Ever since seeing the NEMO® Bugout™ shelter at Trail Days in 2012, I’ve been wanting to get one. The Bugout is a tarp-based shelter with an integrated bug netting that reaches from tarp edge to the ground, creating a roomy,…
I’ve made a lot of these insulated hoods with varying styles of construction. This is a really easy do-it-yourself (DIY) project, especially if you can use pieces from a fleece blanket that already has a nice hem that can work…
Among hikers, backpackers, campers, Scouters, and pretty much any outdoor enthusiast, one topic seems to always spark debate: hardware devices or knots? Are you a knot purist who sees hardware devices as redundant, a waste of time (or weight), or…
After spending a few weeks reviewing the Lawson Blue Ridge Camping Hammock I felt a little like the food critic Anton Ego from the Disney®/Pixar® animated film Ratatouille when he flip-flopped on his critique of Gusteau’s restaurant. Perhaps I can appreciate his predicament…
It’s almost been a year since I drew up these plans for a hammock bivy and I thought I might as well publish them. During this time there were a few hammock bivy projects popping up, including the Kickstarter-funded Alpine…
Sometimes, it’s the little things that matter; the attention to detail. I was testing out a hammock the other day that had a zippered bug net, but visibly missing were adequate zipper pulls. To clarify, the metal zipper tabs were…
Back in 2010, I published some instructions for making a 3-person hammock stand on HammockForums.net. I’ve updated the illustrations and information and am posting it here for easier access. I’ve spent a lot of time and money trying to find…
Not all tarps are created equal. Indeed, what appears to be one of the simplest pieces of gear, next to a basic gathered-end hammock, tarps end up being one of the most complex. On one end of the spectrum you…
The Superior Hiking Trail, or SHT, is a foot trail—listed as more than 290 miles long—located in Northeastern Minnesota that skirts the northern shore of Lake Superior. The SHT’s popularity is due in part to its numerous access points (one…
Price is often used as a measurement of quality, but just because something is inexpensive doesn’t mean it’s junk. And while investing in quality products often pays off, there’s nothing wrong with a good deal, right? Price can also be…