10 gift ideas for the Bear Grylls fan

The holidays are quickly approaching and you might be trying to come up with some gifts for that special someone in your life. Well don't worry, we here at Just South of North are going to help.

If that special someone is excited for the new NBC Bear Grylls show, perhaps they even applied to be on it, maybe you should get them some Bear Grylls items.

Here are 10 suggestions for the Bear Grylls fan in your life:

1. Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife: The first edition of this knife was horrible. It wasn't up to the usually very high standards of Gerber. However, the second edition is top notch. The knife featurs:

• Molded rubber grip and knurled striking surface butt cap
• Saw ground back blade
• Integrated fire starter with integrated diamond sharpener
• Key ground-air communication patch
• Emergency micro lanyard whistle

It's a must have for any fan of the outdoors and fan of Bear Grylls.

2. Mud, Sweat, and Tears: The Autobiography: I bought this book as soon as it was available in the US. And I read it in just a few days after receiving it. The book is fast-paced and well written. The chapters keep you intrigued and show more to Bear Grylls then fans get in his TV shows and interviews. It's a great read and a lot of fun. I enjoyed it a lot and I'm sure you will too.

3. Man vs. Wild Video Game: Have you ever wanted to BE Bear Grylls? Well with the Man vs. Wild video game you have the chance. I wrote a review last year about the game and found it enjoyable. You can't make it outside everyday, so on those days you're trapped inside, why not have a little fun by trying to survive in the Everglades.

4. Man vs Wild: Season Four: While I enjoy all the seasons of Man vs. Wild, I really enjoyed season four. This season also includes the very humorous episode with Will Ferrel. In this season Bear heads to the wilds of Alabama, Arctic Circle, Vietnam, Texas, Alaska, Panama, Big Sky Country, China and Guatemala.

5. Bear Grylls Men's Trek Long Sleeve Shirt: This shirt is very form fitting (which you might want to move up one size for comfort fit). It is quick-drying and offers panels that stretch for added movement while trekking.

6. Bear Grylls Men's Original Trouser: Like the shirt in number five, these pants are made by Craghoppers and are quick-drying, offer stretch panels, six pockets (2 with zippers) and are very comfortable.

7. Para-Cord Survival Bracelet: I have a paracord bracelet that I wear whenever I go out whether I'm hiking, kayaking or just camping. If you ever needed rope while in the wild this is the perfect product. A great survival item and now part of my regular outdoor gear.

8. Man vs. Wild: Survival Techniques from the Most Dangerous Places on Earth: I recieved this book as a birthday present a few years ago and wasn't sure what to expect. But after reading a few chapters I knew that it would be very interesting. It's been a long time since I was in Boy Scouts and this book really helped to refresh some of what I learned while earning my Eagle Scout award. The information is good and presented in an entertaining way.

9. Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Fire Starter: While I don't have this exact model I do have a similar fire starter. It works great and is so nice to have in the wet Pacific Northwest. I don't have to worry about matches or finding waterproof matches (or a waterproof case) for them. This model also has a whistle attached for emergencies.

10. Man vs. Wild: Season One: The season that started it all. If your Bear Grylls fan doesn't have the first season of Man vs. Wild then you know what to get them.

I hope that this list has given you some good ideas for what to get the Bear Grylls fan in your life as well was my actual reviews of the products.

Bear Grylls Underneath Jimmy Kimmel's Desk

This is hilarious. Bear Grylls tries to survive under Jimmy Kimmel's desk.

REI blog post

Today I got a blog posted on the REI blog.

It's called:

Can a Video Game Improve Your Outdoor Survival Skills?

I talk about the new Man vs. Wild video game.

Please check it out and let me know what you think!

Jake Gyllenhall on Man vs Wild

On Monday, July 11, 2011, actor Jake Gyllenhaal joins Bear on an adventure to Iceland.

I can't wait!

I'm a Runner: Bear Grylls

Runners World has a great interview with Bear Grylls on their site from their May 2011 edition.

Occupation: Host of Man vs. Wild
Age: 36
Residence: Abersoch, U.K.

How did you get started running?
In the military. In the British Special Air Service, combat fitness is all about running. We would go until we ended up vomiting on the side of the road. Once I left the military, I gave up running for a while. It took me a while to realize it doesn't have to be like that. Running can be a great therapeutic way of training. These days I push myself hard, but I also slow down and take it easy sometimes. It doesn't have to be full-on hard all the time.

When did you get back into running?
After the military, I spent a year being really unhealthy, not exercising. I got back into running when I was offered my first commercial [for Degree deodorant]. I thought, If I'm going to have to take my shirt off, I'd better start doing sit-ups and start running.
Later, I got my first TV series [Escape to the Legion], which was about basic training for the French Foreign Legion out in the desert of North Africa. During that time, running was a part of everyday life. We were running two or three times a day. We always had to wear these terrible thin-soled pumps [sneakers]. We had horrific blisters. I just remember these blood-soaked white pumps [sneakers].

Check out the rest of the interview over at Runners World.

Yes he does

I came across this gem today.


It wouldn't have made for nearly as dramatic of a movie franchise.

Man vs. Wild: Seal skin wetsuit

The sixth season of Discovery Channel's Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls kicks off on Thursday, February 17 at 9PM ET/PT.

The season will be 13 total episodes, but starts with six weeks of new episodes. The hit series will having Bear endure the most intense journeys to Arizona, Borneo, Cape Wrath in Scotland, Norway and a deserted island in the South Pacific.

The sixth episode will be a special compilation episode showing unseen footage of Bear providing viewers with his ultimate survival guide.

He even makes a wetsuit out of seal skin. Who does that?!?! Bear does!!!

Facing a chilly swim in the frigid waters of Cape Wrath, Scotland, Bear Grylls comes across the remains of a seal carcass and fashions a wetsuit from its blubbery hide.



Here's the descriptions of each episode:

· In Scotland off the rugged coast of Cape Wrath, Bear is dropped into open ocean. After getting ashore, he realizes he's on an island and must swim to the mainland. Bear fashions a wetsuit from a seal's hide to withstand the frigid crossing. Well into the trek, he is forced to turn back as an incoming estuary tide nearly cuts him off. After he makes it to dry land, Bear has a close call with the steep treacherous Scottish rock terrain.

· In Norway, Bear and his team create the harshest conditions possible combining Mother Nature with the latest technology. In this MAN VS. WILD science special, sensors monitor Bear's body as he demonstrates how to survive cutting away from a malfunctioning parachute, how to cross a fast flowing river after a dam is released on him and how to endure a lethal trap that Bear sets against himself.

· In the South Pacific, Bear is left into the ocean near a deserted island. He must first fight his way up a steep cliff to get ashore. Once on dry land, his priority is food and water. In addition to knowing ingenious ways to collect and store rainwater, Bear dives deep into the reefs in search of fish and employs a local method using torches to catch octopus at night.

· In Borneo, Bear heads directly into the wild jungles. Without a place to land his helicopter, he is forced to rappel into the treetops. As the heli peels away, Bear is 100 feet up in the canopy. After finding his way down to the jungle floor, Bear tackles raging waters, big mudslides and deep caves as he fights his way through this impenetrable place.

· In Arizona, Bear transforms into a one man high speed glider with a cutting edge wingsuit and flies into the Arizona Sky Islands. Bear shows viewers how to find water in the parched desert landscape, builds a sand-buggy from a wrecked aircraft and crosses heart-stopping rock drops.

New Bear Grylls Degree Commercial

I absolutely love these new Degree commercials with Bear Grylls. Very entertaining.

"Put on the meat ponchos."

Bear Grylls skills help save lost teen

Jake Denham, 14, spent nine hours in 1 degree Fahrenheit temperatures after getting separated from his parents on a ski trip.

But having watched the Discovery channel's popular television show Man vs. Wild, Denham knew what to do thanks to Bear Grylls.

He dug a snow cave for shelter as Grylls had demonstrated on the show.

Denham later used another tip from Grylls and followed ski tracks down Mount Bachelor, Oregon.

The teenager suffered only mild hypothermia.

Degree Men Chain of Adventure: Task 3

Degree Men teamed up with adventurer Bear Grylls to market their new deoderant Degree for Men Adventure. We've showed you Bears first task and his second task.

Now it's time for his third:



What challenge would you send for Bear to do?

Degree Men Chain of Adventure: Task 2

Degree Men teamed up with adventurer Bear Grylls to market their new deoderant Degree for Men Adventure. We've showed you Bears first task.

Now it's time for his second:

Degree Men Chain of Adventure

Degree has come up with a great marketing campaign for their new deoderant Degree for Men Adventure.

The antiperspirant is called "Adventure" so what better way to promote it than to find the ultimate adventure superstar.

That of course is none other than Bear Grylls.

For the commercials Bear will be challenged by superstars from professional sports to complete the tasks at hand. Pretty fun marketing idea.

Check out the promo and then the first commercial:

Gerber Bear Grylls knife

Earlier this year I told you that Gerber and Bear Grylls were teaming up to make "the ultimate knife."

That knife is now available and Bear is promoting it. The thing does look very sweet. Check it out:



I haven't seen the knife in person yet but personally like a number of the features. I think the built in flint in the sheath is great. Saves you from having to bring your own. I also really like the two holes in the handle in the event you ever needed to lash it to a stick to make a spear.

Here's the specs on the knife:

• Open length: 10.0"
• Blade Length: 4.8"
• Weight: (with sheath): 14.7oz.
• Weight (no sheath): 11.2oz.

The knife will be available at Cabela's, Amazon.com, Dick's Sporting Goods and Academy Sports and Outdoors when the knife is released on November 15th. It will sell for about $60.

However the best pre-order deal I found while searching for the release date, was through a company called Rocky National and they are selling it for $50.

Bear Grylls video game survival tips

With the new season of Man vs. Wild underway (two awesome episodes by the way) Bear has been busy with his Northwest Passage adventure and he's also been promoting the Man vs. Wild video game.

The game comes out this fall, but what would Bear do if he were in other video game situations?

Well, here's the "Bear Grylls guide to video game survival".

Bear Grylls Northwest Passage

Man vs. Wild season 5 premiered earlier this week and come Sunday Bear Grylls will be leaving on his next expedition.

He is going to be traveling the Northwest Passage to raise awareness and funds for the charity Global Angels.

Man vs. Wild video game

It looks like Bear Grylls is taking a page from the "Brandon Hansen training program".

Actually, he's playing the new Man vs Wild video game.

Brandon on the other hand wasn't seen or heard from for a week after Starcraft 2 came out.

New Season Man vs. Wild

It's coming! Wednesday, August 11 the new season of Man vs. Wild on Discovery!

Epic Video: I love the whole world Discovery Channel

This weekend the Northern Rangers are heading into the wild for a backpack trip. So check back next week for a new video.

But for now, in honor of 25 years of the Discovery Channel, here are the coolest commercials ever:

Man vs Wild Video Game, E3 2010: Debut Trailer

Here is the official trailer of Man vs Wild Video Game released at E3 2010 yesterday.

Man vs Wild video game E3

Earlier this year I told you about the Man vs. Wild video game.

The release is getting closer. According to Bear's Twitter:

Bear Grylls: Off to LA now for launch of man vs wild playstation and wii then to Death valley, Nevada for HALO skydive into desert show.

It appears that Bear will be gracing E3 with his presence. E3 is of course the Electronic Entertainment Expo that is held every year to introduce the latest in electronic awesomeness.

Here's what the official press release said:

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The game offers five authentic situations in a role play-style adventure, featuring seasoned survival expert Bear Grylls.

The action begins when players are dropped into extreme conditions and forced to demonstrate indigenous survival techniques such as escaping quicksand in the desert, exploring dangerous jungles, traversing ravines in the mountains and navigating some of the world's most treacherous waters.

The core gameplay of Man vs. Wild is a dynamic mix of exhilarating action adventure, role playing and puzzle solving tasks throughout five extraordinary expeditions. Players gather materials to accomplish tasks such as building fires, catching food, and creating the necessary tools for survival while traveling across miles of diverse landscapes.

Key features of Man vs. Wild game:

• Role Playing Adventure: Players will explore and survive wilderness destinations and discover hundreds of items while maintaining the health and well-being of Bear Grylls;
  
  
• Strategically Positioned Survival Challenges: Depending on location and skill level, players will be tested with hundreds of "Survival Challenges" ranging from the simple (building a fire) to the wildly insane (dodging a Grizzly bear);
  
  
• Wild Weather: Players will experience a wide range of weather conditions including snow storms, intense rain, sand storms and more while traveling through five challenging landscapes around the globe;
  
  
• Survival: Refuge, food and water are the constant priority for all players. Players must hunt and collect food, even if it means eating deer eyeballs, and water to keep Bear nourished and healthy for the challenges that lie ahead. When night closes in, the player must create a sturdy lean-to to protect Bear from potential animal attacks and the harsh elements.
  

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The game is scheduled for a Fall release. And I can't wait!!!! Definitely buying that one.