I'd suggest placing a small pebble or stone in each corner of the bag instead of cutting holes in it if used as a tarp or shelter. This will enable you to tie around the stone with cordage, giving the trash bag less chance of tearing and keeping the underside from collecting moister from water running down the cordage once anchored. Great video As always Don.

This was a very good video. Isn't it amazing how many uses there are with even the simplest of objects. Man's best tool is his brain.

I think I can add two more to the list which I believe are covered in military training. You have a body of water to cross, which in a survival situation is not unlikely!! Place your clothes in the bag (nowadays carry some ziplock bags as well for electronic items), close the bag as airtight as you can with as much airspace as possible and use the bag as a makeshift flotation aid to cross the water. When you get to the other side you have dry clothes to put on!

Using a small rock or twig as a tie down button would work better for securing your shelter, that way you're not cutting unnecessary holes and will negate any possible tears. Rock on brother!

Was out at the range last weekend and stuck my car hard in the frozen mud. Relay greasy 4 inches of mud, frozen beneath. I had to crawl under my car when the tow truck arrived to hook up and was relay happy to have a couple of large trash bags to lay on. After the car got out , I just turned the bags inside out and tossed them in the trunk. Then tossed them in the trash. No muss, no fuss. Great item and easy to carry.

05:23 "You can use the bag as a bag" This truly is an amazing invention!

Food for thought...Why not place the garbage bag "inside" the pack, then put your gear into the bag?This way you're not cutting holes in the garbage bag for your pack straps (and subsequent possible water leakage into the bag). Additionally, this method allows you to reuse the same bag (intact) for a higher priority if needed later.

Forget going everywhere to beg for or buy boxes, I moved and entire household with 3 mil lawn trash bags from lowes. And when I was done with the move, I STILL had all the trash bags.

You can keep provisions and tinder dry. You can also catch fish with it you can keep clothes dry. You use it as a solar shower bladder. You can also wrap plastic around your boots in wet or winter situations .

I wouldn't poke a hole in it when using it as a rain fly. Once you've compromised the structural integrity of those bags, they rip pretty easy. The rain will collect in the middle until that hole gives, dumping all the water on whatever is below. Wrap the corner around a small rock instead, then tie the cord around that.

Thanks for the tips. Here is a heads up for you. Walmart recently started selling Gorilla brand trash bags. 3.3 mil 42 gallon and they claim they hold 200# each. They are square bottomed and will stand on their own in the absence of wind. A just bought a box of 12 for $12.50. If your haven't tried the Gorilla duct tape, I highly recommend it.

Trash bags are a very useful as a solar still. Bunch up several twigs still attached to a tree, put the bag over them, cinch it closed and the heat and sun will draw moisture out from the tree. Also, just put the trash bag inside your pack, with your gear in the trash bag to water proof the gear. This also causes your pack to be buoyant enough to be used as a floatation device.

the big bag also works well .. as a liner for your pack .. fits fine on a large ruck .. you can also use smaller bags to wrap things in your ruck .. number one keeps them dry .. number two .. they are slicker so they work when you are packing your bag

This is a very good video. I just made a bunch of bug-out-bags for my family. I put 5 of these 50 gallon trash bags in each bag. I also put a clear painter's plastic 10 x 12 drop cloth as well. Those are few dollars but they can be used as a tarp/tent/shelter or in winter as a super shelter too.

Man, everyone should download your videos if SHTF! New prepper advice yet. I really appreciate your channel.

When I go camping, I carry four trash bags ranging from 60 litre (about 15.9 gallons) household bags to 240-litre (about 63 gallon) wheelie-bin liner bags on my person at all times because they're so light, compact and versatile. I also carry a lightweight plastic "travel" poncho and a reflective survival "blanket" but the bags are a lot more versatile.

For gathering water in a cup in wilderness: Dig a hole Put cup in center of hole Stretch plastic above hole Put a pebble in the middle of plastic so that it creates inverted cone from the plastic The humidity from the soil will gather as dew on the inside of plastic and the cone shape will cause it to trickle down into the cup (which is under the point) in the morning when the cold air outside will cause the dew to distill and liquify. You got water in the morning :D

Good versatility here. Just picked up the 5.11 rush 12 in double tap grey/black. I have these bags that are used to transport dead dogs that are almost tarp like. They come in bright orange and black.

We do not cut the corners because that renders them useless for other applications but rather we place a small pebble in the corner and wrap them with cordage to fabricate a Pancho we do NOT cut the seam at the bottom of the bag but rather we cut the bottom side of the bag so that the bottom seam of the bag will still protect the top of our heads In this way you can hunker down and use it as a bivy sack with your back to the driving rain In order to use rainwater collection you can get twice the amount of rainwater collected by placing Pebbles at Each corner of the bag using small pieces of cordage to wrap around the Pebbles and wrap around the steaks so you can use the entire side of the bag rather than opening the bag and having a much smaller collection container We also place a large contractor size bag in our backpack before we insert any other items in order to help keep water out of our gear if we have a river crossing

Good ideas. Even much thinner, lighter trash bags are very useful and easier to carry in a pocket. In cold wet conditions a second bag opened at both ends and worn as a skirt will keep your thighs dry and really help prevent hypothermia, as well as allowing you to keep moving towards better shelter and safety. An excellent way to help other people who may not be properly equipped in the outdoors.

It's the Engineer's Raincoat! I've kept those bags around for years and have used them for pretty much everything BUT trash. I keep 3 in my Emergency Car Kit, 3 in my tool box, and 3 in my EDC/Go bag.

The trash bag only works when it is NOT raining. You just get wet slower than faster. Just get a lighweight US Army poncho and crunch it down in your pack. Its just works far better, easier to wear and goes over your pack to keep everything dry. Contractor bags get shredded walking through the woods, are loud, and water will come down your back. Tying on off in the wind with para cord only rips out.

Great video! I once used two bags as a sort of air filled bivy sack. By leaving lots of air space the fire's radiant energy heats the dead space and creates a mini greenhouse. I originally was using them as a lean-to shelter but the cold motivated me to try a greenhouse approach.

Love the multi use items! Another great video +Sootch00

For the rain shelter, make sure it's sloped so the rain doesn't collect in the middle and rudely wake you up at 3 in the morning.

Nice vid Sootch. Something I consistently see missing from BOBs is use of ziplocks to keep water-sensitive gear dry. At a minimum, ammo, electronics and paper (maps, TP, etc) should all be in waterproof bags. Dry bags are great but ziplocks suffice. And those ziplocks have further uses as water containers, oversocks and overmittens.

By the way, if you cut a slit a little longer than your face, starting about 6" below the bottom seam in the center of the bag, you can pull it on like a poncho, stick your face through the slit, and have the closed end of the bag act like a hood -- keeps the rain from funneling down your neck onto your torso. If you already have a poncho or rain jacket, but want to keep your legs dry, cut the bottom open, use the drawstring or tie tabs like a belt and wear it like a skirt, tied up under your jacket or poncho. It will keep you that much drier, and still allow you to walk. Also, any bears that see you walking down the trail wearing a plastic maxi-skirt will collapse in laughter, allowing you to proceed on your way.

if you don't have paracord you can cut one or part of the trash bags into strips for rope

The greatest multiple-purpose survival tool you can get today is the Remington R51. When it stops working, you can use it as a hammer, a paperweight, clubbing tool, etc.

This channel is in my top 3 favorites, never a bad video here , always good and informative.

Another good tip is to put like a pebble in the corner and bunch the corner around the pebble and tie your para chord around the pebble surrounded by the bag. That way the bag is less prone to tearing.

With 2 bags, cut out one's bottom and duct tape them together for a full size tube tent or bivy. The idea of stuffing one with leaves is great not only for padding but to stop body heat conducting away into the ground.

I say this in a good way. This dude kicks ass

With those 5.11 bags the holes would only have to be minimal because of the buckles on them, just 2 slits at the top and 2 at the bottom. Not much exposure at all! Great video! Thanks!

I didn't know if you knew this but I used to work for a Cleaning Co. for many years and almost all of trash bags are treated with certain chemicals and different things but in a survival type atmosphere I would still use for water if I had to and if was for long period of time I would Boil the water before drinking it I only know this about the bags because I used to use and change hundreds of trash bags a day for several years

The black bags work good for night camo, white ones work well for winter camo. Green or brown ones make decent camo for appropriate environs. Other colors (pink, blue, orange, yellow, purple, red,...) are good for attracting attention. 95 gallon bags (61" x 68") are better at covering your entire body. They are usually thinner and less durable, but are light enough to carry extras. They make better bivy sacs as long as you can be sure the underside is safe from punctures. They also make good improv rain gear, covering you to your feet with a pack. And the pinched bottom ones work better to provid a hood by cutting a hole a little smaller than your face, slightly down from the "pinched" bottom and squeezing your face through so it is snug. You can also gather fire wood and tinder before a storm and keep it dry in a garbage bag. And don't forget those little plastic shopping bags, I always carry a few of them,They pack down to almost nothing and can be vey handy. I have a few I picked up in Puerto Rico at an Amigo supermarket (they don't hand out shopping bags, you have to B.Y.O or buy one of these) that are like 4 mils and really tough.

I love your videos on how everyday items can be used for survival!

Related to this might be hay tarps. For example, it is possible to customize this material by melting two pieces together to form a "seam". Hypothetically, you could cut out the pattern pieces for anything you want to create, such as a poncho, a tarp, a bivvy sack, a dry bag, etc, and then connect all the pieces together with a heat gun. This is done by heating about a foot of the overlapped "seam" with the heat gun, then rolling the seam with a roller, and doing the same all along the seam until complete.

I use commercial clear 1100lt 300 Gauge wheelie bin bags Length: 1960mm Width: 2100mm Depth: 1360mm, at work they make ideal bivvy bags one possible draw back is they are clear, the black ones cost 5% more. Another possible option is Polythene Layflat Tubing from a builders supply merchant, very heavy duty and you can cut to custom length.

Merci de collecter et de nous transmettre toutes ces bonnes idées ; même si je ne comprend pas tout, les vidéos sont suffisamment bien faites pour que le visuel m'aide à comprendre ; bonne continuation. Annie

A perfect way to store gear for a water crossing.... including the boots and clothes that you're wearing so you can put dry clothes back on after you cross.

I have a few trash compactor bags in my kit. They are twice as thick, and way more rugged. You never know what you'll need and for a minimal weight tarriff a couple of these definitely give you a lot more vesatility.

great video as usual.. thumbs up to your channel.. however on the tarp idea. in an effort to keep it waterproof for later use, I'd go with the old rock button trick to tie out the corner instead of cutting holes.. again great video.. I don't leave home with out a few in my jeep/gear..

lol bloopers was funny and great to see someone who can laugh at themselves, shows character.

At 7:00, if you DON'T poke your bags and just use tape you'll be better off. They will be usable for more tasks. Great video. I keep these in every bag. I put mine in my GO bags folded at the bottom to keep my other junk from getting wet.

I like the bags for sure, but a small roll of Visquene (heavy duty plastic ) and a staple gun you can make a shelter that will keep you and your stuff very warm and dry. We always kept a roll of duct tape that wasn't used up. All good stuff, I really like the idea of using the bags to be insulated from the ground as you stated it will suck the heat right out of you and that's miserable even for a younger person (that I'm not) so ill be adding a few contractor bags.

One option is to put the bag inside the large section of the pack. It's always waterproof then. It would work better with a smaller trash bag than a heavy duty one.

certain things we currently consider trash, such as dead batteries, gum wrappers, tin foil and aluminium cans can be extremely useful. the batteries can be torn apart into cell batteries, the aluminium and tin can be used to complete electrical circuits such as flashlights, in fact some gum wrappers are made with aluminium and paper, when used to complete a circuit would create a very small fire. in a zombie apocalypse or post-tsunami, even dead batteries, gum wrappers and empty cans are helpful. speaking of empty cans: if you cut it in two (about 2/3rds from the base) and fill it with a flammable liquid, then soak a wick or imitation wick like cotton fabric or even paper, create an extra hole in the top and put the wick through the smaller hole. the end result? a homemade gas light

add zip ties to the trash bags along with finger size branches make a lean 2 very nicely along with a space blanket 98.6 degrees is life water safe to drink 3 says food 40 days power of 3 every thing 1 is none 2 is one get the idea. like your videos thank you expanding those that have 👂 to hear & eyes to see. blessings

I could see the water catcher tip actually saving people's lives

You can also fill them with leaves to make a comfortable sleeping matt that also insulates you from the cold ground.

Great ideas, esp the makeshift mattress & moisture catcher.

LOVE the multi-uses videos !! Thanks & Keep'em coming !!

Thanks for this video! Atte: Pedro LEON from Argentina!

thanks a lot for all Survival.

They're also good for self defense and other survival. I was on a plane that was hijacked by evil terrorists. I managed to kill one of the terrorist by using the garbage bag, wrapping it around his head and cutting off his oxygen supply. Then I jumped out of the plane and my trusted garbage bag saved me again as I was able to use it as a parachute. Unfortunately, I landed in a fast moving river and nearly drowned. Good thing I had my garbage bag. I managed to blow enough air into it and created a floating device that led me safely to shore. As I crawled to dry land a ferocious bear rushed toward me. I managed to quickly fill my garbage bag with enough stones to beat the living crap out of the bear. I still have that garbage bag today. I framed it and hung it over my fireplace and I may eventually pass it on to my grandchildren.

Got me thinking! Buying two boxes at work tomorrow. Thank you

You come up with the best ideas😉 I swear you can think up a hundred uses for the darnedest things.

THX Sootch!! Vital info !!

I love your bloopers at the end lol.

You can use the bag like a poncho/pack cover by making a face hole in the corner of the bag so that the pointed corner stands on your head. The left over room is enough to cover a small day pack.

One improvement I would suggest. I got this from Ron Hood. To tie plastic with paracord to trees for shelter, do not cut a hole in it. The wind will tear that out very quickly. Use a small pebble or rounded stick to back it up and make a toggle without cutting the bag to tie the paracord to to opposite side with a cinch loop.

I really like your closing statement. Good work buba

Line the bucket portion of your pack with the bag before filling it. Fold and layer (don't wad) the excess over the top. Could also be used on your sleep system and pad. I've seen someone with time on their hands make rain pants out of them. Would you tung oil and bees wax your bag as a layer of protection? Saddle soap? Spray on waterproofing?

Another way to use the bag is fishing. Make your holes around the opened hole and use branches and tie them off each other. Poke a few holes on the other end for the water to drain as you pick up the fish. It may be best to use white bags as you will attract more fish and not scare them as easy.

I have to pick up some of these bags this week, Im doing a major throwaway of stuff in my apartment and well keep a few to use in my bug out bag too. Thanks or the vid.

I found you crawling inside a trash bag hilarious.

Love the video, thanks.

“You can retain those pricks” lmao 😂 great laughs at the end...priceless, Sootch!

Also, if you can find these large industrial bags in ORANGE - that also counts as a signaling device for camping, hiking, etc.

Great. Now I need to add 37 trash bags to my kit

One way I use these is cut open the sealed end and one side you have a plastic sheet throw it over your shoulders and pack tie ends loosely round neck and waiste and you have a water proof back pack civer. Even the thin cheaper bags work extremely well . Can be reused too.n

You can also wrap them around your shoes for improvised rain boots. If someone’s already said this sorry

Most neglected item. They're cheap, useful and multi-purpose. A must have.

You could even cut strips off to make improvised cordage to tie things, or make a sling

I love how you always show the mistakes. Haha 👍

Line your pack with a large trashbag, seal the top, keep everything dry.

Enjoy your videos, very informative!

Of all the survival vlogs, yours are the only ones I listen to, what shall I call you?

Great stuff. Love the videos and all the information. Keep it coming!

one could argue that a home that looks unoccupied could be a target

Ahaaaa hell, have another shot😁

black bags can be used to heat water in the sunlight... improvise a hose from a corner and you have a camp shower

Heres an idea from the lady's from my ski patrol group for a camping pillow .....the wine that comes in boxes sold at markets has a plastic bladder , once done drinking all the wine inflate the bag the wine was in and use for a pillow ..... works great. and you can deflate when on the move and pack it away till needed again .

Nice video! Interesting information that actually works - I know this works bc I have used these bags when camping.

Nice bag of tricks!

I would line the inside of your Bug-out bag with the garbage bag before putting items in it that way even if your bag does get wet the contents will stay dry. You could use duct tape to seal the open end.

Urban Hunting Blind/Hide: Shake out your bag, trap air then tie off as close to the opening as possible, dust with cornstarch, line chalk, what have you, then make a vertical slit down the middle of one side of the bag, sit down and cover yourself with the bag and make a T-shaped cut at about eye level, use a little glue to keep the ends of the cuts from widening and you have a blind fit for a .22 rifle

I was just looking for good bags today, at regular supermarkets. I already have some of these heavy duty grey/black bags you have there. But I was searching for some in a bright color like orange, to also use as a signal device, and didn't find any. I'll have to look at the hardware place. Obviously if there's danger from human agents, I'm not going to use the bright bags, so I'll pack one or two of each. Thanks for the stakes/water reservoir idea, hadn't seen that before. I always just thought of a hole in the ground or some sort of rock support.

Best to prepare while your calm and not panicked

You can also use the bag to separate wet or muddy items from the rest of the kit.

I use black weatherization sheets to cover my tent it keeps my flashlight light inside my tent so no one can see it keeps the warm inside and black somewhat blends in with the environment

These tips really work

always interesting videos - I really enjoy your out takes LOL

Nice reminder video.... 😉

There are many more uses it can be the bottom layer of a solar still. Can line a bucket for an indoor toilet. Put food in the bag and run it up a tree to keep animals out. Just think your way thru a problem.

If you use the clear bags they can be used to make a solar still, or as a transpiration bag to extract water from plant material when left in the sun. A clear bag can also be utilized to make a Mors Kochanski super shelter. Taping the corners with duct tape makes them stronger if you want to tie them out into a tarp.

I love this series

Very instructive. Love the bloopers.

you could cut the bag into smaller pieces for wrapping individual items to protect them both inside and outside your pack