Does Rolling Your Clothes Save Space?
Q: Does rolling up your clothes really work when packing?
Ask the Gear Guy
Not sure which gear to buy? Need tips for maintaining your equipment? Ask the Gear Guy for help.
Stuff We Like: Smart XXL Camping Cot
OK, OK, this cot is heavy, bulky and pricey. But this is “Stuff We Like,” and we like this cot.
3 Tough Phone Cases for the Outdoors
Q: When I go camping, I don’t want my phone to get damaged. Can you recommend any good phone cases for the outdoors?
Does a Sleeping Bag’s Degree Level Matter?
Q: When choosing a sleeping bag, does the degree level really matter or is it just a recommendation for comfort?
Recommend a Durable Tent That’s Easy to Set Up
Q: I don’t have a tent, and we might need to camp a lot. Do you have some good recommendations?
Stuff We Like: Max Shade Chair
With the Max Shade Chair by Quik Shade, you can instantly have shade wherever you are.
Best Multitool That’s Both Useful and Affordable
Q: What’s the best type of multitool that’s useful and affordable?
High-Quality Rain Ponchos That Are Also Affordable
Q: My troop camps a lot, and sometimes it rains. What is some quality rain gear that’s also affordable?
Best Water Bottle for a Long Camping Trip
Q: I am going on a long camping trip. What is the best water bottle to bring?
Stuff We Like: SansBug Mosquito Nets
If you’re sleeping under the stars or in a canvas wall tent, you might want to consider getting a mosquito net.
How to Whittle Your Own Tent Stakes
Q: My troop is going camping, and we lost our tent stakes. Can we use whittled sticks?
Stuff We Like: NanoTorch Twist
This powerful flashlight has a magnet on one end, so you can stick it to metal and free up your hands.
Where to Find a Good Fishing Pole for Backpacking?
Q: What pole should I take that can handle being carried around and that will fit in my pack?
Can You Hang a Hammock in a Tent?
Q: Is there a way to hang a hammock inside a tent?
Camping Blanket Instead of Sleeping Bag?
Q: What is the best camping blanket? Have you ever used a Rumpl? They look cool.
How to Keep Patrol Cooking Gear Clean?
Q: How can my patrol keep our cooking gear clean?
How Do I Keep Gear Dry in a Kayak?
Q: I'm going on a six-day kayak trek. I know what to bring, but don't know how to pack it to keep it dry. Any suggestions?
How Do You Clean a Bugle?
Q: How do you clean a bugle that hasn't been used for several years?
How to Stop Rolling Off Your Sleeping Pad
Q: I keep rolling off my sleeping pad. What can I do to sleep better?
What is the Most Important Backcountry Skill?
Q: What is the most important backcountry skill all Scouts should know?
No Cotton? Here’s the Best Clothing to Wear When Camping
Q: My friends say I can't wear my normal cotton T-shirts when we go camping. What should I wear instead?
How to Avoid Ticks on Hikes
Q: I keep getting attacked by ticks on hikes! What can I do?
Help! How Can I Stop Smelly Gear?
All my gear reeks! How can I prevent that smell?
Which Lightweight Jacket is Best?
Q. What kind of jacket do you recommend for a spring trip to Philmont? If possible, I need it to be lightweight and around $100.
How to Fuel Your Body in the Backcountry
Q. What's the trick to having enough energy while on a big outing?
How Do I Store a Camp Kitchen?
Q. I have everything I need for my first camp kitchen except for a good way to store it. Any ideas?
How Tall Should a Walking Stick Be?
Q. I'm making my own walking stick. How big should it be?
Do I Need to Pack a Pillow?
Q. How important is it to pack a pillow for my upcoming backpacking trip?
3 Tips for Setting Up Your Tent
Q. My friends keep telling me I'm setting up my tent wrong. How should I be setting it up?
How to Keep Dirt Out of Your Tent
Q. I hate when the inside of my tent gets filthy. I always track in dirt from my boots. Any tips for keeping it cleaner?
Comfortable Camping With a Bad Back
Q. I have a bad back. I don’t care if it’s a mat or a cot, but I need something to keep me more comfortable while camping.
Stuff We Like: Phoozy
The Phoozy is a thermal capsule that protects your smartphone from heat or cold.
How Do You Keep Food From Getting Soggy in a Cooler?
Q. When the ice melts in my cooler, it gets everything all wet and soggy. What can I do to avoid this?
How to Keep Pots From Turning Black
How do you keep pots from your mess kit from turning black when using them over a fire?
Need Good Boots That Aren’t Too Expensive
Q. The bottoms of my boots wore off, so I'm in desperate need of some good boots that aren't too expensive.
Prevent Tripping Over Tent Guy Lines
Q. How can I keep people from tripping on my tent guy lines at night?
4 Tips to Make Your Tent Last
Q. Hello Gear Guy, I just got a new tent. What can I do to make sure it lasts me the longest amount of time possible?
How to Replace a Broken Tent Pole
Q. Yo Gear Guy! This weekend when I was setting up my two-man tent to air-dry, one of the fiberglass poles broke. Any places that I could go to get a replacement?
How to Clean a Dirty Pocketknife
Q. Dear Gear Guy, I got a pocketknife from my grandfather, and it's all dirty and rusty. Can you tell me how to clean it, please?
How to Prevent Smelly Gear
I'm going to the 2017 National Jamboree. What is the best way to prevent my gear from getting smelly as I use it?
Best Tent for a Good Price?
What's the best tent I can buy for a good price?
Tips to Lighten a Backpack
Q. My troop likes to go backpacking. I’d like to participate, but my pack is really heavy. How do I lighten it?
Best Way to Build a Survival Shelter
Q. What is your best idea for a survival shelter? How would you build it?
Looking for Durable and Comfortable Pants
Q. I'm looking for pants durable for trail building and comfortable for wearing around camp. Ideas?
Blow-up Sleeping Pads
Q: Is it worth it to buy a blow-up sleeping pad?
Best Way to Get Ready For a Long Hike?
Q. My troop is going on a 25-mile hike soon. What is the best way to prepare for it?
Good Shoes For Both Hiking and Gym
Q. I'm looking for a good pair of hiking shoes I can wear to gym class. Ideas?
Staying Warm in a Hammock
Q. I think hammocks are comfortable, but I don’t like being cold at night. What’s the best way to stay warm in one?
How to Tell if a Bike Tire is Full Enough?
Q. Yesterday my friend told me my bike tires needed air, but I don't think so. How can you tell if a tire is pumped up enough?
Will my sleeping bag be warm enough?
Q. My dad says my sleeping bag will be fine in the cold, but I’m not so sure. What do you think I should do?