Build Your Own Survival Hat! (Wazoo Gear)

[@wazoosurvivalgear220]

Can't believe I just came across this video. This is amazing James! Lots of creative personalization! THIS is exactly how we hoped people would mod our products to make it their own. Sending over an email. Thanks a ton for such a great vid! ~Dustin & The WAZOO Crew

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much. I'll check my email.

[@xfilion]

Bloody brilliant. The only two things I'd like to add would be foldable reading glasses for those with older eyes and in the crown of the hat some form of waterproof flap or material that can be unraveled to form a layer to protect the neck and sides in rain or harsh sun.

[@wjf213]

That's very cool. I always carried a couple things in my hat, but nothing to this extent. I'm not sure if you've ever done anything like this with your boots, but since the 80's when I was in the service and we used 550 for boot laces, I came home and took that a step further. I made one boot lace into my extreme emergency back up fishing kit. I took all but one of the inner strands of 550 out. Then I took some 30 pound braided fishing line and made about 5 loops the length of the boot lace which was around 6 feet long, so I have about 55 to 60 feet of braided fishing line. I tied that one inner strand to my fishing line loops and pulled them through the 550 shell. It does help to put a small piece of tape around the line on each end so the loops stay even. Then I added two split shot to the fishing line on each end inside the 550 shell, so I have four sinkers, and then I sealed the ends. Then I took six number 8 hooks, two snap swivels, and two flies wrapped in Saran wrap so they don't stick to the duct tape. Then I duct taped them to the inside of the eyelet flap between the eyelets, so when I laced up my boots, they were compressed against the leather tongue of the boot. The other boot lace I left the inner strands inside, but used one strand to again, pull a 6 foot length of waxed jute twine through for my fire starting. I like to get the thin stuff, that's half of one millimeter or 0.5mm, but 1mm jute I have used too, but the smaller stuff is all I have ever needed and it is easier to pull through without pulling the other inner strands along with it, but you still have to hold the strands or they will pull out the other end. To make my waxed twine, I dripped the twine in wax and with gloves, I pulled the hot twine through my fingers to squeeze out any extra wax off it. On this boot on the inner flaps, I duct taped two box cutter blades, but to one box cutter blade, I duct taped a tiny 3/32" ferro rod, so the blade supports it and kept it from breaking. The blade also supports the tiny ferro rod when I'm using it, and striking with the other blade. The last thing I duct tape inside the flap of this boot, is a section from a hollow plastic Q-Tip shaft, and I fill it with potassium permanganate, and hot glued the ends, so now I can treat water. I know this is not the best stuff to treat water, but it's so compact, a shelf life longer than my boots, treats huge amounts of water for its size, and it's dirt cheap so if it ever needs replacing it costs literally a penny or less. Taped to the Q-Tip shaft, I added a magnetized needle, and the braided fishing line fits the eye of the needle. I figured no matter what, I will always have my boots and if I lost those, chances are I'm dead already. So that's why I chose to add a few basic items to my boots to help treat water, cutting tools, making fire, supplying me with cordage and a basic way to navigate, and get some food if it comes to that since I'm in an area where water and fish are EVERYWHERE. I'm going to play around with a hat now and see what I can come up with. Keep up the great work.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching the video and for the great ideas! If you don't mind, I may use them in a future video or two.

[@wjf213]

@@WayPointSurvival I'm glad I could help, and sure, use anything you want that I say, but don't give me credit for anything. I mean I've been modding 550 and all my gear to meet my needs since the early 80's, but I got some ideas from my older brother too, who turned me onto the boot kits to some degree. I've learned a lot from your videos, and I just enjoy sharing and bouncing ideas off of each other and that's when we really start to learn.....I just have to learn to not be so long winded when I write...lol One thing I should add, if you use any of this, is I wear heavy leather Red Wing boots most of the time, and the box cutter blades wrapped in a little duct tape works fine, but when I wear my canvas jungle boots, I did make a steel backing from a soup can with a little lip bent over to cover the edge of the blade, and then I taped the blade in place just to make sure that razor didn't cut through the thin canvas. I mean I do put them up towards the top of the boot where your leg is not flexing, but a little added protection doesn't hurt, and it adds nothing to the bulk at all. I also used the soup can steel backing to support the thin ferro rod and dropped one of the blades since I didn't really need two blades if one was no longer needed to support the ferro rod. I'm looking forward to more videos from you and catching up on all your past videos as well. Keep up the great work.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you. I really appreciate it and glad you're enjoying the channel!

[@WayPointSurvival]

For the first video of the new year, I wanted to show you a survival hat that I put together some time back. Please note that you cannot cover all the survival priorities in baseball type cap, but I managed to put in the elements of Fire, Shelter, Food, Signalling, Navigation and First Aid. Water would have to be collected in a found and repurposed container and of course we have fire with which to boil it. Make sure and check out the links in the description section and leave your comments below. Thanks!

[@_coffeeandcigars]

you should do a 24h survival challenge with this cap only! Would be cool to watch :)

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching and commenting and for the suggestion!

[@Pavia1525]

I added an American flag morale patch to the Velcro version of the hat. For Patriotism, but mostly for Freedom (I put a handcuff key between the flag patch and the Velcro backing… 😉👍).

[@gordontyree4308]

Hi James! Awesome video! I recently purchased two of the newest generation Wazoo Cache Caps and I can say I’m glad i did! Wazoo is an awesome company with awesome people and really useful tools that actually work! The inside pouches now have sewn in Velcro so gear is secured, have a sewn in reflective X pattern and a very comfortable bright survival orange signal panel where the gear pouches are located. I was so impressed with these caps I’m purchasing one for each of my sons for Christmas this year along with an Essentials kit for each cap! Wazoo also has a four part video series where a Wazoo co-founder and a survival expert in Colorado go on a three day and night survival trip with nothing but the gear in the Cache Caps and Cache belts! It’s an eye opening series and we’ll worth watching! For those who made disparaging remarks in the comments section, don’t knock it till you have actually tried it! Through trial and error, I have equipped both my caps to reflect what I feel would be most useful. One for urban scenarios and one for wilderness scenarios. Thank you James for posting the video! Love your channel and look forward to more upcoming vids! God bless brother!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much, and God bless you too! There are definitely a lot of keyboard Commandos these days.

[@johnburgin7478]

I like the knife on the cap. Thanks

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@ronlittle6397]

Great video.I wear a hat but never considered this as an add to my edc.Thank you very helpful and God bless.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching and God bless you too!

[@eturnerx]

Nice kit! I know you can never fit everything, but some tinfoil or a MRE drink pag would give a compact water container and a braid of cord inside the inner hat brim or outside across the forehead seam where the bill attaches. Trouble with PSKs - always something extra to add!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Good ideas. Thank you and thank you for watching and commenting!

[@rottenkid389]

I have the bill blade on my fishing hat. Nice setup. Looking good James. Have a great week. Happy New Year

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you, my friend! Happy New Year to you too!

[@PREPFORIT]

A very good item to have/make. Discreet and useful I like it. Just put it in your checked luggage NOT your carry on or on your head when going through border security. : ) Thanks that is way cooler stuff than my hollow handle Rambo style knife I bought from the TV guide a long way back!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you my friend!

[@AZDesertExplorer]

I appreciate this as a metaphor more than what is being presented.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Well, thank you for appreciating the metaphor!

[@AZDesertExplorer]

@@WayPointSurvival I guess to clarify, I mean that I know I can do a lot more with a lot less & I appreciate that you are showing that by getting by with the contents of a hat. Always appreciate your videos!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for the clarification! I didn't really know where you were going with that so I was just trying to be polite. Lol!

[@philipallebone2450]

I also have a bump cap insert in mine, saved the old noggin on several occasions.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent idea!

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Great idea. I don't wear ball caps, but I'm sure this could be adapted to all sorts of other things.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you! Yes, it could have myriad applications.

[@michaelabramo7373]

How much of the front pocket did you lose adding the knife kit?

[@WayPointSurvival]

Not much, maybe an inch or so. Still plenty of room for storage.

[@alimfuzzy]

You can put something behind the cap badge too.

[@WayPointSurvival]

True.

[@middknightdream1577]

You could put your fishing hooks behind the patch.

[@nickaschenbecker9882]

Figured I'd throw it out there, if you get one of those newsboy or cabbie hats that are popular now they already have a shelf in them on top of the bill.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Good point! Thanks for watching!

[@THENEWWRANGLER]

I have a Wazoo cash cab I loaded it up with stuff nothing too crazy pretty much on par with what you’ve got in yours and it didn’t seem to fit right it felt like it didn’t fit down around my head enough like the objects in the pockets somehow made it ride high I’m not sure if it’s just in my head or what but it was kind of weird to wear I’m gonna play with it some more and hopefully get a set up that doesn’t feel strange like that

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, you definitely have to fiddle around with the contents to make it feel comfortable on your head.

[@derealovesurvival7549]

That is a great Survival Cap James that would be an awesome item to have in a survival situation Thanks for sharing God bless you brother..

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much my friend! God bless you too!

[@barrykelly2722]

Bullwinkle: hey rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat. James: hey Bullwinkle watch how much I can hide in my hat. Hold my Stanley cup and cook pot gizmo

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you! Glad you liked it!

[@quintork4100]

out of all your great designs i love this as its a bugout bag in one,i have been caught out , missed my last bus in very bad weather and slept rough in the north of wales a few times and this would have amazing kit to warm my frreezing bones,bless james!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@pyrosmoak53]

Happy new year James. Nice set up. I like the scavenged lights, repurposed items are always great. Definitely gotta get me one of there's bill blades that's awesome

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you my friend! Happy New Year to you too!

[@arkaneego6534]

Yessir! I got the same hat except mines black. Had no idea about that knife attachment existed for the bill of a hat but I’m definitely gonna get me one. Speaking of modifications you know where or what brand exactly you got those led lights from?

[@WayPointSurvival]

I don't know the brand of hat but I got it at walmart.

[@rogerjensen5277]

I would think that a boonie hat would give you much storage space. They usually have a chin strap. Gear wise I would have a length of 550 cord around the outer rim and three single-edge blades in the bill (one for food, the others for possibles). A couple of pieces of folded aluminum foil can make water containers (just mold around the top of the hat) that you can boil water in. A small Bic lighter (or two) is better for fire-starting purposes! And duct tape folded around a fresnel lens! Good video!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching! You could definitely modify a boonie hat to make a similar item.

[@lisaandthekozykittykamperv7952]

WOW! THAT IS SO MUCH COOLER THAN JUST PUTTING VASELINE UP UNDER THE "BASEBALL" CAP! I LIKE THAT KNIFE ACTION GOING ON.. ON THE BRIM OF THE HAT. 🖒😇 THANKS FOR TEACHING/ LETTING ME WATCH COOL THINGS! OH, BTW, "HAPPY NEW YEAR" 🎉🍾🎉 MR. BENDER.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much, and Happy New year to you as well!

[@Hoonozit]

Good thinking. Thanks for the video.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you so much!

[@chiefkirk]

James I'm surprised at how much stuff you have stored in that hat. Pretty awesome. I'm a tad disappointed that you didn't pull a flint and steel kit out of there but then again I guess you can't expect to have everything in it.LOL. Good job brother.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you Chief! Planning on adding some water purification ideas to the hat as well. But, you are right, you can only put so much in there!

[@michaelzimmerman8959]

Quit interesting nice concept, an easy way to carry stuff just in case you may need it. Thanks for the video.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@glennpurchase807]

Man , your ideas are amazing. The survival hat will b in my collection. Perfect idea.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Great, thanks for watching!

[@willblack5419]

Re-cap, ha!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Lol. Thanks for watching!

[@charlesrainey6830]

Cool gotta have one. You could hide something behind the patch if you do it right.

[@WayPointSurvival]

True!

[@i_am_a_freespirit]

As always...a good Video. Thank you so much. I think I am going to build me one of those for fishing...I usually don't have my gear with me when I get to a good spot, but I always have my cap on.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent, thanks so much!

[@wanderingcalamity360]

Hey, James, it's been a couple of years, so I was wondering if you noticed how significant the magnets for the bill blade affected your compasses during land nav? Strong magnets or even large amounts of steel (like a steel watch+band or AR500 plates in your carrier) can throw off your compass readings. It's not insurmountable and usually just a matter of noting how much it affects your particular compass and adjusting your readings accordingly... But it's worth keeping in mind.

[@WayPointSurvival]

It will definitely be affected if you get it too close to the compass. However, held out a couple of feet away it should be just fine.

[@btkyles9]

THIS IS AWSOME FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@atlenwoods7566]

That's so neat how you did your hat that's good

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you liked it!

[@michaelabramo7373]

Got mine a few weeks ago and i love it

[@WayPointSurvival]

Great! Thanks for watching!

[@clayjohnson9498]

Great hat could be very handy Thanks for the great video

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@jerryroe1438]

Cool idea for us hat wearers

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@billyjoedenny]

lots of useful gear in there James... billy joe

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you, my friend!

[@docrod9465]

I purchased the Wazoo cap for my son and wanted to buy one for myself but just haven’t... now I will. I watched vid couple of times but didn’t see how u had the blanket stored.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you, I had the blanket stored up in the front of the cap in the large pocket that sets against your forehead.

[@carnivorecaveman]

Wow, extremely cool! Hi guy, you're absolutely, totally and completely full with great and brilliant ideas! Thank you very much for this excellent idea, I'll do it for myself! After all why not, I have already ferrocerium rods (small and long too), as well as magnifying glass, and so on... Yes, it is a great idea! But first, my belt bag... Yes, you're the very guy to turn to in order to get wonderful inspirations...

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much for all the kind words!

[@joannekeefe426]

And it looks very nice on you.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you kindly!

[@joannekeefe426]

@@WayPointSurvival your very welcome Mr. Bender

[@HuplesCat]

Ah. I was puzzled by the title. happy New Year Nice hat but don't forget and try to get on a plane Smart idea

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you my friend! Happy New Year!

[@kirkmillerBO84]

Interesting idea 💡

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@atlenwoods7566]

Nice river James love your videos

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@Raymond.Butler]

You said you can strike a ferro rod with glass and get spark. Please show us.

[@WayPointSurvival]

It's easy. Anything that can scrape a Ferro rod will put out a shower of sparks.

[@i_am_a_freespirit]

That's what I need...a stream🤔🧐🥰

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@prasaite]

Better are astronomical hats wit red lights. Astronoms use red lights during observations couse red spectrum didnt "destroy" night accommodation of our eyes so observers have lots of gadgets with red lights special hats.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching!

[@resistor8735]

That is neat!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@sifusasdo2314]

Need to get one asap 👍

[@WayPointSurvival]

It is a cool hat!

[@sifusasdo2314]

Yes it is Thank U for showing 👍.. unfortunatelly all in black and the knife for the right side is Out of Stock...but i will keep trying...

[@stevebuckler9354]

great idea god bless

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@jurj4108]

Haha, I love it. It’s really so fascinating to me how strange humans are with lugging around stuff. :D I mean, in your hat!? That’s definitely next level edc :p Don’t get me wrong, I actually do like the concept. But I just can’t help but being reminded of this one (albeit fake)image I’ve seen once. It was depicting edc cargo SOCKS with pockets and zippers and snap buttons and everything… Hilarious s**t! So yeah, I just thought to myself that there was a certain similarity, haha. The thing is, I AM an everyday hat person… So I might actually grab one myself eventually, just for the kicks and to see for myself how it wears.

[@TheGrayManOG]

I tried the wazoo hats. They just look too big on my head. Great concept though.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@wazoosurvivalgear220]

Our newer models have a smaller fit, BTW!

[@TheGrayManOG]

@@wazoosurvivalgear220 I'll check that out. Appreciate it.

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

Great job, brother, just like a good secret. Keep it under your head.😅😅

[@captainfragger6295]

Nice

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@reneelosie2644]

Some people need the survival cap because they ain't got no brains to hold the hat on. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. 🤔. That was cold.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@dirtyscoundrel2013]

Cool

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@barrykelly2722]

We ARE in a survival situation

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, interesting isn't it? Things were going along pretty well when I made this video... Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@johncrouch8988]

And when the wind blows your hat off?? 😂

[@WayPointSurvival]

Then you chase it down and put it back on, lol.

[@barrykelly2722]

BEAVER! lol Don't think you are in a high humidity location but doesn't all that gear make the hat uncomfortable and hot? It's a genius idea. Was hoping to survival hack my boonie....never got'r done. This vid gives me some ideas to ponder. Great vid. Jealous of the river. Peaceful.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you! The hat is not too uncomfortable and I highly recommend the Wazoo Gear hat as a base for your hat. They also have a newer one with improved features that I haven't check out yet.

[@atlenwoods7566]

Smart thinking your cool

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you!

[@ronaldrose7593]

Hello James, very clever set up. Thank you for sharing. All the best to you my friend. 🤗

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you, Ronald!

[@rahtorenripcore1699]

Kinda neat $30 buck.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you, it is definitely a neat hat!

[@atlenwoods7566]

God bless

[@WayPointSurvival]

God bless you too!

[@robosnitz]

Bill blade has been out of stock for years now.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Too bad. It's a neat idea.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

80 pound test line for a BLUEGILL?? How the heck big are they there? You forgot the liquor compartment and the straw.... Shouldn't you toss in a little thread for that needle? What happens when the hat wears out?

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching.

[@crazysquirrel9425]

​@@WayPointSurvival You're welcome.

[@carlosgermansanchezlizarra9629]

IS VERY SMART & BIG DY , THANK YOU JAMES , I SEE YOU LATER BE FINE

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@blueeyeswhitedragon9839]

Too many "survival" trinkets, most would never be used in almost any survival situation. The idea has merit and will be customized by the individual but pretending that safety pins and that rediculous mini fishing kit are just what you need for a 2-3 day "lost in the woods" scenario is bogus survival teaching. (Think water purification, fire, shelter as in a space blanket). Some people just have to have their "bush toys", but in most survival situations (overturned canoe, fall down an escarpment, lost while on a hunting trip, etc.) the hat is often the first piece of equipment to be lost. Better to design one or two "kits" to be kept on your person, and stick to real necessities...no need for a sewing kit for an emergency overnighter, but maybe a mini first aid kit? These dollar store survival kits build false security and a dependence on gimmicks.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching and sharing your opinion!

[@allentuggle2837]

REEEEEDICULOUS! Unsubscribe.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thank you for watching anyway.