Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Ultimate Camping Tips & Hiking Tips, Tricks & Hacks (200+ Tips)

Ultimate list of camping tips

So here’s the thing. When I first started KWN many years back, I mainly searched online for interesting, useful and entertaining posts, tutorials and videos. When I found something worthwhile I would then write up a short post about it and include a link to the source, so folks could check it out. As a result, there is around 1000 of these shorter posts on the website. As part of some long overdue housekeeping, I am going through these old posts and bunching the together to make single/longer list style posts. This is the first such post. It contains all the shorter posts on KWN about camping and hiking tips and tricks.

101 Camping Tips: For Campers, Preppers, Hikers, etc, etc…

camping at night

Camping tips and advice is useful for more than just camping… For example, if you are a prepper, camping knowledge will be vital for your survival if the SHTF. To be honest, anyone such as hunters, hikers, fishermen, etc, who might end up spending a night or more under the stars, can pick up some useful tips and advice from the 101 camping tips post below.

Actually, make that 102 camping tips, I have one of my own tips, which is highlighted in the photo above – camping tip 102 – use a red filter on your flashlight (or the red light setting if it has one) at night to preserve your night vision. Normal light from flashlight and lamps etc, causes you to lose your night vision, which means it takes your eyes a good while to adapt to the dark afterwards. Red light enables you to see around camp etc, but it also preserves your night vision.

101 Camping Tips: For Campers, Preppers, Hikers, etc, etc…  (Unfortunately, this website has been offline recently)

(Photo from:  °Florian)

23 Essential Hiking Hacks, Tips, And Tricks

hiking hacks

We have featured quite a few posts about hacks for various subjects, but I keep getting messages asking about the use of the term ‘hack’ and what it means. Effectively it means tips and tricks and ways of doing things that you probably hadn’t consider previously. It can also mean using day-to-day items for uses other than that they were intended.

Anyway, this post  is about hiking hacks. We did camping hacks a while back, so I thought it was time to share some hiking tips and trick, as I know a lot of you will be outdoors hiking now the weather has warmed up. Check out the list of hiking hacks below, there’s some awesome information in there.

23 Essential Hiking Hacks, Tips, And Tricks

(Image from: Buzzfeed)

25 Tips & Tricks To Make Camping Easier & More Fun

25 camping tips

We have featured several camping tips, tricks and hacks posts previously on Knowledge Weighs Nothing. If there is one thing I have learnt, it that you guys are crazy for camping and camping tips and tricks so here’s some more for you.

I always think that camping is an awesome thing to do, as not only does it get the family out of the house and together in a natural environment, but camping also teaches many important skills which can stand you in good stead in disaster scenarios if the SHTF. There is nothing like knowing you can pack up the tent and take the family and survive outdoors if needed. Check out the 25 camping tips/trick below and have an awesome camping trip this summer!

25 Tips & Tricks To Make Camping Easier & More Fun

(Image from: One Good Thing By Jillee)

41 Clever Camping Hacks To Try This Year

41 camping hacks

I love camping, it is especially magical with young children, but camping seems to divide people, some love it, others hate it.  The thing is I think that most of the people who hate camping probably had a bad camping experience which likely stemmed from poor planning/preparation.

With the right gear, a bit of location research and some preparation, camping can be an amazing experience. For all the camping haters, I urge you to give camping another go this summer, especially if you have kids, as kids will remember camping trips forever. Anyway, for anyone planning on camping in the near-future, check out the link below for 41 camping hacks and tips to try.

41 Clever Camping Hacks To Try This Year

(Image from: Buzzfeed)

35+ Camping Tips, Tricks & Treats That Could Be Used In An Emergency Situation

35 camping tips and tricks

Camping is always a great way to practice survival skills while having fun all at the same time. Make camping easier by learning a few new skills that could also make life in an emergency situation more bearable.

Some of these new tips / tricks are really handy to know to either save you time or save you money, so it’s a win-win, all around. Check them out below, the website is a bit clunky but stick with it as these are some awesome tips…

35+ Camping Tips, Tricks & Treats That Could Be Used In An Emergency Situation

Picture Credit: tipnut.com

18 Tips For Foolproof Camping

18 camping tips

Sure, I know, I know, loads of you are seasoned, experienced campers and hikers. For many of you guys, most of these camping tips will be what you would consider common knowledge, but the thing is common knowledge isn’t always that common for the inexperienced…

If you are just getting into camping/hiking, check out the post below for 18 camping tips. Know before you go, for the best chance of a successful camping trip.

18 Tips For Foolproof Camping

(Photo from:  stevecadman)

Must Read Camping & Hiking Safety Advice To Help You Stay Safe

campsafety

I don’t know the figures but I am guessing 1000s of individuals and family get into trouble each summer when out hiking and camping. I don’t know why so many people head off into the wilderness unprepared. I guess for the inexperienced, the dangers are not so apparent…

Anyway, we have done loads of posts about camping/hiking, but not much about how to stay safe when you’re on your adventure. When I saw the awesome post by Doom And Bloom, I had to share it. The advice included in this extensive post is for newbies and experienced hikers/campers alike. Check it out below.

Must Read Camping & Hiking Safety Advice To Help You Stay Safe

(Image from: Wikipedia)

How To Make Broadhead Arrow Heads From Spoons

spoonarrow

Archery is an expensive hobby… Arrows and arrowheads cost a fair bit, and they have a habit of getting lost and broken. Teaspoons on the other hand are very cheap (in comparison). A quick look on Amazon tells me that you can purchase a pack of 36 stainless steel teaspoons for $12. For that price I’d say – stock up on some teaspoons in case the SHTF one day! That makes me chuckle – teaspoons as a prepper purchase.

Not only are these DIY broadheads cheap, they are also very easy and pretty quick to make too. Check out the link below for a tutorial on the Bushcraft UK forum. I am now wondering whether you could use larger spoons to make spearheads… I wouldn’t have thought they will be strong enough, but it could be worth a little play.

How To Make Broadhead Arrow Heads From Spoons

(Image from: fishfish via bushcraftuk.com)

Wound Closures When The SHTF & There’s No Doctor

Wounds-closures-when-SHTF

Usually when I do posts about topics related to SHTF (shit hits the fan), I get several messages about paranoid preppers and government conspiracies etc. The things is the SHTF can mean different things to different people. The term isn’t reserved just for end-of-the-world scenarios that may or may not happen. For example – if I am out hiking miles from safety and I get bitten by a snake, in my book the shit has hit the fan at that moment!

With regards this post about wound closures, it really doesn’t matter what your interpretation of SHTF is. The bottom line is there is some excellent first aid advice on what to do with open wounds, if medical treatment is not an immediate option. It’s highly recommended for anyone who spends time outdoors hunting, fishing, hiking etc, and those into emergency preparedness.

Wound Closures When The SHTF & There’s No Doctor

(Image from: Uscrow)

DIY Automatic Fishing Pole Trap

This is an awesome bit of bushcraft that I think would be great fun to practice in a non-survival scenario, like when out camping for example. Being able to set an automatic fishing pole trap like this, could be useful in a survival scenario, as you can set several traps and fish passively (whilst you are attending other duties). The main problem is there is an inexpensive product called the Fisher’s Yo Yo fishing reel which does the same thing but with around 10% of the effort.

Get some Fisher’s Yo Yo fishing reels and throw a couple in your survival/bug-out-bag, but if you want to practice some bushcraft, go ahead and have a go at making a primitive version of the trap. After-all if you do find yourself up the creek without your Yo Yo reels, the knowledge could prove very useful.

(Image from: Sigma 3 Survival School)

How To Make A Blowgun & Darts From PVC Pipe

How to make a blowgun from PVC pipe

So you want to find out how to make a blowgun? Blowguns (also know as blow pipes) can be a lot of fun to make and use, but they can also be very dangerous and lethal, so please be very careful. They are certainly not toys! This DIY blowgun can shoot through one inch plywood, so you’ve been warned! With practice you can easily take down small game with a homemade blowgun, and the fact that they are silent means you can take several shots to hit the target without spooking it.

(Want a near unlimited supply of easy to make blowgun darts?  Time to get down the store and pick up a few boxes of bamboo skewers and some cotton balls to make the fletch.)

You could purchase a blowgun, but seriously why would you? They are very simple to make, and you can make them to your own specification. Have a go with some cheap PVC pipe and if you want to get more serious with your new hobby, you can progress to steel/aluminium pipe which is more robust and doesn’t bend so easily. Check out the tutorial below and find out how to make a blowgun at home.

DIY PVC Blowgun & Darts tutorial

If you do make a homemade blowgun, make sure you send us some photos and maybe a short video of it in use. We’ll share it on the Facebook page, so other folks can check out your awesomeness.

Apparently they are considering adding a blowgun event to the Olympic games! Time to get training! From homemade DIY blowgun to representing the USA at the Olympics, now that would be very cool. Unlikely, but cool all the same…

(Image from: Enriquethefieldmouse)

How To Make An Ultra Compact PVC Compound Bow

We have done several posts about making DIY PVC bows, but this is the first DIY compound bow tutorial we have featured.

Not only is this a compound bow, but it is an ultra compact compound bow which also just happens to be very powerful! Check out the video about to see how it is made, the utilization of the toothbrush is genius! As always take care when making and using bows. They may be cheap and easy to make, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous…

(Image from: Backyard Armory)

The Fisher’s Yo Yo Fishing Reel

91KEcWzzkmL._SL1500_

What is the Fisher’s Yo Yo fishing reel?  Basically it’s a set and forget (for a little bit anyway) passive fishing method.  Each reel has an adjustable spring trigger mechanism, you fasten them to branch etc and when triggered will hook the fish automatically. You simply bait, set, come back later and hopefully find supper!

Specification

  • Very Sensitive Flat Trigger Mechanism
  • Stainless Steel (Rust Proof) Spring & Galvanized Steel Frame
  • Pre-Spooled with 9-12′ of 60# Test Nylon Line
  • Adjustable Spring Tension
  • Made In The USA

Fisher’s Yo Yo Fishing Reels are excellent for preppers, survivalists and people who enjoy wilderness camping/hiking. Their USP is that as they are a passive fishing method, this frees up the time for you to be able to do other vital survival related tasks.

Yo Yo Fishing Reels1

Purchase/more information: 6 Fisher’s Yo Yo Fishing Reels – $20 inc P&P on Amazon

(You can also purchase the reels in single, or packs of 2 and 4, but the best value come when purchasing the 6 pack)

How To Tan A Hide 101 (Via Several Methods)

tan a hide

I hate wasting a resource, especially when it involves killing a wild animal. I think it is a responsibility to choose to take an animal’s life and as such you should pay it the respect of  knowing how to utilize it as much as possible once it is dead.

If you are a hunter who doesn’t know how to tan a hide, or you are someone who thinks that one day you will need to hunt to provide food in a  SHTF survival situation etc, you definitely want to learn how to tan a hide. Animal hides can provide clothing, footwear, blankets and shelter, so don’t waste those hides… The post below is an excellent resource which details several methods of hide tanning. It is a must-read for novices and seasoned hunters alike.

How To Tan A Hide 101 (Via Several Methods)

(Photo from: pete/scavenger)