Smart survival is about real-world practical survival situations. Not primitive (bushcraft) or tactical (military). Smart survival is about instantly protecting yourself if you are in need of shelter. Smart survival is about starting a fire as fast as possible. Smart survival is about understanding exactly what threats you are exposing yourself to and equipping yourself to ensure you are protected from those threats.

A bit of preparation can turn an unfortunate or potentially deadly incident into simply an inconvenient night out. For Matthew Matheny, preparation could have turned 6 grueling nights into 1 night.

A survival kit and some smart skills are your keys to staying safe when the unexpected hits. But while you might have the skills, most of the survival gear on the market may actually be working against you.

Be the smart survivor you deserve to be so you don't have to be a search and rescue statistic. Majority of people will not admit they are exposing themselves to threats when recreating in the outdoors. A survival kit and some basic survival knowledge can ultimately be an investment in your life.