[Immortal]

OPERATION: TOUCH GRASS
Mission Briefing – HF Division

Listen up.

Some of you are deploying outside basement and touching grass this season, I figured I'd drop a quick guide on how to actually prepare for camping without looking like a complete "skid" in the woods.

This is your field manual.

---

PHASE I – Loadout Configuration
Failure to prepare is preparing to suffer.

• Shelter Unit: Your tent is your FOB (Forward Operating Base). Choose something fast-deploy and weather-resistant. Practice setup before deployment.
  
• Sleep System: Sleeping pad = critical insulation layer. Ground will drain your body heat fast. No pad = 0300 regret.
  
• Seating Platform: Bring a real camp chair. Sitting on logs is a low-tier morale decision.
  
• Illumination: Headlamp over flashlight. Hands-free tactical advantage during night ops.
  
• Power Reserve: Compact power banks. Devices go airplane mode after 2100 hours. This is an operation, not a scrolling session.
  

---

PHASE II – Apparel & Environmental Defense

• Base Layer: Moisture-wicking material only. Cotton absorbs sweat and becomes a liability.
  
• Insulation Layer: Fleece or light insulated jacket. Temperature drops fast after sundown.
  
• Outer Shell: Waterproof barrier. Weather intel is never 100% reliable.
  
• Footwear: Broken-in boots or trail shoes. Blisters compromise mobility.
  
• Spare Socks: Dry feet = sustained morale.
  

---

PHASE III – Sustenance & Hydration Logistics

• Cooler Pre-Chill Protocol: Ice the cooler 12–24 hours prior to food insertion.
  
• Meal Pre-Assembly: Chop, portion, marinate before departure. Field efficiency is key.
  
• Hydration Plan: Carry surplus water or deploy a filtration system near source.
  
• Keep It Simple: One-pan meals. Foil packs. Rapid execution, minimal cleanup.
  

---

PHASE IV – Fieldcraft Enhancements

• Fire Ignition Kit: Cotton balls + petroleum jelly stored in sealed bag. Ignites instantly under damp conditions.
  
• Ambient Light Hack: Headlamp strapped around water jug facing inward. Creates dispersed tent illumination.
  
• Duct Tape Wrap: Wrap around bottle for emergency repairs.
  
• Heavy-Duty Trash Bags: Multi-use: poncho, ground barrier, gear isolation.
  
• Insect Countermeasures: Repellent deployed before dusk. Tent zippers sealed at all times.
  

---

PHASE V – Risk Mitigation & Operational Security

• Daylight Deployment: Establish base before nightfall. Darkness increases error rate.
  
• Food Security: No food stored inside shelter. Use bear-resistant containers or secured vehicle storage. (Can attract wolves)
  
• Weather Contingency: Extra insulation + rain shell mandatory.
  
• Mission Disclosure: Inform trusted contact of coordinates and return ETA.
  
• Medical Kit: Blister treatment, bandages, pain relief. Small kit. Major impact.
  

---

PHASE VI – Morale & Comfort Optimization

• Compact Pillow: Neck alignment improves recovery.
  
• Camp Footwear: Easy on/off for night movement.
  
• Field Hygiene: Wet wipes. Low-effort decontamination.
  
• Morning Coffee Ritual: Pre-measured grounds + simple brew method. Sunrise discipline.
  

---

FINAL DIRECTIVE:

Overpacking slows you down. Underpacking weakens you.
Refine the loadout. Test your systems. Execute cleanly.

This could be a vacation, Mindset.

It’s a controlled wilderness operation.

Report your loadouts below.
Any advanced field hacks to contribute?

[Condoms]

I plan on going to Wyoming in early May/June...

This could be beneficial.

[7]

Nice thread. Glad to see some real effort!
Great job mate

[qerprocess]

vdh🙁☹️😁🙄

[RiveR29]

Or, hear me out. instead of packing a big tent etc, you should buy a Bivy bag. The best and easiest sleep I have ever gotten in woods.
Plus the biggest upside for it is that I can comfortably sleep in there in -25°C

What I use in my normal hikes and over night stays.

-Savotta jaeger XL rucksack (with enough extra molle pouches for 5 to 8 day trip)

-Carinthia Observer Plus Bivy

-Carinthia Defence 6 sleeping bag (Extreme -40°C) So during summer I use much more lighter sleeping bag

-Mimer stove / Trangia

-Finnish army jaeger knife and axe.

I could make a whole list but these are the bare minimum that I carry with me.
And the best part is that the Bivy and Sleeping bag do not take nearly as much space that you would think. With the XL Rucksack you only get it to about 50% full with them. You can pretty much fit everything else you would ever need in there, and if you get the bigger molle pouches you can fit even more stuff in there.




Also, great thread. I really liked to read it. But for me the coolers etc are bit too much, but of course there are differences. Some want the raw experience (Me included) and others want it to be more relaxing and easier, which no shame there. everyone does it their own way. And to all yall who are going camping. Stay safe and respect the wilderness. Keep the woods and camping grounds clean for everyones enjoyment. Thanks.

[MadeByDemons]

Nice to see someone mention hygiene, it often becomes the biggest problem. RiveR29 mentioned somethings like bringing a knife and stove but here are my notes.

Apparel:

-A spare outfit, full set you can get really dirty or wet and have to dry your stuff. Don't stay naked in the meantime
-DEODORANT! Just because because you are in nature doesn't mean you have to smell terrible. Wipe your privates with the wet wipes Immortal told you to bring and put on some deodorant
-Talcum/Baby powder for footwear. Waterproof boots don't always dry/air out easily, this can help AND make some boots more comfortable to wear
-Waterproof and windproof outer shell, usually those go hand in hand but not always make sure to check
-Shemagh scarf or neck gaiter. I like the Shemagh especially since you can also use it as a pillow or a towel in a pinch
-Gloves either for hard wearing or cold protection. Your hands, feet and face feel the worst of the cold at night keep them insulated if needed
-Bandana. Kind of part of my EDC by now but a square piece of cloth is always handy to keep around or on you.

Camp necessities:

-Trowel/Shovel/E-Tool !THIS IS IMPORTANT! If you stay out you will need to take a dump some time. Dig a hole, don't be an asshole and crap wherever(I have personally found human shit in the open near a camping spot during a trip. It's rude, don't be that person.)
-Small plastic bags. This is for small trash mostly but you can use the big black ones that Immortal mentioned. Don't leave trash behind, it's
  rude makes you look like a slob.

First Aid:

-SUNSCREEN even in cold climates. People underestimate how little time they spend in the sun.
-Betadin. You can find it in pharmacies, you can apply it directly as disinfectant and it doesn't take up much space in a first aid kit. Use a clean
  bandage to apply it or cotton makeup removal pads or even the bandana mentioned above!
-Anti-histamines. If you have allergies although I keep some with me after a friend discovered he had an allergy to a specific herb mid trip and
  it caused him quite a bit of discomfort before we got back.


Situational Awareness:

-Where the closest clinic or hospital,firehouse and police station or outpost are and their specific contact info. People go out camping set up a fire and then don't know who to call when it gets out of control or worse the police shows up first because they are closest.

Have fun out there!✌

[RiveR29]

Nice to see someone mention hygiene, it often becomes the biggest problem. RiveR29 mentioned somethings like bringing a knife and stove but here are my notes.

Apparel:

-A spare outfit, full set you can get really dirty or wet and have to dry your stuff. Don't stay naked in the meantime
-DEODORANT! Just because because you are in nature doesn't mean you have to smell terrible. Wipe your privates with the wet wipes Immortal told you to bring and put on some deodorant
-Talcum/Baby powder for footwear. Waterproof boots don't always dry/air out easily, this can help AND make some boots more comfortable to wear
-Waterproof and windproof outer shell, usually those go hand in hand but not always make sure to check
-Shemagh scarf or neck gaiter. I like the Shemagh especially since you can also use it as a pillow or a towel in a pinch
-Gloves either for hard wearing or cold protection. Your hands, feet and face feel the worst of the cold at night keep them insulated if needed
-Bandana. Kind of part of my EDC by now but a square piece of cloth is always handy to keep around or on you.

Camp necessities:

-Trowel/Shovel/E-Tool !THIS IS IMPORTANT! If you stay out you will need to take a dump some time. Dig a hole, don't be an asshole and crap wherever(I have personally found human shit in the open near a camping spot during a trip. It's rude, don't be that person.)
-Small plastic bags. This is for small trash mostly but you can use the big black ones that Immortal mentioned. Don't leave trash behind, it's
  rude makes you look like a slob.

First Aid:

-SUNSCREEN even in cold climates. People underestimate how little time they spend in the sun.
-Betadin. You can find it in pharmacies, you can apply it directly as disinfectant and it doesn't take up much space in a first aid kit. Use a clean
  bandage to apply it or cotton makeup removal pads or even the bandana mentioned above!
-Anti-histamines. If you have allergies although I keep some with me after a friend discovered he had an allergy to a specific herb mid trip and
  it caused him quite a bit of discomfort before we got back.


Situational Awareness:

-Where the closest clinic or hospital,firehouse and police station or outpost are and their specific contact info. People go out camping set up a fire and then don't know who to call when it gets out of control or worse the police shows up first because they are closest.

Have fun out there!✌

You have a lot of good points, for me as former FDF Recon, First Aid is something I forget to mention a lot, because it is the most essential thing with a field shovel. Also very good to mention and to bring up the hygiene. Gudos to you.

[Jahad]

Posting so this thread can save my life one night

[Ash Ketchum]

it wasnt until i seen this thread i realised how blessed i am to know all of this and more by just growing up in rural australia, then i remembered there's more people out there than not who wouldn't survive a day and thats a real shame.