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Posts by Justin C‭

26 posts
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Q&A How to harden feet to avoid blisters on long hikes

I've enjoyed hiking my entire life but I have one huge problem. The skin on my feet is extremely soft and sensitive. I wear good wool socks with properly fitting boots and change socks during long ...

13 answers  ·  posted 13y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Q&A Boot tongue orientation?

This could indicate a poor fit, but if they boots are otherwise comfortable then I would not say it is due to a poor fit. It is very possible that as they break in more and more this problem will h...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A Where can I find an iodine crystal water purification product?

For years I used a product called Polar Pure for water purification when weekend backpacking. It was an iodine based solution, so not great for a thru-hike, but fine for a week or less. Specificall...

3 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Q&A How to treat shin splints while backpacking

It's been a couple of years since I last had bad shin splits but I can still recall how painful they can be. I was able to heal them before mostly with a couple weeks rest. If the pain came back ...

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

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Q&A Are there any specific techniques that should be used when starting a fire in the rain?

When building a fire in any weather condition you need some kind of starter. If you are expecting to experience wet conditions a great planning step is to store some starter in a waterproof locatio...

posted 13y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A What are the differences between high-end sleeping pads and cut to fit foam mats?

I'm pretty tall and I find that to purchase a brand-name sleeping pad means shelling out serious $$$. To solve this I have always just purchased a roll of foam padding that I could cut to make sure...

2 answers  ·  posted 13y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is it better to wear one pair or two pairs of socks while hiking?

Two pairs of socks reduces friction and absorbs more moisture, both of which help prevent blisters. Personally, I prefer thin neoprene socks underneath thick wool socks.

posted 13y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A Is it safe to use water purification tablets after their expiration date?

There are two common chemical options to water purification; chlorine and iodine. Both forms use some kind of expiration date. The consensed quantity of the chemical slowly degrades. Some things l...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A How does Frogg Toggs Polypropylene measure up?

Polypropylene based rain gear is a subject of great debate. It seems to fit some people's needs perfectly while it is terrible for others. Frogg Toggs is one company, I know DriDucks is another. Th...

posted 11y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A New to fishing in Virginia

As for the Potomac, it can be complicated because you have a large freshwater river with tributaries in multiple states that opens to the ocean. If you plan to saltwater fish you can find license i...

posted 11y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A A removeable solution for slipping insoles?

I haven't used this trick for your exact issue but I have used it for similar issues. I would attach a small amount of velcro to the inside of each shoe and the bottom of the insole. You'll want t...

posted 11y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A Caveats of dual (propane, liquid) fuel stoves

There are no reliability problems specifically with dual fuel stoves. Reliability really has more to do with the design and the manufacturer than the fuel(s). So the best stove for you really depe...

posted 11y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A Is there special etiquette for hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) during AT Season

I think what you are trying to get at is the proper etiquette for hiking on the AT during peak season, when the most hikers and backpackers are on the trail. Exactly when peak season is, and how ma...

posted 11y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Q&A Safe to use Old Water Filter?

As I understand the technology, your microfilters will not expire on the shelf if maintained and stored properly. Their lifetime is determined by the number of gallons pumped. What can happen is i...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Q&A Is freeze-dried food healthy?

Generally there are no known health side effects to eating mostly or only freeze-dried food. Freeze-dried food tends to hold more nutrients, and hold them longer, than most other shelf-life extend...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Q&A What sleeping bags are needed for a northbound thru-hike of the AT

If you were attempting a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, starting roughly now (being mid to late March) and going northbound, how many sleeping bags and of what types would you need, assuming c...

3 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Q&A How can I make a snow shoe in the wilderness from commonly available materials and simple tools?

The easiest way that I know of requires you to have some kind of rope or long straps and to be near evergreen trees. Depending on the strength of the needles and width of the trees limbs take anyw...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Q&A Soft or hard drinking bottle?

I look at soft plastic drinking bottles as a great but slightly risky way to trim weight. Soft plastic should always be lighter than hard plastic, even if the difference is minor. The same applies ...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A When should you be alert for snakes?

I hike in generally the same area of the country, mostly on the AT around NC and VA. Snakes in this area will be most active during spring and fall months. Generally they will be more active in mo...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A Backpacking or hiking in areas open to hunting

Hunting seasons and licenses are an issue handled by the states in the US. So check the website of the state you want to backpack/hike in to find out about their various seasons. Honestly, in most...

posted 13y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A What to do if you cross paths with a buck?

Specifically for biking, they do make spray cans to keep dangerous animals away. Most of my experience with these products have been dealing with loose dogs. I would think it could be used for an a...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A Selecting backpacking cooking pot &#x2013; teflon, aluminum, steel, titanium, or cast iron?

The absolute best is going to be titanium, but it also happens to be the most expensive. I'm not sure where you heard that it shatters in the cold, but being a space age metal I would think it can ...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Q&A What are the tradeoffs for a Tomahawk over an Axe

Unfortunately the words "Tomahawk", "Hand Axe", "Hatchet", etc are not rigorously defined terms. If I wanted to make my own heavy blade attached to the end of a stick and sell it, I could use any o...

posted 12y ago by Justin C‭

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Q&A How long does water need to be boiled for to kill all bacteria / viruses?

The EPA recommends boiling for one minute for most people, and three minutes for anyone above 5000ft or 1000m (sic) in elevation. reference - https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/em...

posted 13y ago by Justin C‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Q&A For a DIY wood burning stove, is there a significant advantage of the double wall "bushbuddy" style?

The short answer is, it all depends. Using a double-walled system will add weight to your stove, but it will improve your stove in a few ways. You should get a higher level of heat and your fuel wi...

posted 13y ago by Justin C‭

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