One of the easiest stoves you can “make” for alcohol stoves is the simple tealight stove. Whenever you are in an emergency or just carry it around as a backup stove on a longer hike. A tealight stove embodies the spirit of DIY, low-tech, alcohol stoves. Let’s get into the Tealight Alcohol stove. And what I think are good use cases for them. There are many different types of backpacking stoves to choose from, whether it’s a gas canister stove or commercial alcohol stoves like the Trangia’s. Wood-Fired, and gas-operated (petrol). DIY alcohol stoves are a popular choice for ultralight hikers, emergency car kits, or other emergency preparedness kits. Alcohol…

This is my review of the Salomon Speedcross 5 and 3, after walking the Camino Frances starting from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the 5 version. Read on. Salomon is a brand that many hikers are familiar with, they have been a staple in the outdoor community since 1947. And are a solid choice for everyday hiking trips, gear, and skiing. What I was always interested in though were their hiking shoes and boots. Since my days at an outdoor store, I came in contact with fans of the shoes and picked them up to for myself. The models that I had over the years were always lightweight and more for day hikes…

Need a knife that is affordable, lightweight, and does what it needs to do? The Mora Basic 511 and 546 are excellent choices for any hiker, camper, and bushcrafter. Let’s get into the review. Knives are a standard item in any hikers backpack, you encounter a lot of cutting tasks when you are out in the outdoors. Whether it is for food prep, cutting an improvised tent peg, or starting fires. A knife makes your life a little easier. Mora knives are a staple in the outdoor community and are popular for a reason. With their affordable price, comfort in cutting tasks, and durability while still being made in Sweden.…

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 than other options like gas or cartridge stoves. Here is how to effectively use Alcohol stoves on your next hike! Using an alcohol stove can be done in many different ways according to the stove type, and can be boiled down to the following steps: Alcohol stoves themselves come in many different configurations and types. They can be broken down into the following two main categories: Commercial Alcohol stoves, Trangia, Vango, etc. Homemade DIY alcohol stoves And for all the different types they can be broken down into the following: Depending on your needs…

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…