Do you test your items before they go into the woods?

K

kr1

Joined
May 30, 2006
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Midnight Scout said:
I am glad that I tried them out before I put them in the PSK.
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This was a little off topic from the original question but I thought worthy of a question unto itself so I started this thread.

This is excellant advice on anything your going to trust you life to. I never carry anything out into the woods that I don't try in my backyard at home first.

First, I don't like carrying extra weight and taking up the space for nothing and not being able to trust something I can do without. The only way I know I can trust it is to try it. Second, I don't want to try to learn how it works in the middle of the night when its raining and I can't feel my fingers and the paper has desolved in the rain. :eek: :D I test everything before it goes with me in the woods.

What about others?

KR
 
if its new ill test it, but i usually only use it if its already good, but its nice to see that all the pieces are there.
 
Once I get a new item whether it be a knife, saw, sleeping bag, flashlight etc., I can't wait to try it out. So I dry run everything before showtime.

But of course Mother Nature is the final decider. Only in the field will the real worth of an item reveal itself.
 
Typically no. The woods is as good a place as any to test the knife, and a real survival situation is very unlikely to present itself in Finnish wilderness, assuming you've actually prepared for your little excursion into the woods. :) Just bring a spare blade, or two.
 
That pretty much goes for me - the woods is where I test my stuff. I just came back from a little four-day trip and took a scrapyard guard and a gene ingram lacer - know I know how they perform.

If I were going on a massively demanding trip, I would only take proven gear, though.
 
Everything gets checked and tested before heading out especially if it is a new piece of gear, or something that hasn't been used in awhile.

There is nothing worse than finding out that something doesn't work right after getting to the camp or worse when travelling hours from home to a new spot. I had problems with the generator once, when it had sat unused for a couple of months- fuel locked. Better to handle these issues at home, than to play around pulling out the spark plug in the dark to drain the cylindar. Or the time the tent was moldy from being improperly stored. These are surprises that are easier to deal with at home than at the campsite.
 
I don't have anything new but before I go out backpaking I check my water filter and stove to make sure everything works. I also check my tent to make sure everything is there and fine. Then my backpack for any damage like rips and tears. I also do the usual check the oil, water tires, etc. on my truck.
 
Test also if you haven't used it for a while.

I mean sure my MSR Whisperlite was tested when I got it, but one time out after not being used for a year I took it out without testing and discovered the fuel seal was rotted resulting in a useless stove (also forgot to take the repair kit with me).

Many people pack those mag block fire starters but when they show pics of their gear many also look brand new. I could never work one so I don't carry one. Single strand wire saw? Broke one on first use so I don't carry them. Lighter in my survivial kit worked when I got it but didn't about a year later of non-use, so I replaced that no-name with a Bic.

Yup, test your gear often.
 
I test and in some cases re-test my gear.It's my butt on the line if it doesn't work.That's too big of s price to pay if my gear fails.
 
I try cutting things with a new knife or saw, check the moving parts for clearances, and touch up the blade as needed. Stuff like pressurized stoves and lanterns need to be serviced and tested. Flashlights get new fresh batteries.

I use an Esbit stove, so there isn't much to break, my lighting is all LED and I have a mini backup. I carry a backup compass and multiple fire starters and back-up water treatment in case my pump breaks. And then there is super glue and duct tape. If a knife isn't loose or showing signs of damage, HI HO, HI HO, IT'S CAMPING I WILL GO....... :D
 
The reviews are read prior to buying and I test everything before taking it into the bush.

If it's a knife, I usually do a lot of home chores like cutting up boxes, cutting hose, opening mail, slicing and dicing veggies, meat and anything else in the kitchen and will even whittle a little. Then I sharpen it up and pack it, because the true tests come in the bush and I will always have a trusted blade with me, when the new blade goes out.
 
In my book this is what car-camping is for. You can haul along enough gear to test the new stuff, but you have some reliable options if they don't. In a worse case scenario you can even bail out easily.

Then when you hit the trail you can have confidence in what you've brought.
 
Hey Guys...

We were camping a couple of years ago and a young couple pulled into the site next to ours...

Everything they unloaded from their car was Brand Spanking new. Never been opened and they literally bought everything they needed and kept going to the campground. Everything was matching right down to the North Face jackets and pants...

After watching them for a couple of hours trying to get their gear set up I decided to walk over and see if they needed a hand...

They had a White Gas pumper stove and latern, no funnel, no mantles, tent wasn't set up correctly, tarp was Completely horizontal over their tent..

They literally didn't have two clues to rub together...

So I sat down with them for almost 2 hours and had a Camping 101 lesson.

I showed them pretty much everything they needed to know about the stove and lantern, how to remove the pump and service it. How to install a mantle ect ect. Went over the tent with them, changed the tarp and showed them how to light a fire with my fire kit.. I even had to go and get a mantle for them from my own gear. I have several of dozen different sizes and such. Even gave them a spare funnel.

Nice people, and they got a Crash course in camping...

They thanked me the next day when it rained all night and the tarp kept their campsite nice and dry...

Alway check your gear before you go..

all of my camping gear is pulled out at least once a season, serviced and anything that is not looking good is replaced right away.

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Always test and do a breakdown test of all Your Gear before you test with unforgiving Mother Nature as theres no going to the 7-ll in the AM in the field.:eek:
 
Field test in the field. Within parameters. Say a new knife will get tested in the field, but say a new tent or intrical piece of camping equipment should be handled and operated before going to the field.
 
I always start with inside house chores, then outside house chores, and then in the local park. Checking it out is part of the fun of new gear!

Spud
 
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