Okay, This Gear Makes Me Happy Campfire Guy Here. From June to late September, weather in North Texas is a little too “scorched Earth hot” for camping. I take this time to reflect on the gear I used over the cooler months and make adjustments for trips I have planned this fall and winter. Remember, I am the serial gear returner. For this gear to still be under my roof is seal of approval. I currently own and use everything…
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….
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…
Campfire Guy is Bad at Math, but Good at Getting Trained Campfire Guy here. Four score and six years ago….wait, that doesn’t sound right. Zero score and six years ago, I began walking the path to become a trained Cub Scout leader. While the infographic below starts a little more formally, mine started with chopping onions on a Cub Scout campout. From the Couch to the Woods If you’ve followed my antics on this site for any length of time,…
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 Tale of the 2 Plus Campfire Guy Here. All of my camping experiences have been intense. Wait for it. I promise the jokes are only going to get better worse. As I like to be reminded, I have at times, been a serial gear returner. The gear that didn’t get voted off the island gets put to good use and has met my lofty expectations. One of those pieces of gear is the REI Half Dome 2 Plus. I…
Find the Right Shoe for the Right Situation Campfire Guy here. I was asked a question on my Facebook Page last week about hiking shoes. It reminded me of the stress of trying to buy the right pair of shoes. As with most of my gear, I’ve bought and returned an embarrassing amount of hiking footwear. I truly am like Goldilocks. They have to be near perfect. If the shoes aren’t comfortable walking around the house, no way they are…
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…