Image via Complex Original
There is a place free of the Internet, unpaid credit cards, and the unearthly glow of iPhones—it's called the wilderness. Though the divide beween the two worlds is growing wider, there are still some essential hacks from the modern world that could mean the difference between life and death in the wilderness. You can drink your own urine for hydration, or use dental floss and a coke can to catch a fish. No need to bring Siri along on your excursion. With this essential list of tips and tricks for surviving in the great outdoors, you won't even need her.
Shoe polish has uses outside of shining your wingtips.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 6
While we don't reccomend bringing dress shoes into the wilderness, it may not be a bad idea to bring shoe polish. Shoe polish has flammable qualities that make it ideal for starting a fire. Bonus: the polish can also give off a scent that repels animals while you are sleeping.
[via abovetopsecret.com]
Duct tape cures all.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 1
There's very little Duct tape can't do. It can help with blisters, assist with marking your trail, make items waterproof, and it can even help you start a fire. If you bring enough (and are very talented) you could even build your entire shelter with duct tape and sticks. No word on how long that might take, but hey, good luck!
[via survival.outdoorlife.com]
Mirrors can save your from a tick bite.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 3
Seeing your gnarly beard while in the wilderness may not be a priorioty, but it can prove useful in hunting down ticks and rashes in hard to see places. Mirrors can also act as fire starters by reflecting sunlight onto kindling.
A needle can do more than fix your clothes.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 5
It is a very real possibility that your clothes might catch on something and rip, and in that case, you can close the rip with dental floss and a needle. In the event that you rip your skin instead of your clothing , you'll need to close the wound. Make sure to sterilize the needle over a fire, and go ahead and stitch that cut closed. Covering it with a bandadna and dousing it in some liquor is also helpful if getting legitimate medical attention is not an option.
[via offgridsurvival.com]
Bring a flask of high proof alcohol to help start a fire—or drink.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest: 4
Alcohol above 90-proof is flammable and can help you start fire. The high proof alcohol can also be used to sterilize open wounds, and take the edge off of painful injuries. In addition to potential life-saving uses, alcohol is also tasty to drink. But, you didn't need us to tell you that.
[via outdoorlife.com]
Soda cans offer more than a caffine rush.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 8
You can pop open your Pepsi can and use the tab as a bootleg fishing hook. Use it with your dental floss as fishing line, and enjoy the sugar and caffine and wait for a fish to bite. Worst case scenaro, you'll be drinking a delicious carbonated beverage.
Insects are tastier than you'd think.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 10
Insects provide 65 to 80 percent protein, compared to 20 percent for beef. Insects are also easier to find and catch than larger game. Rather than setting up an intricate trap to catch your prey, just visit a rotting log and scavenge for grubs and other nutritious insects. If Timone and Pumba can do it, so can you.
[via wilderness-survival.net]
Extra socks can be used for more than keeping your toes toasty.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 1
Clean water and warm feet are both very important in the wilderness. An extra pair of socks can be used to filter murky water, and used to keep your feet dry and warm. If you switch socks, be sure to keep your old pair outside of your pack so they will dry quickly and be ready when you need them.
[via gq.com]
Vick's VapoRub rub can end a cough or cure a rash.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 1
Vick's VapoRub is marketed as a decongestent, but that's not all you can do with the ointment. Vick's can also be used to help dull a head ache, halt a cough, prevent infection in open cuts, and even help relieve muscle pain. Considering its diverse uses and its lightweight, you might as well go ahead and toss it in with the dental floss and condoms.
[via survivalistdaily.com]
An emery board can sharpen more than nails.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 6
It's a given that you're going to need a knife or some sort of blade to survive in the wilderness. There's no telling what you might be using that blade for, but you're definitely going to need it to be sharp. Bring along a lightweight emery board to sharp your blade, and your nails, because, hell, what else are you doing out in the woods?
[via themodernsurvivalist.com]
Bleach can kill you, but it can also save your life.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 4
As a kid, you learned than drinking bleach can and will kill you, but like most things, it turns out bleach is OK in moderation. According to the CDC, two drops of bleach can purify a quart or liter of water. Add a little more for dirtier water, and be sure to let the water sit for 20 to 30 minutes so the bleach can disperse appropriately.
[via cdc.gov]
Contractor trash bags aren't just for cleaning up after yourself.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 2
Staying dry is key, especially in low temperatures. Poke a hole in a trash bag and you'll have a rain jacket. You can put your pack in a bag and keep all of your valuables dry. You can even use your dental floss in conjunction with your trash bag to create a makeshift shelter to protect against the elements.
[via popularmechanics.com]
Bandanas are more than a cool accessory.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 3
Bandanas are not just for looking bad ass on a hike. They're a useful survival tool in both cold and hot conditions. They can protect you from both the sun and a cold breeze. If you are lucky enough to find some fresh water, a bandana can act as a filter, purifying the water to some extent. If you are unlucky enough to find yourself with an open wound and need to stop the bleeding, and bandana can act as a great makeshift tourniquet.
Pantyhose are not just for ladies.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 4
Pantyhose may not be something you'd imagine adding to your packing list (or, maybe they are-we're not judging), but they can be surprisingly useful for dressing wounds and filtering water. If you're man enough, you can even wear them to make your legs bug and tick resistant, as well as a little warmer.
[via themodernsurvivalist.com]
Condoms can quench your thirst.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 6
You may think that condoms are unneccesary if you're heading into the wilderness alone, but think again. The small and lightweight condoms can hold over a gallon of water easily, which is enough to extend your life by a day. If you take issue with the idea of drinking water from a condom, you can also use your jimmy cap to keep lifesaving materials dry. Again, nothing is worse than wet matches.
[via themodernsurvivalist.com]
Dental floss can save your life.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 7
Dental floss is good for more than just oral hygiene. In the wilderness, it can be used for repelling, tying sticks together, or even suspending your things off the ground to keep them out of the reach of animals. It can also be used for small animal traps, as well as fishing line.
Flint and steel can be used to start a fire.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 5
Matches can get wet, and the last thing that you want is to be caught in the wilderness without any means of making a fire. It's important to know that all you need to spark a fire is flint, steel, and some kindling. The spark from the flint and steel will light the kindling and soon enough, you'll have a warming blaze.
[via wildernesscollege.com]
Tampons aren't just for the ladies.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 7
Tampons were created to stop bleeding. In the event you find yourself wounded in the wilderness, you might have to dress that wound with a tampon and tie it off with some pantyhose. Tampons are denser than cotton balls and will help to absorb more blood. Raid your girl's closet before you head out.
[via themodernsurvivalist.com]
Yes, you can drink your own urine.
Level of difficulty (1 being easiest, 10 being hardest): 9
Though not ideal, it's possible to drink your own urine for hydration, On average, the human body can't go more than three days without water. Urine is sterile, so any negative effects will be menial. You also may want to wait for the urine to cool off before talking a swig.
[via gq.com]