A big power bank beats solar for most campers
A ridge line is the only way to go
A single burner is all you need — if you one-pot it
Boil it.
Book the campsite before you buy the gear
Bring your own gear, your own food, and your own process.
Bring your own water. Deserts don't have much.
Camp on the high side, not the low
Campfire bans are likely. Bring a propane stove.
Carry a trauma kit, not a band-aid box
DEET and permethrin. That's it.
Dead standing trees are your best bet
Dim it down
Ditch the tarp, keep the bug net
Do a PCT bear hang. Or just carry a canister.
Don't pop that blister.
Drop everything and get low.
Drown it, stir it, feel it. Then do it again.
Dry bags are fine but a pack liner is king
For car camping, buy the thickest pad your trunk can hold
Full meal over a campfire with no cookware? Absolutely.
Hang loose and sleep diagonal
Heavy items go mid-back and close to your spine.
Just burn it off and brush it
Keep your car camping kitchen simple: here's what a family of four actually needs
Look for the wind's blind spots
LuminAID and BioLite make the best solar lanterns right now
Map and compass will save you when GPS won't
Permethrin is your best defense.
Picaridin beats DEET. Permethrin beats everything.
Picaridin is the answer.
Power banks and solar panels are the way to go
Raccoons are stronger and smarter than you. Get a locking metal bin.
Rainy days are a license to be lazy.
Rechargeable lithium batteries and red mode
Remote canister stoves with high-propane blends are the cold-weather answer
Sediment and Algae? Pre-filter, Carbon, UV
Shade and airflow are the only real answers.
Shade and water aren’t enough
Shade is your best bet. Also, ditch the rainfly.
Side sleepers need a thick pad – minimum 3 inches.
Side sleepers need at least 3 inches of pad
Skip the bear hang — get an Ursack
Sleep dry: pick a slope, not a hollow
Sun and wind beat fire every time.
Taut pitch and slope are everything.
Teach kids to leave no trace by making it a game.
The Durston X-Mid Pro 1 is still the tent to beat.
Three stoves dominate lightweight backpacking in 2025
Under $50, Get the Coleman Classic
Use FreeRoam and MVUMs for dispersed camping
Use a bear canister. Every time.
Use a footprint that fits tight
Wear them on real trails, not just around the house
Women’s bags are rated for comfort, men’s for survival
Your best bet is a portable filter.
Your dog is the riskiest thing in your camp.
Your first-aid kit needs trauma gear, not just band-aids
Your sleeping pad is more important than your bag
Your sleeping pad is the real MVP