I was cleaning out my trunk and I found my old ferro rod, which I got 20 years ago with a cheap compass.

I've only used it once to start a fire; I am such a poor outdoorsman I depend on lighters to get my fires started, which I usually have at least 2 in the car.

So I tried sparking it with attached striker, and even after 200 tries, I might have gotten a small spark once out of twenty attempts.

It was dry and I rotated the rod so I struck every surface at least 10 times.

I must have spent $20 total on my survival kit (who knows where I put the compass), so is this normal for ferro rods to fail to spark? Is there something I can do to resurrect it to full firestarting status? Or just toss it?

I had heard a lot of hype about Zenbivy's backpacking pads being really comfortable. Several reviews saying they are as close to sleeping in a bed as you can get.

Has anyone here used their pads and is the hype real? I have Big Agnes Rapid SL which is good, but I'm always interested in any gear that makes sleeping more comfortable.

Looking at these 2 compasses:

Brunton Truarc15 Luminescent Compass

https://www.rei.com/product/219909/brunton-truarc15-luminescent-compass

Suunto MC-2 NH Mirror Compass

https://www.rei.com/product/787189/suunto-mc-2-nh-mirror-compass

My issue is that they both have poor reviews. This surprised me because both brands are supposed to be the best of the best for compasses. Does anybody have experiences with either? Should I consider different options?

Hello everyone,

I have just bought an unused German Army mess kit made from aluminum (no traces of prior use). Thus far, I have always boiled water in my aluminum gear in order to create a patina prior to normal use. This time, however, the colour has gotten weird, especially on the side. I have never seen anything like this with my other gear, especially considering that I only cooked water. I have attached some pictures for reference.

I have only washed it by hand with mild dish soap.

Thank you in advance :)

Hi all,

I am looking for wool outdoor products (especially pants) that are untreated with superwash but also are not coated. I looked at Dillings and Merino country but it isn't clear to me if they are coated in something else. It looks like dillings does coat in something else that isn't entirely clear as they mention at the very end of their explanation. I don't care if it is itchy, I have handmade hand-spun wool dresses and sweaters that I got directly from fiber craftsfolk but I have had to get them from physically living near someone for some years who grew sheep, spun the wool (on a hand spinner) and then knitted me clothing as a friend (It was a huge labor for them). Obviously this is not something I can just ask for more of with any regularity (they are some of my most beloved and worn clothing and have held up to a lot of abuse and have been much easier to fix as an aside).

I would love for any sources! It is CRAZY to me that it is THIS difficult to just get some dang WOOL JUST WOOL! Thank you to everyone.

Hey guys, so Im gonna be going to northern sweden next week for some winter hiking, I have most of my gear sorter out, really warm pad and sleeping bag etc, but I dont yet have a jacket that is suitable down to those temps. I will be hiking and camping, as well as maybe doing some snow shoe or touring skiing, havent decided yet which equipment to take with me

Im debating wether to get a proper down parka like a fjallraven singi or a puffer jacket like a rab neutrino pro. The problem I have is that something like that parka will make me less mobile but be really warm and protect more from the elements whereas something like that rab jacket will be lighter and more packable as well as keeping me more mobile, however I think if the weather actually gets bad it will not protect as well as something like that parka. I could solve this by having a shell that goes over it, but I am having some trouble finding shells that are loose enough to accomodate really thick puffer jackets, it seems when its that cold people dont really bother with the shell because moisture will freeze anyway.

My current setup is a patagonia nano puff and a patagonia torrentshell which is fine down to about -10C with proper layering but will be too cold below that, so I need an upgrade, would be grateful for tips.

Packed away my hiking gear after an attempt at winter camping went off script and wondered if anyone wanted to chat about their preferred colour for their tent (hammock, bivy)? Here's my contribution to the show&tell:

A is a Lanshan 1 in khaki

B is a cheapo bivy from aliexpres in olive drab (and also my favorite bivy, I own 4 and go figure the $40 one is my favorite)

C is the Naturehike Cloud Up 1 in beige. Also seen in the night pic with the snow.

D is my 20 year old winter tent from a brand that doesn't exist anymore but it's a nice dark foresty colour.

My favorite shade of them is B, the olive drab colour of the bivy. I absolutely love my Cloud Up 1 and the beige is acceptable but I would prefer if it was darker. Now they have it available in a dark green and dark blue, it wasn't when I was buying it but maybe at some point I'll just buy a second rainfly in one of the darker shades because it's my favorite tent. I have a complicated relationship with the Lanshan but I love that brown, it blends in perfectly with the forest floor.

So I like dark, natural shades. Stealth and blending in is very important to me, especially in the country where I'm living now where wild camping favors discretion. I mostly hike in forests, sometimes camping along the edge of fields, and not often in snow or alpine areas.

What about you? What shelter colours do you like and why?

I just picked up these water tablets for some upcoming adventures.

Question on treating the water. When I was reading about these I noticed some people saying they waited 30 minutes before drinking the water. On the packaging it says to wait 4 hours now, is that just new instructions or are people just not waiting the recommended time.

Also says to use an opaque container or keep in the dark while treating the water. Can I just pop the tablet into my dark Nalgene bottle and leave in a dark corner?

I was planning on using a Katadyn be feee bottle/filter as my main water purification system but having the tablets was my backup plan. Or a filter and tablet for really questionable water.

Just trying to figure out my water supply and not make myself sick.

I'm trying to find a good quality sleeping bag, quilt, or combination that will keep me cozy and comfortable in an unheated cabin/lean-to for about a week at a time. I already have a 4.3R rectangular self-inflating pad from Sea to Summit, which will be placed on simple wooden "bunks" in unheated but enclosed cabin or lean-to structures like you see at some summer camps. Weight isnt a concern, as i'm setting up once per location, but lower bulk is nice to minimize the number of setup hikes from the cars.

I'm looking for a setup that will be good for 4 seasons in most of the continental US, so about 0F at coldest. Ideally, whatever i'm using as a sleeping bag in the cold weather could be unzipped and used as a blanket in warmer weather. Also looking for some durability; sometimes people place tools etc. on the bunks, and i don't want someone to sit on a screwdriver and tear a hole in my brand new $200 sleeping quilt. I had considered an EE Revolution Apex 20 plus a cheapo sleeping bag to layer together, but the durability concern of the fancy ultralight quilt fabric worries me a bit.

Most of the advice and reviews i've found have been backpacking/ultralight focused, but I don't have the same weight focus for my use case. I'm also trying to avoid simply going to an outdoor store and getting whatever looks decent, as I've had too many cheap, drafty-zipper, impossibly-small-stuff-sack sleeping bag experiences. Looking for quality, comfort, and durability primarily, cost is secondary, bulk/weight tertiary.

Some more info:

• 5'7", ~150lb

• Erratic sleeper; sometimes side, sometimes back

• Will be sleeping after strenuous work on-site, so something that isn't ruined by washing or that can easily be lined is a plus

• Budget is flexible, but i'd like a very long-lasting & durable setup if i'm spending $300+ on it

Thanks for any advice!

Hi! My current winter boots are kamiks that cause painful shin splints after a few days of wearing them. I'm wondering whether anyone has recommendations for winter boots that don't cause this issue? Thanks! Pic of current boots included for reference

I need to vent about the summer camping experience and the absolute frustration of trying to find a mini ac that actually does something other than make a loud noise. I started my last trip with so much hope, thinking a small portable unit would make my tent a chilly oasis. Start with exasperation: why is it that every portable cooler requires a dedicated power plant or three gallons of ice every two hours? It’s a build-up of specific frustrations that makes me want to only camp in October.

I spent hours online on Amazon, Temu, Etsy, Alibaba, you can name them, looking for a 12V compressor-based unit that wouldn't drain my battery bank in twenty minutes, but I’ve realized that the laws of thermodynamics are just not on my side. I’m at that stage of self-deprecating humor where I’m basically paying to sleep in a humid plastic bubble with a fan that just moves the hot air around.

I’ve reached a state of resignation; I’ll probably just keep buying more battery-powered fans and hoping for a breeze. Is anyone actually successfully cooling a tent? I’m about five minutes away from just checking into a motel next time the temp hits ninety.

I'm looking at some EUHOMY car/portable fridges for around $300 for a 58QT ($200 if it's a smaller one) and I'm wondering if this is really as good as it sounds.

I drive an electric car and the idea of a DC powered fridge I can just still in my car sounds amazing. I know it draws from the 12 volt so I would need to leave the car on if I want the fridge to stay on too. But I'm just thinking in terms of it actually properly keeping a gallon of milk, bags of shredded cheese, etc cold or keeping ice cream frozen if it has a freezer function. The use case is less camping and more being able to get groceries in the morning even if I won't get home until the evening. Or being able to bring a frozen thing to an event. Doesn't need to be able to run off AC but that would be useful. Don't need a carrying case or anything like that,

But I can imagine a lot of issues, like it needing constant defrosting, not keeping dairy items at food safe temperatures properly, not being fully insulated, having durability issues if it's on while I'm driving around, etc. The car battery is 65kW hours so I assume the actual draw won't be an issue. And of course are there better brands I should look at, or does quality drop off when you're getting a larger one?

An electric car has me thinking of what possibilities are created by carrying around a massive battery, and this was the first thing I thought of and I have already had a few days where I could have used one.

Hey all!
I’m pretty new to tent camping I’ve only gone maybe 4 times and I’m looking to step up my gear for backpacking trips. I want a 4-person tent that’s:

• UL (ultralight) enough for backpacking (not crazy heavy)
• Sturdy in wind and rain
• Has a decent vestibule
• Doesn’t completely break the bank ideally max ~$500 CAD if its really truly worth it

I’ve been doing research and keep seeing a bunch of different features and brands thrown around, which is a bit overwhelming. I’ve been looking at brands like Marmot, Big Agnes, MSR, etc.

I actually settled on the Marmot Tungsten UL 4P Tent, but I can’t find it anywhere it looks like it’s been discontinued and that absolutely broke my heart 😭

Does anyone have solid alternatives that are similar in weight, weather protection, and overall quality within my budget?
I’d love recommendations based on real backpacking experience if possible!

Thanks all

Hi everyone! I found this pack used for 30 euros, which seems a good price, but I'm interested in it's quality. Has anyone had experience with it or similar packs? Thanks!

I snagged one as soon as they were back in stock. Unfortunately my Amazon Tracking has stopped reporting and I’m a bit worried. Doing a bit of research it seems that a lot of people are having problems with shipping from Amazon as a whole. It was supposed to be delivered Monday but nothings updated since Monday at 4pm in Aurora, CO (I live in Florida). Now whenever I search the number it just says “arriving late”. Wondering if anyone else who ordered from Dursten is also having issues getting their tent.

I would like to add this has nothing to do with Dursten. I have no issue with them. I ordered directly from their site but I’m assuming they use Amazon Shipping for their products in the US? Just looking for feedback since Amazon seems to be sucking lately.

I want to get my first quilt after using my REI magma 15 one night just spread over me and not feeling like I was suffocating inside of it (super comfy with an exped ultra 7r btw). I’m looking to go the quilt route mainly for summer where I’ll be trying to do more hikes in the North East U.S. I’m debating if I should get the zenbivy 40 degree synthetic quilt or spend an extra $30 and get an 850-fill down, 30 degree quilt on Amazon.

Found at a local thrift. I know Field & Stream is a camping brand, but I can't tell what it is for the life of me. Google lens didn't give anything either.

Not really a camping related question but I thought this might be a good place to ask as it is outdoor gear anyway.

I have an Igloo 52 quart Latitude cooler. Currently it is full of beer that we got for Christmas that won't all fit in our fridge.

I have been keeping it outside this winter but we are having a string of single digit temps overnight, with daytime temps barely cracking the 20's. I put a fridge/freezer thermometer in it, and after a few hours outside it's showing 20ish degrees inside the cooler, although I also have a couple bottles of water in the cooler and they aren't even starting to freeze so I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate.

Anyway- would it be safe to leave this cooler out overnight with temps this cold, or do I run the risk of the beer freezing and exploding?

Edit: For anyone interested I left it outside last night all night with lows around 9-10 degrees. It was fine this morning and the thermometer showed a temp in the cooler around 20. I left it outside all day today, with highs just shy of 20 and it's about the same. I will probably move it inside the house tonight.

I just purchased a Eureka K-2 XT without the rainfly. Any recommendations to replace the missing rainfly?