Survival Skills: 18 Must-Know Essentials for Every British Man

You think you’re tough? Think again. If you can’t handle these old-school survival skills, you’re not as prepared as you think. It’s time to step up and prove you’ve got what it takes.

1. Fire Starting Without Matches

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Relying on matches or a lighter? Pathetic. Learn to start a fire with flint and steel or a bow drill. Your life could depend on it, and you won’t always have modern conveniences to bail you out.

2. Building a Shelter

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Can’t build a basic shelter? You’re as good as dead. Learn to use natural materials to create a sturdy, weatherproof shelter. If you can’t do this, you’ll freeze or fry when the elements hit.

3. Finding and Purifying Water

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Drinking from any stream you find is a rookie mistake. Learn to find and purify water properly. If you don’t, you’ll be down with a nasty case of diarrhoea or worse, and then you’re a liability.

4. Basic First Aid

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Got a cut or sprain and don’t know what to do? You’re a walking disaster. Learn basic first aid skills to handle injuries until you can get proper medical attention. Your survival depends on it.

5. Navigating Without GPS

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Lost without your smartphone? Pathetic. Learn to use a map and compass. If you can’t navigate the old school way, you’re going nowhere fast when technology fails.

6. Tying Essential Knots

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Can’t tie a proper knot? You might as well be a toddler. Learn essential knots like the bowline, clove hitch, and square knot. These are critical for everything from securing gear to saving lives.

7. Trapping and Hunting

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Think food will always be available? Dream on. Learn to trap and hunt for food. If you can’t secure a meal in the wild, you’ll starve while the strong survive.

8. Fishing Without Fancy Gear

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No high-tech fishing gear? Boo-hoo. Learn to fish with primitive tools or even your bare hands. The ability to catch fish in any situation is a game changer for survival.

9. Foraging for Edible Plants

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Can’t tell the difference between edible and poisonous plants? That’s a death sentence. Learn to identify and forage for edible plants. Your knowledge could be the difference between life and death.

10. Self-Defense

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Think you’re safe out there? Think again. Learn basic self-defence techniques. If you can’t protect yourself and your loved ones, you’re vulnerable and weak.

11. Signaling for Help

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Can’t signal for help when you’re in trouble? Pathetic. Learn to use mirrors, flares, and signal fires. If you don’t know how to get noticed, you’ll stay lost.

12. Basic Tool Usage

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Can’t handle tools? Get a grip. Learn to use basic tools like an axe, knife, and saw. These are indispensable for building, hunting, and general survival tasks.

13. Cooking Over an Open Fire

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Need a kitchen to cook? Embarrassing. Learn to cook over an open fire. If you can’t prepare food in the wild, you’re in for a miserable existence.

14. Weather Prediction

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Can’t read the weather without an app? Amateur hour. Learn to predict weather changes by observing the sky, wind, and animal behaviour. This skill is crucial for planning and survival.

15. Basic Blacksmithing

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No clue how to shape metal? You’re falling behind. Learn basic blacksmithing skills to repair tools and make new ones. When resources are scarce, this knowledge is invaluable.

16. Improvising Weapons

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Learn to improvise weapons from everyday items. Your survival may depend on your ability to defend yourself with whatever’s at hand.

17. Tracking Animals and Humans

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Can’t track anything? You’re as good as blind. Learn to read tracks and signs left by animals and humans. This skill is essential for hunting and evading threats.

18. Mental Toughness

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Think you’re tough? Prove it. Cultivate mental resilience and toughness. In a survival situation, your mind is your greatest weapon. Without mental fortitude, you won’t last long.

Man Up or Shut Up

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These skills aren’t optional. They’re essential. If you can’t master them, you’re not ready for the real world. Stop making excuses, get off your ass, and start training. Your life might just depend on it.

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jaromir Chalabala.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

The images used are for illustrative purposes only and may not represent the actual people or places mentioned in the article.

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