– Boys Life Magazine

Q: Freeze-dried meals might be a good choice for backpacking because they’re lightweight and provide a good amount of nutrients. Which ones would you buy? — Duc, Sugar Land, Texas A: As a matter of convenience, freeze-dried meals are great. But you’re paying for that convenience. If your budget does allow, though, it doesn’t get…

Nature is full of surprises, many of which are so rare that only a small number of people have ever witnessed them. Here are six examples of nature at its rarest. CORPSE FLOWER BLOOMS Looking and smelling like something straight out of a horror movie, the corpse flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is so named because it…

IO (2 to 3 inches long, green with pink and white stripes down either side): The biggest of the caterpillar bad boys, this one has tufts of hair sticking up all over it. Small, slow, cute and fuzzy doesn’t always mean harmless. Caterpillars lurk in trees, shrubs and fields throughout the country. They hang from…

Click here for the Gear Guy’s sleeping bag buying guide Find expert tips to help you get a good night’s sleep You might not think your sleeping pad or air mattress is important until you spend a miserable night on a bad one. Follow these buying tips and grab a top pick. SLEEPING PAD BUYING…

Q: I’ve been planning to buy a new backpack. Any tips? — Ben, Sandy, Utah A: First, consider your pack’s purpose. Want to go on weeklong backpacking treks? Then pick a pack that can hold a lot — at least 50 liters. For weekend hikes, a smaller daypack should work. Then look at the features,…

Q: I use my pocketknife almost daily, and it gets so dirty. How can I stop that? — Noah, Winston-Salem, North Carolina A: Unfortunately, there isn’t a special treatment to constantly keep everything clean. Instead, set aside a little time after each use to clean your knife. Keeping your blades clean and sharp should maintain…

Q: What’s better: mittens or gloves? — William, New York, New York A: That’s up to your preference and the activity planned. Gloves allow for more dexterity; mittens tend to be warmer by keeping your fingers together. A more important question: Does it fit? Because that’s key to staying warm. Too big and the insulation…

Rope tackle allows you to move a large load with a small amount of force. It works on the same principle as using ropes and pulleys for lifting or hauling loads. Here’s how to set up rope tackle to move a log. For best results, you’ll want to use a strong rope that doesn’t stretch…

Whatever your winter activity, staying warm requires finding the right combination of layers. The specific layers depend on your body, the temperature, wind speeds and how much you sweat. BASIC TIPS FOR STAYING COMFORTABLE IN THE COLD MOVE. Clothing does not produce heat; it only traps the heat your body produces. If you feel cold,…

S’mores are awesome, and we know there really isn’t a reason to mess with this classic camping dessert. But if you are feeling adventurous and want something new, here are 11 tasty alternative S’mores recipes that you should try. Got another S’mores variation? Tell us about it in the comments. THE CLASSIC S’MORE Toasted marshmallow…