Knowing how to start a fire is one of the most critical elements to surviving an emergency or wilderness survival situation. Hopefully you’re carrying some kind of fire starting gear in your EDC or your go bag but if not, there are many ways to start a fire.
You should learn as many fire-making methods as possible because you never know what situation you’ll be in where you need to make one. I have MANY ways to start a fire in my personal bug out bag because I think it’s so important – and my pack’s still only 25 pounds. Also, remember that it’s important to build your fire correctly before lighting it so it stays lit.
This goes for a lot of survival skills but fire gives you heat, cooking, craft-making ability, water purification, light, and protection. Also, practice these for yourself so you know exactly how they work and not just think remembering a concept will always work.
Remember, these methods usually have many variations that you can use if you understand the concept behind it. Here are some unique and creative ways to start a fire without a lighter orpermanent survival match.
There are a lot of survival hacks with plastic bottles that you can do. I’m only listing some of the survival uses here.
But, my goal isn’t just to show you practical ways that plastic bottles could help save your life.
My goal is to encourage you to think outside the box when it comes to survival items.
1. Plastic Bottle Face Mask
One of the most important survival items is a face mask. It also happens to be one of the most overlooked items.
I wouldn’t recommend relying on this DIY plastic bottle face mask in a true emergency situation. But it is better than nothing.
2. Water Purification with a Plastic Bottle
Along with shelter, clean drinking water is one of the top survival priorities. Don’t drink untreated water in an emergency situation. Heck, don’t even drink tap water when the power is out without first treating it!!!
There are 3 ways that you can use a plastic bottle for water purification:
Plastic Bottle Solar Still
A solar still is a cool way to extract clean water from black water using evaporation. It’s also great for getting clean water from salt water.
This video shows you how to make a plastic bottle solar still.
UV Water Treatment (SODIS Method)
Ultraviolet rays from the sun will kill bacteria and viruses. Note:
The plastic bottle should be clear
It will take about 6 hours
Don’t fill the bottles completely with water. Any water under the cap won’t get hit by the sun and be treated!
DIY Water Filter in Plastic Bottle
This is a fairly well-known bushcraft trick. Put some layers of gravel, sand, and charcoal in a plastic bottle and you can filter water through it.
3. Ropefrom a Plastic Bottle
Rope is by far one of the most important pieces of survival gear you need. You canmake rope from plants, but it is far easier and faster to slice a plastic bottle into rope.
This video shows you how it can be done.
4. Animal trap
Just cut the top off of a plastic bottle. Invert it and shove it into the bottom part. Now you have an animal trap! Animals such as fish, frogs, and crawdads get into the bottle (especially if you bait it) but can’t get out.
5. Raft
I’ve never tried this, and honestly would be quite freaked out to ride on a plastic bottle raft. But the idea is really cool.
Maybe I will test it out next summer and see how many bottles are needed to hold up a family.
6. Building Material
This video is a bit cheesy, but still really inspiring. It shows how people in some poor, rural areas are recycling plastic bottles to build homes.
The video shows how plastic bottles have been filled with dirt to become bricks – which is a lot easier than making mud-and-straw bricks.
7. Plastic Bottle Sandals
I love this hack! Just smash a plastic bottle, add some straps, and you’ve got a pair of sandals. 🙂
8. Solar Light from Plastic Bottle
Need to light up a dark space without electricity? Fill a clean, clear plastic bottle up with water and some bleach. Then put it into a hole in the roof. The water will diffuse sunlight, making a surprisingly bright light.
There is absolutely no need to buy one of those pricey camping showers (though I’ll admit some are pretty cool).
Instead, you can make your own emergency shower out of a plastic bottle. Just poke some holes in the cap.
This is a great trick for conserving water when the grid is down, and also making sure you stay clean through any emergency.
10. Plastic Bottle Greenhouse
The End of the World As We Know It has come and you need to grow food for your family… Plant your survival seeds in this DIY greenhouse made from plastic bottles.
You'll need a LOT of plastic bottles for this – about 1,000 two-liter bottles for a 6×8 foot structure. You’ll also have to remove all of the labels, which will be annoying. But the structure is surprisingly strong, can be built in many ways, and still allows rainwater to get through.
When the world is in shambles, you’re going to need something more suitable than your Hyundai Elantra to get yourself around most any terrain as well as protect you from looters, rabid packs of wolves, and of course, zombies. While compiling this list of the ten best apocalypse survival vehicles, we took into account the fact that you’ll definitely need a moderate fuel supply stashed away to drive these monsters for a while.
Knight XV Armored SUV
The Knight XV by Conquest Vehicles is a fully armored tactical-ready luxury vehicle built to meet the requirements of ballistic testing. This beast on four wheels, is powered by a biofueled 6.8-Liter V10 engine and includes transparent tinted armored glass, cabin seating, front and rear night vision cameras, a dual screen rear console with side-mounted laptop stations, ballistic fiberglass bumpers and fenders, custom aluminum wheels, and navigation and bluetooth systems. Although it sticks out like a sore thumb, there’s not much that’s going to penetrate the Knight XV once its located.
Chevrolet Silverado Black Ops Concept
A pickup truck seems a logical choice for carrying around all of your food and gear with you during an apocalypse, however the Chevrolet Silverado Black Ops Concept Vehicle does so much more. Along with 4×4 capabilities, a lifted suspension system and a 355 horsepower 5.3-Liter V8 engine, the Black Ops Concept sports lower body armor in case you run into some unexpected land mines, built-in gas masks, a military first aid kit, a solar power pack and built-in generator, and a lockable truck vault for stashing your food and weapons.
Caterham Brutus 750 Motorcycle
Motorcycles will have their place following an apocalypse because they’re lightweight, quick, and easily maneuverable through tight spaces. The Caterham Brutus 750 Motorcycle is especially apocalypse friendly thanks to a responsive, fuel-friendly 750cc single cylinder engine, trail-worthy tires, and a special design that not only easily adapts to any terrain both on and off-road, but also converts into a snowmobile.
Ghe-O Rescue
Following an apocalypse, its safe to say that the highways and interstates will be congested with broken-down vehicles that are not on this list, and generally not drivable after years of neglect. Luckily, the Ghe-O Rescue can tackle any terrain on the Earth’s surface. Along with a heavy duty transmission, lockable axles, and a waterproof 500 horsepower diesel or gasoline engine, the Ghe-O Rescue can be specially outfitted with pneumatic wheel pillows that allow the vehicle to float on water, snow tracks, a medical stretcher, a plow, and a 620 liter water pump for quick response firefighting
INKAS Huron APC
A heavily armored vehicle designed for both military and post apocalyptic survival operations, the INKAS Huron APC tactical armored vehicle features a ballistic design with special armor protection that can withstand hits from large-caliber ammunition, projectiles, and hordes of brain-hungry zombies. Additional features include a blast-protected floor that is impermeable to hand grenades and land mines, an optional roof-mounted gun turret, noise insulation, a rugged, off-road design, and a fuel-guzzling 8.3-Liter Paccar Engine with a ten-speed manual Allison transmission. Keeping the tank full will definitely be a problem, however once your fuel rations run dry, the INKAS Huron APC could just as easily double as your house.
Brabus B63S
When you’re in doubt about what to drive should you survive the apocalypse, just remember that bigger is usually better. There aren’t many vehicles bigger than the Mercedes-Benz G63-inspired Brabus B63S, thanks to a beefed-up suspension, large off-road tires, a front spoiler, a carbon fiber wheel scoop, and prominent wheel arches. A 700 horsepower 5.5-Liter V8 engine is good for a top speed of 160 MPH, more than powerful enough to outrun or even run over the hordes of zombies coming after you.
Polaris Sportsman WV850 H.O.
Why does the Polaris Sportsman WV850 H.O. qualify as an apocalypse survival vehicle? Not only is an ATV quick, fuel efficient, and perfect for tackling tight, rough terrain, but the WV850 H.O. features a bullet proof steel exoskeleton, steel racks, a 77 horsepower single speed transmission, an impressive towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, and the world’s first ever non-pneumatic tires that can take a licking from a .50 caliber round of ammo and still keep riding for the next 350 miles.
2014 Mercedes-Benz Unimog
Nothing short of a tank is stopping a Mercedes-Benz Unimog. It features an Apocalypse ready panoramic cab, interior ventilation system, a hydraulics system, an on-board tire inflation system that ensures the appropriate tire pressure for whatever terrain you’re crossing, and ten different models to choose from, the obvious choice for surviving the apocalypse being the unstoppable 7.7-Liter engine with 8 forward gears and 6 reverse gears capable of 354 horsepower.
Quadski Amphibious ATV
Unless zombie movies have been completely inaccurate for the past 60 years, we’re pretty sure that zombies can’t swim, which is why owning a Quadski Amphibious ATV after an apocalypse is a logical choice. Essentially an ATV and Waverunner rolled into one package, the Quadski goes from land to water in 4 seconds at the push of a button, while a BMW 4-cyclinder engine allows you to travel up to 45 miles per hour on both land and water.
Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon LAPV 6.X
Designed as a patrol vehicle for dangerous parts of the world, the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon LAPV 6.X will be just at home amid the chaos and ruin of an apocalypse thanks to a steel body with reinforced armor plating, an armored underbody that protects against driving in explosive minefields and rough off-road conditions, an adjustable suspension system with over 18-inches of ground clearance, an on-board tire inflation system, and a communications system.
