John D

I vote for Eureka. Just got back from a month in France on bikes with my wife and three teenagers, camping with a Eureka Outfitter 4 in a very wet summer. Absolutely bone dry, no problems, heavy duty floor lets you leave the ground cloth at home. It's expensive but so is a hotel in Paris when the wife rebels in a leaky tent. Also used it in Pakistan 2 years ago, and in Kenya last year, but both places I hired a porter to carry it.

All the fun things I did as a kid are banned in this safe scouting guide, which reads more like a guide to avoid litigation. Here in the middle east we do not have scum bag lawyers lurking behind every bush, thank goodness. I pity you USA scouters who have to worry constantly about being sued. Some serious tort reform would put more fun and spontaneity back into scouting, and give scouters some measure of protection.

Hello Survival gurus: Our troop has struggled with fire by bow and drill. We get lots of smoke but no fire. Anyone tell me how to prepare the tinder? Don't say go get a pre-made kit, we live over seas. Details, please. Thanks, John D