Knowledge Weighs Nothing - Life Hacks, Bushcraft etc

[Easy 6]

Its camping season, so I figured its time for a repository for all of the cool tips and tricks to be found out there that can make your experience easier and more enjoyable... don't wanna pack a tent so you can really rough it? theres a lot of different shelter designs out there, need to start a fire but forgot the lighter? there are tricks out there for that as well.

It can also branch out into cool knowledge that's useful around the home and in life in general, which is why I threw "life hacks" in there... this thread is for outdoorsmen and everyman.

Tell us your trick for saving money around the house, building a fire, catching food, making a field expedient water filter etc.

[kcchiefsus]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

My camping hack is I found a place that rents 27' Campers for about $80 a day. New ones.

It has a hot shower and fridge that runs on propane. I will never sleep in a tent again, ever.

Pussy

[Bewbies]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Here’s something everyone should have in their camping gear, or at least something like it.



After you’ve been stomping around in the woods wash your arms, legs, hands and feet down with this stuff. I don’t know about you guys but poison ivy/oak is thick around here. I’ve gotten much better at recognizing it but I’ll still come down with it at least once a year.

If it’s too late and you’ve got blistering rash move on to this stuff.

Or just use Dawn dish soap. I shower with that after I've been in the woods and haven't got poison ivy in years.

Got my sack covered in it twice, then went about finding a way to make sure I never had to endure that shit again.

[BlackHelicopters]

Poison ivy/oak on your sack? Crazy.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Bewbies

Or just use Dawn dish soap. I shower with that after I've been in the woods and haven't got poison ivy in years.

Got my sack covered in it twice, then went about finding a way to make sure I never had to endure that shit again.

That’s a good point. The stuff that does the damage is oily so anything that will break it up and wash it away is good.
I’ve had it so bad it was more like a chemical burn than a rash, literally turn the effected skin purple, though I’ve been fortunate enough to not get it on my boys so I’ve got that going for me.

[ptlyon]

Quit pounding the love muffin in the weeds Radar

[Radar Chief]

Since Fish's post in the Nope, nope, nopity topic got me thinking of it I thought I would post this hook removing technique here too.

[tooge]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Since Fish's post in the Nope, nope, nopity topic got me thinking of it I thought I would post this hook removing technique here too.

I've done that down on the current river with a treble hook on a Rebel crawdad. It hurts like a SOB, even if you have several beers in you. Believe it or not, I've tried the cut the hook and push it through method, and it seemed less traumatic. The reversal method tore more tissue, and in reality, pushing it through was much "smoother". Plus, my pulling line broke the first time I tried to reverse it out. Not good.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by tooge

I've done that down on the current river with a treble hook on a Rebel crawdad. It hurts like a SOB, even if you have several beers in you. Believe it or not, I've tried the cut the hook and push it through method, and it seemed less traumatic. The reversal method tore more tissue, and in reality, pushing it through was much "smoother". Plus, my pulling line broke the first time I tried to reverse it out. Not good.

I've actually had pretty good luck with that method but I'll admit it was with smaller hooks, like around #12-16.

[Easy 6]

Any hook with a barb is going to be a bitch, gah, so glad (knock. on. wood.) I've never had one get stuck that bad.

On a lighter note, here is a very easy way to make homemade mozzarella in 30 minutes, I will be trying this very soon, fresh and warm mozz? mmmmmm...

http://www.simplebites.net/the-best-...te-mozzarella/

[Easy 6]

Who needs a $200 dollar tent went a $10 tarp works just as well?

All you need is some paracord and a few cheap stakes, and even those are optional, you can use sticks if you want to... there are a ton of great ideas for tarp shelters out there but I really like this one because she has incorporated a fireplace into it, the first that I've seen. I've been using a tarp for several years and it beats the heck out of some expensive, hard to pack around tent.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by scott free

10 home remedies that actually work...

http://naturehacks.com/natural-remed...t-really-work/

Next up, Survival Kit in an Altoids Tin, one of the craziest but hottest fads out there it seems, there are hundreds of different versions but this one is probably the best...

I always figured altoid cans were just for a weed stash.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Dick Bull

I always figured altoid cans were just for a weed stash.

they do a damn fine job of that as well, the only thing I used to worry about was my pinch hitter carving out little bits of aluminum into my hit.

Those tell tale round grooves worn into the metal used to scare me.

[Holladay]

My best shot. No beer bottle opener? If you are wearing a class ring or a fairly thick ring... place your ring under the cap edge (6:00 position) arranged to where most of the cap is towards the finger nail (12:00). Then pivot/rotate your finger upwards. This mimics the action of a bottle opener.

College was great!

[Silock]

Originally Posted by scott free

Who needs a $200 dollar tent went a $10 tarp works just as well?

All you need is some paracord and a few cheap stakes, and even those are optional, you can use sticks if you want to... there are a ton of great ideas for tarp shelters out there but I really like this one because she has incorporated a fireplace into it, the first that I've seen. I've been using a tarp for several years and it beats the heck out of some expensive, hard to pack around tent.

This is a much better version of the same kind of shelter, because there is far less risk of melting your tarp.

[Silock]

Also, speaking of Dave Canterbury videos, he REALLY makes me want this knife. Hard to justify the price tag, but man . . . that thing looks like it can take a SHIT-TON of abuse and still keep a nice edge.