John Barklow has dedicated his career to teaching special operations forces and rescue groups how to survive in the world’s toughest environments. With over 20 years of military experience, he’s transformed complex survival skills into practical, real-world knowledge that works when it matters most.
Drawing on his 26 years of military service and 15 years spent developing advanced apparel systems for military and hunting applications, Barklow understands that survival depends on proper training and understanding how integrated systems work together. His approach is straightforward: teach not just what works but why it works so people can adapt when conditions change.
As a bow hunter for over 40 years, Barklow brings hands-on field experience to every lesson. He knows firsthand that there’s rarely just one right way to solve a problem in the outdoors. Instead of teaching single solutions, he helps people understand the principles behind survival skills, enabling them to make smart decisions in unpredictable situations.
In his partnership with Montana Knife Company, Barklow shares practical knowledge through an educational series on essential outdoor skills. His lessons focus on real-world applications, from staying warm on a whitetail stand to building effective layering systems for mountain conditions. The series covers everything from wilderness nutrition to starting fires in bad weather — skills that matter whether you’re on a military mission or taking your dog for a walk in a remote area.
Barklow’s teaching philosophy is simple: mastering any skill takes time. As he puts it, “There’s only one way to shoot 10,000 arrows, and that’s to go shoot 10,000 arrows.” While everyone must work hard to master outdoor skills, Barklow’s experience can make that journey more efficient.
By combining military precision with decades of practical outdoor experience, Barklow helps people build true capability for all outdoor activities, from hunting and climbing to skiing and beyond.
- Knowledge From Storms
- Outdoor Class
- Instagram: @jbarklow
- Youtube: @knowledgefromstorms8262
