How Much Should a Good Tent Cost?
What a good tent actually costs, the four tent types explained, whether you need a footprint, and how to size a tent for the number sleeping in it.
Does a Tarp Go Under or Over a Tent?
Whether a tarp belongs under or over your tent, what size to use, hammock camping without trees, and whether rooftop tents are worth the money.
0-Degree or 20-Degree Sleeping Bag?
Whether to buy a 0-degree or 20-degree bag, what temperature ratings really promise, down versus synthetic, and when a quilt beats a sleeping bag.
What R-Value Do I Need for Camping?
The R-value you actually need by season, why air mattresses sleep cold, whether cots are warmer than the ground, and how to stack pads properly.
The 20% Rule for Backpacking
The 20% pack-weight rule, how to measure torso length for the right size, the order to pack a backpack, and why packs cause lower back pain.
Do You Need the Ten Essentials?
Whether the Ten Essentials matter for car camping, what the Mountaineers' list includes, and what an emergency blanket is genuinely good for.
How to Find a Leak in a Sleeping Pad
Finding a sleeping pad leak without a bathtub, fixing zippers that separate, splinting a broken tent pole, and when repair beats replacement.