Outdoors & Gear - Scout Life magazine

Internal or external frame?

I need a new backpack. What's better: Internal or external frame?

Inexpensive cot or sleeping pad for camping

Q. Hey Gear Guy! I need something to keep me off of the ground at campouts, a cot or just a simple ground pad. However I don’t have much money. What’s something cheap that works well?

How to train with a loaded backpack

Q. Dear Gear Guy, I want to train for my backpacking trips with a loaded backpack, but I don’t want to have to pack all my gear every time I want to train. Is there any way to add weight to the backpack in a simple but accurate representation of a full backpack?

Cost-friendly fishing boat for less than $500

Q. Hi Gear Guy! I am a huge fisherman and I want to know about a cost-friendly boat. My budget is $500. Thank you.

Supplies for a beach outing

Q. Hey Gear Guy, I’m going to the beach this summer, and I was wondering what would be the best things to get for my personal needs, such as my face, skin, etc. I’m going to buy my own personal stuff this year to go, such as my sunscreen lotion, etc. I was just wondering what I need to buy. Any good selections? Thanks.

Stuff We Like: Action Shot Camera

Finally, an affordable wearable video camera! With this new Action Shot Camera, you don’t have to drop a lot of cash to start filming your adventures.

Convertible hiking pants for Philmont

Q. Gear Guy, We’re going to Philmont Scout Ranch. Need suggestions for hiking pants (convertible to shorts) and hiking shorts for both me and my 15-year-old.

Stuff We Like: Old Town Heron Jr. kayak

Learning to paddle is great but it’s even more fun when you have a kayak that actually fits.

Deodorize stinky gear

I play soccer and football. I sometimes wear my cleats six days a week. Is there any way to rid my equipment (cleats, shin guards, shoulder pads, etc.) of that everlasting smell of fresh body odor?

Stop rolling off the sleeping pad

When I go camping I often have trouble sleeping. I toss and turn and always end up rolling off my sleeping pad. What can I do to sleep better?

Preventing and treating blisters

Q. I'm going to the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, and I've been told that there's tons of hiking. That might be a problem because my feet sweat a lot and give me blisters. Any suggestions for preventing and treating this?

Should I buy a Gerber or Swiss Army knife?

Q. Hey Gear Guy, I’m debating on whether to buy a Gerber pocketknife or a Swiss Army knife. My friend says Gerber; but I’ve heard Swiss Army my whole life. Which one should I buy?

Best and easiest fire-starter

Q. My son wants a fire-starter. Which is the best and easiest?

Keeping rain out of your tent

Q. I have a two-person tent that I really like, but when it rains, it leaks badly. I applied seam sealer as you had said in a previous answer, but now it's like the rain is coming through the tent itself, not the seams. I think the rain fly that came with the tent is not big enough. Can I buy another type of rain fly? I was thinking a tarp would not allow air to come through and I will get hot. Do you have any other suggestions?

Best catfishing gear

What’s the best gear for fishing in rivers for catfish?

Good ball cap for hot days

Q. Last summer at Cub Scout day camp, the temperature hit 106 degrees. I like to wear a wide brim hat on days like that, but sometimes they just get in the way and a ball cap works better, especially when I’m out doing a lot of active stuff like running around or jogging. I find that most ball caps make my head feel hot and just retain more heat. I try soaking them in water and letting evaporation cool my head down, which helps a little, but I was wondering if you’ve come across any good caps that might have some ventilation in them.

Beware these beautiful flowers that can kill

Few of us are familiar with the seemingly innocent but mischievously potent poisonous flowers readily found nationwide. Ingestion of such plants is one of the top 10 causes of poisoning worldwide.

Are tarantulas dangerous?

Have you ever wondered what gives tarantuals their bad rep and why the site of one of these gargantuan spiders makes our skin crawl? You may be surprised to find out that the answer is not so obvious!

How to treat scorpion stings

Although the scorpion's venom is usually relatively harmless to humans, there are species of scorpions that can be lethal. Here's what to do if you get stung.

How to buy a new fishing pole?

Q. Dear Gear Guy, I’m looking to buy a new fishing pole, but don’t know what qualities to look for in a rod. What do you recommend?

How to sled safely

What can you do to minimize your risk of getting hurt while still enjoying sledding on the new snowfall?

Preventing and treating rattlesnake bites

Most snake bites occur in the summer months when both snakes and humans are most active outdoors, with the greatest number of venomous bites occurring in southern and western states with warmer climates. Here's how to prevent and treat a snake bite.

How to prevent and treat skier’s thumb

Skier’s thumb is an injury to the ligament that runs between the two bones on the interior side of your thumb and holds the bones of the thumb together. The injury can occur when you fall on your outstretched hands while holding a ski pole, causing the thumb to either bend backwards or too far out to the side.

Why the wrist is at risk in winter sports

Before the snow melts, get in all the snowboarding, ice-skating, skiing, snowball fights and sledding you can. Make sure to take precautions, though, so you don’t have to cut your fun short by having an unexpected slip on some ice!

Taking the chill out of chilblains

Chilblains, known more commonly as pernio, is a rare and painful response of our blood vessels to cold, specifically, in above freezing temperatures.

What’s a good beginner pocketknife for an 8-year-old?

Q. I want to buy a pocketknife for my 8-year-old nephew. He has just started a pocketknife collection and has about 8 knives. Can you recommend a good knife for a boy that age?

Skateboarding in the winter

Q. Dear Gear Guy. I love skateboarding but every winter it’s snowy and cold and icy where I live so skating outdoors isn’t an option. How do I make sure that I don’t lose all my skillz?

How wind chill makes you colder

What is really going on when a strong gust of wind picks up out of nowhere and makes it feel like the the temperature dropped 10 degrees – even though the reading on the thermometer has not changed?

How to make sturdy wooden snowshoes

Trekking through snow is loads of fun, until you get stuck in knee-deep drifts. Sturdy snowshoes will keep you near the top of the snow’s surface.

How to Prevent and Treat Frostbite

Frostbite is the end result of cold-induced injury to our tissues, and it is much more common than one may think.

Are poinsettias poisonous?

There is a lot to get anxious about at Christmas time, but Poinsettia toxicity should not be at the top of your “naughty” list.

Small, lightweight first aid kit for backpacking

Q. Dear Gear Guy, I’m going backpacking and need a first aid kit that’s small and lightweight because I don’t have a lot of room in my pack. What would you recommend?

Is the Pentax Optio WG-1 a good camera?

Q. Hi Gear Guy, I’m into digital photography, but so far I’ve been using my cell phone or borrowing a camera. So, I want to get one of my own. I saw the Pentax Optio WG-1 in the May 2012 issue of Boys’ Life and thought it would be perfect, but the reviews are all over the place. Some people say it’s awesome and some people say it sucks. Is it a good camera or should I look at something else?

Good lightweight pot for backpacking

Q. I recently bought a backpacking stove. Now I need a pot for boiling water. What is a good lightweight option?

What are no-see-ums?

Biting midges can be a nuisance to campers, fishermen, hunters, hikers, gardeners, and others who spend time outdoors. Here's how to treat their bites.

Which boots do you recommend?

Q. Hey Gear Guy! I am moving to an 85-acre farm soon and I’m looking for a pair of boots for hiking, fishing, hunting and riding my dirt bike across the farm. What would you recommend?

PowerBait or mealworms for fishing?

My dad and I go fishing a lot. We used to use PowerBait but we just didn’t catch anything. So we started using mealworms and we caught much more. But the next time we went fishing and the other fishermen were saying the fish were biting the PowerBait! My dad and I love catching trout but we don’t know what bait is best for that?