Are you getting ready to go camping? Here are a few common tips to know about camping. While many aspects of camping are simple, you need to take some time to review the basics. You can find some helpful tips below.
When you go camping, you wand to find shelter before the sun goes down. Once the sky becomes dark, finding a good spot for your tent, necessary firewood and food preparation become near impossible. Some people cannot see very well at night, and this makes setting up camp at night next to impossible. Don't let this happen to you, and have a shelter set up before dark.
Purchase a quality tent. It can be tempting to score a good deal on a tent, but you want to find something that can hold both you, your family members and your belongings. Try visiting a store that specializes in outdoor gear. They tend to have well-made products that will last for a while.
Do plenty of research on your camping site and ensure that it offers everything that your group will need. Consider the individual needs of each camper to ensure that everyone is taken care of. This alleviates the need to make supply runs, or worst case, have to end the trip too soon.
Any time you go camping, do not forget to bring a first-aid kit along with you. Since accidents can happen at any time, a first-aid kit is a very valuable asset to possess. Be sure to include topical creams for bug bites, sun burns and poison ivy when putting your kit together.
While it is not a good idea to be wasteful, make sure to bring more food and water than you think you need. You do not want to get out intro the middle of the woods and run out of supplies. bringing more than enough will ensure you do not run across this issue.
Practice makes perfect when pitching a tent. Take the time to put the tent up before leaving for your trip. This allows you to build your proficiency at erecting the tent, and will also help locate any issues with the tent in case you need to exchange it for a better option.
If you are a camping amateur, keep your camping adventure near your home. You don't want to be far away if you decide you've had enough of camping, or if you have problems with your equipment. You may not have enough food, or realize that you didn't pack the right clothing. First-time camping is a learning experience and anything can happen, so find a campground near your home.
If you are new to camping and you are going without a more practiced friend, you should best tents for living in consider staying in a campground rather than camping in the wilderness. This will help you to learn the basics of camping while still having basic infrastructure and friendly people around you in case of emergency.
Pack extra flashlights and batteries. It can get quite dark at night, away from all the city lights. A light source is very important. Bring a few spare flashlights just in case. Make sure that you pack extra batteries as well. A light source is something you do not want to find yourself without.
You need to make sure you have everything you need when you go camping. Forgetting one or two key items could result in disaster. Make an all-inclusive list, and check each item off as you pack. Be sure your list includes the tent and sleeping bags, as well as food items and personal hygiene items.
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.
Never park your vehicle under a single tree when you are at a campsite. If there is a storm, it will attract lightning. This also means that you should avoid sleeping under any trees that are in a particular area by themselves. Try to be in an area that is free of trees or one that has many.
If you will be camping in a warm area, you may think it is not necessary to bring a nice sleeping bag. That is a huge mistake as many areas cool off considerably at night. Secondly, a sleeping bag helps to mitigate uneven or rocky ground, allowing for more comfortable sleep.
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.
If you are going to be camping during the winter, select a sleeping bag that is mummy-shaped. This type of sleeping bag fits around your feet well, which will help keep you warm by preserving your body heat. In addition, packing this mummy-shaped bag for your trip is very easy.
It is a great idea to put your tent together at home before you go out camping. Some tents can seem very complicated, and you do not want to get stuck in the dark without your tent being assembled. If you practice when you are at home, you will already have the experience of setting it up, and it will go smoothly.
Duct tape is a great fix-all for camping trips. Tents can get torn in spite of the increased durability of the newer ones. A few strips of this durable tape can keep you dry and cozy at night if your tent is damaged during the day.
Bring a fire starter log with you on your camping trip. These logs are made to help you start fires and it can make it much easier for you to get your camp fire going. You simply place it in the fire pit with a few twigs and it will help you start your fire without a lot of effort.
As previously mentioned, more and more families are now having to forego traditional family vacations due to monetary constraints and instead opt for basic camping trips to the great outdoors. Hopefully, after reading this article, you feel ready to plan the ultimate camping adventure that you and your family will be able to remember for a lifetime.
