Cole Bridger

Okay so here's the thing — I literally grew up doing survival stuff before I even knew it was a "thing." Like, most kids my age found out about bushcraft from TikTok. I found out about it because my dad handed me a fishing rod when I was like four and said "hold this." I don't even remember a time when I wasn't out in the desert learning how to track, build fires, or set up camp.

I'm 13, and yeah, I know what you're thinking. "What does a teenager know about survival?" Honestly? More than most adults I've met. Not because I'm some kind of prodigy or whatever, but because I've been doing this my entire life. When your dad is Jake Bridger, you don't really get a choice. And I mean that in the best way possible.

My thing is EDC — everyday carry. I'm obsessed with finding the best gear you can actually afford. Because let me tell you, the survival gear industry loves charging $200 for something a $40 version does just as well. I test budget gear constantly. I carry it, I use it, I break it, and then I tell you whether it's worth your money. Spoiler: a lot of the expensive stuff isn't.

I also write beginner guides because I remember what it felt like to be starting out, even though for me that was literally childhood. But I get it — the survival world can feel gatekeep-y. A lot of guys online act like you need 20 years of experience before you can have an opinion. That's dumb. Everyone starts somewhere, and there's nothing wrong with being new at this.

When I'm not writing or testing gear, I'm probably camping, trying to convince my brothers to do something outdoors, or arguing with people online about whether a Morakniv is better than a $150 knife (it is, fight me). I also hunt with my dad every season, and I'm slowly getting into urban survival because let's be real — most of us live in cities or suburbs, not in the wilderness.

My articles are basically me talking to you like you're my friend. No gatekeeping, no pretending I'm some grizzled 50-year-old. Just honest takes from someone who actually uses this stuff every day.