McNETT® - Essentials for Adventure^TM

Camping Tips

• Firestarting Tip

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    One of the easiest campfires to build and maintain, the “lean-to” fire is a simple pyramid-shaped lean-to built against the side of a large piece of firewood. Build up the lean-to using pencil-sized wood first followed by progressively larger wood. Leave a gap to insert tinder into the interior. Cover the gap with small wood once the tinder is alight. Commonly available fire starters include: clothes dryer lint (extremely lightweight), alcohol hand sanitizing gel, a small piece of candle, some insect repellents and even greasy potato chips.

• Camping Tip

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    Put your jacket into your sleeping bag’s stuff sack for an instant pillow.

• Knife Tip

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    To sharpen a knife, slide the knife across the sharpening stone as though you are trying to cut a thin slice off the stone. Hold the blade at roughly a 20 degree angle and draw it steadily. Be sure to count the number of strokes and do the same number of strokes on the opposite side.

• Fire Starters

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    Commonly available fire starters include: clothes dryer lint (extremely lightweight), alcohol hand sanitizing gel, a small piece of candle, some insect repellents and even greasy potato chips.

• Fire Building Tip

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    One of the easiest campfires to build and maintain, the “lean-to” fire is a simple pyramid-shaped lean-to built against the side of a large piece of firewood. Build up the lean-to using pencil-sized wood first followed by progressively larger wood. Leave a gap to insert tinder into the interior. Cover the gap with small wood once the tinder is alight.

• Camp Set-Up Tip

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    In bear country, it’s worth having an ultra-light, sil-nylon tarp to create a dry cooking area 100 yards away from your tent. They’re also handy for packing and unpacking your pack in the rain. Current sil-nylon tarps weigh as little as 6 oz.