Survival Basics

There aren’t many kitchen gadgets that can make as big a difference in your food presentation—or its taste—as a simple grill press. From keeping bacon from curling up and cooking unevenly, to pumping out the perfect panini, to putting that tasty, crunchy seared crust on a steak, this uncomplicated and inexpensive kitchen tool will make

These days, it seems that everyone hopes to be a pitmaster. Whether your meat of choice is barbecued pork, beef, chicken, or lamb, separating the fibers and chopping and pulling the final product can be time-consuming and hard on the hands. But slip your fingers into a set of meat claws, and you can channel

Traction boards are tough and durable tire-wide slats with knobby, grippy surfaces. They’re popular with extreme off-road enthusiasts, who often find their vehicles deeply mired in mud, sand, or snow. In those situations, four-wheel-drive alone isn’t enough to extricate your vehicle. But traction boards are very useful to everyday 4×4 drivers as well. Here are

These days, a day cooler can be as much a status symbol as a way to keep drinks and lunch cold and ready to go, and there is a huge range of available products. When thinking about a cooler, you’ll want to balance the cooler’s weight, exterior size, and ease of transport against the ability

It’s one thing to carry a rifle or two, but load a case with ammo, extra clips, cleaning kits and tools, scopes, rangefinders, and other hunting and shooting equipment, and the weight skyrockets. Most rifle cases have various carry solutions, from standard luggage-type carry handles to beefy backpack-style harnesses to tough wheels that let you

Personal Flotation Devices, or PFDs, are required on most boats, but they’re a smart idea even when you’re simply hanging out on lakeshores and waterfronts. Modern designs are sleek and comfortable, come in an array of colors and graphics, and provide a measure of safety that will allow you to enjoy a day on the

Pet PFDs vary by the amount of buoyancy provided. If your dog is likely to hit the lake or beach and swim for long periods, you’ll want a jacket that provides plenty of flotation, with multiple panels sewn around the jacket. But if you’re just looking for an easy-to-wear life jacket as a safety backup

It’s obvious that the larger the object to move, the larger the ratchet puller has to be, but there’s another reason: you need a line that’s rated strong enough to move the object without breaking, and a snapped cable isn’t just frustrating, it can be dangerous. A steel cable that’s severed under a load can

You can decipher backpack volume in either liters (L) or cubic inches (cu), depending on the manufacturer. For day trips, you need a bag capacity of about 15 L to 30 L (roughly 1,000 cubic inches to 2,000 cu). Multi-day trips, winter camping, and specialized expeditions, like photography shoots, ski touring, hunting, or fishing, demand

You’ll never get cold when you’re outside again with a lightweight, easy-to-transport propane heater. A personal heather can help you stay in your blind longer, even on frigid days, or keep your limbs warm when you’re working in the garage or shop. The key is finding a unit that broadcasts enough BTUs to cut through

Many winches come with synthetic rope, which is much easier to handle than steel cable, the most popular tether spooled on most winches. Synthetic rope is just as strong as steel cable, and much easier to handle because it’s flexible. It won’t get burrs (which can penetrate your skin if you’re not wearing gloves), and

Running an air compressor off of your car’s cigarette lighter port saves so much time. You can inflate balls, tires, air mattresses, rafts, inflatable boats, and stand-up paddleboards with much less effort than it would take with a hand pump. But not every inflator works the same way—and some are poor choices—depending on what you

When it comes to everyday use, there are two flashlight choices for hunters: hand-held or headlamp. Each has its advantages, with a headlamp perhaps offering the greatest versatility combined with hands-free operation. Most headlamps also feature a red-light setting useful for entering and exiting stands without spooking game. No matter your choice, look for a

A treestand harness should be at the top of any hunter’s gear list if they hunt from an elevated position. More than half of all hunting accidents are treestand-related, and a harness can save your life in the event of a fall—if you’re wearing it. That’s why it’s so important to choose a treestand harness

Although internal-frame packs dominate the recreational backpacking market, traditional external-frame packs still offer several advantages for sportsmen. They are generally less expensive than internal designs, more rugged, and offer greater load-carrying capabilities. What an external-frame pack may add in bulk and weight, it makes up for in durability. Whether you are looking to access the

It’s one thing to love the outdoors, but it’s another to be stuck out there because you left the back door open and ran your vehicle battery out of juice. Jumper cables are great, but not so great when you’re all alone in the dark scary woods. An electric jump starter is easy to store

Most satellite communicators include other functions besides messaging. The most basic units sport weather forecasts and rudimentary GPS functions, and other models stack on the technology with downloadable maps, satellite imagery, marine charts, barometer, digital compasses, and more. If space is at a premium in your pack or bag, take a good look at the

Turkey fryer kits that come with extras can be your best buy and help you acquire the other equipment you’ll eventually need. A fryer that comes with the pot alleviates the need to buy a pot separately. Some even include multiple pots, along with strainer inserts that are handy for frying fish, turkey strips, or