There are many options for an insulation layer that will keep the cold out during hiking trips. Down jackets, fleece vests, and of course fancy Merino wool sweaters. In this article, I shed some light on the wool sweaters that are an old standby. And compare them to the newer Merino wool sweaters. Quick jump guide Old fashioned wool sweaters Very affordable when bought second hand Spark resistant unlike other newer materials Downside, most of the time heavier than other options Merino Wool Sweaters Conclusion on woolen sweaters for hiking Old fashioned wool sweaters One of my favorite sweater types to wear is wool sweaters, they can be an excellent…

The Victorinox Classic is one of the classics as its name suggests, this little pocket knife gets gifted probably more than any other knife. Does it provide everything you need for Hiking purposes? Let’s find out. Victorinox is the company that makes Swiss Army knives for as long as Swiss army knives have been a common term. The great steel quality and long lasting knives make for an excellent gift to anyone that is looking for a present for a hiker, or somebody’s first knife. Not threatening and legal to carry pretty much anywhere, the Victorinox Classic SD is a great option that is also very lightweight to carry. Everything…

Opinel knives are an excellent option for day to day hiking use. Let’s go over all its features and why it is a solid choice for your hiking needs. The history of Opinel knives is a rich one, more so than many other knives that are mass-produced. Although the Opinel knives are very inexpensive, they have found the way into many hikers, chefs, mushroom hunters, and farmer’s hands. For their wicked sharp edge, comfortable handle, and easy resharpening they can offer great value for little investment. And are therefore great for any hiker on a budget. Opinel knives are a favorite of mine, and I covered them in great detail…

The Patina on carbon steel Opinel knives is a common thing to happen. Here is how to prevent them, or force them! A Patina on carbon steel knives is a form of corrosion that tends to happen when handling the knife in wet or humid conditions. With Opinel knives that tend to happen from being in a sweaty pocket. Or cutting something with acids or tannins in it. For example, cutting a hazel branch tends to discolor Carbon Steel Opinel knives quite a bit. Quick Jump Guide Preventing a Patina on Opinel knives Forcing a Patina on Opinel knives Conclusion on Patina’s It can bother some people to have their…

Alcohol stoves are a great lightweight option for any hiker, using one requires some more attention. Here is how to effectively use Alcohol stoves. Using an alcohol stove can be done in many different ways according to the stove type. Alcohol stoves come in many different configurations and types. They can be broken down into the following categories. Trangia alcohol stoves Homemade DIY alcohol stoves Other commercial alcohol stoves All alcohol stoves have the same basic needs and are covered in this article. Quick jump guide Wind protection Lighting and flare-up Turning alcohol into gas and consistent burning Extinguishing and clean up Fuel storage and safety How to use an…

Windscreens for alcohol stoves are easy to construct yourself and offer a great boost to performance for almost any Alcohol stove. Here are some options. For many of the windscreens that I will be covering you can make it the DIY route. And for others, you can get them cheaply. The difference they make is night and day. Since almost all Alcohol stoves are not pressurized they are very susceptible to the slightest gust of wind. Straight to the DIY Alcohol Windscreen how to Trangia integrated windscreen When you decide to go for a Trangia alcohol stove the Windscreen that you need is already integrated into the stove. With their…

Mora knives are a popular choice for bushcraft knives, hiking, and any outdoor activity. The choice between Stainless and Carbon is an easy one. Here is why. Knives of any sort come in a great variety of different steel types. Carbon steel or Stainless steel is a broad spectrum even to choose between. In the case of Mora knives, it comes down to three different steel types. Carbon steel, Stainless steel, or laminated steel knives. Each with its own properties and characteristics. In this article, I explore the three different steel types that Mora has to offer, and explain when to choose what steel type. In any case, this is…

Opinel and Mora knives are a staple in the outdoor community. For every cutting task, they are at the ready. In this article, we discuss the differences and choices between the two knives. When getting started in hiking, bushcrafting, or just looking for a knife for cutting chores around the house. The names Opinel and Mora are often recognized in articles and videos. They are old brands that have gained quite the following in the different outdoor communities. Reliable, affordable, and easy to sharpen for first-timers. Let’s dive deeper into the choice of deciding between the two. Quick jump list Opinel Knives Mora Knives Steel types for Mora and Opinel…

The Trangia Alcohol stoves have been around for a long time, bombproof and super simple to use. Let’s go over all its up and downsides in this review. After playing around with homemade alcohol stoves a lot I finally got a Trangia alcohol stove for my first backpacking trips. I knew about the ups and downsides of the stoves and decided that the Trangia stove was going to be my choice for trips to Sweden, the Netherlands, and Scotland. Having an Alcohol stove in Europe is great since the fuel is cheap and readily available. The stoves don’t make a sound like a jet engine, and for camp cooking for…

As far as outdoor cooking and eating utensils go a Spork is a great way combined with a pocket knife to eat out on the trail. All you need is in there. As Sporks go I have tested quite a few, from the free ones you get in different grocery stores. To metal an plastic ones. Cooking and eating out on trail wile hiking is confined in most cases to a single pot or mug. The Titanium Spork by light my fire is one of the best Sporks out there on the market and has been for a long time. Since its first launch with a mealkit in 2005 the…