Outdoors & Gear - Scout Life magazine

How to Clean and Care for Your Gear

It's important to keep your outdoor gear clean and in good working order. Gear Guy tells you how.

How to stay clean on the trail

Gear Guy tells you what you need to do to stay clean in the outdoors.

Turn sweat into energy

Q. Hi Gear Guy. One time, I saw a TV ad about a special type of garment—particularly for athletes—that turns your sweat into energy. Is there really such a product and will it work?

Pro Angler Demonstrates 5 Ways to Cast Your Fishing Line

Improve your fishing with these casting tips from a professional fisherman.

Cheap alternative to Camelbaks

Q. Hi Gear Guy, Some of my friends have Camelbaks, the backpacks with the built-in water bottle. I would love to have one for camps but my dad says they are too expensive. Is there any cheap alternative?

Stuff We Like: Byrd Robin knife

Readers are always writing in asking about what’s the best knife for the money. Well, there are plenty of good options out there but one of my favorites right now is the Byrd Robin.

Two Keys to Successful Fastpacking

It's possible to carry less weight and still have everything you need (or at least everything you really need) on a backpacking trip. Here's how.

Large sheath knives

Q. I’ve been looking at buying a new knife. I found a sheath knife with a 5-inch blade. If I did get one could I carry it?

Keeping cool in the desert

Q. Hey Gear Guy, I went out on a desert trip to the Sahara Desert last weekend and I had a hard time keeping cool. I was in a tank top and shorts but I still got hot and sweaty. Can you tell me what would be better to wear?

Sporty pocket watches

Q. Hello Gear Guy, I really want to buy my son a durable pocket watch. He found one in an antique store but it didn’t work. We want the type that flips open—do you have any ideas for a sporty pocket watch. Please help!

Stuff We Like: Waterproof daypack

While there are lots of cool daypacks on the market with tons of handy features, you’ll be hard pressed to find one that’s truly waterproof. But we found one: the DaKine Cyclone Roll Top Backpack.

12 Tips to Help You Sleep Well on the Trail

Gear Guy is here with tips to help you get a good night's rest on the trail.

Caring for leather boots

Q. I have some old leather boots that are dry and stiff. I polish them, but it doesn't seem to help. Is there a way to get them smooth and more durable?

Stuff We Like: Sanyo Xacti VPC-WH1 Camcorder

If you’re looking for a compact camcorder that can handle rough weather on the trail and even the occasional dunk in a lake or river, this is it!

Don’t forget anything

Q. When I go camping with my den I always forget some piece of my gear. How can I make sure I don't forget anything?

Stuff We Like: Xtreme Sports ID

I’m sure you’ve heard the good advice about always having your emergency contact info on you when you’re playing in the great outdoors. But what do you do when you can't take your wallet? Xtreme Sports ID might be the answer.

Waterproof clothing for the snow

Q. Hey Gear Guy, I went to a cabin in the snow a few weeks ago with my Scout troop. I wore my snow jacket and pants but I still got soaked. Can you recommend good waterproof clothing for the snow?

What Should I Use to Cover My Pack When It Rains?

Q. I really like hiking but I don’t have anything for covering my backpack when it rains. What should I use?

Stuff We Like: JakPak

It’s a jacket. Wait, it’s a sleeping bag. No, it’s a tent. Actually it’s a JakPak, an interesting new waterproof jacket with a built-in, deployable pack that converts the thing into a bivy sack (a tiny one-man tent).

Stuff We Like: Gerber Curve

Bigger isn’t always better. Especially when it comes to a heavy knife crammed in your pocket. That’s why we dig the new Gerber Curve.

Sports sandals and light hikers buying guide

Sometimes hiking boots are overkill. Here's how to buy sports sandals and light hikers.

Warm winter gloves

Q. Dear Mr. Gear [Guy]: I’ve never had a good pair of winter gloves and I’m a real wimp when it comes to being cold. Do you have a certain pair I should get?

Protect Your Melon

NEWS FLASH! Wearing a helmet while snowboarding and skiing is cool -- and mandatory. Whoever tells you otherwise is a total kook. Whether you’re an experienced rider or a first-timer, do yourself a favor and protect your melon.

Warm sleeping bag

Q. I have bought, used and received a lot of sleeping bags, and I just can't seem to find one that's warm enough. Please help.

Pack too much or not enough

Q. I’m having problems with packing for camping trips. I always pack too much or not enough. What can I do to not make those mistakes anymore?

Stop kayaks from sinking

Q. When our troop goes on a kayaking trips my kayak always sinks? How can I stop it from sinking?

Share money-saving tips

Think you have what it takes to Go Cheap? Take the Gear Guy Challenge! Share some of your own money-saving tips and tricks, and we'll print some of the best tips in a future issue of Boys' Life.

What’s SUP?

Q. Dear Gear Guy. I’ve heard people talk about something called SUP -- I think it might have something to do with surfing but I’m not sure what it is. Can you fill me in?

Stuff We Like: Compression sacks

Among the handiest accessories for backpacking are waterproof compression stuff sacks. They are great for compressing your clothes into a manageable size for easy packing or to make a bulky sleeping bag fit inside your pack.

Good sleeping bag at a good price

Q. Hey Gear Guy, I am going cold-weather camping later this month, and I need a good new sleeping bag at a good price that I can use for a long time. It needs to be: Synthetic, at most 15 degrees, at most 4 pounds, and compact enough for backpacking. We are low on cash at the moment, so is there anything out there that I can get for around $100 that meets those requirements?

Nalgene bottles safe?

Q. What's up with those old Nalgene bottles? A friend of mine said they were made with stuff that's bad for you. Is that true? I still use one. Are they safe?

Lightweight but warm sleeping bags

Q. I need to get a good sleeping bag that weighs two pounds at most and will keep me warm in at least 30-degree weather. What kind of bag should I look for?

Stuff We Like: Adventure Medical Kits S.O.L. 3

Few things epitomize the Be Prepared motto more than the new Adventure Medical Kits S.O.L. 3 -- Survive Outdoors Longer.

Happy B-Day Sundowner

This year is the Vasque Sundowner’s 25th anniversary. Over the years it has become one of the most popular hiking boots on the market -- and for good reason.

How to build a bug board

They might annoy us or amaze us, but there's no question about it: Bugs are an essential part of the natural order of things. Here's how to make your own nature museum to display them.

Stuff We Like: Jelly Belly Sports Beans

These jelly beans are designed to provide you energy when you’re really exercising or exerting yourself.

How to beat the stink when camping

Going without a shower on a long camping trip? Here are 7 hygiene tips to keep you healthy and relatively clean.

Mountain bike or road bike?

Q. I love mountain bikes but I never go on trails. I think road bikes are too delicate for my street and I never like going too fast. What should I do?

How to go fishing at night

Fishing after dark takes skill. Here are tips to help you catch your limit.

Which tent material handles the sun?

Q. Dear Gear Guy, which tent material better handles prolonged exposure to the sun—150-denier oxford polyester or canvas?

Stuff We Like: Pandora

Okay, so this one isn’t exactly a piece of gear, but it is something we really, really like. AND it’s free! It’s an online music program called Pandora (www.pandora.com) which is basically like a radio station on the Web that plays only the music YOU like.