Survival
Archive
When your submarine is on the verge of imploding, you better make all the right choices
Hotshots take on exceptional risk. Could unionizing give them the voice they need to avoid deadly situations like Yarnell Hill?
Saws, water filters, and fishing kits as price tags? Genius.
When a group of immigrants set out across the desert, the results helped researcher create the Death Index, a new model for dehydration.
Jon Krakauer’s obsession with what killed the star of ‘Into the Wild’ has persisted for nearly 24 years. Whether it was ignorance or arrogance, do the details still make a difference?
Pablo Valencia spent six days wandering the 110-degree desert before stumbling into McGee's camp. He shouldn't have been alive, but he was.
An amusing albeit brief look at the basics of adventuring outdoors.
The bizarre science behind Phil Broscovak's lightning strike, and his incredible journey of recovery
Experts are training the vicious wild animals to sniff out avalanche victims—without mauling them to death
Great for hunting food or fending off zombies
This 1,000-mile race across the frozen wilderness of Alaska necessitates some very specialized kit
A remote car accident, a broken ski, a tumble in the snow, and a slow descent into hypothermia before (spoiler alert!) a dramatic rescue
When a person goes missing outdoors, there’s a specific protocol for finding them within the first 24 hours. After that first day, it becomes much tougher.
Stock your physical and digital library with these must-read and must-see works that capture the fun, danger, and beauty of the cold.
An off-the-grid emergency warning system called Smart Park could give visitors critical information about weather and missing persons
The 5 products from the Denver trade show that we can’t wait to test this season
Knowing how to survive in the wild isn't the same thing as knowing how to survive in the big city when an earthquake or tsunami strikes. Wherever you live, Japan's new survival manual may save your life.
A man wakes up on a muddy logging road in the middle of the mountains. His truck is dead. His phone is out of range. He’s got no food. How did he make it out?
People coming back to life after being frozen stiff. Frogs that cryopreserve for winter and then reanimate. The emerging frontier of extreme cold is offering revolutionary new insights and therapies for everything from deadly exposure to peak athletic performance.
A retired Navy SEAL teaches us how to turn common household objects into brutal weapons in a pinch, which is almost as funny as it is terrifying
These seven essentials will prepare you for most driving mishaps
An American mountain biker narrowly avoided drowning when he took a spill trying to cross a rushing river. Here’s what he did right.
What’s spurring so many A-list celebrities to appear on a survival TV show? The chance to experience a little fear and risk, which, as Grylls keeps telling us, only makes you stronger.
Rick Ridgeway, one of the North Face founder and conservationist's closest friends, survived the kayak capsizing that killed his lifelong buddy. Here he reflects on their awful ordeal, on his friend's burial, and on the lasting gifts that Tompkins leaves behind.
Manuel Genswein has spent more than two decades burying himself alive and pushing shovels to their breaking point to determine the best ways to save snow-slide victims. His biggest challenge? Convincing the world’s most experienced rescuers that he’s right.
Charged is the true story of Eduardo Garcia, who survived a horrific accident while hiking in the Montana backcountry in 2011.
What do a carry-on Moscow Mule cocktail kit and a flashlight-size survival tool have in common? They both seem like luxuiries—untill you really need 'em.
The best survival book in a decade tells the unbelievable tale of a man who spent more than a year lost on a boat
New inflatable vests from POC and Dainese could save professional racers’ lives. So why isn’t the gear mandatory?
A 22-foot-long ark to weather nature's biggest storms
The $800 Forcite Alpine packs a 4K action cam, GPS, and accelerometer into its shell. You don't need all this tech in a snowsports lid. But do you want it?
Outfit your base camp—for less than $160
Why use matches when you can use a mini flamethrower?
A lightweight companion for preppers and smart hikers alike
Scrolling through that confounding mix of cinema will give us all carpal tunnel. Stop it this moment and check out our list of below-the-radar survival films.
A category of gear that came into being in the late 1960s as more and more skiers ventured beyond resort boundaries.
Nature’s most wonderful meat can cure nature’s grossest parasite
Makers of this crowdsourced device say it can save you from drowning
Alex Honnold and other Yosemite locals weigh in on what will become of the route that was wrecked when a giant chunk of granite detached earlier this week
Last year’s avalanche reignited a debate about the complicated role of helicopters in getting gear up the mountain and mitigating the danger to Sherpa. Outfitters weigh in on whether more helicopters will make Everest safer or even more dangerous.
Star Matt Galland talks about surprise encounters with giant snakes in Mexico, watching his friend nearly drown during filming, and what else we can expect from his new reality show.
Think of these as your most dependable travel buddies, coming to the rescue at a moment's notice.
A flashlight, a fitness tracker, a GPS...the list goes on.
Stuff these in your pack and head out of the country with peace of mind
Control your sustainable energy on the go with a smartphone app
Three new, surprising offerings from a heritage knife maker.
In his debut novel, John Vaillant delivers a terrifying border tale
19 essentials designed to keep you alive
The pro traveler needs cutting-edge survival gear as he explorers the farthest reaches of the planet. And his favorite place to play might surprise you. (Hint: It’s in the Midwest.)
After a skydiving accident in October 2013 left Squaw Valley Ski Holdings CEO Andy Wirth without a right arm, he didn't quit charging. Now, Wirth lives a life of Ironman racing and adventure. As told to Gordy Megroz.
As more and more people head into the backcountry, we’re triggering more slides than ever before. If you’re thinking about venturing into avalanche-prone terrain this winter, first read this.
Playing safely in the mountains requires an intimate knowledge of terrain and an understanding of how a host of variables—including sun, wind, and temperature—affect the snowpack.
Every year, more than 500 Americans will be struck by lightning—and roughly 90 percent of them will survive. Though they remain among the living, their minds and bodies will be instantly, fundamentally altered in ways that still leave scientists scratching their heads.
As resorts open more extreme terrain, skiers are wondering: Should I wear my beacon in-bounds?
Some of the explosives that professionals use to take down the white dragon.
A look at the human factors that can blur judgment in the field.
The key to digging your friends out alive is how fast you are with these three essential avalanche safety tools.
No, but it is getting increasing dangerous out there. As hordes of skiers hit the backcountry, they're triggering more avalanches than ever before, and there's still a dangerous gap between our collective enthusiasm and the depth of our knowledge. But while the learning curve is daunting and the risks are high, the adventure rewards are immense—if you do it rig
A smart probe that crowdsources snowpack data to tell you where it's safe to ski.
Syria is an enthusiastic state sponsor of terrorism and a fiendish fan of torture and oppression. But have you tried the stuffed grape leaves? Patrick Symmes invades before the coalition of the willing can.
Do cell phones, satellite messengers, and personal locator beacons create more false alarms in the backcountry?
For one young chief, protecting his people means embracing ecotourism.
On the 100th anniversary of Ernest Shackleton's legendary expedition, a writer retraces the explorer's steps to one of the cruelest, most gorgeous wildernesses on earth.