10 Essential Outdoor Skills Everyone Can Master

Before you go on your next big journey, be sure you have some wisdom on your side. Whether you’re going camping, planning a thru-hike, or simply going for a lovely day hike, the outdoors may be unpredictable, and it never hurts to be prepared for any eventuality that may happen. So brush up on your crucial outdoor abilities with these top ten things to know before heading out into nature.

Knowledge of Navigation

You might be tempted to leave your map and compass at home in this digital age. However, unlike your phone’s GPS, a paper map and compass will not run out of battery power; knowing how to use both will keep you safe if your phone dies. Use REI’s skill channel to master some basic navigation skills. You may even practice from the comfort of your own home!

How To Light A Fire

An important outdoor skill is understanding correct fire safety and technique. Learn how to construct a fire by starting with kindling and little sticks and gradually expanding your fire over time. Don’t forget to gather the appropriate wood. Not only is it prohibited in most places to cut down trees, but the moisture in live wood makes a smoky mess. Allow the experts at Trailagain to show you how to construct the ideal campfire.

Knot Only the Essentials

Before your next camping trip, brush up on your fundamental knots. Why? When you can’t use tent stakes, knowing how to tie down a tent in the wind, hang your food, or tie guy lines around rocks comes in handy. Whatever your activity, the taut line, girth hitch, and square knot are all useful to know in your arsenal. At home, practice your knots with some extra cord and a railing.

Pitch the Ideal Tent

The difference between a good campground and a great camping trip is all in how you set up your tent; knowing how to choose the best spot to pitch a tent makes all the difference. For starters, ridgelines and exposed regions are often windy and difficult to keep covered from inclement weather. Valleys, on the other hand, keep chilly air trapped. You don’t want to sleep in sandy washes in case of a flash flood in the desert, and you don’t want to sleep under a dead tree in the forest. The Clever Hiker will teach you how to find the ideal campsite.

Create the ideal shelter

Are you willing to spend the night outside if something goes wrong? Although no one expects a dramatic, spontaneous night in the outdoors, it is possible. Protect yourself by learning how to construct various bushcraft shelters in varied conditions. Discover how to quickly collect resources and make insulation out of vegetation. Survival Lilly’s skills outlined here can keep you high and dry if you find yourself in need of shelter.

Water Locating and Purification

Knowing how to find and filter water in the bush is a vital outdoor survival skill no matter where you travel. There are several methods for sanitizing water found in the outdoors, ranging from utilizing a mechanical filter to boiling water for two minutes. Bring a way to purify water (e.g., filters, drops, or a stove) and know how to utilize it using REI’s guidelines for finding and filtering water in the wild.

Make Your Own First Aid Kit

Again, in the vast outdoors, you never know what will happen. Understanding basic first aid will keep your survival abilities sharp. Even if you never intend to use your first-aid knowledge, knowing the basics will help you deal with whatever emergency arises. Ideally, enroll in a certified course, such as Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder, to stay up to date on the latest practices. In the short term, brush up on your wilderness first-aid knowledge with the NOLS playlist.

Replace a Flat Tire

So you’re going on foot, but what if you puncture your tire on a jagged rock on the way to the trailhead? When you’re out in nature, you’re often far from civilization, sometimes traveling on difficult roads. Waiting for a tow truck on your way to the trailhead is the last thing you want to do. Discover how to switch flats with the Howdini.

Rest Stops in the Woods

Nature sometimes calls. When it comes to toilet time outside, it turns out there are a few ground rules to follow. First, keep a distance of 60 meters (70 adult steps) from water sources and paths. Next, you’ll need to dig a pit for your company. The depth of the hole varies based on your surroundings, but it should be at least 15cm deep. Bring a garbage bag or use leaves to dispose of your used toilet paper. National Geographic’s guide to doing your business in the woods gives you the inside scoop on feces. (Keep in mind that certain wilderness regions need you to bring special bags for human waste that you pack out with you, so double-check the rules ahead of time.)

Leave No Trace Principles

The final and most crucial outdoor skill you should know is possibly the most important. Understanding how to leave the outdoors in better condition than you found it ensures that the future generation of outdoor enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the same pure beauty that you did. Leave No Trace principles include how to move and sleep in the environment with minimal damage. This strategy is utilized all over the world and differs significantly depending on the landscape. The Leave No Trace Center provides a wealth of instructive movies on the subject.