Category Archives: Outdoor Gear

Mountain House Meals

The Best Mountain House Meals

I have been eating Mountain House meals for many years now. The best part about these meals is there are NO DISHES! Simply boil water in a cup and pour it right in the bag. After 8-9 minutes it will be ready to eat right from the bag. Mountain House has come out with a new Pro-Pak option that is vacuum sealed and much smaller than the standard meals.

For a list of flavors and more information- http://amzn.to/2vWjywz

Check out how they are made –

 

Cotton Bandana

10 Ways To Use A Cotton Bandana

There are a ton of ways to use a cotton bandana. Here are 10 reasons why you should always carry a bandana no matter what the environment!

  1. Wipe nose or sweat – wipe sweat out of your eyes or to wiping your running nose is always a plus.
  2. Dust Mask – by wrapping the bandana around your nose you can keep from breathing in dust, smoke, or other particles.
  3.  Keeping Cool – by getting the bandana wet and wrapping it around your neck or wrists it will help in evaporating cooling in hot climates.
  4. Cleaning – wipe off a chair before you sit or wiping out dirty cups is always a good use for your bandana.
  5. Sling for First Aid – wrapping an injured arm up in a sling is always good to keep the weight off of it. You can also use branches to sling a finger or leg to hold everything in place intel you find help.
  6. Sun Block – You can wrap the bandana around your neck to help keep the sun off.
  7. Trail Markers – You can cut your bandana into strips and tie them to branches to help keep you from getting lost.
  8. Signal Device – You can use a bright orange bandana to signal for help or you raise attention to a certain area or obstruction.
  9. Water Filtering – remove large debris from water before boiling or using your water filter. It can help in saving you time and also help in the longevity of your main water filter.
  10. Sponge Bath – keeping yourself clean is very important no matter where you are, using a bandana as a rag makes keeping clean that much easier.

Bonus – Band Aids – cutting your bandana into strips can make for a great improvised band aid for minor cuts or scrapes.

Camping Fathers Day Gift Ideas

Fathers Day is just around the corner. If you need some camping gift ideas here is a list of 20 camping gift ideas for this Fathers Day. This is just a quick list I thought up. There are tons of options but just remember one of the best gifts of all is the love we share. Ok, here we go!

  1. A New Tent
  2. Hammock
  3. Tarp for the Hammock camping
  4. Knife
  5. Stainless Steel Water Bottle Kit
  6. Titanium Canteen Kit
  7. Flashlight
  8. Anker Battery Charger – So he can always call home
  9. Stanley Mess Ket – to eat well in the woods
  10. Lucy Light
  11. Sleeping Pad – Only the best for Dad
  12.  Woodcraft Axe
  13. Packable Jacket – for Rain or Cold
  14. Pants
  15. Socks
  16. Ursack – to keep food away from bears
  17. Bluetooth Speaker
  18. Knife Sharpener
  19. Alcohol Stove
  20. Good Book

These are just some camping gift ideas that I have. Make sure to click the underlined words to learn more about each item. Remeber Camping is all about relaxing and being with family. Sometimes the best Fathers day gift of all is just spending time with your dad learning how to love and enjoy nature. Also, make sure to click on the picture and leave all of your great gift ideas in the comments. There are a lot of great dads with a lot of great gift ideas!

Camping List for Beginners

Having a camping list can not only save you time packing but can also guarantee your comfort and relaxation in the woods.  This Camping list is just going to cover some of the basic beginner camping gear that you should bring but like any list, adding and modifying items is always going to be a must. So feel free to leave a comment sharing your camping list and the things you think every beginner needs.

Let’s Start!

  1. Ground Tarp – Putting a tarp under your tent will increase the lifespan of your tent by keeping sticks and pine needles from poking holes in the bottom. It will also help by keeping the moisture from the morning dew from soaking into your tent floor.
  2. Tent – Having a private place to change, escape the elements, and get a good night sleep is a must when you are out enjoying nature.
  3. Air Mattress – A comfortable nights sleep is very important especially after a long day of hiking, swimming, fire building, and enjoying the great outdoors.
  4. Air Mattress Pump – Being able to easily inflate your air mattress saves on a lot of frustration just make sure to the batteries are charged.
  5. Sleeping Bag – Having a sleeping bag that is rated to the temperature you are going to be sleeping through is key to a good night sleep. Sleeping bags that are rated to warm will be too hot all night but too low of a rating and you will freeze. So always make sure to check the weather and plan accordingly remember you can always bring extra blankets.
  6. Pillow – There are many different kinds of camp pillows on the market but just bringing what you have at home is always a good comfortable option just make sure to wash the pillow case when you get home.

Now you should have a nice place to call home for the night or weekend depending on your trip but, what are we going to cook with? There are a ton of options when it comes to camp cooking but just to get you started let’s start this list like this.

  1. Camp Stove – This stove is very easy to use and works much like the propane stoves you find in some homes. All you need is a full canister and you are ready to cook anything you want just like you would on a stove top. Just remember to keep a close eye on everything because it’s hard to gauge how much heat is being put out.
  2. Grill Lighter – Having a grill lighter makes starting your camp stove and the fire pit much easier because you are able to reach down into the center of your tinder. You can find these at any local gas station.
  3.  Cookware – When it comes to pots and pans this really comes down to personal preference. Some people go very minimal with small pans and cups. While others who love to cook go all out with full sized pots and pans and eat like a king in the woods. Both have their pros and cons.
  4. Cooking Utensils – Making sure you can flip your bacon is a must in my book. Again this is different for everyone, some people use a fork while others bring actual kitchen utensils. There are a ton of camping options for this one so make sure to do your research.
  5. Eating Utensils – The minimal spork is always a camp favorite but cheap plastic silverware works just as well and save on time you spend on clean up.
  6. Plates and Bowls – Again there are a ton of lightweight options for packable plates and bowls but paper plates and wax paper bowls will save you time on cleanup and give you more time enjoying the great outdoors.
  7. Cooler – Your cooler is your outdoor mini fridge just make sure you bring lots of ice to keep the food and drinks cold. A trick I use is freezing water in old Gatoraid bottles before the trip. I can use the bottles as ice to keep the cooler cold but as they melt I have water to drink during the day.
  8. Water Jug – It’s time to do the dishes. When you are out camping you don’t always have running water. So by having a water jug, it makes things like clean up that much easier. I always bring bottles of water to drink and just use my water jug for cleanup.

Now that our bellies are full let’s go over some more items I think should be on everyone’s camping list.

  1. Sunblock
  2. Bug Spray
  3. Hand Sanitizer
  4. Shower Bag
  5. Toilet Bag
  6. Towels
  7. Cotton Bandana
  8. Clothes
  9. Swimwear
  10. Knife
  11. Axe
  12. Folding Saw
  13. Camera
  14. Spare Batteries
  15. Flashlight
  16. Map/Compass
  17. Fire Starter
  18. Gorilla Tape
  19. Knife Sharpener
  20. Good Book
  21. Camp Chair
  22. Water Filter

What would you add? Make sure to leave your comments and let others know your Camping List when enjoying a relaxing weekend at camp.

Water Containers

We all know that water is one of the most important things for survival, and we have already covered filtration, but what is the best water containers to carry? It comes down to how long you intend your venture to last as well as personal preference. Here are my top three:

  1. For my short hikes, I love my 32 oz Crystal Drip. The reason that I only use this for short hikes is that the bottle is double-walled and vacuum insulated, which means you should not use it in the fire. Since you should not put it in the fire to purify your water by methods of boiling, it is not ideal for long treks where you have to refill. The best thing about this bottle is how cold it keeps your water, it will stay ice-cold in my experience for a whole day out in the field. 
  2. Another good option that works for both short and long trips, is a good old fashioned stainless steel water bottle, such as the Pathfinder Stainless Steel Water Bottle. This bottle keeps water reasonably cool and is not double-walled so you can place it into a fire to boil water for purification. This makes it the most useful water container on the list because you can refill it, boil with it and have no worries.
  3. For a bit of a longer hike, I take my Platypus Big Zip LP Reservoir. This water bladder comes in three different sizes (1.5 L, 2 L, and 3 L) I have the 2-liter reservoir. This is the greatest reservoir that I have found: it is easy to fill, the big zip prevents leaks and it has a comfortable bite-valve. The Platypus does not take up too much room in your pack and on an extra hot day, I will pair this with my Crystal Drip or Pathfinder water bottle.

Knowledge Equals Survival

When it comes to the outdoors knowledge equals survival, it not only aids in acquiring skills needed to accomplish tasks, but also helps in maintaining and improving on everything we once learned and knew.  Camping is no different there are tons of different aspects and journeys one can take and by having the knowledge of the land plus the skills needed to conquer the conditions it really makes a difference in how you enjoy nature. My main teachers can be found not only on YouTube but also in the books I have read. I want to share with you the books that have taught me the skills needed to be confident and comfortable in the woods.

  1. Bushcraft 101 A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival –  Dave Canterbury started a series of books with this one but of the ones I have read this is still my favorite. It goes through all the basic knowledge of not only camping but true primitive living. The pictures in this book help to imagine what needs to be done to make certain that you understand what he is talking about and how it helps in a woodland environment. I also enjoy the fact that Dave also has a YouTube Channel that you can find videos on everything he talks about in this book to better knowledge yourself and learn in different ways.
  2. The Peterson Field Guides – I myself have the books about Edible Wild Plants, Medicinal Plants, and Herbs, and Eastern Trees.  These field guides are small and easy to bring with into the woods to help identify different plants and trees. Having a knowledge of what the earth can provide for you can help turn an emergency into a minor setback. The books are full of information to help identify and use each plant you come across.
  3. SAS Survival Handbook For Any Climate In Any Situation – This book is FULL of information not only about camping but also survival. The information in this book can keep you alive and comfortable in most cases and I must say the amount of knowledge I have gained from this book is by far worth every penny. I feel everyone should own a copy of the SAS Survival Handbook just to be ready for whatever might come your way.
  4. The Survival Handbook Essential Skills For Outdoor Adventure – When it comes to a good end table read this book fits the bill. There are a ton of big graphic pictures in this book that not only illustrate the knowledge being shared but it always goes over a wide variety of different topics to help spread your knowledge and keeps you wanting to learn more. I myself flip through the pages, find a picture that catches my eye and learn something new or something I might not have thought of before.  For everyone that is just starting in outdoor adventures, this is a good book that will keep your attention and help you learn.
  5. Survive and Thrive a Pocket Guide To Wilderness Safety Skills – This is a children’s book all about camping and wildlife. This book has a lot of very basic camping knowledge and fun activities you can do while spending your days in the woods. It is a very fun book to read to kids and helps get ideas for different snacks and activities. Even though this book is aimed at a much younger reader there is still a lot of knowledge in this book and being so easy to read I find myself going through it as a refresher from time to time.

Knowledge is power, and by knowledging yourself you will be able to better perform different tasks and skill that not only make your time in the woods safer but also a ton more fun!

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The 10 C’s of Survivability

We have already gone over the original 5 C’s of Survivability. Now we will cover the next 5 C’s that will better round out your kit. The 10 C’s of survivability are how I start off every kit or list of gear I need. Each piece of the 10 C’s kit is very important to have on you when out in the woods.

Candling Device – Having light can turn any situation into a much safer more relaxed environment. Being able to see what you are facing is huge in any situation and having the ability to have the sense of sight in a dark area makes basic movement that much easier. I usually always carry a flashlight on me whether it’s just a small one in my pocket or a much larger more powerful one in my pack or vehicle. One of the best options for in camp is a headlamp, wearing a headlamp allows you to light up whatever you are looking at while still having both hands free to perform task around camp.

Compass – Having a compass that points north and helps you find your escape route is very important. Just as important is knowing your area and having a plan so when things don’t go as planned you have a general direction to head to avoid major threats. knowing which direction the highway is or a major river makes the compass that much more of a tool to help aid you in self-help or self-rescue. Also, having a compass with a mirror and magnifying glass makes your compass a very versatile piece of kit.

Cotton – Having a cotton bandana is a very important and useful piece of kit. It can be used to help in first aid, filtering water, can be turned into char cloth, protects from the sun and the wind, and when wet it can be used to help cool you down on a hot day. There are tons of uses for a cotton bandana and the uses are extended if you choose to carry a shemagh which is basically the same thing only larger.

Cargo Tape – Having Cargo tape I prefer Gorilla Tape can aid you in many ways as well. It can help with repairs, help waterproof holes in tarps or clothes, can be broken down into a flammable tinder bundle, not to mention all the other things that can be made out of tape such as bowls and cups.

Canvas Needle – Having a sail needle doesn’t seem like a very important piece of kit to carry but it can perform in many different ways. Having a sharp sail needle can be used to help dig out slivers or splinters, it can also be used to punch holes in leather, or start a hole in a piece of wood to start carving out a bow drill set. If the needle is magnetized it can also be turned into a compass to help find your north/south line to help aid in finding your way back to camp.

Having all 10 C’s allows you to have all the tools needed to find your way, shelter in place, or safely navigate through the woods. So all of my kits Start with the 10 C’s which are Cutting, Combustion, Container, Cordage, Cover, Candling device, Compass, Cotton, Cargo tape, Canvas needle. These basic pieces of gear will help keep you safe and somewhat comfortable in the woods. also by having pieces that serves more than one purpose can help you that much more, such as a compass that also has a mirror.