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Index of Blog Articles

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8 Useful Skills to Have to Barter During SHTF

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Just Like The Squirrels, It’s Time To Prepare For Winter

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Quick Tip | Add These To Your Bugout Bag

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Your Guide to DIY Home Security Systems

What to Look for in a Survival Tent

One of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll need for survival is a reliable and heavy-duty tent. When it comes to survival, the best shelter will not only keep you protected from the elements, but it will also give you a comfortable place to take cover for the night.

Every keen survivalist needs a well-designed tent. However, tents come in all shapes and sizes, so you’ll need to do your research before you pick one up.

There is such a wide variety of tents on the market, making it difficult to know exactly what to look for when choosing a tent for survival purposes. A tent to last in any survival situation needs to do more than stay put against the wind.

Take a look at our tips to find out how you can choose the best survival tent for you!

Strong and Sturdy Materials

Some might argue that durability is the most crucial feature of a good survival tent, and we can’t really disagree too much. However, how much a tent can withstand all comes down to the materials used for its construction.

There are several materials survival tents will be made from, but you can typically expect to find either canvas, nylon, or polyester designs.

Nylon and polyester are more commonly found, and they’re ideal for survival and wilderness environments due to their lightweight feel. These materials might not be heavy, but that doesn’t stop them from delivering a heavy-duty performance. They are generally highly resistant against tears and rips, and usually have a water-resistant layering to add to their toughness.

Polyester is also an excellent choice if you’re looking for something with UV resistance, as this material often has a UV-resistant coating already built-in, preventing your tent from suffering sunray damage.

Canvas, however, is often considered to be stronger and sturdier than plastic materials. However, it is worth considering the difference in weight compared to other tents. Canvas tents will be heavier, and are likely to take up more space in your bug-out bag. When it comes to survival, you’ll need to consider whether this would be an issue for you.

As well as being durable and long-lasting, the best survival tent will be breathable and well-ventilated. Ideally, your tent should have windows and more than one door if it is built for over two people. This will help to allow the air to flow properly inside, and allows the temperature to be better regulated.

Lightweight and Compact

As we’ve discussed with regards to the material of the tent, the weight should be a factor to look for when choosing a tent for survival.

You should consider how long you’re likely to be in the wilderness for as a way of determining how heavy your tent can be. Generally, the longer you’re going to be traveling, the lighter your tent will need to be, as you’ll have to carry it around with you for longer. You won’t want to exert too much energy by carrying around an unnecessarily heavy tent for days on end.

Many modern tents are built with this in mind, and will be made as lightweight and compact as possible. Some tents will be specifically designed to fit inside a survival kit, and can roll up easily for a comfortable carry. However, I’d advise being slightly wary of these tents, as their focus on being lightweight can sometimes mean a lapse in quality, and they can instead feel flimsy and useless.

The overall size and shape of the tent also shouldn’t be overlooked. Not only should it not weigh your bag down, but it should also be able to actually fit inside. You might be thinking that a tent will be the heaviest and largest piece of survival gear you’ll have to carry around, but with the compact tents available on the market right now, that isn’t necessarily true.

This will also depend on the amount of people you’re planning on having in your tent, as a larger group will inevitably require a larger tent.

Resistant to Water and Wind

A tent that isn’t able to handle heavy rainfall might as well not be worth having. There are many ways a tent’s waterproof capabilities are enhanced, and one way is through the seams. Look out for taped seams, which ensure that no water can seep through and you can remain dry inside the tent.

Many tents’ waterproof level is indicated by a ‘Hydrostatic Head’ rating, which can usually be found in the tent’s specifications. A higher Hydrostatic Head rating highlights a stronger tent that can handle greater amounts of water.

In addition to being waterproof, a sturdy tent will of course be able to resist blowing away in the wind as well. Try to find tents that use sturdy poles for their construction, preferably made from metal such as aluminium. This will prevent the tent from collapsing at the slightest breeze.

Number of People in Your Group

You’ll need to consider how many people are going to have to sleep in the tent, as this will be a determining factor in deciding which tent is right for you.

However, whether it’s a single-person tent you’re looking for, a family-sized one, the tent will need to be comfortable and spacious to allow for a rejuvenating sleep in the wilderness. It’s important to consider the height of the tent, as while a taller tent provides more room to move around freely, it can be more noticeable in the outdoors, which isn’t great if you’re trying to keep a low profile.

If you’re anticipating being in a survival scenario with a large group or with several family members, then there’s no escaping the fact that you’ll need a big tent. However, you may find it’s more efficient to go with two 2-Person tents, as opposed to carrying one family-sized shelter instead.

Although 2-Person or single person tents are a convenient choice, you’ll need to consider how breathable and comfortable they are. Look out for smaller tents made from materials that promote ventilation, such as nylon or polyester, for a less restrictive feel.

Useful Extras for Survival

Many of the best, high-quality survival tents will come equipped with extra features to make your life easier in the outdoors.

Ideally, your chosen tent should have additional storage space included, often in the form of mesh pockets. These can be used to store smaller items that you’ll need easy access to, such as a flashlight or a folding knife. This helps to keep items within easy reach, but also saves you from unnecessarily using floor space for gear storage.

Another common feature found with survival tents is the addition of one or more vestibules, depending on its capacity. While vestibules may seem like a weighty extra to fit into your survival backpack, they will be incredibly useful in the wilderness. You can’t always anticipate the weather conditions, and this feature helps to shelter your survival gear from the elements.

For survival purposes, you should also consider a tent with a reversible fly. This is a useful feature to have, particularly in the wilderness, as the option of a darker or lighter color means you can change the color of your tent’s exterior to camouflage with the environment. This can also help to protect you from potential threats, as well as giving you privacy when you need it the most.

Conclusion:

A survival tent is one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll purchase in your preparation for survival, so it is essential that you know exactly what to look for. If you’re serious about survival, it is undoubtedly worth investing in a high-quality and well-constructed tent, that you can be sure won’t fall apart during tough times.

We hope this guide has helped you in making your decision, and now you know just what to look for in a survival tent! If you’re interested in reading more of our articles, check us out at Survival Front for more survival-related tips and product reviews.

Thanks for reading!

Key Ways To Prep and Save Money On Your Survival Gear

Camping, hiking, and hunting can test your survival aptitude. But, of course, before heading to these activities, it’s important to equip yourself with the right knowledge and skills in order to become a true survivalist. Also, it’s crucial to prepare your gear to ensure safety and a more enjoyable overall experience.

However, premium quality survival kits and gear don’t come cheap. So check out some ways you can save money on survival equipment by reading below.

Take Advantage of Online Promos and Discounts

When going on a survival journey, make sure that you have all the right equipment to help you get through emergency and life-threatening situations. Remember that essential survival gear can make a big difference in terms of your personal safety and of the people around you. That being said, make certain that you purchase only high-quality survival equipment that can withstand harsh elements and great impacts.

One of the best ways to save money when buying essential survival gear is by using discounts or promo codes such as Palmetto State Armory discounts. But, where can you find such? Good thing there are promo sites that are readily accessible to make your search a lot easier.

Here are the benefits of using online discount codes or coupons when purchasing your survival gear:

Stack Coupons and Discounts: You can use multiple discount codes on some of your purchases. For instance, you can get a 5 percent discount on the item price of a portable water filter to ensure safe drinking water in the wild, plus a promo code for free shipping.
High-quality Survival Gear at a Lower Price: The best thing about using promo codes is that you don’t have to pay for the full price of premium-quality survival gear, such as survival boots, knife, and rifle. You can use your special discount codes to get them at more reasonable prices that fit your budget.
Save Time and Effort: Bring with you the best survival gear you purchased at a discounted price online. You don’t have to search every manufacturer’s website to get some special deals because online coupon sites serve as a one-stop shop for all your promo needs.
Peace of Mind: Because your survival equipment can be pricey, you are assured that you can rely on them whenever you need them, most especially during emergency situations.

Invest in High-quality Survival Gear

By spending money on quality survival gear, you can save more money in the long run. Whether you need new hunting shoes, cutting gear, binoculars, tarp, or sleeping bag, make sure to consider quality over the price. While you can save with cheap survival gear for the upfront cost, you wouldn’t want to risk your health and safety with poorly made products that easily get damaged after one or two days of use.

Here are some tips and tricks when assessing the quality of survival gear:

Check the Stitches: Stitching should be consistent and tough for survival gear made of fabrics, such as survival shoes, pants, jacket, and even tarp and tents.
Know the Make: For metal survival gear, such as a knife, rifle, and other hunting tools and supplies, make sure that they don’t rust right away, and maintenance should be minimal.
Know the Functions: For devices, such as cooking tools, ensure that you purchase one with multiple functions allowing you to save resources, like cookware that allows frying, boiling, baking, and steaming food at the same time.

What to look for in high quality survival gear.

Testing and Proper Use of Survival Gear

You don’t have to purchase new survival gear every time. By investing in high-quality items and taking care of them through testing and proper use will surely save you a lot of money over a long period of time.

When choosing the best survival gear, you need to prioritize food, fire, shelter, and water. Make sure that your survival kit carry items that meet your basic needs. Also, you need tools that aid in security, self-defense, stealth, and shelter building. However, make sure that you also know how to use these equipment to avoid self-injury or causing harm to other people as well as to wildlife

Here are some tips when testing and using survival gear:

Read the manufacturer’s instructions regarding proper use and maintenance tips.
Check the duration of battery-operated devices to ensure they will last for a couple of days before they need recharging. Solar chargers are very helpful in the wild.
Watch video tutorials or join survival courses to learn how to use survival tools and equipment properly and efficiently, and to develop and enhance your survival skills.

Conclusion There’s no secret in survival–you just ought to survive no matter what. But, you need to be prepared with the right tools and survival gear, along with the right survival knowledge and skills. Of course, the prices of survival tools and equipment can be tough on your budget, but using promo codes can help. Also, investing in high-quality survival gear and using them properly can save you money in the long run.

Lost In The Wild: Survival Skills That You Can Always Depend On

A close friend who was reported missing for several days made it back and recounted his ordeals in the Amazon. Surely, he would not have returned alive if he hadn’t some survival skills. Not many people hope to be lost in the wild. People may lose their way for many reasons such as hunting or hiking in unfamiliar locations, after some mishap of shipwreck or air crash, or even a war situation. Sometimes, one could even decide to get lost in the wild just to test his ability to survive!

You owe your survival in the wild to two major factors: Luck and your survival skills. If you do not want to gamble with your life, then you should acquire some basic skills in preparation for any sticky situation. Below are ten survival skills that should get you going:

Skill #1: Constructing a Shelter

Constructing a shelter helps you in several ways. It shields you from the harshness associated with the wilderness. Life is easily taken out by hypothermia than starvation or dehydration. You can build your shelter by leaning logs of woods against the main structure and then pile debris from the ground and leaves on top of it. You generally need some tools when building a shed. Ensure that the ground of the shelter is dry (probably spread with dry leaves). Your shelter should be designed in such a manner that it protects you from the cold ground, open-air and wind.

Skill #2: How to Find a Source of Water

Once you are in the wild, the first thing you should do is to find water. Bodies of water are always located in earth depressions or valley between mountains. The reason is that water flows downhill. Let your compass be your guide as you wander away from your base where you have always constructed a temporary shelter.

Where water is not located, you then have to dig up the earth in the valley a foot deep or more and place lined leaves or a piece of clothing inside it to filter the water as it gradually fills the small pit.

Skill # 3: How to Search for Food

In terms of surviving while lost in the wild, one has to source for food to replenish the out-burning calories in the body. Although human beings can stay for weeks without food, there is still the need to eat to get refreshed with needed energy.

Think of food that you could easily find in the wild. However, if you had found a large body of water, using your fishing hook to get fresh fishes for protein readily comes to mind. Besides this, you can make some animal traps in the forest. Other tips to finding food include tracing of trees that have edible inner bark. The wild is filled with such trees. Your knowledge of some local nut trees makes it easier for you to find them in the wild.

Skill #4: Igniting a Fire

Your ability to make fires while in the wild is essential. Fire would give you warmth. When you are wet or in a chilling cold night, five to ten minutes of warmth from the fire can save you from possible death caused by hypothermia. Striking one stone against the other over dried and rusty leaves severally in quick succession will spark off the fire. It is more advisable to acquire the easier method of making fire, which is through the bow drill skill. As soon as a fire is made, keep it burning throughout the night and the days that follow. Fire will help you make food, keep you warm, and scare away predators.

Skill #5: Sending Smoke Signals

Remember the stories of ancient Red Indians, who were skilled in sending messages across miles with sending clouds of smoke into the atmosphere? You do not have to be like the Red Indians anyway. All you need to do is to choke your fire with dried leaves to send up cloudy smoke into the atmosphere during the day. This will enable possible rescuers to spot your location in the wilderness easily.

Allow the upward flow of smoke to rise consistently into the air when you are trying to attract attention and help. This smoking skill is normally done in broad daylight upon mountaintops.

Skill #6: Water Discipline

There might be a scarcity of water, especially if you find yourself in desert prone areas. All you need to do is to maintain a high degree of water discipline, which means drinking one or two mouthfuls of water and carrying it for a very long time before taking another gulp of water.

Surviving in the wild requires taking drastic measures as well. Perhaps, you may have no option than to drink your urine in places where there is an absolute lack of water.

Skill #7: Self-Disguising

An enemy might be lurking around the forest. You need to disguise yourself by hanging on some green leave around your body. As you move around the greenish bush on green leaves, you will be hardly noticed. You may need to rub your face and hands with either mud or charcoal.

Skill #8: Herbal Knowledge

Good knowledge and use of medicinal herbs is yet another skill you need to acquire. Knowing where to source for these herbs in the wild will help you boost your immune system against fever and infections.

Skill #9: Follow Water

Life largely depends on water. So if you ever find where there a stream or river, follow its flow. Chances are that you are likely going to meet a settlement of people who depend on the river for their survival.

Skill #10: Maps and Compass Reading

Reading of maps with a compass will be very helpful while navigating your way in the wild. This tool never disappoints, as it continues to work under any sort of weather condition. Even where you do not know how to read a map or use the compass, you just have to follow the tip pointing to the North Pole to get to your destination. Sometimes, you may climb a high ground to see where you are heading.

The Eleventh Skill – The Survival Tools/Weapons: You will require a tool or more to complete each of the above mentioned tasks. Most importantly, you need some sort of weapon to defend yourself when the need arises. Since you cannot carry a big box of tools and weapons around, I’d recommend you always carry a portable survival knife with you. Knifing skills should be the first anyone should acquire in preparation for survival in any environment. Quality is a very important factor to consider when choosing a multipurpose knife. Only the best survival knife can be used to cut sticks and thick tree barks, catch fishes, dig holes, tear meat, fight off predators and help you through any sticky situation. I have a personal resolve to always carry a good pocket knife along with me.

In summary, you’re better off not getting lost at all. But should you miss your way in the wild at any time, with these basic skills, you stand a chance of returning alive with an interesting survival story.

5 Tips to Hunting and Camping to Survive in 2019

Successful camping and hunting should be characterized by fun, the desired outcome, and safe adventure. It is possible to realize the best hunting experience with proper planning and preparations. The jungle may be hostile, and terrains are changing; thus, you need the new tips to have a successful hunting and camping. Here is how you can make the experience more exciting without risks.

Be prepared when you go camping or hunting. 5 Tips to Survive.

Safety first- pitch your camp away from danger and dress in protective gear

When you go out hunting and camping, you should be able to get back in sound health if not re-energized. You having your camp miles away from the field will ensure you avoid attacks during the night. Some diseases can be transmitted from the animals to humans, and thus, it is advisable that you take necessary precautions. Having your tent away from the field will also ensure that you don’t scare away the prey; hence, you will increase your chances of making a kill. Carry a first aid kit as well.

2. Have the necessary equipment with you

Some of the material that you will readily think of packing when going for hunting and camping include the weapons, safety belts, and binoculars. You will have your focus on the big occasion, and it is appropriate that you prepare early enough. It would help if you started packing since some of the basic stuff are likely to be left out when you don’t have a checklist. You can’t avoid going without a compass. Without the native compass, you will get frustrated when you lose directions in the process. However, it is vital that you keep your load manageable as well.

Carry the proper equipment needed for hunting or camping.

3. Carry sufficient food

You must keep stable during the hunting period. It would be best if you carried adequate meal and snack with you to the hunting fields. The diet should sustain you for the entire duration. Running out of food and other necessities will disrupt your adventure since you have to cut it short or replenish your stock. Often people tend to think that they will catch the deer and feast from day one. This may not be true at times; hence, you will starve when you fail to carry adequate food.

4. Learn the state’s hunting regulation

Acquainting yourself with the laws of the land will help you avoid contravening, which will limit or make the event get chaotic. Requirements differ from one region to another, and it is prudent that you learn of the new laws in the original jurisdiction. You should ensure that you get the necessary documentation and carry them along in the trip. Engaging in illegal hunting can curtail your camping and hunting experience.

Obey your local hunting laws and regulations.

5. You can bring entertainment with you

You will be away from home, but the camping site should be your new home. Bring along everything that will make you comfortable. It is good that you carry the Bluetooth speaker with your playlist loaded the latest music. Entertainment should not miss in the experience. Have an excellent speaker and good music to keep you company if you are to be alone. All your devices should be well powered during this period.

Security Tips For Campers

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Visiting the great outdoors is a chance to rest and relax, to put your worries on hold and recharge. Except that’s not always the case.

While camping may be an escape from a lot of things, it’s not an escape from security concerns. It’s just a time when security concerns change — radically. And if you want to be safe, you need to be prepared. To keep you and yours secure on your next nature adventure, try the following tips:

Rent A Satellite Phone

Everyone knows that satellite phones are a must if you’re camping out somewhere desolate and dangerous like Death Valley. But there are plenty of cell phone dead zones in places like the tame old Smoky Mountains. You’ll need a phone, stat, if someone in your party gets injured, if you’re menaced by a bear, or god forbid, another human. You can rent an iridium satellite phone for as little as $8 a day, plus data.

Keep Valuables Away

BassPro says that campground security strengths vary depending on the budget of the campground in question. And we can all imagine the annual budget of most park campgrounds. The best you can do? Lock all your valuables in your car: that means credit cards, watches, cell phones, and anything else you wouldn’t want to lose.

Don’t Display Expensive Gear

Got a nice new Yeti cooler you want to drag along with you into the great outdoors? Don’t park it in front of your tent and wander away. Same with high-end hiking gear: stow away your brand-new backpacks, that rented satellite phone, and even your expensive outdoor clothing. Or else when you walk off for that morning hike, you may return to find that your shiny new gear has walked off, as well.

Be Cautious Of Fellow Campers

Showing off expensive gear also marks you as the type of person who can afford expensive gear, and out in the wilderness, you’re at the mercy of the elements — and one of the elements is your fellow man. A branch to the back of the head is all it takes to leave you gearless, cashless, phone-less, and in some serious trouble several miles from civilization. Always be cordial, but also be wary.

Bring A Camping Safe

You can buy a lightweight camping safe like this one for a decent price, and you’ll need it: you can slip your wallet in back pocket while you hike to that waterfall, but you can’t take several clattering bottles of prescription drugs with you.

When To Lock It Up

Be sure to bring a tent lock, but to use at the right time. And that time is not, counterintuitively, when you’re out of the tent. SimpliSafe notes that the only thing separating your valuables from the outside is a thin piece of canvas. If people see a lock, it’s a red flag that you’re keeping something valuable inside, and they might have no compunction to ruin your tent to get to it. Instead, put the lock on when you’re sleeping inside. If anyone makes an attempt to invade your home away from home, they’ll get a nasty surprise and flee.

The Illusion Of Companionship

If you’re camping alone, it helps to bring a canine friend — hopefully a large, German Shepherd type. If you can’t get your mitts on a scary-but-sweet hound (the barkier the better) take other precautions. Make it look like you’re camping for two. Bring a two-man tent inside of a tiny solo deal; SimpliSafe recommends setting out two camp chairs instead of one (make sure you stow those safely in your car — those are prime candidates to go on a hike of their own and never return). And remember: the need for a satellite phone skyrockets when you’re without a hiking buddy to run for help.

Have Fun And Be Safe

By and large, camping is a safe activity. It’s fun, it’s invigorating, and it gets you out of the rat race of the modern world for a few days. But that doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind like confetti. Take some simple precautions to assure that you don’t come back without your gear — or worse, with some kind of bodily harm. Get a satellite phone, get a safe, get a buddy, and do your best to exercise precautions when it comes to your fellow campers. Happy — and safe — trails.

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3 Reasons Why You Need a GPS in Your Bug-out Bag

Intro

Usually, it would be instinctive to stay away from electronic gadgets when you are choosing gears to bug-out or to simply travel in the wilderness. However, handheld GPS receivers can be considered as one such exception. The amount of benefits that you can derive from this wonderful modern gadget would outweigh the cons of holding such a device. The other must-have item would be a boot knife to keep yourself safe.

Handheld GPS receivers can be considered to be rather complex, where there is a huge variety for you to choose from. Some important aspects that you can consider include the display quality in weather conditions, user-friendly interface and the amount of storage it has. Before going too far with the considerations for a good GPS, here are three reasons why you need a GPS in your bug-out bag.

Reason 1: Ensuring your safety outside cellphone coverage

By just having a GPS, you are already significantly increasing your chances of survival outdoors. A GPS with its basic function can provide you information about where you are, by letting you know your position, orientation and which intended direction you should take. Losing one of these positioning factors would be detrimental because it would potentially cause one of the other factors to tumble.

Equipping your handheld GPS receiver with navigational aids would be necessary if you want to send your coordinates to rescuers when you are in a place outside cell-phone coverage. Your GPS would only be radio signal receivers that contains a logic chip which is good for telling your location, but would be incapable of transmitting signals.

Therefore, you may want to get a GPS which contains an attachment to a cell phone or use it together with other transmission methods. The transmitters that you may want to look into are personal locator beacons and satellite messengers.

Note that personal locator beacons are used only when one is in really bad emergency situations. Personal locator beacons utilize the Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS) which are monitored by NASA to track distress signals.

Usually, we would just use satellite messengers which is also a navigational aid which helps tell our rescuers the location we are at, even when there is no cellphone coverage. When you are bugging out and when SHTF, having these functions at your fingertips can do you wonders.

Reason 2: Understand your surroundings

Also, to facilitate the process of understanding your surroundings, you may want to employ ‘scouting’. This can be said to be like your ‘homework’ before you travel outdoors or go to the location you want. First, you would start by scouting with your computer, where you can go through topographical or 3D maps so that you have a rough overview of the terrain. After that, mark those places that particularly interest you or the route which you intend to travel.

The next step would be transferring those marked waypoints into your GPS, where these waypoints are really helpful when you scout on foot. This can act as an alternative navigation method where you can just follow the waypoints which you saved which simplifies how you navigate.

Planning your outdoor trips is really important if you want to cover more ground in less time. The act of scouting and saving waypoints could save you a ton of time if you do it right. Remember, you would want to look for a GPS that can insert an external SD card as well so that you do not need to worry about memory.

Reason 3: Navigate with ease

By having topographical maps saved in your GPS, you do not need to weigh yourself down with loads of maps when you are outdoors. With a GPS with sufficient storage capacity, you can save many maps and waypoints that are necessary for your outdoor adventure. This would be important when you bug-out because you would not know how long more you would need to travel!

Handheld GPS receivers are also equipped with different navigation methods, and I would encourage you to experiment with them to determine the most convenient way to navigate. For example, you can choose to navigate by touching on the place of the screen or simply following waypoints.

Usually, I would prefer to navigate by touching on the screen only to find out new places. While I am on foot, travelling would be much easier when I just follow waypoints. An external antenna would be a useful feature to look out for so that you can be sure that you have good signal even when you are in canyons or thick foliage.

Conclusion

Ideally, your bug out bag should have predetermined emergency essentials, so you can be ready for any eventualities at any time. One important aspect is that the gears you carry must be light enough especially when your bug-out location is far from your current location. Another thing to note is the durability of the items you are holding. If you foresee yourself going through rough terrains, you may want to choose a waterproof GPS.

Other options would be considering a GPS that you can primarily navigate through the software using external buttons rather than using touch screen. This is because touch screen GPS would usually be more prone to spoil. If you have any other tips to share, please comment below!

Author Bio:

I am John Lewis, a blogger, survivalist and outdoor enthusiast. You can follow me over at Epic Wilderness. Please click here!

5 Tips for Ultralight Camping | Must-know Tips for Backpackers

The more weight you can cut from your pack, the faster you move, and the more comfortable your camping experience will be. However, switching to lighter setup can cost an arm and a leg. So here are 5 tips for ultralight camping that can shave weight from your pack without making it too costly.

1. Minimize The Stove

Food is one of the easiest things to over pack. It is thus necessary to lay out your foods in a strategic way. And the first thing to notice is the stove.

The most ideal option is just to leave the stove at home and eat cold foods instead. Oatmeal, nuts, cereal, dried fruits, sandwiches are good choices.

And before you start your trip, list out the foods you will need for each day to make sure that you will not bring too much of the unnecessary.

In case you are not ready to leave the fire behind, you can make a mini alcohol stove from a soda can. This stove can also keep you warm and cook some simple dishes.

2. Use Multi-purpose Items

There are many items that can be used for more than one purpose. For examples, you can use your stuff sack as a pillow cover, cooking pot as a bowl, or sleeping bag as a makeshift stretcher.

Besides the shift toward using multiple-purpose items, it is also weight-saving to cut off the non-essentials. Coffee mug and wine cup are the examples. And after each trip, you can eliminate the items with less frequency or with no actual use.

That said, first aids and emergency kits should never be put on the elimination list.

3. Go Lightweight On The Big Three

The three keywords are the tent, sleeping bag, and backpack. For most campers, they always make up for most of the base weight.

– Tent: There are two factors when it comes to using tents – the number of people and weather. If you go solo, a one-man tent is just a perfect fit. And if you have a companion, two-person tents may weight around 2-3 pounds depending on its design and materials.

Depending on whether it is warm or rainy, you can also opt for the suitable tent to minimize the pack weight.

– Sleeping bag: It is ideal to keep the sleeping bag under 3 pounds and the sleeping pad around 1 pound. These numbers are also flexible depending on weather condition.

– Backpack: People usually forget that even an empty pack weights something. So the tip here is that you should go for packs with smaller loads. It forces you to carry less but just the essentials.

4. Select Smart Materials

Titanium and synthetic layers are two great option for the materials. Before deciding to include anything in your pack, make sure it is lightweight, easy to clean and dry.

Using backpacking solar charger is also a smart choice. It frees you from having to worry about finding electricity when you want to charge your stuff.

5. Put Everything On A Scale

Weight is everything. There is two way to do this. You can either put your pack on a scale or make a spreadsheet listing out all items’ weights to see if your pack is lightweight enough.

You can group your items into different categories such as Shelter, Sleeping, Foods, and Clothes. This spreadsheet may take you quite a while to complete, yet it is definitely worth your time and effort.

It helps a lot in deciding whether anything else can be eliminated for a lighter pack. Choosing the items for your pack is like choosing the players in a football game. There are always limited spots in the team and as a coach, you need a make ruthless decision when picking which players to cut and which to add.

The Bottom Line

Your love for camping will be put off by the aches after carrying a heavy pack on your back for hours. The ultralight pack is then crucial to boosting your comfort and camping experience.

So here are the key takeaways for a lighter camping setup: Plan your foods strategically, take advantage of multiple-use gears, minimize the weight of the tent, sleeping bag, backpack, scrutinize on the items, and eliminate the nonessentials.

I hope these 5 tips for ultralight camping are useful for your campaign prep work. Thank you so much for reading.

Author Bio:

Luna is a camping and hiking enthusiast from Phoenix, Arizona. She wants to share her experience to all adventure junkies in order for them to get better preparations before any trip. Visit her blog to find out more!