Survivalist Answers Survival Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED
Survivalist Donny Dust answers your questions about primitive skills and surviving in the wild from Twitter. How do you start a campfire without any matches? If igloos are made of ice, how do they keep you warm? What is the most nutritious insect to eat? What does it mean to die by exposure? Answers to these questions and many more await-it's Survivalist Support.
Check out Donny Dust's new book, Wild Wisdom, and pick up a copy at www.simonandschuster.com/book...
Director: Justin Wolfson
Director of Photography: Josh Bane
Editor: Cory Stevens
Expert: Donny Dust
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Brandon White
Production Manager: Peter Brunette
Production & Equipment Manager: Kevin Balash
Casting Producer: Nicholas Sawyer
Camera Operator: Freddie Ochoa
Sound Mixer: Carlos Hernandez
Production Assistant: Chloe Smith
Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Additional Editor: Jason Malizia
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
00:00 Survivalist Support
00:13 Drinking Urine
00:32 No Compass
01:45 Die By Exposure
02:12 How to Make a Knife
03:49 Dental Hygiene
04:41 No Matches, No Lighter
07:07 Beaver Fever
07:36 Grizzly Attack
08:53 4 Types of Knots
10:18 Most Nutritious Insect
11:00 Sharpening Machetes
11:25 Core Four
12:43 Lake Water
13:35 Cleaning Clothes
14:41 Treating Injuries
15:30 Hunting Rabbit
17:00 LifeStraws
17:26 Fish Trap
18:28 Falling Through Ice
19:34 Igloos
20:35 Natural Shelters
21:08 Combatting Loneliness
21:47 Vegetarian Survivalist
22:34 Safest Game
23:06 Only One Item?
23:33 Lost on a Hike
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Dude looks like a vendor in a video game who sells you arrows and magic axes.
But only after you complete his quest. His friend has gone off into the wild and he's heard wolves nearby so you need to go look for him. Dude has arrows to sell and is worried about his friend.
@@Koffling spot on 😭
Lol!
NPC for sure
Everything's for sale, my friend! Everything! If I had a sister I'd sell her in a second. I'd even buy one of your relatives if you're looking to sell! Hahahaha-haha!
Never has there been a more fitting background for a guest
That’s actually his own workshop, I guess the WIRED film crew went to him
@@thomash4950 I notice that they do this when it's more inconvenient to do demonstrations in their studio. Like the episode about gems. Wouldn't be a good idea to have her move millions of dollars with of gems to their studio. And I'm sure they didn't want him showing how to start a fire in their studio lol
Right, even the colours match perfectly
Or a fitting guest for the background
How are you guys doing today
I listened to him like my life depends on it
😂
sameeee hahaha
the thing is IT MIGHT
He could be giving absolutely terrible advice for all I know but I trust him completely
@@lukew8337 🤣
These "ask an expert" videos are quite possibly some of the best contnet on KZhead.
Except they need more women representing this category in answering questions.
@@violetviolet888 No specific genders, just experts
Honestly feels like what the internet was made for
@@violetviolet888 average twitter user
@@divinecreation7429 that's not the point lol. there are tons of women who are experts in these fields, they just aren't generally selected as they are overshadowed by men
I'm literally 1 second in and I'm already like "yeah this dude knows exactly 100% wtf he's talking about" He doesn't survive nature, nature survives him.
Thanks for the chuckle. In the positive way, he really does look nature wouldn't stand much of a chance.
That's the power of face validity
@@TheDailyQuackwhat
He is instantly my second-favourite survival expert.
@@TheDailyQuack what
Absolutely zero concern for Unstable Employee looking for machete sharpening tips lol
LMAO I was also like....wait a sec
He was far more concerned about the guy who wanted to trap a rabbit.
You caught that too huh? Lol
😄
Best subtle joke ever lol
Can you imagine the filming insurance contract? “Uh yeah, my guy’s gonna be letting loose some leather cutting shards of razor sharp stone and starting bundles on fire around the set. But no worries, he’s probably also the most prepared to solve any issues that might come up”
This was at his place
This gotta be top 3 of people that looked the part in this whole series. Got zero doubts this dude knows what he's saying.
I can assure you, Donny can pretty much survive and thrive anywhere. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk. He’s been there, done that, got the tshirt and wrote the book. Not being a fan boy, just fully aware the man is an absolute wealth of knowledge and expertise.
@@joker0206 had to Google him after the video, yeah being legit works too.
I've never seen this guy, but you're so right. He looks like an angry homeless guy sleeping in the bushes in a park, but speaks like a college professor. No doubt I believe everything he's saying!
Him and that mortician guy
Him and that mortician guy
Cool that he looks the part but also clearly knows science, biology, tech, etc. Great guest!
He's got several book and actually has a popular TikTok where he goes in depth while out surviving. Donny dust
I'm not an outdoors person but I'm watching it because who knows when I might need this 😂
Wow. Profound stuff. Thank you so much for the update on your activity.
@rukus9585 bro your comment is even more pointless, and adds completely unnecessary negativity to a harmless post get over yourself
@@SnackPatrol You've got no bro here, babygirl.
@@rukus9585 Do you need a hug? I'll give you a hug. 1st one's free. I'll throw in a smoochie too if you talk nice & smell good
@@rukus9585 Do you need a hug? I'll give you a hug. 1st one's free.
This has been the best no-nonsense video about survival in the wild I have ever seen. No crap, no raving about his own skills, just good information.
2021: "Mark Cuban Answers Business Questions" 2022: "Financial Advisor Answers Money Questions" 2023: "A.I. Expert Answers A.I. Questions" 2024: "Survivalist Answers Survival Questions"
I see what u did there
Don't say KZhead didn't prep you for the fall of civilisation.
Apocalypse incoming.
2025: "Mutant Answers Post-Apocalyptic Questions"
really improving. Cuban is a moron who was in the right place at the right time.
"Can you make a knife in nature?" has to be the most insane question I've ever heard earnestly asked lol
Bro's never heard of the stone age
dude looks like the village elder who will kick your butt with great skill if challenged
Who’s be stupid enough to challenge this dude?!
@gavinomeara8390 I don't know. One time when I was in 4th grade I got in a fight with a girl. She almost started crying after the fight. Ever since then people have pretty much known not to mess with me. I'm pretty sure I could take this guy.
@@davearonow65 😂 lol
@@davearonow65 Lmfao 🤣
Also looks rather like a certain dude who just wants his rug back. Just sayin...
I practiced making a friction fire in the Boy Scouts, what that taught me was that I absolutely did not want to be in a position where my survival depended on me making a fire by friction, and that is why for the last three decades I've carried at least half a dozen mini-bic lighters stored in various places in my gear when out in the woods. Those who can reliably make a fire with just the natural materials lying around have my utmost respect, but I've noticed that when I see it demonstrated successfully, it's usually in an arid climate, not my neighborhood of the PNW when its been drizzling rain for two months straight.
I agree about the PNW, but it's always good to have flint and steel. They're easier to use than you think and will always spark, even when wet. Your lighters, not so much. I carry both.
prepared. Good for you
Get some water & windproof matches dude.
I live in rural place when i was kid i was interested in survivalist vids. Showed my dad how to make fire by friction. "That's cool, but you really should just use matches" "Ok, what if you don't have matches?" "You go to your neighbor and borrow some" 😂
@@davek00 I was at a matchstick museum when I was younger and they had flint, steel and tinder laying at one place and I got it working in no time. Put it out right away and don't know if you were allowed to touch it or not but I was a kid and wanted to see if I could do it.
Didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did. You never know what situations you might end up in. One added it of info: If you're going to go hiking alone, _always_ let someone know where you're going and how long you anticipate being gone.
Great advice. I’d expand on that and say if you plan to be gone for a week or more, check in at a set time each day. If you miss one, they should be getting ready to come looking, but hold up, you might just have poor reception. But if you miss two or three, especially after maintaining a few days of communication, it’s time to go looking. Better than being stuck with a broken leg at the bottom of a ravine for two weeks before anyone even thinks to come looking.
Better yet, just find a hiking buddy and don't go alone if you can help it
Thats a duhhh bud
@@joker0206 that's good advice. I'd look into communication devices too if you're doing a lot of remote solo trips. There's the Garmin inReach or PLB's that will get you out of a situation like that.
I've never seen Donny talk so much for so long. This feels unnatural but satisfying. I love this guy.
Dude is the one saving Bear Grills when he gets stuck
Bwahahahahaaaaa…! Good one.
Love this guy, please do a part 2 😀
He has a yt channel it’s Donny dust paleo tracks
Please have Donny back, this was fantastic.
Donny has his own KZhead channel if you want to see more.
They'll have to find him first... Took them 5 years to track him down in the wild for this one
I’ve never listened so intently to someone speak. This is one of the best series on KZhead.
"Puddles will dry faster on one side." WTF? How did i never notice that? MIND BLOWN
He totally looks the part. Handsome and rugged :)
I can see he’s very handsome under that hair and beard.
@@DioneN I like his hair and beard :) But I'm also not normal, so... xD
@@SviraSvi it’s well kept and trimmed, just hides his handsome face a lot. He has gorgeous eyes!
@@DioneN Indeed, the eyes are so catchy! :)
I would not mind getting lost in the wild with him! Very handsome and smart.
I like how Donny just decided to put a table in his trapper shack and do the video instead of going to their studios
If I had to bring one thing to the bush, it would be Donny Dust
Definitely bangable
Definitely bangable
@@waltissussybakka bro..
@@waltissussybakka moron.
no an electric hair clipper, I prefer the bush to be trimmed.
when he mentions the helpful plants for washing etc he calls them out by name. Room for improvement would be to drop an image of each plant so that we could recognize them by sight. I can't remember what sage looks like for some reason
Have you heard of Google?
@@eciekocthey were bringing up a valid point
@@andylutz3505 thanks
@@andylutz3505 eciekoc was also bringing up a valid point tho
@@kvassman_ not at all. you both should go to that Google and search the meaning of "room for improvement".
I'm not really an "outdoorsy" person and yet I found this entire video extremely interesting and enlightening. It helps that this guy so obviously knows what he's talking about; a true expert in his field. Seriously, he spends most of his free time in the wild, and yet he has to be one of the smartest people I've ever heard speak. I could listen to him talk about this for hours. Truly goes to show, it's not what you do that stands out, it's how well you do it.
Great to see Donny reach a bigger audience, this guy is a wealth of knowledge and a great story teller.
Fun fact: He was on a huge survival contest TV show called Alone during season 6, which is one season after the questioner Nicole Apelian at 20:47.
To combat loneliness in the wild, find your Wilson, find an object, either in the environment or something that you brought with you, then name it and talk to it as if it was a real person, tell it how you feel, vent to it or just talk to it about whatever you want. I know it kinda sounds silly, but trust me it'll help a lot with the loneliness.
sounds like an experience
@@greenhouse.caterpillar Not really, I just happen to know that doing that helps, because of our nature. Imagine yourself in a situation like that, wouldn't you feel better doin' that?
@@Jackkenway yh I was just jockin with ya 😅
@@greenhouse.caterpillar Haha! Well, you got me! 😅 Btw, what would be the thing you'd talk to if you were in a situation like that? Please don't say a caterpillar! lol 🐛
Can I use a tree? Like just name some trees and talk to them and give them their own personality or is that just signs that im a loony? lol
15:37 This is a very important point for several countries, not just the US (or states therein). Snares and "bear-trap"-traps are luckily getting more and more illegal for hunting, unless as stated in the video that it is for immediate survival reasons (ie: for getting meat/ nutrition, NOT for getting fur/pelt).
Mainly because you can't control what you catch. Would be a damned shame if people accidentally caught a critter whose numbers are struggling out in the wild. At least most places do allow you to trap, just live only so you can confirm the critter. ((Mostly saying this for others who may wonder))
I was instantly reminded those old cartoons with someone stepping in a bear trap. Must have been a major (and legit) fear back then
I NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD APPEAR! I'M SO HAPPY
I think he was born like the rest of us. I dont think he just appeared.
@@user-jy9rq8nj7q too late
@@user-jy9rq8nj7q 😂😂😂😂
A wild Donny Dust appeared! Donny Dust used Teach Wilderness Survival! >FIGHT >SWITCH >BAG >RUN
Bro is stuck in an island
I showed this to a grizzly who attacked me, now he's making knots for hare traps. 10/10 would recommend.
fair warning, bowline knots were replaced by double figure 8's for rappelling due to an anecdotal report of it slipping under tension. it SHOULD be perfectly fine for that use however there is a super small chance it will slip whereas the figure 8 will not
"If you ever shot a BB at a windshield..." No, I don't think I have.
Hats off for the reaction to the vegetarian/vegan prompt. Pleasantly surprised by that!
I'm amazed by this guys vocabulary and knowing the proper name for things. He's like a scientist of the outdoors.
Possibly the coolest dude
I want to be as cool as him, I'm starting survivalism right now, on my balcony between my plants. Hope I'll make it after 25 minutes.
The fire demonstration also shows really well how little it takes for a (wild)fire to start. A tiny little piece of ember can light up some dry leaves, they light up some twigs, and bing bang boom the forest is burning down in no time. It's difficult to harness the power of making fire, but it's even more difficult to control fire.
This guy is what Bear Grylls thinks he sees when he looks in the mirror.
Bear grylls is a former british SAS member, so would not underestimate him.
@@captnmaico6776he certainly has knowledge but he spouts absolute nonsense on his show and doesn’t actually really show any useful knowledge
@@halloweenfan158 He definitely shows useful knowledge but unfortunately most of the stuff he does/shows is complete b.s. Les Stroud (Survivorman) did it right and didn't even have a camera crew with him.
somehow it is satisfying when suddenly one man who you are subscribed to pop up on another channel you`re subscribed to 😁😁
I'm surprised to say I think this is my favorite support episode and they are all good!
I love this guy, I have great respect for him. I'd feel safe with him out in the wild.
He's the equivalent of a bear. ^ ^
1) I love this series by WIRED, so informative and fun at the same time 2) the part about knots was the simplest explanation/demonstration of knots I’ve ever seen. I remember as a kid seeing a diagram with about 20 knots on it, and I just gazed at it and wondered what the heck each one was for. So thank You!
Not only because I follow his channel but in all seriousness, this is probably one of the most informative Wired video I have seen so far. I enjoy most of them but this blew the others out of the park!
That crescent moon tip is way cool! a new one on me
This is straight up some of the best content on the internet, and I don't even love WIRED that much. Y'all need more of this stuff. Shoutout to Donny Dust!
If I can remember even half of this stuff, I'll be doing well. Honestly, that might be enough. Folks like this have so much value in their knowledge.
Thank you so much. This was a great video. You sound like a very kind person
I've seen his videos pop up on occasion. This guy is immensely intelligent and passionate about nature.
I love listening to experts! They will give you a lifetime worth of knowledge in a short time!
Donny Dust, you’re incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed this and you’re so knowledgeable and passionate. Top 5 favorite tech support guests!!!
Dude you did a fentastic job, Hella props to ya!
Been following Donny on TikTok awhile now. Cool to see him here now!
I wanted to watch but I never thought I would manage to watch 25 minutes of survival tips. Guess I was dead wrong, cause the man finished and left me waiting for more. Amazing.
This is one of, if not the most, interesting and useful Q&A you’ve done. Thank you.
2 Points I was missing in answers Regarding life straw: Be adviced that it works on bacteria but less to none on viral and chemical contamination! Regarding navigation: Sun moves east to west / Polaris is always north and easy to find using ursua major/minor
Lifestraw has specific filters that can filter out even viruses.
he looks like a perfect mix between andrew lincoln and jason momoa
Great to see you Donny here! Your expertise and incredible knowledge is enlightening.
Gonna have to watch this multiple times, so that I remember all of these things!!! So informative!
Fascinating. Really enjoyed this one.
I've been watching his shorts on and off. Glad to see him on here!
Phrasing!
@@JustWandering 😂 glad it wasn't just me
The demos were awesome, one of the best guests they've had!
This was easily the most entertaining wired support video I’ve watched!❤
This is the one I've been waiting for!!!
I really wanted him to say “yeah” for some of these.
This is one of the best tech support videos they've ever done. He is fantastic
Wow I didn't expect to see Donny Dust on here I've been watching his tiktoks for years now
Survivalist training should be required training in school. There will always be a situation in life where this information will become valuable.
We had such a class in the Upper Midwest back in the '70s! Still occasionally useful! 😎✌️
Questionable
Always is a strong word
That’s why kids have parents
@@gus473 Same here! It was always a big unit in middle school for us. This was around 2010, so hope it's still going strong!
thank you this is very helpful for me as someone who doesnt even go on forest trails i took notes and everything
LOVE all the visual examples!!!
I love this series but this episode I definitely watched the whole thing without skipping ahead or feeling bored with the answers. This is top tier content.
I was skeptical before watching. Usually les stroud is my go-to for survival questions. And this guy is as good as les. Good info. Worth keeping in mind that starting a fire with friction is a lot harder than he makes it sound. But so far everything seems correct. This guy's the real deal.
Making a friction bow is difficult, and getting the fire going is even harder. Les Stroud makes that point every time he talks about it. He also constantly stresses that you need *way* more firewood than you think you do.
@@JarrodFrates 💯. Les is very good about making it clear that whatever you expect to happen, forget about it. Because the opposite will happen. The Earth will throw every unexpected curveball at you, so you must be prepared for everything.
0:38 Another option is if you have a wristwatch, you can align the 12 o'clock point to the sun, and that'll give you a rough idea of north, then the 3, 6, and 9 will serve as your East, South, and West. 3:47 the knife can also be made by keeping it under water while you hit it, and it helps keep it less messy and is a bit easier to shape it due to the water filling in the cracks as it breaks.
This was so informative. Thank you.
I’ve watched you on Tik Tok for such a long time now! So happy to see you getting a platform like this! Well deserved. Knowledge is always incredible
"roast it over fire and it tastes like pop-corn,..." Me, thinking : Well, that doesn't sound that bad. "...covered in insects!" Also me : There it is...
So far, the best answer the internet I have seen. Excellent as always Donny!
this was absolutely fascinating
can you become a survivalist if you can't grow a beard?
No 😂😂😂
No
The beard comes with being a survivalist. This question isn’t relevant.
Only if on a deserted island.
Yes.
I feel like whatever your race, gender, age, occupation, political affiliation, ETC; you can’t help but respect this man. Besides the charisma, I think it’s that deep down there is an awareness that the knowledge he possesses is fundamental to how we got to where we are as a species.
I love how eloquent this guy is!
I love the videos Donny makes. He always imparts his knowledge in a way that is very easy to comprehend. 🙂👍
Guys, why aren't you talking about Eledator?
let me guess, crypto/trading/business/money-on-my-mind/money=everything? Yeah, the cope is real! Especially with you bro 🤣
Because it's a scam lmao
This guy is exactly what Santa would look like if his sleigh went down in the wilderness
4:40 Tropics, sub tropics have the Neem tree twigs for toothbrushes. Even a mango tree leaves, rolled up, tips chewed a bit, and you have a throwaway toothbrush.
I never thought I would see so much science in creating flint razors. A+
I'm glad he let their cameras into his cave
Bro I definitely do not trust that unstable employee guy, somebody better check on him
Wow, amazing fully detailed answers. This is amazing, thank you very much ❤
I'm surprised he didn't even mention navigating by the position of the sun itself, or by stars. Those are pretty useful skills to have :) One time I went hiking and stayed out in the forest longer than planned, and it got dark before I could make it out. Thankfully it was starry, so I used the constellations as a guide for which direction to go. Also, because of how widespread light pollution is nowadays (sadly), if you get lost at night, just walk towards the glow on the horizon, where the stars look washed out, and it will take you to civilization.
These plant suggestions are highly habitat specific. Yucca only grows in high to low desert or piñon forest. Willow is not found in deserts-even riparian zones(desert willow is not a true willow for his purposes). As he says, there are some great books on site-specific edible and medicinal wild plants. The Eastern Sierra have really tasty wild onions that grow near the streams, for instance. You find them by smelling their unmistakable smell.
Be careful about that in the south, there are some seriously not good for you dupes for wild onion. You won’t die, but you’ll want too until your guts stop trying to climb out of both ends of your body.
@codename495 Exactly. Everywhere is different. The ones in the Sierra were delish. Our fellow backpackers caught some trout and wrapped them in the waist high onion greens to cook.
You lost me at "Northern Hemisphere"
Must be your own stupidity then
Needless to say (however besides) all of his wisdom; I am so intrigued by his tattoos!!!🥺
A main reason why bears can be dangerous in the autumn is that they are all-in on a place to hibernate and can't afford to find a new one, so in essence, it's cornered.
You talk about finding a cardinal direction and mention cresent moons, moss, snow on mountains, and the ways trees bend...but you don't mention sun rising in the east, setting in the west, and (in the northern hemisphere) being closer to the south in the winter and to the north in the summer? How often do we see the sun rise or set? How often do we see cresent moons or snow on mountains? You're missing the best ways to find out the directions.
I I think he was talking about places like rainforests where the trees might be covering all the sun.
I like that this guy actually demonstrated some techniques instead of just talking about it. Well done.
This was a fantastic interview
I love when people ask how to keep good dental hygiene to a survivalist like if your in a survival situation your not thinking about how to brush your teeth like how long do u expect to be out there you'll either be rescued or die way before u get a cavity
People do this as a hobby. It’s not always unfortunate circumstances
@@conorgoodwin1631 then the answer is bring a tooth brush
@@theflamingoparty6680 I see your point, but he literally said that he never brings a tooth brush if he knows there's going to be willow around. I get it - use the natural resources.
@@Koffling that's almost the same type of thinking that people who bring a rod and striker instead of a couple lighters sure there'sany ways to skin a cat but if u know your going out in the woods why not bring the right tool for the job
experimental archeology is a thing, also people like to keep alive the old ways and traditions of our forefathers, practice the skills that made us the dominant species without modern technology as a challenge and a hobby
Our caveman ancestor.