The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange
The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
38
votes
7 answers

Any tips to reduce chance that I have to get up and pee in the night (not counting dehydration, of course)

Well, here's the situation. You're on an outdoor trip in winter. It's cold outside and after a long day all you want to do is crawl into your warm sleeping bag and not get out of it until the next morning. Unfortunately, shortly after reaching the…
Lagerbaer
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4 answers

How do I wash Gore-Tex clothing?

I have a bunch of dirty hard-shell pants and jackets. Are these safe to put in the washer and dryer? If not, how should I clean them?
Reverend Gonzo
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38
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16 answers

Other than good shoes and a stick, what are some ways to preserve your knees on long hikes?

My knees aren’t in the best shape, one in particular. I had a rather devastating 13 hour up-and-down hike on day two of a three day hike, and the last day my knees were hurting every step. What are some ways to take some load off the knees, or other…
Sebastiaan van den Broek
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38
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8 answers

How to test the sharpness of a knife?

In order for knives to be useful, they need to be sharp. If I am sharpening one myself, how do I know when I am done? What would be a simple easy test of whether a knife is sharp enough?
Charlie Brumbaugh
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38
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6 answers

Do I still need to hang my food if I have two large dogs?

I have two large dogs - a German Shepherd and a Presa Canario. I hike alone with my dogs in black (not grizzly) bear country. Do I still need to hang my food? Or will the three of us be able to convince a bear that um... maybe next camp has better…
Maj. Knut 3rd Baron Cockwomble
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38
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2 answers

What does it mean to cross load a carabiner?

What does it mean to cross load a carabiner? I know it's bad, and not to do it, but I don't really know what exactly it is.
Patrick Lee Scott
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38
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7 answers

What is the fastest method to 'break in' full leather boots?

After purchasing full leather boots (similar to these boots) I had many blisters for the first few hikes until I broke in my boots. What are the fastest ways to age the boot so that when my foot won't blister every time my feet slip into them?
Patrick
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37
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4 answers

How can I acclimatize to cold?

People used to tolerate a much wider range of temperatures. What techniques can I apply to widen my body's range of comfort? A few examples that may or may not help: Spend a lot of time slightly chilled. Spend a short amount of time as cold as I…
Jay Bazuzi
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37
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5 answers

What is the difference between "dry rope", "non-dry rope" and "dry core rope"?

I've just recently gotten into climbing and so far the ropes have always been provided for me. I'm starting to look at getting my own rope for outside climbing, and am confused by some of the terminology. Many of the ropes say "dry rope", "non-dry…
nhinkle
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37
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7 answers

How to light a fire with wet firewood?

There is a wide variety of pre-cut firewood available when camping. In my experience, even wood that's been kept covered is often very wet and can be difficult to light. What are some techniques for lighting wet firewood? Are there ways to tell wet…
Chris Mendez
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37
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8 answers

What are the differences between a $25 sleeping bag and a $440 sleeping bag if they have the same temp rating?

I am planning a backpacking camping trip when the quarantine is over. And looking for some cool gear while indoors, that is to say a 30-40F sleeping bag is also needed. There a lots of sleeping bags with 32F temperature rating, quite similar…
xVodooo
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37
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6 answers

How does one dry clothes in humid weather?

What are some quick ways to dry clothes in moist weather?
Jasper
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37
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9 answers

Are longer kayaks faster than shorter ones?

I've been researching which kayak I'd like to buy, and I keep coming across the notion that longer kayaks are faster than shorter ones. I can understand that shorter kayaks have a greater tendency to alter course with each stroke, thus affecting…
Jonathan E. Landrum
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37
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10 answers

Mountaineering with a 6-year-old kid in winter

I'm planning to go to the Austrian Alps with my 6-year-old daughter in one week. We would like to go on Großer Priel, 2515 m. The plan is to go for three days (sleeping two nights in a tent on a snow). She has enough experience (for her age) going…
user1209304
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36
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5 answers

My head torch/lamp has a red mode, why?

My new head torch has a mode that produces a red light. I've seen this several times and I have no idea when our why you would use it?
user2766
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