Survival Basics

Starting from the bottom, wrap the coils tightly, making sure to wrap over your first turn so that the wraps won’t unwind. Stop a few inches from the top, double the rope you’re wrapping with, and pass this loop through the opening left by your hand. Bring the tag ends over the top of the

There’s a catch to your beautiful new cast iron pan: you really shouldn’t use dish soap and traditional cleaning methods, which can strip the material of that carefully developed “seasoning” that gives it its non-stick properties. But there are easy, inexpensive solutions to keep you black pots in sizzling shape. Here are three things to

Most true foot lockers are made for inside use, and won’t hold up to light rain or moisture. If you’re planning on transporting your locker in an open pickup truck, or storing it on a camp porch or elsewhere out in the weather, look for units made of heavy-duty high-impact plastic, built with gutter or

Listen To The Article Survival Gear Once someone starts upon the road of preparedness, it seems never to end. The idea of actually having enough to get through any crisis may be something we all aspire to, but it’s an elusive goal. There’s really no way of knowing what will be enough, without knowing what

Prepare your chickens for colder temperatures This time of year it is important to begin preparing your chickens and your coop for colder weather.  In the Midwest, the popularity of winter-hardy breeds, is quite high. If you don’t keep them warm enough and well-fed, however, there’s a good chance that their egg production will drop

Rake Up Leaves In preparation for winter, many homeowners go through the grueling task of raking and bagging leaves. Maybe it isn’t a big deal for those with very small yards in the city, but it can be quite the workout in large yards or around rural homes. Well, as it turns out, raking your

The advent of powerful, lightweight lithium-ion batteries has been a huge plus to the powered tool category, and a battery-powered pole pruner is a classic example. With these devices, you’re no longer tethered to an extension cord or need to haul spare gas into the woods as you clear brush and shooting lanes. For trimming

Everything feels a bit off when your camper isn’t perfectly level. Doors swing open or closed, liquids lean one way or the other, beds don’t feel comfortable, or you eat at a slightly slanted table, and even walking seems uncertain at times. Fortunately, it’s easy to get your camper level on practically any ground with

Salsa macha is a thick, dark, nutty, oily, garlicky, chile-laced concoction that adds serious depth of flavor and intrigue to everything it graces. For instance, Chicago-area chef Paul Kahan, who shared his recipe with us, slathers it onto roasted chicken, which he pairs with quick-pickled zucchini for a sweet-hot summertime dish. We’ve taken that idea

A vest-style harness for a dog is better than a collar for attaching a leash because it’s nowhere near as likely to cause harm to a dog’s neck. It also makes it much easier to control a dog because the chest attachment point enables you to turn the dog’s body instead of just its head.

If you’re dragging felled trees or straightening fence posts far away from a power source, you typically needed a manually operated come-along or chain pull to get the job done. But the advent of portable, battery-operated tools brought about the development of cordless portable winches that are operated by a power drill. You simply insert

There aren’t many kitchen gadgets that can make as big a difference in your food presentation—or its taste—as a simple grill press. From keeping bacon from curling up and cooking unevenly, to pumping out the perfect panini, to putting that tasty, crunchy seared crust on a steak, this uncomplicated and inexpensive kitchen tool will make

These days, it seems that everyone hopes to be a pitmaster. Whether your meat of choice is barbecued pork, beef, chicken, or lamb, separating the fibers and chopping and pulling the final product can be time-consuming and hard on the hands. But slip your fingers into a set of meat claws, and you can channel

Traction boards are tough and durable tire-wide slats with knobby, grippy surfaces. They’re popular with extreme off-road enthusiasts, who often find their vehicles deeply mired in mud, sand, or snow. In those situations, four-wheel-drive alone isn’t enough to extricate your vehicle. But traction boards are very useful to everyday 4×4 drivers as well. Here are

These days, a day cooler can be as much a status symbol as a way to keep drinks and lunch cold and ready to go, and there is a huge range of available products. When thinking about a cooler, you’ll want to balance the cooler’s weight, exterior size, and ease of transport against the ability

It’s one thing to carry a rifle or two, but load a case with ammo, extra clips, cleaning kits and tools, scopes, rangefinders, and other hunting and shooting equipment, and the weight skyrockets. Most rifle cases have various carry solutions, from standard luggage-type carry handles to beefy backpack-style harnesses to tough wheels that let you

Personal Flotation Devices, or PFDs, are required on most boats, but they’re a smart idea even when you’re simply hanging out on lakeshores and waterfronts. Modern designs are sleek and comfortable, come in an array of colors and graphics, and provide a measure of safety that will allow you to enjoy a day on the

Pet PFDs vary by the amount of buoyancy provided. If your dog is likely to hit the lake or beach and swim for long periods, you’ll want a jacket that provides plenty of flotation, with multiple panels sewn around the jacket. But if you’re just looking for an easy-to-wear life jacket as a safety backup