The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange
The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
15
votes
6 answers

Is department store merino wool less effective than branded (i.e. SmartWool) merino wool in staying warm and wicking moisture?

At my local Costco, I see a Kirkland brand 100% merino wool quarter-zip sweater being sold for $25. On EMS, I see a SmartWool 100% merino wool half-zip sweater costing $140. Would I be potentially putting myself more at risk if I wore the Kirkland…
Ryan Jarvis
  • 799
  • 2
  • 6
  • 9
15
votes
4 answers

What should I look for in a rope for climbing?

I just started rock climbing recently. I don't have any gear of my own and the first thing I wanted to get was a rope. There are various ropes of different prices. What should I look for when buying a climbing rope? I understand that I'm not…
GorrillaMcD
  • 619
  • 6
  • 11
15
votes
2 answers

Should I worry about moisture in my inflatable sleeping pad?

I use a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad. This is not self inflating, so I have to breathe in to the sleeping pad to inflate it. Are there any precautions for storing the bag to avoid gnarly bacteria / mold from growing inside the sleeping pad…
Benzo
  • 1,536
  • 4
  • 15
  • 24
15
votes
3 answers

Does Moss only grow on the North side of trees?

Well does it? Or does it only grow on one side? Or does it grow only on the side further from the equator? Is there any truth to this old adage?
MaskedPlant
  • 6,232
  • 4
  • 31
  • 74
15
votes
5 answers

Are fires in natural caves/overhangs safe?

I have heard that a fire in a cave or under an overhang can cause a rock collapse, potentially injuring the occupant. Is this a real risk?
Russell Steen
  • 32,121
  • 23
  • 131
  • 274
15
votes
1 answer

Will Iodine Tablets Ruin My CamelBak?

In the past, I have gone backpacking with some fairly expensive, heavy water purification tools. But the more I read about water safety in California's Sierras (here and here), the less I think these high-tech solutions are necessary. Can I just…
john_science
  • 5,756
  • 5
  • 31
  • 70
15
votes
2 answers

How do I set a top rope anchor?

When rock-climbing, I need to set up a top-rope anchor so if I fall, it will minimize chance of injury. So, how would I safely set one up?
Reverend Gonzo
  • 8,218
  • 11
  • 49
  • 77
15
votes
5 answers

Is it very uncommon to see snakes in the woods, or have I just been unobservant?

I grew up near forests in the midwest US. As a kid I spent a lot of time in wooded areas off trails, in very dense foliage. A lot of this was near or even in creeks and rivers. As an adult I've hiked in the same area through areas with no trails,…
Ken - Enough about Monica
  • 1,323
  • 1
  • 10
  • 12
15
votes
3 answers

Under what circumstances, if any, can thunder by itself cause damage?

We had an extremely impressive thunderstorm last night, unprecedented for the fairly moderate Northern Virginia weather, and impressive probably in most places. I was glad not to be in a tent. I was surprised by how many commenters on NextDoor…
ab2
  • 23,872
  • 7
  • 64
  • 161
15
votes
5 answers

Do I need a rope on the Großglockner?

I want to climb Austria's highest peak, Großglockner via the "normal route" (the easiest route). However, I am unsure what I really need for that. Most information advices to use ropes with multiple people, but as far as I can see on photos, there…
user1721135
  • 852
  • 6
  • 15
15
votes
2 answers

When is it effective to put on your snow shoes?

What is a good point to put on your snow shoes? If the snow is up to my ankles, I feel almost no extra resistance when hiking. If it's about 20 cm, walking is more exhausting, however, snow shoes also cause some extra strain. If I sink up to my…
Danubian Sailor
  • 9,507
  • 7
  • 40
  • 77
15
votes
2 answers

Do sharpies or markers damage soft rock climbing gear?

I have been writing my initials onto the dogbones (webbing connecting biners) of my quickdraws with a sharpie (permanent marker) so I can tell them apart from everyone else's. Recently, one of my climbing partners suggested that I should switch to…
Moormanly
  • 367
  • 2
  • 13
15
votes
9 answers

Require advice on power conservation for backpacking trip

Edit: Thank you for all the helpful replies. I will have to go through them all now, and I will pick the best fitting one for my question. I will go backpacking in the summer of this year, for about 2 weeks. With me I will take a DSLR (Pentax K3)…
seesta
  • 193
  • 1
  • 8
15
votes
3 answers

Using roof rails to set up hammock

Has anyone experience with attaching a hammock to roof rails of a regular car? I just bought a hammock for my next camping trip. I will be traveling mostly by car and sleep in a tent but wanted something to relax in outside of the tent or car and…
Jon Isr
  • 153
  • 1
  • 5
15
votes
1 answer

Boots: Does light damage affect waterproofing?

I am looking at a new pair of suede leather walking boots. Price is low due to one boot being in a shop window and so is faded and doesn't match the other boot. My question is: would the light damage potentially affect the waterproof(ness) of the…
Bambi88
  • 151
  • 3
1 2 3
…
99 100