outdoorhacks.com

Thanks to Two-Heel Drive, I just found out about Jason Klass’s Homemade Backpacking Gear site. His Gear Laboratory features articles and experiments on making your own hiking gear at home. He’s got some nice links for building alcohol stoves, but I really enjoyed the Kitchenware section. This part of the site has some great ideas, such as the Heinekin Pot Grip.

I highly recommend you check out the site. Jason provides some useful tips and is obviously dedicated to making his own gear.

I always try to pass on a good deal when I see once and I see on GetOutdoors that REI Outlet is offering 20% off one item. Use code: Gear826.

REI Outlet already has some decent prices on some items so this sounds like a good deal to me.

GorillaPod is a really cool product that allows you to stabilize your camera nearly anywhere. Its flexible, but still as tough as nails. Its a little expensive at just over 20 bucks, but its a high quality item so you can justify the cost. There is now an SLR version too, which is nice since the original GorillaPod would be overwhelmed by heavier cameras.

GorillaPod link at Amazon

For those times when sleeping on the ground just isn’t good enough, Staffan Weigel has prototyped this rooftop tent. I guess at the very least it would make bears have to work really hard to climb into your tent.
Link courtesy of GoBlog

Its hunting season. Unfortunately this sport can be an expensive hobby, but there are some tricks out there for saving a few bucks. Here’s a great tip for making your own effective and cheap shooting sticks.

“Shooting sticks can be a hunter’s best friend when that monster deer walks into your shooting lane and your blood gets pumping and the gun gets shaking. I couldn’t see paying $30+ dollars for a pair of sticks so I decided to make my own.

Materials:

• 2 3/4 inch dowel rods
• 1 roll black electrical tape
• Bike inner tube

1. Cut the 2 3/4 inch doll rods to 39 inches
2. Cover them in the black electrical tape.
3. Cut a section of inner tube about 12 inches long.
4. Cross the sticks at one end so that above where they cross you have about 4-6 inches. Wrap the inner tube piece around and around the sticks and tie it off real tight.

You now have a shooting stick that will steady your shot. Best of all they are light weight and will only cost you $5-$8.”

Tip from mongoandtard.com.

Slate has done some nice research for those of you wondering which coolers stay cool the longest. When headed into the woods, its nice to know that you have the most efficient cooler possible to keep your beverages at optimal drinking temperature. This coleman cooler wins the prize for keeping things cool the longest.
Check out the full article at Slate.

Some people say that “Life is too short to drink cheap wine.” Others spend most of their nights consuming nothing but “Two Buck Chuck.” A select group of wine drinkers have a constant flow of affordable wine in the fridge with a box of Franzia.

If you are a box wine drinker or are considering becoming one, we found a great excuse (like you need one) for continuing to enjoy the fresh wine on tap. The trick here is the bag inside the box can be reused. The bag is airproof and compact and does a fine job of storing liquids for your excursions into the outdoors.

See the how-to at instructables.

There are many items that can be reused instead of thrown away. Lifehack.org has a list of uses for old margarine containers. I know they make a good bait container, but there are some other good ideas here too. Check out the list and hopefully you will find some new ideas. What items do you reuse for your life outdoors?

Margarine Tubs with Clear Lids

Have you heard that bears are more likely to attack a brightly colored tent? Kristin Hostetter answers this question.

Buying A Brightly Colored Tent (Backpacker Magazine)