Tips From McNett
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Put your jacket into your sleeping bag’s stuff sack for an instant pillow.
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Washing a down sleeping bag usually restores its loft (thickness and warmth). The effect is often dramatic. Don’t be afraid to wash your down gear! Down is tough!
Down sleeping bags should be washed when dirt and grime begin to interfere with loft (every 20 nights of use). This is also a good rule for synthetic sleeping bags. In general: if it’s dirty, losing loft or smells – wash it!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Trucker’s Hitch is one of the easiest methods to tension guy lines. Set up as illustrated above. Create the upper loop by using an overhand on a bight or a slip knot. Tie off with a looped half hitch which is easy to untie and adjust.
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Reduce tent fly wind damage by installing simple custom shock-cord loops on your guylines. This design keeps the original guyline as a failsafe backup.
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From the top of the ridge you can see your car at the trailhead far below. Do you take a compass bearing and try to hold to it as you scramble down through dense forest? If you drift off your bearing, even slightly, you could miss the trailhead and wind up lost in the forest. By “Aiming Off” you could deliberately choose to take a bearing that will intersect the road then walk to the trailhead and your car.
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Steps to Lifting a Backpack
1. Lift to bent knee.
2. Slide onto one shoulder while swinging slowly around and slide other arm in opposite strap.
3. Fasten hip belt, then snug up other straps and off you go...!
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Proper Backpack Weight Distribution:
A. Small, “Quick Access” Items i.e.: sunblock, head lamp, etc.
B. Heavy Weight Items i.e.: food, water, fuel, etc.
C. Light Weight Items i.e.: rain gear, clothing, etc.
D. Medium Weight Items i.e.: tent, ground sheet, etc.
E. Sleeping Bag
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Going Lighter – The “Big 3” Gear Items
To dramatically reduce the weight of your fully loaded backpack get the weight of your “Big 3” gear items down. The “Big 3” are your tent, sleeping bag and backpack (empty) combined.
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At home, store sleeping bags open or loosely stuffed into a large cloth or mesh storage bag. Don’t store sleeping bags in stuff sacks or you will compress the insulation.
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If your butane stove is struggling in cold weather, set it in a pot lid and add 3/4” (15mm) of cool water. The stove will roar to full power (the fuel is now at least 32˚ F, 0˚ C). Do not use hot water in the lid.
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Keep knots and kinks from jamming in your throw bag by stuffing it correctly!
Step 1. Untangle and spread out your rope on a clean surface.
Step 2. Turn your back to your rope, drape it over your shoulder and begin to coil it into your throw bag.
Step 3. Ensure you’re stuffing the bag evenly and that kinks are untwisting behind you.
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Mountaineering boots are built with the roughest terrain and wettest conditions in mind. These boots may use full-grain leather and often include Gore-Tex® fabric for maximum dryness. Weatherproofing: Use ReviveX Leather Gel Water Repellent
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Lightweight hiking boots are generally made with nubuck, suede, nylon or Gore-Tex® fabric. Weatherproofing: Use ReviveX® Nubuck, Suede & Fabric Spray Water Repellent
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Mid-weight hiking & backpacking boots are generally made with full-grain leather for added support and durability. Many feature Gore-Tex® fabric for added comfort. Weatherproofing: Use ReviveX Leather Spray Water Repellent
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TRUE OR FALSE?
Heavy duty mountain boots are obsolete for backpacking.
True. But while the ultralight backpacking crowd (carrying 20 lb. packs) get by on trails using trail running shoes or even good sport sandals, most folks carrying heavier loads should have some ankle support. Well-made light hikers with a 3/4 or full-height ankle collar are usually enough for moderate loads on most trails.
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TRUE OR FALSE?
Campfires cause boot sole delaminations?
True. Sitting at the campfire with your feet towards the fire may make you comfortably warm, but your boot soles could be close to melting. This can easily cause failure of the sole’s glue bond. If your boot soles are peeling, use Freesole® Urethane Adhesive for
a permanent fix.
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Relieve pressure and give your boots a custom fit with these lacing tricks. 1. Use “Skip Lacing” to take pressure off sensitive areas 2. Use the “Double Wrap” to have different levels of tightness on upper and lower sections of the boot.
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When it’s breezy, mosquitoes will congregate on the lee side of objects to avoid being blown away. So pitch your tent door into the breeze. You’ll be able to enter without bringing the swarm in with you.
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Minimize condensation in tents by keeping upper tent vents open, and lower vents clear of sleeping bags, pads and other bulky items.
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Kayak cockpits are notorious for cutting into spray skirts and causing exterior cracking. Apply spot applications of Aquaseal to permanently repair and protect both the interior and exterior.
Find more great tips like these in our Repair Guide
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All rainwear is
factory treated
on the outside
with a special water
repellent spray called DWR (for “Durable Water Repellent”). Over time that treatment wears off causing fabrics to “wet out” – which reduces breathability and creates excess condensation, making you damp and cold. ReviveX water repellents are unique because they bond to both the fabric and any remaining factory DWR creating the most durable water repellent finish available.
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When it’s breezy, mosquitoes will congregate on the lee side of objects to avoid being blown away. So pitch your tent door into the breeze. You’ll be able to enter without bringing the swarm in with you.