Packing Tips for a Camping Trip

Camping is a pretty unique experience. You get to spend time away from the hustle of city life. Do you want to see a spectacular sight? Then sit or lie down under a night sky full of brilliant stars, they seem close enough to reach out and touch them.

Whether you are planning a long or short getaway, you never know what you are going to run into or what you may need. Let me give you some tricks and tips to planning and packing for a trip into the wilderness.

A.First you need to pick an area in your house and put all of your equipment in that area prior to packing. Try to start this process a few days in advance. This way you won’t forget something of major importance.

B.Take a good look at your equipment pile and when you think you have everything laid out, spend some time going over your camping list of things you want to bring and double check it.

C.When you are done packing your equipment, the next step should be getting your clothing together. Your clothes should be layered to compensate for changing temperatures and rain. Always bring spare clothing; you should always be prepared for the unexpected. Try to stay away from cotton as it dries slowly and offers little to no insulation when it gets wet.

D.Test all of your equipment before you head out. Be sure you know how your camp stove works and bring plenty of fuel. Do you lanterns work, is your tent complete?

E.Bring along several nylon bags to store your gear, and don’t forget the water purification tablets and a water bladder in case you are not near a reliable source of drinking source.

F.Plan your meals ahead of time. You want to be sure you have enough food.

All of the above mentioned items are useful; some are luxuries while others are necessities.

Mark Schmitz
http://www.articlesbase.com/camping-articles/packing-tips-for-a-camping-trip-222308.html

Tips of Making Up Your Camping Gear

You are going camping! That is exciting. But with all of the things you need to bring, you are all confused and your idea of fun is slowly draining. How the hell are you going to start gathering up your camping gear. You personally need to ensure that you have all the basic camping gear in the right place before you start camping. Here are sure ways to help you round up your stuff to compose the best of your camping gear.

1) You may need extra camping gear more than you will ever know if you plan on camping for extended periods or if you are planning to camp outside of the cabin. Hence, you must plan your camping. If you are staying out in the wilderness instead of staying in a hikers’ cabin, then you have to carry a suitable tent, comfortable sleeping bags, or mosquito repellers. If you planning on staying longer, then there is a need for lighting batteries, more food supplies, or cooking equipments. It all depends on what you are planning to do on your trip. Have a list of activities to do alongside with the materials needed. Do not forget necessary items. As much as possible avoid the luxury ones. Do not bring things that you won’t be needing. The idea with outdoor travels is packing light for ease of travel.

2) Get information and discounts on the best camping gear from catalogues. Every now and then, camping gear manufacturers and stockers send out mags or flyers with festive sales, discounts, or special infos. So make the most out of it.

3) Go to the large shopping malls like Wal-Mart. They hold an array of basic camping gear available at a wide range of budget. They are also great for purchasing cheap but good enough camping gear (Just make sure to consider buying the more durable equipment, not just the good-for-one-use items, if you are a frequent camper).

4) Practical experience tells you that you can make your own camping gear. Gather up on some books or online tutorials and march to the do-it-yourself store. Most of the items you probably need are just lying around the house. This reduces your camping gear expenses at a fraction of the cost. Plus, doing activities like this adds in to the fun of camping.

5) Ask around among family and friends if they have the camping gear you need. There is always the practical benefit of mutual borrowing. Go ahead and buy one or two quality items that you can exchange. Just make sure that you do not cause damage to others’ invested equipment.

6) Before buying anything else, consider the best backpack you could ever get to hold in the rest of your camping gear. This is probable the one thing that you want to invest in. Buy a good quality bag with just the right size (style is not that necessary). You certainly don’t want myriads of mini bags or tied-to-rope items hanging around when you traveling outdoors. And trust me, you will know what and how much to put in right after you have a good idea of where to put it.

7) Check your food items. Consider taking in less by preferring dehydrated meals that are lightweight. When it comes to water, it is better to carry much as there may be no available safe drinking water around on the camp site. Bring very little sauces and seasonings like sugar and salt. You may not need jars and jars of them if you know what I mean.

Consider the time of the year you will be traveling. If you are going out on the summer months, then bring along light clothing. If you are going out on the cooler months, then pack heavier but warmer clothing. And you might be needing a quality rainwear regardless of the forecast.

9) Share your camping gear between hiking partners. Delegate who will bring what. This reduces the possibility of bringing more than you will need. You do not need too many flashlights do you? You get the idea.

So those are the tips. Escaping the great outdoors is exciting, and to consider carefully planning your basic camping gear can even get you a long way in having the best vacation ever.

Rachel Nunez
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/tips-of-making-up-your-camping-gear-698339.html

What hiking and camping gear should I buy?

Ok here’s the scoop…
I want to get into hiking and camping with my wife. I currently have no gear. What should I buy? I have about $800 to work with. I am planning on camping through 3 seasons, spring, summer, and fall (a little in the winter perhaps). I am going to need a two person tent, his and hers sleeping bags, and his and hers backpacks. I am looking for gear that would take me on 2-4 day hikes. Should go with internal or external backpacks. What’s the difference? Is there a good rain resistant tent within my price range? I’m thinking I would want a mummy type sleeping bag. Again, not sure though. Brand names with reasons for purchasing would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Go to www.cabelas.com and browse around, or better yet request a catalog. It’s the best outdoors outfitter I’ve ever used. First off, since you’re talking about backpacking, you need to think lightweight. Interior/Exterior just has to do with whether the frame is inside or outside the "pack" on a backpack. To decide on which type is better fo you, go to a good sporting goods store in your area and look at them/try them on. Sleeping backs should definately be the "mummy" style bags. They are around $100 each, but are very lightweight and can handle moderately cold weather (sleeping bags will have a rating in degrees to how cold it can get and you can still rely on the sleeping bag). They can also be compacted better than classic sleeping bags. Any brand in Cabela’s would be a good brand, including its own brand. Also buy you and your wife sleeping pads… they are light, compact, and your back is worth it. I like the self-inflating type, but you can also get foam ones. Again any brand in Cabela’s (this goes for all their products) is usually a good brand.

Tents are usually rated by seasons they can be used in (summer, 3-season, or all weather are popular ratings). Definately go for a dome-style tent rather than the boxier tents. Dome style tents are usually more sturdy, deflect water better, and are usually lighter. Also you’ll want one with a good rain cover that goes close to the base of the tent, and a high waterproof rating (in mms)… 1,500mm waterproof ratings are pretty good. Also, pay attention to weight. Aluminum weighs less than fiberglass, but costs more also. A two person tent probably weighs around 15 lbs, and you and your wife can split this weight (she takes tent, you poles) or you can pack it yourself, but weight is the largest factor (besides neccesities) when hiking.

Alright, now that we have the major equipment out of the way, here are some neccessities.

-First Aid Kit and maps or knowledge of area, or GPs
-Flashlight w/extra batteries and lantern would be nice
-Good all-purpose knife/survival knife
-water purification pump AND purification pills… start out with at least 1/2 gallon of water each
-Waterproof matches AND waterproof lighter (just in case)
-Lightweight stove. Sporting good store can recommend good ones for backpacking.
-Food: lightweight, non-perishables, such as top ramen, energy bars, canned food, chocolate. Fatty foods are good to have in the woods since you will be burning a lot of calaries. They say one of the best things you can eat if your lost is butter. You may burn 3,000 or more calaries a day, so don’t try to go on a diet right then. I recommend some type of powder flavoring for water… it doesn’t always taste great when used with purification pills.
-Dish soap, eating utensils and backpacking pots. They usually come in a nice kit that doesn’t take up much space. Look on Cabela’s or at a sporting goods store.
-TOILET PAPER
-Permits. You usually have to get permits to camp in public parks/Forest Service land. You go to the closest Forestry office to pick these up. These are important if for no other reason than if you don’t come back when your family expects you, they know where to start looking.
-Bear spray
-Clothes that can be layered, gloves, beanies, good hiking boots and tennis shoes if you dont mind the extra weight (for camp).

Recommended Supplies:

-Cell phone or handheld CB at least
-Camera (for obvious reasons)
-Rope(hang your food away from camp so predators dont get into it).
-Insect repellant/sunblock

There’s probably more that I am missing, but those are the most important. The most important thing to do when going camping is to tell at least two responsible people you know where you’re going, and give them a timeframe for coming back. Also I recommend you both take a First Aid Course… they are usually free and something could go wrong quickly (although unlikely) in the forests… snake bite, broken leg, heat stroke, hyperthermia, bear attack, drinking bad water (always purify or boil for five minutes… & retrieve from running water source. If impossible to purify, find area where water is "falling"… it’s usually cleanest there).

I’m not trying to scare you away and you guys will probably have a blast, but definately be prepared.

Camping Necessities

Be Prepared for Your Next Camping Trip

When going on a camping trip, it is best to come completely prepared.  Often times, when you are camping, you are pretty far away from the nearest gas station or large grocery chain – both are places that we have become dependent on in today’s society.  Whether you are camping with the family in your RV or if you are hiking the wilderness alone, there are some basic necessities that you should not leave behind. 

RV Camping Necessities

When you and your family go RV camping, you have the luxury of a large automobile with plenty of storage space for food, beverages and other camping equipment.  You will also want to make sure that you have plenty of emergency equipment in case your RV runs into a bit of bad luck on the road.  Spare tires, fully charged flashlights and cell phones as well as items such as snow chains or engine coolant, depending on which season you are traveling during. 

When travelling across the country in an RV, you have enough room to house items such as a microwave or a miniature refrigerator, so you can plan your meals accordingly.  Most of the places you stop at during your vacation will have all the amenities you could ever need such as electricity, sewer, or gasoline; however, it is still important to verify that these amenities will be available to you before you plan the stops on your RV camping trip. 

Tent Camping Necessities

If you are planning on taking your family tent camping, the situation changes dramatically.  First and foremost, you need a place to sleep so make sure that the tent is packed or it will be a cold and miserable weekend! You must also consider how to store and transport your food for the trip.  In most cases, a large ice chest will do quite wonderfully.  Many camp sites that you visit will have basic amenities such as restrooms and showers, which make camping in a tent easier and more accessible for everyone. 

In some cases, it may be necessary to bring items such as folding chairs and a table so that you will have a place to eat.  Although most camp sites you find will come equipped with picnic benches and fire pits, if you aren’t staying in a state park or private campground, these amenities might not be available to you. 

Lastly, there are some adventurous souls who are willing to forego any kind of amenity and completely “rough it.”  For these explorers, items such as canteens and tin plates for cooking and eating become almost a luxury as much as a necessity.  No matter where you decide to camp, it will inevitably become much colder at night.  Therefore it is important to prepare, not only with a high quality sleeping bag, but with thermal garments and quality fire starting equipment.  Although great care and experience are needed in starting one, a campfire is the ultimate survival tool when you are alone in the wilderness, so make sure that you have the necessary equipment to start one.  Not only is it a source of heat and useful for cooking and purifying water, it will also be extremely effective at warding off some of the larger animals during the wee hours of the night. 

Successful Camping

As you can see, the necessities for enjoying yourself and staying safe on your next camping trip vary depending on whether you are staying in your RV, taking the family out for some tent camping, or exploring the wilderness on your own.  Although many more items might be necessary depending on the location of your camping trip and the time of year in which you go, the items discussed above will give you a better understanding on how to prepare for your next camping vacation.

Cory Howell
http://www.articlesbase.com/camping-articles/camping-necessities-674599.html

Basic Camping Gear for the Family

Camping with family is the best way to tighten your bond with them. Not only can your kids learn a lot about nature tripping, you can also build up memories from this and your kids will surely remember the fun they have experienced on this trip. But if it’s your first time to experience such adventure, you need to learn about camping gear just to make sure you’re family has everything they need when coming to camps.

Camping gear nowadays vary from small to big items. It’s really important to know what gears you should be getting and to know if your vehicle and bags could accommodate all of your stuff. But of course you have to consider the important stuff so as not to overload your ride. Basic camping gears that you could bring are the following:

Tents

Tents will serve as your shelter. If you have a big family, you have to make sure that you’ve got enough tents for everyone. Tents come in various size and shapes. Camping experts say you have to have the right tent depending on the terrain and weather. This will serve as your family’s protection.

Sleeping Bags, Pillows

This will serve as your bed. And having sleeping bags can provide additional warmth and comfort when sleeping on the ground. There are lots of sleeping bags you can shop around depending on what kind of sleeper you are. Make sure to check on the temperature rating that way you can be comfortable with your camping bedding.

Rain Gear

When suddenly rain starts to pour down while you’re hiking, you will definitely need your rain gear. Plastic rain coats are light and easy to carry around. This way you don’t get soaked up while hiking.

Lanterns and Flashlights

This could light up place on a dark cold night in the wilderness.

Camp Stoves

These stoves are very handy. And it makes cooking easy. Just makes sure you bring enough fuel for this.

Cooler and Ice chest

To accommodate all of your drinks, and if you have enough space on your trailer or vehicle, you can definitely make room for coolers. They can help preserve your food and retain the coolness of your drinks.

Tarps

I have done some research on other important camping gear and I’ve come across tarps (specifically tent footprint tarps). This could actually make your tents last longer and a protection from making it damp.

Sharps

Actually, I am referring to knives and other cutting devices. You have to make sure to have one just in case you need to cut a rope or even dice up your food. And it could be handy in some emergency cases.

It’s fun to research about camping gear. But definitely choosing your own would also mean you have to take note of your budget. Make sure on your first camping trip with the family, they can have all the comfort just like at home. Definitely it will have a lasting effect on them.

Rachel Nunez
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/basic-camping-gear-for-the-family-672633.html