In the real world, the negativity which Les handles himself with would be detrimental to any team. I do agree, having a crew does keep Bear more upbeat, but Les' pessimism and constant whimpering over even minute pinches or paper cuts is ridiculous.
Yes, Bear has used a floating device down a river, and has been given a shirt after his fire went out after he had jumped into a freezing lake (which are within the boundaries of what the crew can do in life/death situation).
But Les, made 2 attempts at building a three-log raft and failed. Failed at making and Igloo-after acknowledging that the snow conditions were ideal for Igloo-making. Les went spear fishing in 4 feet of water (Bear about 40 feet). He also showed us how to survive with one arm, and half-way through the show gave up because it was too difficult. He also chose to leave the coast to escape Costa Rica through the jungle, only to complain that the jungle was to hot! He also complained about being at sea in a dingy, but when he got to land, complained that it was worse than being at sea. He just complains too much for my taste. (could you imagine if he had to cross the Atlantic on a small boat like Bear…I’m sure someone would try to throw him over)
Overall, les isn't sophisticated! He is just a frustrated musician who after failing as a producer in Low-budget "Much Music" TV station in Canada, took a stab at being a wilderness man and pitching it to Discovery! He chose this career because he loves it, but he'll readily admit to not being that good at it.
I just think that the average outdoorsman knows about as much about survival as Les does.
I will continue to watch every episode of Survivorman, but just so that I can enjoy the scenery and laugh at Les.
PS Please, DO WATCH THE behind the scenes youtube video that gc_4845 posted earlier. You will probably never watch something funnier...again, that is why I never miss Survivorman
Hacking halfway through your finger does not qualify as a minor scratch.
Les complains and fails because he's trying to be realistic. He doesn't build a raft beforehand to make sure it works then try to look like an expert on camera, and he's never built an igloo before - like any regular joe who finds himself lost in the wilderness! And in case you didn't notice, he went into the jungle in Costa Rica as an example of what NOT to do.
You'll also notice that in the Behind-The-Scenes episode, Les sucks the fluid out of an eye (like people cite as an example of Bear's talent) and doesn't complain.
I'm sorry fella's ...knowing what I know about the two....being an ex spec ops guys myself, I'd choose BEAR anyday. He is ex-SAS and grew up in the woods near his home. No contest. Even if he faked a few things for TV...so what, he teaches better...is more entertaining and lets see Les jump into sub-below zero water and sit for 60 seconds before he gets out. You do it...all you nay-sayers. Lets see it. I've been there. He show's you himself. So what if there were holes in the ice to help him get out. Do you have any idea how painful it is to do what he did? I do. And Les does nothing to show how to get out of the environment...BEAR is constantly moving. Lets see all of you do it. I will, I've done it before and its the same advice I got in Special Forces SERE training. So anyone want to challenge BEAR's method...email me. I'll take you up on that challenge.
See Les jump into sub-zero water and sit for 60 seconds? Heck, some people aren't even sure if they saw Bear do it! (Sorry...couldn't resist.)
In all seriousness, Les has escaped his environment on his own on at least two occasions. And constantly moving isn't necessarily a good thing, especially if you have no idea where you're going, or if you sacrifice immediate needs (like hypothermia or dehydration) for travel.
Les Stroud_ After his marriage to Sue Jamison in 1994, the two of them spent one year living in the Canadian wilderness living a paleolithic existence. They travelled to Goldsborough Lake ( 50°41′55″N, 89°20′46″W) deep in the Wabakimi and built a cabin with no metal, plastic, or otherwise manufactured tools. They took a store of traditional foods and attempted to supplement it by hunting and trapping. Family and medical emergencies brought them out of the bush on two occasions. Their primitive living experience was filmed by Stroud and released as the 50 minute documentary, Snowshoes and Solitude, I think he knows a thing or two about survival.
As a gulf war special forces vetern ('86 to'92) I will agree with robinhood3000 if you are burning calories and energy as fast as bear without a food or water source you will die period. By the way, bear, wringing out manure for what little water get, you'll lose 10 fold through the diarrhea you'll get from the toxins in it, if you can even keep it down. Not to worry he has a crew sitting by their fire grilling steaks and drinking bottled water behind the scenes, oh thats right they can't share.
Failed at making and Igloo-after acknowledging that the snow conditions were ideal for Igloo-making.
It was the worst possible snow conditions not the most ideal. Small correction but BIG differnce!
quote:
Yes, Bear has used a floating device down a river, and has been given a shirt after his fire went out after he had jumped into a freezing lake (which are within the boundaries of what the crew can do in life/death situation).
But he made the choice to jump in???
As for the spear fishing what dose it matter how deep the water is if thats where the fish are?
The one arm thing Les did was only to show part of what it was like, he didnt start with only using one arm and that wasnt the point of that show.
Yes Les complains but some things about survival can be bad. I would want to hear everything is all roses if its not.
Honestly if you are going to talk about sophistication then you might want to get your info right.
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I just read where they said bear stayed in motels on several tapings of different shows. Also he had the crew build a raft then they dismanteled it so he could put it back together again in front of the camera. On one show he supposedly lassoed a wild horse, but really it was a tame horse that was brought in on a trailer. If you like someone who is lying about who they are go ahead. But Les Stroud gets my vote because he at least tries to get the the situation as close as he can to the real thing. Anybody going for a hike or something like this would probably be carrying a knife. I've carried one everyday of my life since i was 10 or so. Oh yeah, they also said that the film crew sets up stunts for bear. Anybody with a little knowledge of survival could be in bears shoes, filming a few scenes of so called "survival" then sleep in a motel and do some more scenes the next day. Thats what the do in hollywood all the time. I like the truth.
Ok, here's the deal. They both have strong points. I am not going to retype them, but they have pluses and minuses. But here the point I am getting at:
I don't feel capable of doing that stuff. I wasn't personally trained to do it. Bear Grylls said he has had extensive training in order to be able to do what he does. You are not going to be able to survive like him even if you tried. Most people would probably hesitate if put in those situations. Are you really going to stand there and say, "Well, Bear Grylls told me to jump, so I'm gonna do it, and possibly risk injury." I wouldn't do it, and neither would any of you, just thinking of the consequences.
Conversely, Les Stroud does have a satellite phone, I will give you that, but he is a TV show host, not a daredevil, same goes for Bear. They are not about to put their lives on the line without having some kind of insurance policy, right? Would you risk your life like that for money and fame? I would make sure I had a way to rescue myself beforehand. Same thing with Bear Grylls. He has his camera crew to back him up, so when he does crack up, he can be rescued. Again, nobody is going to risk their life for TV without a means of being rescued.
Here is another example: Steve Irwin. There is no way, no way in the world he ever did a stunt with a dangerous animal without somebody else being there. Why? He is probably scared of the day he will screw up and nobody will be there to rescue him. Plus, these channels, Discovery or TLC or any other channel, probably require each host that puts his/her life on the line to have some form of rescue or protection so the TV company doesn't face lawsuits. Did anybody think of this?
So to call one guy or another a fraud, well, maybe it is out of their hands whether they have a phone or film crew or life jacket or multi-tool. It could be required for them. Or maybe, just maybe, THEY DON'T WANT TO DIE!!! Plain and simple. As tough or reckless as some of them may act, they do have a line they won't cross, and that is leave a way to get help if $#!T hits the fan.
Let me go back to my previous subject. How many of you people would seriously kill an animal, rip it apart, and eat it up to survive, not knowing if it has any diseases or how to eat it or what to eat of it? How many of you, even after seeing it on TV, would find a plant you think you recognize and actually eat it, not knowing if it is poisonous? Chances are most of you people would be afraid of any animal or plant you come across. Think about it. You are all alone, no food, no water, and basically peeing your pants because you have nobody else with you and you don't know where you are or where to go. Those survival skills are going out the window for most of you people, and you won't know what to do, probably forgetting everything you saw on TV. This is the most likely scenario.
People need to think realistically already. Les has a phone, Bear has a camera crew, and both will protect themselves so that they don't die, and Discovery channel will protect them so there is no lawsuit. Plus, they know what they are doing, they have done it for quite a while, you people have not. The sooner people can accept this, the sooner everybody arguing in this forum will say, "Gee, why was I arguing about this stupid topic?" Maybe some people will develop common sense. And I am not directing this any anybody in particular. Please, if anybody out there has any reason to believe they will get lost and be stranded out in the middle of nowhere, please be trained by a professional immediately. I don't want to hear on the news that a person got lost in the wilderness and died because they were doing something they learned on the Discovery Channel. Think of how pathetic that will sound. If you like a show, watch it, enjoy it, don't take it to heart, please.
If anybody wants to keep up the who is better argument, I must add these links I found. Please watch them as many times as you like and analyze them. Then formulate your own opinion:
You people are welcome to search these same topics on Youtube yourself, but from what I could see, there are a couple videos proving Bear Grylls is a fake. I don't know the authenticity of the videos so don't ask me.
I also searched Les Stroud a couple different ways, but no phony videos for him. Does this tell anybody anything? Maybe Grylls is a little over the top. Just a thought.
And if anybody does want to know, I do prefer Survivorman. But I don't think I would take any advice from the TV either way.
I Find this hilarious, because i was going to create a topic concerning the two.
In my oppinion, Man vs. Wild is a better show to watch. I have many reasons for this, but my main reasons are one, Its easier to understand whats going on, the surrounding and so forth. Two, Bear Grylls seems to understand much more about survival and his surroundings. Three, Bear just gives off the feeling that he loves his job, he loves what hes doing. You can pretty much just see how much of a good time he's having while watching the show. Which makes the viewers just feel like, wow.. theres so much out there in the world. Where as Stroud, he gives off this feeling of confusment, like he's not completely sure he would live if he were "really" stranded. Not to mention he complains so much, about almost everything it seems. And he dosnt drop off knowledge like Grylls. Such as stuff on the Aborigionals, and just basic history that would be nice to know.
These past few weeks, Survivor man has been showing on Discovery channel. Ive watched most of them, and have been unsatisfied with them. I mean, in one of his episodes.. he ends it because of the fear he was too dehydrated, if it were Grylls, he would have found water in that desert. Another thing is, Stroud has the hardest time making fires.. like he has no idea what hes doing, its quite funny to watch him trying to make a fire. Grylls on the other hand, never fails to make his fires when needed. He seems to know exactly what to do or get, to create one. Honestly put Man vs. Wild back on, i dont care if you only have re-runs... they are interesting to watch everytime.
Now i understand that the point of the show is survival on ones own. And that in Man vs Wild, Grylls has his own Camera Crew.. and Stroud does his own filming. Think about it. A show thats trying to let the viewers see how to survive in the wild. I remember complaining countless times to friends about not having anyidea as to what the hell was going on while watching Survivor man. I would see a random tree here, a bush there... and for most the time, it would be fixated on Strouds face, so the viewers have absolutly no idea what hes doing. Course he spouts out some knowledge every now and then, but it'd be nice to know what he was doing and what the surroundings were like. In Man vs. Wild, you see the surroundings.. you see every little detail as Grylls explains what hes doing. Honestly, i believe it better that he have his own camera crew, having to film yourself while trying to survive just isnt worth the struggle. you get little but nothing out of it.
Now i came across Survivorman late, i had been introduced to Man vs Wild, before even hearing anything about Survivor Man. When i heard that in Survivor Man he was actually alone, with no camera crew. i was pretty excited to watch one of the episodes. Man was i dissapointed when i finally did. I was completely lost most the time. and it seemed the man had no idea what he was doing. When i sat there and watched from my warm cozy room, i felt like "wow, let me switch places with you so i can show everyone what your doing wrong". Horrible.. not at all should a viewer feel like they know more than a "supposed" expert.
Down with Stroud, Up with Grylls TY for reading - Keith of Michigan
These past few weeks, Survivor man has been showing on Discovery channel. Ive watched most of them, and have been unsatisfied with them. I mean, in one of his episodes.. he ends it because of the fear he was too dehydrated, if it were Grylls, he would have found water in that desert. Another thing is, Stroud has the hardest time making fires.. like he has no idea what hes doing, its quite funny to watch him trying to make a fire. Grylls on the other hand, never fails to make his fires when needed. He seems to know exactly what to do or get, to create one.
The simple answer to your comparisons is the Bear cheats and stays in hotels at night.
"Stroud has the hardest time making fires.. like he has no idea what hes doing, its quite funny to watch him trying to make a fire. Grylls on the other hand, never fails" Because the crew starts the fire for Bear.
"he ends it because of the fear he was too dehydrated, if it were Grylls, he would have found water in that desert." No Bear went to the hotel because he had mild hypothermia in one episode and then went back the next day and acted like nothing ever happened.
Since this concern came up in another thread, outlander, are the episodes you watched an hour long? Apparently, in some localities they show half-hour episodes, which I found bizarre since they barely can show all the content in a full hour.
Anyone who thinks that Bear is the man, follow the link and you tell me. After watching it you will realize that les is the manhttp://www.collegehumor.com/video:1771093
I just saw Les in the Amazon, and it is clear that he has never fished a single day in his life!
Calling Bear a liar? We have seen him climb, dive, swim, eat carcases and raw meats, repell, hunt, skydive, etc. Have we not? So that portion of the show we can all agree is real!
This is reality TV, with writers, producers, etc. (Both Bear and Les have production teams. They can cut and edit the tape to show whatever they want to show and influence or perspectives and beliefs of what he is doing. Maybe the producers have mislead us at times about Bear, is he the liar? - I think not!
Why is nobody calling Les a fraud? Because he is so lame at what he does, that it is difficult to be any worse! When you are at the top, everybody is unning for you. That's were Bear stands...at the top!
These guys rock and both very entertaining and educational for an armchair survivalist such as myself. At the end of the day, I think Les is more prone to a real life injury and sickness since he is out there by himself. Depending what stage of the 7 days he is in, if he breaks a bone, he'll have to survive with his injury until he's crew picks him up. Bear is awesome but he has more options and with a film crew, he can take more risk-he's awesome.
Being a survavlist myself in Hawaii, (in the rainforests and an drylands In the Keauhou and Kailua-Kona region). I can say without a doubt that Bear is a fraud. He provided information on his show that is outrgiht wrong, dangerous, and plain stupid. He took Kukui nuts and went into a cave. Any idiot knows that you should NEVER go into a cave in the Hawaiian islands. There isnt anything in them except for Hawaiian burials. AND the kukui nuts he used for light?! Oh they burn for like....oh... 5 minutes?! After that, you're stuck in a pitch black cave, with a'a lava on the ceiling and ground, clawing your way out. Also in the epidoe, I love how the environment changes so fast. From lava beds...to a place with cliffs, running stream water, and kukui trees? What the heck? Where is that magical land. They obviously filmed...moved locations, and filmed again. Les Stroud is a much more accomplished survivalist. If you disagree, try being a survivalist yourself. Bear is not a survivalist, and he gives viewers BAD information and BAD ideas. Bear's show should be banned.
Why is nobody calling Les a fraud? Because he is so lame at what he does, that it is difficult to be any worse! When you are at the top, everybody is unning for you. That's were Bear stands...at the top!
Bear is not at the top. Its just that when your a as big of a fake as Bear then some people figure it out. I honestly dont see how someone could post saying anything even close to what you were saying if you look into both Les and Bear even just a little bit.
Originally posted by yaleangel: I just saw Les in the Amazon, and it is clear that he has never fished a single day in his life!
Calling Bear a liar? We have seen him climb, dive, swim, eat carcases and raw meats, repell, hunt, skydive, etc. Have we not? So that portion of the show we can all agree is real!
This is reality TV, with writers, producers, etc. (Both Bear and Les have production teams. They can cut and edit the tape to show whatever they want to show and influence or perspectives and beliefs of what he is doing. Maybe the producers have mislead us at times about Bear, is he the liar? - I think not!
Why is nobody calling Les a fraud? Because he is so lame at what he does, that it is difficult to be any worse! When you are at the top, everybody is unning for you. That's were Bear stands...at the top!
This proves nothing other than he is cautious. He is teaching people the importance of crossing lava tubes carefully.
My neighbor died after falling some 60 feet on a climb, and he was only about 200 meters from the interstate. Being closer to a road doesn't make what you do less dangerous, it just means that your chance of being rescued or receiving quick medical assiatance is far greater!
I think the point of these shows are being missed. mvs.w the star is ex-special forces, climber of Everest etc. and is going to show you how to survive and get out of common -tourist/hiker/skier etc. getting lost- situations. He obviously thoroughly researches the areas and uses the research and his physical ability (which includes not carrying 50lbs of equipment since I've never gone anywhere with more than a 1.5lb camera) to show you as many of the opportunities to stay alive in the given area that are possible, to get to help and to get out. Its a television show NOT REAL LIFE SURVIVAL. It is dramatized survival. Survivorman on the other hand is JUST surviving for 7 days. (and by the way, anyone that thinks Les Stroud doesn't constantly have people monitoring his progress or at the very least at the other end of a radio which he carries everywhere he goes is just delusional) It doesn't show you how to get out of an area or how to navigate he just shows you how to survive for 7 days hence the name "survivorman" To compare these 2 is not fair. Mvs.W is like eagle scouts meets crocodile hunter. and survivorman is like watching a nice guy suffer for a week with helpful survival hints thrown in. (I am impressed by his filming, since he is alone) I have never been in any of these situations so I cant say which is more real???? But I would bet NEITHER one! I personally like them both
Why is nobody calling Les a fraud? Because he is so lame at what he does, that it is difficult to be any worse! When you are at the top, everybody is unning for you. That's were Bear stands...at the top!
Bear is not at the top. Its just that when your a as big of a fake as Bear then some people figure it out. I honestly dont see how someone could post saying anything even close to what you were saying if you look into both Les and Bear even just a little bit.
bearc1aw. I have never missed an epi of survivorman. I have scrutiniZed what he does and he is simply not that knowledgeable, isn't in even good shape, doesn't teach, and has a terrible disposition.
Can anybody say that Les has an even neutral disposition. He simply comes across as if he hates what he does!
Except for this season when Les has finally picked up some silly tricks (boiling water in a plastic bottle), I WELCOME ANY AND EVERYBODY WHO READS THIS TO EXPLICITLY TELL ME (AND PROVIDE EXAMPLES) OF WhAT THEY HAVE LEARNED FROM LES!!!! I DARE YOU ALL.
ROFL - Bear (as fine as he is) was faking some of his sh*t. He was sleeping in hotels, misrepresenting his location, eatin' good....Les is the real deal. I watched Bear because he didn't like to wear clothes - that's about it.
There are more video clips on YouTube to support the argument that Bear is NOT a true "survivor" in the wild....heck, his next journey is to survive a Motel 6 experience instead of the 5 star hotels he stays in.
I care very little if Bear Grylls stayed in hotels, but lying about horses running wild while they were trucked in or re-building a raft that experts just dis-assembled or lying about being on a desert island but really is in Hawaii, that's lying about the actual survival aspect of the given area. I would rather have a refreshed "survival expert" show me all of the tricks and ways to survive. Rather than a starving dehydrated guy trying to remember everything, in that capacity. I think both shows are great because they are fundamentally different but I can't see how this bear grylls deceiving the audience will be good for the future of the show even with the disclaimers they are going to put.
I watched Bear because he didn't like to wear clothes
Les gets naked too, just not to show how he can jump into a hole chopped in ice and climb out again.
Neither show is what I'd call information dense. There is no true survival show out there, chock full of useful hints and ideas for the lost dayhiker or backpacker. My idea for such a show would have a different local survival expert each time with Bear or Les setting up a scenario and going into the field with the expert to see how it is done.
Wilderness survival isn't a single subject. Nobody can be a true expert in all of them - or even many of them. The native inhabitants of each area spend a lifetime learning how to coexist within the specific environment they inhabit. An expert in boreal forest survival would be dead meat in the Kalihari.
Neither show deals in realistic scenarios. If you want that, I suggest watching "I Shouldn't Be Alive" and try applying some of the hints from either show to those situations.
Most people who are lost are never more than a couple miles from where they wouldn't be lost, not para-sailed or heli-dropped on some remote mountain top. Many survival situations aren't the result of being lost; they involve an injury, a vehicle breakdown or a sudden weather change that immobilizes them so they physically can't get to safety. Most of the time you have some gear with you or a vehicle to scavenge from.
I like it that Les is testing off-the-shelf survival gadgets. Nice to see what works and what doesn't. (Never going to buy one of those wire cable saws.)
BTW, Les is not "out of shape". He's clearly in better shape than 99.9% of the general public. You try tromping through trackless forest with 50 lbs. of gear on your back after having eaten only one fish, a hand full of berries and a few veggies over seven days of grueling effort.
Still, I love both shows for what they offer and wouldn't miss viewing either one. Bear has an action adventure show while Les has more of a nature documentary.
Bear does so many stupid things, like doing dangerous rock climbs, and cliff jumps and drinking extremely gross water that would totally kill him. The stuff i do in nightmares. This guy NEEDS a safety--er--camera crew. Not a survival show guys, you'll end up dead by trying ANYTHING this P.T. Barnum does. did you guys ever read a bio on Les? he and his wife, (yes he's off the market, sorry.) survived in the ontario wilderness completely alone and self- sufficiently by hunting, and trapping, he documented this in, "Snowshoes and Solitude," which won best documentary in some British competition thing, that i can't quite remember, look him up on the Wiki or wherever this man is truly amazing. Whereas Bear is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Now decide. Duh.
Bear is fake, hands down. His show may be entertaining to watch but trying most of that stuff in the really real world would probably get you killed. My favorite is probably the video of him floating 12 miles down a glacier fed river holding a backpack stuffed with a jacket and plastic bag. He fails to mention the life vest hidden underneath his sweat shirt. After the guys in Jackass got as much heat as they did from copycats it's only a matter of time before some idiot drowns and their parents sue the Discovery Channel.
Okay. I have a few reasons why Bear is better than Les. Here we go.
1. Bear starts out with knife, flint, and canteen. In one episode les started with a TRUCK. 'nuff said.
2. Who cares if Les films his own scenes. Guess what that means. He walks forward...sets up the tripod, then he has to walk back, then walk in front of it and act all surprised when he sees the snake hole. It is so fake it makes me want to puke.
3. HIS NAME IS LES!! THAT IS SHORT FOR LESLIE!! Yeah right someone named Leslie is gonna be cooler than a guy named Bear.
6. Oh and btw. There are only 3 episodes in which Les films everything on his own. If you notice that on at least 2 episodes he is talking to you with his hands at his sides where you can see them, and the camera ZOOMS IN!!!! I hope the discovery channel wisens up and dumps Survivorman in the trash can. Bear is soooo much more hardcore. It makes me want to cry when people try to explain how Les is cooler. I could give like a thousand reasons why Bear is better than Les. i.e. He carried a live snake for 3 hours just so when he beat his head against a rock and cooked it it would be fresh. Thank you.
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Someone said something about les only having a 3 week survival class in college. That's bull. There's no way he could know all that he does only having 3 weeks of training. He's obviously a survival expert and has done a lot of studying and has had a hell of a lot of training in the field of survival.
Les is out there all by himself! Can you imagine how little sleep he gets knowing that if a wild animal were to attack him in the middle of the night he would have to fight it off himself?? Bear can rest easy knowing that if an animal came his crew would jump into action. I think Les is tougher just because he has to spend multiple nights in the wilderness all alone! I went on an one night backping trip by myself once and i got only like an hour of sleep because every little bump or creek that i heard seemed like a grizzly about to devour me.
As for those of you who say that Les is whiny: i personally love how he is real with us and tells when he doesn't feel well and doesn't try to be a super-hard hero. I've not once seen him complain or cry about a single thing.
Originally posted by traxxas_maxx: Les Stroud actually has to survive alone and actually carries and films the show.He has to walk back and forth up and down rocks to get good shots.Bear has a crew to carry the gear and doesnt have to walk around twice as far as Les.Les has barely any things to survive with except his multi tool and a few things his crew gives him.Also if he fails to survive he dies.If Bear gets in danger the crew would come to him like their his parents.And he gets flint.
Alrite. ive been researching both and it seems that both are "survivors" but everyone has to realize that it is a television show and that the producers of that show will look out for their best interest because it is their money at risk. It is obvious that bear can be picked in case of emergency and everyone loves to point that out, but the truth is that Les has been picked up on more than one occasion and people seem to conveniently forget that. But in watching the show bear gives a survivor a sense of purpose (eg find a road, river, etc,..) while Les on the other hand seems to wander aimlessly.
keep in mind that these guys are making television shows on a regular basis and it can only get so real.
It turns out that this topic of conversation is now academic.
A member of Bear Grylls' camera crew came out and reported to the media about a month ago that much of his act was staged. Turns out line58 was totally correct when he wrote that there are no wild horses in the Sierra Nevada. The whistleblower reported that the scene in which Bear tried to ride one of the "wild" horses was fake. The horses were actually domesticated and flown in to the location. He also reported that Bear did not really spend any nights in the wild but actually slept in luxurious hotels along with his crew. Discovery had "no comment" when confronted with this report.
Whatever survival skills Grylls really has, he has deceived his audience by making us believe he was actually surviving out in the wild when in fact he was not. Les Stroud is the real thing. He may not be as "buff" as Grylls or have been a former "British Special Forces", but he is really left all alone to survive in the wild for a week. He doesn't have a professional Hollywood camera crew with him. He's just given a camera on the end of a stick, and his crew, instead of keeping him company in the Hilton every evening, just hopes they find him alive after a week. Anyone who's really interested in survival should watch Survivorman, because he's the real deal - and he's an honest survivalist, not an actor.
In reading the comments from most of the postings, it is clear that there are pros and cons for both men. Bear certainly gets the adrenaline pumping while Les is more methodical. Far be it for me to pan either of them for not being "authentic" because my qualifications are lacking. Some of the posting have been from those with a great deal of experience with outdoor adventures. The extent of my activities consists of the occasional day long hike or bike trip. Because of this, Les appeals to me more. If I were into extreme sports/activities that involved parachute jumping, rock/mountain climbing or white water rafting, I would probably be more inclined to watch Bear. But, because I am the "average" person, I get more benefit from watching Les. Because of him, I know the basics such as how to identify the best firewood and at least 4 different ways to start a fire with no flint or match, methods for trapping simple game, finding drinking water, making simple shelters....these are things that can benefit anyone, especially the average person, if they are lost and alone. Bear's methods may be beneficial but could cause serious injury, which is an almost certain deathwish in these situations. Les may be a bit chatty, but he really tries to give the viewer a personal take on survival as if they were there. If he's lonely, spooked or misses his family, he's man enough to admit it. He also stresses in almost every show that one should always be careful and take time so as to avoid injury, while Bear rushes as if he is being hunted, jumping crevasses, scaling rocky mountains and shooting dangerously strong rapids. These are NOT things that the average person should even attempt unless they are trained and have reliable experience. It's a matter of common sense. There was one episode in particular of Bear in Africa when he located a group of elephants for their dung and squeezed the water out of it into his mouth. Of course you do whatever you have to in a survival situation and squeamishness isn't a luxury you can afford. But as I was watching, all I could think (besides "yuck") was how dangerous elephants are! They are responsible for a number of deaths each year. If you are dehydrated, lost and alone you would be putting yourself in harms way. Of course it made for sensational television but it was poor judgment.
I think it boils down to whether you are watching more so for entertainment, or if you are really interested in survival tactics. With all of the hundreds of shows on television, there is certainly room for both.
OMG!! I'm not about to read every message in this crazy thread I stumbled upon.. I can't believe this is a debate! I've watched a million episodes of each show. I'm a former Marine, in good shape and am a nut about survival and I'll be the first to admit that Les could probably outlast me, he has a great knowledge of the wild and I commend him for actually being alone on his show...However...That Bear Grylls guy is in a WHOLE other league.
And while I'm here... is anyone else sick of watching Les have an orgasam everytime he eats?? I understand that a piece of root or a snail is very tasty when your starving but damn...
Okay I lied... I have nothing better to do on a Sunday night than to read every message in this crazy thread... While I know and have always assumed that the M-V-W show is more of a staged event than SM, The debate here is Bear vs Les as in.. Drop them both off in the same location with the same gear and see which one does better... My money is still on Bear.
Brerin0522 summed up my feelings on les: "survivorman is like watching a nice guy suffer for a week" LOL!! EXACTLY!
If I am in dire need of survival assistance, I would take Bear with me and this is why:
1.) He knows what plants and animals are okay to eat. 2.) He knows to boil water before drinking it. 3.) His attitude is upbeat and positive as he is alone, shivering and cold on a dark night. 4.) He doesn't call in for assistance or help from a camera crew every third episode. 5.) He has credentials and experience. 6.) He tries to get out of where he is dropped off at. He doesn't stick around and wait for someone to get him. 7.) He doesn't bring soda, tissue and everything but the kitchen sink with him.
He is a true survivalist and knows how to live off the land. I have learned so much more from him than I have from Les. End of story.
I like this guy but he is nasty! Bear will eat and attempt to get water from every disgusting, vile thing that he can find. He must have all of the harmless type parasites in him by now. He just ate a frog raw and whole then squeezed water out of elephant dung right into his mouth. He's sick! Les cleans and cooks his food and boils his water!
1.) He knows what plants and animals are okay to eat.
Only because the crew and a survival expert are right there with him.
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2.) He knows to boil water before drinking it.
No... He got sick in the jungle episode from drinking untreated water. and has only boiled water in a couple episodes.
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3.) His attitude is upbeat and positive as he is alone, shivering and cold on a dark night.
Thats because he is NOT alone and spend his nights in hotel rooms not out in the wild. and again he is not alone or for that matter in the WILD half the time but 100yards from a parking lot (Hawaii)
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4.) He doesn't call in for assistance or help from a camera crew every third episode.
Because the crew is ALREADY THERE WITH HIM and they ALL go back to the hotel at night.
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5.) He has credentials and experience.
Bears credentials and experience are iffy at best. Les has been a wilderness guide since 1987.
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6.) He tries to get out of where he is dropped off at. He doesn't stick around and wait for someone to get him.
Again he isn't actually in the wild just 100yards from the road, and sleeps nights in HOTELS!!
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7.) He doesn't bring soda, tissue and everything but the kitchen sink with him.
Because the crew has everything and the kitchen sink (catering truck) with them. AND BEAR SPENDS THE NIGHT IN A HOTEL!!!
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He is a true survivalist and knows how to live off the land. I have learned so much more from him than I have from Les. End of story.
Everything I listed has been confirmed by the survival experts the production company hires and but the new RE-EDITS with new voice overs SAYING that all the food and animals that Bear finds/catches were planted by the crew and that the crew helps Bear build shelters that he does spend the night in because he is staying in a HOTEL!!!
What you have learned from Bear is incorrect!!!Bear is a FRAUD END OF STORY!!!!
if I am interested in a relaxed camping trip, then I might take Les along... and Les has drank muddy, murky water and has gotten sick. Prove to me that Bear has stayed in a hotel every night he is out in the wild. Do you have hotel receipts? It's nice to know there are people out there believing everything they read; it helps with news ratings. Good job!!
Prove to me that Bear has stayed in a hotel every night he is out in the wild. Do you have hotel receipts? It's nice to know there are people out there believing everything they read
in The NEW RE-EDITED shows Bear says that he is not spending the night outdoors. Also Discover has confirmed in a press release that Bear has stayed in hotels.
Someone please please bring back man Vs. wild please we need new episodes no more of the other guy if I want to see someone go camping for 5 days I will just go camping
Both guys are the real deal, in that they both know some survival skills and both have practiced them in differing circumstances.
Personally, I'm entertained by both shows, but feel Les to be a little more real.
Just because it's a "survival" show doesn't mean that you're dropped into the middle of nowhere with nothing. For example, having a broken-down snowmobile is a realistic scenario for someone trekking across Alaska or northern BC. How else would you get so stranded or lost?
Catching fish with your bare hands or with an improvised hook is not a sure thing. Neither is catching a rabbit or other "real" food when you don't have anything but sticks, twigs, and rocks. How is it then, that Bear always succeeds at catching whatever food he wants? Fish? Grab it with your bare hands. Rabbit? Throw a stick at it. Scorpion? Find one on your first try. Bear may be more entertaining to watch in that regard, but to make you think about survival, Les's 80% failure rate seems far more realistic.
Les also tends to outline his plan a little better. Sometimes, it's just survival while waiting for rescue, while others requires that he move toward civilization. Bear, on the other hand, doesn't outline his plan, but no matter where he goes (runs), he's always saying things like "I've GOTTA get to the bottom of this cliff" or "I've GOTTA get across this river" without pondering alternatives or cost/benefit. Where the heck is he going in such a hurry?
Bear also gives out a lot of bizarre erroneous advice. In the Copper Canyon episode, he "magnetized" a piece of wire by rubbing it in his hair. WTF? First of all, you can only give a static charge to something by doing that, not magnetize it. Secondly, you can't give a static charge to something as conductive as wire (this is why ballons (latex) and amber are used in experiments; they're insulators). Third, even if you applied a charge to a wire, it wouldn't be magnetic. So when Bear puts the wire on a leaf and it spins around, likely by him blowing on it, he gives the impression that something works when it does not. Les's erroneous advice (and there is some) is followed by failure and disappointment, as it would be if you were really doing it.
I also noticed in the Iceland episode how Bear jumped 30ft into the freezing water because he saw some steam in the distance and "had" to get across the river. Now, if that hadn't been a pool of warm water and it was real life, he would have died of hypothermia. So again, there's no weighing of the consequences before jumping in - his crew is obviously carrying a warm, dry set of clothes for him.
When he got over to the warm water, he laid (not hung..laid) his clothes on the riverbank, while WEARING his pants in the water. When he warmed up, he walked away, and the cloths -- including the pants! -- were completely dry. It's not a travesty to have a support crew or extra supplies along, but at least show the results of your behavior of trashing about in the water before exposing yourself to -10F temperatures!
In short, if you are looking for entertainment only, and fast action (does Bear ever walk?), Man vs. Wild could give you some cool ideas for stunts and maybe survival. If you want to see more or less real survival, in more realistic terms -- the failures as well as successes -- then Les is your guy.
I'm not bashing MvW; I like watching it. But I'd rather not he pretend he was *really* surviving when the odds are tipped so much in his favor, and some of his survival techniques that are based on fallacy magically "work" on the show.
Nail in the coffin, right there!
