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Posts by Lost‭

133 posts
71%
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Q&A How to clean a sleeping bag ?

The procedure is roughly the same for both Down and Synthetic, however down requires special precautions: Never dryclean. Wash by hand in a bathtub, or use a front-loading washing machine on gent...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Q&A How thin is "too thin" for tent guylines?

To answer the original question: At no point is the cord so small that you need to seriously worry about it cutting through the attachment points. Unless you pulling it through at high speed under ...

posted 11y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A Hiking boots vs trail shoes

I would argue you answered your own question in your first comment: I think it's the way the boots fit It is a myth that leather boots should require a painful bludgeoning period to break th...

posted 13y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A What mosquito nets can be used while camping?

There are several types and configurations of mosquito nets that you can use: ones that hang (from a single center point, or from four corners), ones that drape over your bag with one or two pol...

posted 13y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A Folding versus fixed blade knives

One point missing from the current answers: Fixed blade is absolutely essential in any situation where seconds count in emergency life-or-death situations. For example, anything taking place in or...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A Testing waterproofness of outdoor apparel

Put on the gear to test Turn on the shower (adjust temperature to your liking) Walk into the shower Perform a series of movements (walk in place, jumping jacks, etc) Turn off shower Inspect gear f...

posted 11y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A Are there performance differences between lead and lead-free ammunition?

According to this article (full disclosure: I wrote it) lead-based ammunition is a well-known threat to Condors and other scavengers, and may have negative effects on humans who unknowingly ingest ...

1 answer  ·  posted 13y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

Question hunting ammunition
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Q&A Will any filter/pump purifier last through longer hikes?

Without getting into any specific recommendations, pretty much any decent water filter you can find will get you through well more than 20 liters and several days. By decent, I mean the standard ...

posted 11y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A What is the recommended wilderness first aid treatment for a scorpion sting?

The best thing for a scorpion sting: wash the area apply an ice-pack or cold compress consider aspirin or ibuprofen for pain and swelling wait it out There is nothing else you can do. They can ...

posted 11y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A Do you footprint the inside of your tent, outside, or both?

Footprints: Zero? Sure. One? Good. Two? Nice. Three? Great. Four? Bomb-proof! My point is this: if you have a waterproof floor on your tent, you don't need any footprint. The trouble is, you a...

posted 11y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A Does whiskey help keep you warm in winter?

It is a rare day that I head out into the winter wilds without a flask of sumpt'n-sumpt'n in my pocket. A nip helps one to relax, can mildly embolden timid skiers in my group, and gives one that fi...

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

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Q&A How can I 'inflate' or plump up my my sleeping bag?

Original Poofiness (or OP as they call it in the 'wood) will always be illusive. No matter how you care for your bag, it is on a steady decline toward compression from the moment you buy it. To at...

posted 11y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A Is it safe to use denatured alcohol as an antiseptic?

No, it is not safe to use denatured alcohol for two good reasons: Denatured alcohol refers to a class of ethanol produced for industrial uses that has been "denatured," which essentially means "m...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Q&A How can you make a MSR WhisperLite stove simmer?

MSR WhisperLite backpacking stoves are ubiquitous, but they lack a key function: the ability to simmer easily. How can you set a WhisperLite to simmer without having to constantly watch the stove a...

9 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Q&A What is the benefit to telemark skiing?

Telemark -- where the toe is attached, and the heel is free to rise up and down -- allow skiers to skin up back-country slopes with a more natural and efficient stride. However, AT (or randonee) ri...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A What exercises should you do before a ski trip to build leg stamina?

Skiing is a full-body, high endurance, activity. Being in good cardio-vascular shape is important, and can be achieved through running, swimming, rowing, etc... This can not be over-emphasized. Get...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Q&A Jerky or Freeze-dried food : Is the salt they contain a concern?

Depending on your activity level, access to water, etc, the types of food you carry should change accordingly. Some points to consider: Dehydrated foods are great in that they are light-weight si...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A What are the advantages of learning to ski on a trip? (as opposed to beforehand)

Given that it will be your first time, no amount of preparing on a fake hill, will turn you into a snow-shredding powder dog. Your first days on a mountain WILL be difficult, painful, and short. Bu...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A How do I tie a slackline with only carabiners and webbing?

Commercial slackline solutions seem bulky, heavy, overpriced, and a little too industrial for my liking. I have 6 carabiners and 50m of tubular webbing. What knots do you recommend for building, an...

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is my tent pole a lightning rod?

I have used the Mega Mid tent almost exclusively for hundreds of nights out over the last many years. It's versatile, well ventilated, light... but has this pole sticking straight up the middle. I...

4 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

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Q&A How should I correctly use poles and other equipment to avoid back pain on long hikes?

I never understood the appeal of trekking poles until I started carrying 80+ lbs packs down into the bottom of the Grand Canyon for a living. Now, I wish I had started using them sooner. Perhaps my...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭

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Q&A Can I replace Dish soap?

Yes you can. And more to the point, you should (save weight, and leave no trace). I have not found a backpacking cooking mess that could not be cleaned with a combination of (in this order): Ton...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Q&A Material of shirt for desert hiking

Despite the convention, "cotton kills," in the desert those same properties (slow drying, water retention) are useful for keeping you cool by slowing down the near instant evaporation experienced a...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

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Q&A Does any tent manufacturer promise to have replacement parts?

Your mileage will vary by manufacturer, tent technology might not change, but designs do quite a lot (just to keep you wanting the next thing...) Check out REI - they have a 100% full return or re...

posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

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Q&A Mountaineering / glacial traverse: rope-up or go it alone?

When crossing a glacier (or other mountaineering activity for that matter) I've heard that roping everyone together without having a fixed anchor is falling out of fashion since more often than not...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭