Camping & Outdoor Tips
Field-tested tips, gear comparisons, and how-to guides from the GENX team.
How to Keep Your Phone Charged on a Weekend Camping Trip
A simple power plan for a weekend at camp: settings that save battery, how cold and heat affect it, what Wh means, the right cables, and keeping your power b...
Your First Camping Trip: A Simple Plan and Beginner Gear List
A four-step plan for a first night outdoors: choosing and booking a campsite, a gear list by category, a backyard practice night and setting up camp in the r...
Car Camping vs. Backpacking: How Your Packing List Changes
Same categories, very different choices. How shelter, sleep, kitchen, water and power change when your gear rides in a trunk instead of on your back.
Camping with Dogs: Rinsing, Drying and a Cleaner Tent
Dogs love lakes, mud and creeks. How to rinse and dry a wet dog at camp, get a dog used to a blower, keep fur out of the tent, and what to pack for your dog.
Drying Off After a Lake Swim: Hair, Towels, Boots and Gear
The swim is the easy part. How to dry hair, swimsuits, towels and boots at camp, and keep damp gear from turning the tent musty.
Camping Near Creeks and Rivers: Where to Pitch and How to Stay Dry
How to camp beside moving water: where to pitch, reading flash-flood and snowmelt risk, treating creek water, keeping gear dry and staying alert when the wat...
Clearing Leaves and Pine Needles from Your Campsite
A quick tidy of the tent pad, picnic table and truck bed makes camp more comfortable. How to do it without bothering neighbors or pushing debris where it doe...
Inflating and Deflating Kayaks, Sleeping Pads and Pool Floats
Valves and adapters, the right firmness, and how to get every last bit of air out for packing. A practical guide to inflatable gear at camp and on the water.
How to Sear a Steak with a Butane Torch, at Camp or at Home
A butane torch can finish a reverse-seared steak, crisp a fat cap and melt cheese at camp. How to prep the meat, hold the flame and keep the camp kitchen foo...
How to Choose a Campsite and Leave No Trace
What to check before you pitch a tent, from flat ground and drainage to dead branches overhead, plus the seven Leave No Trace principles in plain words.
How to Light a Charcoal Grill Without Lighter Fluid
Skip the fluid smell and the flare-ups. Light briquettes or lump charcoal with a chimney or a torch, feed the coals with air, and know when they are ready to...
Coastal Camping: Keep Sand and Salt Out of Your Gear
Beach camping means wind, tides, sand and salt spray. How to camp above the tide, keep sand out of zippers and tents, rinse salt off gear and protect your el...
