Something we always have in the pack is a good tarp shelter. Lightweight and versatile an a frame tarp shelter will save you if you get caught out on a hike and the weather turns for the worse or you are on an overnighter and want something to cover your hammock.

All tarp shelters are more versatile than tents…and some like the Kelty Noah Tarp Shelter pictured above weigh little or nothing in your kit bag.

One thing we always look for in our kit is durability and versatility. Yep, you can indeed use plastic sheeting as a make-shift tarp or even rig up a few black sacks if you are really stuck, but long-term investing in a quality camping tarp is the way to go.

Tents are great as well but again, you can rig up a tarp with just the tarp itself, two trees and a length of paracord. Most of the tarps available can be compressed down to fit into your pack and off you go. (Great if you are a fan of travelling light…)

There are plenty of very fancy configurations for setting up your tarp but our favourite is the standard A-Frame. The A-Frame tarp shelter is easy to put up and can be done really quickly. Great if it starts lashing down rain and you need a quick shelter.

Types of tarps for making tarp shelters:

Tarps can set you back anything from $5 to $200+ for the high-end models if your budget and more importantly requirements stretch that far. Budget wise we tend to look at quality first and what others are saying online in reviews before we narrow down and make our choice.

Things to look for with a tarp for your shelter.

Weight – You can buy a tarp for a fiver but it’s usually one of that blue or silver fibre reinforced polyethene. Does the job but weight wise it’s going to a lot heavier than some of the nylon ones and quality leaves a bit to be desired.

Tie Down Holes – These are the reinforced grommets you will see along the edges of the tarp. Loop your paracord through this and out to your tie down pegs and that it. The more expensive tarps usually have more of these and that allows for different configurations when setting it up. The standard A-frame tarp setup is perfect but sometimes you may need a different setup –  depends on you camping spot, the conditions, like wind direction, rain and what you are trying to cover up.

If you are undecided about which tarp setup to use then check out the video below. This guy covers off on a few great options for your next trip.

How do you choose a location for your tarp shelter:

There are a few things you must look out for when choosing a good location for your tarp shelter.

Firstly you are going to need two trees spaced about 15 to 20 feet apart to tie your ridgeline to. This runs along the centre line of your tarp. With the A-Frame tarp, you simply drape the tarp over this tight line and away you go.

The second thing to look for is what’s above your head. Check out the area directly above you and also surrounding your camp area for deadfall or anything that may look like it could fall down – especially if the wind gets up. It’s called deadfall for a reason and a thin tarp over your head isn’t going to save you.

Next, you want to look at the ground. Is it level, in a depression or in a water runoff. Everything may be dry when you set up camp but what happens if it rains in the night and you wake up in a puddle or have a stream running through the middle of your camp.

How to prep the site for your A Frame tarp shelter:

Clear out any loose branches, sticks and rocks that are in the immediate area. If the ground is dry you may get away with sleeping directly on the forest floor but we usually take a ground sheet tarp with us to keep ourselves and our gear out of the dirt.

Tip: Make sure you have a decent supply of firewood within range – if you are camping in an area that allows open fires and it’s safe to have one.

Rigging up your tarp shelter – The A-frame setup:

For the A-Frame tarp setup, you tie your paracord ridgeline to the two trees and throw the tarp over it – splitting it evenly on both sides. You may want to leave the ridgeline adjustable at this point because you want to make sure the tarp reaches the ground on both sides.

Some of the better quality tarps have loops along the ridgeline. These are great and you simply thread the paracord through these before you tie off the second end to the tree.

You can buy specialised pins to tie down the ends of the tarp nearest to the ground but we prefer to make them when we hit the campsite. It’s great practice with the knife and there is always plenty of material around to do this.

Other kit you may need when you go try out camping with a tarp-style shelter.

You are going to need some decent paracord to tie the tarp down. If you are camping somewhere that is short on trees you might have to bring along some dedicate extendable poles for the tarp or you can use hiking sticks at each end to prop up the middle.

You might also want to bring a camping and bushcraft knife along with you to work on some other project while you are there. Plus if you are like us you will need it to fashion up some pegs to hold the tarp to the ground…

Final thoughts:

The A-Frame tarp shelter works well most of the time but is not suitable for all weather conditions. Easy to rig up and break down its definitely one of our favourite ways to set up camp on a night in the woods…

The Best Lightweight Gaiters | Perfect for hiking, trail running and hill walking

Today we are looking at gaiters, specifically lightweightgaiters. These simple, yet effective additions to your kit are a must for the serious hiker, trail runner or backpacker among you.

There is nothing more uncomfortable than a boot or shoe full of dirt and pebbles when you are hiking.

Most of the time you will keep walking and say to yourself every hundred meters or so ‘I must stop for ten seconds and empty my shoe’ but you don’t.

This gets even worse if you are on a competitive run and, stopping unless you absolutely have to is not an option…

If you have ever stood on a plug or piece of lego you can feel my pain.

I have hiked for years in every terrain imaginable and one thing that I sort of swear by is a set of gaiters.

For something so simple they make the world of difference if you are into hiking, walking in the bush or just rambling out on a trail.

So what are gaiters and why should you even consider buying some.

Gaiters are elasticated covers for over the tops of your boots. They come in various lengths and are made out of pretty much every material on the market. Often water-resistant gaiters shield you from getting dirt and bits of gravel into your shoes or boots when hiking about.

I spent years working in Australia on construction sites and while in Western Australia, in particular, I wore lightweight gaiters all the time. The ground there was mostly sand based and it usually took about ten seconds to get a boot full of the stuff when running about the site. A Kiwi gave me a spare set of his one day and it was a game changer. I could have filled a swimming pool with the amount of sand that ended up in my boots on a daily basis, but not anymore…

Yeah right – you may think, but to be honest, they really are an awesome addition to your kit bag and because they are lightweight they don’t add to the load in any way at all. Another great use for gaiters is to keep nasty pests off your lower legs. Often called anti-tick gaiters or snake bite gaiters they are great for protecting you when you are walking or hiking through dense bush. I would, however, opt for the heavier material gore-tex or leather style ones in this scenario.

You won’t win any fashion awards wearing them but its worth the sacrifice for the comfort factor and your feet will love you for it.

Types of Gaiters – Depends on you activities planned…

The right set of gaiters really depends on what you are planning to do activity wise and the conditions you expect to encounter while out there.

The main types of gaiters are:

Trail gaiters

Lightweight, breathable gaiters that offer basic protection against gravel and grit getting into your boots.

They can also protect you against light rain. More for day to daylight use but a great addition to any pack.

These Saloman Low Trail Gaiters are ideal for the trail runner amongst us

Alpine gaiters

Tougher and designed for more heavy duty hiking or mountaineering. Great with a set of snowshoes or if you are cross-country skiing.

They have the added advantage of protecting you lets from cuts and abrasions from rock outcrops or thorny brush. Much better at keeping out water and the elements because they are normally made of heavier duty material.

The Outdoor Research Men’s Crocodile Gaiter are as tough as nails. Not much has changed in their design over the years – for a very good reason – they are unbeatable…

Expedition gaiters

These are for when you need added protection from the elements. You are going to get extra features like insulated layers to keep you warm, they are waterproof but breathable so your feet don’t melt, and they will be ultra comfortable. The biggest thing with a quality pair of gaiters is the comfort. You should not even know you are wearing them.

What are gaiters made of:

Most of the gaiters you see online, especially the lightweight ones are made from nylon that has a waterproof coating of some description on it. These are perfect for the day hiker and are perfect for keeping your shoes or trail runners free from stones and grit.

The heavier duty gaiters can with be made from layers of nylon that keep them breathable or they may be made from something like gore-tex.

Gaiter Features:

The features for a set of gaiters depends on the style.

You can get sort boot cover type gaiters or you can go for the long calf-length gaiters to keep out snow and other debris in harsher conditions.

Most gaiters will have some sort of a fixing on the front to attach them to you paces or boot eyes. They also come with an under bootstrap to tie them down and keep them tight against the top of your boot.

What to look for when buying a pair of gaiters:

What gaiters should you buy anyway? Here we review some of the best on the market and break them down into different style to hopefully suit your needs.

Best lightweight gaiters

First, we took a look at the top three lightweight gaiters first because we like to keep things well, light when we travel.

Outdoor Research Sparkplug Gaiters

First up are the Outdoor Research Sparkplug Gaiters

• 86% Nylon/14% Spandex
• Breathable, lightweight
• Movement-mirroring stretch
• Anti-slip silicone pads
• Hook & loop patches at heel for secure attachment
• Elastic top and bottom edges

Avg. Weight (oz./g): 1.2oz / 34g (L/XL)

These gaiters are ideal for trail running or hiking. They are made from water-resistant fabric and are great for keeping grit and gravel out of your runners when you are hard at it.

READ REVIEWS

Rab Hunza Stretch Mid Gaiter

Next up we take a look at the Rab Hunza Stretch Mid Gaiter.

These lightweight gaiters are ideal for trail running and cross country hiking where you are going to be on loose gravel and dirt tracks.

Nothing is going to get past these bad boys.

• Material: [membrane/laminate] 3L Stretch Watergate, [face fabric] 69% nylon, 21% PU, 10% spandex, DWR coating
• Closure: front zipper
• Attachment: underfoot bungee
• Height: ankle
• Weight: 3.5 oz

Coated with DWR coating these laminated breathable membrane gaiters keep your feet protected from morning dew, moderate rain and soggy trails. They have a front zipper for easy setup and an underfoot bungee and a front mounted lace hook They have a top ridge silicone gripper to stop them sliding down onto your ankle when you are running.

READ REVIEWS

Best Flint And Steel Kits

Since we humans first mastered the art of fire making, there have been many advances and changes to the most commonly used methods.

Over time the average member of society has gone from relying on friction-based and hard-to-master methods, such as the fire drill, to using matches, lighters and other ultimately chemical means of fire making.

[vc_row top=”25px” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][vc_spacer][vc_single_image image=”1638″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][vc_separator type=”normal” transparency=”1″ up=”25″][vc_column_text]For those of us who wish to preserve the lifesaving skills that our ancestors held so dear, and yet still have in our possession a reliable and easy way to make fire, there is a middle ground.

This golden middle is occupied by a trusty fire making tool kit known as flint and steel.

Why not give this clever method a try and bring back some of the romance of the outdoors by going back to basics and being truly at one with your surroundings?

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”0px” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtvcK_2PfYI”][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top=”0px” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_heading title=”Why Use Flint and Steel?”][vc_spacer][vc_column_text]The use of flint as a versatile material for tool making has been part of human nature since our species first emerged, so it was only a matter of time before flint was put to use to facilitate the propagation of one of the most quintessentially human of skills: the ability to light and control fire.

Steel, on the other hand, is a relatively new raw material when compared to the primordial use of flint and other stone tools.

The dawn of the Iron Age eventually led to the discovery of steel, the carbon content of which led to the production of instruments which were far more durable and less brittle than simple cast iron tools.

The fire making potential of the sparks produced by striking a piece of flint with a flat piece of steel was not lost on our crafty ancient ancestors.

Though the sparks produced are of a lower temperature than those made by firesteels, over millennia, our forebears developed the sequential flint and steel fire making approach to such a degree that it quite literally became child’s play.

Even up until a century ago, young children were expected to be able to start a fire to keep themselves warm and safe from animal predators while out in the wilderness.

While this is no longer the case today in many parts of the world, those of us who enjoy practising bushcraft and other outdoor skills can certainly appreciate the ingenuity of our forefathers.

As with many ancient tools, we might be forgiven for thinking that it is no longer possible to get hold of a freshly made high-quality steel striker for use as part of a flint and steel kit.

Fortunately, such an assumption is incorrect.

[/vc_column_text][vc_spacer][vc_heading title=”Who Still Makes Flint and Steel Kits Today?”][vc_spacer][vc_column_text]Despite the ancient origins of these tools, some blacksmiths have preserved the art that is the production of handmade flint and steel fire making kits.

In fact, had they not done so, steel strikers would essentially have become extinct as fire making tools.

Attempts at mass production have shown that it is simply not possible to maintain the necessary high standards required for the production of reliable and easy-to-use flint and steel kits.

When it comes to fire lighting, handmade is king.

Some blacksmiths have gone a step further and have developed their skills to such a degree that they exclusively produce flint and steel kits, including all of the materials you need for preparing tinder and kindling.

One such craftsman works for Flint and Steel, a company which puts together the finest range of handmade flint and steel fire making kits available on the market today.

Such a kit makes a wonderful gift for anyone with an interest in the outdoors, from experienced hunters to novice Boy Scouts.

Perhaps the best flint and steel kits are those which combine the ancient knowledge of our forebears with some slightly more modern innovations.

While many natural materials can be used as tinder in their raw as well as processed forms, nowadays one of the most reliable materials in use is commonly known as char cloth.

This term describes pieces of cloth, such as cotton or linen, that have been enclosed in a container and subsequently scorched by exposure to heat.

Despite the excellent properties of char cloth, it was not used during the medieval period or in previous epochs. This wasn’t because we had not realized the potential of such materials, but rather because textiles were expensive and hard to come by for common folk.

It would have been criminal to waste such a precious resource at the time! It was only at the dawn of the industrial revolution that textiles were commonplace enough to be used as an easy source of tinder for fire making.

Even with the apparent superiority of char cloth, the beauty of the flint and steel fire making approach is that you can opt to use whichever kind of tinder you like.

The step-by-step process remains the same, no matter which materials you use.

In areas where birch trees are prevalent, such as the forests of Northern Europe, certain species of birch bark fungus would have been used.

These and other fungal species are great for holding an ember for long period of time, and you can even transport them with relative ease for future use.

One of the major advantages of flint and steel kits lies in the fact that the tinder remains in close contact with the flint at all times while being struck by a steel striker.

This gives a very high success rate when it comes to sparks hitting the tinder. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to produce an ember in a matter of seconds.[/vc_column_text][vc_spacer][vc_heading title=”Where Can I Find the Best Flint and Steel Kits?”][vc_spacer][vc_column_text]The Flint and Steel company was founded on the back of generations of experience, passed down from father to son up until the present day.

Only natural and environmentally friendly methods of production are used to produce every aspect of their flint and steel kits.

Their smithy in Saint Petersburg, Russia operates only using natural charcoal and freshly sourced spring water, resulting in high carbon steel strikers unparalleled in their beauty and function.

Their dedication to helping you learn to make fire knows no bounds.

Each of their flint and steel kits comes with thirty pieces of char cloth in their own metal tinderbox. You can even use this box to make your own tinder once you’ve run out.

You are also provided with plenty of natural jute twine for use as a great source of kindling. Each kit comes with step-by-step, illustrated instructions, making for a stress-free and easy-to-follow introduction to the flint and steel way of fire making.

As if this wasn’t enough, you can find all sorts of tutorials online, made by the Flint and Steel blacksmith himself.

When such superior tools and materials are used alongside the finest flint from minerals beds across Europe, you end up with a flint and steel kit that is perfect for reliable and quick fire lighting.

There is no better gift to give than one that teaches a skill, and there’s no skill that will serve you better in the woods than fire making.

If you get a flint and steel kit for the outdoorsman or woman in your life, you’ll be giving them the gift of warmth at night, protection from wild animals, and a kitchen, all in one.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]