Technical Packs Can Be Cheaper Alternative To Traditional Pack
I use a tote box for my gear because I can’t afford a backpack, but it doesn’t fit in my troop’s tents. What do I do?
Outdoors & Gear
Guide to camping, hiking and other outdoor sports and adventures. Includes buying guides for tents, camping gear, sleeping bags and other outdoor equipment.
3 Proven Ways to Avoid Bug Bites in the Outdoors
Don't bug me! Try these expert tricks and gear for avoiding biting insects.
Best Sleeping Bags for Staying Cool on a Warm Night
What sleeping bag should I use if I don’t want the heat to get to me?
Stuff We Like: Polar Bear Backpack Cooler
The Polar Bear Backpack Cooler is designed to keep ice frozen for 24 hours in 100-degree heat.
One of the BSA’s Rarest Awards Goes to the Scouts Who Make the Biggest Impact
The Distinguished Conservation Service Awards recognize Scouts and adults who have produced long-standing, significant impacts on the environment.
How to Prepare For a Long Hike
My troop is going on a 25-mile hike soon. What is the best way to prepare for it?
How To Buy a Great Hydration Pack For Water on the Go
Hydration packs allow you to drink water while you're wearing the pack. Here are some factors to help you pick the right pack.
Where Can I Find a Healthy Energy Bar?
Q: I’m having trouble finding a healthy energy bar that doesn’t have too much sugar and is filling. Do you have any suggestions?
Fun Facts About a Critter You Otter Get to Know!
Do you enjoy swimming, fishing or sliding? Those are some favorite pastimes for otters, too.
How to Stop a Tent From Leaking
Q: Every time it rains, the inside of my tent gets wet. Any tips?
Stuff We Like: FogBlock Spray
Anti-fog spray helps prevent glasses from fogging when wearing a face covering.
How to Buy a Backpacking Stove For Your Next Camping Adventure
Enjoy a hot meal on your next backpacking trip with one of these recommended stoves.
Does Rolling Your Clothes Save Space?
Q: Does rolling up your clothes really work when packing?
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?
How to Buy a Great Pair of Hiking Boots
Good footwear is a vital piece of outdoor gear. Here are six great boots and hiking shoes that have you covered on any type of trail.
9 Things to Know About the Night Sky
From stars to planets to meteors, there's lots to see if you know where to look. Here's how to start star gazing.
How to Make a Fuzz Stick to Help Start a Fire
You can create an effective fire starter, even with a wet piece of wood. Just grab your knife so you can make a “fuzz stick.”
How to Buy Good Gloves or Mittens for Winter Activities
Whatever your outdoor activities, the choice of handwear matters a lot. Here are the Gear Guy's five recommendations.
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?
Scouts Find Adventure on the Peace River (Spoiler: It Wasn’t Totally Peaceful)
Don't let the river's name fool you, Scouts saw alligators, shark teeth and more on this canoe trek.
Spice Up Your Camp Meals With These 8 Essential Spices
Spices add flavor to your food, transforming bland dishes into delicious meals. Here are a few spices to use on your next campout.
Bow Saw or Folding Saw? Which Camp Saw Should You Get?
A camp saw can be a handy tool for cutting firewood or clearing a trail of fallen timber. Folding and bow saws are the most popular types. Which one should you get?
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.
Extra-Cool Camping Gear to Make Your Outing More Fun
Camping is already a fun way to spend a weekend, but with extra-cool gear on the trip, it can be really fun. Check out these 6 gadgets for your next outdoor adventure.
Do These Five Campsite Items and Snacks Work as Fire Starters?
We put five potential "firestarters" to the test. Guess if each item will start a fire, then play the corresponding video to see if you’re right!
Add to the Never-Ending List of Fire Starters
What "fuel" can you use to start a campfire? Check out this list of firestarters and add your own ideas to the list.
How to Build a Cooking Tripod
Use your lashing skills to make this simple tripod to hang a pot over a cooking fire.
Best Multitool That’s Both Useful and Affordable
Q: What’s the best type of multitool that’s useful and affordable?
How to Make a First-Aid Kit for Your Dog
Being prepared with the right first-aid supplies could save your pup's life in an emergency.
9 Things to Know About Wilderness Hazards
All backcountry activities come with a level of risk. How you prepare for it matters most.
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?
Gear up Your Pup! Make Hiking With Your Dog Safer With These Gadgets
Itching to take your pup on a hike? Then be sure to get the right dog gear.
How to Prevent and Treat Snake Bites
Snakebites present a potential danger in the outdoors. Here are steps to avoid a painful bite.
How to Buy a Great Daypack for Hiking
Get the best daypack for your daylong adventures. Here's how to pick one.
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?
Stay Clean and Healthy in the Outdoors With These Hygiene Tips
A Scout is clean, even in camp. Here are important tips to keep you healthy in the outdoors.
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.
5 Animals With the Weirdest Tongues
Although tongues are important and useful, let’s admit it: They are a little weird. Here are some of the weirdest animal tongues out there.
How to Buy a Mess Kit and Camp Cooking Gear
From stoves to cookware, these mess kits and cooking gear belong in your backpacking kitchen.
How to Prevent and Treat Tick Bites
Ticks are tiny, but they can case a lot of trouble. Here's how to be tick aware.
4 Tasty Foods To Cook Over Your Campfire’s Coals
You don’t need a camp stove to make a delicious camp meal. Just use a bed of hot coals.
Did this Troop Backpack Into a Whole New World?
Lava caves, rare plants and stark scenery — is this troop on another planet?
9 Things to Know About Outdoor Ethics
When you're outside, it's your duty to be responsible and to Leave No Trace.
How to Make a Monarch Butterfly Habitat
To help out these beautiful monarch butterflies, you can build this protective habitat.
Choosing the Most Effective Bug Spray to Stop Mosquitoes
Mosquitos and other bugs can drive you crazy in the wilderness. Here's how to keep them away.
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?