The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange
The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange

Most Popular

more tags
1500 questions
13
votes
6 answers

Under what conditions are light coloured long sleeve shirt and long pants cooler than bare skin?

In the latest heat wave I'm well aware of the power of the sun. Step out of the shade, and it hits with sledgehammer force. Arabs are portrayed in loose head to ankle white. Cowboys in the old west always have long sleeves and long pants. A friend…
Sherwood Botsford
  • 11,997
  • 1
  • 29
  • 60
13
votes
2 answers

Is this harness defective for having the belay loop around the belt webbing instead of the tie-in loop?

I am a beginner to climbing and bought this ClimbX harness from Go Outdoors in the UK. Someone at the gym today told me it is defective because the belay loop passes through the thin piece of webbing on the waist belt. Is this harness defective?
egg
  • 233
  • 1
  • 7
13
votes
2 answers

Overtreated a backpacking outfit with permethrin. Safe to wear?

I purchased a spray-bottle of Sawyer 0.5% permethrin to treat some of my clothing in preparation for a backpacking trip. The spray nozzle turns out to have been quite a bit more generous than I anticipated - a fact that I realized only after using…
Conduit
  • 233
  • 2
  • 7
13
votes
1 answer

How do tree trunks get chevron patterns in the bark?

I went into German woods near Berlin and I saw hundreds of trees that look like this: What is this? Why are people doing that? I tried to google for wood patterns, but these keywords don't show any meaningful results.
Adam
  • 233
  • 1
  • 6
13
votes
9 answers

How can I know what a road will be like?

The map simply shows it's not paved. But does that mean it's a decent dirt road that an ordinary car can handle, or is high clearance and/or 4x4 need? How would I go about finding out? (Yes, this about the outdoors--I'm interested in the trailhead…
Loren Pechtel
  • 2,324
  • 14
  • 19
13
votes
3 answers

Using "unusual" liquid fuels in a multi-fuel stove

I've got a Primus OmniLite Ti stove and am testing it with different fuels. Apart from having fun and experimenting, I'd like to understand how the stove behaves on such non-standard fuels. I'm not talking about emergencies (you'd burn anything for…
Alexander
  • 1,770
  • 1
  • 12
  • 27
13
votes
6 answers

What is the term for completing a climbing route uncleanly?

If a climber completes a route without using their protection that is called sending. What is the term if one completes the route but had to depend on the rope either for a rest or for a fall? Let's say using the rope lowers the climber enough that…
Adam
  • 233
  • 2
  • 7
13
votes
3 answers

Is there any evidence that the small canisters (10 liters) of 95% oxygen actually help with altitude sickness?

In Colorado outdoor stores its not uncommon to see these small canisters of 95% percent oxygen that's sold to help people cope with high altitude. Is there any evidence that these actually help with altitude sickness? I mean plenty of places still…
Charlie Brumbaugh
  • 69,253
  • 35
  • 217
  • 423
13
votes
3 answers

Specific Chinese carabiner QA?

Several offshore sailors are considering the use of specific Chinese locking carabiners with personal tethers, to keep us attached in violent conditions.…
wil bailey
  • 131
  • 4
13
votes
4 answers

Train climbing with additional weight?

What is your opinion: Does it make sense to train rock climbing wearying a weight vest or a small backpack carrying a small amount of weight (let's say 1-3kg or 2-6.5lb) to mimic the actual weight you carry with you outdoors? Why am I asking this…
Arne
  • 401
  • 3
  • 8
13
votes
2 answers

Can a van be used for sleeping in National Park campgrounds in the US?

If I have an odyssey van with some minor changes (bed, cabinets, etc.) can I sleep in that in the same way I'd sleep in an RV at National Park Campgrounds (in the USA)? I.e., I know that many say "you can't sleep in your car". But I assume that…
Clay Nichols
  • 1,434
  • 1
  • 11
  • 20
13
votes
3 answers

What should I consider when planning my first multiple-day hiking trip on hills?

I just relocated from north Germany into the south of Germany. Last weekend I went hiking for the first time and visited the top of a hill close to Heidelberg. It was spontaneous and I was fascinated, and surprised by the time it took me (mostly…
Zaibis
  • 233
  • 1
  • 6
13
votes
3 answers

How is elevation gain and change measured for hiking trails?

If a trail is listed as 1500m of elevation change, what exactly does that mean? For example, if the trail goes up 500m, then down 200m, then up 100m, then down 300m, then up 400m, is that considered a 1500m (500+200+100+300+400) elevation change…
End Anti-Semitic Hate
  • 758
  • 1
  • 7
  • 22
13
votes
1 answer

How to keep a trail camera from being stolen?

Trail cameras are setup up on trails to take pictures of wild animals when you aren't around. The problem with that is that other people may find them and may be tempted to steal them. How can I prevent a trail camera from growing a pair of legs and…
Charlie Brumbaugh
  • 69,253
  • 35
  • 217
  • 423
13
votes
3 answers

Is there a good way to be kept up-to-date with climbing gear recalls?

In the last years, there were a few occasions when companies would put out recalls on their climbing gear due to manufacturing defects. For example, Black Diamond recalled some improperly riveted carabiners and they have a list of all their product…
anderas
  • 4,447
  • 22
  • 56
1 2 3
…
99 100