Survival Gear

The spherical orange pod could be a saving grace when a storm gets too rough to escape — if you can afford it.

By Kate Kershner

When a pandemic or disaster strikes, you may be stranded at home for a while. How will you manage? The good news is that there's already a wide range of useful survival tools right there in your kitchen or garage.

By Chris Opfer & Kathryn Whitbourne

Help when you're lost at sea or in the woods could be as close your credit card, cell phone innards or anything else that can make a reflective surface and let you flash a signal. Here's how.

By Patrick J. Kiger

PVC pipe is not only useful in building and transporting water. It has a whole 'nother life as a tool for surviving after a natural disaster. We'll look at some of the unusual uses of PVC.

By Laurie L. Dove

They look like aluminum foil and they're quite thin. But you'd be surprised how much this blanket will help you out when you're in a very cold or very hot situation.

By Debra Ronca

There's one element to any wilderness kit that proves itself useful over and over -- the survival knife. What qualities should you look for in your blade and handle, and why is a rugged knife so important in the first place?

By Jessika Toothman

Packing one of these firearms could save you at sea, so don't forget to bring one before you set off on any maritime adventures. And it might help to know how to use it before you set out.

By Jacob Silverman

It's cold and dark. Your car is upside down in a snow-covered ditch and you're miles from civilization. How can you make help come to you?

By Charles W. Bryant

Let's say you're adrift at sea. There's water everywhere, but you can't drink any of it because it's salty. If only you had a contraption to turn seawater into freshwater.

By Sarah Winkler

If you own a GPS device, then gone are the days of getting lost. This little device can lead you out of the jungle or around a crowded city. How do you put one to work?

By Charles W. Bryant