3 Camping Life Hacks: Hardware Store Re-Purposing

3 Camping Life Hacks using products not primarily intended for camping. We will be looking at Tyvek, Reflectix and Double Sided Velcro and their various uses in the outdoors while camping and backpacking.

[@cristophorbutuc-mayer6649]

Finally a camping hacks video that's actually useful

[@thelthrythquezada8397]

I only thumbs up a video that teaches me something I have never seen before, OR how to use something in a way I didn't think of. You Sir had shown me 2. So thank you

[@havocmaverick]

put the reflectix down first then your sleeping pad, the heat will bounce back to the pad and you will have more insulation and wont make you sweat.

[@DiabloOutdoors]

Yep! working tip here!

[@tomgiovanni5885]

Nice hacks. Thanks for sharing. "Honey, we're going to Home Depot tomorrow".

[@Wolphene]

The gas in my double-pane windows leaked out so I made window panels of reflectix glued and taped to cardboard. A pressure pole set a couple of inches below the top of the window casement holds the panels in place and I can slip the panels out easily for sunny days. Works great for holding in house heat at night. Also, our dogs sleep in the garage at night so I made a large sheet of reflectix to fit under two stacked 4"-thick twin bed mattresses so the cold and condensation doesn't get their bed damp and moldy. They don't wake up cold and stiff-jointed in the morning.

[@jgp2672]

Not sure how thick the Reflectix is, but if it's thin enough, cut out two pieces to match the insides of your hiking boots and put them in to reflect the heat from your feet to help keep them warm in the winter. (I can't take credit for this, as I saw it on another video using a windshield reflector).

[@NampaHiker]

Now that's a good tip.

[@MikeSPx24bj9]

+Joe Phillips Me too (heard from another video about lining your boots with the Reflectix material). That video, I think, was saying to buy the stuff from an automotive store -- the stuff they use to shade the windshield with. This sounds like a better deal -- buy it from the hardware store.-- Glad you posted your comment here.

[@pssst3]

+Jesse Friel dollar store windshield sunblocker is a cheap way to get small quantities .The problem using it as a boot insole is sweating, put the reflector under the normal insole. Extrawide boots provide more depth.

[@VIVETVITAS]

Now that's using your noggin!

[@VIVETVITAS]

Good point. The thin styrofoam that cuts of meat are packaged on (the bottom) is great for making winter insoles. Not sure they'd be good for hiking or rough wear though.

[@alvashoemaker8536]

GREAT IDEAS!! LOVE the organizational hints... 😃😄

[@1wetpaint]

Thanks. I use both the refletic and velcro wraps for the same reasons you stated with great success. Good video.

[@lappeldelanature5634]

YES, excellent ideas. Re-purposing stuff is so satisfying

[@tuesdaysrunner4038]

Can think of some things that are much, much more satisfying! At least to me...

[@stealth48nurse]

Excellent ideas I'm going to use them. Thank you!

[@muddytigeroutdoors4790]

Good tips! I'm gonna have to get some of that Reflectix stuff. Thanks for sharing. -Jacko

[@nathanalbritton5054]

Thank you! I've never seen Reflectix before! Keep up the good work!

[@LittleDebbie56]

I've takin the reflectix and made cozy's for our mountain house dinners to keep them warm while they are rehydrating when I go backpacking.

[@Darignobullseye]

Thank you !!!! Very helpful, especially the savings

[@brendabloom3535]

I made liners for my ice chests out of the foil bubble stuff. Made a huge difference in how long my food stayed cold.

[@krsusort]

Wow - thank you for the Tyvik tip!

[@Adventure_Coffey]

Awesome bud, I've been looking at getting some reflectix you're right soooo many uses. Thanks for sharing this as always you give some really nice tips

[@shcmoly]

Great tips Matt!

[@jagarza1981]

solid video. thank you.

[@bennettetracy8989]

I will be picking up Reflectix today. I have been trying to figure out a great way to stay warm for our camping adventures during the winter season. Thanks for the tips!

[@lifeinbobbysworld5415]

fantastic tips, thanks!!

[@mikeewoody]

Love the reflectx idea thanks

[@myadventureoutdoors]

Great hacks. I especially like using that material for coozies. I've seen that at Lowes and I'll pick some up next time I go. Thanks.

[@raywalter3992]

Great idea's sir !! Blessings to you and yours !!

[@yummocan918]

the best camp hacks video I've seen in ages. and I seriously watch loads and I'm so tired of the standard dollar store storage advice. the reflectix sleeping mat? so simple and brilliant. and great tip on Tyvex

[@CavemanOutdoorsMissouri]

I've been meaning to get some of the reflectix, thanks for sharing

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

superb tips, three solid gold new ones

[@LtSurvival]

thanks for the hacks. a must try i would say.

[@MidTnOutdoors]

Just found your channel. love the hacks.

[@AlbertaBushcrafter]

Love these three hacks, Matt! I've been doing home improvements this year so thankfully I have all three here. Just waiting for the temperature to rise a bit above -20 C so I can try the Reflectix.

[@anneleebuijk1913]

Great hacks! Thanks!

[@redhotz21]

awesome tips. I might try fixing pop-up camper canvas tear with Tyvek

[@michaelnowak4078]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! great ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@darylgud7601]

The reflectixes is also good to keep things cold. I have made a pouch or cozy and used it to keep things cold in the back country. Usually if it starts out with something frozen it will last about 2 1/2 days. I guess good for refridgeration for short periods but light weight enough to carry in a backpack.

[@BiscuitBoyTN]

Well done. Very informative.

[@jasonsmith6408]

I've got a 100' roll of Tyvek! May make a couple of bivy bags large enough for cold winter camping. Stuff is lightweight.

[@fepowson]

Some good tips there, it's good to share to others :) Will have to lookout for some of this Reflectix, I've been using the windshield reflect sheet that's sold for stopping the Sun heating up the cars interior when parked up :) Good Wishes.........Les.

[@marcjohnson4385]

Thanks I'm going to try all 3

[@joycesrvlegacy-4635]

the reflectix crinkling would drive me nuts! Great ideas.

[@fresnobackpacker]

good tips. I picked up some Tyvek for free from a job site a couple weeks ago. Just like you said, they said sure take it

[@MrWmburr7]

Hey Matt, thanks for that.

[@funkyboodah]

I am gonna pick up REFLECTIX right away, this is awesome

[@kxd2591]

Good post! Thx!

[@ruthannamarteifio9069]

Thanks so much!!

[@armandosalgado5465]

Thanks for sharing. God bless

[@annhofland7232]

Great ideas😊

[@robroberts1473]

excellent info!

[@AmerigoMagellan]

NampaHiker you rock! I'm off to Home Depot and Lowe's right now!

[@ABH313]

thanks for the great tips, i just subbed to your channel.

[@bethminer7634]

thank you very helpful

[@kathydavis5020]

Very smart, thank you

[@midwestoutdoorsansurvivalt9687]

I use reflexes myself awesome video

[@pssst3]

tyvek + duct tape can = an emergency tent, not just a tarp.

[@thomasnugent7602]

Very good, Thank you very much

[@RevHiker]

good stuff Matt!

[@renemayo6952]

If I lined an ice box with it, would it keep the ice and cold stuff in there as cold for possibly longer??

[@mamos_]

the house wrap material tee pee is my favorite emergency tent.

[@paybien]

Thank you.

[@user-lj7sq7ix1j]

Good stuff.

[@richardk7379]

Would the Tyvek lose its waterproof quality if you soften it up in that way? Thanks for the ideas.

[@ramblingdunne8046]

Nice video cool channel some clever tips

[@larryuknow]

reflectix also keeps things cold, made cozy for my hydration bladder and water bottle and works great in coolers. if for some reason you have to leave your phone in the car you make like an envelope and keep in it

[@sosteve9113]

nice ideas

[@DiabloOutdoors]

Well done

[@TomsBackwoods]

I actually run my tyvek though the cold wash cycle with no detergent and then run it through the dryer on low heat with tennis balls and it worked great. The Tyvek softens up really good! Nice vid Matt! How's your weather? Is the backpacking Looking good!

[@NampaHiker]

It looks like an early Spring. Time for some Owyhee backpacking until the mountains thaw.

[@twinstar9]

Why do you put tyvek through the wash?

[@TomsBackwoods]

twinstar9 it softens it up so its not as load or crunchy sounding.

[@twinstar9]

TomsBackwoods thanks

[@archeowild169]

Does this effect how waterproof it is?

[@susancoghill4103]

I have made my own dehydrated meals and stored them in brand name ziplock bags (they are thicker). Add the right amount of water to rehydrate the meal and put the zip lock bag into the reflexit bag. Dinner is done in 10-20 minutes.

[@clarahollenbeck6393]

I would like to use this in camp to put on windows to keep heat out in the summer and keep cold out in early falll .how would this work out for me thank you.

[@mghafoori]

Is Reflectix useful when camping in below freezing temperatures, like 20 F (-7 c)?

[@rezjrprod]

Got a car shade from 99 cent store..5ft bought 3..had a cold night and put it INSIDE my sleeping bag and I slept like a baby

[@GrottoGroveGroves]

already use the last two. but man, the reflectix blew me away ! i was aware of the product, and it never clicked.

[@goodnluckyone4447]

First thing tomorrow I am going to wrap my water heater in reflectix

[@faiyaha6869]

Goodn Luckyone how did that work out?

[@DSchafer]

Is Reflectix a Home Depot branded product or is it a 3rd party offering? I'm a Canadian so curious to see if it is offered north of the border and if so, possibly under a different name. I'm just starting to use a hammock and I can see this extending my season. Very cool. Thanks.

[@joey8obby]

Just buy the ones made for your car windshield during the summer

[@thevideostump46239]

Hey Matt, yeah I stopped by a office site and asked the site boss if I could have a piece of the Tyvek and he was like yah, sure. come back tomorrow and I'll have more if you want!..

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

Did you ever make the Tyvek bivy bag video?

[@indigodragon7129]

Someone should design a type of reflectix with little bubbles of gallium in a type of plastic not easily punctured then have the gallium absorb body heat then conduct it back to the individual. Now that would be an amazing space blanket or has a liner for your sleeping bag. That would be one hell of a great bug out bag stuffer. 😊

[@bushputz]

While you're at the hardware store buying Refectix, pick up a roll of metal tape. As mentioned in the video, you can make a pouch for your Mountain House meals that not only keeps your food hot, it doubles as a great ass pad so you don't freeze your tuchus off sitting on the cold ground.

[@mikemullins8020]

Interesting..just 2 weeks ago i made a cozy for my pot from reflective material coming in our Blue Apron mail order meals. Turns out it is reflectix.

[@yanfonner3913]

do the all bottom of the tent , 1 uco candels and your toasting

[@anders1685]

thanks

[@BobPauls]

Hack 1: It's not bubble wrap coated with Mylar. It's aluminized Mylar bubble wrap. Hack 2: Tyvek is a Brand Name for multiple trademarked products. The item you are describing is their house wrap material. It is made by flash spinning fibres of high-density polyolefin plastic (Polyolefin is also called Olefin or Polypropylene) , then combining and bonding the fibres into a sheet using heat and pressure. Antioxidants and ultraviolet stabilizers are compounded into the polyolefin resin before spinning. It's safe to use in the hack you describe and the material is used in all sorts of different clothing. The material floats and was used for the swimsuits of the Japanese Olympic Swim Team

[@STUPIDMEMBER]

+Bob Pauls. OK, Mr. Wizard. Boy, that was close. I nearly made it through my entire life without clarification of the correct description of Reflectix and Tyvek's product multiplicity. How does your OCD post help with the hack uses offered in this thread?

[@BobPauls]

+STUPIDMEMBER Go troll someone else.

[@zero11010]

+Bob Pauls The guy raises some good points. Your comments weren't needed and don't further any aspect of the conversation. It was a correction that didn't fix any issue. It puts you in poor light.

[@MikeSPx24bj9]

+Bob Pauls Good comment. Good to know. Thumbs down to all the stupid haters about your comment and thumbs up to your comment (and mine).

[@oldtimerlee8820]

+Bob Pauls Thank you for your comment. Can't speak for anyone else. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from others who are willing to share their wisdom and knowledge of same.

[@gavinandzandra]

Hey matt, i live in nampa too. do you have a hiking club? thanks!

[@NampaHiker]

+Gavin King (Spudhead Yank) no, but perhaps a meet up is in order. A couple other people have asked me the same thing.

[@thomdrum]

Tyvec in washer not dryer. Let drip dry. Problem with Tyvec bivy is people make them and complain about condensation. You need to add vents. Nothing is perfect in a bivy, even high end models. But you'll notice they are often vented. Reflectex is great stuff and should not be underestimated.

[@africaster]

Thomdrum ... I'll second this, definitely need additional vent for the tyvex bivvy, the upper half of my sleeping bag was seriously wet after one night of condensation from my breathing.

[@crazyxgameriowa9665]

Cool

[@coreybeaty8528]

You can use the reflextix as a mirror to focus the heat from the back side of a camp fire into your sleep area from a long way away. Tyvek is call one way membrain and its only water proof from the printed side in. Not the other way around.

[@boatingfisherdude]

+Corey Beaty the weave of the material lets water vapor thru but not water droplets. works in either direction. its about the size of the holes in the weave

[@margan59]

where's the link??

[@Turbo44mag]

Tyvek is good, but the mirror wrap is Genius

[@wastelandwanderer7685]

How to cook with Reflectix: First, cut the material to fit inside your windshield, wrap your food in foil and place it between the glass and the Reflectix, for larger food such as pizza, make a sort of bunker out of pool noodles and tape it in place to support your food in position

[@Binaurals02]

Reflctix looks heavy and not compressible. Probably good for car camping, but I wouldn't want to carry it into the back country. I like the Velcro idea, though.

[@blacksheep6821]

Tyvek, huh. Interesting. Thanks for the great video.

[@duggydugg3937]

97% reflected heat.. very good to know..

[@johnoliver3240]

Reflectix...huge reflective surface signal!

[@rationalthinker1570]

How are you doing, brother? I pray things are well for you and yours.

[@badpony302]

Actually Tyvek is very strong. I am amazed they haven't made a tent of Tyvek yet. It would be awesome to have a way to line a Tyvek tent with Reflectix. Very light, strong and warm or cooler in summer.

[@timg375]

+badpony302 Hows the wind permeability of it?

[@badpony302]

From their site: DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap® is the original house wrap, incorporating unique material science that helps keep air and water out, while letting water vapor escape.

[@MikeSPx24bj9]

+badpony302 Isn't Tyvek the same stuff that Fed Ex bags are made of -- the stuff that can't rip but can easily be cut with scissors?

[@BadYossa]

Good wee vid. Easier and less noisy option for hack 1. Buy a roll of mylar - extremely cheap to acquire. Using a spray glue, attach it to one of the old fashioned sleep pads - the foam type. I put several layers of the mylar on one side and put duct tape around the edge to make it a bit more robust. The foam has far better insulation properties than the bubble wrap. It really works a treat!

[@MikeSPx24bj9]

+BadYossa Umm. He didn't say in the video to ditch the foam layer you put under the sleeping bag, he sd to add the Reflectix on top of the foam wrap to give you an insulating barrier to reflect heat back onto yourself.

[@BadYossa]

+MikeSPx24bj9 - er, neither did I. I simply said, attach mylar to the foam pad itself.

[@matthewshumate8678]

Toasty! Lmao

[@paulsheppard5837]

Nice hacks there Who was the guy who did the bivvy bag Happy trails

[@NampaHiker]

Yankee prepper. You must be using an Apple, annotations don't seem to show up on Apple products.

[@paulsheppard5837]

I am indeed :( Thanks :) Happy trails

[@grantw6266]

Reflectix at Home Depot $16.25 for 25' x 16", order on line, in store pick up. Great for coozies, freezer bag cooking, torso ground sheet, cooler liners, ???????

[@jshepard152]

Tips, yes?

[@bashfulbrother]

why do all of the posters here claim they are going to link a website from their video and then they never do it?

[@NampaHiker]

There is a link. sometimes certain devices don't see the annotations for some reason.

[@annwithaplan9766]

Where is the link please? Thank you.

[@kerrylaverty2950]

yfelwulf try making sense...

[@travelnc2g]

@@NampaHiker try editing the description to add the link

[@jimsteele7108]

So, my experience with softening up tivek is that it loses it's waterproofing ability.

[@richardk7379]

That is the same thought I had but I have never tried it. What did you use it for? How much did it wet threw?

[@jimsteele7108]

@@richardk7379 , so I believe it's the same material is what frogg toggs rain gear is made of. My frogg toggs did become less waterproof as they softened up.