Activity for Chris H
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit | Post #39680 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
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What can I burn in an open cup burner stove? I'm looking for easily obtained fuels for an open-cup stove, such as a Trangia, in case I need to top up while travelling. I have a small simple DIY open cup spirit stove, for boiling water when bike touring and I don't want to carry my MSR. I may make a slightly more sophisticated one. I'd normall... (more) |
— | over 4 years ago |
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A: E-ink device with GPS for maps? Mobile mapping is optimised for colour, which isn't available on any of the e-ink devices I can find, despite talk of colour e-paper since about 2013. Having played with black and white prints of OpenStreetMap via InkAtlas (and having reproductions of old B&W Ordnance Survey map) I can say that ... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
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How can I reduce the pressure of backpack straps on my collarbone, perhaps by fixing padding to the strap? As some of you who are also active on bicycles.se may know, I broke my collarbone in a bike crash last year, and it's now got a titanium plate in there. I'm not sure whether it's the plate or not, but some backpack straps now seem to press rather too much in the wrong place. My commuting backpack i... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
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A: Male swimming attire that can be worn under clothing I regularly cycle to the pool with limited time, and have found that the best option is trunks, but they don't have to be as skimpy as we tend to think of as speedos. Mine (similar to these but a little longer) are like close fitting short shorts, and feel much less exposed than some styles. Unpadde... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
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A: As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map? A massive advantage of paper maps over electronic is the combination of area and resolution. You can take a bearing to a mast on top of a hill several km away, when zooming out that far on a GPS screen wouldn't even show the hill. If plans change and you have to reroute, rather than following a pre-p... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
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A: What’s the main appeal for climbing outdoors? To me, and I'm no climber, this is about outdoor activities in general. You could equally ask why people kayak in the wilds rather than going to the artificial whitewater centre that's always reliable, or why I spent all of yesterday cycling through headwinds and a hailstorm rather than sitting on a ... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
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A: Comparing and combining paddles and pedals for sit-on-top kayak speed and endurance Another difficulty (or at least downside) of a combined system is that while combining pedalling and paddling uses more muscles, they're still only supplied by one heart and pair of lungs. Either method of propulsion alone can use your aerobic ability, so the combination won't be able to sustain a hi... (more) |
— | almost 5 years ago |
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A: Jelly Knees while climbing I'm not a climber so this is a non-expert thought that was nearly just a comment. Could something have changed affecting your ability to hold awkward positions, perhaps a loss of suppleness if your break was caused by injury or being too busy? I say this because when I get those legs it's often that... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
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A: How to repair worn hiking boot eyelets I'm not much use with a needle and thread, and would be worried about piercing a breathable membrane, so what I'd do is get some light webbing of the same width (this might be tricky to find) and use solvent-based fabric glue to glue it over the top of the worn loop,. A couple of stitches at each end... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
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A: How to prevent strap slippage through buckle? If you've got the strap to the perfect length and want to maintain that length, you can sew a small fold in the strap, similar to what's used at the end to stop the whole strap running through. Slitting the stitches means you can change your mind later. Realistically this won't help for a waist belt ... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
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A: Why is there such a singular place for bird watching? This is rather speculative, but draws on a few birding/wildlife books I've read and it's too much for a comment. It also has a little UK bias, but I've visited 4 continents on wildlife trips, and much of this seems universal. First, to get them out of the way: invertebrates may be interesting but i... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
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A: Other than good shoes and a stick, what are some ways to preserve your knees on long hikes? Carrying less weight makes a big difference. My packing follows the "be prepared" style more than the ultralight one, but even I admit it's easy to carry too much. Stepping cautiously especially on descents and trying to avoid dropping too much on one step are both important. A pair of trekking po... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
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A: How to properly insulate electronic devices in a car If the devices are fully turned off, sensible amounts of insulation won't keep them warm overnight as they won't give off any heat. If they're turned on and giving off heat, too much insulation can lead them to overheat. The power consumption can be rather unpredictable, for example a mobile phone th... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
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A: How to improvise or make pot grip / pot handle I use a small cotton towel, such as a tea towel, folded a few times in to a long strip. If the pan is small and light you can wrap the towel round and hold the ends tightly together to form a handle. Otherwise use 2 hands. You do need 2 layers, and synthetic fibres can melt or ignite (if they brush a... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
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A: What to look for in a spotting scope? The first thing to consider is where you're going to be carrying it, and under what circumstances. The (optically) best scopes are heavy and bulky and need a solid tripod; they're not ideal if you're hiking up a mountain with camera and day hiking gear as well. Travel scopes (I've got a mighty midget... (more) |
— | about 5 years ago |
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A: How to wind-proof an existing tent One thing you can do is close up the gap under the fly sheet on the upwind side using something you already have. That's easy for me - I go bike camping and my panniers are heavy duty dry bags that do the job very well (though its only needed on uneven ground with my tent) A rucksack can also be used... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: Could I have problems / obstacles with obtaining petrol / gasoline for a stove In the UK many petrol stations (which, BTW have some of the longest opening hours of any retailers, especially on Sundays) say minimum 2 litres, some minimum 5. There are rules about the type of container you can fill; the one your bottle might not meet is simply labeling. Years ago it wasn't unknown... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: Gloves for knuckle protection that can get wet but not necessarily waterproof I've had trouble finding kayaking gloves with adequate grip on my paddle (unless they grip too much to rotate the shaft in my left hand). So you may have trouble. However I'm looking for warmth and it doesn't sound like you are. Cheap cycling gloves with suede-like palms have good grip in the wet. U... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: Is a flare a good fire starting tool? Flares appear to weigh up to around 200g each, and to be fairly bulky. As each one can only be used once, that's a lot to carry per fire - a similar amount of liquid fuel and tinder could be expected to light several fires. If you're carrying them as survival signal flares anyway, using one to get a... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: What percentage of campground outlets are GFCI or RCD protected? In the UK this has been required for some years. I'm not saying you'll never find an old installation that isn't, but I haven't seen one since converting my campervan nearly 10 years ago. Usually when electrical regulations change here, an immediate refit isn't required, but systems have to be brough... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: Why don't rainforests and jungles smell like rotten corpses? Herbivore faeces doesn't smell as much as human faeces (or dog/cat/other carnivore). The vast majority of mammals, by number or mass, are herbivores. Population densities of large herbivores (overall - we often go to see them where they gather in large numbers, but they don't spend long in one place ... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: Why aren't (poly-)cotton tents more popular? I grew up car-camping in a frame tent (slept 4 in about 1/4 of the floor area). Those things are heavy. Seriously heavy. Lifting the fabric onto the central pole with that half-extended was hard work for someone strong. The poles had to be pretty robust too, as the pitching process involved one o... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: Require advice on power conservation for backpacking trip Considering I will always have my phone turned on while hiking There's a lot of variability in this, even given that you've specified airplane mode. Why is it on? Track logging with the screen off? This won't use much power, but you could still get through a charge in a couple of days on many... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: How to melt snow without fire or body heat? A dark coloured water bottle strapped on top of your pack would absorb quite a lot of solar heat on a sunny day. Getting the snow in would be easier with a wide neck, like a bike bottle or Nalgene. Around freezing point this can be quite effective. If you have flexible clear plastic with you in any f... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: What is the use case for non-breathable waterproof pants? There are several uses, but regular strenuous outdoor leisure activities aren't really among them. Breathable gear only goes so far - there comes a point when the best gear you can afford will result in getting very sweaty. This point is a function of temperature, humidity, price and activity level... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: What is the proper way to use a sauna? Just because it's customary to jump in a cold lake straight after getting out of a sauna doesn't make it a good idea if you're not used to it (or even if you are). Wild swimmers are more cautious as they're more likely to be alone and/or far from help in the event of cold water shock becoming serious... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: Leak proof ice container, for RV fridge I'd use food storage boxes - yes, plural, for flexibility in arranging the fridge. The good quality ones with an o-ring in the lid should seal tight (in practice they're not always airtight for long but will still contain all but a few drops of sloshing water). I have a 2l box here, so 4 of those wou... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: How to clean trail running shoes? You may want to wash them because they stink too much for where you need to keep them. If it's just about mud, just brush them. Mine tend to get smellier if I've run through puddles or heavy rain, and then they're already wet so a wash is no problem. With mine, or my bike shoes, I take the laces ou... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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Do ultrasonic dog repellers actually work against strays and other loose dogs? In answers to a recent question, ultrasonic dog repellers were suggested as a means of self defence against stray dogs rather than weapons. I'm also concerned with loose farm dogs, and live somewhere with very strict weapons laws (so bear spray is out of the question). A trekking pole I or kayak padd... (more) |
— | over 5 years ago |
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A: EU vs US hiking gear choices I've hiked in the UK, and a little in the US and western Europe. I'll concentrate on the UK. My perception is that British hikers keep their gear for longer than Americans, leading to two things: old fashioned kit, and a preference for sturdy kit. I, for example, have a pair of leather hiking boots... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: What type of pants would be durable and suitable for outdoors in all kind of climates? There are some light polycotton travel/hiking trousers. Rohan Bags are the originals (as far as I know) but I've had something similar from Craghoppers as well. They don't feel nearly as synthetic as the lightest fully synthetic ones I've got, but dry much faster than pure cotton, and seem reasonably... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: Is it illegal to walk on single or dual carriageways in the UK? A motorway is very strictly defined and will always be named Mn or An(M). There are A roads sometimes called expressways that look a lot like motorways but they don't have hard shoulders and their signs have a green, not blue, background. They may however have signs forbidding pedestrians. This mig... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: Rappelling with only one arm I've done it with a broken arm in plaster, but that was nearly 30 years ago when I was a similar age to your character. We always used figure of 8 descenders in those days and had a safety belayer with a second rope (standard practice for kids). In this case I believe the instructor/belayer was at th... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: Using hiking boots for amateur rock-climbing Compared to even the most basic climbing rig, shoes are small and light so not carrying them doesn't really help with your load. Climbing kit is expensive, with or without shoes, but shoes are much more personal than some kit that can be borrowed or shared, so you may be able to save some money. The ... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: What is an efficient and effective way to test an emergency day-hike kit? A downside of your plan is that emergency stuff doesn't have to be comfortable while your planned base camp probably is. If you're spending a safe but miserable night a short walk from your camp, do you have the willpower to not get in your nice warm sleeping bag in a nice dry tent? How are you with ... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: What counts as climbing a mountain? It depends on context as well as more objective criteria. Example: If your first mountain is 1270m but you got the bus to 800m where the road ends, you've still climbed your first mountain (not me by the way, my first was Bowfell, too long ago to remember the details). You might look back and think i... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: How can I adjust a neoprene wrist/neck seal on a drysuit, by cutting and joining? I finished the job last night, using "Black Witch" glue and reinforcing tape. It looks good so far - the join is like a less tidy version of the seam in my first picture, as I erred on the side of generosity with the glue. The seals, which are made of 2 mm neoprene are now tighter by about 1&... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: Do emergency space blankets actually work? If you've got a (waterproof) outer layer, that can be used to retain the blanket, by wearing the blanket under the coat. If you don't have a waterproof layer, the foil blanket will keep the worst of the rain off your torso. They do work reasonably well worn over a breathable waterproof layer, as the ... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: What gear should I carry along for winter emergencies? First: buddies. Solo activities are inherently riskier. Not that's out of the way, what kit is practical? Extra insulation and extra wind/waterproofing. This may be just one item, but it's more likely to be a foil blanket, extra mid layer, and survival bag. If you stop moving, you stop generating... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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Given limited space and weight what should I carry to get a fire going with damp wood? Assuming firewood can be found, but it's likely to be damp, how can I best be prepared for getting a fire going? This is for a light hiking situation, so I'm not going to carry a sack full of kindling, but am prepared to carry a fairly generous supply of tinder/firelighters/equipment. We can assume t... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: Is there a universal patch that signifies Food/Rations? In other contexts a knife and fork icon (or fork and spoon e.g. on UK motorway service signs) is widely used, but I'm a little reluctant to propose it here, as it could equally mean cutlery, or more generally (and perhaps more plausibly) food preparation equipment. It might be appropriate to comb... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: Single walled plastic vs vacuum insulated water bottle for hiking and everyday use Vacuum insulation adds significant weight and bulk. Compared to a stainless steel water bottle, already a heavy option, it will weigh almost twice as much (because of the double wall, and probably a thicker cap). My 0.5 litre steel vacuum flask is almost as big as a 1 litre water bottle. I don't hav... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: What methods can be used to keep a cooler cold longer? Ice Either obtain ice, or freeze ice packs (the latter are common in the UK, and many campsites will freeze them for you, often for a fee). Larger ice packs will keep partially frozen for 24 hours at moderate outside temperatures, while smaller ones can be tucked in the spaces in a nearly full cool ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Which emergency food for backpacking (meat-like Granola bar?) Emergency food is tricky because it should keep really well,though in your case it's not so important. For planned consumption I make a savoury flapjack - oats, cheese, a little egg, spring onion, chillies, nuts/seeds. I'm not sure of the keeping properties so reckon on a couple of days at room tem... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How strong of a magnet is needed for magnet fishing for assorted metal objects? Given your clarification ("up to small knives") a 10mm diameter by 5mm thick rare earth magnet would work. I've got some and they'll lift my Swiss army knife. However I'd go for a bit bigger, and buy one with a hole (cheap on ebay) to make fastening easier. I tested a 10x5 with a hole, lifting a sma... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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How can I adjust a neoprene wrist/neck seal on a drysuit, by cutting and joining? I'm tall but rather small-boned, and my XL drysuit has always been marginal on the wrist and neck seals, which are neoprene with a smooth lining, rather than the more common latex. This is much more comfortable, and not prone to perishing, but isn't quite as stretchy. The rest of the drysuit is the ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How would one person control two canoes? For calm water towing would work. For short stretches of even the gentlest rapids the best approach would be to tie up one boat, paddle the first down (or pole up), tie it up and walk back for the other. Continuous white water on a solo expedition (presumably far from civilisation as well, or you wou... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: Where can I test an emergency whistle? Very indoors, shut up tight, and at a suitable time of day. If you live in a house (as opposed to a flat), and it has reasonably good insulation and tight-fitting windows, the high-pitched sound of a whistle will be significantly attenuated. The noise level is comparable to a burglar/car alarm siren... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: How do you take field notes at below 0 °C, without freezing fingers? To address the issues you're having with audio-based solutions, keep the phone inside your clothing and use a "hands-free" headset (wired). This will stop the phone dying due to a cold battery, which incidentally I've never had trouble with on a range of Android phones. With the right software you ... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |