To leave your own comfort zone and do something you’ve never done before isn’t just exciting but the perfect way to get out of the hum and drum of the daily routine. Just switch off, dive into the nature and discover new challeneges. It doesn’t matter if it’s on holiday or at home, microadventures are ideal for everyone. We’ve got a few expeditions suggestions that you can do right right in front of your home – adventures you’ve never known the likes of!
What is a microadventure?
Get out into nature, for a few hours or a few days, and do something new for you: That is a microadventure! What exactly is new and unusual for you is, of course, very individual. Almost anything can be a microadventure. You can’t talk about an invention here, but Alastair Humphreys was the one who coined the term “microadventure” in 2014. And thus formulated a name for this movement of after-work adventurers.
A night under the stars
A sleeping mat, a sleeping bag and an unobstructed view of the stars – in theory, that’s all you need for a micro-adventure that allows you to get away from it all for a short while, even in the middle of the week. Or do you prefer a hammock for a night under the open sky? Just stretch it between two sturdy trees, snuggle in and listen to the sounds of nature.
Can I just sleep somewhere in nature?
Make sure to check the local laws regarding spending the night in nature. It might sound crazy, but this isn’t the 1400s anymore, in the 21st century, you can’t just set up camp when and where it pleases you. To avoid spending a night behind bars (although that could be a microadventure for most) stay informed! Also try using a local tracking app to help find the best path.
The right product from Teufel
Use your sense of direction: Hiking without smartphone and GPS device
We constantly follow rules and fixed routes. Our eyes are constantly glued to our smartphones and we stubbornly follow the voice “now turn left”. It can be surprisingly refreshing to hike without a smartphone and other technical aids. Just give it a try: choose a hiking route or simply a specific destination and a rough direction. And then just start walking and orient yourself in a completely analogue way for a change.
How to find your way outdoors
Since this is easier said than done, here are a few tips on how and what you can use for orientation outdoors:
- A compass is, of course, the tool of choice for determining the points of the compass.
- Navigate and orient yourself using landmarks such as rivers, mountain peaks, bridges or forest edges.
- You can check whether you are on the right track on your way back by looking at unique waypoints such as prominent trees, old huts or even anthills.
- The position of the sun is also an important indicator of the compass direction. However, consider what time of year you are travelling – or even where on the globe. If you are going on a micro-adventure abroad.
Not every tip is useful
There are many more supposed tips on how to find your way in the wild. Some, however, might lead you astray. For example:
- Supposedly, the mossy side of tree trunks faces north – in fact, this varies greatly, especially in densely overgrown forests, because moss growth depends on many factors. On free-standing trees, moss growth is most likely to indicate the weather side: and in this country that is usually west. But you should not rely on this alone.
- Just like moss on the north side, ant hills are supposedly always on the south side of trees. In fact, the insects like it warm and choose a sunny spot. However, where it is particularly sunny can differ. Especially in densely overgrown forests, there is another tricky point: can you “assign” the anthill exactly to a tree?
- If in doubt, always go straight ahead and you will eventually come to a road … This is well-meant advice, but it does not necessarily lead to success. Everyone has a strong leg, which inevitably makes you walk in circles over long distances: At least if you don’t consciously follow a straight line. In the forest, you can aim for trees in a row and walk along this imaginary line, which you keep leading.
Making a campfire without a lighter and matches
First a little warning: Before you start a campfire, find a place where you are allowed to do so and where it is safe. For example, in (your) garden in a fire bowl or on a paved fireplace. It’s not allowed in the forest and especially in summer it’s negligent.
The place has been found, now it’s time to get down to business. Plan some time, because lighting a fire without a ratchet on the lighter or a match can actually take a while. You have several options to get flames blazing. But the first step is to gather fuel.
The be-all and end-all: suitable tinder
Besides larger pieces of wood for the fire, you need very dry, fast-burning material to start with. A spark should be enough to set the tinder on fire. Suitable materials include dry grass, newspaper, scraped wood shavings, pollen from thistles or dandelions, and birch bark. In any case, the material should be very dry.
There’s many ways to start a fire
Once you have the fuel, you need the spark – or simply a lot of heat. You can start your fire in the following ways:
- A magnifying glass or plastic bottle with water focuses the sunlight. Aim the beam at a single spot in the dry tinder for a long time.
- Strike a flint or fire steel to make sparks fly.
- The MacGyver method: Use a battery and chewing gum paper to start a fire. Place the coated side of the paper on the positive and negative pole – beforehand, cut the paper narrow in the middle or crumple it up a bit. Shortly afterwards, a short circuit causes the paper to ignite at the narrow point.
- For survival professionals, the only way to light a fire in the proper manner is to use a fire drill and a lot of friction. This method is the most time-consuming – but probably gives you the most satisfaction when it works. To help you succeed, here is a video with clear instructions.
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more
Warst du erfolgreich, hast du es dir redlich verdient, mit Freunden am selbst entfachten Lagerfeuer anzustoßen.
Find the right track for your adventure – outdoor speakers from Teufel
- ▶MOTIV GO: This portable Bluetooth speaker can also accompany you when you spend the night under the stars, thanks to its IPX5 protection rating.
- ▶ROCKSTER CROSS: Robust, practical, loud – the ROCKSTER CROSS is made for outdoor adventures. Whether it’s a big expedition or a micro adventure, the powerful stereo system with two tweeters, a subwoofer and two passive drivers ensures the right atmosphere at any location.
- ▶Find more outdoor loudspeakers in our online store.
Note: the comment function will be available daily between 08:00 and 21:00