People of all ages enjoy the excitement of a camping adventure. The best way you can make sure to have a great trip is to know how to be prepared and to understand exactly what to do when situations arise. Look at the tips on this article to prepare for your next camping trip.
Make sure that your sleeping bag is right for the season and climate where you are camping. You are going to be really hot and uncomfortable camping in the summertime if your sleeping bag is rated for sub-zero temperatures. On the other hand, bringing a lightweight sleeping bap for a winter trip can make you really uncomfortable the entire trip. You might even contract hypothermia.
When you’re getting a brand new tent for your camping trip, take it out and set it up at home before you go camping. You can be sure there are no missing pieces and learn ahead of time the correct way to set your tent up. You don’t want to waste time at your destination, so this will make you well prepared.
Let all the members of your family have a hand in picking your campsite. Discuss what state you want to visit. With the many parks and preserves in the world, deciding where to go can be a task into itself. Make a list of your favorites and allow the family to vote.
Always pack enough for your kids. Camping can be a bit messy. Kids simply love to get dirty. As the day moves along, your children are going to get really messy. While there is nothing you can do about that, you can have some extra clothing just in case. Be prepared!
Build yourself a survival kit; keep it with you anywhere you go while camping. Survival kits should contain waterproof matches, a survival knife, a first aid kit, a flare gun and water purifying tablets. These items are important to have in case you get lost. Carry it at all times.
A surprising tip you may not know about is that the lint from your dryer also doubles as great kindling for your camp fire. Start storing your lint in a bag a couple weeks before your trip. Simply use a plastic grocery sack to collect each new crop of lint. This is a good way to have kindling ready when it is time to go.
Make sure that you find out what sort of weather is forecast for the place that you are going to be camping at. There are numerous websites that can provide you with this information. When you know what the weather is going to be like ahead of time, you can pack the appropriate clothing and equipment.
If you are camping for the first time, stay close to home. There may be unforeseen issues that you never considered they may force you to cut the trip short. You may run out of supplies early. Lots of calamities can befall new campers, so sticking close to home at first is wise.
Consider having a “jungle breakfast” if you are on a camping trip with children. Take mini-boxes of cereal, juice boxes and fruit out into the woods, and tie them to the trees. Make your children “hunt” them in the wild; like a great outdoorsman. This makes an interesting diversion for them during the trip.
Food is one of the most important items to bring while camping. Depending upon how long your trip will last, you should have plenty of food that won’t spoil over the course of your trip. A bout of food poisoning can end a wonderful trip very quickly. Prepare all of the food you will take with your properly and find out what sort of precautions you should take.
If you are going to tough it out, you can still bring along a little bit of luxury item to add comfort to your camping trip. Try bringing something portable and lightweight, like a candy bar or some cream for your coffee. These things can help to keep you happy and make your trip more enjoyable.
One smart thing to bring along camping is duct tape. Just as it has myriad uses around the house, you can use it for a variety of needs in the woods, too. You could seal an air leak in your mattress. It can seal a rip in your tent, sleeping bag, or tarp. 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, you can also bandage an injury with it.
Buy special camping pillows instead of using your standard ones. Don’t bring the pillows you use in your bedroom. These pillows can trap heat during humid weather. They may also get mildew from all the moisture outside. Pillows designed for camping offer a coating that prevents moisture absorption.
If you are pitching a tent, look for soft, level ground. Choosing a slanted or rocky site will make your stay quite uncomfortable. Just lay a tarp at the bottom of the tent to stop water from going into your tent or damaging your tent.
Plan your first camping trip close to home. You could have problems with your gear, or you may find you don’t like camping. You might realize you haven’t packed enough clothes or food. A lot of issues can happen for the new camper, so do not go too far for your first camp trip.
Pack extra flashlights and extra batteries when you go camping. 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. It’s a good idea to bring along one flashlight for each person in your camping party.
Bring adequate amounts of food. If you are going to be camping for a considerable duration, you need to ensure that you have food than will not go bad. If you get sick on your outing because of the food, that will put a damper on things. Take all precautions to make sure your food is packed and prepared properly.
Think about your clothing before your camping adventure. Make sure that you pack enough clothes to last you for the whole trip. Make sure that you have the correct types of clothes for your camping trip. It is also a good idea to bring a few pairs of shoes so that you have extras in case of mud or water getting into them.
If you are camping in a location with dangerous wildlife, take safety precautions with your food. This means wrapping things up tightly, keeping them far from your tent, and avoiding some types of food completely. Doing so will lessen your chances for an attack.
When camping with children, bring along a picture of each child. If they go missing, you can show people the photo to help find them quickly. Be certain you take a picture in case of an emergency, particularly if you are far away from your home.
Duct tape is an interesting item to be included in your inventory while camping. It is nearly as useful while camping as it is around the house. You can use this to repair any holes in an air mattress. Use it to enclose a rip in a tent, sleeping bag or weather-proofing tarp you have laid down. If you plan to take a long hike, be sure to place some on feet to avoid developing blisters. You can also use it to bandage injuries.
Know the area that you’re setting up your camp in. You have to be sure you don’t set up next to stinging insects or anything unsafe. Whenever you are close to a great deal of vegetation, protective clothing layers are key to stave off insect bites. A strong bug spray is also something you want on hand, especially if the vegetation is very thick.
It’s very important that you bring the proper items on your camping trip. Even just a few missing items can turn your trip into a disaster. Make a master checklist of everything that you will be needing on your trip and be sure to check off items as they are packed or loaded into the car. Some useful items are items to create a fire, your tent, tarp, a sleeping bag, water (and lots of it), soap, food that is already prepared, and a utility knife.
Always pack a first aid kit and a survival kit. These two items can keep you from ending a trip abruptly and handling many situations swiftly and easily. You can avoid making situations worse, and you can take an injured person for help in a safe way.
When selecting an area for your tent, look for the area of the campsite with the flattest and softest ground. Picking a sloped or rocky spot causes you to feel uncomfortable anytime you sit in your tent. Always lay a tarp down first to prevent water from entering or damaging the tent.
Reading a map and using a compass are two things that should be done before heading out for a camping trip. Even if you know what your campsite is like, you may still get lost because a lot of areas look similar around where you are. Avoid problems by learning to use these items that can save your life.
Don’t forget to bring back-ups of things like batteries and flashlights. After the sun sets, the night can be very dark and sources of light are a necessity. Adequate light can help you avoid falling in the dark, or encountering wildlife. It’s a good idea to bring along one flashlight for each person in your camping party.
Remember to pack foods that don’t spoil to avoid food poisoning. Food that has not been preserved, vacuum sealed or canned can spoil and give you food poisoning. Pack perishables in ice, and don’t forget to pull out the drain plug of the cooler to keep food from getting wet.
Bring the right sleeping bag for the weather you choose to sleep in. Lighter bags might be good ideas for warmer climates and seasons to avoid unnecessary weight and space usage, but make sure that you have a heavy enough bag to stay warm in cold conditions. If you are spending the night in a tent in cold weather, a bag that hugs your body and traps your body heat is essential.
Camping has been an activity enjoyed by people from all walks of life for well over a century now. To ensure that you and your party have a great time, you will need a certain level of knowledge about what to expect while camping. It is hoped that this article has supplied you with the information you need to have a successful trip.
When planning for a camping trip, make sure you bring beef jerky and trail mix. These grab-and-go snacks are great for taking on a hike or as a snack after a long day when you don’t feel like preparing a meal. These snacks should preserve for a good while, so there’s no wasting involved if they aren’t eaten.
