The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange
The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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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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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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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…
Censored to protect the guilty
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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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4 answers

Practicality of Beards

I have several friends with full beards. After talking at length with one, he started to convince me the protection it offers might be worth it. So, I thought I would come and ask. What are the Pros and Cons of beards as they relate to the…
MaskedPlant
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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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What's the UPF of a T-Shirt or jeans?

Many outdoor clothing items advertise themselves with a UPF (Ultraviolet protection factor) of 30 or even 50. How does that compare with a normal cotton T-Shirt or a pair of jeans? Do I have to use sunscreen even when using these clothes? Or is it…
Peter Hahndorf
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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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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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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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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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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
36
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2 answers

If the Dawn Wall had been climbed before, why was the 2015 attempt so difficult?

There's a lot of talk in the media about Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy Caldwell's free ascent of the dawn wall of El Capitan. This wall has been climbed before, but this is the first time it's been free climbed. What are Kevin Jorgeson and Tommy…
user2766
36
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7 answers

How dangerous is a band of coyotes to a lone, unarmed human?

There's a delightful thrill to the call of a band of coyotes when you're alone in the dark woods. Do they present a danger? That is, have healthy coyotes (that is, not rabid) been known to attack or show aggressiveness to a lone human?
Don Branson
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