People are depending too much on gear and surivial supplies!

**nakadnu** · 04-16-2012, 11:45 AM

Flint and steel with charred natural materials is no different than carrying a book of matches it still requires you to have gear.
My point is unless you have some sort of modern firemaking gear you will fail at getting a fire going at some point. Just hope that time is not when you need to live or die. You cannot always know ahead of time when you are going to need a fire. And if you do then you need to start buying lottery tickets!
If you can start a fire under all and any adverse conditions and with 100% success with your bowdrill set and flint and steel then good for you. You are the rare exception. Perhaps even 1 of a kind.

Originally Posted by MGF

Why limit it to fire by friction? I wouldn't consider flint and steel "modern".

Even so, the friction methodes are adequate as long as you don't wait until you need a fire to start looking for materials to carve a set. The time to prepare for a fire is when you're warm and dry. My bow drill set will get a fire going just fne on a cold, wet winter day.

My most used method is flint and steel with charred natural materials. Aside from the fact that I just like it, it's sustainable. I replace char as needed and I don't have to worry about running out of anything that I need to get from a store. One of my strikers or my knife will last for as long as I will and there are sparking rocks all over the place.

**MGF** · 04-16-2012, 03:32 PM

Maybe I'm missing something here. What kind of "modern" fire making equipment do you feel you need?

You don't need to know when you will need a fire. You just have to be prepared for it when you need it.

**HBGhost** · 04-16-2012, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by dalewick

Renee - I must admit, I also enjoyed the training here in the states. Food was always easy to find. The training overseas, in the jungles - NOT SO MUCH SO. I used to actually like snakes. LOL.

I wasn't a snake eater, and I kinda liked the jungles, seemed that everything either tasted real good or would kill you dead (and sometimes eat you). Figguring out which was which was the fun part. I can't imagine snakes are so bad as long as you have some salt or tobasco.

Back to the original topic, Knowledge > gear; however knowledge + gear = comforts! Fitness helps as well although it doesn't do much good to walk by food sources if yer hungry.

**dalewick** · 04-16-2012, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by HBGhost

I wasn't a snake eater, and I kinda liked the jungles, seemed that everything either tasted real good or would kill you dead (and sometimes eat you). Figguring out which was which was the fun part. I can't imagine snakes are so bad as long as you have some salt or tobasco.

Back to the original topic, Knowledge > gear; however knowledge + gear = comforts! Fitness helps as well although it doesn't do much good to walk by food sources if yer hungry.

I was a LRRP and spent the majority of 3 years in jungles on 3 continents. Didn't mind the constrictors under 15' it was the big ones and all the ones that when you got bit, you didn't have time to write home. It was the cobras, vipers, bushmasters and all the other slithers that would chase you and crawl over you body while you tried to sleep at night that I developed a distaste for. I didn't even mind the rattler in FL. that bit me the way I disliked his brothers overseas. And I won't start on the jungle rats and occasional tigers. Jungle life....Not my preferred habitat. LOL

**drt4lfe** · 04-17-2012, 11:06 AM

Skills are necessary...and the mind and body are tools.....even a small cache of the basic stuff should be a part of what any prepper is doing.....if you have to vacate home or property due to say a fire, flood or whatever.....and have no backup plan for this....then I guess you were not thinking ahead.....how many people actually have any type of cache of the basics ? not many....if your plans do not include life saving items cached for worst case scenario you should rethink...IMO why would I ever let myself be put in position where I have nothing to fall back on ? especially if my family is depending on me for there lives and safety.....

**TazQb13** · 05-03-2012, 09:27 AM

I totally agree sooner or later batteries will die guns will run out of ammo. I'm reading and watching videos trying to prepare mentally.

**Applejack** · 05-03-2012, 05:23 PM

I agree with you I am 61 and have started walking more and more everyday to keep my muscles strong. I wish I could say that I don't take anything other than vitiamns, but I do have hypothroid and have to take meds for that, but at least I know I can subsatute iodine pills if I can't get any of my armur tyroid meds. We must keep our bodies in top shape or nothing we do will help us.
Applejack

**Samexplores** · 05-09-2012, 11:38 AM

I completely agree! if ts really hit tf then odds are part of your emergency supplies could be destroyed anyways

**milyow** · 11-12-2012, 02:54 AM

Originally Posted by topcat128

I have found out that most people preparing for TSHTF are depending too much on gear and supplies. What is going to happen to them if they find themselves with just themselves and nothing else.
You and I need to focus more on ourselves and less on gear and supples. Not that they are not important, but we are more important.
What is your state of health? How long do you think you can survive without food or water? You mind and body are your most important asset during bad times.Work on your mind and body. I am 70 years and in real good health, take no meds, exercise, not over weight, try to eat right, but do take vitamins and mineral supplements.

That is true we really need to examine us first. And people should ask themselves: What skills do I have that could benefit me and the people around me? Will/do I have the proper mind set if a disaster struck? Am I physically and mentally prepared for anything? Having gears and supplies are essential especially food and water. (You'll only survive one week without food and three days without water). But one still should rely on their own skills to survive. But if you're in a group chances would be better especially every single one of you are survivalist.

**ctdcb18b** · 11-12-2012, 12:09 PM

i agree with you topcat gear is cool but ultimately a luxury one needs to learn practice and hone are primitive skills reducing the dependence on are gear
or you better have a huge stockpile of it
knowledge is power and very light on weight