Steel-toed boots for hiking?
Q. Dear Gear Guy, Is it a good idea to wear steel-toed boots for hiking?Ask the Gear Guy
Not sure which gear to buy? Need tips for maintaining your equipment? Ask the Gear Guy for help.
Q. Dear Gear Guy, Is it a good idea to wear steel-toed boots for hiking?
Are hiking poles a waste of money?
Q. I'm going on a backpacking trip and am wondering if I should get hiking poles or not.
Keep kayak paddles from slipping
When I'm kayaking, my paddle is always slipping through my hands. Can you help me?
A good, durable camp saw
I want to buy a camp saw that will really last. Something that can take a beating. It doesn’t need to be lightweight for packing since we usually drive to our campsites. Any suggestions?
What to pack in a daypack?
Q. What should you pack in a daypack at Scout camp?
Sharpening a pocketknife
When and how should I sharpen my pocketknives?
How to pick the right-sized snowboard
Q. I'm going snowboarding and need to know: What's the correct way to pick the right-sized snowboard for me?
Cold weather hats
What is the best hat to hold in the heat while hiking in the snow or really cold weather?
Fast-drying boots
I'm going to Northern Tier High Adventure Base this summer and need a pair of boots that can dry quickly. They need to be light, closed-toe, fast-drying and fast-draining, considering I might be walking in water. What's the best choice?
Fix a torn stuff sack
Q. I'm having problems with the stuff sack that holds my backpacking tent. It's wearing out on the bottom, and I was wondering what would fix it.
Winter jacket for hiking
How can I find a good winter jacket for hiking at a good best price?
Choosing a kayak
I am looking to buy a kayak but there are so many possibilities. Which one should I pick? Help me!
White gas stoves more versatile
Q. Why are white gas stoves more versatile than butane, propane, or other canister stoves?
Good base layer to keep warm?
Q. Hello Gear Guy, My friends wear Under Armour with shorts and a T-shirt and say they are warm when it is 30 degrees out. Meanwhile I’m freezing with long johns and my uniform and a jacket on! I was considering buying Under Armour. They give me a choice of silk or polyester, which one keeps me warmer? Do you have suggestions of any other products besides Under Armour?
Preventing soggy socks
On winter hikes, my socks always seem to get wet and soggy. How can I prevent that?
Stuff We Like: Rockboard Descender
The Rockboard Descender takes boarding into new territory -- whether it's pavement, grass or rocks -- in a crossover snowboarding/surfing kind of ride.
Organize your stuff
Q. I have a lot of gear at my house. But all of it is just shoved into a box in my closet. I wind up losing a lot of stuff and it looks horrible. Is there any cheap, easy and effective way I could organize it?
Stuff we like: Patagonia Kids’ Capilene 3 Midweight Crew
For affordability and performance, this Patagonia crew is great.
SOL Origin Survival Kit: Worth the Price?
I bought the SOL Origin Survival Kit, but my friends told me this was a rip-off. Do you think it was worth it?
Buy a sailboat without breaking the bank
I want to buy a sailboat but don't want to break the bank. What is an affordable 35 to 40-foot boat with a nice cabin I can sleep in?
Stuff we like: Riviera Select 8′ Stoft Top Standup Paddleboard
By now, you’ve probably heard about—or even tried—standup paddleboarding (SUP). If not, the basics are you stand on an oversized surfboard and stroke with a long canoe-like paddle.
Where to Find a Cheap, Good-Quality Hammock
Dear Gear Guy, Where do I go to find a cheap, good-quality hammock? I have been looking all over the Internet but I can't find one for under $100. Please help me.
Most Important Survival Item?
In a survival situation, when you are all alone in the Northern Tundra with only a T-shirt and pants, what one thing would you want?
Basic rock climbing equipment
What kind of basic equipment do I need to go rock climbing with some friends?
Stuff We Like: UCO StakeLight
If you've ever tripped over the guy lines of your tent in the dark, or gotten a little turned around on your way back to your tent after a midnight trip to the bathroom, then you know exactly why the StakeLight is so cool.
Waterproof or water-resistant?
Q. Hey Gear Guy, I have a question for you. What’s the difference between waterproof and water-resistant? I see it on lots of outdoor gear but I’m not sure which is which. 
Hate leaving the tent to pee at night
When I’m camping, I hate having to get up in the middle of the night to go outside and pee. Sometimes it’s too cold or I’m nervous about what I might step on in the dark. What should I do?
Avoiding mosquito attacks
I feel like a mosquito magnet. Seems like every time I go on outings with my troop, I'm the only one who gets bitten. What can I do? Help!
De-Stinking Water Bottles
Q. Gear Guy, How do I prevent the nasty odor and taste that I get when I store my Nalgene bottle with the lid closed?
How to fit a backpack
Watch as Eagle Scout Jon Almquist, who works for national outdoors retailer REI, shows you how to fit a backpack in this exclusive BL video.
Effective bug sprays
Q. My Scout Troop took a four-day backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The mosquitoes were the biggest problem on the trip. I used several different bug sprays, and only one of them worked. But the one that worked only worked for about 15 minutes. What type of bug spray (preferably natural) could I use that would keep the mosquitoes away for at least an hour? Also, I’ve heard that there is clothing that keeps bugs away. How effective is this clothing? 
How to repair rubber rain boots
My favorite rubber rain boots have a hole in the side. Now they aren't dry at all. They weren't really expensive, but I don't want to get new ones. How can I repair my boot? Please help.
Stuff We Like: Sharkies Organic Kids Sports Chews
It's a special day when "tastes good" and "mom-approved" can be used in the same sentence. And that's why we're stoked on Sharkies.
Reduce sweating in your lifejacket
Q. My family has a great sit-on-top kayak and I love paddling it around the lake in the summer but my parents make me wear a lifejacket and my back gets totally sweaty and gross. Please help me!
What’s a Boston valve?
Q. Hey Gear Guy! I am thinking about buying an inflatable boat. I checked all of the safety regulations, laws, details, etc. The only thing I’m not quite sure about is how to inflate it. It says it comes with two Boston valves for easy inflation. Do I attach them to a hand pump, like the one for my sports balls? Or do I need a special pump? Please say no! HELP!
Lighting stoves without flare-up
What's the best way to light a camp stove without getting too big of a flare-up? I have an MSR WhisperLite.
How to Prevent Itchy Groin After Swimming
Q. Dear Gear Guy. My friends and I do a lot of swimming in saltwater in the summer, and a common problem we have is the infamous itchy groin. Is there a solution?
Headlamp or flashlight?
Q. What’s better for the outdoors: a headlamp or a flashlight?
How to remove mold from sleeping bag
Q. I went camping, and a few days later I found the bag for my sleeping bag has an orange sort of mold on it. Help me!
Stuff We Like: WD-40 Bike Chain Lubricant
You've probably heard of WD-40. It's a spray-on lubricant that has been around forever and is useful on nearly everything -- except bike chains. Now there's a WD-40 made specifically for bikes.
Where to find cheap, decent hiking boots
Q. Hey Gear Guy, I was really unsmart on my first campout and brought sneakers! My Scoutmaster said I had to get hiking boots, but my family doesn't make that much money. Do you know of some really cheap, decent hiking boots?
Why is my pack so heavy?
Q. I’ve been in Scouts for about a year and I was wondering why my backpack is so heavy. I only pack about two pairs of jeans, extra socks and two shirts. I also pack a mess kit and a flashlight plus batteries. My sleeping pad is not heavy; neither is my sleeping bag. Why might my pack be so heavy and do you know how to fix it?
Cleaning a hydration pack
Q. How do I clean out my Camelbak hydration system?
Clean sand out of a knife
Q. How do you get sand out of your knife’s insides?
Skateboard knee pads are super-smelly
Dear Gear Guy, I've been skateboarding on my friend's ramp a lot. I always wear my elbow and knee pads and helmet, but they are starting to really stink. I guess I've been sweating in them a lot, and the pads are super-smelly. What can I do?
Stuff We Like: Teva Universal Sandal
The Teva Original Universal Sandal was designed 30 years ago but has now been rereleased. We dig them because they are basic, simple and comfortable.
Are white-gas stoves allowed?
Q. Dear Gear Guy, I recently inherited a Coleman white-gas stove from my father; he has been using it since he was a Cub Scout with my grandfather in the 1960s. I would love to bring this to camp, but I've heard a lot of talk that white gas isn't permitted in Scouts anymore. Is this true?
Sleeping bag is too cold
Q. I have a 20-degree-rated sleeping bag that I use with a fleece liner, but in late fall and early winter, I'm still cold. I've tried everything -- what should I do?
Getting comfortable in a sleeping bag
Q. I've been camping for years but am still having trouble getting comfortable when I'm sleeping. I can only sleep on my side with my right arm under my pillow but that can be trouble on cold nights when my mummy bag is cinched up tight. Any help Gear Guy?
Stuff We Like: Stio Seeker Jacket
The Seeker is one of my favorite new fleece jackets on the market.