For those of you who celebrate St. Nick's Day, this is your reminder that he visits tomorrow night.

My review of the @victorinoxofficial.bsky.social Companion Swiss Army Knife went live today at @gearjunkie.bsky.social . gearjunkie.com/knives/victo...

Here's this week's newsletter. The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 48 open.substack.com/pub/jimcobb/...

Here's this week's newsletter. The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 47 open.substack.com/pub/jimcobb/...

We met a strange little old man on our hike today. As we chatted, he said, “This number will change your life – 1646044444.” And, he wasn’t wrong. [As always, hat tip to @gabino.bsky.social for the idea.]

Backwoods Survival Guide 36 should be showing up in stores now. Find it anywhere magazines are sold.

There is only one store in all the world where you can purchased a signed copy of Countdown to Preparedness (2nd edition), and that's @vortexbooksncomics.bsky.social. Better hurry, though, as signed stock is limited. vortexbooksandcomicsonline.bigcartel.com/product/coun...

The Camp Cleaver from White River Knife & Tool is pretty nifty. I just reviewed it for Tactical Knives. skillsetmag.com/article/whit...

Here's this week's newsletter. The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 46 open.substack.com/pub/jimcobb/...

This is a smoking hot deal on a beast of a knife. www.dlttrading.com/bark-river-b...

Should cash be part of your bug out plan? gatdaily.com/articles/cas...

Here's this week's newsletter. The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 45 open.substack.com/pub/jimcobb/...

This month marks a full decade that my wife and I have been doing weekly hikes. In all that time, she’s not missed a single week. I’ve missed 2 due to medical issues. It’s never been about distance nor time. It’s just a focused effort to get outside, get some exercise, and spend some time together.

CRKT (Columbia River Knife & Tool) just released an OTF iteration of the Xolotl. More info about it here. gatdaily.com/articles/crk...

For a limited time, 5.11 Tactical has put their Skyweight Survival Chest Pack on sale for just $30. This is a great price on a great chest rig. It's the same one I've been using for the last few months. www.511tactical.com/skyweight-su...

14 years ago today is when my writing career truly began. That was the day I signed the contract for my first book, Prepper’s Home Defense. It’s been a pretty wild ride ever since. Huge thanks to everyone who picked up a copy of that book, and/or any of the ones that followed.

Prepper hack – you can use coffee filters if you run out of toilet paper. However, the taste of the coffee is severely impacted.

It was 37 years ago today that John Nada ran out of bubblegum.

Here's this week's newsletter. jimcobb.substack.com/p/the-surviv...

Research for an upcoming project – please share any topics you might be interested in reading about that are specific to frugal living. Thanks!

I wish more trail maps had this reminder for folks.

"Jim Cobb is the Brian Keene of the prepper world" is my new favorite blurb. It's going on every single book going forward. www.briankeene.com/algorithmzer...

My friend Ed Combs posted something a while back that's worth sharing. I'm somewhat paraphrasing here: If a time comes that the trucks do stop rolling, everyone else will have all of the same ideas you do that involve being outside. Remember that.

Here's this week's newsletter. The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 43 open.substack.com/pub/jimcobb/...

Days like today, my job doesn't suck at all.

So many people are perpetually angry due to their own lack of skill in reading comprehension.

For those still trying to come up with a costume, here's an idea. Wear a cheap plastic mask (princess, Godzilla, doesn't matter) with a parka or snowmobile suit. Then, wear a sign around your neck that says, "Halloween in Wisconsin, circa 1978."

Fun fact – if you’re changing in a public bathroom, such as one found at a state park where you're camping, tossing your clothes into the sink, and then learning that the sink’s faucet is motion-activated, is less than ideal.

Here's this week's newsletter. The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 42 open.substack.com/pub/jimcobb/...

Them: Be careful what you post or you could be put on a government watch list. Me: I’ve been on those lists for so long, nobody knows why anymore because the people who put my name down are long-since retired or dead.

Rule to live by - carry an olive branch but keep a set of brass knuckles in your hip pocket, just in case.

Back in June, I had the opportunity to tour Benchmade's HQ. It was an unforgettable trip. skillsetmag.com/article/benc...

Here's this week's newsletter. The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 41 open.substack.com/pub/jimcobb/...

It’s kind of amazing how much people will argue with you for their right to be miserable.

My review of the Benchmade Barrage went live today at Tactical Knives. skillsetmag.com/article/benc...

I often spend part of my Sunday planning the week. Here’s some of what’s on tap: 2 reviews for Tactical Knives 3-4 posts for Guns Ammo Tactical Article for Skillset Magazine Patreon every day My newsletter Bark River Knives newsletter Prep for class I’m teaching Saturday

It’s been a minute since I mentioned my Patreon. For $4/month, you get 3 posts a week. At $6/month, you get 7 posts a week. I share a lot of sneak peek material, including stuff from the new books I'm working on. Also a lot of #prepper info in general. www.patreon.com/realworldpre...

“Getting out of debt won’t help you when TEOTWAWKI happens!” Nope, but it’ll for damn sure help in pretty much any other eventuality. How much of a gambler are you? #prepper #prepping #teotwawki #shtf

In a testament to quality, discovered this Wedge accidentally went through the wash. Lit right up when it was found. Love my Streamlight lights!

Here's this week's newsletter. The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 40 open.substack.com/pub/jimcobb/...

Carla Emery's classic - The Encyclopedia of Country Living - is on sale today and tomorrow nearly half off. amzn.to/3J1DJRZ

Backwoods Survival Guide 35 has been out for a bit now. You can find it just about anywhere magazines are sold. Our goal with every issue is to share practical, actionable information our readers can actually use in their lives, written by folks who truly know their stuff.

@bryansmith.bsky.social -- please drop me a message at your earliest convenience about an anthology project. DM me here or email me - [email protected]. Thanks!

I see some version of this comment pop up regularly in prepper social media. “We’re far too busy to ever have down time or even think about entertainment!” It isn’t quite the flex they think it is.

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to do a write-up about why wasp spray makes for a less than ideal self-defense option. mind4survival.com/wasp-spray-f...

Regarding building a survival library at home -- while I’m all for investing in a knowledge stockpile, I feel it is even more important to actually read the books and other materials you acquire. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that just having them on a shelf is enough.

Here's this week's newsletter. The Survival Weekly Dispatch - Volume 12, Issue 39 open.substack.com/pub/jimcobb/...

Eight years ago today was the first official day of my full-time writing career. I recall I was afraid that I'd not have enough work to support myself and my family. That was a fear that has thus far been unfounded. As always, huge thanks to all of you who have been tireless fans of my work!

Recommended reading is always a popular topic in the prepper world. I maintain an extensive list, probably 50+ books, that I recommend. However, it can be a little overwhelming to see such a massive list. With that in mind, these would be my priority suggestions.

I just turned in the last round of edits for Prepper's Home Defense (2nd ed). Lots of changes, some big and some small, throughout. Order it now and it'll show up when it's released in February 2026. amzn.to/3IoCOuK