How-to lessons

Lessons from the Bunkhouse

Plain, step-by-step lessons for using and caring for the gear on your Saddlebag Supplies list, sorted by shelf and by crew role.

By shelf · By crew role

Gear only helps if you know how to use it. The bunkhouse is where a crew swaps know-how after the day's work, so that's where these live: what each piece is for, how to practice, step-by-step use, common mistakes, and how to keep it ready. Pick a shelf or find your crew role.

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By shelf

Air & Smoke

Building a Box-Fan Air Cleaner (MERV 13): EPA's DIY air cleaner: a newer UL or ETL box fan, a 20x20 MERV 13 filter, a cardboard shroud, and frequent filter changes. Plus the safety rules. (4 min, Fixer)
Respirators and Mask Fit for Smoke and Ash: Why a NIOSH Approved N95 or P100 beats a bandana, how to put one on, the user seal check, beards and kids, and when to toss it. CDC and EPA steps. (4 min, Sawbones)
Smoke Days at Home: AQI, a Cleaner-Air Room, and Daily Habits: Read the AQI colors on AirNow, set up one cleaner-air room, run the HVAC on recirculate, and skip the indoor smoke makers. EPA and Ready.gov steps. (4 min, Ramrod)

Clothing

Layering Clothes for Changing Weather: The three-layer system (base, mid, shell) for fast weather changes: what each layer does, what fabrics to pick, and how to adjust as you go. (4 min, Scout)

Communication

GMRS Radio Basics for Families: What GMRS is, how the FCC license works ($35, 10 years, covers family), and how to set up and talk on a GMRS handheld. Not legal advice. (4 min, Lookout)
A Family Walkie-Talkie Channel Plan: Build a simple FRS/GMRS channel plan: a main channel, a backup, check-in times, and plain words. Fits on one index card. Not legal advice. (4 min, Lookout)

Documents & Cash

The Go-Binder: Documents, Cash, and Backups: Which papers to copy, how to back them up on a password-protected drive or the cloud, why small bills matter, and how to keep it all grab-ready. (3 min, Ramrod)
The Family Meeting and the Planning Binder: Run a short family meeting with Ready.gov's five questions, pick an out-of-town contact and meeting spots, and keep it all in one planning binder. (4 min, Ramrod)

Extras

Sleep and Morale When the Power's Out: Keep the outfit rested and in good spirits through a long outage: a daily routine, safe light and heat at night, games, and where to call for support. (5 min, Ramrod)

Fire

Fire Starting with a Ferro Rod and Stormproof Matches: Light a fire three ways (lighter, stormproof matches, ferro rod), build it right, and put it dead out with Smokey Bear's drown-stir-feel method. (4 min, Cookie)

First Aid

Basic Wound Care: Cleaning and Bandaging Small Cuts and Scrapes: Red Cross check-call-care first, then how to stop, clean, and cover a minor cut or scrape, when to change the bandage, and signs it needs a doctor. (4 min, Sawbones)
Burns: Basic First Aid and When It's an Emergency: Cool a burn with clean running water, cover it loosely, and skip the butter and ice. Red Cross signs that a burn needs 911 or the ER. (4 min, Sawbones)
Your First-Aid Kit: Layout, Checks, and Restocking: Lay out a family first-aid kit so anyone can find things fast, check it against the Red Cross list, and restock and rotate dates on a schedule. (5 min, Sawbones)
Organizing the OTC Shelf: Sorting by Type and Rotating Dates: Sort over-the-counter basics by type, store them cool, dry, and up and away from kids, rotate expiration dates, and dispose of old ones the FDA way. (5 min, Sawbones)
When to Call 911 (and What to Say): Clear signs that mean call 911 now, from the Red Cross, CDC, and 911.gov, plus what the call-taker will ask and how to teach kids to call. (5 min, Sawbones)

Home Safety

Shutting Off Gas, Water, and Power: Find and tag your gas, water, and electric shutoffs before you need them. Gas off only for a leak; only the gas company or a pro turns it back on. (4 min, Fixer)
Using a Fire Extinguisher: PASS and When to Get Out: When it's safe to fight a small fire, how to use an extinguisher with PASS, what ABC means, and monthly checks, per the US Fire Administration. (3 min, Fixer)

Kids & Family

Packing a Kids' Go-Bag (Including Infants): What to pack for kids and babies: an ID and contact card, their own headlamp, something to do, and CDC's advice on ready-to-feed formula. (4 min, Ramrod)

Light & Power

Headlamps, Batteries, Solar Charging, and Faraday Storage: Keep lights and radios running: battery storage do's and don'ts, power banks, charging from a folding solar panel, and testing a Faraday bag. (4 min, Lookout)

Map and Compass Basics: Learn the parts of a baseplate compass, set declination with NOAA's calculator, orient a map, and take and follow a bearing. Works with no signal. (4 min, Scout)

Seasonal

Wildfire Go-Plan: Evacuation Quick Steps: Get set before fire season: alerts, two ways out, a half-full tank, and the 6 P's to grab. Then when to go and what to do once you're out. (5 min, Ramrod)

Shelter & Warmth

Setting Up a Tent and a Warm Sleep System: Pick a good spot, pitch a tent fast in wind, and stack a pad and bag so you sleep warm. Ratings explained: pad R-value and bag comfort vs. limit. (4 min, Scout)

Tools

Knife and Hatchet Safety and Sharpening: Carry, use, and store blades safely, chop with a hatchet the Forest Service way, and sharpen a knife on a stone. Plain steps for the Fixer. (5 min, Fixer)

Vehicle

Using Your Winter Car Kit (and What to Do If You're Stranded): What NHTSA and Ready.gov say to keep in your car, how to check your state's chain rules, and the CDC and NWS steps if you're stuck in snow. (5 min, Scout)

Water

Making Water Safe: Boiling, Bleach, and Purification Tablets: Three ways to treat questionable water: a rolling boil (3 minutes above 6,500 ft), unscented bleach by the CDC table, and tablets used per the label. (4 min, Cookie)
Storing and Rotating Your Water Supply: How much water to store, how to clean and fill your own containers, and a simple rotation habit, based on Ready.gov guidance. (3 min, Cookie)
How to Use a Squeeze Water Filter: Set up, use, backflush, and store a squeeze-type water filter, plus why you still disinfect after filtering. Plain steps from CDC and Sawyer guidance. (4 min, Cookie)

By crew role

Ramrod

Leader: the plan, the binder, the people.

Sawbones

First aid. Every first-aid lesson carries a not-medical-advice note and points to Red Cross training.

Food, water, and fire.

Lookout

Comms, light, and power.

Scout

Navigation, shelter, and getting there.

Fixer

Tools, repairs, and home safety.

Not medical or legal advice. Lessons that touch health, FCC licensing, fire codes, or traffic law say so at the top and link to the official source. In an emergency, call 911.

Lessons link to the shelves on our Gear pages. Saddlebag Supplies may earn a commission if you buy through shop links elsewhere on the site. This doesn't change your price.