Guides, Survival, TV Shows

Top 10 Reality Survival Shows to Prepare You for the Apocalypse

Nicole from Alone

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The reality TV show fad has enjoyed some highs and lows, but the fact remains: they’re entertaining as heck. But I also feel like, hidden within the obvious scripts and cunning editing, there are some actual valuable lessons that we can all learn. And I’m not talking about which person to make out with in the Big Brother mansion’s hot tub, but real-life education that could help us when the world decides it’s tired of our stupidity.


So let’s take a look at my favorites. This is a collection of my own top 10 reality survival shows that I’ve watched to death. This list is based less on the personalities of the stars or contestants and more on what you can learn from them.

10. The Island with Bear Grylls

7.4
The Island with Bear Grylls  | TV Series (2014– ) 2820min | Reality-TV | TV Series (2014– )
Stars: Bear Grylls, Ross Blair, Beth Brown
Summary: A group of British men or women are taken to a remote, uninhabited Pacific island by Bear Grylls, and left completely alone for six weeks, with nothing but cameras, the clothes they're ... See full summary »
Countries: UKLanguages: English
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9. Out of the Wild: Alaska Experiment

8.2
Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment  | TV Series (2009– ) Reality-TV | TV Series (2009– )
Stars: Mykel Hawke Pierce, Frederic Birt, Trish Bulinsky
Summary: Left with only the barest of essentials, nine ordinary Americans will travel sixty of the harshest miles on the planet while battling hunger, fatigue, and an unforgiving winter
Countries: USA
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8. Dual Survival

7.5
Dual Survival  | TV Series (2010– ) 60min | Adventure, Reality-TV | TV Series (2010– )
Stars: Cody Lundin, Paul Christie, Dave Canterbury
Summary: Experts agree there are some very basic - and universal - rules for surviving in the wild. Find shelter, find water, find food, find help. Beyond that, there's not much they agree on. Meet ... See full summary »
Countries: USALanguages: English
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7. Survive This

6.8
Survive This  | TV Series (2009–2010) 1320min | Action, Adventure, Reality-TV | TV Series (2009–2010)
Writer: Les StroudStars: Holden Adams, Adam Deganis, Becca Mehaffey
Summary: 8 teens from the Toronto area head into the wilderness to survive.
Countries: CanadaLanguages: English
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6. Primal Survivor

8.3
Primal Survivor  | TV Series (2016– ) Documentary | TV Series (2016– )
Stars: Hazen Audel
Summary: Primal Survivor tracks wilderness guide and survival instructor Hazen Audel as he tackles some of mankind's most rigorous journeys, relying on skills learned from native inhabitants.After ... See full summary »
Countries: USALanguages: English
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5. Man Vs. Wild

8.1
Man vs. Wild  | TV Series (2006–2020) 60min | Adventure, Reality-TV | TV Series (2006–2020)
Stars: Bear Grylls, Will Ferrell, Sean Lacoste
Summary: Bear Grylls travels the world in search of challenges to his survival skills.
Countries: UKLanguages: English
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4. Alone

8.4
Alone  | TV Series (2015– ) 2640min | Documentary, Reality-TV | TV Series (2015– )
Stars: Nicole Apelian, Dan, David
Summary: Ten survival "experts" attempt to survive alone. The winner receives $500,000.
Countries: USALanguages: English
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3. Survivorman

8.2
Survivorman  | TV Series (2004– ) 2640min | Documentary, Adventure | TV Series (2004– )
Writer: Les StroudStars: Les Stroud, Todd Standing, Logan Stroud
Summary: No food, no shelter, no fresh water - one man alone in the wild for seven days with only his wits and stamina to sustain him.
Countries: CanadaLanguages: English
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2. Frontier House

8.5
Frontier House  | TV Mini-Series (2002– ) History, Reality-TV | TV Mini-Series (2002– )
Stars: Kristen Brooks, Nate Brooks, Rudy Brooks
Summary: The Year: 1883. The Place: The Montana Territory. The Challenge: Blizzards, hunger, scorching sun, forest fires, the neighbors, and more ... Three modern families experienced life on the ... See full summary »
Countries: UK, USALanguages: English
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1. The Colony

7.8
The Colony  | TV Series (2009– ) Reality-TV | TV Series (2009– )
Stars: Michael Raines, Joey Sciacca, John Valencia
Summary: A group of strangers gathered for three months to test out the concept of rebuilding civilization.
Countries: USALanguages: English
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So which one is your favorite? Would you change this list at all?

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    Shawn has been infatuated with the post-apocalyptic genre since he wore out his horribly American-dubbed VHS of the original Mad Max as a child. Shawn is the former Editor-in-Chief at Massively.com, creator of the Aftermath post-apocalyptic immersion event, and author of "AI For All," a guide to navigating this strange new world of artificial intelligence.
    He currently resides on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere with his wife and four children.

    Don't even think about sharing this article.

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