How to escape quicksand | Survival tips

It's a fate worse than death or even spending an afternoon with in-laws. Imagine wallowing in a bath of quicksand where, as Hollywood teaches us, one false move will lead to immediate, mud-garbling destruction.

Myth bustin'

Thing is, research shows that it’s impossible for a person to become completely submerged in quicksand. See, the human body is less dense than quicksand — a mixture of sand, clay and salt water. Sinking up to your waist won't kill you. Note that unlike the silver screen suggests, when people die in quicksand, they don’t suffocate. They die of thirst or starve, or if they’re near a coast, they drown in high tide.

What to do?

If you fall into quicksand, resist the natural instinct to kick your way out. That just separates the sand from the water, forming a dense layer of sediment where your feet are. Instead, stay calm and lean back so you get as much of your body surface on the water as possible. As you begin floating, slowly start moving your feet — not in a thrashing motion, but in small circles, the point being to get more water down into the thick sediment where your feet are. It may take awhile, but in time, you should be able to float free and paddle your way to solid ground.

Thanks to the Discovery Channel for the tips! Be sure to check XT46 for the best survival gear.

What is the longest marathon in the world? Well, it's 3,100 miles ...

The grueling 3,100-Mile Self Transcendence Race is the longest certified foot race in the world. The competitors seek to complete 5649 laps of a .5488 mile course (883 meters) in a timespan of 52 days. This year's 3,100-mile race will start on June 12.

The event record is currently held by Madhupran Wolfgang Schwerk of Germany. In 2006, Madhupran completed the race in 41 days 8 hours, averaging 75 miles per day. This broke his own previous record of 42 days 13 hours in the 2002 race.

The cornerstone of founder Sri Chinmoy's philosophy is the expression of self-transcendence - going beyond personal limits and reaching new levels of inner and outer perfection. Whether it be in the athletic world or any endeavor, for someone to transcend his previous achievements is inner progress and an expression of a new determination, which can only bring us closer to our destined goal - real satisfaction.

So who's up for it? Anyone? If so, be sure to take your XT46 gear for maximum performance. Find out more about the race here.

XT46 Flash workouts | Extreme flash mob

Who needs a gym? At XT46, we train on the trails, on the pier and right in your neighborhoods. We are the fighters, soldiers and extreme athletes that never settle for second-best. Unleash your inner soldier and get inspired with these XT46 extreme workouts, flash mob style.

After you check the videos, share your favorite extreme workouts with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Which military branch is right for you? | Choose the right one

The choice between military branches isn't exactly like 'soup or salad.'

A lot of thought must go into a decision - it is, after all, a monumental life-changer that could affect you more than any other event ever could.

So which military branch is right for you?

Five primary component branches comprise the United States armed forces: U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army,  U.S. Marine Corps,  U.S. Navy and  U.S. Coast Guard are all within the Department of Defense except the Coast Guard, which is within the Department of Homeland Security. During time of war or national emergency, the Coast Guard functions as a specialized service under the Navy.

Each service has both an active and a part time Reserve component. Two services (Army, Air Force) also have state components operating under the National Guard Bureau.

For a brief overview of the branches:

Air Force / Air Force Reserve:

The primary mission of the USAF is to protect and defend the nation’s interests in air, space, and cyberspace

Air National Guard:

The Air Guard has total responsibility for air defense of the entire United States

Army / Army Reserve:

The largest of the military services, the Army is the land force that moves in to an area, secures it, and instills order and values before it leaves.

Army National Guard:

The Army National Guard is an elite group of warriors who dedicate a portion of their time to the dual mission of protecting life and property in their home states and defending the United States and its interests worldwide.

Coast Guard/Coast Guard Reserve:

With its distinctive blend of military, humanitarian, and civilian law-enforcement capabilities, the Coast Guard’s mission is to protect the safety of the nation’s coasts, ports, and waterways.

Marines / Marines Reserve:

The Marine Corps is known as the U.S.’ rapid-reaction force. Marines are trained to fight by sea and land, and take great pride in being elite warriors.

Navy / Navy Reserve:

The Navy is recognized as the sea-going service as it protects the oceans around the world to create peace and stability, making the seas safe for travel and trade.

Life After The Military | Resources for the armed forces

What's life like after you lay down your uniform and standard-issue rifle? Learning to survive outside a foxhole isn't as easy as some might think - quite the opposite. Questions pop up about everything from God to jobs and American freedom.

But XT46 is here to help answer your questions when the sun sets on your active military campaign.

Your best bet is RESEARCH. Lots of it. We've outlined some popular topics below to get you started learning more.

Want to know more about benefits? Learn more about military benefits here.

Need military records or want to know more about service history? Check your military records here.

Death is a topic that routinely pops up between retired war vets. Did you know the military provides funeral support? Learn about it now.

Leaving active duty is widely considered one of the hardest transitions anyone can make. How can you use your experience to help find a job? What's the transition from daybreak bugle calls and morning coffee? Learn more about this experience here.

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MMA - Velasquez vs. Dos Santos: The Most Important Fight in UFC history?

There comes a point in every sport's life cycle where rubber meets the road.

Now it's time to see if the UFC has what it takes to gun it ... or will it simply become a skidmark?

Much like Band-Aid and Q-Tips, the UFC is nearly synonymous with the sport it proliferates oh-so-well. Some people don't even realize UFC is an organization - they assume it's another initialism for "mixed martial arts."

In that way, the UFC could be responsible for taking MMA to uncharted territory, solidifying its stance amongst elite, mainstream sports. This weekend, heavyweight juggernauts Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez (C) will do battle before the largest audience the sport could possibly imagine.

It's a primetime slugfest on FOX, and it might mean more than "The Ultimate Fighter"s epic Forest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar ever will.

In the ratings game, UFC has a chokehold on the MMA market. Let's face it - if you're a red-blooded American male, chances are you've seen at least one cagefighter get knocked the %&*@ out. But this will be a litmus test to see just how much broadcast impact the UFC's punches have.

Led by Dana White, Joe Silva and financial powerhouses Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, the UFC rose from its ashes to cable-TV prominence and pay-per-view immortality. Now it's time to see how much juice this train-o-pain has in its tank.

Want the latest on MMA training and MMA gear? Check out XT46 for more.

Survival | How to make a teepee from a parachute

You're free-falling over the wilderness and the worst possible scenario comes true in a heartbeat - your chute doesn't open.

Falling, you try compose yourself knowing death is but a few hundred feet below. Finally, chance deals you a good hand, letting your parachute open at the last moment.

The fall isn't kind - you smash through the treetops on way of landing harshly to the ground below. Minutes tick by, leaving you to awake among the brush.

Your friends are nowhere to be found and night is rapidly approaching. What would you do? For one, think smart. You're protected by XT46 gear. But that won't stop Mother Nature from serving an ice-cold dish of reality.

Here are some survival tips to help you make shelter for the night if you're stranded in the woods.

To make a tepee:

• Lay the poles on the ground and lash them together at one end
• Stand the framework up and spread the poles to form a tripod
• For more support, place additional poles against the tripod. Five or six additional poles work best but do not lash them to the tripod
• Determine the wind direction and locate the entrance 90 degrees or more from the mean wind direction
• Lay out the parachute on the “backside” of the tripod and locate the bridle loop (nylon web loop) at the top (apex) of the canopy
• Place the bridle loop over the top of a freestanding pole. Then place the pole back up against the tripod so that the canopy’s apex is at the same height as the lashing on the three poles
• Wrap the canopy around one side of the tripod. The canopy should be of double thickness, as you are wrapping an entire parachute. You need only wrap half of the tripod, as the remainder of the canopy will encircle the tripod in the opposite direction
• Construct the entrance by wrapping the folded edges of the canopy around two freestanding poles. You can then place the poles side by side to close the tepee’s entrance
• Place all extra canopy underneath the tepee poles and inside to create a floor for the shelter
• Leave a 30- to 50-centimeter opening at the top for ventilation if you intend to have a fire inside the tepee.

Teepee creation tips by Discovery 


Find more survival tips at www.XT46.com and shop the best survival gear for any situation.


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