Tactical vs. Hiking Backpacks: What are the Differences?

No matter what you need a pack for, whether it is hiking, camping, hauling gear to the range, or serving as a bug out bag, you’ll find no shortage of backpacks to choose from.

Choosing the right pack is fundamentally important, but this decision is harder than ever thanks to the sheer variety out there.

You’ll find military style tactical packs, hiking packs, and fusions of the two.

Which one is right for you? Are the differences just aesthetics? Are you missing out on critical advantages going with one over the other? Just what are the differences between tactical and hiking packs?

Broadly, hiking backpacks tend to focus on lightweight materials, waterproofing, visibility and user comfort, whereas tactical packs put emphasis on expansion capability, low profile colors, durability, and carrying capacity.

Believe me, that is the simplest possible explanation between the two, but the nuances are important.

You might be just fine with either one, but depending on your preferences and objectives, either a tactical or a hiking backpack might be perfect for you.

It helps to understand what to expect, generally, when you are looking at either one and I’ll tell you all about the typical differences down below.

Isn’t a Pack Just a Pack?

Yes and no. Tactical and hiking backpacks have a lot in common, namely that they are purpose-designed to haul a lot of gear and supplies on your back.

But, don’t be deluded into thinking it’s simply an aesthetic difference. Getting the little things right is an important part…

If you choose the wrong pack, it might not have enough room for all your gear, it might be cripplingly uncomfortable, or it might fail you in any number of other ways, including breaking, being too visible, not visible enough, or lacking the flexibility to carry special items.

For this reason, it’s worth assessing both tactical and hiking backpacks on their own stereotypical merits.

Hiking Packs Tend to be Made of Lighter Material

If you take a tactical and a hiking backpack of equal size, and from any manufacturers, and lay them side by side one of the first things you will notice is that the hiking backpack is made of lighter weight material.

This, obviously, is done to save weight, making hiking backpacks lighter as a rule.

Whereas most tactical backpacks are made from 1000d or 500d ballistic nylon weave, hiking packs are made from thinner, lighter but still sturdy materials typically of a synthetic nature.

If properly constructed, a hiking backpack can still be quite durable when it comes to stitching and assembly, meaning you won’t suffer from an unfortunate blowout, but the material itself is easier to puncture and tear up.

This reflects the notion that a hiking backpack is not going to be subjected to quite the same rigors as a tactical pack that is carried in a conflict zone or on an active battlefield.

Tactical Packs Emphasize Durability

Concerning material construction, tactical packs usually have hiking backpacks beat when it comes to sheer durability.

This is because the materials they are made from are thicker, more abrasion resistant, more difficult to puncture and less likely to come undone when they are damaged.

Conversely, the thinner and more delicate the material that an average hiking backpack is made from can be easily damaged from a slash or scrape, and is highly likely to get worse quickly.

Of course, manufacturer procedures and quality control makes a big difference here: a top of the line hiking backpack will probably prove to be more durable overall than a “flea market special” tactical pack.

The reverse is also true, with very cheap hiking packs proving to be shockingly frail, and top of the line tactical packs being almost impervious to damage.

Tactical Packs Usually Carry More Weight for their Size

Although picking any pack that can carry a sizable enough load is important, because you want to be able to haul all of the gear you need, tactical packs emphasize carrying capacity.

Note that carrying capacity isn’t necessarily a function of volume alone.

The overbuilt, heavy-duty construction of a tactical pack means they can be loaded to the gills, nearly to bursting, and are more likely to hold up compared to a similarly stuffed and heavy hiking pack.

Yes, seasoned hikers and campers tend to snicker at newbies who bring everything but the proverbial kitchen sink, weighing themselves down and setting the stage for injury or disaster, but sometimes you really do need a pack that can perform in those circumstances.

This is where the tactical pack shines, considering their “DNA” of these packs is from the issued packs of soldiers.

Soldiers who are expected to carry absolutely everything they need to not only survive but to execute their mission!

If you know you’re going to be loading heavy, really heavy, a tactical pack is probably the better choice – as long as you can handle the weight yourself!

Hiking Packs Come in Bright, Cheery Colors; Tactical Packs Don’t

Certainly the most readily apparent difference between a hiking and a tactical pack is going to be the color.

Tactical packs invariably come in some low profile color if not an outright camouflage pattern.

You’ll hardly ever see anything other than some variation of tan or dark earth, olive drab green, black and so on.

Hiking packs are just the opposite, coming in every shade of the rainbow and garish patterns from time to time.

The most subtle colors you’ll usually see on a hiking pack are a dusty charcoal gray and a cool or pale accent color. Exceptions do exist, of course.

The choice here is a simple one: a tactical pack invariably wants to avoid drawing attention to the person who carries it, when the consequences of being spotted are usually being shot at.

A hiking pack is either more visible on purpose or bright enough to help draw attention, and potentially rescue!

Tactical Packs Have Lots of Webbing and External Attachment Points

A cursory examination of a tactful pack will show that it’s almost always covered from stem to stern with PALs or MOLLE webbing, and a variety of other loops, openings, straps and more for attaching additional pouches or carrying external gear.

This is because a tactical pack must be, to a degree, mission configurable and highly adaptable. Or else it needs to support the occupational specialty of the trooper that carries it.

Hiking packs, although often featuring a few choice attachment points, are rarely covered in webbing in the same way.

However, we have seen a sort of fusion between the two design ideologies in recent decades, and you’ll find plenty of purpose-built hiking packs that have a few panels of webbing on the outside or one on the inside from time to time.

The lack of such attachment points on most hiking packs is indicative of their intent; externally carried gear is rarely efficient or comfortable on a pack, and most seasoned hikers prefer not to if at all possible.

Accordingly, designers and manufacturers of these packs believe that most of their users would probably avoid doing so, and so have no need of the capability.

Tactical Packs Tend to Have More Internal Storage Compartments

Opening up our packs, another thing you’ll notice straight away is that most hiking packs tend to be one step removed from a big duffel bag or rucksack.

They usually have one, huge main compartment and possibly a small inner pouch or lid for small odds and ends.

Users are expected to pack their belongings inside in such a way that they are secure, efficient and comfortable to carry.

Tactical-style packs, on the other hand, usually follow this philosophy as well but place added emphasis on internal storage and organization.

This might be a divider in the main compartment, a selection of zipper pouches stitched on the inside of the lid, a pouch serving as a top over the opening in the main compartment, and so on.

These additional pouches gobble up a little bit of room that could otherwise be used in the main compartment, but they make it very easy to locate gear stowed within them, even in the dark.

As you might imagine, in any kind of tactical situation when seconds count and lives are on the line, being able to open up a pack and immediately go to and access critical gear might make the difference.

Hiking Packs Often Emphasize Waterproofing

Most modern backpacks, of either kind, offer a little bit of water resistance or even outright waterproofing built into the design, but it is hiking packs that put extra emphasis on it.

Many hiking packs are created with materials that are either partially or completely waterproof on their own, or constructed in such a way that water is less likely to soak into them.

Tactical packs, on the other hand, are usually made from thick, chunky nylon fabrics that are fairly thirsty by comparison, readily absorbing water.

This is another symptom of the design philosophy behind the pack, considering the most tactical packs are carried by people who simply will not care or have the luxury of stopping just because it is raining.

But also because everything that they carry must, to a degree, be completely weatherproof in order to fulfill a mission.

Circling back to the hiking packs, we see that many are designed and built in such a way as to offer a modicum of weather protection for the things that they carry.

Do keep in mind, this capability is pretty dependent upon the manufacturer and so don’t assume any pack is or isn’t waterproof.

Make sure you read that feature sheet, and more importantly test your survival backpack.

Whether tactical or hiking in nature, some packs feature an integrated rain fly or cover that can be deployed to shield the pack and its contents from a serious downpour, and of course you can always purchase a rain fly or a dry bag for the job.

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21 Famous Survival Experts You Should Know

Even in the world of survival, there are celebrities and legends. From legendary adventures and soldiers who overcame frankly unbelievable odds, to everyday people who found themselves embroiled in a fight for their very lives, the people on this list run the gamut when it comes to experience and expertise.

Many are professionals who have passed on their skills to others in books, survival shows and even face-to-face through their schools and courses.

All of them have stories worth knowing, and no matter where you are in your survival journey, there are bound to be at least a few that can help you get to where you want to go.

Below is a list of 21 famous survivalists that you’ll want to know about, but more importantly, to study and learn from…

1. Bear Grylls

One of the most famous survival personalities in the world thanks to his prominent placement in many survival television shows, particularly Man vs. Wild, Bear Grylls is nonetheless the real deal.

Formerly of the British SAS, and also a world-class mountain climber, Bear Grylls is no simple silver screen actor.

He has almost, actually, died several times on his adventures, most famously during a mishap while parachuting and a nearly fatal summiting of Mount Everest.

Engaging, highly personable, and truly expert in many aspects of survival, Bear Grylls is still one of the most popular survival personalities today.

2. Cody Lundin

Cody Lundin is perhaps most famously known for being the barefoot half of the survival duo on the Discovery Channel’s Dual Survival.

Well known for his tendency to employ primitive and ancient survival skills to the exclusion of modern technology wherever possible, Cody is a highly respected expert in all aspects of sustainability and survival, and teaches hundreds through his Aboriginal Living Skills School.

Don’t underestimate him because of his somewhat eccentric lifestyle; he knows more than many younger experts in the field have forgotten!

3. Les Stroud

Another survival instructor that became well known in the public consciousness through the hit television show Survivorman, Les Stroud’s claim to fame is that he would complete his adventures, and filming, totally alone.

He is a literal one-man show, at least when he was in the wild, responsible for demonstrations, direction and filming.

But, this was no gimmick and Stroud has extensive lived expertise and experience and all sorts of austere and hostile environments.

4. Les Hiddins

AKA the Bush Tucker Man, Major Leslie James Hiddins, formerly of the Australian Army, is famous for his extensive knowledge and experience, not to mention love, of the Australian bush.

His TV series, The Bush Tucker Man, saw him looking for food in the incredibly hostile Australian outback.

Known for a big smile and a cheery attitude, even in the middle of truly harsh conditions, he went on to appear in other television series and also authored many books.

5. Louis Zamperini

A true Renaissance man, Louis Zamperini was a World War II veteran, Olympic runner and Christian evangelist.

During his time in service during World War II his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and he, along with other survivors, were made POWs and subjected to horrific treatment at the hands of the Japanese.

After American victory in the Pacific Theater, he was rescued and became an Olympic long-distance runner after his rehabilitation. His name and story are virtually synonymous with endurance and perseverance.

6. Dave Canterbury

Dave Canterbury is perhaps best known as the other half of the Discovery Channel’s Dual Survival alongside Cody Lundin, at least during the early seasons.

A survival expert of some repute and co-founder of the Pathfinder School, Canterbury has encyclopedic knowledge and experience in the practical application of all sorts of survival techniques and methodologies.

He’s also the author of several best-selling books regarding survival generally and outdoor living skills in particular.

7. Mykel Hawke

Another famous television personality, but one with a CV that more than backs up his authority on the subject matter, Mykel Hawke is a retired US Army Special Forces officer that has considerable expertise in all environments around the globe.

Aside from starring in such shows as Man, Woman, Wild among others, is also founded a dedicated survival school, SpecOps Global.

Hawke is known for combining the most current, best survival techniques and technology today with hard-earned ancient wisdom, producing a unique curriculum.

8. Creek Stewart

Founder of Willow Haven Outdoor, Creek Stewart is a television host, survival instructor and prolific writer, and is known for making survival skills approachable and accessible to everyday people no matter what situation they find themselves in.

Stewart uses a simple, common-sense approach to problem-solving no matter how seemingly complex a survival challenge might be.

Part MacGyver and part expert survivor, Creek Stewart is always engaging and is a wealth of information whether you are in the wilderness or in suburbia.

9. Ray Mears

One of the best-known and hardest-working survival experts of our day, Ray Mears is a British survival instructor and television personality who has appeared on dozens of television programs, many of them being credited with his name right in the title.

Emphasizing the importance of traditional survival skills while also demonstrating a genuine passion for the subject matter and the importance of oral tradition and passing on these skills, Ray Mears is one of a kind.

You can learn from him directly through his survival school, Woodlore.

10. John “Lofty” Wiseman

A living legend in the SAS, John “Lofty” Wiseman is perhaps most famous for being the youngest person ever to pass the utterly grueling selection process for that legendary Special Forces unit.

He’s also beloved among preppers, survivalists, and other outdoorsy folks for his first book, the SAS Survival Handbook which was first published in 1986.

Serving as a consultant for many projects both on and off the silver screen, Wiseman continues to instruct clients and personnel directly today.

11. Joel Lambert

Joel Lambert is a well-known survival expert and former US Navy SEAL, most notable for his work on the television series lone target, a show that found him being pursued by professional man trackers from around the world.

Definitely a different bent on the average survival show, Lambert demonstrates just how bad things can get when you’re faced with typical survival problems and also being pursued by dedicated, thinking human adversaries.

12. Tom Brown Jr.

Author and founder of the Tom Brown Jr Tracker School, Tom Brown Jr spent much of his early life being a professional adventurer of sorts, working to support his forays into the wild.

Eventually, he parlayed his skills into professional tracking, helping to locate the lost and missing as well as criminals on the run.

He’s written nearly two dozen books and many articles, and his school is still in operation today.

13. Dr. Juliane Diller/Koepcke

Another unbelievable tale of miraculous survival, Dr. Juliane Diller survived plummeting out of an airplane at cruising altitude into a remote and hostile jungle landscape.

After her plane was struck by lightning and broke up around her, she plummeted to the rainforest canopy strapped into her seat.

Surviving the impact and dreadfully injured, she managed to hang on for 11 days with no supplies and no training until she was rescued by locals.

Inspiring and harrowing an equal measure, hers is a tale of incredible perseverance when most of us would be happy to lie down and die.

14. Alexander Selkirk

The literal inspiration for Robinson Crusoe, Alexander Selkirk was marooned on a remote and uninhabited Island somewhere in the South Pacific in the year of 1704 after attempting to start a mutiny on the ship he was serving aboard.

Selkirk managed to survive for more than four years completely alone on this unknown and uninhabited Island before being rescued.

Tales of his exploits include learning how to hunt and safely gather food, building shelter, and even taming local, wild animals.

15. Ed Stafford

A self-imposed adventure, but one that’s no less a true survival situation, Ed Stafford is globally famous for being the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River.

Accomplished in 2010, this unbelievable feat took him 860 days from front to back. This is a story of incredible endurance and can-do attitude, and especially notable because every single other person that has attempted the same feat has died.

His story is so inspirational and amazing it made him a star in several TV series.

16. Ernest Shackleton

One of the most famous names associated with extreme survival, and something of a patron saint among those who are facing almost-certain death, Earnest Shackleton is known for leading the disastrous Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914 to 1917).

Once his ship, the Endurance, became totally stuck in ice, the crew was forced to endure two grueling years of unimaginably harsh Antarctic conditions prior to their rescue.

But it is Shackleton’s willpower and leadership that held the crew together, and many of the memoirs of his crew years afterward confirm as much.

17. Ricky MeGee

Ricky McGee’s story is the stuff of literal nightmares. In 2006, this man woke up inside his own grave after being drugged and then left for dead by hitchhikers- hitchhikers-turned-kidnappers who turned on him after he picked them up in the middle of the Australian outback.

So much for being a Good Samaritan! With his vehicle stolen and having no idea where he was, he survived for almost two and a half months subsisting on a diet of reptiles and insects, and collected rainwater.

I warn readers that McGee’s story is genuinely stomach-turning, but one that we can all learn valuable survival lessons from.

18. Chris Ryan

Another former member of the British SAS, Chris Ryan is a noteworthy author and survival expert, world-famous for his survival story coming out of the first Gulf War in 1991.

With his unit, on a mission to take out mobile Iraqi missile launchers, things went completely off the rails after their discovery and evasion into the deep desert.

Losing his comrades and forced to hike nearly 200 miles through unforgiving and deadly desert, Ryan showed superhuman endurance and real survival expertise. His story can be read in its entirety in his hit book Bravo Two Zero.

19. Salvador Alvarenga

A fisherman that was swept out to sea off the coast of Mexico by a freak storm, Alvarenga, together with his friend and partner, were facing the nightmare of being left adrift with no means of communication and no hope of rescue.

After his friend perished only 2 months into the ordeal, Alvarenga endured 438 days adrift eating nothing but raw marine life and drinking rainwater.

Unbelievably, Alvarenga was eventually rescued after washing ashore 6,000 miles away in the Marshall Islands. His remains one of the longest documented instances of survival at sea in history.

20. Dave McIntyre

The season 2 winner of the History Channel’s hit show Alone, Dave McIntyre, along with other contestants, were forced to survive completely on their own and the harsh and remote wilderness of British Columbia.

But Dave is no mere reality show contestant, having served for over a decade as a missionary in Brazil where he faced many challenges.

Today he is an author, public speaker, preacher, and instructor of bushcraft courses and credits his faith in God to his endurance and survival in all things.

21. Mors Kochanski

Recently departed, Mors Kochanski was a well-known and greatly loved Canadian survival instructor and bushcraft expert, and also a noted naturalist.

A prolific author, specialist in many outdoor subjects and a proponent of living naturally he was also something of a renaissance man who took on many jobs prior to settling into his lifelong career as a survival instructor.

Having left his mark across academia and the Department of National Defense, his legacy is woven everywhere across the survival sphere of Canada, and his loss is keenly felt.

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22 Must-Watch Survival TV Shows

When it comes to personal readiness, there’s always something to do, something to improve. Your list of chores and homework will never end if you are serious.

But, we need R&R also, just like anyone else but it’s easy to feel guilty when you just want to veg out in front of the TV…

But you don’t have to feel guilty if you tune in to the right kind of survival-based entertainment. From conservative tv shows to high-stakes reality shows, there’s something here for everyone.

Keep reading and you’ll find your next favorite!

1. Revolution (2012)

This captivating post-apocalyptic television series is set in a future where all electricity on earth has suddenly, inexplicably, shut off.

The mother of all blackout/EMP scenarios, the show focuses on a family’s struggle to survive in a world that has instantly regressed back to a pre-Industrial age.

A thrilling exploration of human resilience and adaptability, it offers valuable insights into survival strategies and community building.

2. Helix

Another grim but all-too-plausible sci-fi epic, Helix is a thriller about a team of CDC scientists who venture to the Arctic to investigate a mysterious disease outbreak that’s potentially apocalyptic in scale.

As they navigate the harsh icy wilderness and grapple with an ominous viral threat, viewers get a chilling glimpse of a potential pandemic scenario.

This show underlines the importance of scientific expertise in coping with unseen threats and quick thinking in survival situations, making it highly relevant (and entertaining!) for preppers.

3. Bear Grylls Escape from Hell

One of Bear Gryll’s many survival-themed presentations, this is probably my very favorite: here we see the renowned British adventurer revisit documented real-life survival stories from people who have managed to survive them in some of the world’s harshest environments.

Grylls not only narrates these harrowing tales but also puts himself into similar situations to then demonstrate essential survival techniques. It’s a perfect watch for any prepper intent on learning from real-world experiences.

4. Naked and Afraid

One of the many reality survival TV shows spawned in the middle part of the 2010s, this show takes survival to the extreme by dropping contestants, completely nude, into some of the most unforgiving environments on the planet.

As naked as the day they were born, with limited tools and resources, participants must rely on their wits and survival instincts to last 21 days.

It’s a grimly humorous yet compelling testament to human endurance and adaptability, offering valuable lessons in resourcefulness we can all learn from: even if you’re really starting from zero, there’s always something you can do to improve your situation.

5. Doomsday Preppers

Arguably the most famous (or infamous) of the early “survival-mania” shows, this National Geographic series offers an intimate look into the lives of various individuals and families preparing for the end of the world.

From building underground bunkers from fleets of decommissioned school buses to stockpiling massive amounts of food, the show more than any other made prepping a household word- for good or ill!

It’s still an eye-opening look at the lengths some people will go to ensure their survival in worst-case scenarios, and even though it does not cast some of its participants in the best light, it does nonetheless show that prepping is something accessible to everyone.

6. Dude, You’re Screwed

This totally unique survival show features a group of friends, all seasoned survival experts, who take turns kidnapping each other, blindfolded, before dropping the hapless captive into a dangerous situation or harsh environment, usually, with nothing more than the clothes on their back and a small survival kit!

The captured expert then has 100 hours to find civilization or be declared “screwed,” i.e. left for dead.

It’s only slightly tongue-in-cheek: the danger is real in many cases, as are the skills and techniques demonstrated for survival.

This show is a blast, and one of the most enjoyable demonstrations of survival skills under pressure you’ll ever watch.

And let’s be honest: at least among us guys, haven’t you always wanted to maroon one of your bros before?

7. Fat Guys in the Woods

Another entertaining, lighthearted series, survival expert Creek Stewart of Willow Haven Outdoor takes a few average joes into the wilderness to survive with only basic resources for one week.

The premise is simple, but inspiring and illuminating.

In a week’s time, they learn to build shelter, find water, make fire, and hunt for food.

This show is a fun yet insightful introduction to survival skills for those of us who aren’t up to speed, and a great way to introduce friends or family to the lifestyle.

The show also illustrates in vivid detail the importance of physical fitness to survival; if you’re out of shape, everything is going to be ten times harder, and it is already hard enough!

8. Beyond Survival

Beyond Survival is almost totally unique among survival programming.

In it, survival expert Les Stroud takes viewers on an extraordinary journey as he ventures into the world’s most remote corners to learn survival techniques from indigenous tribes who have practiced them for generations.

Sometimes the time-tested and proven ways of these people are a far cry from what you and I might learn from a book!

It’s a unique blend of adventure, culture, and survival knowledge, offering rare insights into ancient survival methods that have been passed down since time immemorial, and Stroud is, as always, one of a kind in his presentation.

9. Lone Target

What if the premise of the Jason Bourne movies was real? This thrilling series follows former Navy SEAL Joel Lambert as he tackles that exact premise.

In Lone Target, the host attempts to evade some of the world’s most elite tracking teams in various hostile environments, putting a decidedly deadly spin on the typical problems of survival.

Each episode offers a masterclass in evasion tactics, stealth movement, and survival techniques, and a real education on the basics of avoiding detection and capture in potentially dangerous situations.

10. The Last Ship

A post-apocalyptic drama, the show centers on a naval crew’s efforts to find a cure for a pandemic that has wiped out 80% of the world’s population.

Safely at sea while things got progressively worse on land, the crew of the ship is, at first, spared the threat of contagion.

But as they navigate the challenges of isolation and ever-dwindling resources at sea, the audience if given a unique perspective on the real grit of survival, camaraderie and leadership in truly extreme circumstances.

It offers plenty of lessons that might hit a bit too close to home after what the world faced during a similar pandemic in the past few years…

11. The Colony

Part roleplay, part reality TV show, The Colony simulates a post-apocalyptic environment where the participants, thrown together as survivors of a society-toppling pandemic of unknown origin, must utilize their unique skills to secure food, water, and shelter, and deal with raids, abduction, injury, and illness.

The show’s focus on intergroup dynamics and resource management in post-apocalypse scenario makes it a great watch for preppers who always dream fearfully about TEOTWAWKI, and those who are looking to understand the complexities of communal survival.

It isn’t as easy as you might think to present a united front among your fellows when the pressure is on, especially after hunger, wounds and weariness have taken their toll.

12. Alaska

The Last Frontier: This reality series follows the one family’s off-the-grid life in remote, rural and frigid Alaska as they hunt, farm, and prepare for the harsh and unforgiving winters.

It’s a fascinating glimpse into a self-sufficient lifestyle, offering practical insights into hunting, farming, and homesteading that can be invaluable to survivalists and preppers.

13. Man vs. Wild

In this iconic series, probably the most famous on this list, host Bear Grylls showcases his exceptional survival skills by taking on adventures in some of the harshest and remotest environments on Earth with minimal gear.

From the Amazon rainforest to the Sahara Desert and everywhere in between, Grylls demonstrates a variety of survival techniques that are both educational and inspiring for aspiring survivalists.

Sometimes criticized for flamboyant and over-the-top solutions and risk-taking, it should be pointed out that Grylls is indeed the real-deal; a former member of the UK’s SAS and an expert climber even before he made it big on screen.

Still a tremendously entertaining show, and Gryll’s enthusiasm and grit are infectious.

14. Man, Woman, Wild

This show follows former US Army Special Forces survival expert Mykel Hawke and his journalist wife, Ruth England, as they survive together in remote parts of the world with limited supplies.

As you might imagine, the dynamics of a husband-wife couple get put to the test, for better or for worse, during their trials and tribulations.

Notably, the danger of the show was too real at points: Ruth fell victim to heat exhaustion during one well-remembered segment and had to be airlifted out!

It’s a great show for learning about teamwork with your partner, joint problem-solving, and remaining adaptive to changing circumstances in survival situations.

15. I Shouldn’t Be Alive

This documentary series retells real-life accounts of individuals who found themselves in harrowing survival situations and somehow, by miracle or sheer tenacity, lived to tell the tale.

Each episode is a testament to human will and survival instinct, serving as both cautionary tales and sources of inspiration for survivalists.

Frankly, many of the stories found in the show should be a gut check for most of us. Survival isn’t a game, and this show more than most others illustrates that point in chilling detail.

16. Ray Mears’ Northern Wilderness

In this series, prolific British survival expert Ray Mears explores the Canadian wilderness, sharing survival tips, historical facts, and cultural insights.

It’s a treasure trove of wilderness survival knowledge, highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting nature for survival, and Mears’ expertise and skill as a presenter is at the fore as always.

It is an especially good show for anyone living in the remote regions of the North American interior, as much of the knowledge applies just the same for Canadian preppers as it does for US residents.

17. Alone

An intense, fresh reboot of a common survival reality series trope, participants in Alone are left, of course, alone in remote locations with precious little in the way of supplies and gear.

Then, they simply must survive as long as they can, not knowing if other contestants are still in the game or not.

It’s a really intimate look at the mental challenges of solo-survival, and shows how important toughness and self-reliance really are when the chips are down.

Another one of my most favorite shows, it offers a raw and honest insight into solitary survival; something most of us are probably not prepared for.

18. Dual Survival

One of The Discovery Channel’s longest-running and best loved shows, Dual Survival pairs two survival experts with contrasting philosophies and backgrounds, forcing them to work together to survive in challenging environments.

The flagship duo was, no question, that of Cody Lundin and Dave Canterbury, both survival experts of significant repute prior to the show coming out.

From pacifist naturalists to hardened military operatives, the diverse perspectives offer viewers a comprehensive but contrasting understanding of different survival methodologies and philosophies.

19. Hunting Chris Ryan

In this British survival show, former SAS soldier Chris Ryan (famous author of Bravo Two Zero and survivor of a disastrous SAS mission in the first Gulf War) uses his elite skills to evade capture in all sorts of challenging scenarios.

Another “manhunter” show that explores the importance of evasion and survival techniques, it offering a unique perspective on how tactical military training can be applied to legitimate situations whenever you might be dealing with a hostile human presence.

20. Jericho

This plausible drama series explores the aftermath of a nuclear attack on the United States through the eyes of the residents of the eponymous small town of Jericho, Kansas.

As they grapple with the realities and isolation of their newly post-apocalyptic world, we as the audience are offered valuable insights into community building, resource management, and psychological resilience in similar scenarios.

This show is a weekly drama, no doubt, with all of the intrigue and character clashes that entrails, but you can tell the writers and showrunners did their homework when it comes to the greater social and survival elements. A real gem, and a total shame it did not run for very long.

21. Survivorman

An acclaimed series, and the flagship show of survival expert Les Stroud, the program follows Stroud as he spends a week alone in various wilderness locations with minimal gear, demonstrating how to survive in the wild.

Most notably, Stroud does it all truly alone: he serves as performer, host, camera crew, and all.

There is not one and nothing out there with him! Survivorman is an enlightening guide to wilderness survival that holds up well today.

22. Surviving Disaster

Hosted by former Navy SEAL Cade Courtley, this show provides step-by-step instructions on how to survive a variety of disaster scenarios, from home invasions to plane crashes.

Amateur participants on the show first attempt to deal with the specifics of the disaster however they can, with Courtley offering insights and tips, then it is Courtley’s turn to show the ideal way to cope with the same problems.

Equal parts practical pressure test and informative how-to resource for preppers, this is one of the better shows of its kind.

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