Category: Camping

Tent quality can make or break a camping trip. When a nasty rain pounds the roof of your nylon shelter and fierce winds try to flatten it, you’ll know if your tent has all the right stuff.

Assessing Your Needs

Your tent is a very important part of the camping equipment you will use. You want a tent that can protect you from rain, wind, and insects. It can be a very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situation when a tent fails to do these things.

Choosing a tent can be a challenging experiences with so many options out there. Should I choose a 3 season or a 4 season tent? Do I want a tunnel tent, a cabin tent, or a dome? Should I get a tent with a vestibule or without? The list of questions can go on and on.

No specific tent is truly better then the next, there are however a varying degrees of quality.

How do you plan to use your tent?

For those who plan to use their tent for backpacking and bike camping, the size (packed) and weight of a tent is your first concern.

When you consider the packed size of your tent choice, consider how the tent will fit on your backpack or bike. Does the tent stick out the sides and impend the movement of your arms or body? Is the size of the packed tent bulky, heavy, and reduces the other supplies you can travel with? Most likely you will want to look at some of the smaller sizes.

For those who plan to use their tent for family camping at one location for a few days or a couple of weeks. Cabin tents are often a good choice for camping trips like this.

Number of People

Decide how many people will be using this tent. This is so you can determine adequate sleeping space for each person. It is also important to take the height of the person(s) using the tent as well. A taller camper in a small tent may have the tent walls flapping at their head and feet while trying to sleep, or be forced to sleep in an uncomfortable position.

Give thought to what sleeping gear you intend to use. Do you plan to use and air mattress or a cot? You will want to be able to take into consideration the amount of space that will be used.

What season(s) will this tent be used for?

Some people prefer to do the majority of their camping in the summer, while others enjoy the extremes. There are somethings you will want to consider when thinking about what seasons you will be using your tent for. Does the tent you want have enough ventilation for the warm summer days? If it doesn’t the heat that the tent traps inside may make it unbearable to be in. For cold weather camping it is best to find a tent that is impermeable to wind and in some cases able to handle snow accumulation. On occasionally cool nights the addition of a tent heater, a better rated sleeping bag, or both may be sufficient for added warmth with a 3 season version.

One of the most exhilarating leisure and fun-filled activities is camping. In order for it to be a great outdoor activity and a stress free vacation, you must be sure to pack all necessary equipment. It’s a given that we as humans tend to be forgetful at times. However, don’t let this fact of human-nature ruin your camping trip. It’s unlikely that you will forget the main gear like tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear, or food. However, there are some not so obvious items that are easy to overlook if you don’t have a good and complete checklist.

Tent Gear

As I stated earlier, people will remember to provide overhead cover with the tent but most people will tend to forget the cover under them. A plastic cover to place on the ground inside the tent can be the difference between a comfortable outing and a wet miserable one should water breach the tent. If you’re camping on rocky terrain, an air mattress may provide the additional comfort you need, especially if you are prone to back pain. If you do not want to bother with an air mattress, then you can use a foam pad to provide you more comfort on rough surfaces. The weather can be unpredictable, especially in the mountains, so an emergency blanket can really come in handy when it gets cool.

Small Tools

Small tools are gear that can easily be forgotten. This might include a mini shovel for digging a latrine or a rubber mallet for setting up your tent. A tent repair kit can really come in handy if a heavy rain comes and your tent has developed holes in it. Having one of these can help keep your tent sealed and dry. An extremely useful tool is duct tape. Duct tape is very useful in repairing other camping gear. The list of equipment you may need to take maybe long, but remember the whole point is to make your back-to-nature experience an enjoyable and unforgettable one.

Lighting

Having some light when the sun goes down can be really useful, especially when you are trying to get settled in the tent, or if you find yourself having to wander off in search of a good spot to relieve yourself when the time comes. A camp fire alone is not enough lighting.

First Aid

Other essential items that can be easily forgotten are insect repellent and lotions for rashes. There are all sorts of bugs and poisonous plants in the great outdoors that can provide some nasty bites and rashes. Having a good repellant and lotion can save you from days of misery. A first aid kit is a must have on any trip where immediate medical services are not available. This can be one of the most important pieces of camping equipment that you can bring and you don’t want to be caught without one if something unfortunate happens to someone in your group.

Are you thinking about camping? If so, are you prepared for the usual challenges that nature can throw your way? Though plenty of what you need to know is basic, you must take the time to educate yourself. Keep reading for smart tips.

It’s imperative that you pitch your tent before the sun goes down. Once it gets dark, it is much harder to find wood for your fire, prepare food, and get your tent ready. Those that live in urban areas find this to be the case even more than those that are used to pitch black darkness. Do not get yourself into this situation, and find your shelter during daylight hours.

Be sure to know the recent conditions of where you will be staying. For example, you will want to know if the area will be dry enough to find suitable firewood. It’s always prudent to bring wood that you have gathered beforehand, and to store it in a location where it will stay dry.

It is important to keep in mind the fact that your person and all of your possessions will get dirty during a camping trip. While baby wipes can be used to help for some level of cleanliness, expect that people will get dirty. Be ready for it and accept it. Have fun in nature and don’t be afraid to get dirty! You can always take a bath back at the house.

Be sure your tent is big enough. This makes it possible for everyone to sleep comfortably, and it also allows for room to move about and exit the tent if nature calls.

Make sure that you know basic first aid before you go out on a camping trip. Should an emergency arise, your knowledge of first aid can prevent further issues until help arrives. Also, do your research. Figure out what wild animals are hanging out there and what kinds of poisonous snakes or bugs are sneaking around.

If you are not prepared for your camping trip, your fun excursion can turn dangerous fast. Only go camping when you have prepared yourself for it. Research the area to learn about the wildlife and the geography and climate.

After having read this article, it is easy to see that there are many things that can be overlooked in planning. While camping isn’t a fancy activity, it still requires preparation. Utilize the information you have learned in this article to ensure a fun, safe camping trip.

Ice chests are staples for a weekend getaway, camp or picnic. You might be contended by the thoughts that you have enough cooler boxes to store your beverages, snacks and other food items for the entire duration. However, if you do not pack them properly or prepare the cooler to retain its properties, there are high chances of the food getting spoilt after a couple of days. Before heading for a picnic or a camping trip, you need to prepare your eskies to retain the freshness of the food and beverages.

Preparing the Food for Storage

It needs a lot of preparation to store your food, even if you are heading out on a one day trip. For longer stays, it is best if you keep separate cooler boxes to store drinks in one and food in another. Chances are, you will have to take out drinks quite frequently which means every time the ice box is opened the temperature inside will drop. This is why it’s better to have food stored in a separate esky because the food esky will be opened less frequently than the drinks esky. Before packing the food, wash fruit, vegetables and other perishable foods thoroughly in clean water. Pat them dry with a clean cloth and pack them inside plastic air tight bags. Well sealed plastic containers will also do the job however; they might take up some extra space that can be better utilized with the use of plastic zipper bags. Pack fruit and vegetables in separate bags. Do not cut the fruit or break them to easily fit them in as they will start rotting faster. Do not take the perishable foods out until the time you are planning to use them.

Preparing Warm Foods

To store hot foods and to retain the warmth of your ice cooler ice boxes, you can use warm packs. The food must be wrapped in aluminium foil and must be surrounded by many warm packs. You can wrap the entire contents in a large tea towel and this can be placed inside the ice chest. Always make sure you leave no empty space for the heat to escape out of the towel. Fill empty spaces with tea towels and warm packs.

Cleaning and Care

Dry gel Ice packs can be used to fill up the cooler. You can store them in between bottles of drink or food containers. Doing so will ensure that they remain properly chilled in all your ice boxes. As an additional tip, you can store a container with salt in it. The clean container should be kept inside the freezer a day or two before your journey. Now, place the container at the bottom of the chest, and place meat, fish and other such items on top of it. Also make sure, you clean the chest with a solution of water and vinegar taken in equal proportions. Spray the solution inside and wipe it off. Let it dry by leaving it opens. If the chest has a removable liner, take off the liner and wash it in warm water.