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1500 questions
13
votes
3 answers

Energy bars for outdoors activities: what are the important criteria?

What are the criteria that I should worry about when buying energy bars ? What are the ingredients to avoid and those to look for ?
Amine
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13
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1 answer

How do I recognise quicksand and how do I get out if stuck?

This year, a Danish citizen went missing without a trace in the mountains of northern Sweden. It is not the first time; in total, ten people are registered as missing after venturing into the mountains of the Swedish county of Norrbotten, including…
gerrit
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13
votes
2 answers

What backwoods trick to get pure water produces the most safe water?

So I read this answer and I was wondering what contraption produce the most water when you don't have a water source? So what water trap produces the most water? Specifically, what should I do with my plastic bags/baggies that will net the most…
MaskedPlant
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13
votes
5 answers

Can I replace Dish soap?

I have been trying to get my weight down on longer backpacking trips. I have already taken to buying very strong soap and using very little, but I was wondering is there something I can replace the dish soap with that will still clean whatever I…
MaskedPlant
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13
votes
4 answers

Cooking over a fire

Is there a way to make a wood fire that is good for cooking? Why is it better than others? Assume little to no wind. Would it make a difference if I cooking hot dogs on a stick or a steak?
MaskedPlant
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13
votes
0 answers

When bikepacking solo, how to handle luggage when shopping?

I'm planning my first solo cycling trip this summer. While it's not my first cycling trip (I've already done 4 big ones over 1000 km), it's the first tour I'm planning to do alone. One thing concerns me a lot, is how it works with shopping. So far,…
Weiss
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13
votes
3 answers

is water filter log reduction multiplicative?

Two water filters each provide a 4 log (99.99%) reduction for some pathogen. If I pass the water through both filters (or one filter twice), have I now achieved an 8 log reduction? For example: MSR advertises their Guardian Gravity Purifier as…
jhnc
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13
votes
3 answers

Does drinking alcohol cause problems at altitude?

If I'm going to be climbing a mountain, would drinking a small amount at altitude have any negative effects (besides general alcohol effects)?
Reverend Gonzo
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13
votes
3 answers

Where can I find information on letterboxing in my area?

Letterboxing is a precursor to geocaching, wherein participants leave notes / stamps in boxes in the wild... It's helpful to have a list or guide to letterbox sites when embarking on a search, as locations can be transient... For instance, I heard…
berry120
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13
votes
6 answers

Getting to the "outdoors" without a car

Many cities are a few hours (or less) drive from "nice" outdoor spaces: San Francisco to Tahoe / ski resorts DC to Delaware beach / ocean city. Also DC to the Applachians. Denver to the Rockies. Downtown Houston to the gulf. NYC to upstate ski…
Kevin Kostlan
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13
votes
6 answers

How to trick my body/stomach into thinking I'm full?

So, I got invited by a couple of friends to go hiking and doing some "survivalist stuff". I was never the most resilient person so was kinda unsure, then I decided to try and "test" myself a little bit and then give them a response. I bought some of…
mandiokai
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13
votes
1 answer

What to do if you're bitten by an adder?

I've heard that while adder bites are venomous the number of people who have died from them are extremely low. If you're on a trek and you're bitten is it safe to continue for a couple more days before seeing a doctor or should you still abort right…
berry120
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13
votes
1 answer

Inflatable Snowshoes - how do they compare to the real thing?

I have recently seen that there seems to be a new outdoor gadget: inflatable snowshoes. Examples: from ABS from Yukon from SmallFoot there are others As an engineer I can't help but immediately see a whole array of possible problems which…
fgysin
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13
votes
4 answers

Just how dangerous is it to refill fuel canisters?

In the past, it was possible to refill MSR canisters if you brought them into their repair shop in Seattle. However the repair shop has been closed under the excuse of COVID and still hasn't reopened despite Washington dropping all COVID…
JonathanReez
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13
votes
9 answers

Is it feasible to use a shovel to even out a camping spot?

While car camping (reaching a campsite by car vs backpacking), it’s not uncommon to encounter camping sites where all the spots are slightly uneven, making it a little uncomfortable to sleep. There are various solutions to this problem (such as cots…
JonathanReez
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