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…
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…
Pros CheapDurableEasy to set up Cons The dimples can be hard to cleanThe pad doesn’t come with a strap to keep it closed Ground Control To Mattress Pad Campfire Guy here. If a sleeping bag keeps you warm and a tent keeps you dry, what keeps you comfortable in the outdoors? Unless you are a hammock camper, sleeping outdoors often means sleeping on the ground. No offense to the ground, but it’s generally cold, hard and pokey. Ground speed aside,…
So You’ve Got This New Scout, Now What? Campfire Guy here. One of the questions I get asked by families joining a Boy Scout Troop is, “What kind of gear are we going to have to buy”. Gone are the days of Cub Scouts where you crammed the family truckster full. Packing for Boy Scouts is going to look a little different than what you may have been used to. Here’s What You Need Below represents what most Troops will…
It Just Snowed, Who Wants To Sleep Outside? January 7th brought with it some of the coldest weather Dallas had seen in almost 6 years. I had some gear I wanted to try out and what better time than with light snow on the ground and twenty degree weather. The campout also brought with it my first foray into video. Part of this I streamed to Facebook Live, part of it I recorded and tried not to shiver to much….
Baby It’s Finally Cold Outside. Now What? Campfire Guy here. North Texas weather has been very erratic over the past week. On January 2nd it was warm and sunny. By January 6th we had light snow and temperatures hovering in the 20’s. Incidentally I camped out that night. As soon as I thaw out, I’ll be posting an article on that experience. To say that the seasons have been behaving like the guests on an episode of Jerry Springer would be…
Campfire Guy here. I’m in my second year as Cub Master of my son’s Cub Scout Pack. We’ve been fortunate enough to add twenty-four families, brand new to Scouting, over the past 18 months. We try to prepare them as best we can for Scouting by having a Q & A session shortly after they join. “How often do you camp, what is a den, what do I bring on a campout and what do you mean being in…
The Path to My First Hiking Backpack Campfire Guy here. Yeah, I’ve had six packs. Well, not in the washboard stomach sense. My belly, and it’s fondness for pie, nachos, and craft beer precedes me. Similar to the journey I had with family tents, the quest for my first backpack was no simple feat. Neither is touching my toes. Totes: My Erroneous Solution To Packing Light I first camped with my oldest son’s Boy Scout troop in 2014 and due…
How It All Began Campfire Guy here. I’ve returned an embarrassing amount of gear over the years. If there was a “please do not take returns from this guy because he abuses our lax return policy” list at the major outdoor retailers, I’m certain I’d be on it. I have been reminded by Campfire Wife on more than one occasion that I might have a problem with gear. She’s usually right.* If you intend to use your hard earned cash for gear make sure you are happy with it. …