Topics of Expertise: Knives, Emergency Preparedness, Hiking, Outdoor Gear
Years in This Expertise: 30+
Number of Products & Number of Hours Expert Has Tested: 600+ products, 1,000+ hours
Education & Certifications
Education: Associate Degree, University of Wisconsin
Years of Writing: 20+
Certifications: CPR, First Aid
Club or Association Memberships: LT Wright Pout House, Bark River Knives Collectors Association, Buck Collectors Club
Previous Publications: Knives Illustrated, EDC Magazine, Knife Magazine, Field & Stream, American Survival Guide, Survivor’s Edge, Prepper Survival Guide, Backwoods Survival Guide, Survivalist Magazine, Boy’s Life
Experience
Growing up in rural southern Wisconsin, Cobb spent far more time in the forest than he did anywhere else. When he was about 10, his older cousin gifted him with a Buck 110 Folding Hunter. From that point on, he was hooked on knife collecting. Today, he owns far more blades than any single person could reasonably need in a dozen lifetimes.
From a similarly young age, Cobb understood the need for being prepared for emergencies. Add in coming of age during the height of the Cold War and it makes perfect sense that he gravitated toward what was known then as survivalism. Largely self-taught, he experimented with various skills and projects he read about, finding out through firsthand experience what worked and what didn’t.
Later, several years into a career as a private investigator, he started combining his interest in preparedness with his love of writing. He began contributing articles to blogs and message boards, eventually landing a gig creating content for a survival gear website. This led to writing for magazines, as well as book projects. Along the way, Cobb developed a reputation for providing practical, down to earth survival and preparedness information.
Beginning in 2017, Cobb has been Editor in Chief for Backwoods Survival Guide magazine, as well as its sister publication Prepper Survival Guide, currently on hiatus. Over the years, he has contributed hundreds of product reviews to those and similar publications. He has a particular passion for spotlighting smaller companies that are doing amazing work.
Career Highlights
Being tapped to head up Prepper Survival Guide and Backwoods Survival Guide magazines
Assisting Sustain Supply, a division of Cyalume Industries, in the creation of a line of survival kits
Being an instructor for the Make Ready to Survive video series from Panteao Productions
Co-hosting the How to Survive 2025 podcast
A Word from Jim Cobb
As a certified, or is it certifiable, knife nut, I firmly believe I have one of the best jobs in the world. I get to spend my day playing with knives and other cool gear, then reporting my findings. I’ve always tried to be fair and reasonable with reviews and concentrate on sharing the information I would want to know about the product myself.
My personal interests include hiking, camping, reading, music, and spending time with our granddaughter. I’m also bound and determined to get a novel finished sometime in the next year.
Founded in 2001. 15,000 products reviewed. Live the outdoors.Founded in 2001. 15,000 products reviewed. Live the outdoors.Founded in 2001. 15,000 products reviewed. Live the outdoors.Founded in 2001. 15,000 products reviewed. Live the outdoors.
