Camping in a tent

October 29th, 2011

When I camp in a tent I am always looking for a tent that will have enough room for me and whomever I am going to sleep with. The next thing I look for is will all my equipment fit inside the tent. Most people don’t think about measuring how long their sleeping bag is and if the tent will accommodate it.

I like to have enough room in my tent for 2 sleeping bags, 2 chairs and a small card table. This comes in handy if it decides to rain all weekend. Set up the tent at home ahead of time to go on you camping trip. Make sure everything you are going to take will fit the way that you want. Also while you have the tent set up would be a great opportunity to apply seam sealer to all the seams to help keep out the rain. This would also be a good time to make certain the ground cloth is the right size as well. Either way making sure you have enough room inside the tent us a good thing.

Extreme weather tip. Take a ground cloth to place under the tent before you set the tent up. And take a ground cloth to put inside the tent under your sleeping bag and gear. the ground cloth under the tent will help keep rain or melting snow from getting to the bottom of the tent. Having a ground cloth inside the tent will help keep the condensation away from the bottom of your gear since it may be warmer inside the tent, well lets hope so anyway, lol.

Remember, no matter the season or conditions it is a good idea to have a tent that has enough room for what ever you may need to put inside.

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Cold Weather Camping

March 13th, 2010

Image credit: MountainDog

Cold weather camping is an activity that may not be for the whole family, but for those that relish the cold, the outdoors is the place to be. Cold weather camping is camping in windy, cold or wet weather with temperatures less than 40 degrees. The key to camping in this kind of weather is staying warm and hydrated.

If a fire is necessary to stay warm, so are more clothes. In cold weather, layering is essential. Several light layers is much more effective than one heavy layer, providing better insulation. Also, layers can be shed or added to maintain a comfortable temperature. Loose clothing is also better for insulating than tight clothes. Thermal polypropylene underwear is the best choice, next is wool. Cotton is not a good insulator and will not do well if it becomes wet.

Just as layering is essential, so is staying dry. If socks or other clothes become wet, a change as soon as possible is necessary. Polypropylene, wool and gore-tex are the best options for keeping moisture out and the skin and under-layers dry. For socks, layering is again a good idea; thin liners are as a first layer, then wool.

Coats and hats are important pieces. A gore-tex coat is a great choice as it provides warmth but allows moisture to escape. Make sure it is large enough to go over all the layers. A hood is a nice asset to a coat, even with a hat. It can keep rain and snow out of the face and off the neck. As for a hat, many different styles exist, some cover just the top of the head, some cover the ears, and many cold weather campers choose a ski mask for facial coverage.

Another essential is gloves or mittens, or both. Because with mittens, fingers touch, more warmth is generated. Many campers sleep in their mittens and use gloves for daily tasks. Gloves with flip off fingers are a good idea because the palm can retain heat while work is done, then the fingers of the glove can be put back on.

It’s also important to consider the gear that you’re going to bring on your camping trip. Having a good tent is very important and will go a long way to making your nights more comfortable. A good cold weather camp sleeping bag is also essential – nothing will ruin your winter camping trip faster than being cold at night!

When cold weather camping, drinking water is key – lots and lots of water. Dehydration can happen fast in the cold. For food, complex carbs will help keep the body warm. Potatoes are great camping food for warmth and energy, and they can easily be slow-cooked in the coals of your campfire..

Cold weather camping can be exhilarating! Just remember to stay warm, dry and hydrated!

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Camping With Children

March 13th, 2010

Summer is on its way, and families are looking forward to spending quality time together. Camping with children can be the best way to enjoy quality time, and have plenty of fun. Planning in advance is the key to making it a great experience for everyone concerned. Not only do you need to know what you want to do, but also be prepared for unexpected changes to your plans.

Your camping trip should start with a basic time frame. If you have very young children in your family, it might be a good idea to limit your trip to two or three days. This will give your youngsters plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors, while ensuring they not become overly tired or bored. A little structure in your plans is also a positive start. However, leaving them open to changes is also beneficial. Your family may decide they like an activity so much that they want to do more of it. Fishing, cooking outdoors, and similar activities fit into this category.

When you are camping with children, be sure you have the supplies you need. The more comfortable and convenient your trip is for your entire family, the more fun you will have together. Your tents, sleeping bags, and items needed for cooking and eating, are at the top of the must-have list. Don’t forget to make sure that the kids camping sleeping bags you got are the right size for them. Kids often grow so fast that the sleeping bag they used last year may not be big enough for them this year.

Planning for unexpected changes includes weather changes. Even during the warmest summer months, you may experience a drop in temperature, or a sudden rain shower. Being prepared in advance means your trip will not be spoiled. Extra clothing and maybe even a battery-operated heater will go a long way to keeping your family dry and warm.

Having age-appropriate entertainment is a necessity for a successful camping trip. While you do not want to go overboard, entertainment that is both fun and relaxing can be the ideal way to end a day in the outdoors. Whether you want to share ghost stories, play board games or cards, or sing songs, these activities can make your trip even better.

Camping is an exciting experience for everyone. You do not need to put much time or effort into thinking of ways to make it a great experience for your children, as their natural curiosity and love of the outdoors is all they need. Your camping trip can be an adventure for them to delight in and fondly remember for many years to come.

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