Survival Manual Recommendations

Lightstryder

Lightstryder

Joined
Dec 18, 2009
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I bought the SAS Survival Manual recently and it seems to be fairly thorough. I am curious to hear from all of you, especially those who have taken a class from Jeff and Mike or have had experience with implementing survival techniques from this or any other manual. Also I am considering taking some classes this coming year, I would love to take the domestic survival course from RAT, but I am not sure I can come up with the tuition fee. There are some one day basics classes nearby that I am considering, but not sure yet if they will be worth the money. Any input would be appreciated here, thanks.
 
Classes are good. It's hard to say if one class or another will worth the money until you take them and get to know the instructor. If you can't afford the classes you want then at least take the ones you can afford. You may find a very good a very good instructor and they can teach you a lot you didn't know you didn't know.

The only way to know if the techniques from a manual will work for you is to get out and try them.
 
Manuals act as agreat starting point. They are mainly useful for general ideas, ya might say they get your own creativity and improvisational skills awakened. It is that ability to use available materials and skills to meet your needs that is the key.

Just don't look at any of them as being th be all and end all. They do share some creative methods of solving particular problems which helps one learn to find solutions with what is on hand.
 
John Wiseman also has one that is about 4.5" x 3.5" which is the same book condensed down to pack into your gear as a field manual, The SAS Survival Guide, 384 pgs. Recently he released a survival DVD that goes through a lot of basic skills, Survival Skills with Lofty Wiseman. Also the RAT website has a section, survival info, that has some really good navigation and survival skills. I haven't been able to attend the RAT courses yet, but some others I've looked into are around the same price. Maybe some other members can chime in on the RAT courses and some others that might be available. Here are a few other books that you might want to look into that have some really good survival skills and information:

US Army Survival FM 21-76
Bulid the Perfect Survival Kit (John McCann)
Bushcraft (Mors Kochanski)
98.6 Degrees, The Art of Keeping your A** Alive (Cody Lundid)
Buckshot's Modern Trappers Guide (Bruce Hemming)
-A great book for learning about snares and trapping game in a survival situation.
 
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Already mentioned, the SAS books are good. I'll add one, Wilderness Survival by Gregory Davenport
 
Boy scout handbook, and some of the older, pre lawsuit, wilderness survival type merit badge books.

Nothing fancy, no escape and evade, but simple ideas that will get you home, that a ten year old can follow
 
Actually, a Boy Scout Fieldbook is what he'd want. The Handbook is citizenship type stuff (not bad to have, BTW). The old Fieldbook and old merit badge book can be had for real cheap on eBay.

If you can't afford classes, go to Hood's Woods store and buy some of Ron Hood's DVDs -- best thing next to a class. Watch the DVD, take notes, and go practice.
 
Tom brown and Cody Lundin are two I like.
Tom for wildness living and Cody for get your ass out alive.
 
Cody's book was a good read, but I preferred Bushcraft (Kochanski), especially the axe and knife sections.
I, too, carry the pocket SAS in my GO bag, but I also have a first edition from the mid 80s which is not easy to fit on any of my bookshelves. I heard there used to be a waterproof Flickbook variant, but it has since been out of print, which would be good as a carry reference.
Though not really survival manuals, I also have a collection from the Mountaineers, in including the Wilderness Guide, First Aid, and the classic Mountaineering - Freedom of the Hills.
 
For temperate woodland and real world information then Kochanski is great. As an all round source the DoA FM 21-76 is alright as well, especially for sections on differing climatic areas. There is also a lot of rubbish out there so it pays to have a good look before you buy.
 
I just got the "complete survival manual" by national geographic. i looked through it and it seems to be interesting i will let you know if its any good.
 
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