Hot Camping How-Tos
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: Build a solar powered water distiller
Build your very own solar water distiller to discover how nature filters water via the sun and evaporation. The correct term for this is distillation.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Keep sleeping bags warm with hot Nalgene water bottles
A few tips to make life on the mountain easier, such as the value of placing a Nalgene bottle full of hot water in a sleeping bag. This is shot from Mt Kilimanjaro the highest mountain in Africa. Throwing a Nalgene water bottle in your sleeping bag can add a great element of warmth to your camp. Keep sleeping bags warm with hot Nalgene water bottles.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: Bond a primer wick to any alcohol stove
Check out this brief video tutorial on how to bond a primer wick to any alcohol stove. Installing a primer wick to a alcohol stove is easy. If you have an urge to head off camping, make sure you have your portable stove, and make sure it has a good wick. If not, you're going to have to watch this. It could save your life, or maybe just your appetite.
How To: Wash a sleeping bag
This video will show you how to wash your sleeping bag so you don't damage the delicate fabric and make it last for years. It's definitely recommended to take it to a laundromat, not your home.
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: 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: 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: Fix or Replace a Broken Clearance Light on PopUp Camper and Utility Trailer
This video will show you how to fix or repair a broken clearance light on your popup camper. This will also work on a utility trailer.
How To: Set Up Popup Camper or Tent Trailer
This video will show you how to set up your popup camper also known as a tent trailer.
How To: Make a Survival Light Source
This is just a simple survival light source. You can use a cheap outdoor solar yard light like the one in the video from walmart. There only about 3 to 5 bucks but you can use them not only as a light source but a way to recharge AA rechargeable batteries.
How To: Make a Swedish Torch (AKA Canadian Candle)
It's known that during the Thirty Years' War that took place in Europe between 1618 and 1648, soldiers used Swedish fire torches (also called Canadian candles) for heating, lighting, and cooking meals.
How To: Make a Compass in Your Kitchen
Things you'll need: Glass or shallow bowl
How To: Make a survival belt out of paracord using the cobra knot
All you need is a single long piece (at least fifteen meters) of sturdy paracord, as well as a clasp for either end. You can also use this technique to make a rifle sling or something else for which you will need a long length of woven paracord. The knot itself is not difficult - just watch carefully and make sure you've given yourself enough time to finish this project. A great project to make for yourself, or the survivalist in your life.
How To: Build a small outdoor fire in a chiminea or fire pit
Always practice good fire safety! Even homemakers go camping sometimes, and you'll want to know how get a good fire going. You can use a firestarter log if you don't have any kindling. If you don't have a firestarter log, you can use twists of newspaper.
How To: Start a fire anywhere with premade fire starters and natural tinder
Starting a fire is one of the most important things you can do in a survival situation, but doing so is seldom as easy as you'd like. This video will teach you all sorts of ways to light fires, including making firestarters out of cotton balls and petroleum jelly, using natural tinder, and using the old spinning stick and string method.
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: Pitch a pop-up tent the easy way
Pop-up tents are much more convenient to pitch than the tents of old, but doing it for the first time is still tricky. Watch this video to learn how to set up both types of pop-up tent: the umbrella style and the coiled-spring style.
How To: Create a rope ladder with a ladder lashing
This clip presents an introduction to ladder 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 creating your own ladder lashes, watch this video tutorial.
How To: Tie a Knute hitch
In this video, we learn how to tie a Knute hitch. The purpose for this is to make an easy dummy cord on something with a hold for it. To start, tie a simple overhand knot in one end and then make a bite in the knot. With this bite, insert this into the hole in your item. Once it's through, take the end with the knot and put it through the loop. Then, pull the end of the string until it's tight over the item with the hole. Then you can use this as a handle so you don't lose your item!
How To: Make A Whistle From A Sycamore Twig
I will show you how to make a loud whistle from a twig from a sycamore tree. In fact they are so loud that they could be used in an emergency situation to attract attention from potential rescuers. The international distress signal is 6 whistle blasts in quick succession.
How To: Choose the right camp site to set up your tent
Camping is one of the best ways to enjoy nature, but choosing just the right spot for pitching you tent can be tough. This video will give you some tips for choosing a site that is safe, convenient, and comfortable.
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: 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: Make and cook with camp fires
This video demonstrates the tripod method of setting up a campfire for cooking in the wilderness. In order to set up the tripod, you will need three large branches of hazel, some copper wire, and a hooked branch to be used to hang a pot from the tripod. The copper wire will be used to attach the hooked branch to the tripod setup and cord or rope may be substituted. Another method of cooking which is demonstrated is to cook food in a pot over some embers. A hole is dug in the ground and a fire...
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