Lookin’ Good In The Wood!

Have you ever seen anyone that looked like a fashion statement from a hiking magazine?  I mean every piece of clothing and gear right down to the backpack and hiking boots looked like an advertisement for Eddie Bauer.  While it’s ok to be fashionable in the wilderness, not all name brand gear or off brand gear holds up to it’s advertised reputation.

One thing you learn very quickly when you are gear testing and putting various items and articles of clothing to hard use, it doesn’t matter how it looks, it matters how it works! (Survival Tip:  Jeans are a poor choice for hiking, backpacking and survival. The cotton is heavy, dries slowly and rips tend to continue instead of stopping, rip-stop nylon pants are much better and lighter and dry very fast, trust me, I know what I’m talking about!) Ideally, form and function will go together in a pleasing way, but unfortunately, many things seemed designed to merely look good to sell a lot of product.  I wonder if the people who have designed the gear have ever actually used those items more than just a little bit.

It’s kind of like the “unboxing” videos on YouTube.  Some guy or gal opens a new item they just received from UPS or FedEx and they spend 8 or 10 minutes showing you the thing from all angles and extolling it’s virtues from a visual perspective and the initial feel of it in their hand.  It’s so much better when they actually use the item on an extended trip and then show you how it held up.  I just watched a video from Survival Lilly in Austria where she actually tested a Falkniven S1 Knife on a survival trip and the edge failed miserably even though it was made of laminated steel with a core of VG-10, the famous Japanese cutlery steel!  Only used against wood and softer items for cutting, chopping and other camp chores, the edge was all chipped out.  In a survival situation, that would never do!

Lookin’ good in the wood is more than just style.  It means that your gear is tested and functional.  As Dave Canterbury once said “Beware of the guy with a shiny cook set, if he has used it, it will be blackened from multiple uses in the fire.”  (Survival Tip: Leave the bottom of your pot blackened, it will heat up quicker and cook faster, and if you must have a clean pot, rub the outside of the pot where it will get blackened with a thin coat of bar soap before placing it in the fire, it will clean up much easier.)

Lookin’ good is more than not just mix matching various camo patterns.  It’s about knowing your gear and having clothing that is durable and will hold up.  It is also about blending in to your environment.  In my opinion, I like earth tones and soft colors for my gear, not necessarily camouflage or military looking hardware.  I dislike the bright, garish colors that some manufacturer’s make.  The exception would be if you are on an expedition where you need bright colors to stand out so you can identify your gear from a distance or to be seen by rescue aircraft and personnel.  Remember, however, that some animals are attracted to bright colors.  If you want, you can buy a brightly colored rain cover for your backpack or carry a brightly colored handkerchief.  Research indicates that if you want to be seen from the air or at a distance, the best color is the blue of your standard tarp. Nothing natural on the ground is that color and it easily stands out in stark contrast to your surroundings.

Of course, the environment and the and the animals don’t care how you look as you pass through their living space, but I like to blend in and make as little impact as possible.  I think you tend to see more wildlife etc. when you fit into their world instead of standing out like a sore thumb.  Also, keeping your teeth brushed and your hair combed is about cleanliness, not getting sick and finding ticks and bugs before they become a problem.

In the Bible, there is a story about a wedding and only those who had on the proper wedding garment were allowed to enter and attend the wedding.  Of course, this is a story that is talking about Heaven and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  On that day, only those who are wearing the garment of Salvation will be allowed in.  The Garment is described as pure and white and represents the righteousness of the Saints given to them by Jesus.   On that day, looking good will be the order and fashion of all who attend!  Will you wear the robes of His Righteousness on that day? Will you be lookin’ good?

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PS. You can check out my website where you can set up training for many of these skills at www.waypointsurvival.com and look at and order my custom knives at www.benderknifeworks.com.

James B.