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How To: Bind poles together with a Japanese square lash

This clip presents an introduction to the ancient Japanese technique of square lashing. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find it's quite easy. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started doing square lashing yourself, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Use Diagonal Lashings to tie poles together

Diagonal lashings are a popular type of knot for building structures with wooden poles that allows you to join two poles at a 45-90 degree angle. It can replace a square lashing, but not vice versa. This video will show you how to tie a diagonal lashing yourself, which can be used in all sorts of outdoor construction projects.

How To: Make an All-Night Campfire with Just One Log

The next time you're out camping, whether it's outdoors in the wilderness or right outside in your own backyard, try this hack out for an effortless campfire all night long. While there is definitely some prep work involved, it's well worth it if you don't need a huge bonfire, and more so if you plan on cooking meals over the flames.

How To: Tie the Miller's Knot (bag or sack knot)

In order to tie a Miller's Knot, which is also known as the bag or sack knot, you should begin by wrapping the rope around the object you wish to bind: the Miller's knot is a binding knot. It is used to bind things. Next, wrap one of the free ends around it. You are, basically, wrapping one end around a second time.

How To: Lash a bamboo tripod

In this tutorial, we learn how to lash a bamboo tripod. First, you will tie a clove hitch by taking one piece of bamboo and wrapping the rope around it, then crossing the two sides of the string together to make a hitch. Next, you will secure the clove hitch around the third piece of bamboo. Now, you will rap all the pieces of bamboo together with the rope. Continue to do this until all the pieces feel secure together. Wrap the rope several times around each of the pieces, then wrap it in the...

How To: Dehydrate food for camping

This how-to video explains how to dehydrate food for backpacking or camping. This is very helpful, and could make meat last for up to 6 months. This could save a lot of money in the long run.

How To: Know which knives, axes, and saws to take to the wilds

Knives, axes, and saws are a bushcrafter's best friend. Simon Ellar guides us through the best cutting and chopping implements to take with you when camping, or exploring the wild. Know which knives, axes, and saws to take to the wilds.

How To: Start a fire without kindling

You don't need a stock pile of kindling to hold the flame and really get your fire started. There are a variety of creative yet effective substitutes. Leftover chips from lunch, an extra toilet paper roll, these are only a few ideas on how to start your next fire.

How To: Secure a Kayak on Car or SUV Using J Bar Roof Rack

Video: . This video will show you how to secure your kayak to a J bar roof rack carrier.

How To: Keep Mosquitoes & Other Annoying Bugs Away from Your Campfire or Backyard Fire Pit

I'll be honest—I've never been a huge fan of camping. It's not that I have anything against nature, I'm just partial to showering and sleeping in my own bed. In fact, the only part of camping I've ever really enjoyed is sitting around a campfire. Outdoor fires are perfect for socializing and cooking hot dogs, but they're also great at helping remove one of camping's biggest annoyances.

How To: How the Hookup or Connect a Battery to Your Camper or RV

Video: . This video will show you how to connect the positive and ground wire on the battery of your RV or camping trailer.

How To: Sharpen a swiss army knife

Learning how to maintain and sharpen your Swiss army knife is an important skill for campers and backpackers. You will need to have a sharpening stone that can be dry or wet. To use a wet stone simply add a little bit of water or homing oil. Keep the blade at an angle of 5 to 7 degrees from the surface of the stone and move the blade back and forth or in a circular motion.

How To: Get Your Camper or RV Toilet to Stop Smelling

Video: . Nobody likes an RV or camper toilet that smells, this video will show you how to prevent your RV toilet from smelling.

How To: Pack Personal Gear for a Canoe Trip

The basics of how to pack personal gear for a canoe trip. This video doesn't cover food or larger gear like tents and canoes, but the rest is covered. Enjoy!

How To: Make clean burning fire starters with non-toxic materials

It's really easy to take lazy route and purchase fire starters at a grocery or hardware store to aid you in creating campfires, but storebought fire starters tend to have massive amounts of environment polluting chemicals and toxins that you probably shouldn't be anywhere near.

How To: Make a comfy DIY camping chair for less than 5 dollars

Not every camper is looking to totally "rough it" while they are in the woods. In this clip, learn how to make a comfy, folding camping seat out of cheap supplies for less than five bucks! This foam pad is far better than the ones you buy at those expensive camping stores and because you made it yourself, you know it will work. The best part? If you lose it or it gets ruined out there in the wilderness, it was so cheap and easy to make that you can just create another one!

How To: Loosen or Unstick Frozen RV or Camper Stairs That Will Not Fold In

Video: . This video will show you how to free-up manual folding RV stairs that are frozen and will not fold in or retract for you.

How To: Tie two ropes together with different knots

For those who didn't learn any knot-tying skills in scouts, or have forgotten them all now, this video demonstration shows how to do knots from basic to more advanced knots such as Sheet Bend, Fisherman's Knot, Square Knot and Thief's Knot. Knot tying is essential for camping, sailing, fishing, and even when you least suspect it. Watch this video camping and outdoor preparation tutorial and learn how to tie two ropes together with several different styles of knots.

How To: Tie a Japanese MKII method of square lashing rope

Square lashing is a great way to hold two things together at a perpendicular with rope or cord. Like most any knot, there is more than one way to tie it, and in this video you'll learn how to tie the Japanese MKII version of square lashing.

How To: Use a square lashing

Square lashing is a knot-making technique that has been made famous by the Boy Scouts of America's massive pioneering projects, and is really integral to any structure made out of poles like the one you see in the thumbnail. This video will teach you how to use square lashing to bind two poles together perpendicular to one another. You will need to know how to tie a clove hitch to make this work.

How To: Bundle kindling

In this tutorial, we learn how to bundle kindling. First, gather up 25 pieces of kindling together and tie it together with a rope on two ends and in the middle. Before you do this, you will cut the tops off of the kindling so you are just left with the branches. The water will go through these and it will build the bank up, that is what these kindling bundles were created for. You can bundle kindling in larger groups or smaller groups, depending on what you need it for. These were once used ...

How To: Make a fire with chapstick and cottonballs

This is a survival video which shows how to make a fire out of chap stick and cotton balls. This is called the wicks/wax principle. For the wick, cotton balls are used. For the wax, any petroleum based product is good. In this case chap stick is used. Take a big chunk of chap stick out of the tube, about 1 inch. Smear the chap stick into the cotton ball. This will evenly distribute the chap stick throughout the cotton ball. Spread out the chap stick filled cotton ball so that it creates a big...

How To: Tie the tautline hitch knot for camping

Watch this instructional video to learn how to tie the tautline hitch knot for camping. The tautline hitch knot is a favorite among campers. This knot is useful for adjusting the tension of tent guy lines and laundry lines, among other uses. The tautline hitch knot can be slipped to tighten or loosen a line, then holds fast under load. Tie the tautline hitch knot for camping.

How To: Sharpen a knife with a Japanese water stone

When you're out camping in the woods one of the best survival tools you can have in your kit is a sharp knife. Handy for cutting plants, vines, and skinning animals if it's nosh time, a knife must be kept in tip top condition to work efficiently.

How To: Pan for gold in a lake

In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to pan for gold in a lake. You will need the sand that you mined for gold. Put some sand in a pan, put water in the pan and mix it with your hands. Then stir the pan underwater. Loosen the sand with your fingers and keep stirring the pan. Gold being heavy, this will make the gold to settle down at the bottom of the pan and the dirt will remain on top. Then give the pan a good shake and tap it at the bottom. Now you pan the dirt out....

How To: Make a good walking stick

This video will show you how to make a good walking stick. Having a 'third leg' can sometimes mean the difference between disaster and safety. To make the perfect walking stick, do the following: Find a nice straight stick, strong enough to support your weight. Cut it at a length you will be comfortable with. Consider wrapping a piece of leather around the top part, where you grab onto the stick. This creates a comfortable handle. Be creative with your stick by decorating it or writing your n...

How To: Protect food from animals while camping

Getting back to nature can be an incredibly rewarding experience – unless critters come along and ruin it! Here's how to keep your food from being plundered. To keep your food protected while camping out in the great outdoors, try bringing along a cooler, a cloth or nylon sack, a sock, some rope, and sealable, waterproof plastic bags. Keeping your provisions safe will decrease the risk of animal attack, and make your journey out into nature a fun experience.

How To: Tie the handcuff knot easily

This double loop knot can't be cinched too tightly, so the police don't really use it—but firefighters do to pull people out of narrow spaces by their wrists.

How To: Make a stone rocket stove

To build a stone rocket stove, you will need the following: stones, wood, a tender pile, and lighter (or something to start a fire)

How To: Build a comprehensive chuck box for camping

In order to build a good chuck box, you will need to do a lot of planning in advance, in order to make sure that you have the essentials and keep the weight of your chuck box down.

How To: Set up a classic A-Frame tent

There are tons of quick pop up tents available nowadays, but the classic A-Frame tent still remains one of the most popular. A-Frames are those classic tents with the spikes in the ground that hold it up. They take a little more effort to erect but they are perfect for backpacking or short camping trips.

How To: Tie a basic lanyard knot

ITS Tactical demonstrates how to tie a Lanyard Knot in this weeks edition of "Knot Of The Week". This knot is most easily made by using your hand, held sideways and flat.

How To: Splice a loop into the end of a three strand rope

Sometimes when you're camping it's necessary to pitch a little something called a tent after a long trek hiking and exploring the great outdoors. And when you're ready to call it a day, make sure you can do so peacefully without the fear that your tent contraption will fall down on you during the middle of the night.

How To: Carry your camping gear for cheap

Are you struggling to buy a high priced backpack for your wilderness trip? Fear not for there is this video out in the world looking to help you! In this video, learn how to carry your camping gear for cheap, without shelling out too many bones for an expensive camping backpack.

How To: Clean your dishes using dirt while camping

Using dirt for cleaning dishes? It can be done! If you're camping in the great outdoors and don't have dish soap, using dirt is a natural method of washing dishes. All you need is some dirt and boiling water to practice this valuable sanitation skill.

How To: Properly adjust a hiking backpack

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to adjust a hiking backpack. Begin by loosening all the straps on the backpack. Then load the backpack onto yourself. Have the majority weight of the backpack on the hips. Tighten the hip belt and strap it around the hips. Make adjustments on the shoulder straps. Pull down the load lifters. Finish by tighten and connecting the sternum strap. This video will benefit those viewers who are planning to camp and learn how to survive in the wilderness, and ...