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![insect repellent being sprayed onto clothing]()
How to Use Permethrin Insect Repellent on Clothing
The insect repellant, Permethrin, is designed for clothing and is effective against mosquitoes, ticks, spiders, chiggers, and mites.
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![4 different common tent stakes]()
Holding Strength of 4 Common Tent Stakes
We tested the holding power of four of the most popular and commonly used tent stakes to see how they performed. Here is what we found…
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![Spray Painting Tent Stakes]()
Why You May Want to Paint Your Tent Stakes
If you have tent stakes that are silver and are not colored at the top, they will likely be hard to see when you put them in the ground. Try this easy hack!
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![multiple different kinds of tent stakes laid out in a pile]()
4 Types of Common Tent Stakes
There are four basic types of commonly used tent stakes: the Y-stake, V-stake, Shepherd’s Hook stake, and the nail stake.
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![knives laying on scale]()
What Type of Knife Should I Carry?
Every thru-hiker and backpacker should carry a knife. The best knife is one that can carry out multiple functions and remain lightweight.
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![A Smartwater bottle, Hydro Flask, Platypus Water Bag, and Nalgene bottle next to each other on a table.]()
The Best and Worst Backpacking Water Bottles
We have identified two types of water containers you should avoid and two types you should consider using for your next thru-hike or backpacking trip.
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![shovel being measured]()
Should I carry a shovel on my backpacking trip?
If you are going on an overnight backpacking trip or a thru-hike, you should really carry a shovel with you to dig your cat holes.
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![a checklist of thru-hiking maintenance on top of some backpacks]()
Thru-Hiker Maintenance Checklist
Before every hike you should carefully inspect all your backpacking equipment to make sure everything is in good working order. For thru-hikers, gear should be thoroughly inspected and maintained at every town stop along their hike.
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![A backpack with an ice axe and hiking poles on the snow]()
How to Attach an Ice Axe to a Backpack
If you are hiking the entire PCT or CDT, you will likely need an ice axe at some point. Learn how to securely attach one to your backpack.
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![A WAG bag and a hand with a glove on holding the WAg bag gel powder next to it]()
How much fluid can a WAG bag absorb?
In this experiment we tested out the maximum amount of fluid a WAG (Waste Alleviation and Gelling) bag could absorb.
