Hot Outdoor Recreation How-Tos
How To: Use a two anchor system to set up a fixed rappel station for climbing
A fixed rappel station is an important part of climbing, and there are a lot of ways to make one. This video will show you how to use a two-anchor system with a redundant backup for maximum saftey. It also has a hip-seat rappel with a safety prusik.
How To: Make a Fast Rope for Climbing, including an eye splice
Generations of Americans have struggled to climb up normal ropes in gyms across the nation. If only they had this stuff. Fast rope is a thick braided rope that makes climbing a hell of a lot faster and easier. This video will show you how to make it in three parts: first making the rope itself, then making an eye splice for it, then whipping and fusing the end of the rope. This is great stuff to have for any serious climbing trip or survival situation.
How To: Set up a bank line or trot line while fishing
Several fishing techniques are demonstrated in this video, including how to set up a trot line (where heavy, baited hooks are set at intervals along a tree branch) and a bank line (a line set up along the bank of the lake or river).
How To: Clean your dishes using dirt while camping
Using dirt for cleaning dishes? It can be done! If you're camping in the great outdoors and don't have dish soap, using dirt is a natural method of washing dishes. All you need is some dirt and boiling water to practice this valuable sanitation skill.
How To: Do nymph fly fishing
Nymph fly fishing is pretty tough and requires some key elements to make it successful. With this video you'll learn how much weight you'll need to use for your lure, how to cast and lure properly, as well as what sort of equipment you should have with you.
How To: Catch trout in freshwater rivers and lakes
Trout is a popular fish to find in freshwater rivers and lakes. Learn useful bait, tackle and fishing techniques to catch a tasty fish. So for your next trip to the great outdoors, don't forget to pack your fishing rod!
How To: Set up an amazing straw bale maze
Straw Bale mazes are fun for children and adults a like and are a great way of having fun with the whole family! In this video you'll learn how to put create the maze, pull together volunteers, and get the sponsors you need!
How To: Do an Early Grab trick on your longboard
Longboards are known more for being fun to ride than for their great potential for tricks, but if you ride a longboard and like to get a little air, watch this video! It will teach you how to do an early grab off a curb or other drop. Basically, you just grab the board right before you get your air, which give you enough to get up and recover before you hit the ground. This is one of the few airs you can reasonably do with a longboard, so practice up!
How To: Choose accurate paintballs for your paintball marker
There's a little trick to making sure you're getting the best paintballs for your paintball marker, and it takes hardly any work, except maybe hiding from the department store employees! The tip is to open the packaging and remove a couple paintballs. Then find a flat surface in the store and roll them to see if they're smooth or have dimples (which can cause inaccuracy in shooting).
How To: Choose the right paintball gun (low-end electronic or mechanical markers)
This video will help you decide which paintball marker (or paintball gun) is right for you. The low-end electronic marker or the mechanical paintball gun. Mechanical guns are extremely loud, and semi-automatic, but effective. It uses a CO2 tank. Electronic markers have a higher rate of fire (super fast), and aren't very loud.
How To: Catch summertime bass using finesse and reaction fish baits with Kevin VanDam
Fishing can be tough when it's really hot outside, but don't worry, professional bass angler Kevin VanDam has some advice for outwitting those bass in the summertime. Beat the heat, and beat the bass, with these summertime fishing tips, like using finesse baits and reaction baits.
How To: Snorkel
Why the Love? Every one has a reason for loving something. Mine was that it was the only thing I had. That one sure thing. I loved it because I had nothing, and it cost me nothing. At times I had no idea what was going to happen to me, or where I was going to be. The shore is always there! Rain or shine( the water is always calm beneath the surface), day or night( bring a waterproof flashlight).
How To: Make a stone rocket stove
To build a stone rocket stove, you will need the following: stones, wood, a tender pile, and lighter (or something to start a fire)
How To: Catch more crawfish
In this tutorial, we learn how to catch more crawfish. First, you will need to have a crawfish trap that is long and has a large door on it. Some different kinds of bait that you can use include: blue gill, shell crackers, red ears, perch, and any other fresh water fish. Take the bait and place them into a hook on the outside of the trap. You will want to hook them through the eye and place as many as you can on the hook. Now, you can place the trap into the water and close the trap up. Now, ...
How To: Carve in snowboarding
In this video, we learn how to carve in snowboarding. While you are riding the snowboard, you will want to move your body weight so you are making a carving motion with your board along the side of the mountain and down the slope. Make sure you pay attention to where your legs are placed so you are properly pushing your weight on the ends of the board. If you fall, make sure you try to fall with your rear end so you don't break your knees or hands when you go down. With practice, this will ge...
How To: Make and cook with camp fires
This video demonstrates the tripod method of setting up a campfire for cooking in the wilderness. In order to set up the tripod, you will need three large branches of hazel, some copper wire, and a hooked branch to be used to hang a pot from the tripod. The copper wire will be used to attach the hooked branch to the tripod setup and cord or rope may be substituted. Another method of cooking which is demonstrated is to cook food in a pot over some embers. A hole is dug in the ground and a fire...
How To: Tie an Alpine Coil knot
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie an Alpine Coil knot. When you start your coil you want the starting end to be inside your hand. First, take the working end of your rope on your last coil and make a loop in your rope. Then, wrap a couple of turns around the rope and lock it into place. Once you've made a couple of turns, the working end will go into the loop. To secure, go over to the end from the loop and give it a tug, which will lock the working end into the rope and make a nice way t...
How To: Tie fishing jigs
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie fishing jigs. First, go through the eye of the jig with your thread, then make a fisherman's knot making seven to eight turns. Now, go through the loop with the end of the string and pull it tight. Then, cut the end off and make sure you have four to five feet of lead left. You can put a swivel on the end of it, then tie another fisherman's knot. When finished, this will go to your main line on your other rod and you will be ready to go! This is easy to m...
How To: Properly put on a heavy mountaineering backpack
In this video, we learn how to properly put on a heavy mountaineering backpack. It's very important to do this properly, or else you can severely injure your back. To put this on, grab the strap with both of your hands, then lift it up onto your knees, then slide it and kick it up onto your back. Next tie it around your waist and pull it so it's nice and tight. After this, use a chest strap so it's tight, but not enough so that you cannot breathe and it takes weight off your shoulders. Next, ...
How To: Make clean burning fire starters with non-toxic materials
It's really easy to take lazy route and purchase fire starters at a grocery or hardware store to aid you in creating campfires, but storebought fire starters tend to have massive amounts of environment polluting chemicals and toxins that you probably shouldn't be anywhere near.
How To: Splice a loop into the end of a three strand rope
Sometimes when you're camping it's necessary to pitch a little something called a tent after a long trek hiking and exploring the great outdoors. And when you're ready to call it a day, make sure you can do so peacefully without the fear that your tent contraption will fall down on you during the middle of the night.
How To: Do a toeside predrift on a longboard downhill run
Longboarding is one of the most fun things that you can do in a dry, hilly, sparsly-populated (if you value your life) area. This video will teach you how to do a cool downhill longboarding trick, a toeside predrift. It's gnarly, dangerous, and totally awesome.
How To: Do a "Touchdown Raiz" freerun trick
In this video, we learn how to do a touchdown raiz freerun trick. First, you will start off by running into a raiz move. This move is where you will lean onto one arm and then come down onto it and swing your feet around in front of you. This will look like a one handed cartwheel where you twist while you are in the air. Practice doing this at different angles to help better prepare yourself for doing this trick. When you have it mastered, you will be ready to do these more often and work out...
How To: Perform the basic fly fishing cast
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to do a basic cast in fly fishing. Begin by holding the rod like your shaking someone's hand. The fore fingers should be over the fishing line and wrapped around the rod. Do not grip the rod too firmly. Before casting, make sure that you have a certain amount of fly line out at the end of the fly rod. Keep your wrist stiff and elbows to your side as you cast the rod. Now pull back the rod and release the line forward. This video will benefit those vie...
How To: Lash a bamboo tripod
In this tutorial, we learn how to lash a bamboo tripod. First, you will tie a clove hitch by taking one piece of bamboo and wrapping the rope around it, then crossing the two sides of the string together to make a hitch. Next, you will secure the clove hitch around the third piece of bamboo. Now, you will rap all the pieces of bamboo together with the rope. Continue to do this until all the pieces feel secure together. Wrap the rope several times around each of the pieces, then wrap it in the...
How To: Harvest seed for flour in the wilderness
In this video, we learn how to harvest seed for flour in the wilderness. First, gather up some seeds from your yard inside the different plants. After this, let the air dry your seeds so there is no more moisture left inside of them. After this is done, you can take the seeds and grind them up into a fine powder that you can use as flour when you are baking. This is a great way to eat more healthy and use what you have in your garden instead of going out to purchase flour from the store. You ...
How To: Rig a saltwater fishing pole
Take your fishing line and run it through the guides on the fishing pole. Of course, for you beginners, start at the bottom as the line in on the reel and work up. While doing this, release your bail. After you have finished running the line, pull the bail back over. This keeps the line from running out. Now we are going to do a overhand loop by making a loop which doubles the line. Make an overhand knot, about 8 inches up from the lower loop. You will twist the loop and then run the double l...
How To: Bundle kindling
In this tutorial, we learn how to bundle kindling. First, gather up 25 pieces of kindling together and tie it together with a rope on two ends and in the middle. Before you do this, you will cut the tops off of the kindling so you are just left with the branches. The water will go through these and it will build the bank up, that is what these kindling bundles were created for. You can bundle kindling in larger groups or smaller groups, depending on what you need it for. These were once used ...
How To: Perform a basic parkour roll
In this video, we learn how to do parkour rolls. You will first drop to your right knee then reach your left arm through the right leg. Make sure you are tucking in and you're in a rolling position while you're doing this. Make sure you practice it from different heights so you don't get injured. Also make sure you are wearing supportive shoes and you are on grass so your joints don't get injured. If this starts to hurt your knees or back, it's not recommended to do this at all. Once you've g...
How To: Properly adjust a hiking backpack
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to adjust a hiking backpack. Begin by loosening all the straps on the backpack. Then load the backpack onto yourself. Have the majority weight of the backpack on the hips. Tighten the hip belt and strap it around the hips. Make adjustments on the shoulder straps. Pull down the load lifters. Finish by tighten and connecting the sternum strap. This video will benefit those viewers who are planning to camp and learn how to survive in the wilderness, and ...
How To: Perform a wolf whistle with your fingers
In this video, we learn how to perform a wolf whistle with your fingers. First, you will place two fingers straight out so there is a dip in them. Then, place these in your mouth and start to blow air out of your mouth. Make sure the fingers are all touching each other while inside of the mouth. Also make sure that the fingers are pushing the tongue back. When you learn to do this, it may sound rough in the beginning, but with practice, it will sound much better! This is a handy tool to learn...
How To: Make the best skateboard wax
In this video, we learn how to make the best skateboard wax. First, take an empty soda bottle and cut it in half. Next, fill the bottom third of the can with vegetable oil. Next, add in some butter in with the vegetable oil, cutting it into small pieces. Now, you can put this on the stove so it heats up and melts the oil with the butter. When this has melted, pour the liquid into an empty Chap Stick container and then let it harden up. After this has hardened up, you will be able to use it as...
How To: Tie the Rapala knot with a knot tying animation
The Rapala knot is a common fishing knot that is intended to be tied directly to the lure. It was conceived by the Rapala Brothers, who emphasized that if a swivel or leader is essential, choose the lightest tackle possible so that the lure moves naturally.
How To: Properly store your snowboard during the summer months
If you've never owned a snowboard before, this next tutorial is very useful to help ensure that it will last a long time. In this tutorial, you'll find out how to properly store your snowboard during the summer months.
How To: Wax and edge your snowboard properly
If you're the new owner of a snowboard or plan on purchasing one, an important part of maintaining it is by waxing. Waxing a snowboard is one of the easiest things that anybody can do in order to increase the overall performance of your board. Waxing a board can also prolong the life of the board and reduce any minor damages it accrues.
How To: Remove, install, and fix a flat tire on a mountain bike
The tires on a bike are very important when it comes to it working properly. No tires, then there's no chance of you being able to move. In this three part tutorial, you'll find out some helpful information on how a tire works, how to install and remove the tires, and of course how to fix a flat. It's easy to follow and should make life easier for you and your wallet. Enjoy!
How To: Properly tune the gears on your mountain bike
Performing regular maintenance on your bike is something that should be done to help extend the life. Not doing so can result in pieces working improperly, falling off, or lead to injury.
How To: Perform drive-train maintenance on your mountain bike
One of the big responsibilities when owning a car, bike, or anything is making sure that it is taken well care of. Bicycle's, just like cars, need their parts to be well taken care of using the right tools.
How To: Tell if your mountain bike's chain is worn out
One of the most important pieces of a mountain bike, or any bike for that matter, is the bicycle chain. Without the chain, you can't move your bike and that's a problem.
How To: Easily true your mountain bike wheel using some helpful techniques
If you've never performed any maintenance on your bike, it may be long overdue. This not only will help with the life of your bike, but prevent any injury from occuring.