Looking for Durable and Comfortable Pants
Q. I'm looking for pants durable for trail building and comfortable for wearing around camp. Ideas?
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.
4 Signs That Stormy Weather Is On The Way
Classic rhymes predict that bad weather could be in the forecast.
Wild Animals Invading America’s Cities
Animals that once lived only in the wilderness are wandering into towns in growing numbers.
How to Sharpen an Ax
To keep an ax safe and effective, it must stay sharp. Here's how to properly sharpen your ax.
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?
Keep Smellables Out of Your Tent
A smellable is any object that might attract an animal with a strong sense of smell.
How to Build an Igloo
A brilliant use of engineering and resources, this simple dome made out of snow blocks is both strong and versatile.
How to Build a Snow Cave
A T-shaped snow cave is a quick and efficient way to protect yourself from winter storms.
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?
How to Make a Cranapple Pie in a Dutch Oven
Wow your friends with this delectable pie made in your Dutch oven.
How to Make Stuffing in a Dutch Oven
Fire up the coals and bake this delicious stuffing for a hungry crowd.
How to Make Cornbread in a Dutch Oven
This delicious side dish will compliment your Dutch-oven dinner menu.
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?
How to Minimize Sleeping Bag Odor
Q. Whenever I go camping my sleeping bag gets all smelly. How do I make it smell better?
How to Make a Tacos in a Bag
Everyone will love this Tex-Mex recipe, and not just because it starts with chips.
Storing Backpacks During Wintertime
How should I store backpacks during wintertime to keep them in good condition?
3 Wild Plants That Relieve Minor Stings, Burns and Itches
These common plants can help if you have a minor scratch, burn, sting or itch.
How to Wash a Smelly Camp Pillow
Q. When I wash my camping pillow, the material inside lumps up and gets uncomfortable. What should I do?
Difference Between Tent’s Trail Weight and Packed Weight?
Q. Most tent labels list two weights, a trail weight and a packed weight. What's the difference?
Looking for the Best Portable Speakers on the Market
What are the best portable speakers on the market?
Looking For a Lightweight, Packable Electric Lantern
I am looking for a lightweight, packable and budget-friendly electric lantern. Suggestions?
What’s the correct walking stick height?
How tall should a walking stick be?
How to Get Back to Your Car at the End of the Trail
Q. We plan to backpack a 24-mile point-to-point trail but only have one car. How do we get back to our car?
How To Clean Your Lantern
Q. I have a lantern that has a removable glass covering, and it has soot all over it. How can I get it off?
9 Amazing Animal Architects
Some animals are natural artistic engineers.
Cot or bedroll?
Q. On camp-outs I see some boys with cots and others with bedrolls. Which should I use?
How to clean a sticky knife
Q. Whenever I go camping I always cut oranges with my knife. But then my knife sticks and is hard to get open. What is the best way to de-stick my knife?
Propane canister or liquid fuel stoves?
Do you recommend a propane-canister or liquid-fuel backpacking stove? I've heard good things about both.
Find a Good Sleeping Bag for Under $100
I need a good summer sleeping bag. What should I get with $100?
Use an LED Light to Make a Firefly Lantern
Want a natural nightlight? Use an LED light to catch some fireflies and make a firefly lantern.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding Buying Guide
The Gear Guy gives you the lowdown on SUP, one of the world's fastest-growing outdoor sports.
How to Identify and Deal with Dangerous Insects
Here's how to recognize biters and stingers. And how to treat their bites and stings.
Wear cowboy boots on a hike?
Is it OK to wear cowboy boots on a hike? I have a pair that is very comfortable.
How to stake out tents on a sandy beach
We went camping on the beach last weekend. The wind blew all night long and made our tents flap like crazy. Any advice?
Waterproof bandage for badly sliced finger
Q. We were on a backpacking trip when my buddy badly sliced the tip of his finger. What, Gear Guy, would you have done?
How to buy a skateboard
Want to try skateboarding but don't know where to start? Never fear -- the Gear Guy has you covered with this skateboard buying guide.
How to prevent chafing on the trail
My troop just went on a weekend camp-out. After we climbed this big hill, I started chafing in my groin area. How do I prevent chafing?
How to Dig a Cathole in the Backcountry
How we go to the bathroom in the backcountry is important. Assuming there are no existing facilities, you have two choices: Use a cathole or pack it out.
Contents of a bike emergency kit
I go biking with my friends all the time. Is there anything I should be carrying, like a Swiss army knife?
How to Cook With a Reflector Oven
Learn to cook some of Troop 1570's favorite reflector-oven recipes.
How to Tie a Taut-Line Hitch
To create an adjustable loop for staking out guy lines, use the taut-line hitch.
How to Tie the Two Half-Hitches Knot
Use two half hitches to tie a rope to a tree, ring or dock.
How to tie the timber hitch
The timber hitch is the perfect knot to use for dragging a log across the ground.
How to Tie the Clove Hitch
The clove hitch is used to begin and end many lashings. Here's how to tie it.
How to tie the sheet bend knot
Here's how to use the sheet bend knot to tie together two ropes of the same or different diameters.
How to Tie a Bowline Knot
The bowline knot is useful for tying a rope around your waist or around someone requiring rescue. Here's how to tie one.
How to prevent pots from tipping over
Q. The pot on my backpacking stove tipped over and burned my brother. How do I solve this problem?