Chris J‭

I've picked up a hand chainsaw for the woods as it's cheap and an amazing bit of kit. UK law states the legal carry for a knife is less than 3 inches and must be a non-locking folding blade. Wi...

3 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Is it safe to drink water from streams in Dartmoor using simple purification methods? I'm planning a trip and am looking to filter using a Millbank bag and then boil for four minutes to kill off a...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

As part of my everyday carry gear, I'm looking at including a slingshot for taking game birds whilst hiking. However I've never used one, what should I be looking for in a catapult when purchasin...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

I'm contemplating using a hammock for my next trip, usually I'd keep my backpack and boots with me inside when I sleep to keep them dry. Is there room in a hammock for a backpack and boots? Or is ...

4 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

I'm trying to visualise how to setup my first hammock and what kit I will need (excluding tarp and underlay) can you check my sketch below (excuse the simplistic style) and confirm that I have cove...

0 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭

I'm looking to use a piece of paracord as a ridge/sag line in my hammock setup, to do this I want to be able to tie the two ends together in a fashion that will allow me to alter the length of the ...

3 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

I'm currently using a double fisherman's bend to tie my kit together but it's a bit fiddly to take apart. Is there a better knot for the task?

3 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

Reading the instructions here about making my own sleeping bag/top quilt and it got me thinking, if I can make a temporary seal on one end (Velcro, buttons, zips, etc) I could vary the amount of st...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

The tree kind of resembles an ash but has green buds, there are pinnate leaflets with rounded tips close up of leaflets edit This tree is located in Cambidgeshire in the United Kingdom

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

I've been learning about collecting dead wood from trees which are easy enough to identify in summer (lack of leaves) but is there a way of identifying dead wood that also works in winter?

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Is it possible (read, can I spend a restful night sleeping?) By using a quilt, bivi bag and ground sheet? Quilt I'm looking at is here, the idea being that I can take an ultralight bivi bag and gr...

3 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

On a survival course recently I was told the correct way to despatch a rabbit (as determined to reduce suffering) is to place a blow three times to the base of the skull with a stick - not smashing...

posted 8y ago by Chris J‭

I'm looking to do some hiking and wild camping before the end of the British summer, I'm happy with the contents of my kit and the items I'm taking but I'm not sure how realistic it is to be carryi...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

On a recent question that was closed as a duplicate (correctly) one of the comments was to use a foil blanket as a ground sheet instead of a tarpaulin in a bid to reduce the overall pack weight. Is...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 8y ago by System‭

My outdoor gear has been relegated to the garage but I want to keep it off the ground, I have a beam and paracord and am using a double fisherman's bend and a midshipman knot to keep it elevated bu...

2 answers  ·  posted 8y ago by Chris J‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭