Sleeping and living outdoors - in or out of tents, on licenced sites or in wild country locations.
10
votes
4answers
272 views
I found a Deer Tick on my friend and removed it, what should I do now?
While camping with some friends in Anywhere National Forest, I found a deer tick on a friend. After removing it with tweezers, is there anything else I should do? Should we abandon our trip ...
13
votes
3answers
177 views
What are the key features to look for in mobile device apps for hiking/camping?
I've used EveryTrail and was satisfied but am looking for something better... What are the features I should focus on for selecting an app? What bells and whistles are really useful on the trail?
9
votes
1answer
269 views
Tent floor waterproof rating
I'm currently looking to buy a new tent. The old one had a floor that was said to withstand a hydrostatic head of 10000 mm, but the tents I find in the stores here go to at most 3000 mm for the floor, ...
4
votes
2answers
126 views
Is it normal for a double skin popup tent to leak in slight rain?
About a year ago I was given a three person dual skin popup tent. Almost new but possibly a factory second.
(It's made by "Vango" and I think it could be a "reject" because one of the four guy ropes ...
18
votes
1answer
189 views
Do I need to worry about feral dogs or even wolves if I camp in random areas while hitchhiking in Georgia (the country)?
After almost half a year working in a hostel in Tbilisi, spring has come and it is far warmer than anywhere further west in Europe so I'm going to hitchhike around Georgia with my tent in warm areas.
...
5
votes
2answers
246 views
What brands make propane lanterns, stoves, heaters, and accessories in America?
The accessories I'm looking for are things like propane trees and hoses, and obviously stoves, heaters, and lanterns are self explanatory. Nobody seems to talk about where things are made anymore, and ...
6
votes
2answers
132 views
Is there a portable / comfortable pillow suitable for camping / backpacking?
I quite like my pillows to give a lot of lift - I usually sleep with two relatively beefy ones. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a good equivalent whilst camping, with the normal pillows ...
5
votes
2answers
194 views
Big group/basecamp tent
I want to buy a large group tent. I want it to be our communal cooking/dining tent. I'm look at things like the Mountain Hardware Yurtini or Space Station but it won't be used at altitude (so the ...
16
votes
2answers
751 views
How can I hike across the Grand Canyon if I don't have a backcountry permit?
I am going to try to hike across the Grand Canyon in May, from the South Rim to the North Rim, and back. Unfortunately, I have discovered that I am probably too late to secure a back-country permit ...
16
votes
2answers
300 views
What to look for in a durable, 3-season sleeping bag?
I'm looking to purchase a camping sleeping bag. I'd like one that's high-quality, durable, and suitable for weekend hiking/camping trips during spring, summer, and fall in New England. (Most of my ...
34
votes
8answers
4k views
Which will keep my food colder longer, draining the melted ice water, or leaving it in the cooler?
Say you have a cooler of frozen food and ice to last for several days or weeks of river-trip / car camping. To keep things as a cold as possible for as long as possible, is it better to leave the cold ...
15
votes
2answers
443 views
Is it safe to camp in the desert without a tent?
I'm looking to hike the Grand Canyon (found out that as a single I do have a good shot at securing the permit!), and now I'm trying to make sure I carry as little as possible on said hike. First ...
12
votes
3answers
206 views
Bear bags vs Bear canisters: which is better?
Most people I know and myself store food in bear bags. However, I have heard that some parks have banned bear bags and require canisters. I've also heard there is a bear in New York that has figured ...
6
votes
4answers
201 views
What should I replace guylines with?
I need to replace some guylines on one of my tents. I normally use some paracord lying around but they have been getting tripped over more and more. I found some glow in the dark paracord, but before ...
7
votes
2answers
160 views
Yellowstone back country camping trip?
My wife and I are trying to figure out if back country camping in Yellowstone is something we are prepared for. We've never done this before, so the planning is the hardest part for us right now. We ...
9
votes
1answer
130 views
Which will drain less body heat: lying on bare earth or bare rock?
For years I backpacked without a sleeping pad, until one particularly chilly night during which I tried to heat up the earth with my paltry 98.6 degrees F (37°C).
In that instance, would I have been ...
6
votes
3answers
91 views
What is the most suitable cooking equipment to use for a long duration in central asia countries?
I'm about to go on a 2 month trip from England to Mongolia via Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakstan to mention a few far flung countries. Ideally I'd want a gas stove top such that refuelling the ...
17
votes
3answers
153 views
What equipment is recommended when camping with a baby?
I have a 3 month old daughter and am currently planning a short camping trip next month here in Australia where the weather should be warm but may also be wet. What should I take to ensure an ...
10
votes
3answers
259 views
How effective are portable electric fences?
I am worried about bears and wolves when camping so I'm looking at portable electric fences.
Are they effective and more importantly just how dangerous are they?
9
votes
5answers
317 views
How to reduce the annoying sound of falling raindrops on a tent?
Every time I go camping and it starts to rain, I can't sleep anymore because the raindrops that fall on the tent causes a really loud and annoying sound. Is there any technique or tool to avoid or at ...
18
votes
3answers
627 views
Wild camping in subsaharan Africa - madness, blasphemy, or bearable?
What potential dangers / precautions one should take into account when sleeping outside in sub-Saharan Africa? (Let alone countries with unstable political situations.) Just with a sleeping bag, maybe ...
14
votes
4answers
291 views
How can you prevent kids getting lost at night while camping?
When camping in more remote areas with young kids, how can you make sure they don't take a stroll and get lost in the middle of the night?
We won't be near lights, established "bathrooms", etc. The ...
15
votes
7answers
838 views
Can/Should I cook in my tent?
When camping in bad weather I'm always asking myself if it is a good idea to cook in my tent with a gas cooker. Obviously there is the danger of fire. But how dangerous is this really? Can you easily ...
14
votes
2answers
159 views
What is the proper tension for a tent line
When setting up a tent and staking it out, what is the proper tension for the lines? I generally just make them arbitrarily tight, but have no idea how that would perform in high wind or other ...
12
votes
3answers
581 views
First time camping, need advice
Me and my wife have never done camping before and always wanted to do it. This time we are planning to go for a small camping trip but have no idea how to prepare for it. We like to hike and are ...
10
votes
2answers
184 views
Staying dry in severe weather
I've been in pretty big storms before on campouts, but only two were big enough that the water would seep in through the sides of the tent. One of those times I used a tarp, rope, trees, and ...
9
votes
2answers
121 views
What should I look for if I want to buy a winter-proofed tent?
I really like to go snowshoeing during the winter. I'm going up to 3500 meters and when I'm doing long tours I would really enjoy to try out winter camping in very remote areas. Is it a good idea to ...
11
votes
4answers
283 views
What are the most effective ways to start a fire in the cold?
I frequently hike and camp in the forests of the Midwest (Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, etc). Considering this climate can get quite cold in the Fall & Winter, what are the best strategies to starting ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Is there a way to reduce mosquito bites from swelling [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What are some effective ways of reducing itching from a mosquito bite?
Anyone have suggestions on how to reduce or prevent mosquito bites from swelling or becoming ...
7
votes
1answer
101 views
Is it legal to camp on private property in Russia?
In some places, like Scandinavia, you can camp pretty much anywhere you like as long as it's only for one night and you don't leave a mess.
Is this also the case in Russia?
8
votes
2answers
67 views
Is it better to camp in a disturbed area, or pick a new spot and let the first rest?
When practicing Leave No Trace camping (which I am sure we all do), which camp spot should I choose, assuming there is not an obvious well-impacted "sacrifice site" nearby to concentrate my impact in:
...
7
votes
2answers
592 views
What mosquito nets can be used while camping?
When camping in areas where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic, what options are there in terms of mosquito nets? The mosquito nets I've seen are meant to be hung above a bed and tucked under the ...
