On a sunny day you can start a fire with no fuel, no spark, and nothing to run out, just focused sunlight. A credit-card Fresnel lens weighs nothing, fits in your wallet, and doubles as a magnifier. New to fire-building? See our guide to building a fire for turning an ember into flame. Our field…
When your hands are cold and the wind is up, nothing beats a match that simply will not go out. UCO Stormproof Matches burn through wind and rain, and even relight after being dunked in water. New to fire-building? See our guide to building a fire for how to have tinder ready before you strike….
A ferro rod is the one fire starter that works soaked, frozen, or wind-blasted, no fuel, no battery, tens of thousands of strikes. The Überleben Hexå is a thick, ½-inch rod that throws a shower of sparks and rides in your kit for years. New to fire-building? Read our guide to building a fire in…
Instant, adjustable, double-sided rechargeable heat that doubles as a power bank. The most convenient warmer for frequent cold-weather use, and where its battery falls short.
The reusable workhorse: a refillable catalytic warmer that burns cheap lighter fluid for hours of strong, flameless heat. Why it beats disposables over a season, and its quirks.
The default backcountry heat pack: cheap, feather-light, air-activated warmers giving up to 10 hours of heat with nothing to charge or refill. Why they earn a place in every pack and first-aid kit.
Hypothermia can strike on any wet, windy day, not just in deep cold. How to recognize it at every stage and safely rewarm someone in the field, from mild shivering to a severe emergency.
Trekking poles do far more than help you walk: knee-saving descents, balance on bad ground, safer river crossings – plus tent poles, tarp supports, splints, a stretcher, and a signal. Every use, and how to size and use them right.
The benchmark packable axe: hand-forged in Sweden, shaving-sharp out of the box, and sized for a rucksack – a true buy-it-for-life tool for carving, limbing, and kindling.
A 14-inch (36 cm) camping hatchet forged from one piece of American steel with a stacked-leather grip – the classic, essentially unbreakable, buy-it-and-hand-it-down camp hatchet.
