Hot Camping How-Tos « Camping

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: Make a lean-to in the wilderness

Sometimes you need a little shelter when you are hiking or camping. If it starts to rain, or you need a little shade from the sun, it will help you very much to build a lean to. In this tutorial, learn how to make a lean to if you are stuck in the wild.

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: 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: Make a survival whistle out of a willow twig

If you're out in the wilderness with only one or two other people, it's easy to get separated. Even worse, if you planned for the trip to be "all natural" and decided not to bring any electronic gadgets like TVs and cells phones, then there are no lines of communication between you and your buddies.

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: 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: 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 fire in multiple ways

In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to make fire in multiple ways. For this you will need either cigarette lighters or matches. There are also a variety of fire making kits available with fancy strikers to produce sparks and chemically coated paper strips or ropes that catch fire easily. Another method is a fire piston. Put the ‘O’ ring on the plunger and some charcoal powder on the tip of the plunger and bang it in. when you pull out the plunger, the charcoal will be...

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: 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 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: Use round lashing to build a flagpole or A-frame

Round lashing refers to a knot that you can use to hold two poles together easily and securely. This is useful for constructing a flagpole, as the creators of the video did here and building a-frames. This video will show you how to use round lashing quickly and easily for your next outdoor project.

How To: Tie a chain sinnet

A chain sinnet is a useful rope technique to know for climbing, camping or disaster prep. It's a bit tricky for beginners, but you should pick it up before long. In this tutorial, the guys at ITS Tactical show us how to make a chain sinnet using some flaked rope.

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: Dehydrate spaghetti sauce for camping

This video shows you how to dehydrate spaghetti sauce in your oven to take on your next backpacking trip. This can be a great space saver for those long backpacking or camping trips.

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: 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: Use a propane tree to operate a camp stove and light

In this tutorial, we learn how to use a propane tree to operate a camp stove. Start off with your propane tree that connects together simply. Attach this to the propane adapter so you can use the propane for both the stove and lantern. The lantern will be able to stay on around 10 minutes with the tree. Next, connect the eight foot adapter to the propane tree and place it on an attachment into the stove to use for heat. It only takes about five minutes to hook all of this up, and it will maxi...

How To: Use the common rope seizing knot

Rope seizing is a technique that is used when two things need to be held together with rope, like two pieces of timber for example. This video from ITS Tactical demonstrates how to use some cord to perform rope seizing on a big, heavy rope so that you can use it to suspend an object or perform other heavy rope-using tasks.

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 ...

How To: Build a shelter in the wild

In this tutorial, we learn how to build a shelter in the wild. You can use trees with a branch as the top to cover yourself from rain. You can also use tree branches and sticks to keep the shelter up. A shelter is great to store things in, or to sleep in. You can keep the fire close to the shelter so the heat goes into your shelter, but not too close so you don't set a fire. If you work quickly, it should only take a few hours to build this shelter. Also, place a tarp over the branches and le...

How To: Start a fire with a fire steel

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to use a fire steel. The fire steel consists of a piece of steel and a striker. To use the fire steel, simply by pressing one piece against the other to create sparks. To ignite a fire with the sparks, users will need some sort of kindling or tinder. Simply strike the fire steel against the tinder to allow the tinder to catch the spark and create a fire. This video will benefit those viewers who are planning to camp or want to learn about wilderness s...

How To: Find edible wild food to stay alive in the wilderness

If you were on the hit show "Lost," would you be able to survive? While most of the main castmembers on the show tough it out through learning how to eat the island's vegetation, we know that most of you probably would have no clue as to how to distinguish between a poisonous mushroom and a non-poisonous one, and which plant growths are edible and which aren't.

How To: Make leather string or thong from an old glove

You will use an old work glove to make the string. First cut the seems of the glove to the finger tips with scissors. Cut out the palm part of the clove. Remove the elastic off of the back with a knife. remove the hem with your scissors. Next, start cutting at the edge up around the shape of the glove. Keep going round until it starts turning into one long piece. Go back around the leather and trim up the rough edges and corners. He ends up with about seven foot of string. It's a cheep free w...

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.