There are few things that make a man feel more manly than heading into the outdoors with a heavy pack on his shoulders. Whether it’s to hunt, fish or just camp out in the woods, spending time in nature under some trying conditions is a great way to get in touch with your innate male instincts.
It seems obvious, but scientists last year specifically found that hunting activities fueled men’s “love hormone” and makes us more attractive to the opposite sex. So if for no other reason, it pays to be an outdoorsman.
There are many ways to be a manly mountain man besides wearing plaid, growing a beard and drinking your own urine. Here are 10 of the manliest things you can do in the outdoors.
Climb a mountain
There is nothing more manly than conquering a grueling physical challenge for no practical purpose whatsoever. Mountain climbers are fond of scoffing at anyone who questions their pursuit. But the real reason they do it is because it’s manly.
Kill something
As scientists pointed out last year, hunting makes you sexy. It increases testosterone and a man’s sense of accomplishment. There’s nothing really as manly in the most original sense as slapping a dead carcass on the front doorstep to provide for your family. It’s the way ancient men did it and it’s about the oldest form of manliness on the planet.
Cook over an open fire
Cooking with fire was an adaptation that allowed human beings to evolve from our more primitive ancestors. It’s ancient and therefore manly. Today, barbecuing is largely a manly duty, which makes cooking over an open fire even more so. As we’ve pointed out before, cooking with wood is a great way to impart rich flavors into your meat. And you can’t help but feel a little more manly in the process.
Clean your teeth with charcoal
Believe it or not charcoal is a great way to clean your teeth. Not only does it provide an abrasive needed to remove plaque, but it also helps whiten your teeth. And who can deny grabbing a piece of charcoal from the fire and rubbing it into your chompers isn’t the manliest thing you’ve ever seen?
Catch fish with bare hands
Fishing is a pretty manly activity on its own, but catching a fish with your bare hands? Now that’s off the charts of manliness, though the name begs differently. It’s called noodling, and it’s when you stick your hands down into a hole in shallow water and wait for a fish to grab your fingers. Most of the time it’s a catfish, but you can’t always be certain what might take a liking to your manly fingers.
Build a shelter
Before there were lightweight tents and hammocks, men built their own shelters. The next time you head into the woods, consider leaving that tent behind and constructing your own survival shelter. Choose a debris shelter, tripod or a lean-to. You’ll earn big manly points. For tips on building shelters click here.
Drink spring water
A mountain man always knows where to find viable drinking water. Dipping your cupped hands into natural spring water and taking a big drink will make you feel about as manly as Paul Bunyan.
Smoke a pipe
To create the air of manliness on your next camping trip, consider smoking a pipe. The great explorers of the ages like Teddy Roosevelt enjoyed smoking a pipe on outdoor expeditions, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t either.
Carve a wooden utensil
Self-sufficiency is of course an inherently manly activity. When you get settled into a camp site, consider carving your own wooden spoon. You’ll save space in your pack, give you something to do and it’s sure to impress the ladies.
Shit in the woods
You knew we would get there eventually. Yep, leaning against a tree or a boulder and dropping a deuce in the woods is very manly.
20 Camping Hacks
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Use a tarp
One of the heaviest items in any pack is a tent. When you want to cut back, switch to only a tarp. You can drape it over an A-frame and tie it down with stakes. If those eyelets tear through you can always strap on a line using a “monkey fist.” Just wrap the tarp corner around a small rock and tie that off instead. Then tie the loose end to a stake.
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Cook over a fire
Dealing with liquid fuel cook stoves can be a hassle and while propane fueled stoves are great, that’s just one more thing you have to carry. Skip the camp stove altogether and rely solely on the abundant resources around you. Make a fire. But don’t just cook over any fire. By digging a hole and then constructing a small tunnel for air flow, you can have a great backcountry camp stove that works every time.
Photo credit: Rich Wright
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Make an alcohol stove out of a beer can
We’ve all seen the range of fancy camp stoves on the market. But what you might not realize is that you can create a simple camp stove that burns as hot and efficient as an expensive version you might find at REI with just a beer can. Here is a link to a video on how to make one. It just takes some careful cutting and a steady hand. But be warned, you should only use a small amount of fuel and be careful that you do not tip this over as it can start a fire that spreads quickly.
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Baby powder your feet
Wet feet are the enemy of every hiker. Bit when you have to cross a stream, sometimes it’s just unavoidable. For a great way to keep your feet dry or to dry them off quicker once they get wet, carry a small amount of baby powder that you can sprinkle right on those little piggies.
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Use Altoids containers
Let’s face it, most of us buy Altoids breath mints not so much for the mint, though they are delicious, but for the ready-made tin that comes with it. These tiny containers can be used to carry anything, but the most popular applications include first aid kits, fire starter and turning them into a makeshift camp light by rolling up cardboard soaked in wax that can then be lit.
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Use Tic-Tac containers
A Tic-Tac container is another great receptacle that can be reused in the backcountry for any number of purposes. You can store fishing lures, spices or sugar for example.
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Coffee cans make great TP holders
At hunting camps, wet toilet paper and the infiltration of rats and mice can be an issue. A great way to avoid either of these fates for your coveted TP is to enclose the roll in a plastic Folgers coffee container. You can cut a slit down the side for the paper to scroll out and tie it up with a string from the lid.
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Bundle coffee grounds in filters
For many people, they just can’t live without their morning cup of Joe. In the backcountry, coffee can be replaced with tea, instant grounds or even pine needles. But no true coffee drinker can really deal with replacements. For an easy way to have fresh coffee on the go just wrap a tablespoon of grounds in a coffee filter and tie that off with fishing line or a piece of string and dunk it into your cup for instant java.
Lilittas1 | Dreamstime.com - Metal Touristic Tea Cup In Woman Hands Outdoor Photo
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Crescent rolls on a stick
Who doesn’t like crescent rolls? An easy addition to any meal, you can carry a can of crescent rolls and wrap them around a stick. Hold it over the fire for some quick and easy buttery dinner rolls. Or you can also wrap them around a hotdog and then on the stick for added goodness.
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Roast cinnamon rolls in an orange
Cinnamon rolls are another pastry that comes in a can. What a great way to start the morning? For an orange flavored Cinnabon and a great way to cook them easily, place the uncooked dough on an orange slice and set that on a hot bed of coals or rock.
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Use a belt and hooks to hang things
Keeping things organized is an important way for a trip to remain fun rather than frustrating. A great way to organize your things like pots, pans, lights and virtually anything that can hang is by using a belt around a tree. Wrap the belt around the tree and hang simply hang hooks.
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Burn sage to keep mosquitoes away
Mosquitoes can be a huge nuissance in the woods. Sometimes it’s a good idea to revert to the ancient ways of repelling insects such as sage. Bring along a sprig of sage to throw on the fire to keep those pesky mosquitoes away.
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Johnson's baby creamy oil can repel mosquitoes
Keeping mosquitoes off your skin while you’re hiking and away from the fire is another trick altogether. Many people can’t stand the smell of deet and other repellents. And after a day of lathering that it can leave your skin greasy and uncomfortable. A great alternative is Johnson’s Baby Creamy Oil with Aloe & Vitamin E.
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Use cotton balls and liquid soap to remove ticks
Ticks are one of the worst enemies in the woods. They often carry lyme disease, and if they are not removed within 24 hours that lyme disease can transmit into your blood. It’s always important to check for ticks. But what to do if you find one? Attempting to burn or smoke them out is a bad idea and can lead to the tick burrowing further into your skin. Instead, try soaking cotton balls in liquid dish soap and pressing that to the tick. In a few minutes it should stop chewing and likely back out of its endeavor.
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Turn an acorn into a whistle
When you’re lost in the woods or trying to dissuade a wild animal from getting any closer, a whistle is a great thing to use. Every hiker should carry one. But let’s say you forgot it, or your pack got washed down river. Not to fret, there are always acorns. It takes some practice, though, so here’s the technical details.
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An easy hand-washing station
This one’s more for car camping then backcountry. If you need a way to easily wash your hands and don’t want to waste drinking water, you can use an old laundry detergent jug as a hand washing station. And even if you don’t get all the detergent out, you can still use it to wash your hands. Fasten a roll of paper towels to the top to complete the deal.
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Make a lantern out of a water jug
To make a quick lantern, stick a head lamp or glow stick into a plastic water bottle. This you can hang like a lantern for general ambient light that ends up being broader than what the light by itself could provide.
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Put duct tape around your water bottle
There is nothing in the world that duct tape won’t fix. That’s why it’s always a good idea to carry a roll with you. But where to store it? You have a ready-made duct tape storage device in any water bottle. Just wrap that sucker up.
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Bucket, milk crate and toilet seat
Another one for the hunting camp or rugged car camping scenario, you can create a makeshift outhouse with a bucket, milk crate and toilet seat. Just cut hole in the bottom of the crate, place it over the bucket and put the toilet seat over that. Then sit and enjoy.
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Carry a wok
Cooking gear is another heavy item that you can likely do without. For an all-in-one utensil try carrying a Chinese cooking wok. This is a great item you can use to sauté, boil water, wash clothes, pan for gold or even wear it as a hat.
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