A week or two ago I posted an article about the backpacking cookset on a budget where I mentioned some cheap cooking pots. I just wanted to show one of them in this post / video and how these cheap options don’t mean a sacrifice of creature comforts. In Bolivia …

I know this will appeal to a small subsection of my readership, but I’ve been meaning to sit down and do some altitude speed runs of some alcohol stoves (10500 feet up). In the below video I start the stove and immediately put the pot on to boil 2 cups …

Ok, the snow has started falling and the outdoorist in you has probably already started thinking about various modes of winter travel. Because a dogsled team probably is out of your reach and you’re not expecting anyone to buy you what you really want, why not put together a pair …

I remember my first backpacking trip when I was a kid. My dad took me out for 3 days to a beautiful, spring fed lake in the mountains. We packed a 10 year old A-frame tent, garage sale, used external frame packs and low end, big box store sleeping bags. …

My first cook setup Ok, I’m going to start with something that has bothered me. In the forums there are at least a handful of people that, on the subject of backpacking gear say things like, “well you’re prepared to spend XXX on YYY so why aren’t you prepared to …

The days are getting shorter and all those parents out there have probably already been reminded to read to their children. If you’re into the outdoors, survival, primitive skills or even simple just a history buff then I strongly recommend the Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Somehow I …

When you hike, you carry a survival kit that should cover the basic needs for yourself in a survival situation. When you hike with children you carry a bit bigger kit to help you care for your needs and the child’s. But what happens if you get separated from the …

“I know the theory”… I chuckle when I hear that. Not because it isn’t true, but like anything, there are so many factors that you don’t see on paper. As much as understanding the concept, one has to consider the physical effort/coordination/will to survive that plays a part in successfully …

In my search to turn old junk into DIY projects, I’ve come out with a new alcohol stove: The tomato burner. It’s a side burner stove made out of 2 small tomato paste cans. Technically that should mean it’s healthier :). The benefit of the small size of the stove …

You have probably heard the stories of people caught out in extreme circumstances that managed to get out of a potentially fatal situation alive. The fact is that the survived, but how they managed is what is important for you and me. In three points you can present a summary …

Most if not all of us in the outdoor community are trying to get our kids involved and interested in the outdoors. We’re trying to create an awareness of the wilds and we’ll take any resource that makes that easier. It seems like HarpersTrophy is up with that as it …

“Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink.” So says the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. I say that our friend forgot to pack his desalination still. I had been planning to make a still to purify and remove the salt from salt water for a while. A few …