Wilderness Survival Fire In The Rain, My Method 

Don't be a survival expert, be an expert at being prepared! Excellent advise my friend 👍

I’ve been watching you for ten years. Yes, you’re definitely crazy. You’re also smart as a whip, and never take yourself seriously, which is what makes you a great teacher. 💖

Many people just talk about making a fire in real rain but never actually show it! I build a firetipee with a tripod and branches to protect the fire. And yes, splitting wood is the best way to get to the dry core. One week of rain and natural dry tinder like twigs will have absorbed so much moisture, it simply ain't gonna work. Great video brother! Cheers, Marc

Ive been down 2 years from a bad back. Well im in the hospital now just had L2 L3 L4 L5 fused at Clark Hospital on the old base in the Philippines. 2 days after surgery and I can walk further than anytime in the last year. Looking forward to jungle trekking again and all the skills that go with it. Thanks for your videos. At my lowest points they always made me smile. Keep up the good work.

Thank-you for subjecting yourself to those miserable conditions just to teach us something! You're the best!

Personally I carry a poncho plus tarp and cordage for easy shelter. I prefer a small daypack with my fire kit and tools etc instead of carrying items in my pockets and around my neck. Always fun challenging yourself in these type of conditions. Have a great weekend Dave.

At first I was a little depressed seeing you in the rain like that, but then I thought "That's Reallybigmonkey1...he knows what he's doing!" Then I figured what would be depressing is me out in the rain without having seen this video. Thanks Dave!

Back when I was in high school and my friend and I were out hunting. I bet him $5 that I could build a fire on the snow-covered ground. I used the same technique of making a layer of wood and built the fire on top of the layer of wood. He cussed at me claiming that I cheated, but he enjoyed the fire. Nowadays I let my 12 year old grandson, a city boy, build our campfires with a ferro rod or sometimes two matches. I try to teach all my grandchildren that the important thing about building a "survival fire" is preparedness and patience.

Fatwood ... crucial component to an all weather fire kit! An expert at being prepared = a good old school boy scout.

Your opening line is straight to the point. I think you have lost your mind. Lol. Great video Dave.

As always you show the nitty gritty of getting it done. Nobody likes to fire build in the rain, but you did. Thanks, Dave.

Yes, I watch Corporal's Corner with Corporal Shawn Kelly, he's an Awesome Instructor as well with Bushcraft and Camping. Excellent Video As Always. 💯👍👍😎🇺🇸

I love your laughter and energy. Your knowledge is much appreciated.

I'm definitely adding candles to my fire kit. Great video! Thanks David!

Fat wood is the king of all fire starters! Nice work, Dave. Thanks for the sacrifice you made to make this video.

Slippery when wet. I'm so happy you are showing the proper way with hands & legs out of the way of splitting kindling for fire. It is more dangerous when wood is wet. Great video content as always!!

You're very good at what you do. Priceless skills to have and pass on to others. You also make things fun with your good sense of humor.

Thank you for going to all this trouble to help us out. I know what a hassle it is to try to videotape stuff like this. I really appreciate it Dave. Thank you so much for the tips. Wearing to ponchos was excellent. God bless you. John

looks like a good day to stay home, drink a beer and watch tv. about every time i camp in the mountains, have a rain shower come through, i just put on my poncho, set down and wait it out. my fires are easy, get a pile of wood, throw a fuzee/flair in and wait. another great video, thanks

"Don't be an expert survivalist, be an expert at preparedness." I love it. Wise quote that I'm sure I'll be using. Thanks for sharing, keep up the good work!

Thanks Dave, appreciate all your hard work, God bless you and your Family always.

Really good stuff! That's the first time I have ever witnessed some actually make a fire in the rain. Good, logical, do-able steps that anyone can duplicate without special skills or fancy equipment. Thanks again!

I learn more from your videos than I do with any other channel. Keep teaching us.

Your strong point, over most people, you have the ability to make it up as you go. Which is a very special talent, because "you" can adapt to the changes. In my way of thinking, you need to "take what you have and make what you need". With a few tools, and preparedness, you prevailed. That's why folks keep watching your channel, you show them different ways of doing the same thing, that's important in my book. Plus no one has more fun in their videos than you! Take care my young friend, you're as good as anyone on RU-vid, actually better than most, just thought you should hear that. 73, EdwinKlaver/NC Grayman

When I'm out in the woods I Like to carry a few of those little votive candles and a couple Bic lighters as part of my fire kit.

David, Thanks for sharing. When I was a Boy Scout we went on a survival camping trip. We were allowed 2 matches and no food whatsoever. It poured down rain the entire trip. Needless to say, our two matches went quick with zero success. Somehow we borrowed some fire from a fellow scout and we were able to make some pine needle tea, but that was it my friend. We were cold and wet the entire time. Our Scout Master and his crew had a roaring fire as they brought lots of fatlighter and dry wood so they could cook their oysters and coffee at will. Now that always stuck with me and I have more matches, lighters, cotton balls impregnated with vasoline and candles for several lifetimes. Take care and God bless you, Ken.

I like the methodology of this approach. Its slow and purposefully done.

Thank you for explaining to people that one poncho won't get it done in adverse conditions to make shelter and stay dry. Many people miss that fact. Fatwood is the bushcrafters gasoline. I have carried candles even car camping to get a fire going, was laughed at often until I got the fire going and folks got warm. Another great video on how to get things done in bad situations. Thank you kindly for getting out in the rain to make this one.

Great Video David. Its hard for me at times when I'm in a warm house to gather up the motivation to grab my camp gear and head out into the cold rainy weather. Thanks for keeping it real and true. You are a good teacher to show others how to use techniques on using the gear and set up.

Thanks for braving the rain so graciously! As always 💗 from *Oklahoma*

A great demonstration on the real difficulties in starting a fire in the wet, thank you for sharing. Many other vloggers will talk a lot and offer some very valuable information, but you sir open up yourself to possible failures and show how to over come them. After 9 years in the British army I learned very quickly that survival is not about being macho and starting a fire by the most difficult way possible, but by the easiest and quickest way possible. Ferro rods, bow drills etc are good to know about, but carry a lighter in every pocket and I can pretty much tell you that you will get a fire going. Make-up pads soaked in candle wax is my preferred method and trust me, in the wet and damp UK, they have never let me down. Thank you again for taking the time to get out there and do these amazing videos.

I've been watching these types of outdoorsman videos for years and years and this is somehow the first video I've seen of someone go over harvesting fire wood techniques. Wow.

That moment when you see a head and machete floating in the woods while the head talks at you.

That was a hard video to film. 😁 I love hearing the rain hit that umbrella. Great video Dave cheers. 😄

I admire Dave's patience. I almost always stacked too many little twigs on so the whole thing would tumble down and be ruined. If I had a dollar for every one of these I've built. I could afford to buy Dave a big, huge studio. So big, we could afford rain clouds. -Bill Howes.

That rain certainly sounded wet and cold. And after all that work, not even a hot cup of cowboy coffee to take the chill out of your bones. Another great and down to earth video. Thank you!

Another good tool to carry is one of those back scratchers ..That extend just like a radio antenna .Just cut the end off..They are great for blowing on the fire

I always have dry tinder in my pack, sure fire i also have a few trick birthday candles in my kit

Even though I feel very comfortable with my ability to build a fire in the rain I still learned something. I really appreciate your videos

Man you are committed to the cause,I do appreciate your time and knowledge thank you for sharing this with me...

Well this is a true reality show. I have always been accused of being over prepared. You are a man after my own heart. PS: been watching all of Shawn Kelly’s videos and I respect you give credit to the good ones out there. I just subscribed to your videos. Great video and suggestions all around. Big thumb’s up.

Dave! Great video, very helpful for us here in upstate NY. Rains all the time.

You are the happy , happy , what ever time we have kind of guy. Always Positive and great attitude. Let’s give it a try. LOVE IT

A lot of you tubers talk of building a fire in the rain............Dave did it! I have left comments on other's channels asking them to actually DO it, to no avail. Thank you, Dave. Done in real time, in real conditions..........the REAL deal. I remember a time 20 some odd years ago...my sister in law and I had hiked up high in the mountains to fish and were caught in a very wet snowstorm. We both got a little wet and I only had a lighter and a pocket knife. The storm abated some and I was able to find some dry tinder under fallen logs and such and got a fire going so we could dry out before we hiked back out of there. An adventure and a lesson. Thanks for sharing.

Great job on that fire Dave. I remember the one you did in the snow, never easy but always good advice. Yeah Corporal has a great too. Safe journeys.

Excellent.👍👏👏👏👏👏 I've had the same thing happen to me, using those cheap lighters. Having the candle and fat wood, a winning combination. Thanks for posting your video. Peace to you and your family.

Have been watching your vids for years and enjoyed them very much. You have taught us quite a lot. Thanks.

What a way to start a new year in the cold and wet! But I thank you for the straight up no nonsense approach to serious situations like firecraft in the rain. And you maintain your sense of humor too. Thank you Dave !!!

Just built a fire from soaked resources this weekend. It took 3 hours of nursing a small fire before the bed of coals was big enough to dry and ignite wood that was added. It is a LOT of work to build a fire in wet conditions.

Great effort. I use similar techniques. Thanks!

Well done Dave for showing us the reality. An unpolished version of how things really are and therefore how awkward and cumbersome the process can be. If we add injuries, emotional distress and hunger on top of this, of course it amplifiers the situation. I would add: carry a small basha type tarp, it makes life easier. Also use Clipper lighters, somewhat more reliable in moist weather. Carry several of them. I even have a small bundle of prepped bone dry kindling wrapped up in cling film wrapper. I have two sizes: both 10" long, twig sized and finger sized. Just enough to get me started. It is useful to have this bundle, if you're injured or super exhausted and processing a lot of wood is difficult.

Thank you for your willingness to share your knowledge and wisdom in conditions most might retreat from and just explain what to do without showing the how. And, how you may have to stick with it for longer than you’d like. Persistence may mean the difference between life and death, and you just did a superb job of how to stick with it. Thank you again!

Thanks Man I appreciate it

You must have been so happy to see how clearly the video came out. Hope your camera made it.

Once again you show us the real world Dave. Thanks for getting wet just to show us your technique. Between you and Corporal Kelly we are in good hands! Can't wait to get out and practice wet weather skills. Down here in Southwest Alabama they are sorely needed!

I know it's a pain in the butt, but I love these videos when you are actually out in the crappy weather! Thanks for sharing man!

Awesome. I'm heading out today, for three days in the woods with friends. 90% chance of rain and rain snow mix all weekend lol.

Fatwood fire friday. Thats hardcore RBM1! Thanks for another great show.

Excellent video. It's easy to tell everyone how to make a fire in wet and rainy weather but I've only seen two actually do it in a rain.

I think I may have mentioned this trick to you years ago Dave, can't remember. I get a stack of those wooden coffee stirring sticks from coffee shops. I immerse them in a tube filled with methylated spirits for several days, so the meths saturates the wood. Then I take them out, get them bone dry; then smear them in vaseline. And put them in a plastic bag, or watertight container. They are incredible for not only initiating a flame, but are like fat wood, in that they sustain a flame.

thank you, was helpful being that i live in the west coast in Canada. Natural Rainforest region, we get alot of rain.

Hey Dave, I always found that I had to work against time under those wet conditions; not for the fire building, but for my cold, wet hands. After a bit, they'd begin to go south on me because I could not do the work with gloves on. BTW, we used to start the fire with pine, since it burns faster and hotter, and then move to the harder woods cause they burn longer. The only problem was that pine was so soft, it would absorb water much more easily and it would be difficult to find seasoned, dry-standing. It's a great video, especially watching from my warm, dry room with a cup of coffee in my hand.

Even when you have the tools in hand you can still struggle in the task of making fire, it just goes to show you if your not prepared at all you will not succeed at obtaining and sustaining FIRE. Once again you've opened someones eyes to, why it's important to at the very lease have a good knife accompanied by a piece of fatwood and a ferro rod tied to its sheath example with (Ranger Bands). Outstanding video in proving a point. Preparedness 101!

Dave not to "blow smoke up your poncho" but you are hands down the best Bushcrafter I watch and there are some fine channels. Your down to earth informative videos keep me going out and experiencing the great outdoors!

Dave you're a boy scout,, who would ever thought of two ponchos I was doing good to have a raincoat this week in the what felt like freezing rain in north Ga. Great video

Well Done, I thought You had no chance at getting a fire in that soak! Above an Beyond the call, Hahahaha. Great show Monkeyman, amazing how a campfire makes everything around it better.

Starting fire in the rain or where all your fuel is wet, probably the most challenging need to know task for survival. I probably don't practice this as much as I should. Conditions can vary so much that each time you try something always seems to foul things up. I've got 50 or so pounds of fatwood and keep a piece or too in my packs when I am out in the woods. I have not seen the candle trick, I like that a lot. Thanks for sharing Dave, your videos where you teach me something new are the ones that I really enjoy the most.

I am a big fan of real world/hard conditions skills practice. The only way how to learn well. Your method is great David, thank you. I need to add a candle to my edc system. Take care!

I wear a wide brim, oil skin hat which I bought a size too big just so that I could sew a pair ear muffs into it. I cut the muffs out of a military flat top cap with ear muffs which wrap all the way around from side to side. Works great for winter and wind. The wide brim keeps out rain and snow and if oiled properly is water proof as well. The oil skin is tough as Hell so I can crash head long through brush with protection. The only downside is that it is hot in the summer time. So during the summer time I carry a super light sun cap with the light weight shield over the neck, but I still keep my oil skin hat because of the cold in the mountains at night. Don't forget that one of the best ways to fan a fire is with a good wide brim hat.

A few years ago I watched a documentary about someone in Alaska. I don’t remember much but he was on a snowmobile when he crashed through a frozen creek or small river. He pulled the snowmobile out, walked to the shore, and made a fire. He piled up brush and wood, lit a small candle, and put the kindling over the flame. When the twigs started he removed the candle, blew it out, and put it back in his pack. He calmly dried his socks and clothes, warmed himself by the fire, and when he was ready he took off on his snowmobile. I realized then a candle can save your life in a bad situation. And celebrate a birthday as well.

You're an absolute unit for going out in that weather! great set up. and your laugh kills me every time.

I have been with you from the start. Guided by an Army buddy of mine. You are still the best and real. Very down to earth, not like others. Still my fav Dave.

Just what i have been waiting for

Good job! Kudos to you for even venturing out to film in that crappy weather. I hate rain, and try not to be out in it, but that doesn't always work, lol..unexpected rain can pop up anytime..fatwood is absolutely a life saver. Never leave home without it if you're going into the woods. Thanks Dave! Another enjoyable video.

This guy cracks me up. I love him! Thank you for this video. This is awesome! I wish I would have found you sooner.

Hello! I was watching this in pajamas and hearing and seeing all that rain, I got quite c-c-c-cold! So, now in my forest trekking clothes, I can continue with THIS video!

Top notch Again buddy! Keep it up

This is badass, dave your awesome

I'll bet that you have saved more lives than you will ever know with your Bushcraft videos, Dave Pearson. What an excellent *real-world*, no 'baloney' Teacher you are! Looking forward to the next one :-).

You should film more in the rain. My wife and I watched this and it was so relaxing. Oh, my wife says, tea candles. Cheap little jobbers in an aluminum foil pot. As always thanks Dave.

Good morning Dave, love your channel. - John in Tn

Some speculation as to why the first lighter failed: Pretty sure if that striker wheel on top gets wet, it won't make a spark to light it. So, maybe your thumb was wet? Maybe a drop of rain got it? Maybe it was actually empty. And I'll agree with preferring a poncho over a rain suit in the woods. A poncho allows a lot of air flow around your body as you're working, sawing, etc, where a rain suit would keep your sweat in your clothes, making you wet while you thought you were staying dry.

I love the candle option in bad weather. Set up your fire lay, insert candle and watch the magic! I tried the ferro rod in soaked weather using only what natural tinder was around... no fat wood, birch bark or anything like that available just plain wood shavings. The air was so moist the ferro rod could not do it. I like tea candles or the magic birthday candles.

I think we're all forgetting to show Nick some love too and appreciation for being out in that miserable weather. Nick is also the man, the guy behind the camera and sometimes in front of it too.

Great job firemaster!! Well this one convinced me that I need to make sure I have a Bernzomatic short canister torch, 3 lighters, and fatwood to beat the band. I have ZERO faith in matches unless it's those giant hurricane jokers that burn underwater😂...people say that's cheating but with CP, HYPOTHERMIA is hell and it hits faster and I loose muscle control😂Bushcraft is one thing, camping is another, but like you said...survival is about getting out and not dying. I live by those words now with the additional quote...You sweat...you die. Thanks Dave..

That's cool David I appreciate you teaching me all that this would be a good time to have your little pocket bellows and also it would have been a good time can I have Nick LOL

The master has taught me another new fire skill. Bring a candle! Thanks David! Respect from rural Victoria, Australia.

"Remember, you don't have to be a survival expert; but rather be an expert in being prepared." ~ Dave Pearson Have that inscribed somewhere in your kit or basement Dave.

Dave, you're one of the most passionate outdoorsmen around. Taking the time to film while making your fire in the rain is awesome. You help out a lot of people. Thanks!

Another thing I do. Is wrap a piece of jute around each piece of fat wood. That way have that to help the fire, with those dry fibers from the twine.

I spent a decent amount of time in the Birmingham, AL area over a couple of winters a number of years back. I learned that there's noting quite like a Southern, day-long, cool-weather rain storm to chill your bones!

I have enjoyed your videos for years. Keep up the good work. I have never attempted to build a fire in the rain. Looks like I better get busy practicing. Thanks.

Always, always, always carry a candle. That's what the long hunters, scouts, and trail-blazers did.

Yes, a new video!

Wholeheartedly agree with you about being prepared. I'm more of a prepper than a bushcrafter, but they definitely overlap. One trick I got from junglecrafty, who sadly stopped making vids, was ranger bands. He lives in a rain forest setting, so some great tips on fires where it's wet. After watching him, I now keep a keep a lighter in my pocket wrapped in a piece of old bike inner tube. Rubber burns hot when it's wet and will help dry out smaller stuff and it keeps my lighter dry in my pocket even if I go swimming. Just shave some thin strips off the edge of the rubber and it makes a super tinder if you have a flame. Haven't been able to light it with a ferro rod, so carry a lighter.

Absolutely Loved this video buddy! Awesome example of a wet miserable condition building a fire. Just baby it and she'll work! Thanks for the video Brother Dave 👍🏻John

Heyyyy Dave :)

Hey Dave how's it going from Ireland

That’s the weather here in the U.K. 60% of the time & it doesn’t matter what season you’re in! Lol but autumn & winter for sure. 70-80% of our days are spent like this. spring some of the times & Even sometimes in the summer too, this is what we’re dealing with. It doesn’t make you want to go out in it much during the winter when the wind is biting cold & the rain just never wants to stop. So this is a really helpful video, thank you Dave. I hope you at least got a hot cup of coffee at the end of it all. Much love 💕

Thank you for the lesson. Learned some good methods. I have made tiny candles using bottle caps. They take up little space.