The 80/20 Rule & The Principle Behind It

You may have heard of the 80/20 rule as you looked into survival skills or bushcraft classes. Here we will discuss the 80/20 rule, where it came from and how it works.

Where it all began -. The Pareto principle was developed by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in 1896. Pareto observed that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by only 20% of the population. He also witnessed this happening with plants in his garden where 20% of his plants were bearing 80% of the fruit. This relationship is best mathematically described as a power law distribution between two quantities, in which a change in one quantity results in a relevant change in the other. The Pareto principle works with any numbers that equal 100, however when applying the Pareto principle, a set of two numbers is generally used i.e. 60/40, 70/30, and of course 80/20.

Choosing the right tool for the job. In using the Pareto principle, one of the principles that is commonly used is that not all things are equal, and the minority owns the majority. Simply stated, let a minimal number of tools be the most useful in creating everything you desire to achieve.

In almost any survival situation, unless you are prepared in advance, you will be at a severe disadvantage. In order to be a little better prepared in using the 80/20 rule I have listed some categories and, in my experience, some of the better, if not best tools. These few tools serve more than one purpose and will allow you to achieve greater success with minimal effort.

80/20 Tools I personally have or do use-

• Scotch Eye Hand Auger - the best one I have found has a tapered end on one side. These small augers are good for turning logs into rocket stoves, building ladders, and even making furniture such as stools or benches.

• Folding saw - I prefer any saw from 7 up to 10-inch blade length and my personal brand choice would be Silky.

• Hatchet / Machete - Depending again on preference, either choice is a viable option. Should you need to create points to more easily hammer a larger branch into the ground, remove wood to create a notch or even tiller an improvised bow.

• Hunting Knife - A good hunting knife with a thick, 90-degree spine that can be batoned, made from stainless steel and has a full tang is very multi-purpose.

• Backpack - Mine has an internal frame, carries a 3-liter water bladder and is very breathable. I prefer a bigger backpack for me personally, although I may not carry a lot, I probably carry more than most.

Getting out of / Weathering the Storm-

In a survival situation, there are many choices in quick deploy shelters. Remember, we are looking to get more than one use out of any item. Pop up or backpack tents will probably not fit the 80/20 rule.

• Tarp - My personal choice is a tarp with a mylar lining. Whether you buy an expensive or cheap poly tarp or otherwise all the way to a heavy-duty canvas. Should you choose to carry a tarp it would be based on personal preference and location. The right size tarp would have a variety of uses and would definitely fit into the 80/20 category.

• Poncho - A rain poncho should serve to keep you dry. However, a poncho can be used in an improvised manner to make a shelter more waterproof or as a shelter itself.

• Trash Bags - A trash bag could be used in an emergency situation and may last a few days. You might want to be planning to build a more secure shelter depending on how long you might be in a situation where weather is inclement.

A "Tinder" Subject ( Think About It/Sleep On It) -

Tinder is used in fire starting and tinder itself does not exactly fit the 80/20 rule. Certain tinder's can be used in bedding, your bed, sleeping bag and could become multi-purpose. Should you not be carrying some sort of fire start, you will need an alternative source to start a fire. Should you experience inclement weather, be in a damp, moist, or wet environment - you will still need a fire to boil water and possibly cook with/on. Your bed should be made/sourced from as much on the ground material as possible. To soften your sleeping area, you could improvise a grounding pad using leaves, grass or even pine needles. Once you put your sleeping bag on your improvised grounding pad your body heat will dry out your bedding and produce viable tinder.

Binding It All Together-

The choices in cordage are also so varied there is no one answer. From tarp shelters to primitive trap building, different cordages do different things.

• Paracord - Probably the most well-known, however, it does stretch out over time. Paracord has may uses and when gutted, it could produce many more.

• Bankline - A personal favorite. Also, so many uses. The best thing is, it is tar coated so if heated it could adhere more firmly in place. Bankline also comes in different sizes.

• Dental Floss - So many uses again, but probably the best use in my mind is, if necessary, it could do stitches.

Rounding Out With Attire-

When it comes to attire/clothing there are so many variables. Depending on environment, time of year and location. Everything from literally the bottom of your feet to the top of your head. The trial-and-error process could get expensive and never knowing where you might find yourself doesn't help. The best way to make a decision is to talk to people in the survival skills or bushcraft business. Research and the intended use along with personal preference is also very key. Make sure to pack gear of some sort for all seasons just in case, as we like to say here at Operation Bushcraft,"SAFETY THIRD". Below you will find a list of things to consider that you may not normally consider.

• Wool versus Alpaca

• Waterproof versus Water Resistant

• Pants versus Bibs/Overalls

• Boots, Sandals, or Shoes

• Sunglasses, Head covering, and Gloves

• How many seasons is it good for

• Rating system(s) on cold weather gear

• Can I incorporate it in to my daily apparel

• How do I have it on hand/readily available

I have personally spent a great deal of time and money testing and replacing sometimes rather expensive gear. I have tested everything from footwear to head gear. I have tested tents, varied sizes of bank line and even bought specialty paracord. I have been out in all seasons and spent in excess of $250.00 on a single piece of gear. The only way any individual will ever know how good they or their gear are, is to test them. I met Shawn Kelly in Kentucky after watching a video where he quoted Mors Kochanski (2nd quote in blog) and that quote changed my life and made me realize less is more. In the last year I have made it a point to downsize everything. I have spent more time out and about and can honestly say that nature itself provides 80% of everything you need. If you know how to use and respect the world around you and carry the other 20% you should be 100% able to accomplish any undertaking. I can honestly say the only way an individual can prepare themselves is they must work daily even if it's just an hour to "BE PREPARED" come what may. Just remember, if you use 20% of your time to be effective and you can use a minimum number of tools that do up to 80% of the work, you have a much better chance of 100% survival. Until next time "STRUGGLE TO MAKE PUDDING."