Top 13 Camping Hacks that ACTUALLY work

[@TheBearEssentials]

*REVISION TO #2 - HEADLAMP BATTERY HACK* Many comments indicate this is not an ideal hack and may still drain the battery. This should be corrected by putting a small piece of tape or plastic between the terminals so they don't touch. (Very sorry - I wish I could correct it on screen. In the headlamps I've used, the terminals don't touch when you flip the battery around, but this isn't the case for all, as the comments have told me)

[@rdy602509]

Get a small piece of parchment paper (or a paper gum wrapper) and place it between the battery and equipment. This stops the connection, much like when you buy something and have to pull the tab out. When not in use, store the paper in the battery compartment.

[@CineMiamParis]

Clear. Concise. Not seen a lot before. Good visual aid. Quality shots. Engaging personality. And you don’t scream at me. Thank you, that’s a sub.

[@bnguy146]

I have watched probably thousands of videos on camping and survival. Splitting the wood with the saw was a new trick. Very cool

[@BenPienig]

A quick tip with the drip line, tie a rock to the end of the drip line. This will pull down the edge, and pull the water towards the drip line.

[@TheBearEssentials]

Genius!

[@ryuoki1]

I was thinking the same thing. Just enough weight to encourage a bit more of a channel toward the drip line.

[@davestrain1762]

or if your pot has a handle for hanging it... tie it a inch or two off the ground and the water will fill it making it heavier until it stretches and touches the ground... that way it collects the water but won't continue to pull once it gets heavy enough to rest on the ground.

[@MoeBergOSS]

I have over 4,000 long distance backpacking miles, bushcraft skills and tons of outdoors experience. This guys tips are top notch and maybe the best of this type of video I’ve ever seen. The red rope for the first aid pull is what I took from this.

[@TheBearEssentials]

Thank you so much!

[@calisingh7978]

He said share your hack 🤔

[@marianfrances4959]

I love that fatwood torch!

[@MoeBergOSS]

@@calisingh7978So where is yours?

[@meganthearchitectbrown1111]

I FULLY agree!!

[@osheebaugus]

Don't put batteries in backwards. It could destroy your gear, cause battery acid leakage or just discharge the battery and drain it anyway. Store one battery outside of the terminal or interrupt the terminal with non conductive material like plastic or paper

[@ijf0]

Agreed. Backwards batteries is NOT a good idea.

[@Constable.Chauvin]

especially if you have a 18650 or bigger battery

[@myself248]

Or for cylinder-type lights, just unscrew the cap a fraction of a thread until the light turns off. Zebralight and clones make this easy. The O-ring provides enough drag that the cap shouldn't fall off and it's still waterproof, but electrically disabled until you tighten the cap again.

[@scottschnatzmeyer85]

+1 on adding interference. A thin piece of plastic from a sandwich bag/ziplock is best. Don't use the cheap thin one though, they just tear, you can add that in, then open up and pull it out. Keep the original bag in case you need extra. And yes, you could just put the batteries in the bag to start, but at night it's easier to just pull out the strip instead of trying to find the pos neg direction.

[@EmbalmerTM]

I just made a bead of hot glue to stop it being pressed down so easily.

[@deeprollingriver52]

As a solo female camper I LOVE THE DOUBLE ROCK METHOD. It works better in strong winds than stakes.

[@PapajosTraders]

Been camping for years, these are great hacks! Also-I will add duct tape (gorilla tape actually) wrapped around my Nalgenes/lighters and/or flashlights to use when needed. Comes in very handy and it's never far away when needed. Gorilla tape will patch tents, tarps, sleeping bags, will fix a brister and will even make great kindling when torn into this strips.

[@mahjimoh]

I watched this expecting to see things that are new to people who have literally never spent a night outdoors or seen a tent in real life. Boy was I wrong! These are all amazing tips. Instant subscribe!

[@dereinzigwahreRichi]

Great video with really good and practical tips, thank you so much! I'd like to add the bottlecap trick: take a plastic bottle cap with your tent stakes to get them into the ground easily and without injury or damage to your shoes by putting them on top of the stake and pushing them in.

[@fernharmon4092]

Been using small piece of pine bough to scrub and wash camp dishes for years, works like a charm.

[@mary-ruthflores4107]

When washing in live water, I dig a small pit off to the side to pour the water that has the grease. Then scrub again and if the grease gone, rinse in live water. But don’t pour grease into live water! And no soap also. The pit works for it also. Then cover up your hole. I recently saw a great way of disposing of wash water. Dig a pit, with a small channel off to the side, fill it with small rocks, build you fire over it, when the fire is burning, pour the wash water in the pit and the bottom heat will burn it off. I saw it on Northern Wild Harvest

[@wesh388]

I agree, probably not the best for fish and other aquatic life. Whenever I'm camping in the backcountry I wash my dishes at least 200 ft away from water's edge

[@eg8475]

@@wesh388 & @mary-ruthflores4107 What TF kind of cooking grease do you use, constant-velocity-joint grease?

[@anarum6616]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂​@@eg8475

[@wesh388]

@@eg8475 What TF are you trying to say?

[@mary-ruthflores4107]

@@eg8475 I take it you don’t do much camping or cooking out of doors. Since you are unsure what grease is, less take bacon grease as an example. If you wash your pan in the water that fish, aquatic animals, plants live in, it will kill them. Oils and fats from cooking do not break down easily, also the soap used is also poisonous. Which is why responsible campers try to leave as little impact on the campsite as possible.

[@rebeccapatterson649]

Thank you! I’m an old gal, who once followed her Eagle Scout father around. Thanks for passing along great knowledge!

[@vidadvocate9522]

Very helpful; thanks ! Lighter hack: I take a hair band or rubber band and wrap it around/under the top of a lighter so when it's in my pack, it can't accidentally be pushed down and release/off-gas the lighter fluid. (I wish I could attach a pic)

[@TheBearEssentials]

Great idea!! I’ve done this with the waxed hemp I wrap around my lighter, I think it’s the same or similar concept? Thx for sharing this

[@fourwindsflowers]

I don’t really have a visual on this from your description. Could you say this one more time maybe another way?

[@vidadvocate9522]

@@fourwindsflowers I wish I could attach a photo. On a basic lighter, you know the top part you have to push down with your thumb? It releases the gas (lighter fluid) and the spark lights the flame. I wrap something like a small rubber band around the top and under the part your thumb pushes down so it can't be pushed down in my pocket or backpack. This way the gas doesn't leak out and go empty. I hope that was better.

[@fourwindsflowers]

So, under the thumb part put an obstructive thing to keep it from being pressed down to loose fluid? I know the purpose. I’m just trying to visualize where the obstructive piece goes. Rubber rots quickly.

[@christopherkranz1902]

That’s awesome, and the band can act as a quick fire starter in wet or desperate conditions Thank you

[@kirkwaggoner7328]

We used to coat the bottom of pots and pane with dish soap before using them over an open camp fire. It made the soot easier to clean up. Have used sand/grit for camp dish washing for years. It's almost like Ajax/Comet cleanser but back then there were no non-stick pans...

[@maxcourville7199]

One of my favourite thing to do for cooking , is I build the camp fire stones in a key hole shape fireplace, putting the grill on the smaller circle and the main fire in the bigger circle , I then move the amber on to the small circle to have a controlled heat .

[@TheBearEssentials]

Awesome tip, the keyhole fire is a fantastic one for cooking!!

[@davidturner3014]

I saw this guy build the fire/heat "Reflector Wall" that everybody and his brother have seen a hundred times... And like, a light bulb! Kind of like a Dakota Hole too!

[@shadaksharicr5924]

The final hack can be improvised by using ash from your fire. It's safer than using dirt because they might leave bacteria in utensils. In India, the charcoal and ash have been used for cleaning utensils and still some villages are used to date. Safer since it is anti bacterial. The US army used ash in water to treat diarrhea during ww2

[@BUZZKILLJRJR]

If you're worried about any sort of Critters left on your pan after you wash them in a lake and you got the grease out just simply bring it back to the fire and gently heat them. ( you can overheat empty) pans and pots so be careful. But you can get it hot enough or warm enough, to dry the pan, or kill anything on it without warping the metal if you're careful.

[@larrywise8109]

If you have a greasy pan, just add a bit of ash from a wood fire . That and the grease and water will make soap. Just get some grass of some variety for a scrubber. You are all set. Scrub it clean and rinse. If you really want to make soap make a filter out of an empty water bottle. Cut off the bottom. At the mouth put grass ,sand , gravel in layers. At the top put wood ash. Slowly pour water over it all. Collect the lye the drips out of the mouth. Add that to animal fat and water. Equals lye soap.

[@TheBearEssentials]

Excellent tip, another person posted this one too. Can’t believe I didn’t know this!

[@ДмитрийБровин-б3к]

А так же из золы (желательно лиственной) можно без особых проблем чистый щелок отделив его нагрев очень мелкую фракцию золы в горячей воде и дав постоять собрать с поверхности воды (и достаточно концентрированный щелок будет) из которого хоть мыло , хоть моющее для посуды ,хоть шампунь для волос (чистейший натюрель !!! ) можно прямо в поле делать.

[@Meluforever]

To be even more precise, it will work with any fat, animal or vegetable :)

[@kathleenschaefer7012]

Be very cautious about using grass near water as a scrubber. There are sheep liver flukes and various worms that have part of their life cycle in snails that use grass to get into a host (host can also be a human). Google sheep parasite life cycle diagrams. Also giardia. (Good luck getting an md to reckognise and treat parasites in an adult human.)

[@Mysteryman93]

1 hack i have is I fill my metal water bottle full of hot water and put it in my sleeping bag as a type of hot water bottle. Put your damp socks over it too which will also dry the socks as well as be more comfortable against the skin if it touches.

[@PapajosTraders]

Always do that on our winter camps. Will hold heat all night long stuffed into a thick hiking sock down inside yer sleeping bag,

[@dungeonsanddeadlifts7610]

Great video! A side note for Tips 1 & 2. Many headlamps have a "lock" feature so that you don't have to worry about it accidentally being on in your pack. I highly recommend using a headlamp with this feature for those spending multiple days in the backcountry. For the med kit, I love changing the toggle out to red thread. I've also seen little tags with a med symbol that can be placed onto your toggle. If you have a pack with mesh pockets, this can be a great place to put your waterproof medkit so that it can be seen through the mesh. For this I recommend using a medkit with a BRIGHT red or yellow exterior so it really stands out to anyone tasked with grabbing the med kit.

[@LeeDaiYing]

I use woodash (cooled) as an abrasive and soap for washing up. Works well as sort of paste. Takes the grease and soot away fairly well.

[@TheBearEssentials]

Great Tip!!! Ive got to try this!

[@jeffweber5546]

baking soda also helps take off soot.

[@glenngriffon8032]

Yup I've used this so frequently i thought it was common knowledge

[@pedroclaro7822]

Yeap ash is the great grease remover. Also a decent soap if your hands are real greasy (but not to be used as often as soap - it’s aggressive and will strip the skin).

[@OldNavajoTricks]

Rinse your hands well after, potash is caustic.🤘

[@IonOtter]

The Balsam Fir - _Abies balsamia_ The bark is covered in what my Plant Science teacher called "sap zits"! It's GREAT stuff! While it's not the right stuff to use for an active infection, it does make an excellent bandage to _prevent_ an infection. It has antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and analgesic properties. So it doesn't just patch tarps, it'll patch YOU too!

[@TheBearEssentials]

Big thumbs up for adding this detailed explanation and tip!! Thank you on behalf of everyone in the community here!

[@alvarovaltierra5381]

Finally, some REAL camp hacks that you can ACTUALLY use! Thank you

[@duvessa2003]

These are, without question, the BEST 🌟 camping hacks I’ve ever encountered! Thank you!!!

[@elizabethwalker2051]

Horsetails (the plant) make excellent scrubbers for cleaning pots because it’s rich in silica. Ashes are great for cleaning too and I especially use it after washing my carbon steel buck knife, which has kept it from rusting for over thirty years. Vegetable oil or alcohol work very well for getting the resin off of you and your stuff (because resin is soluble in alcohol/oil). Rub it on and then wash off with soap and water. I prefer using oil for my hands because it’s better for my hands and doesn’t dry them out like alcohol does. I usually have a little olive oil with me for cooking and there is usually alcohol in the first aid kit.

[@Stoafasaki]

emm...Taught line hitch on those tarp lines? GENIUS!!! Thank You!

[@johnstarkie9948]

Taut line hitch.

[@TheKimjoh560]

These hacks are amazing. I'm an avid outdoorsman and some of these hacks were even unknown to me. Be careful with pine resin torches though. Burning resin is basically napalm. Always hold it at an angle and mind where it drips.

[@stevepearson6983]

Learning the taut line hitch was required in the Boy Scouts to get your Second Class Badge. I learned it in the 1960s.

[@nuynobi]

It's probably the most useful knot I know.

[@DustyTail]

I use the truckers hitch probably more. My tents / tarps has those 3 holed deals for tensioning

[@nuynobi]

@@DustyTail I hate those things. I took them all off and tied taut line hitches.

[@graysonbuchanan9818]

The grip hitch is actually a better version of the taught line hitch 😊

[@nuynobi]

@@graysonbuchanan9818 Never heard of it before. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

[@bushcraftbasics2036]

First aid hack, like you suggested it is good to mark the pouch holding your kit with different coloured ties. You can also attatch a coloured plastic disk or some other tactile object to the pull to make it easier to identify in the dark.

[@robmontier3770]

...unless one battery is...oh.

[@TheBubbly1]

You can get some glow-in-the-dark tags or cording to the zipper that has the 1st aid pouch.

[@fbaloo1]

The Dakota Fire Hole is a good one, two holes about a foot apart, then connect them under the ground, fire burns great Another interesting one is to use a king size sheet under a shade tent/pop up shelter 10 by 10, place a bottle cap in the center, connect that to the center of the tent, then use the clamp bungees from walmart to connect the sheet under the shade to all four corners it should lower your temp by 4 or 5 degrees. great video!

[@BBQDad463]

Thank you for this video. Great hacks! I always carry a 30-minute road flare when I am out in the woods. If I am in some less-than-optimal situation and I need---not want---a fire, the flare will get the job done even if my tinder is damp or if I have no tinder. It is easy to use if my hands are cold, numb, and shaking. It is easy to use even if I am injured. I can cut it into thirds and have three, ten-minute fire starters.

[@brilurz]

Wasp hack- For the ones that are attracted to meat, take an empty water bottle and make it half full with water. Cut less than a dime sized hole in the bottle halfway between the lid and the water. Poke a stick through the top that protrudes toward the water but make sure the lid can still close back with part of the stick inside. Attach a piece of meat to the bottom of the stick and screw the lid back on with the meat inside the bottle. The wasps will enter into the hole, attack the meat, and will drown looking for the hole to get out. Instant wasp trap.

[@tomboese367]

my family and I love camping, i'm always up for new ideas; your tip on using double stones for keeping your line tight was great, and your tip on splitting a log was new to me and very useful. God bless you well!

[@DanTheMan___]

Never reverse batterys especially lithium ion they can burn very hot and / or explode!

[@TheBearEssentials]

Terminals don’t touch on this one, I wish I had said that in the video !

[@SenselessUsername]

Agreed, can't trust the chipset is smart enough to detect pole reversal, and even then... A bit of plastic between a terminal and battery for me, just like when you buy it in the shop often -- a small, non-conducting shim that you pull out to make a watch etc start working.

[@Leightr]

I remember this "hack" from the 90s for the mini maglights which were the go-to backpacker light at the time. Same issue with potentially having the thing catch fire in your pack. Never actually seen it happen though. Would love to see someone test out if it is a real risk or myth.

[@lettersquash]

@@Leightr Even if they don't catch fire, if they touch all the contact points (TBE says these don't) I think the two batteries could be forcing charge backwards through the reversed single battery, discharging them and overcharging the third. This might not be the case with protected batteries (with their own chip or diode), but most ordinary alkali batteries aren't protected, IIRC. It's much safer just to take one battery out and put it in a little ziplock bag.

[@erickborling1302]

For some reason my headlamp (Nebo) will drain batteries even when it's off. Anyone know of a good headlamp WITH RED LIGHT that does not eat batteries even if the lamp sits unused?

[@arthanor9631]

The taut-line + keeping your line bundle in it is actually pretty helpful to tidy up in many applications 👍

[@TheBearEssentials]

Eyy awesome, honestly it’s my most used knot/hitch by far… half bc of this feature haha

[@Casowsky]

If you're chopping firewood at home, you can make the 'bundle split' method even better by replacing the line with an old tyre and bolting that to the top of your chopping block. It's a game changer for busting up a huge amount of kindling in seconds.

[@mileslin4702]

started getting a whole bunch of camping stuff and me being me i watch a bunch of videos to prep me, as you dont know what you dont know.. This video i must say, has been one of the best ive seen.. really interesting as well as educational, even includes the taut knot too.. incredible, defs saving this. Keep up the great work! :)

[@Walksuphill]

Those black diamond lights have a lock toggle on them. Theres a little lock icon. Have to hold two spots down at the same time for 3 seconds. I was recently in the himilayans with a friend who forgot his. I lent him my spare. He ended up getting pretty sever altitude sickness(and the rest of the trip) . I had to leave him alone in a section while i carried his gear to the nearest hut which ended up leaving him to be walking alone in the dark. I ended up busting a$$ to get back to him because i realized i didnt think he would be able to figure out the toggle lock mode.. when i get to him he was in the dark lol.. Anyways. Theres a good chance theres a lock mode, which i always use now because those things are always soliciting light where you don't want them to😅

[@TheBearEssentials]

I seriously had no idea there was a toggle lock!! I’m gunna try this out.. thx for sharing this!! And crazy story too!

[@222buckley]

@@TheBearEssentialsmine you just hold the power button for 3-5 seconds it will lock.

[@cambodianexpress8557]

Some pretty good tips here... But may I comment on the head lamp, battery switch idea. I'm starting my 16th. year in our counties SAR. Years ago, I tried switching one battery around in my headlamp to keep it from coming on and I'll never do it again. The problem is when need your head lamp, you have to fumble around in simi-darkness, often with cold fingers, trying to open the thing up, switch the center battery BACK around and then get the cover back on correctly. They make head lamps with simple to operate locking systems OR you can use WHITE surgical tape, (so it's easier to see in low light conditions) and block/cover the switch. If you fold one end back on itself, (sticky side against sticky side) you'll have a handy little tab to get hold of and easily pull it off with. Also, pack your headlamp where you can get to it without having to dig around for it.

[@TheBearEssentials]

Excellent tips!!! Thank you for adding this, the surgical tape pull tab is a great idea

[@hoser7706]

Ok from someone in tgis industry and an avid outdoors person every onecof these hacks was useful!! I assumed I’d learn 1-2 things but not that many! Thx

[@stacieknock5828]

THIS IS SORCERY!!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERT KNOWLEDGE. You are LITERALLY SAVING LIVES! Give yourself a Bear Hug! 🏆💯

[@TheBearEssentials]

The biggest bear hug Ahha thank you!

[@ryimscaith1593]

With the fatwood torch: If you can find a branch about two inches or so in diameter, you can split the end twice (So there's four tips), then put small stones for wedges inside, about halfway down. Next, get dry grass and rub in pine pitch (be sure to break open any hardened pitch balls to prevent popping in the heat). Stuff the grass into the crevices of the torch. You can store them like this (though I advise wrapping them in a covering if you want to put them in a pack), and the dry grass/pitch combo makes lighting them a breeze. Very good to have for quickly lighting an emergency signal. The two inch diameter torch will burn for about 3-5 hours. The time variance depends on how concentrated the resin is. The stronger that turpentine smell, the longer the burn. Subbed, as this is one of the few, no nonsense channels I've seen in a while. Glad you popped up in my feed. Will be sharing with the kids I teach about bushcraft and camping since you keep it informative, yet simple and short for their attention spans.

[@davemartin3579]

I love watching videos of bushcraft and such and am subscribed to many channels.I stumbled upon your channel a couple months ago and I am extremely impressed and grateful with/for the shared wisdom and experience I have gained from here. Thank you for this channel. I’m constantly excited to see/learn more from you!

[@62swampboy62]

Been an outdoorsman for fifty years, and I think this may be the first time I've seen 'camping hacks' that weren't totally ridiculous - good job. For your last hack I was ready for you to suggest using horsetail grass if it's around. It apparently captures silica, and makes a great scrubber.

[@TheBearEssentials]

Thanks for the comment and for watching. Ya someone mentioned the horsetail, that’s awesome, is there any risk to human health with it ? I know it’s bad for horses or animals etc. I don’t know too too much about it personally!

[@time2maked0hnutz54]

Great Hacks! Love You're Vids, Keep Sharing Please💯💎

[@TheBearEssentials]

Thank you! Will do!

[@Orpilorp]

I love all of the knots that you teach us. I never go camping these days, as I live in the woods!

[@klannstyle]

I love when I came back to some channels and see that I'm already subscribed. That helps me to know that I did the right choice even if I'm not gonna watch them all the time but when i will need to learn new stuff regarding that matter. Which is what it meant to be. You can't watch surviver, cooking, tech, gaming or w/e else videos all the time. You just binge a lot of them for a time, then go for another "trip" then another and... so on. till you came back again to one of them and binge some more... I suppose lot of us do that and that is a healthier growth for any channel. Not just once and then never come back. Am i right?

[@romant1127]

You can use charcoal to clean your cookware. Crush it into coarse chunks, wet it with some water and put it on a sponge, then scrub away. It adsorbs grease and it's abrasive just enough to get things clean but it crumbles apart before it can scratch more delicate non-stick pans.

[@TheBubbly1]

Cast Iron is the best!!!

[@bluesquidny]

I love Candle lanterns. i always throw one in my bag when there is a burn ban.

[@TheBearEssentials]

Yess! The ambience is worth the weight for sure

[@edwardenglish6919]

When hiking in bear country, always take your chubby buddy along who doesn't run very fast.

[@rquest3059]

Make sure your "chubby buddy" isn't carrying a pistol and turn YOU into the slow one with two leg wounds.

[@omfgbbqsauce1177]

@@rquest3059 Might as well shoot the bear?

[@pattiannepascual]

🤣

[@box_walker]

My chubby buddy is a 16oz sirloin I keep in my back pocket

[@dobrofool]

@@rquest3059Ahh. No worries. That’s usually just a flesh wound…

[@SusieLovesJesus]

A friend is someone who always helps and genuinely cares about your well being... You truly are a friend indeed DJ. Thank you 😊🏆 Great hacks 😁 Take care 💖

[@TheBearEssentials]

Hi Susie!!! Gosh, you're amazing, thx for making my day!

[@terkasiprova]

My parents taught me to use the flower called horsetails for scrubbing pans and pots. It's really abrasive and also produces a sap that acts as a natural detergent. Thanks for your videos and products, they are the best!

[@user-qs1xz2mx6f]

The first totally useful hacks I've ever seen! Thanks a lot

[@borsitsb]

Thank you this is an extremely useful video. Your videos are my number #1 source for knots, tips, and tricks, so thank you for your work DJ :) I usually rewatch your videos many times before a trip to memorize stuff that I don't use on a daily bases. I saw you created chapters in this video that is incredibly valuable when I'm about to look up something. Can you setup chapter titles to be more specific? It can remarkably speed up the process of looking up information. I have a future video idea too: I usually use your tricks in sailing trips. As we use many ropes that have different size, length, and type, it's essential to coil them up neatly when unused. Can you create a video on how to coil different ropes?

[@TheBearEssentials]

Good idea brother I’ll take your advice and add in the chapter names today. Thanks for the kind words and writing to me!!

[@TheBearEssentials]

And il also create a video on coiling ropes!!

[@borsitsb]

@@TheBearEssentials Awesome, thank you. I appreciate your work and responsibility. It's outstanding how much work you put into the videos. I know I can find some knots and stuff in other videos, but I always prefer watching yours because all your videos are aesthetically pleasing and you explain things real smoothly so it's very easy to follow the steps. Also, I appreciate how much you listen to comments and connect with your viewers. You rock buddy ;)

[@TheBearEssentials]

@@borsitsbthanks man, it’s hard to respond to all of them but I try to get to as many as I can. Again, really nice of you to say! Thx for the kind words!

[@joshua2400]

a minute in and its great stuff as always : ) God bless my friend!

[@joshua2400]

and to those taking the time to see this, Jesus loves you 😊

[@TheBearEssentials]

Thx Josh!

[@deadmanswife3625]

​@@TheBearEssentials4 minutes in. ALL still good. The rain off the tarp was a nostalgic review ❤

[@bryanepp5340]

Great ideas! Well done video! Wadded grass works well as a pan scrubber. It is not as aggressive. Works well for cast iron.

[@jvhoff50]

To keep your rain fly secure get some mesh bags and put rocks, large or small, in them. Also a strong bungee as your guy line will stay taut as your rain fly starts to sag when it gets wet.

[@100MileHikingClub]

I have watched countless videos offering the promise of the title of this video - and this, by far, was the best. Absolutely fantastic, and I am a new subscriber. So well done!

[@TheBearEssentials]

Wow, thank you so so much. And welcome to the community here!

[@tonyadoughty]

Clicked like and subscribed in under 25 seconds. That red toggle tip was the definition of a hack: simple and life-changing. And in the red toggle case, possibly life-saving. All the rest were just as good. Several things I've truly never heard before, but each so helpful to know.

[@oliverbodnar]

If you get potassium permanganate, you can mix it with a crushed sugar cube or just suger, find a piece of wood with a shallow hole, put both in the hole and start to grind the 2 together, and you'll have fire.

[@oliverbodnar]

​@craig2795 I'll make sure I have glycerin on hand. Thanks for that!

[@hanwellfoxfoxy5008]

To keep an edge on your disposable razor just gently stroke it up your arm in the reverse direction after every cutting stroke on your stubble, adds a minute or two to your shaving routine but more than doubles the useful life of your throw away razor. I use this technique all the time at home as well as camping and after all your skin is just another 'leather' strop to maintain an edge.....

[@shj2000]

Good stuff - as always. I'd like to see a longer presentation on the cordage keeper using the tautline hitch.

[@dianeschmiane]

Wow, every one of these was awesome, thanks for sharing!

[@l.p.bilham9852]

Great tips. Thank you

[@karennewbury6430]

Great video. Such simplistic common sense ideas. I've just subscribed. I don't camp, but these ideas are handy and useful for even an afternoon picnic away from civilization. Blessings to you and yours.

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

You can make tent pegs out of green wood and harden/drying them by sticking them in the hot ground found your campfire. Add some paracord and duct tape your hiking pole. The paracord tied in a nice pattern. Fresh birch leave can be used to wash clothes. Put the branches with leafs and clothing in a bag and shake them in an up down, holding on to the branch. Use your hiking pole as an inertial compass. Take your bearing hold your pole in one hand in the bearing you want to go. It will help you keeping a straight course. Gather kindle, tinder and dry twigs before you come to your designated camping place. Thats from the top of my head, thank you for a great video.

[@Vonfluff]

That was bloody brilliant. I watched the video expecting the same-old-same-old. Fair play though, I learned a few new tricks there.

[@twalk6164]

Break up an old candle or stub to 1" pieces, then use a stub to start a fire: light it and start stacking tinder, kindling, etc. around & over it. The candle stub will burn a few minutes and get things going. Also dryer lint is great for catching a spark from a ferro rod. Store in a ziplock bag, weighs nothing.

[@katedennis5738]

A wire coat hanger (not coated) works great for holding wood together for a Swedish stove effect. It’s light weight, and so useful for so many things.

[@notquiteultralight1701]

This is so amazing!! Thank you so much!!! The one thing I do for my 3m X 3m tarp is use an interior ridgeline of course but tied to the 2 peaks of the tarp are short pieces of the same rope both about 10” long. I then drape the tarp over the ridgeline and tie an old tree climbers knot (tautline hitch) with the short pieces of rope on the two peaks. The tree climbers version of the tautline hitch is specifically designed to be tied onto the same rope. The tree climbers version is just 2 in the front and two in the back with the small tail popping out. Works amazing. There’s something about your instruction that is awesome!! Thank you so much. FYI: for my tarp ridgeline and two little pieces I use some reflective guy line I picked up off of a large internet retailer that everyone knows about😂. Take care. NQU

[@freedomospeech8180]

I’ve watched many videos of hacks for camping and this one by far was most useful thanks!! 😊

[@Zaggrippas]

Great video! Greetings from Sweden 😃🇸🇪👋 The birch thing reminds me of how the swedish Sami native people did. I ve learn alot from Sami. Also I dont use plastic anymore in my gere (almost) I wax with melted beeswax my canvas tarp and shirt and everything. It tend to make me dry, and breath and feel great, I cant go back to any else material than natural nowdays. And here we have a lot of pine. In heavy rain I learn that it is always dry inside by the foot of the pinetree. And there is also dry wood. The pinetree suck upp all the water or something 😆 I make stelth shelter inside pinetree always, winter or summer 👍🏻

[@justusandgod783]

Best camp hacks video I've seen! Thanks!

[@sparrow082]

I'm an average camper, and I learned quite a bit. Thank you.

[@ellinorglorioso2247]

excellent! thank you for this great wisdom.

[@johnduffy6546]

Very good video. Some of the best hacks I've seen.

[@marlind.odermatt8108]

Thanks dor this video. The double rock method saves hauling extra gear. Down here I string a hammock or pitch a tent on a lot of sand bars while kayaking. A rock held in place with a pile of sand has a lot of holding power and if it does blow in a short storm (long storms you get OUT of the river bed of course) the wet sand holds even better. No rock no problem- a tie out to a piece of firewood buried or blockes in by sand on a rocky flat hand hold a lot.

[@everettlwilliamsii3740]

Short storm or long, get out of the riverbed. You can't tell how heavy the rain is in the watershed above where you are. If you can see or hear or feel the storm, get out, even if you think you know the area quite well. Watersheds change over time. That dogleg that's been slowing runoff for decades may have been cut through and or, a dam someplace upstream may have finally broken. Assumptions will get people killed on a regular basis.

[@jhh243]

I have watched hundreds of camping hack videos and this one is one of, if not the best. All the information was relevant, the production quality was great, the sound was top notch, the camera angles and lighting were wonderful, especially with regard to the knots. Thank you for making this!

[@VC57UK]

That's because he's The Greatest Showman!

[@sallybowles2781]

yeee I learned how to make a knot! thank you

[@Worldshero]

You give the best instructional videos true blessing to the outdoor community. Thank you for your hard work making these. Please make more

[@TheBearEssentials]

I appreciate that! Thank you so so much!

[@terrydavis5223]

Always, look up for loose or broken branches or trees limbs Before pitching your tent. It could save your life.

[@l.scales7516]

I love the headlight hack.

[@hanelyp1]

The first shown tarp fix is an old sailor's knot known as the sheet bend.

[@palexander5090]

I don't know if it's a 'hack', but I like to use the sun to light my fires. Obviously, I'm talking lens'. One is a convex lens about 5" dia. Simple. The other is an 8.5 x 12 piece/sheet of plastic, like the screen off an old big screen. I love betting my friends that I can light the fire from my chair, WITHOUT even using a source of combustion! Of course, having already set up the combustibles for the fire, and having the sun at my back... They never saw it coming. I carry at least one of those whenever I go camping. Justin, ya know? Even when I ride up to the mountains, I take a tiny, little 'space blanket' stored in my bike-pack. It is 1" x 1" x .25", and weighs next to nothing. No brainer.

[@applesbighatranch6906]

You have a great channel, here. I've seen maybe 4 or 5 of your vids over the last couple of years and every time I become a little smarter having watched them. Thanks for your efforts! I do carry a diamond field sharpener already but your small-limb evergreen fatwood candles and torches are one of the best hacks ever. Too bad I spend most of my recreation time in the western states' high desert region from late fall to late spring. Safe travels to you! and thanks again.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Great tips, quite a few we have never heard before.

[@tassolovesar15s]

I have NEVER watched a video of yours before this one. I am now subscribed. Thank you Sir!!

[@tomask.3983]

Same here! Good stuff, and to the point.

[@robmontier3770]

Here's an obscure one - mainly for site/car camping for singers! If you need a torch (flashlight) to shine in a particular spot, use a mic' boom stand with a spring clamp!

[@razorsharp170]

Hoarse tail grass grows by water. It has silica in it. Scrubs pots clean really well.

[@TheBearEssentials]

Genius! Isnt horsetail a bit toxic to humans too though? If not completely washed off I guess.

[@StaceyG-l6m]

Horsetail is an excellent wash also great herbal tea for all kinds of stuff!✅❤️✌️🙏🌍🥸

[@jasonplant5432]

Finally a backpacking video that is very useful. Thank you sir.

[@The_Clever_Campin_Guy]

This is one of the best ""Camping Hacks" videos I have ever seen! Very useful information. Not like some of those other vids. Well, done "Bear", well done!

[@questerperipatetic4861]

So....I'm an Eagle Scout and an ex Army officer with over 50 years of camping experience and you just made me feel like I don't know anything, ha. Subscribed!

[@pawel_tips911]

Hack #2 - I used a different method, a small peace of transparent foil on a battery that you can remove just by pulling out.

[@opotime]

Yes They also Shop new items that way Sometimes...pull before use Works great even in the dark

[@osmia]

Always love when I see a helpful video posted by you

[@lewisvillalta2492]

Excellent tips thank you very much

[@ДмитрийБровин-б3к]

Спасибо . Достаточно толковая подборка что для Ваших коллег , откровенно говоря , редкость. Один момент из ролика слегка удивил и улыбнул. . У нас на руси без армированного сантехнического скотча не то что в лес даже просто в город ни кто не выходит. Это обязательный компонент любого EDC набора. И тут начиная от заклейки тента , как Вы показали , одежды , до ремонта дуг палатки и экстренного ремонта обуви не говоря о прочем )))) К стати найдите информацию по грибу трутовику очень жирный лайфхак от комаров и мошки .

[@Delenne_Russell]

I hadn't considered a product like that. Do you know roughly how it compares to duct tape? I'm always on the lookout for easy to obtain better products because duct tape has failed me many times and yet is still a go-to around here.

[@johnnybeans1369]

Please do more of these…super helpful 🤝

[@TheBearEssentials]

More to come!

[@cfair4464]

Thank you, some of these hacks are new to me and are not the usual tips that camping channels show

[@EricJames-ml8wb]

Wow, the editing on this video is top-notch!