Get started with the LilyPad Arduino! It's a sewable microcontroller that lets you embed lights, sounds, sensors, and much more into your wearables, perfect for clothing and accessories. In this Make Magazine intermediate, soft circuit, video tutorial, you'll see how to make a light-up patch that can be used on your backpack for fun and bike safety. Get the details.
This video gives you tips on how to pack your backpack for wilderness hiking. A standard backpack will do just fine. As for the gear, there are a few essential items that you must pack, such as a sleeping bag and a ziploc bag to keep your clothes dry and bowls and spoons. You can combine a spoon and a fork and use a spork for the best combination. Other things such as measuring cups are also useful. Toilet paper is very handy, and pots and pans are essential for cooking things you catch. Othe...
In this tutorial, I will show you how to make an origami backpack! Origami: (Back to School) Backpack!
Yanik Chauvin teaches us how to safely pack photo equipment for travel in this tutorial. First, remember to have good insurance on all your equipment, just in case something does break. To pack your things, use a backpack that is specifically made for cameras. Also, arrange for the lens not to be attached to the body of the camera while traveling. If you have to have it attached, make sure there is something under your lens to protect it from any additional shock. If you don't have a backpack...
This video illustrate us how to wear and distribute the load of your hiking backpack. Here are the following steps:
Backpacking through Europe is an exciting and affordable way to see a new country. This video tutorial shows female travelers what to include in a travel backpack and offers insightful tips on enjoying a trip through Europe. Create a packing system based on item demand, dividing items into the bottom, middle, and top sections of your bag. As a general rule, include clothing that may be easily layered for colder climates.
There are all sorts of small survival stoves available, and the ESBIT stoves are some of the best. This video will teach you how to use an ESBIT stove to start a fire, even in the rain, and cooke a delicious and healthy backpacking meal on it.
Jason shows you in this video tutorial, how to make char cloth to start emergency fires. Making your own emergency fire-starting material could someday save your life! Making char cloth is an easy way to make an emergency fire starter with materials you already have lying around the house, for use in camping, backpacking, hiking, and survival in the wilderness.
This how-to video explains how to dehydrate food for backpacking or camping. This is very helpful, and could make meat last for up to 6 months. This could save a lot of money in the long run.
Here's how to make a great little portable stove from stuff you probably have laying around your house! It's perfect for camping, backpacking, and power outages.
Picking hiking gear is easy with these tips. Get advice on backpacking, hiking, and the great outdoors in this video tutorial. Take action: purchase a quality backpack with a good hip belt, bring some sort of shelter, bring plenty of food and water, and pack clothing for appropriate weather. John Flaherty, the instructor in this how-to video from Live Strong, has a great love for the outdoors. In 2003, John and his wife started Central Coast Outdoors in northern California. His company provid...
It's a scarf! No, it's a hat! It's a convertible! This clever piece has a drawstring closure on one end, which allows you to wear it as either a hat or a scarf. Watch this video series and learn how to crochet your own.
In this video by knot tying collective Tying it All Together, you'll learn how to create a wide Solomon bar knot, which is composed of two differently colored ropes that brush against each other in near parallel formation.
Sow your wild oats! In this video, Jody Fath shares the expertise she gleaned from her eleven months backpacking around the world. In this video, you'll learn to plan for a long-term trip abroad. Learn how to determine what type of traveller you are, how to budget for your trip using online cost-of-living estimation and even how to pack in this great tutorial.
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie ballet slippers. First, flatted the back heel of the shoe. Next, sew the sew from the inside so the elastic isn't sticking out. Then, take the drawstring and pull the shoes on so they fit snugly. Be careful not to pull it to tight. Then, tuck the string back into the shoe, don't tie it into a bow. Even if your foot grows, you can loosen the shoe up. If you have a point shoe, it also has elastic that get attached to the back. You will place ribbon into the...
In this tutorial, we learn how to put together a cooking kit and canteen on a budget. To make a cheap pouch, you can take a pair of pants and cut the leg off. Then, sew one end completely and sew the other as a drawstring. To pack your kit, make sure you have an absorbent towel to help with everyday things. Also, make sure you have a cooking kit, which can be made by an empty coffee can, water bottle, empty soup can, utensils, and water bottle. The last things to include in your pouch are a p...
This video shows you how to make a survival kit: i.e. which things to gather together to make a survival kit. This one fits in the palm of your hand. For this kit, you will need the following: a small cloth bag. It can be used to filter sediment out of water. It can also be used to make a patch in clothing.
Whitney shows a quick way to make a bag out of t-shirt sleeves. This bag has so many household uses and is easy to make. You'll need a sleeve, safety pins, scissors, scrap fabric, pins, thread, an iron, and a ruler. Start by cutting a 1 inch wide strip of fabric and any design you'd like. You can make the bag as large as you like. Cut your rectangle using the ruler. Position your design to the fold. Sew around the design you choose, refold your rectangle and pin. Sew along those two lines. Tu...
To recycle an old towel into shorts, fold the towel and cut it into a short leg's length worth of fabric. Cut another piece into a short leg's length worth of fabric. Draw a curved seam on one edge. Stack the towels and pin them to hold the fabric in place. Cut out the seam on both of the towels. Separate the towels and sew up the seams on both of the fabric pieces. Do not sew the top seam and front side seam of the shorts. Instead, sew the front and back side seams together. Thread and sew a...
Decorative dragonflies are usually associated with little girls' shams and pink backpacks also plastered with iron-on hearts and happy faces. But you don't have to be ten years old to enjoy the dainty beauty of these winged creatures.
A short how to video on how to perform a safe stream crossing or ford using trekking poles when ultralight backpacking. Hiking or trail running often involves crossing or fording rivers and streams. Make sure you cross the water properly so that you don't get caught in a current or injured on rocks.
Messenger bags are all the rage these days, and duct tape crafts have always been big with the indie crowd. Why not combine the two by making this cool messenger bag out of a single roll of duct tape! Watch this video to learn how.
You literally carry it on your back for miles upon miles (or, depending on your locale, kilometers upon kilometers). Make sure it fits right. This guide will make sure you know everything you need to know to ensure that your hiking pack fits snugly and comfortably.
Backpacker editors demonstrate how to (and how not to) hang a bear bag to protect your food in bruin country. Check out this instructional camping video to ensure you have a safe and fun trip outdoors while camping in serious bear habitats. Learn the various methods of hanging a bear bag with this backpacking tutorial video.
Check out this instructional hiking video to learn 5 simple steps to maintaining a sharp, rust-free blade. Here's a backpacking tutorial video from the Backpacker's Gear School in the March 2007 Gear Guide. One of the key tips to keeping your knife sharp is to clean it after every trip. Learn other important tips to keep your blade nice and clean for your next hiking expedition.
This video demonstrates an easy way to carry your rope, or make a rope backpack. This video is actually shot on the side of a mountain. You will have to listen closely because there is some wind in the mic. Step by step instructions are given on how to make a rope back pack.
Coiling a rope in such a way that you can use it for a backpack. The butterfly is a real quick simple method of coiling up your rope so that you can transport it and keep your hands free.
Don't pull a muscle getting a pack on your back. If you don't have a friend to help or a rock to rest it on, here's how to do it safely and easily. Learn more from Backpacker's Gear School in the March 2007 Gear Guide, and at www.backpacker.com/video.
Knowing your torso length is crucial to finding the best-fitting backpack for your body type. Don't estimate a pack size using the clothing standbys of tall, medium, and petite: a 6-foot guy can have a shorter torso length than a 5'10" woman. Backpacker's Gear editor Kristin Hostetter explains the correct way to measure your torso length. Learn more important skills with Backpacker's Gear School videos - straight from the pages of the March 2007 Gear Guide.
Join Scoutmaster Houts as he demonstrates how to use a backpacking mini camp stove. Detailed step by step instructions are given for setup and use.
If you find yourself in a wilderness survival situation that demands a high degree of mobility, you're better off with a load-bearing equipment (LBE) system than a traditional survival backpack. This video will teach you how to assemble an LBE that will allow you to survive on the move for 1-3 days until you can find a more permanent solution.
A bug out bag, or BOB, is a prepared bag, usually a backpack, designed to sustain you for up to 72 hours while your escape wherever you are in case of a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or other catastrophe. This video will teach you everything you need to know to prepare an effective BOB that will help ensure your survival.
In this video you'll learn how to make a wide variety of leather items, including bags, waterskins, backpacks, and quivers, as well as dig wells for your dwarves drinking water in Dwarf Fortress.
The lean-to is one of the most basic shelters imaginable, but if you're out in the wilderness and bad weather strikes unexpectedly one can save your life. This video will teach you how to use supplies you have in your backpack to build a lean-to shelter.
In this tutorial, learn how to take funky items from around your home like a picnic basket, an easel, a backpack and other fun things and turn them into creative gift baskets. In this clip, learn how to accessorize the perfect gift box for a creative friend or family member. The recipient will love these personality specific, interesting presents!
Trekking poles make carrying heavy load across long distances on foot, like you do when you're on a backpacking trip, much easier. This video will help you make sure you're getting the most out of your trekking poles by teaching you how to make sure that your poles are the correct height for the situation that you are in. Get the most out of your modern hiking technology!
Pushups are a great workout. But if you think you're ready to take it to the next level, you should consider incorporating backback pushups into your workout. The added weight will give your muscles added strength and give an exciting new take on a simple exercise.
Embroidered patches are fun and colorful way to mend holes and tears in garments, and a a great way to add personality to backpacks, bags, and jackets! Watch this instructional embroidery video to learn the step by step process of creating your own customized embroidered patches. Embroider your own patches to add a bit of style to your favorite outfit!
The summer's fading fast and it's back to school time again. This week we're breaking you off some tips to help you become the most fashionable in your class, plus we show you how to transform last year's threads into this year's cool, new school gear. Class is now in session!
This five-part series of videos chronicles firemaking in cold and snowy conditions using backpacking equipment only. The series shows the scenery, adventure, survival philosophy, and gear observations.
