Showerthought: That time at the county fair changed how I pack for camping

Last summer at the Grant County Fair, I watched a guy start a campfire with just a ferro rod and some dry grass while I fumbled with my fancy lighter that kept dying. It hit me that all my digital gear like GPS and portable chargers just adds weight and failure points. Now I pack a simple compass, a paper map, and a basic fire starter kit for weekend trips. Has anyone else ditched their tech after seeing someone else's old-school method work better?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron7707d agoMost Upvoted

Man, that's exactly what happened to me. I was on a hike in Big Bend last spring and my phone battery died two hours in. This older guy with a beat-up compass and a paper map just nodded at me and kept walking. Now I carry a Silva compass, a laminated topo map, and a BIC lighter with some petroleum jelly cotton balls. Feels way lighter and I actually pay more attention to the trail now.

allen.amy7d ago

Traded my GPS for a paper map and compass two years ago. Never looked back. The trick is to actually practice with the compass before you need it. Find a clear spot, pick a landmark, and walk a bearing. Do it a few times at home. The BIC and petroleum jelly cotton balls are solid. I carry them in a small prescription bottle. Stays dry, doesn't crush. One thing people forget is to tape a fire starter card to the inside of their map case. Waterproof and you got a backup right there. Saves fumbling when your hands are cold.