Cheap hacks for the Appalachian Trail (Hiking tips Pt. 47)

Little things can make a helpful difference if we are hiking for distance on the AT.
- Why we need a compass in the backcountry - • Stuff we don't need on...
- Food, what hikers pick and a look at utensils - • Weird food habits on t...
- Flatbrokeoutside on Facebook - www.facebook.c...

[@machbaby]

No matter how long you've been a backpacker, you are constantly learning new things. Thank you.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Agreed! And thanks for watching!

[@kieransutton1706]

I know I'm quite off topic but do anybody know of a good website to watch newly released tv shows online?

[@jeffreyhezekiah4975]

@Kieran Sutton i watch on flixzone. You can find it by googling =)

[@mrsparex]

You can take a drink straw from a fast food place and clip the end twice so you have 2 small rings (about 1/4 inch long). You can then cut the straw to a length you want and bend one end over and seal it with one of the rings. Then fill it with salt, pepper or whatever... Then of course seal it the same way...

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Interesting tip - Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!

[@jhonyermo]

GREAT ASS SUGGESTION -- THANK YOU

[@RS-rw5zp]

A small piece of stick on reflective tape is on all the small items I carry, knife, compass, spoon etc. I have recovered lost items that other wise would have been gone forever. A little bright nail polish also helps items in the leaves or snow stand out. THANK YOU for all your videos, it will take a while to see them all, but I pick something new and useful from every one! Hope you keep making them.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Good tips! Glad you like the videos and thanks for being a great viewer!

[@RS-rw5zp]

flatbrokeoutside So, unless you are going to print a book compiling your knowledge, I will have to go back and make notes to remember all the information I will use! I have a note pad handy to start doing this. You dialogue is impeccable, and content logical and progressive. You must script your narration? I mostly snow pack in New England , having a 'in and out' short millage to cover, but hope to start a 'section' effort next summer on the 100 Mi. Wilderness in Maine. I recommend your channel to all my friends, it is the best!

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for recommending the channel to others! Big channels that seek to describe a lot of information quickly - like Kutzgesagt and Vsauce - are scripted. My career is that of writer and editor. So it made sense I should put my skills to use and imitate the big boys. It's the only way I know to say a lot and say it quickly. I hope you have a great hike in the 100 Mile Wilderness!

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

I always keep a written journal of my trips with daily entries. On the last day of the trip, I do a gear evaluation, while it is all fresh in my memory. I list what worked well, what I needed but did not have, and what I brought but did not need. Once I am home and involved in other pursuits, my memories blur, so I have to do it on the trip.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

A written journal is a good idea - and thanks again for being a viewer!

[@kurtbaier6122]

Great tips even if not hiking the AT. Thanks. I've been a hiker, backpacker, and camper. BSA, military, and 18th century reenactor for 5 decades. I do National forest not the AT or National Parks. I don't go to bag mountains or trails much anymore. A long the way I realized I was treating my time in nature the way I was approaching modern life. Now I go for the freedom.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Glad you liked the video and thanks for watching!

[@november151956]

I've used my sleeping bag as a quilt for 2 years so the air will circulate a little under it. I wear my headlamp around my neck while sleeping to keep it handy for those times when some noise wakes me up near my tent. The best earplugs for me are a couple of 45 cal. bullets with the flat tip.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks again for being a great viewer!

[@woodsman335]

In the gun or out?

[@neillineberger8211]

Practical suggestions clearly based on experience, concise presentation rather than the typical stream-of-conscious rambling, and no hyping of the latest overpriced gear or survivalist hyperbole? I'm hooked!

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for the endorsement and thanks a million for watching!

[@HikerJohn316]

Dittos on loving the Swiss Army Knife. I too use the one with only a blade, a saw, and a can opener. Great vid! Thanks for sharing. Bee stings need an alkaline like baking soda. Wasp stings, like jellyfish stings, can be helped with urine or vinegar.

[@jayrodgers310]

I wanted to thank you for your videos. I am working on overcoming some physical challenges and your videos give me a focus. Besides that I enjoy them and am learning things everyday. Thank you!

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

I'm glad you find the videos helpful and thanks a million for watching!

[@barbararoberts571]

Love your videos. Your upbeat delivery and humor is refreshing. Thanks

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

And a million thanks to you for being a viewer!

[@imafraidofbears1599]

Yeah best narrator I know of, that delivery tho

[@larrygldn9245]

I've been using my mummy bag like you described and plan on doing so in the future. It is always a chore to roll over in a zipped bag. I thought I was the only one who had been doing this. Enjoy your videos a lot. Thanks for posting them. larry

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Glad you like the videos and thanks again for being a viewer!

[@007cheburashka]

Interesting ideas. I've seen the little collapsible camp bellows but never thought to just use a piece of tube.. cheap and light.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Indeed it is! And thanks a million for watching!

[@Oldsparkey]

If you wanted to do a pre filter for your funnel when using it to fill a water bag there is a trick you can do. It is even better then using a bandana. Take a piece of material from a 4 x 8 Singed Polyester Felt Filter Bag PESP35 Size 3 and cut it to fit inside the base of the funnel. The bags come in all sizes and can be purchased from Amazon. The ones I like to use will filter out anything down to one micron. They come in all different micron filtering sizes and water will flow threw them rapidly. As a pre-filter It removes the floaties , swimmers and sinkers from the water. Then I filter the water again threw the Sawyer which is keep cleaner by pre-filtering the water.. By the way you can wash/rinse them since they only are used to pre filter the water.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for the tip! For anybody interested -- www.amazon.com/Micron-Singed-Polyester-Filter-PESP3S/dp/B004F9KSC2 -- And thanks again for being a viewer!

[@muleyscousin6258]

And ... as always ... YOURT videos are ALWAYS worthy MY time. Thanks !

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

And thanks again for being a viewer!

[@kevinparker9407]

"...break down sobbing if you lost your swiss army knife on the trail." Me too. I am symbiotically joined to my old automobile model, with everything on it that an old manscout needs to fix stuff. Thanks for the big needle idea. I have an old sewing awl with a big needle. It occured to me after seeing your vid that I could use that without the awl.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Glad you liked the video and thanks for watching!

[@fatblockford1]

Thank you so much for all the information, hope to bump into you on the AT someday. Please don't ever get discouraged. God bless

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for your kind wishes and thanks for watching!

[@mtadams2009]

I want you to know I have been enjoying your videos and learning some new things. I have been backpacking a long time, since I was 16 and I am now 57 so I have some miles on me and hope to continue. I have never done the AT but I hope to give it a try in a few years when I retire. Most of my hiking takes place in the Whites. One thing I love is how much lighter the new gear is, I don't think I could ever carry the old gear again. Take care and hike on.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

I have used the old stuff and yeah, it was heavy! Keep hikin' and thanks for being a viewer!

[@CentralOregonSurvival]

I like that at the end, some say small things don't way anything, not true, every oz counts!!! Good stuff

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Glad you liked it! I like your channel - and thanks a million for watching!

[@jamthomson1]

I am preparing now for my 2018 thru hike and never thought to use a fanny pack like you mentioned. I think I am going to have to pick one up and give it a shot on my shake down hikes. Thanks for the great videos!

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

I tried a semi-homemade fanny pack on my last section hike -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKS9inypoZufbtk -- I could have done a better job sewing it. I got a smaller Jansport fanny pack and might try it next time. I also have seen people using a fanny pack not much bigger than a wallet, for ID, phone and money I suppose. Hope yours works well for you and the thru hike is a great one!

[@RandomButtonPusher]

Great collection of tips. I just recently picked up a Camper II SAK for the very reasons you noted. I've had the Spartan for years, but the addition of the saw blade is what I was looking for.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

The first time I tried a SAK saw blade I was almost shocked at how well it worked! Thanks for commenting and thanks again for being a great viewer!

[@RandomButtonPusher]

First, you're always most welcome. Second, I had been dithering over whether to get a larger SAK with a larger saw, such as the Ranger, which gets lots of praise, but decided to start small and see how that works. The Camper sure is light and carry-able, which means a lot these days for me. It's a perfect companion for my mini Bush Box collapsible wood-burning stove.

[@floydvaughn9666]

My favorite Swiss knife had scissors. I used them at least as often as the other blades. And, with apologies to Steve 1989 and fans, the Victorinox can opener is vastly superior to the P 38.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

I never leave home without Victorinox. And thanks for watching!

[@branmayo]

A lot of great tips here! On the topic of sewing needles, I carry one listed as a yarn darner on Amazon. It is pointed enough for about any sewing task and has an eye large enough to take paracord innards.

[@banjowoodsman7675]

Bran Mayo I do the same but chucked the needle in a drill and reshaped the point on a whet stone to a desired point. Having a needle with a large eye is very handy. Take care

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Good idea and thanks for watching!

[@allenstratton5399]

Some really great advice, and like you I LOVE my Victorinox Swiss Army knife. As well as in my backpacking gear I also carry one every day. While I travel for work in feel naked when I don't have one with me in airports, and is the first thing just get out of my checked luggage. Thank you again and I look forward to more of your videos

[@Oldsparkey]

My Victorinox Swiss Army Camper Knife is the one tool I have for just about everything which includes sawing dime size twigs so they will fit inside my wood burning stove. I like to have a back up system so I use a wood burning stove as a wind break for my alcohol stove. This way If I use all the alcohol ( or want to save it ) then I can burn twigs to cook over.

[@Jonboyr700]

Great video. Your experience comes through nicely on this video.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for commenting and thanks a million for watching!

[@farstrider79]

I use a carabiner as a weight to toss over my food bag line as well. I've taken to carrying two cords. I'll toss the carabiner over, lower it and string the other line through, then lift the carabiner up as high as I want. Then I use the other cord to lift my food bag up. It saves the tree limbs from being damaged by the cord sawing into it and the cord slides much easier through the carabiner than a limb. When bark gets damaged it opens up the tree to pests, I'd hat to think that I'm hurting nature while enjoying it!

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

You make a good point. Thanks for sharing the tip and thanks for watching!

[@banjowoodsman7675]

Enjoyed your info as always. Thank you very much. Happy camping.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Glad you liked the video and thanks for being a great viewer!

[@RustyNail5856]

I am looking forward to more of your videos. thanks

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

You're welcome and thanks again for watching!

[@danielfegley2735]

I also thought back packing with a sinch sack would be a lite and cheap way of doing it all my sacks are free from county fair not well constructed but I have a Nike I found in the woods it's very strong

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Good job. I've since picked up a couple at a state fair! And thanks again for watching!

[@thndrlngs]

Just wanted to let you know that one of the silica gel packets in your collection, isn't. In the shot at 1:25 it's the green one on the bottom right. That's a packet of nori from an instant Ramen.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

This explains why my phone smells so good.

[@thndrlngs]

It must be! Thanks for the tip about the desiccant packs though. I just finished a 3-day 30 miler in Cranberry Wilderness earlier today and I'm pretty sure without that baggie and desiccant pack my phone would have been toast the first day. So much lighter and more convenient than a hard box. Thanks for the vids, and happy trails!

[@bertiewooster9222]

you can dry those packs out, just leave them on a window sill in the sun, summer, some people put them in a microwave?

[@outhikingagain4030]

Very good and you make me laugh -- often!

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

And thank you for being a great viewer - with a sense of humor!

[@Pam-dr8nc]

Enjoyed you straight to the point video! Super

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Glad you liked it and thanks for watching!

[@stephenwright3501]

It's been almost a month since your last video and I was beginning to worry. Love them all. I picked up a Victor. "Walker". It's 3.25 inches and has a saw and blade, weighs 1.6 oz. I am planning to walk from Harpers Ferry to Mt. Greylock (Mass.) in June 2017. Given the expected weather and terrain, I plan to carry only 6 lbs (minus food and water). I hope I can post something on my way, I hope you see it.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

I checked out the Walker, which I had not heard of. Nice light design. Sorry for the delay between vids - been busy on another project. I look forward to a video on your hike. Any chance you would do a gear list video? And thanks again for being a viewer!

[@stephenwright3501]

I may, but I am afraid it would be boring and predictable.

[@susanolson3611]

Great advice!

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Glad you liked it and thanks again for watching!

[@brianherman4912]

Good video

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Glad you liked it and thanks for watching!

[@christianstiltner1104]

Great vid. Thank you!

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

You're welcome and thanks for watching!

[@beargreasebrigade]

dang, you need to hike back to NY

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for watching!

[@robertwood4783]

another great video A++

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Glad you liked it and thanks again for watching!

[@dirtycommtroop]

20 degrees, floorless tent, closed cell foam pad, and a quilt and you didnt get cold??? My back would of been freezing.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Scroll to the bottom of this and you'll see a photo of a Ridgerest closed cell being used by a guy who treks at the poles, where he's probably on ice all the time -- thermarestblog.com/qa-explorer-eric-larsen-talks-adventure-camping-and-polar-bears/ -- ALSO, if it needs to be said, in the cold I sleep with all my clothes on except shoes, including jacket and hat. And thanks for watching!

[@hurshelshank9383]

do you wear the fanny pack while backpacking? where? thanks......

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

It's my first choice to wear one while backpacking. The short answer on where is wherever it's comfortable and not a nuisance -- and a lot of that depends on the size and design of the thing. The main thing I look for, above all else, is a husky belt buckle that will not break. Nice thick plastic has proved a good choice for me, and thin plastic a poor choice. Many modern fanny packs have thick padding all over the place, which I consider hardly necessary and try to avoid. I have cut extraneous flaps and straps from them, also. I have hiked a lot with one 12x8 inches, width and height, and I wore it pretty much in front but as far to the left as it would go. I've also used one 10" wide and 5" tall, and it could go right in front. Ditto a smaller one 6.5x5.5". I once sewed a belt onto a small outdoor shoulder bag I got at walmart, but ended up carrying it in the big pack -- Because I failed to sew the belt on good enough to keep it from bouncing around. So if one turns into a total pain, keeping it in the pack is an option. I would emphasize that I use a fanny pack for two main reasons. Like the video says, one reason is I keep my valuables in it, and it goes everywhere I go, no exceptions. When I left the main pack someplace, I wore that screwed up converted shoulder bag wherever I went. 2-The fanny pack carries extra compasses (I usually have three on me) bandaids, a tiny nalgene bottle of rubbing alcohol, another one containing ammonia (for bug stings), a little thing of bug spray ... the kind of stuff I want to grab right now if I need it. Hope this helps and thanks for watching!

[@richburns9846]

Really like your vid. Great info. Ps I think your needle is called s sail needle. Dave Canterbury likes them also. I got the idea from him.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for the info and thanks a million for watching!

[@TainoXtreme]

Very good video. I always listen to your videos and your KZbin channel. For your ring to work, you have to apply your own urine to yourself. I have done it time after time when I get stung by bees or fire and ice and it always works fast. I practice you’re in therapy in daily basis and my heart condition, acid reflux and other conditions have reversed big time. I am a legally blind person and do it to the urine therapy my vision has improved also. Drinking your urine can save your life plan stung by a venomous insects such as scorpion or bitten by a rattlesnake. You were in it has also cured many disease such as malaria and HIV and leprosy and many other things. I invite you to research it in KZbin and you will be surprised.. thank you so much for your videos. They are very entertaining and instructional and interesting. God bless you.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for the details and thanks for being a viewer!

[@anonpers0n]

flatbrokeoutside the packs in freeze dried food are oxygen absorbents not the silica sand witch is found in electronics packaging. not the same thing at all

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Thanks for that correction.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Now that I look it up, I see that the iron in the oxygen packs has to oxidize to absorb oxygen. Requiring roughly 65% humidity, which is fairly low compared to the routine atmosphere in the Eastern US. And the oxidation using water is 2H2O → 2H2 + O2(Total Reaction) - pulling some oxygen out of the water. Resulting in water splitting, freeing hydrogen from water. Which probably accounts for my experience in seeing the oxygen absorbers having some effect on dampness inside a container. Even so, your point is well taken in that silica gel has to work better and the oxygen absorbers have a limited life, by comparison.

[@rutabagasteu]

gear color shouldn't match ground color. Things get lost that way. I may or may not have done that to myself.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Good tip. Thanks again for watching!

[@friarrodneyburnap4336]

Are there full time AT hikers that never leave the trail other then to resupply?

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Good question. Not many, I would guess. The northern half of the trail in particular will be rough in winter - rougher than at sea level because the trail tends to go over the highest elevations in any given area for much of its length. It will be windier up there when snow is flying. It also will snow in Georgia, NC and Tennessee. And thanks for watching!

[@rollinntumblin]

In honor of the second anniversary of your KZbin channel {and the date of my 69th birthday}, congratulations on your impressive following. Have you considered a guitar instruction channel? We are moving from Boston to Louisville as soon as we sell our house. Assuming you still live near Columbus, OH, expect to see me soon. Your Friend, Jimmy Page.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

The problem is i nag guitar students so badly they drop out of sight for a few years. Happy birthday. Stay in touch.

[@chimay3]

A blue Victorinox? Hmmm Hope you got it cheap.

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

Same price as a red one at Target.

[@inpalpatine2067]

flatbrokeoutside ebay from someone who sorts them from tsa. i think i got 5 ?hikers? (saw and corkscrew) for about 30 bucks

[@conradgallardo9046]

How much time do you spend thanking Our Creator for HIS Goodness?

[@jhonyermo]

goddam!

[@ronrony2kify]

hey i disagree with the knife. you should have a good, light folder...

[@flatbrokeoutside6921]

This video shows four knives. Did you see all four? One's a Spyderco. Some folks say they are good.

[@captiankidandcrew]

@@flatbrokeoutside6921 they definitely are.