Top all-time · #6850
Andrew Skurka
Personal blog · andrewskurka.comother
Andrew Skurka's personal blog at andrewskurka.com. Since 2014, 12 different Hacker News readers have linked it 15 times. No feed was found, so read it on the site itself.
Too few sampled comments (8) to say how often HN recommends it.?
Why HN links it
HN readers link Andrew Skurka's long-term gear reviews and backpacking guides, including food planning, route records, and fabric analysis such as Gore-Tex. One commenter says his writing changed their mind on gear.
Summarised by Claude from a sample of 8 HN comments that link here. Each comment is marked recommending, critical or neutral (citing without judging); how this works.
What Hacker News says?
I’m guessing this is the link: https://andrewskurka.com/guyline-tension-system-backpacking-...
Comment linking /guyline-tension-system-backpacking-tents-tarps-hammocks/
on “Knots 3D – Learn how to tie over 150 useful knots”Submitted Toilet paper-less: my evolution in butt cleaning as a story · 23 points
HN discussionAndrew Skurka has similarly meticulous “long term reviews”of running/backpacking gear: https://andrewskurka.com . He runs and backpacks more in one year than many people do in their lifetimes, which means he gets to observe deterioration quickly, and develop + test opinions very rapidly. Through his blog and reviews, he’s changed my mind on a lot of things that I wouldn’t have questioned otherwise. The twin “appeals…
Comment linking /
on “I bought those AR cycling glasses that were on HN last month”Submitted The Cat Food Can Stove as a story · 3 points
HN discussionI am unreasonably amused the the existence of camp stoves with USB ports: https://andrewskurka.com/biolite-campstove-review/ They're pricey ($150) and heavy (2 pounds, heavy if you're carrying it around all day), making them less than entirely practical. But it tickles me that you can plug your phone into your campfire. I don't know if you could pull off the charger and plunk it down on the crust of a lava flow, but…
Comment linking /biolite-campstove-review/
on “Mouse found atop a 22,000-foot volcano, breaking world record”Submitted The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide: Tools and Techniques to Hit the Trail (2nd Ed) as a story · 3 points
HN discussionThe “Great Western Loop”: he hiked 6875 miles in 208 days. https://andrewskurka.com/adventures/great-western-loop/
Comment linking /adventures/great-western-loop/
on “A Backpacker's Guide to Maps”Submitted Vapor Barrier Liners: Theory and Application (2011) as a story · 3 points
HN discussionI once undertook the task of searching for the mythical fabric that offered breathability and water-resistance. A big issue is that as your exertion increases, you sweat more and need more breathability, compared to when you're sitting around. In addition, breathability is hampered by the fabric's pores being clogged by dirt, body oils, and just the fabric wetting out. As such, most fabrics are treated with some DWR…
Comment linking /breathability-its-importance-mechanisms-and-limitations/
on ““Breathability” Comparison of Commercial Outerwear Shell Layers (2018) [pdf]”Submitted Finding historical temp and precip data from Nat'l Center for Environmental Info as a story · 1 points
HN discussionAnother good resource is here: https://andrewskurka.com/how-to-poop-in-the-outdoors-part-1-...
Comment linking /how-to-poop-in-the-outdoors-part-1-site-selection/
on “Best practices for dealing with human waste in the great outdoors”This explains the math. 140 cal/28g. Prep time <5min. http://andrewskurka.com/adventures/alaska-yukon-expedition/f... Also, on general Considerations in Food Items: http://andrewskurka.com/2010/the-5000-calories-per-day-wilde... A worked example in more detail (see "Daily Rations"): http://andrewskurka.com/2012/food-planning-for-multi-day-hik...
Comment linking /2012/food-planning-for-multi-day-hikes-and-thru-hikes/
on “Soylent Taste Test”Andy Skurka has a good writeup on why Gore-Tex is mostly hype: https://andrewskurka.com/why-im-hard-on-gore-tex-the-king-of...
Comment linking /why-im-hard-on-gore-tex-the-king-of-hype-tm/
on “Gore-TEX, a lightweight, waterproof fabric made from the expanded form of PTFE”
