Outdoor Skills Books

Featured review by Mike Mineart

This is an excellent resource for information related to general mountaineering, but also for a broad range of topics from basic backcountry equipment and navigation, to rock and ice climbing, and a number of other associated topics. The most significant aspect of this book that sets it apart from other mountaineering/climbing references is not necessarily the specific material within the book, but how that content comes into being. This book is a great resource for any experienced back country traveler or climber, but is an especially good resource for someone new to the sport or who would just like to better understand the terminology, equipment, and techniques, associated with climbing and mountaineering.

First off, I would like to state that I received my latest copy of this book from Trailspace as a gift for being a past Reviewer of the Month. That said, I already owned an earlier edition of this book that I purchased back in the mid 1990s. My comments in this review will be with the 8th Edition of the book Mountaineering, Freedom of the Hills, published by the Mountaineers Books. Before I get into my comments about the book itself, I think it is important to mention a little about the organization that is responsible for publishing this book, The Mountaineers.

Read more: The Mountaineers Books Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills reviews (5)

Reviewed by Jim51111

In-depth, but engaging book focused on simplifying fly fishing. It is a great balance of skills, stories, and phenomenal photography. A great book for anyone interested in flying fishing or just interested in learning new skills.

Written by Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, and Mauro Mazzo, Simple Fly Fishing: Techniques for Tenkara and Rod & Reel is a fantastic book on the art and lifestyle of fishing in it most basic form. All three of the authors are lifelong fisherman with decades of experiences. More important, however, is that they are all wonderful storytellers. They are able to present technical information in an engaging and entertaining way that guides the reader through the book and prepares them to try out their new skills.

Read more: Patagonia Simple Fly Fishing: Techniques For Tenkara And Rod & Reel review (1)

Reviewed by Sheila Bergin Goss

This dog hiking book is subtitled "Trail-Tested Tips and Expert Advice for Canine Adventures." The book certainly does provide much helpful information for those interested in outdoor adventures with their dogs. It focuses on hiking, but also gives the reader insight into dog behavior and the relationship between dog and human. "The Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs" varies in its thoroughness as it broaches a plethora of important aspects of dog hiking, but I can recommend it as a helpful guide for beginning dog hikers, or for more experienced dog adventurers looking to assess their current practices.

Introduction: Hot off the presses! I was given the opportunity to reviewThe Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs just before its publication date of May 1, 2021. I was interested in checking it out, as I am often called upon to give advice to others about hiking (or canoeing) with dogs, and I am always looking for new ideas or techniques to share.                         Falcon Publishing is a supporter of the AHS                Authored by Jen Sotolongo with contributing commenters, this book is published by Falcon Guides, one of their well-known series of books on outdoor activities, travel, and hobbies.

Read more: Falcon Guides The Essential Guide to Hiking with Dogs review (1)

Reviewed by Daniel Oates

Small and lightweight, it has all the key knots that an average backpacker, Boy Scout, or outdoors person may need.

What is it and when to use it? Just recently bought this from an online marketplace. Was just over $4 and while that seems a bit expensive for info on only 20 knots, I personally think it was a great investment. I thought that I would like to learn some knots that could be used not only while hiking or backpacking, but also used around the the house or in any situation if needed.  There are several good 50+ page books with several pictures and lengthy descriptions.  These were the options.

Read more: Pro-Knot Outdoor Knots - Waterproof Plastic Fan Pack review (1)

Featured review by Rick-Pittsburgh

Regardless of whether you are a trail novice or a seasoned trail veteran there is something for everyone in this gear guide that can be adopted into one's practices while on your backcountry journeys. I highly recommend that anyone that has a love for being in the backcountry to take a few moments and seriously consider reading this book.

I recently had the opportunity to read National Geographic's The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka and I have to say I am quite impressed... So impressed that I actually read it twice and I am going for a "3 peat."     When I started reading this guide I was presented with a question: "Am I an Ultimate Hiker or an Ultimate Camper?" I never really looked at my approach to my backcountry endeavors this way. I always considered myself a pack mule(that is putting it mildly)although I do own some UL gear. After fully reading this book I have to say that I find myself reevaluating some of my approaches to my own backcountry forays.

Read more: National Geographic The Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide reviews (3)

Featured review by TheRambler

"Trail Tested" is a book aimed at providing a broad spectrum of advice on hiking and backpacking for the novice as well as seasoned hiker wanting to expand their horizons. The author wants to spread his love of the great outdoors to others, and introduce them to the great sport of hiking and backpacking and help ease them into it by providing some sound advice and cost-saving strategies.

Trail Tested: A Thru-Hiker’s insights into Hiking and Backpacking By Justin “Trauma” Lichter Printed in Duluth, Minnesota, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-9848550-0-1 MSRP $19.99 Trail Tested is a book aimed at providing a broad spectrum of advice on hiking and backpacking for the novice as well as seasoned hiker wanting to expand their horizons. The author wants to spread his love of the great outdoors to others, and introduce them to the great sport of hiking and backpacking and help ease them into it by providing some sound advice and cost-saving strategies Trail Tested is not your typical how-to book.

Read more: Justin Lichter Trail Tested: A Thru-Hiker's Insights Into Hiking and Backpacking reviews (2)

Reviewed by Mike Mineart

"The Curtis Creek Manifesto" is probably the number one book available on the basics of fly fishing. The author and illustrator, Sheridan Anderson, created a unique and entertaining guide that will provide everything a person needs to know to get started fly fishing and it's done in a book that is only 48 pages long. It has been considered a classic ever since it was first published in 1978.

About twenty years ago I was just getting into fly fishing and during a fishing trip a friend recommended that I pick up a copy of The Curtis Creek Manifesto while we were visiting a fly shop to pick up a few flies and some tippet. I didn't think much about it at the time, but over the years I have always found myself coming back to this book for basic information, but more so now just for the enjoyment I get from the illustrations and how the material is presented.  The Curtis Creek Manifesto isn't for someone who likes a lot of structure and organization because there is no table of contents or an index.

Read more: Frank Amato Publications The Curtis Creek Manifesto review (1)

Featured review by G00se

Derek Hansen's "The Ultimate Hang" is a must read for anyone serious (or curious) about becoming a hammock hanger. Hansen thoroughly covers the information relevant to hammock camping in an easy-to-understand manner. The illustrations are both whimsical and informative, reminding the reader that hammock hanging is ultimately about enjoyment. This book should be in every hanger's library.

Hammock camping is not an intuitive practice. While most people can pitch a tent and crawl into a sleeping bag, those who try hammock hanging quickly discover there is a learning curve. This review references a few sources in the intro, but it focuses on a book that everyone interested in hammock hanging should read.  My Intro to Hammocks: In 2011 I got a good deal on a Grand Trunk Skeeter Beater. "Oooo! It has mosquito netting. I can take naps in the back yard!" Then, we ended up having friends camp in our backyard, and I suddenly thought, "Hey! I could spend the night in this thing!" And so I hung there like a folded banana all night, but it was kind of fun.

Read more: The Ultimate Hang An Illustrated Guide to Hammock Camping reviews (2)

Reviewed by Shenora1116

Best survival book ever. It's a must-read for any outdoorsman.

I would and have recommended this book to anyone in search of outdoor survival. It's very informative and yet not boring. It's not just a rewrite of US Army survival manuals like most of the books of this genre. I've read and reread this thing on many occasions, and it's the only survival based book I've done that with. Cody Lundin is a guy that has years of survival experiance. Yeah he's on TV, but he's the real deal. He takes a stance on survival that not many have done. Instead of covering info like brush shelters, skinning game, and setting up snares to catch the game....

Read more: Gibbs Smith 98.6 Degrees - The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive! review (1)

Featured review by Tim Julian

THE Classic Compendium of Backpacking.

In the 1970s Colin Fletcher inspired a generation to get outside with his books The Thousand Mile Summer and The Man Who Walked Through Time. He then started the "Complete" series and told us the nuts and bolts of doing it.  The newest revision (now only 16 years old but still seems surprisingly current) has a new format where Colin and his co-author Chip Rawlins do a back-and-forth on various topics, which may put off fans of earlier editions. I found Rawlins to be a worthy curmudgeon-in-training and a good foil to the elder statesman.

Read more: Random House The Complete Walker IV reviews (2)