Les Stroud vs Bear Grylls: The Survive-Off

[batosai117]

Bear grylls while entertaining, is not at all realistic. Remember the amazon episode? Why the hell did he waste 'x' amount of time making a shitty bridge when he could have like....built a shelter out of the same time and effort!!! His tactics in the wild wouldn't be fit for a real outdoorsman. First off, most of us hunters (not to piss anyone off) have a few extra pounds and aren't in 'tip top' condition. I can still wear my good college jeans, but a little gut tries to go over the top of them! And who would risk 'body surfing' down a bunch of white water rapids and attempt to break a leg? I wouldn't. I'd rather walk around no matter how long it took. Survivorman is interesting as well, but man do I get a little bored around the last 15 minutes or so. I do like that he sets up a base camp, but it's not really survival if you pop a squat in the wilderness, you would be on the move trying to get out like bear does. Like stated above, it is more like a camping documentary. Just my opinion.

 

[Yoshi]

Nemoaz,

You worked with the SAS? in what respect? are you Delta force or SEAL? I know and have trained guys in both SAS and SBS in MA, I was trained by an SAS instructor, many moons ago, I was even training to go into the Territoral SAS, having at that time a couple of good friends in there, but met a girl and got married instead, so i have a vague idea about them and their set up.
Before you question Bear Grylls about his Territorial and climbing credentials, even the likes of Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, ex SAS and a veteran of Oman, give Bear Grylls his backing
The likes of The Territorial Army SAS Regiments (21 and 23) undergo the same selection as 22SAS, but due to the part-time nature of the Territorials, the selection process is stretched over a period of one year. They get a tiny bit of slack on the long drag about 30 mins, this is a 40 mile hike over the Brecon Beacons, with a 55lb bergen plus food etc, to be completed in 20 hrs if your 22SAS, a lot of very tough good soldiers I know, didn't make it. But they (21 & 23 SAS) have to complete all other aspects of selection.
If they decide to go to 22 SAS, they have to do re-selection in 22 SAS's aloted time scale
Skammer, the territorial SAS are its reported on the way to Afghanistan, to work with 22SAS, nothing new there.

 

[nemoaz]

You worked with the SAS?

Yoshi, why are you making this personal? Initially I was with 1stspwar Ft Bragg NC 1986-1987.

so i have a vague idea about them and their set up.

Yes, so yes I have a vague idea, too. I understand that you were almost a reserve SAS trooper too. Thanks for serving and congrats on getting interested in a girlfriend.

I don't know why you keep bringing up selection. No one has questioned selection. I don't think anyone anywhere has questioned his physical fitness or climbing ability. It has been reported by many sources that Grylls did not complete training. Grylls himself never claims to have completed SAS training. In fact, he says he was injured in training during a jump in Africa. The point is that it is fraudulent or at least misleading to imply that you are SAS when you did not in fact complete the training. Until you have completed training, you have not earned that it.

And regardless of any claims or implications that Jackass Grylls makes, I've never met an SAS'er who couldn't start a fire with a bow and drill. Haven't met too many experienced boy scouts who couldn't do it either.

 

[batosai117]

I'm an Eagle Scout and I can start a fire with my eyes closed and with one arm tied behind my back! Now as for Bear Grylls, he should be able to start a fire while standing upside down on one hand with all of the claims he makes about himself. (I really am an Eagle Scout and I can start a fire with my eyes closed and one arm tied behind my back).

ps. If there are any Eagle Scouts out there reading this, there is a thread that I started in the Buck forum called "Calling all Eagle Scouts..." Read it and have fun getting an almost free limited edition Eagle Scout knife from buck.

 

[V-1]

When I watch a new episode of either Survivorman or Man vs Wild, my wife and I bet on how many minutes into the program either Les's harmonica will come out or Bear's shirt will come off. We've thought about turning it into a drinking game. . . . .

Now that's a good idea! Thanks for the laugh.

 

[vvk]

Last week I discussed Bear Grylls show with a young colleague of mine. She is 24 and very enthusiastic about outdoors, and travel. She was literary buying Edwards every word and she believed that the show is real.

I tried, to no avail, to curb her enthusiasm but she was adamant that Bear is a true hero and she would like to try some of the stuff shown on the show.

I am afraid that unfortunately, somebody may get himself or herself in a bad situation if they try to imitate Bear or follow some of his advices. For example, how about the episode where Bear runs out of his shelter in midnight because he has heard some noise (the noise was BTW made by the film crew)? Running in a total darkness without a flashlight !?!

Or how about the many episodes where Bear climbs down a rock or a tree to "save some time" !?!

 

[batosai117]

^ I am sure there are a lot of people out there that do follow bear's advice as gospel. I like the show, don't get me wrong, it's free advertisement for the great outdoors and rental helicopter crews , but 99.99% of the physical part of the show would kill any normal person. I'm sure bear taking his shirt off at least twice an episode doesn't help your side of the story since you are trying to change the mind of a 24 year old young woman .

(if this applies to anyone out there, please disregard, only intended for the one being talked about)

 

[nick-nack]

Its kinda sickening and annoying to see people fling themselves into the bush armed with nothing but that cheap $5 knife they picked up and the knowledge of the "Bear". Most of his tactics are perfect if you are in the army or evading. Such as always move move move! But the regular hiker isnt trying to run away they are trying to be found, most would be hinderinig rescuers by doing what bear does.