Camping Tips & Tricks
Camping is the best way of having a fun and enjoyable weekend. All over the world there are people who religiously go on camping and enjoy themselves but once in a while we hear a few horror stories which makes one want to avoid camping. These horror stories are from those people who are amateurs or from those who have failed to properly plan their trip. A camper has to plan a trip very cautiously and carefully. The tips provided here are for the beginners and have to be followed to enjoy a camping trip. The preparation may seem to be tedious and tiring but are a must, so as to enjoy the camping trip to the maximum.
Camping is one activity in which is enjoyed by the whole family. Theoretically speaking camping means being in a tent and not staying at some hotel, also it’s cheaper this way. As the camping tent has to be bought once and can be used for any future trips. The first step is to keep all the camping gear in order. Start keeping the required stuff for the trip at one place and keep the adding them as you remember them. The most important equipments are the camping tents, camping lanterns, camp stove and sleeping bags. The tent you buy should be a strong waterproof one. If you are using a tent for the first time it is advisable to try the putting together and the technicalities of it beforehand. Insulated sleeping bags are advisable as they can be used both in winters and summers.
Camping lanterns and camp stoves are another must buy. Grills are often provided at camp sites and hence leave them if they are provided at the camp site. The car which one will be using should have enough space for all the camping gear. Clothes should be kept separately. Heavier items should be kept at the bottom and the lighter item on the top while packing. Freezer should be well stocked and one cooked meal will be a good idea as when you reach the site you will be tired to do the cooking. Small but important items like tea bags, instant coffee powder, milk powder or condensed milk, sugar biscuits and of course most important water should not be forgotten.
Crockery and cutlery should not be very expensive one, so that even if it is lost or damaged it won’t be missed. Crockery items like plates, glass, cups, cooking utensils and more should be packed. Cutlery spoons and knife, forks also have to be kept. Other items to be packed can be barbeque tongs, can opener and vegetable peeler. However if you are camping at a place where water is an issue then it will be a good idea to take disposable plates, cups, glasses and cutlery. Try to collect as much information as possible about the camping site which you have chosen and know the dos and don’ts about the place.
Things To Consider Before You Purchase A Family Camping Tent
Before you purchase a family camping tent, answer these basic questions on how you will be using the tent and what type of camping you will be doing. By determining what type of camping tent is right for you before you buy, you will save money, time and have the perfect tent for your camping experience.
What Type Of Camping Tent Do You Need?
This all comes down to one question. What type of camping do you plan on? If you want to experience the thrills of hiking through the back country, a light weight camping tent for two is the best choice for you. If you are family camping in one location at a camp site, then you might want to opt for some creature comforts of home! Such as room camping tents and large family camping tents that will not only comfortably sleep your entire family but will hold all their personal gear as well.
How many people will be using the tent? And for what purposes?
As this article is geared toward family camping, we’ll stay with the large family style camping tents. First decide on how you will be using your tent. Are you just going to sleep in it? Are you also storing personal items (clothes, entertainment, toiletries) inside? Will you be using the tent to store other camping gear? These are all important to consider before you purchase a camping tent, because when a manufacturer states that a tent sleeps four people, what they really mean to say is – this tent will only fit four normal sized sleeping bags with room for little else! So if your family of four plans to use the tent for more than just sleep, then it’s wise to buy a large family camping tent that sleeps six and quite possibly a tent with more than one room (for those who are planning on camping with pre-teen and/or teenage kids – you know what I mean!).
What Kind Of Camper Are You? And Why This Affects The Type Of Camping Tent You Buy
Again ask yourself what kind of camping you are planning – gentle backpacking, extreme wilderness trekking or family campsite? Typically, if you are a family campsite camper, the amount of time or complexity of setting up your tent is less critical. Obviously, the simpler the better, but for family camping the ease of setting up a large or multiple room family camping tent is not as important of a feature. That is unless you get to your campsite after dusk, then you had better have packed your camping lanterns last! These days most large family camping tents can easily be set up in about 15-20 minutes – if you have read the set-up instructions and have all the guy lines, stakes and tarps handy and ready to use.
What Seasons And Typical Weather Are Most Likely To Encounter?
Obviously spring, summer and fall are the seasons we camp during the most. Yet depending on the geographic area, ask yourself how often could you experience more extreme weather? We all know that sudden rain storms and high winds do happen, and if you typically camp in areas where the possibility of extreme weather can happen, you want to be prepared. Every tent is water resistant to some degree, yet if you camp in an area where frequent rain storms occur, you may want to purchase a tent specifically designed to repel rain. The same thing can be said for high winds, scorching sun and heat and the camping tents that are designed for those types of camping situations, such as stronger poles, sun screens and lots of vents. Buy the tent with the proper features and your camping experience will be that much more wonderful!
Tent Design And Why It Matters
Camping tents come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors and formations. Choosing the best one for you again depends on what style of camper you are, where you typically camp and what you will be using your tent for. When purchasing a tent for family camping, remember you only have to set it up once and take it down once. So during your camping experience your tent should be comfortable for everyone to use and function for all activities. Here are several considerations: Height of tent – if you’re 6’4” and you purchase a dome tent that is 5’6” high at the tallest point, be prepared for lots of stooping, otherwise you may want to purchase a family style camping tent with enough height clearance for the tallest member of the family! Weather – if you camp in a constantly windy area (like some beaches) a dome style of tent would be better as it’s specifically designed to buffer high and constant winds. Humidity – camping in high humidity areas can bring lots of wonderful insects to your camping experience! You may want to purchase a tent with lots of screened vents and possibly a screened eating canopy as well. Personally, I’m not a bug-in-my-food kind of camper!
A Final Note On Family Camping Tents
Before you embark on your fabulous family camping vacation, set up your tent! Make sure all the guy lines are intact and that you have enough stakes (plus extra just in case) to set up your tent. Also clean the inside and outside of your tent in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions before you repack, you’ll be thankful you did when you get to your campsite!
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