The Experience Archives - Man Makes Fire

The Experience

200 Miles on a BMW R 1200 GS

Took a 200-mile ride last weekend on a buddy’s bike — a 2005 BMW R 1200 GS, which is the...

The Experience

5 Tips To Fire Up Weekends

Hopefully you have noticed a huge theme in my blog posts: Weekends are not for chores! Now I want to...

Backpacking The Experience

7 Steps: How to Save Weight Backpacking

Learning to save weight backpacking is all about making compromises and smart decisions. Sure, you can shell out hundreds —...

Hunting The Experience

5 Deer Rattling Tips: How to Call in Big Bucks During the Rut

I started rattling for bucks a few years ago, and in the interest in sharing what has turned out to...

The Experience

52 Switch Backs Straight Up Beacon Rock

Straight Up - 52 Switch Backs to the top.

Beacon Rock is the last standing remnants of the core of an ancient volcano. It stands an 848-foot monolith in...

The Experience

7 Tips for Big Adventures: ‘Less Watch, More Do’

If you want to get off the couch this year and actually do something significant, like kayak the San Juan Islands...

The Experience

5 Songs to Live By

Studies in neuroscience have shown that music is capable of influencing complex neurological processes. What I get from this is...

The Experience

7 Rules for Reconnaissance, aka Adventure Recon 101

The Dunes on Snake River below Lower Granite Dam

Obviously we’re not talking about special forces reconnaissance behind enemy lines here. We’re talking about everyday adventure recon, that is,...

Lightweight Wading Boots: My Favorites and Why

The Best Screen Tents for 2026

Best Wading Boots for Fishing in 2026

REI Co-op Flexlite Air Chair Review

Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp Review

Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Review: Long-Term Report

The Best Screen Tents for 2026

Is the Exped Mega Pump Worth Buying?

Exped MegaMat Review: Ridiculously Comfortable 2 Years Later

Lightweight Wading Boots: My Favorites and Why

Best Wading Boots for Fishing in 2026

Orvis Clearwater Combo Review: Long-Term Update

Black Diamond Storm 500-R Headlamp Review

Petzl Aria 2 RGB Headlamp Review

10 Best Headlamps for Hunting 2024: Tested and Compared

Leki Helicon Lite Ski Poles Review: Great Versatility

Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski Mitt Review

The Best Stio Holiday Sale Deals 2023

Shelta Hats Review and Comparison, Long-Term Update

Excellent All-Around iSUP: ISLE Pioneer 3 Review

ISLE Intros 3rd Generation Pioneer and Explorer iSUPs for 2024

How to Make Your Traeger Pro 575 Produce More Smoke

Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill Review

BlendJet 2 Portable Blender Review: ‘Surprisingly Handy’

The Experience

200 Miles on a BMW R 1200 GS

5 Tips To Fire Up Weekends

7 Steps: How to Save Weight Backpacking

5 Deer Rattling Tips: How to Call in Big Bucks During the Rut

52 Switch Backs Straight Up Beacon Rock

7 Tips for Big Adventures: ‘Less Watch, More Do’

5 Songs to Live By

7 Rules for Reconnaissance, aka Adventure Recon 101