthday candles that, when blown out, relight themselves. They'll save you matches, and are great for starting a tinder fire.

catching up on older videos cuz me misses youuuu

Serious advice on a "Don't take Lightly" topic ............... JRW

Thanks in advance for helping me to survive some horrible situation that I find myself in the future!

So great, thanks for this video! Going to see the others right now!

This was a well thought out video and full of information! Awesome! Five star video! Cant believe anyone would give this a thumbs down. People suck!

Suficiente!!!

Hello 👋 my outdoors friend, greetings from Northern California. Thank you for sharing this informative and vital information. There very best to you for your good health and safety 👍. 🤗

At first I thought "lol, okay here we go" But by the time the video came to an end I was slow clapping in my mind. Pretty straightforward, good video.