Produced by Cameron McKirdy with Tactical Gypsy for Survival Bros
Learn how to tie popular knots using paracord following easy step-by-step instructions from a Marine. These are easy and helpful knots you can create quickly for emergency or whatever. We challenge you to learn them all.
Here’s more knots to play with. Thanks for visiting Survival Bros. Follow this blog using your email up above on the left side of the screen. Peace.
By Cameron McKirdy
In this HD video I drop my new LG G2 and Ballistic SG phone cover on gravel, then concrete from 6 ft high! I just got this smartphone, so I was terrified it would break. However, I know there’s fellow geeks out there that want to see Survival Bros stress test all kinds of gear, so I went for it. The Ballistic case worked well, but after taking off the cover I did notice a tiny dent on the rim of my LG G2. It’s purely cosmetic, and I can live with it, because my screen did not crack. Of course I would have preferred no damage, which I expected since it’s rated to six feet according to the manufacturer. The minuscule chip isn’t worth taking a picture of, and I’m pleased with my purchase overall. Therefore, I give it 4 out of 5 Stars. It’s still probably the best case out there for this recently released Android device, so until better cases are produced it’s staying on me as one of my everyday carry items. Have you had any experience with Ballistic Cases? Let us know. Thanks.
On a side note: I dropped this phone with the case on a few weeks back from about four feet up, and after all of my contacts had been erased! It was the strangest thing. My emails, and phone numbers never returned, and I didn’t delete them. Please comment on this blog post if something similar has happened to you.
For all the tech specs here’s the Ballistic website. Visit Survival Bros again soon.
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
This is our 200th blog post! I’d like to thank everyone who has supported Survival Bros. I’ve had many guest authors, steady cameramen, and people behind the scenes feeding me ideas. Special thanks to local businesses that have allowed me to review their products. 2014 is going to be epic. Visit often, and please follow us by entering your email, plus subscribe on Youtube. Now here’s a video that I shot yesterday showing classy, ornate William Henry knives in high definition.
Survival Bros shops for a new luxury EDC knife at Diamond Showcase, a jeweler in Longview, WA
Their William Henry collection with knives, money clips, and fine pens
Artisan WH blades made in Oregon
By Katnip
How the Grinch stole MY Christmas. Two days after Christmas my beautiful, 2013 Chevrolet Camaro was a victim of crime. I thought I lived in one of the safer apartment complexes here in town. My bedroom is directly over the top of my carport on the second floor. I have a direct view of my car from the window. While I was sleeping, these thieves somehow managed to unlock my car without the alarm going off. (Apparently they make remotes to do so these days…thanks hackers of the world.) Why they chose MY car I will never know. One would naturally assume that a brand new car like mine would have a perfect lock and touchy alarm on it like Fort Knox. Well, my precious vehicle wasn’t well protected.
I’ve had my previous car broke in to before, and seen my things rummaged through. I’ve felt what it’s like to have your documents strung all over your car, and find your gear M.I.A. It’s awful. I should have taken the extra precaution like I have every other night and removed my valuables from the vehicle before locking her up for the night. I didn’t. I did have EVERYTHING out of sight. If you were to walk past my car, you couldn’t tell it’s a daily driver. I know better than to leave valuables out for prying eyes. I thought my stuff would be safe for one more night. Here’s a list of things I am kicking myself for, prepare to cringe:
– Canon Rebel EOS DSLR Camera with Lens, accessories, LowePro Camera Bag, and Cameron’s beloved camera tripod.
– iPhone 4S with car charger
– TomTom GPS with car charger
– Tool Box (Wrenches, Screw Drivers, Ratchets, etc)
– Jumper Cables
-My prized Bug Out Bag (As mentioned and pictured in this previous post) Now I will create a new Everyday Carry bag with emergency supplies, and bring it inside no matter what.
In addition, who knows if they could steal my identity, as I had some sensitive documents in the glove compartment that they rummaged through too.
I’ve since taken proper measures to protect myself since, and hopefully regain my property again. I would like to share these tips with you so this same thing doesn’t happen to you.
– Keep ALL valuables in your home. Don’t take the chance like I did and assume that things are safe in the trunk and out the vision of creepers.
– Download the “Find Your iPhone” application and TURN ON YOUR LOCATION! (I had previously turned the location off the day prior because I felt it was nuking my battery. Dumbest thing I’ve ever done, because I had this app on my smart phone, and because I turned the location off, it wouldn’t lead me or the local police to where my possessions were.)
– If you find yourself in this predicament of having your things stolen from you, contact your local police department, file a police report. Note: They wouldn’t come out, and recommended I fill one out online.
– Write a list of the items that were stolen from you, with serial numbers if available, and take this list in to the second hand shops, cellular stores, and local pawn shops.
– Contact your phone provider and register your phone as “Lost or Stolen.” If someone is dumb enough to try to activate the phone, the provider should confiscate the cell immediately and turn it over to either the police department or contact you to let you know your device had turned up.
– Scour all outlets of items for sale, such as eBay, Craigslist, Facebook sale pages, etc. Eventually, your stuff may turn up on one of those.
– Keep receipts of ALL expensive purchases that you have in your possession, my home owners insurance wouldn’t cover the items stolen from my car at my apartment, as I didn’t have proper sales receipts for these items….(They were gifts.) Things can’t be replaced if insurance can’t prove you never had them to begin with.
I can recommend from personal experience that having your stuff stolen is not a pleasant thing to have happen. It detracts from valuable time I could have spent using my nice things to make my life easier. If you’re a car thief, I would like to leave you with this final note: You should be ashamed of yourself. Work hard for your money so you can purchase quality belongings for yourself. Why steal from others that have actually earned their way in life? Karma is a bitch. Happy Travels!
Produced By Cameron McKirdy
Starring Tactical Gypsy. A former Marine shares the EDC gear on his person, and in his tactical backpack. Thanks for watching Survival Bros. Please subscribe to us on Youtube for more, and on this blog.
Hunting on the Oregon Coast
By Cameron McKirdy I sling a day pack on my back nearly every day. I’ve mentioned the types of things I have in it before, like gear, food, and a warm change of clothes. So when I discovered the Ribz Front Pack, I was stoked. This innovative, steroid injected version of a fanny pack solves many of the challenges I face when backpacking. Here I am with it on the Hummocks Trailhead near Mount St. Helens in Washington State. 
One issue I have with a regular backpack is I’m constantly taking it off to grab water, my cell phone, or something else that isn’t handy. With Ribz Wear, it’s all right in front of me, so I can continue trail blazing. I also mention in the video how backpacks catch on trees when I have to duck under them. It usually happens a few times each hike, and I practically have to crawl under the obstacle. With my gear in front, navigating through heavy brush is considerably easier. The best part of this system is the pack is easy to adjust. My Dad’s chest and waist are smaller than mine, so after he used it, a quick tug on the straps in back and in front made it comfortable again for me. Plus, Ribz have long, padded shoulder straps, so it feels like a natural extension of your body. 
Check out the map of different Mount St. Helens Adventures. Back to the Ribz Front Pack review, I must mention the Large version I tested can hold absurd amounts, with an 11 liter capacity. Even with it packed full, I was able to swing my arms freely. My dad wore it, and noted that you could still use hiking poles with it on. Ribz makes smaller Front Packs with 8 liters of room too. Internally, there are separate pouches to keep smaller items organized. These elastic lined compartments will hold all your tools close to your ribs, and prevent them from rattling around. We both ran with it, and the pack remained snug, not bouncing around, or swaying side to side.
In conclusion, the Ribz Front Pack is an excellent tool itself. The quality is unbelievable, and far superior to what I expected. It’s lightweight, at only 11 ounces, so it beats a backpack there too. However, I think it would be best suited for use with a rear pack, so the weight of your supplies can be evenly distributed forward and back, thus giving you better posture than wearing one or the other. But if you’re into ultralight backpacking, Ribz might be a dream come true. You can’t machine wash Ribz, but it cleans up nicely with a wet rag. I love the Cordura brand water resistant, ripstop material it’s fabricated with. I will be sporting my Ribz for a long time. I like it so much I want the smaller 8 liter pack too for shorter trips, and cross country running. I just don’t know which color to get next. Check out http://www.ribzwear.com to grab yours.
Cam makes instant coffee with an emergency water packet at Loowit Lookout near Mt. St. Helens in Washington State. Subscribe to Survival Bros on Youtube for more! Thanks for watching! Feel free to comment.
Cam snaps a selfie with his dad on the trail
Produced by Cameron McKirdy
One of the most popular every day carry knives is the Kershaw Chive designed by Ken Onion. This sly blade features the patented SpeedSafe assisted opening, giving it a remarkable feel. In the HD video I put the knife to the test, slicing a can, plastic bottle, different types of cordage, and much more. On Youtube I couldn’t find anyone doing a legit cut test with the Chive, so I made an extreme one.
I was genuinely surprised to see that the Kershaw didn’t dull after cutting the soda can. I muscled through the bottom, and I was sure it would damage the blade, or at least scratch the titanium-oxide rainbow coating. But even after that, I was able to shave off a good chunk of arm hair in a few strokes. The knife did everything I wanted it to, making it a perfect EDC tool. It’s ultra lightweight too, at only 1.7 ounces.
The Chive comes in a wide variety of colors, some with different handle materials, but the Rainbow version is the most expensive. There’s nothing girly about it. The wild coating reminds me of an oil slick, which are always interesting to look at. I like the stepped thumb studs, because they are rigid, making the small 1 15/16″ blade easy to open. However, I prefer to use the flipper on the back, because I feel it’s a little safer, and there’s no chance of slicing my thumb on deployment. It does have a solid tip-lock system for safety, so the knife won’t open when you pull it out of your pocket. In addition, I love the long, sturdy pocket clip. It’s not rainbow, just polished steel with the Kershaw logo etched down it. Plus, the jimping on the top of the blade gives you more control, which is good because the Chive is small, and somewhat slick due to the coating.
At the end of the day, the Kershaw Chive is a legend. Trust me, you want one. It makes a great keychain knife, and if you carry it on you, you’ll use it daily. For additional tech specs, and to view other models, visit http://kershaw.kaiusaltd.com/ Thanks for visiting and supporting Survival Bros – your emergency preparedness blog. Comments, likes, and shares are appreciated. What knife would you like me to test next, and what should I destroy with it? Peace.
The Kershaw Rainbow Chive – Model 1600VIB
My survival keychain video starring The Chive
Popping Blisters with the small knife after hiking on the PCT
Produced By Cameron McKirdy with Tactical Gypsy
Homeless. That’s what we were. My bro and I stayed on this boat for weeks last summer to avoid paying rent, and getting a regular job. We were free, and so was our lodging. But with that comes less. We had to deal with a lot of crap. It’s noisy in the Skipanon and Warrenton Oregon Marina. Sleeping is challenging. People work on boats at all hours, so there’s usually people clamoring, and trucks hauling.
Skipanon Warrenton Oregon Marina at Night
Once we had to stay on the boat right after our host varnished the interior. We opened the craft up, but the stench was still awful. I got a headache, and while grateful for the place to lay down, I was ready to split and catch the bus into town. In the HD video above we got a solid fire going, but I didn’t film the smoke that filled the cabin, and it was horrible. I got a headache from that too. Again, we lifted the lid on the boat, and opened up the ceiling, but sacrificed warmth. The Survival Bros slept on a wet mattress because the boat had recently sank.
We had a key to the shower and restroom, but that was a hike from the boat. Plus, we didn’t want to get hassled by security, so we kept our creeping to a minimum, and laid low. The smart move was to pee in plastic bottles to avoid detection. However, the other fisherman on the marina were typically very helpful. We had their assistance many times when we had to do work on the boat, or move it to another slip. Speaking of, the rent for a spot there is only $70 per month, and our buddy paid that. You have to pay a little more for electricity, but it’s still the cheapest place to crash in town. In exchange for a bed, Tactical Gypsy worked on the boat, making sure the bilge was pumping out water, or whatever. I kept him company, and learned what I could from the Maritime Scientist. It was an adventure for sure, and I’m happy to share it with you. More homelessness tales soon. Thanks for supporting Survival Bros. Peace and love.
Selling waterlogged boat motors for cash
Produced By Cameron McKirdy
Watch Survival Bros repair Oregon Ducks Nike shoes with an officially licensed Survival Straps bracelet. My shoelace broke, and I needed a solution ASAP so I could get back on the road. It worked out great, because the green color matched my player edition, team issued kicks.
It was easy to unravel the tightly bound milspec 550 paracord strap, taking only a few minutes to get the cordage I needed. As I mention in the HD video, I did have to cut off the ends so they could pass through the adjustable plastic clasp. However, it was no problem reheating the tips so they wouldn’t come undone later. I had plenty of cord to work with, and I cut it to length. Luckily my new laces were able to pass through the holes as I relaced my Nikes. Now my shoelaces are stronger than ever, and handy if I need them for another purpose. Plus, because this was an emergency I will get a new band when I share my story with Survival Straps. I was worried I was going to be barefoot this afternoon, but I was prepared with my paracord bracelet nearby. The last thing I want is my shoe to come off when I bike through a busy intersection. I’m good to go.
They have so many cool designs, you really have to look at them for yourself. I also like the wide double fish tail designs. At $29.99 the Oregon Ducks Survival Straps is a deal. You’ll get up to 15 feet of military spec super strong paracord from one bracelet. Having a little extra cordage in an emergency situation could be the difference between life in death. Thankfully, I wasn’t in true danger this time.
Here’s a link to my other blog post about Survival Straps. Please visit Survival Bros again soon. Best wishes.
My fixed kicks with green 550 paracord laces
Produced By Cameron McKirdy
Thanks for watching! In addition, the blade steel is 154CM with a titanium nitride coating. Super durable. Don’t get the F.A.S.T. version of this knife. It felt slow to deploy, and cheap. Boker makes fixed blade Applegate designed knives too. Subscribe to Survival Bros on Youtube for more. We’ll have other knife reviews soon. Here’s the Gerber LMF 2 stress test I did breaking car windows. Enjoy.
This film previously classified as restricted security information has been unclassified. For instruction purposes only. It’s called COMBAT FIRING with HAND GUNS. Presented by The Colonel for the US Army.
Colonel Rex Applegate with his Boker fighting knife
At Applegate Homestead in Oregon
Survival Bros by Cameron McKirdy 