How heavy should your backpacking tent be?
Camping is truly one of the most amazing and unique types of vacations there are, and you will find yours so much more enjoyable if you make sure you are well prepared for it! Check out the following article for some very valuable advice on making your camping trip a total success!
Make sure you plan out your route in advance of your trip. Look to see if there are any special places that you can stop at along the way. It will make the drive much more enjoyable and you may have a lot of fun in the process. Granted, you may need to get to your destination quickly, but if you have time, taking the scenic route is worth it.
If you are planning any kind of backcountry camping, a must carry item is a fire starter kit. If you are in a survival situation, fire is a way to cook, keep you warm, purify water, and signal for help. Many camping stores sell fire starters that can be used when wet and do not require any fuel. Also, try making fire when you are not in a survival situation so you know you can do it if the need arises.
At night, create "bear bags." Tie a rope around the bags with your food and your trash. Then, find a tree and toss bags over a branch, raising until they are at least seven or eight feet off the ground. Tie the rope around the tree so it is secure. This way, bears and other animals will not be able to get into your food and trash during the night.
While camping, cook easy dinners like "hobo stew". Simply bring potatoes, ground meat, and veggies. Cut the veggies and potatoes at your campsite. Using tinfoil like a bowl, put the ingredients inside and fold the foil over until the food is covered. Place foil on hot rocks or the coals of the campfire, and eventually you will have a tasty "stew".
Always pack and carry a survival kit. A survival kit should include items like a flare gun, matches that are waterproof, a knife and other items you think you may need. This kit may keep you alive if you are lost and these items are indispensable for a survival situation. Always carry this pack with you instead of leaving it at the campsite.
If you will be camping somewhere that is very far away from civilization, then make sure you have told several people where you will be as well as how long you are intending to stay. Ask them to call you on the day you are supposed to return to ensure your safety.
Know the climate of your camping area. You will want to have the proper clothing packed for the trip. Knowing how cold the nights get or how hot the days are will help you dress best. You will not want to get caught in the great outdoors with inadequate protection.
It is extremely important to be properly equipped when you go camping. Your trip will not be as fun if you forget imperative items. Write a list in advance of what you are going to need, and then you can check each item off when it is packed. The most basic requirements are a tent, water, sleeping bag, an all-purpose knife, food, matches and soap.
Duct tape can be a camper's very best friend. When disaster strikes on a camping trip, a roll of heavy-duty duct tape will usually save the day. If the tent fabric needs patching in the rain, duct tape will hold back the water. When tent poles need reinforcing, the duct tape will provide support. Do you have holes in your tennis shoes? Duct tape right over it. Whatever the mishap, a roll of duct tape is sure to help!
It is important to have a flashlight when you camp, but make sure the batteries are fully charged. One way to be sure the batteries don't accidentally drain on the journey is to put them into the flashlight backwards. That way if the switch is accidentally engaged, they stay charged. Plus, you know where the batteries are.
Come prepared before you go camping. Often times, even the best plans go awry. There are many things that can go wrong, including illness, injury or extreme weather conditions. You should not be careless, take unnecessary risks, or perform any action without considering the consequences.
When you are going camping, do your best to get as early of a start as possible. It will be your job to pitch your tent so you have somewhere to rest comfortably, and that will be much harder for you to do once it starts to get dark outside.
Wear layered clothing to manage your body temperature. When camping, it is a hassle to have to change clothing when temperatures suddenly rise or drop. However, if you layer your clothing, you will be able to quickly and easily peel off or put on layers of clothing as the need arises.
As crazy as it seems, packing a roll or two of toilet paper is a great idea when you are going camping. If there are no toilets at your destination, you will need to use nature as a bathroom. Leaves are not something you want to wipe with, since you can get poison ivy and a host of other issues. Pack toilet paper.
A great idea when planning your camping trip is to make a list of everything you need before you go. As you pack each item, you can cross it off your list. This is really essential because you do not want to be stuck blowing up your air mattresses because you forgot to pack an air pump.
Many people associate camping with misery; bug bites, sunburns and poor food. While this can be a reality, it can also be avoided by preparing about one week ahead of time. Try to think of all the possible situations that could go wrong, and find a product to help you avoid that situation.
Plan to dress in layers. It is not uncommon for it to be hot and then cold within an hour in some areas. You could awake in the morning to cold weather, for it to just turn hot within a short amount of time. Also, as soon as night time begins to fall, temperatures can plummet. By dressing in layers of clothing, you can easily shed layers when the temperature rises and then add layers when the temperature drops.
Camping is something that is truly enjoyable. You should do some research before planning your next camping trip to make sure you have a positive experience. Use the ideas from the article, and you should be able to set up camping toilet options your tent and start camping whenever you want.