This list is by no means the ends all list of great hobbies for survivalists, but it is a start. Maybe you will find some hobbies you forgot about or didn't think of previously. Check out this list and see what you think!

Backpacking/Hiking/Camping
I lumped these three together because they are so similar but I have often advocated backpacking as a way to both test and practice your bug out plans.

Backpacking trips require you to lay out and plan for one or more days living in the environment, usually away from civilization and returning safely. You have to carry everything on your back, navigate trails, inclines, declines, obstacles just as you would in a bug out scenario. Best of all you get to see how carrying all your gear will feel at the end of a day.

How far did you make it each day? Is there anything you realized you forgot once you got out into the woods? If you had to do it all over again, what would you change?

Hiking and Camping are similar but with a good bit less risk. With hiking, we are usually talking about day trips out and back so minor preparations are needed, but it is still a great activity that can teach you a lot about yourself and your physical ability.

Camping, when done from the convenience of a car and a camp site is the least like bugging out on foot, but could mimic a vehicle bug out scenario and it’s just good to get out of the house, into nature and spend time away from it all with family and friends.

Hunting
In a grid down scenario, any activity that makes you more adept at bringing home food is a good one in my book. Hunting is a natural in that respect and it can teach you more than simply shooting at game. You can learn how to stalk prey, how to appropriately camouflage yourself and your movements, you can learn to identify game trails and habits of the game you are looking for.

Auto Mechanics
Can you fix things? When is the last time you changed your own oil? Do you even know how to do that?

While I can admit that some of the newer cars aren’t really set up for you to perform your own maintenance easily, that shouldn’t stop you from learning if you have the notion. As I have gotten older my need to work on my own cars has decreased but I still have manuals and have been known to turn a wrench when it’s necessary.

Knowing how to do basic repairs to your vehicle is a great skill and it can start with simple things like changing tires, belts, batteries and hoses to more complex projects like replacing water pumps, alternators or half-shafts.

Gardening
In terms of putting food on the table and being in a place where you are able to store food away, gardening is one that we should all be doing.

Gardening can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Many people start with a small plot and grow tomatoes, but if you are aiming to be able to put up enough food to last your family through the winter and up to the next harvest, a little more land and time will be required.

Start learning how to grow your own food now, what your soil conditions are like, how to compost and you will be one step closer to being ready to have your garden provide everything you need.

Paintball/Airsoft
What does paintball have to do with prepping? For starters, it can teach you team tactics, simulate military maneuvers to achieve objectives and deal with some of the stress in combat.

OK, before anyone screams at me, I know this does not compare to real combat.

Bullets go through walls much faster than paint balls do but if you look at this as training and you treat your surroundings as though the paint balls are real bullets, it can be beneficial and instructive. Air-Soft is lumped in here too with the same benefits and less mess.

Exercising/Fitness
More of a chore for some people than a hobby, exercise is one of the most critical components to being able to survive in a grid down or SHTF scenario and it’s one thing we most easily overlook or choose to ignore. Being able to move yourself from point to point, lift heavy objects repeatedly, perform manual labor and still have the strength to stand watch with alertness in the middle of the night is not something we can ignore.

Fishing
Like hunting, this hobby can put food on the table as well as be a simple, enjoyable way to get outside and spend some time either alone or with friends. Fishing can take on many different styles, but the basics are the same. Sometime the gear is different.

Off-Roading
This hobby might be one of the most expensive for preppers, but if you already have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, getting off-road isn’t impossible and you can learn how to drive off the pavement and see what obstacles your vehicle can overcome.

Combine off-roading with camping and you have the makings of a really good vehicle bug out practice scenario.

Have you tried any of the hobbies mentioned in this list? Were there any great hobbies we didn't mention?

I can see why backpacking and hiking are excellent to practice your survival skills. Not only do you have to learn how to tell directions, but you are also giving the opportunity to create a campfire and make sure you have enough water and supplies for your trek. Rock climbing is equally as challenging — and rewarding!

The other hobbies and activities mentioned are as equally as important — the more prepping and experience you have in the wilderness, the better!

Source: The Prepper Journal