Innehållsförteckning för November 2022 från American Outdoor Guide

Going out into the woods, lying on the ground, eating glorified, rehydrated wood chips (this isn’t always the case – shout out to all the tasty backpacking food brands out there!): How expensive could such a hobby be? Well, because you’re a reader of this publication, I’ll bet you already know the answer to that question. The answer is, “somewhat expensive,” which can be perplexing, considering that we outdoors people elect to trade our homey, creature comforts for experiences that at times tend to be more “creature” than “comfort.” However, if you scrutinize the purpose of every item in your camping inventory, you can discern what really needs to be premium and what can be sourced from a garage sale or from online marketplaces. We’re here to help you make…

Condor Tool & Knife is known for making old-timey patterns like period-piece tomahawks, Hudson Bay axes, and knives in the Kephart and Nessmuk styles. The company produces many new designs, too. With products manufactured in El Salvador, Condor Tool & Knife started on the knife scene making machetes, and seems to do that best. Its latest offering is a modern take on the time-tested Malaysian parang, with a few changes. PARANG STYLE Condor Tool & Knife makes several versions of parangs whose designs originate from Malaysia. The Impossible Machete is thinner than the company’s parangs: 0.20 inches thick (5.0 mm), with a shorter blade than most, measuring 10.89 inches. The overall length is 16.71 inches. The classic forged finish and leather-wrapped handle give it a rustic look that would make…

Bear canisters suck. They’re heavy, awkward to pack, obnoxious to open and close, and usually expensive. There certainly are many places that require them, even if it’s just to thwart clever critters such as raccoons and the like, but most of the time there’s a better option available for you to protect your vittles. This option is lighter to carry, easier to pack and more cost-effective. Behold, the bear bag! Also called a food bag, this is exactly what it sounds like: a bag that stores all your food and scented items while you’re out traipsing through the forest. When used in conjunction with a few different hanging methods, your bear bag will keep your tasties out of an animal’s reach, both keeping you from going hungry on your trip,…

1 WOOX SOLO BACKCOUNTRY AXE WOOX is a company built around its history of handed-down, father-to-son Italian crafts and traditions. The latest installment in its line of axes is definitely destined to be a part of some father-son adventuring, though it would also serve a solo adventurer well (as the name suggests). The new Solo axe was designed for hunters, campers and explorers seeking a multi-purpose implement that can withstand the rigors of backcountry adventuring. The 8.5-inch-wide tempered carbon steel (C45/1045) slip-fit head has two cutting edges, the primary edge measuring 3.5 inches. The opposing side of the head is an adze, which is intended for fine point-work and digging tasks. The handle is Appalachian hickory and available in brown or black, each with detailed checkering for better grip. The…

Having spent many years traveling abroad, I learned early on that it doesn’t take much to alert local officials. Be it police or military, it is possible to find yourself subject to a full shakedown. It’s equally as easy to find yourself in a “bad spot” with the locals after taking a wrong turn. But you don’t have to end up in hot water while traveling abroad. Read on to learn about how to blend into your new environment and make like a local. AWARENESS Whether we travel for business or pleasure, we can count on being mixed in with locals from the time we land at the airport, train station, bus, or port. We will depend on them for taxi rides, guidance, money exchanges, to ring up our goods…

Are you one of the many who puts on an orange vest in the fall? If you are interested in outdoor survival or being self-reliant during a crisis, there are some good reasons why you should be a hunter. FIRST THE BAD NEWS If you’re determined to prepare for a prolonged aftermath of a catastrophic event, I don’t want to disappoint you here. But you must know that being a hunter isn’t going to guarantee that you can flee to some wilderness area at the first sign of a disaster with a rifle and a backpack and live off the fat of the land for however long it takes for things to settle into a new normal. That’s not a realistic expectation. That being said, there are still several key…

We go through it every year. We’re asked for ideas of what we want for gifts, we ask others what they want, and there’s a collective, “I don’t know” from everyone. It can be mind-numbingly frustrating. In hopes of reducing at least some of the stress during the holiday season, we scoured countless websites and compiled a list of gift recommendations that are well suited to those who enjoy the sorts of content we provide here at AOGB. If nothing else, you’ll probably get a few ideas of what to put on your own wish list. TOOLS A small hobby knife is a great addition to the workbench, allowing you to do some very detailed work. But far too many of the ones on the market now are cheaply made…

It has been said that mankind’s use of tools is one of the things that sets us apart from the animals. I mean, we’re not the only ones. There are some chimpanzees, for example, that use sticks to dig up bugs to eat. However, I can guarantee you that we spend far more on our tools than any other living creature on the planet. So, we have that going for us. When it comes to EDC gear, we tend to classify it as being on-body or off-body. These are pretty much just as they sound. If you are carrying it on a belt, in a pocket, or otherwise on your person, it is considered on-body. Everything else, such as what you might carry in a backpack or shoulder bag, is…

Your home is your castle, but unless you have a moat, archers on the parapets, and a round table full of knights to defend it, you might have to consider other measures to stay safe in that home. FIRST THINGS FIRST We should probably start with a word or two about general security measures. That’s because the best home defense is not needing to defend it at all. Once an intruder is inside the home, bad things are likely to happen one way or another. I want to avoid that if possible, and you should too. So, let’s try to keep the bad people out. It’s not a bad idea to do an assessment of your home. Do you have good locks on all the doors and windows? Do you…