General Q&A about the great outdoors and outdoor pursuits.
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I know that if all things being equal (fabrics, thickness, and insulation), mittens are warmer than gloves. from this question. However, I feel like there's was a trend to "mittens" the ...
I want to go on a hunt in Australia. I'm normally quite close to the minimum poundage limit (around 52 pound). This makes me ask if there is a minimum poundage in Australia and - of course - if yes...
The Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is defined as the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. source There were several attempts...
Is there a standard measure for textile properties such as windproof, waterproof, breathability, elasticity, drying time, comfort? Is there a website that has a list of different textiles in the i...
I'm relatively new to Colorado, but would love to get into winter sports more. My question is, I enjoy hiking both flat and relatively steep trails in the snow. Which option would be a better fit: ...
I know a lot of archers who emotionally prefer wooden shafts: More "traditional" Environmental-friendly if lost Just general personal preferences However, do they (the arrows) have any rationa...
I usually go out running with many, many layers on. Even though I may sweat more, I feel more comfortable and wrapped up. Are there any dangers, other than hypothermia, of wearing too many layers?
I've read that one can create a (actually a pretty decent) fridge with quite common materials a few years ago. How do you do that?
Ok so we've a Shetland Sheepdog, roughly 6kg for his max weight, and he has a pretty decent harness (as in you can pick him up from it and it doesn't hurt him, choke him etc) but he only has a dece...
I recently inherited a small sailing boat similar to a Sunfish (roughly 12'x5'). However, I'm pretty sure it's not a sunfish, and I'm trying to identify it by the insignia on the sail. Does anyone ...
I've white turkey feathers. I want to dye them like my nocks: As you can see, they're "bone" colored (a slightly dirty white). Am I able to make my white feathers a little bit more "creamy"?...
I've been using microspikes on my hiking boots and find that they aren't up to the challenge of hiking up snowy peaks. I use snowshoes but find some mountains would be better served by crampons and...
In some places, like Scandinavia, you can camp pretty much anywhere you like as long as it's only for one night and you don't leave a mess. The freedom to roam, or everyman's right is the gener...
Fishing is 95% waiting and 5% action, well at least that's how it is for me. During the down time, I contemplate deeply on some obscure and inane things. For a while I've wondered if an angler is h...
I've heard that I can take glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate supplements to prevent damage to my fingers when I'm climbing. Is it true, or is just an old wives' tale?
I've heard that I can take glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate supplements to prevent damage to my fingers when I'm climbing. Is it true, or is just an old wives' tale?
What should one consider while storing a snowboard? Mine is in the same position for about 7 months of the year. In case it makes any differences, here are the specs: Directional shape Sidecut...
In one of the trail journals I read, the author mentions packing her boots with newspaper to dry them out. On the one hand I can see perhaps some wicking action, but this would greatly reduce airf...
It is a common advice to handle your ice axe with the pick facing to the rear. Furthermore, having a single technique of self-arrest aids in training and being prepared for an emergency situation. ...
Of course we agree on the fact, that cellphones aren't that good in the great outdoors cause they just don't work if you are too far from civilization. That's why we use devices like Walkie-Talkies...
Being a ski-novice I want to start doing alpine ski tours, that means mountaineering with ski. I don't want the ski to be mainly used in 'downhill powdering'. Because of long uphill sections, weigh...
We've a map and a functional compass. A compass shows of course the magnetic north and the map provides us with the correct and current declination. The North Magnetic Pole is the point on the...
This has really come about since doing some night caches and the issues that arise from doing them. What precautions should you take before under-going a night cache?
Let's assume there's a reason to stay dry from rain. You've a form of a basecamp which can keep you dry. Is it better to walk or to run back through the rain? The crux (imho!): Running reduc...
I've often read and been told that with foraging less is often more. Whilst you may need X kilograms of a berry or flowers (like elderflowers) you should never pick a bush clean. How can you esti...
I would like to camp for the whole winter but mostly in a wooded area. Is it reasonable to assume that I will not encounter terribly heavy winds? I want to purchase a 1 man tent but can't decide if...
Normally you measure the arrow from the nock (so, where the string is placed) to the end of the shaft. If you want to have a 29" arrow, the shaft itself has only about 28,5" cause the distance betw...
I've been camping since I was a teenager in the scouts, and I've never really had a very comfortable night out. As an adult with a girlfriend, 20 years later, I'd like to just throw some money at ...
We found ourselves in a pretty dangerous situation once. We were snowboarding in the backcountry and came to a spot where a rock on the left side and a slope on the right side built a path (about 3...
I see a lot of (traditional) archers shooting 3D with stringdampers attached. As far as I know they slow your bow down. Okay, okay, it's minimal, but still... Also, as far as I know, the 3D targets...
The plastic cup training is quite popular among different archers. It's a training where you pin a cup on your target and try to insert three arrows into it. You do this repeatedly from different, ...
I've had an archer in my group who used a laser-tool to measure the distance between the stake and the target in my last 3D-archery tournament. He used it at the first target but understood the gr...
For someone who has never done it before, what is the best way to start learning how to forage in the UK? Do you require anything specific to start doing this?
Note: This question is asked in an absolutely theoretical manner. NEVER hunt without proper equipment! I often ask myself what probably would happen if I shoot small game with a field tip attached...
Someone has recently mentioned a "bullet tip". I assume he meant something for target shooting but it sounds like some hunting equipment. So, what exactly did he refer to?
Sometimes when descending with a GriGri, I get the urge to pull hard and zip down the line. Safe reasoning returns and I continue descending with a safe, steady pace. However, I would like to know ...
I walk a lot in Germany and I found many stones much like this on my route this weekend: Along this particular section of the walk. Most of the stones have two digit numbers. The one shown ha...
In movies and other resource there are often "long bows" mentioned. It has become pretty "legendary" imho. Although I know how it's shaped etc. I wanted to know what exactly makes a bow a longbow?
Assuming you or one of your party has broken his leg (or something). How can you create a provisional splint or cast to bring you/him/her back to the next hospital etc.? Would be cool if it's made...
In decades of hiking and backpacking in the Sierra and Colorado Rockies, I have seen only six species of large mammals: black bear, coyote, moose, big horn sheep, elk and deer. If I had been hik...
How would you tell, either from dismounting or from horseback if it's safe to jump an obstacle? Can you always assume a cross country obstacle will be safe to jump as well?
What type of seabed should I be fishing on when trying to catch speckled trout along the Texas Gulf Coast?
I'm new to archery and bought a book. However, the author is often using the term "bow shelf" and I can't really imagine what this might be. So, what is a "bow shelf"?
When out in the wild and a companion falls into the fire and gets injured very badly. How can I aid his wounds? Would be great to hear from some possible herbs (natural materials in general) but co...
When I hear people talking about archery or I read something about it, there is often a "recurve bow" mentioned. Altough I know how it's shaped etc. I wanted to know what exactly makes a bow to a r...
I've got some 1/4 inch Manila rope that's really, really curly. It ends up very tangled and difficult to manage. Is there a way to straighten or relax it?
Of course I know that it's an arrowhead to shoot on targets with. However, I wonder how it's exactly defined. So, what (exactly) is a field tip?
I'm thinking of switching from old and heavy army boots to modern trekking ones. Trying to choose between Gore-Tex and leather with waterproof coating only, I can't get over a simple question - ...
Do we have to be additional carefully in areas where a Geyser is quite common? Can their water reach dangerous temperatures? Is it possible that one just "randomly" pops out of the ground? Are t...
Someone told me that one can kill a fish by putting it in iced water. He stated that it'll kill the animal extremely fast and without any pain. I've my doubts... Can anyone explain why this shoul...
