Going camping in the back country can be an exciting adventure, but you need to be well-prepared to stay comfortable and safe. The tips and advice you will learn here can provide you with some helpful hints to ensure a successful camping trip.
Find your best place for camping shelter long before nightfall. Once the woods are dark, it is very difficult to find firewood, pitch your tent and prepare some food. 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.
Sleeping Bag
Bring a survival kit with you and be sure to always have it on you. Your survival kit should contain a survival knife, water-purifying tablets, waterproof matches, first aid kit, and a flare gun. Never assume there won’t be any trouble. Anything can happen, and you need these essential items to help save your life if necessary. If you don’t take it with you on excursions it will serve you no good.
Pick a sleeping bag which is appropriate for the season. Bringing a sub-zero type of sleeping bag to use on a trip in the summer will make you sweat the entire night. On the other hand, if you bring along a light-weight bag in the winter, you may feel like you are freezing to death. You may even get hypothermia.
Be well-versed in emergency first aid if you plan on camping out, especially if there will be kids with you. In case of an accident, you will know what to do until medical help arrives. Do your research properly. Look into snake species, poisonous plants, spiders, bugs, and other animals.
You are going camping outdoors, so expect that you will all be getting dirty. If you’re ready for this, it will bother you less when it happens. Enjoy the outdoors and get down and dirty. You can always clean up, and be “normal” when you return home.
Take along a bandanna or a small towel. Such an item can be used as a carrying bag, a potholder, a hand towel, a blotter or a paper towel. There are a lot of different uses for it, so make sure you bring one on every camping trip with you.
Let everyone know they have a say in the campsite and should help pick a favorite spot. Talk about where you want to camp. There are so many options around the U.S. that it can actually be difficult to pick one! To make it easy, pick a few that you really like and then have a family vote.
Duct tape is the cure-all for many mishaps in camping. It works quickly for inflatable leaks, tent holes, worn soles on shoes, sealing mosquito nets, securing tent poles, and so much more.
Take the tent into your yard and set it up before you go on your camping trip. That will help you make sure your tent has all the pieces and you know how to properly set it up. It’s a great way to avoid the frustration of having to set up a tent on site.
Don’t forget to include special pillows made just for camping on your adventure. If you use your bedroom pillows, the humid weather will make them feel hot and sticky. The moisture in the air can also cause mildew. Camping pillows are made with a protective, moisture-proof coating to prevent these issues.
If you’re bringing kids on your camping trip, over-pack for them. Camping can get very messy and dirty when you bring your children. Kids love to play in the dirt. Therefore, you will need to understand that a clean trip is probably out of the question. Take extra clothing with you for your children. Remember, always be prepared!
Always pack enough food and the right kind. Depending on the length of your stay, you will want food that is not very perishable. A run-in with food poisoning can quickly put an end to a fun trip. Take the proper steps to prepare your food and do research if necessary.
Get a big enough tent to fit everyone and gear properly. This will give you the room necessary for a comfortable camping trip.
Duct tape is a handy item to pack with you on any camping trip. It is nearly as useful while camping as it is around the house. You may need to patch up a punctured air mattress. It be used to seal tears in tarps, tents, and even sleeping bags. You can also protect your feet against blisters while hiking long distances by putting duct tape on them. It may also be used as emergency bandaging.
Camping is a great time but it can be dangerous if you’re not able to properly prepare. Without proper preparation, a camping trip can turn into a disaster. If camping at a new location, make sure you investigate the geography, climate, and local wildlife so you are prepared for any dangers.
Plan ahead and come prepared. You need a sleeping bag, but you need to take extra blankets too. This will keep you warm if it gets really cool at night and/or you can use them for additional padding.
Just the smallest luxuries can really brighten your camping trip. Carry something small and convenient, such as a chocolate bar or some coffee creamer. Small things like this can increase your enjoyment of the trip.
Pick an appropriate sleeping bag for the camping climate. When the weather is warm, light sleeping bags work best; heavier sleeping bags are also available for colder weather. You want a sleeping bag that is close to your body and helps you retain your body heat if you plan to sleep in a tent.
Camping Pillows
Pick out all of your clothing before you go camping. Clean clothes are important, as you will not want to feel dirty while out in the wilderness. It’s imperative that you have clothing on hand that is right for the weather in the location you will be camping in. Even if you don’t plan to do any hiking, you should wear study shoes or boots meant for hiking, in case your vehicle breaks down or you get lost.
Take along a specialized pillow or two for camping. Make sure that you bring camping pillows that do not absorb moisture. Mildew can grow in it when they absorb the moisture from the air. Camping pillows do not have these problems.
Pack plenty of jerky and trail mix when planning for a camping trip. Both items are fairly healthy and will come in handy when you don’t feel like cooking. Such foods will also remain edible for quite some time, so will not go to waste if you don’t eat them up on your trip.
Don’t leave home without all of your essential camping equipment. It is very inconvenient to forget to bring essential items like your sleeping bag or tent. Double check the items you want to take and make a check list before you leave to make sure that you bring everything with you.
Every camper should possess a basic utility knife. This knife is a must-have for campers, and you should have a spare in case something happens to the first one.
Before you plan to camp in an new area, it is important to be aware of any dangers commonly found there. This means, research what types of animals and insects are deadly or which weather patterns you need to watch for. Every camping spot has its own potential dangers for the untrained.
Bringing along a cell phone with a full charge isn’t a bad idea while camping. Even better, tote an extra battery in case your first one dies. A mobile phone is an important part of camping safety these days, and you want it to be ready to go when you need it.
Talk to your kids about common dangers before taking them on a camping trip. Use the Internet to teach them about things like poison ivy and the like, and ensure that they will approach nature with respect and caution.
Pack your things with care. Keep a checklist of the things you need and check them off as you collect and pack them. This is especially crucial if your trip will be taking you to a remote location where replacement supplies will be hard to come by.
If a pet accompanies you to the campground, do not just let him or her run free. Many people are fearful of pets – especially large dogs. Respect is important when camping. Besides that, dogs can also damage equipment and campsites if they aren’t supervised.
When you put up your tent, seal the tent seams the best you can. If your tent doesn’t have a tube, you can find easily find them. This will stop critters and rainwater from entering your tent.
Are you the proud owner of your first tent and a beginner at the art of camping? Before you go out and start on your trip, practice setting up your tent. This will help ensure that your trip goes smoothly, for a more enjoyable trip when you understand your tent. This is ideal, as even if you end up at your campsite while the sunlight is fading you will be able to quickly set up your camp.
Many people get food poisoning each year while camping because they do not pack properly. If your food isn’t canned, vacuum-sealed or preserved, you can get food poisoning because your food spoils. Bring lots of ice to prevent food from spoiling, and remove the drain plug on the cooler so your food stays dry.
Be sure to avoid draining your flashlight’s batteries on your camping trip. You can easily press the “on” switch on a flashlight when digging in your camping bag. You can safeguard the power by slipping the batteries in backwards in the flashlight cylinder. This way, if the button is turned on, the flashlight will not light and your batteries remain full.
Follow proper safety procedures when camping. This means staying clear of dangerous wildlife and some of the small creatures of the forest. Squirrels, raccoons and the like can be quite dangerous, even though they are small. If you encounter a bear, resist the urge to feed them.
You should always bring a spare utility knife when camping. These pieces of equipment are quite versitile and can get you out of a lot of bad situations.
It’s imperative that tablets that help to purify water are brought with you anytime you go camping. These can be used if you run out of water that you have taken along or if you fall short on time to boil water that you have collected. You should test these tablets at home before using them on your camping trip; this ensures you are familiar with the taste. Don’t get dehydrated because you dislike the taste.
Before going camping, make sure you know how to read your map or how to use your compass. Even if this isn’t your first time at the site, it’s easy to get lost in the woods since a lot of things look the same. Using a map or compass can actually save your life if you’re lost. Learn to use them so that you don’t suffer a tragic fate.
You always need to have your shelter set up before it gets dark. Once the sun goes down, it is more difficult to set up a tent, prepare your campfire area or make sure your food is secure. It’s easier to build your nightly shelter while you have plenty of light to help you see what you’re doing.
Matches that are waterproof are a key component of any survival kit. Store these in a waterproof and airtight bag or container. You can waterproof regular matches by dunking them in nail polish or paraffin, a type of wax. You can store these matches in something like a medicine bottle or empty film container.
Your first priority when camping should be fire safety. Discover how you can build a safe fire ring. A few pails of water should be on hand, in case these types of emergencies arise. Also, never leave a fire burning after you create it at your site.
As crazy as it seems, packing a roll or two of toilet paper is a great idea when you are going camping. If you camp somewhere without restrooms, you are going to have to go in the woods. Using leaves to wipe could open yourself to mistakenly wiping with poison ivy, so be sure you remember the toilet paper.
Make sure to discuss your trip with your doctor if you have a medical condition. There could be issues that you aren’t aware of. A simple precaution or two may be all you need to ensure a safe and happy camping experience.
Any camping experience is enhanced when you make the proper preparations beforehand. Forewarned is forearmed, and this will ensure that your next camping adventure is more fun and less worry.
Check your packed bag a few times to make sure you bring everything with you when you camp. This will ensure you don’t forget anything when you head out on your camping adventure.