Well, I'm wearing my weird old LearVision glasses as this was shot almost two years ago (completion was delayed due to unfortunate and unrelated issues), but for those who for some unknown reason want to see and hear me on screen, <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> here's your chance. I am one of four "experts" ( I deny I was ever a "pert" <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) featured in the introduction section of the DVD (NOTE: I had little to do with the rest of the DVD, most of which was shot before I was involved, except some of the equipment section. However, they garnered a lot of information from the ETS site...which is a good thing...and I was able to have some input on the final edit which caught a few odds and ends...also a good thing. These were good people to work with.).

This would make an excellent holiday present for your friends who are rank novices or have shown only minimal interest in wilderness survival, or if you're new to the whole Wilderness Survival thing. Anyone here with any experience outdoors or who has read a few survival books/manuals or viewed other basic survival videos will find little or nothing new on this DVD, though you may find it entertaining. The Publisher is offering ETS visitors a special deal, $5 off the regular price and free ground shipping is included. Plus, a portion of each sale goes to support ETS.



Prepared To Survive - Essential Information for Every Outdoor Enthusiast
Produced 2005, 2 Disks, 174 minutes, Widescreen, LifeView Outdoors, $35

Disclaimer: Doug Ritter, editor of this Web site and reviewer of this DVD, received a modest honorarium to appear on this DVD, but receives no income from the sale of the DVD. The Equipped To Survive Foundation receives a donation from each sale direct from the publisher (link below).

For the novice with little or no wilderness survival knowledge or actual field experience, this is a very good DVD (video). Host Gretchen Cordy, a former Air Force survival instructor and participant in the original "Survivor" TV show (try not to hold that against her), gets the basics of wilderness survival across in an effective manner. The production quality is first rate and heads above most other survival videos. With nearly three hours of video, there's a lot of useful information, but it is a shallow treatment of the subject, not deep, and occasionally the presentation drags a bit. Anyone with a modicum of experience in this field is unlikely to find anything new or any unique tips here.

The introduction, which features Cordy, Doug Ritter, editor of this Web site, respected wilderness medicine doc Buck Tilton and Rich Johnson, a survival instructor, is a pretty extensive review of the fundamental concerns that a person faces in a survival situation. It drives home the important points from various perspectives, the advantage of having multiple experts involved.

From there it goes into practical survival techniques, such as shelter building and fire making, as well as a discussion of survival kits and equipment, mostly presented by Cordy. Nothing fancy here, this is just the most basic skills and information for the most part. The setting is a temperate forest and little or no time is spent on any other environment, but the basics are essentially the same, no matter where you are. The instructional portions are clear and easy to follow. Being a DVD, you can skip to exactly the parts you are interested in and easily review material, which is an advantage over straight video.

Even though there are things in this video that I might approach differently, there's nothing in here that will kill you, unlike some survival videos. The skills illustrated and the advice provided will work just fine for the novice at whom this video is aimed. Anyone who views this DVD and abides by the lessons and advice is going to be well prepared for most temperate climate survival situations, which is the whole point.

Special Offer for Equipped To Survive? visitors
Order direct from the publisher and SAVE: www.lifeviewoutdoors.com
Only $29.95 including free ground shipping
On Payment page insert promotional code: ETSdiscount
A portion of the sale supports Equipped To Survive?

If I understand correctly ( I stopped watching the "Survivor" shows midway through the first season), Gretchen Cordy, who is also featured on this DVD set, was the only person in the first three seasons who actually was able to get a fire going without matches. She also argued strongly against locating their massive shelter on the beach (a position that later proved to be justified when the tides threatened to was it away), and was also the first person voted off the island because she was perceived as a threat to the others, rather than as a liability to the "tribe". She was probably the only participant in the history of the show who really did understand survival. Even if Doug hadn't been involved, I'd be interested in seeing the DVD just for her.

Can't say, never met the lady and gave up on the show midway through the first episode when it became obvious that it was idiotic.

Purchased, sent it to relatives. Will watch it myself around Christmas.

An absolute must have in your video library! With three hours of great narrative, and practical demonstrations and comparisons of survival equipment, I would give these DVD's two thumbs way up.

Doug, a Job Well Done for providing the viewer with a great overview of what it takes to Survive.

I also have to complement Gretchen Cordy on her ability to present clear and simple instructions related to survival tools and their uses.

You don't need to be a wilderness novice like me to benefit from the basic theory and practical side of these videos. There is something for all ages including some beautiful scenes at the end of the second CD.

This set is an exceptional value considering it may just save your life, or someone you love (but only if they watch it). Additionally, some of the proceeds go directly to this foundation.

Thanks again Doug for being a part of this outstanding video. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can only hope that everyone on this forum will buy the set and share it with others.


ONE DAY CLOSER

Just want to give a little positive feedback on LIfe View Outdoors.

My relatives received it, and watched the first video. Either the second DVD was cracked when they got it, or it broke when they took it out. Either way, I called Life View Outdoors and they sent me a new DVD set, no charge. I don't have a DVD player, and have yet to watch it. I'm told it was very informative. I will watch it when I get to their place.

They were extremely helpful, all the way down to the network admin I spoke to when I first called! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I really liked these DVD's. Lots of good info. and great sound and picture quality. This not some low quality, some guy with a camcoder infomercial. Lots of great instruction and comparisons of name brand and popular equiptment, some of Doug's survival items are shown also.

Buy these DVD's ..... Good Stuff!

Finally bought the dvd about 2 weeks ago. I must say it is a very good DVD.

I have one question though. I'm sure someone can answer this. What brand of knife was it that Gretchen was using? I think it's the Bk&T Crewman. After watching that segment it really got me to thinking about buying a good fixed blade knife. I have several "survival" (read Rambo) knives, but not anything serious.

The special deal for ETS visitors of $5 off the regular price and free ground shipping is ending on May 7th. Take advantage of this deal while it's still available.

Special Offer for Equipped To Survive visitors
Order direct from the publisher and SAVE: www.lifeviewoutdoors.com
Only $29.95 including free ground shipping
On Payment page insert promotional code: ETSdiscount
A portion of the sale supports Equipped To Survive Foundation

Hi Doug,

Just tried the code and it said that offer has already expired.

Pete

Try again. Seems to work here. Perhaps some stray electrons gone awry?

Worked this time <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.

Thanks-
Pete

Worked for me.. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Lee

I enjoyed the CD, and it covered alot of good things. It's been a few months since I saw it, but covers the basics.

A good investment, especially for someone like me who is well read in wilderness survival and just being outdoors, but with very little experience outdoors.

I'm glad that it was a realistic approach to the subject. For instance, one might expect that since Gretchen was the presenter, her method of firemaking would outperform that of her friend, but that wasn't always the case. It goes to show that one must be very comfortable with methods of firemaking (any kind of survival crafting) before a need arises. That inspired me to begin practicing my firemaking skills.

I'd like to see the next step now. Different environments, different ways to use gear, condensing water, travelling with fire...the list could go on.

I'm so excited about the contents of this DVD, and I'm going to share it with anyone and everyone I can. Maybe I can even get my wife to stop rolling her eyes long enough to watch it with me!

Those that can do. Those that can't, expect you know who, to get 'em out of the sh.... I think I'm going to get me a t-shirt. One that says "all rescues will be charged for." If they learn one thing from the D.V.D. it's money well spent.

I think you are correct.

Which got me to thinking, for a fixed blade knife, such as used in this DVD, is it better (in general) to have a utility edge on it, or more of a hair shaving edge on it?

The utility edge seems better suited to spliting branches to find dry tinder, but I suppose a sharper edge would do the same thing.

Opinions?

It's generally held that the sharper the knife is the better. It's safer to use and requires less energy. Utility knives are intended for brute force use by people who arn't schooled the finer points of using a knife and who don't have an axe and/or wedge for splitting wood. They would also probly do themselves a mischief with a properly sharp knife.

Gretchen was using a Ontario TAK and Adam was using a Becker BK-10 Crewman in the In-depth sections both with the factory edge. During some of the other the sctions, Gretchen was using the Becker.