So, you’ve decided to go camping? Are you fully prepared? While it’s pretty basic to know how to camp, it still takes a little bit of preparation and skill. Read the following advice for planning and executing a great trip.
Select the right sleeping bag for the season. You are going to be really hot and uncomfortable camping in the summertime if your sleeping bag is rated for sub-zero temperatures. Also, during the winter, you should bring a sleeping bag that has down or heavy material. You may even subject yourself to hypothermia.
Always keep a close eye on yourself, your family, and your possessions; as they will all get a little dirty. As long as you are prepared for getting dirty, you will not feel so stressed out when it happens. Part of the whole camping experience includes allowing yourself to get dirty. You can return to being clean and civilized when you’re at home.
Dryer lint is a great item to bring if you are trying to start a campfire. Start storing your lint in a bag a couple weeks before your trip. Keep a simple plastic or ziplock bag near your dryer to make collecting easier. This technique allows you to grab your kindling and go the day of your trip.
Pack in excess for your kids when you are going camping. Camping can be a sloppy time. Kids love getting into dirt. Children will get dirtier as the day goes on. To prepare, bring additional clothing for your children. The key is being prepared.
Even if you are roughing it, your camping experience can be brightened by bringing along a small token piece of luxury. For example, bring a bar of chocolate or a small container of cream to put in your coffee. Comforts from home can really spice up the rustic outdoors!
Before camping, check out your medical insurance to affirm that it is intact. You may need additional coverage in case you have an accident in a different state. That can be even more important when you plan to travel across international borders. Always be prepared.
While kids love camping, they need to have activities planned for them. Kids can easily get bored if you are in the woods for a long time. Are they used to pitching tents and fishing? If they have not spent much time outdoors, show them the basics before you leave.
Keep a kerchief or bandanna close at hand. Such an item can be used as a carrying bag, a potholder, a hand towel, a blotter or a paper towel. You can use them to pick up hot pans, or to clean up a tiny spill; therefore, you should always have one with you.
Take a few things with you to entertain yourself while you’re camping. For instance, card games, fishing poles and footballs will help to ensure that you have a fun time in the woods. If you are going camping with children, you need to make sure that you bring a lot of things to keep them entertained during the trip.
Did you know that dryer lint can make great kindling to get a campfire started? Several weeks prior to your trip, start gathering up everything that collects in your lint trap. Just hang a grocery bag next to your dryer and stuff the lint into the bag. Doing this means you can just snag your kindling on the way out the door the morning your trip starts.
Make sure to prepare in advance before you engage in a camping trip. Packing a sleeping bag is pretty obvious, but take the extra precaution of including extra blankets too. This helps to warm you up in case it gets too cold at night. They are also good to use for extra padding.
Duct tape is a handy tool to carry when you are camping. It works quickly in a pinch for tent holes, inflatables with leaks, shoes with worn soles, securing the tent to its pole, sealing up your mosquito netting and many, many more things.
Be prepared for your next camping adventure by taking precautions on conserving flashlight batteries. It is very easy to accidentally press the ‘on’ button of your flashlight when it is jostling in a bag with other camping equipment. If you want to avoid draining your batteries, keep flashlights stored with backwards batteries in them. Your batteries will remain fully charged until you turn them around the right direction, and you won’t be able to accidentally turn the flashlight on.
When planning for a camping adventure with kids, be sure to speak to them about camping dangers. It only takes a few minutes of going online to look at photos of plants they should avoid, such as poison ivy or other such things, to make sure your camping venture is free from common mishaps.
Write down a list of your necessary items before heading out on a camping excursion. For trips that take a while to arrive at the destination, this is crucial. Get all your things together a few days before your trip and mark them off on your list.
Don’t forget the duct tape. It is versatile at camp, just like at home. It is perfect for fixing an air mattress. You can close up rips and tears, and bundle things together. If someone’s shoe falls apart while out and about, it can hold shoes together quite nicely. Applied to the foot itself can prevent blisters. In a pinch, it can even substitute as a bandage.
Your sleeping bag should be able to accommodate a variety of camping conditions. Lightweight sleeping bags tend to work better in warmer weather and heavyweight sleeping bags tend to work better in 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.
You want to make sure that you don’t end up with drained flashlight batteries when you head out on your camping trip. While searching your backpack or bag, it is not too hard to accidentally hit the power button on your flashlight. To make sure your batteries don’t get drained, put the batteries in backwards. Your batteries will remain fully charged until you turn them around the right direction, and you won’t be able to accidentally turn the flashlight on.
It’s always smart to bring beef jerky and trail mix when you decide to take a camping trip. After a busy day of hiking or other strenuous outdoor activities, you may be too tired to deal with campsite cooking. These snacks are healthy and nutrient-dense, making them a quick and easy source of nourishment. These foods also keep well, eliminating the worry of spoilage.
Be certain to have multiple lanterns or flashlights handy as well as additional batteries. You will surely find it necessary to illuminate things once night falls. Having the ability to light up an area well can prevent injuries and potentially dangerous encounters with wildlife. If your children are along on your camping trip, give them each their own flashlight.
Smart campers will leave their car or base camp with a charged mobile phone. Another good idea is to keep an additional battery available. Your cell phone makes for excellent emergency equipment, so you must ensure it does not die.
Sleeping Bag
Though camping can be the best relaxation you can have, things can go south easily. The key difference? Preparation. If you are able to think ahead about what you might come across, and protect yourself against it, you will have a great time camping.
Your sleeping bag should be able to accommodate a variety of camping conditions. If its winter, use a heavy-weight bag and use a light-weight one in the summer. You also want to get a sleeping bag that is comfortable to sleep in as well, so test them out.
When you’re getting a survival kit together for camping, it’s recommended to bring waterproof matches. These matches should be kept in a container that’s airtight. If you do not have waterproof matches, you can quickly convert regular matches by dipping them in either nail polish or paraffin wax. A film container makes a great storage place for matches.
If you go out camping with kids, have a photo of them on hand. In case you get separated, having the pictures on your person will help you find them quickly. Always bring an emergency photo, especially if your campsite is far from your home.
After your trip, be certain you leave the campsite cleaner than it was when you found it. You need to bring along bags for trash so you can clean up. Do not leave any left over food behind. A golden rule for departing a campsite: leave only your footprints behind.
Now that you’ve reached the end of this article, you are ready to do some planning. Camping trips need not be complicated, but, as you can see, there are some basic tips that can really help. This article will cover what you need to know about camping.
Food poisoning happens for campers when food is not packed properly. Bring preserved foods and foods that don’t spoil easily. Pack perishables in ice, and don’t forget to pull out the drain plug of the cooler to keep food from getting wet.
