Sometimes Gear Reviewing Can Be Tricky Campfire Guy here. If there’s one thing I love more than spending time in the outdoors, it’s trying out new camping gear. A friend asked for my thoughts on the Coleman Sundome 2. My initial plan was to use the tent while I was at Boy Scout summer camp in Talihina, OK. However, when we arrived, I discovered that our camp site was situated on steeply sloped, rocky terrain. Plan B was to set the…
Resting Happy Face Campfire Guy here. It took me a few years to stumble into the wonderful world of camping pillows. No longer would my EDP (everyday pillow) come home from a weekend in the woods smelling like a campfire. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good campfire, but when it’s time to head back to civilization, that campfire smell and sandwich stealing raccoons can stay in the woods. Fortunately, my stumbling lead me to the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow….
Texas in My Heart, Mountains and Public Spaces On My Mind Campfire Guy here. Every two or three years, we pack up the family truckster, strap grandma to the roof and head to the mountains of Colorado. Okay, one of those might not be true. We only make it to Colorado every five to ten years. Estes Park – Gateway to Rocky Mountain Nation Park Our usual destination is Estes Park, Colorado. On those trips, the highlights are the drive…
Coffee Talk, Review Amongst Yourselves Campfire Guy here. I’ve made many mistakes in the outdoors. Some of my lowlights include not protecting our food from bold,cooler-invading raccoons at Tyler State Park and ignoring the warnings about invasive black ants at Cedar Hill State Park. Those mistakes occurred early on in my outdoor adventures. My gear has since evolved, and so has my ability to read notices posted by park rangers. Reading is still FUNdamental! Sadly, the most egregious mistake I’ve made…
The Mini Grill That Could Campfire Guy Here. It’s well documented that I like playing with fire. It’s also well documented that I like to eat (see any picture of Campfire Guy in his ill-fitting clothes). Spring weather in North Texas provides a great opportunity to get outdoors, make like a caveman and cook over an open flame. No loincloths were set on fire in this post. Among a wide array of headlamps, lanterns and fire starters, UCO Gear also…
Never Stand Between a Sleepy Camper and Their Coffee Campfire Guy Here. Do you know who likes coffee? This guy. Do you know who likes having the ability to make coffee in the outdoors in a little over two minutes? Yep, this guy again. The Jetboil Flash Cooking System is my go to for boiling water and making coffee. A Little History on Portable Stoves Compact cooking stoves have been around since the late 1800’s. According to Wikipedia (who would never…
A Few Things I Wish a Man From the Future Had Told Me Campfire Guy Here. I’ve spent a lot of time in the outdoors over the past six years. Along the way, I’ve made a ton of mistakes. From packing too much or buying then returning an embarrassing amount of gear, I have done a lot of failing. Fortunately, I have managed to learn a few lessons along the way. After popping out of a Delorean, here are five things…
Next to Making Dad Jokes, Sleeping Outdoors is My Favorite Campfire Guy here. After a long day on the trail or herding a Pack of Cub Scouts on a campout, one of the things I most look most forward to is when I can finally crawl into my tent and curl up in my sleeping bag. I like this form of curling since it doesn’t require a broom or an ice rink. Hard to Pronounce, Easy to Use My…
Campfire Guy here. In an earlier post, I talked a little about my journey to find my first backpack. Well technically, I tried six packs, only keeping one, the Gossamer Gear Mariposa. The Mariposa is manufactured by Gossamer Gear, a cottage company, based in Austin, TX. Cottage in the sense their gear can only be ordered online, not in the sense porridge eating bears live in their offices. Ordering outdoor gear online, without having easy access to a return line is always a…