When it comes to planning for backcountry adventures, we should always spare a thought for the local wildlife. The risk of encountering and being bitten by a snake, even in…
Outdoor Basics
Outdoor basics are the core skills that keep a trip safe and comfortable, setting up shelter, sleeping warm, cooking on a stove, navigating without a phone, and handling minor injuries. Get those right and the rest is detail.
New to this? Start with the beginner camping gear checklist, which breaks a first kit into five systems and puts a real price on it (roughly US$250–450 for two people). Then sort your cooking with how to pick a camping stove.
Navigation. Batteries die and signal drops. A topo map and compass weigh under 100 g and always work, map reading covers contours and bearings, and navigating by the stars is the backup for when you’ve lost the trail after dark.
Safety. Most camp incidents are preventable. Our camping safety guide covers the six habits that matter most, plus specifics like the UV Index and the poison ivy rash timeline.
Gear care. Repair beats replacement. A jammed zipper rarely means a new tent — see tent zipper repair and repairing leather hiking boots.
Everything here is written from field use. Browse the full archive below, or head to Top Gear Picks if you already know the skill and just need the kit.
How to Keep Food Warm During Hiking: Advice from an Experienced Hiker
If you are like me and absolutely love to go hiking and backpacking in the mountains, you probably focus on the experience itself and not the food. But having some…
How to Make a Smokeless Fire: Complete Guide and Tips
When it comes to camping, you’re going to need the essentials. That means suitable clothing, plenty of food to get by, some gear to catch your own food, and a…
How to Care For a Blister: Avoiding Infection
How to care for a blister can be confusing, as well as painful. While it is best to prevent blisters before they start, treating them properly is essential to a…
LNT Principles: 7 Rules to Help Preserve Nature
We all want to leave our mark on the world by achieving great things, but when it comes to outdoor activities, the opposite is actually the goal. The wilderness is…
How to Scare a Bear: Insightful Tips During Bear Encounter
To scare a bear away, make yourself look big, stay calm, and be loud and firm without screaming. Raise your arms, speak in a low steady voice, group up with…
How to Find Water in the Desert: Essential Survival Skill in the Desert
We always make sure to bring plenty of water bottles with us when we venture out into the great sand dunes. It’s all well and good if you stay safely…
Pocket Knife Brands: Top Brands That Make the Cut
The best pocket knife brands include Benchmade, Buck, Spyderco, Kershaw, Victorinox, Case, and Cold Steel, each of which has earned a loyal following through decades of quality craftsmanship, smart design,…
How to Keep Bears Away from Your Campsite: Safety Practices to Prevent Unwelcome Encounters
To keep bears away from your campsite, control food odors and store all food, trash, and scented items in a bear canister or hung well out of reach, camp in…
How Long to Digest Water: Helpful Facts About Water Absorption
Water is absorbed fast. On an empty stomach it can begin reaching your bloodstream within about 5 minutes, and most of it is absorbed within 20 minutes to 2 hours,…
Hyvent vs Gore Tex: Selecting The Best Breathable Outwear
When it comes to selecting outerwear that is designed to keep you dry and warm, you want to go with something that’s reliable yet still stylish. You may have heard…
Gore-Tex Spray: How to Restore DWR on Jackets, Boots and Gloves
“Gore-Tex spray” is a catch-all term for a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment you spray onto the outside of a Gore-Tex garment when rain stops beading and starts soaking in.…