Many people like the experience of camping outdoors. If you want to make your next camping trip an experience to remember, you need to get informed. By familiarizing yourself with the following advice, you can make your next camping trip the best one ever.
Let all the members of your family have a hand in picking your campsite. Talk about which state you would like to go to. The United States offers so many choices that choosing one can be hard! You can select a few places to have the family vote on to make it easier.
Sleeping Bag
If you have a new tent, practice setting it up at home before your trip. This will ensure that your tent is not missing pieces and that you understand how to set up your tent correctly. It can reduce the frustration that you could experience setting up the tent as well.
Select your sleeping bag with the weather, season and location of your trip in mind. Make sure that your sleeping bags in the summer are not too heavy. If you use a lightweight sleeping bag during the winter, you can spend your night shivering if it’s cold outside. You might develop hypothermia.
Be sure that your tent will comfortably fit everyone that you will be sharing it with to have a good trip. This will allow everyone in your tent to be comfortable at night and to easily get up if they need to use the bathroom.
You are going camping outdoors, so expect that you will all be getting dirty. Don’t stress out when it inevitably happens. Then, you can be as messy as you want, without worry of getting dirty. Things will go to back to normal soon enough.
Preparation could mean the difference between a good camping experience and a dreaded one. That is why it’s important to prepare in advance and prepare well. When heading to a new spot, be sure to research the area thoroughly so you know what to expect with regard to weather and wildlife.
Let all of your family members have a chance to contribute to picking a campsite. Discuss which state you wish to visit. With the many parks and preserves in the world, deciding where to go can be a task into itself. You can select a few places to have the family vote on to make it easier.
Try using dryer lint to help you start your campfire. Before you go camping, start saving lint from the dryer’s filter. Keep a plastic bag right next to the dryer and put the lint in there. This technique allows you to grab your kindling and go the day of your trip.
You may wish to take a class that has to do with first aid, especially if you’re traveling with kids. Camping can be very remote, so it is best to be able to deal with emergencies on your own, until help can be reached. Additional research can also provide valuable information. Know if there are any poisonous snakes in the area, what type of wild animals call those woods their home, etc.
The idea of camping is to live with just the essentials, but you should make sure to be well prepared. Bring creature comforts like a sleeping bag, extra blankets and even an air mattress. That helps you if the night gets really cold, and you are able to use them as padding, as well.
Don’t miss the opportunity to add swimming activities to your next camping trip. When you go camping, you can miss out on things like showers. Cool water will make you feel clean and fresh, so you may not miss your shower at all.
Write down a list of all the essentials that are required before embarking on your trip. This will really be handy if you have a long hike to get to your campground. Pack several days before you leave, and check things off as you go.
No matter if you are going camping alone, or with a huge group, you need to always bring along an emergency kit. Depending on the location, the kit may have extra items, but the basic items should be there. Items that will help with possible snake bites or a sling in case of sprains or breaks is a good idea, too.
Take some time to find the right sleeping bag for the climate conditions at your campsite. Lighter weight bags are great for warm weather; however, if the climate is cooler, a heavier bag will be in order. 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.
It’s important to take duct tape on every camping trip so that you can use it to solve problems. You can use it to repair holes in tents, inflatables, shoes and just about anything else you can think of.
It is wise to leave a cell phone fully charged somewhere where you can reach it. Or, bring an extra battery just in case your battery dies. A cell phone will be your best friend in the event of an emergency, so keep it charged and available.
Double check that you have all of your necessary equipment prior to your camping trip. It is very inconvenient to forget to bring essential items like your sleeping bag or tent. Verify all the things that you need or should take and write out a list of all of them. Then, check your final packing according to the list to be sure.
When going camping, bring some duct tape with you. Although tent fabric technology has come a long way, tearing is still a possibility. Well-placed duct tape can save a trip, especially when a hole rips on the top of your tent.
Before going to a new place to go camping, you need to know what dangers may be lurking. This would include stuff like what spiders dwell there, how steep the terrain is, and if the area is prone to flooding. Every camping area has different dangers that you should be aware of.
When setting up a tent, be sure its seams are all sealed. You can purchase a tube of tent seam sealer at all good sporting goods stores. By sealing the seams on your tent, you will keep out rainwater and any small critter that might want to join your tenting party.
If you put some thought in ahead of time, you will not have to worry about drained batteries in your flashlight while you are at a camp out. You may accidentally turn on a flashlight while you’re looking through what you have packed for your trip. You can prevent your batteries from losing power by storing them backwards in your flashlight. This prevents the flashlight from coming on and will ensure it is ready for use when needed.
Be safe with food when you go camping. Foods should be packed in airtight and waterproof containers. Also, use insulated coolers. Do not store cooked and raw foods together to avoid contamination. Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer before you prepare your food. Cook foods to proper temperatures and chill foods quickly.
A checklist is essential before embarking on any camping journey. A list will help you to not forget to bring any essentials. Pack in advance to avoid the stresses of packing before your trip.
Always wear your clothing in layers for camping outings. Weather in the outdoors can change very quickly. It may be very cold in the morning, but the afternoon can be blistering hot. The evenings can then turn cold again. You’ll need to be sure your clothes are layered so it’s easy to adjust what you’re wearing throughout your day.
It is always a good idea to bring plenty of trail mix and/or beef jerky when you are planning a camping trip. These snacks are nutritious enough to eat in the event you don’t feel like cooking. As an added benefit these snacks have a long shelf life, so if you do not eat them while camping you can enjoy them for months to come.
Plan activities to make the trip exciting from beginning to end. There is a lot more to do than just roasting marshmallows over the campfire. Be creative and think of activities that will be fun for each family member. Take everyone into consideration when you’re making your camping trip plans.
You must always pack a survival kit and first aid kit. Without them, you may need to finish your camping trip earlier than you would like. You may be able to keep an emergency from going from bad to worse.
Keep your tent dry and ventilated. If you choose to sleep in a completely closed tent, by morning the condensation from humidity, sweating and breathing will really accumulate on everything inside. This can make you wake up soaked. Tents usually have built-in vents, windows, or doors that can be cracked to prevent moisture buildup and create a cross-breeze.
One simple tip that many people overlook is creating your shelter before dark. Tent building in the dark is a major obstacle to confront. You should pack a flashlight or make a fire while it is still light. It’s much easier to pitch your tent while it’s light out.
If you’re interested in going to the woods for your camping trips and you haven’t done so before, be sure to test it out to see if you’ll like it first. Pitch a tent in your backyard and spend the entire night out there. Don’t go into your house at all until morning. If your night goes well, and you don’t find yourself too tempted by the comforts of home, you will probably love camping.
Duct Tape
Be certain to bring water purification materials. Even if you plan ahead or boil any water you can collect, you may need something in a hurry. You should also try some water treated with the tablets at home, before you ever leave for your trip. This gives you an idea of what the water will be like. Dehydration is a huge problem, so make sure that you are accustomed to these tablets.
Always pack a roll of duct tape when you go camping. While most camping equipment is durable, they can tear or break easily. A little duct tape can be the difference between a comfortable and dry night’s sleep and a drippy night spent awake.
Do your bathroom chores downstream if your camp site is close to a water source. This will allow you to be sure that the water that’s going near your campsite doesn’t contain anything that could make you sick. Relieve yourself a minimum of 300 feet downstream.
Study the map of the area you plan to enter in advance and learn how to use a compass. Even if you’ve been to your campsite before, getting lost one time can still happen since many areas will looks the same. Learn to use these survival tools to prevent potentially bad situations.
Speak to your doctor before you go camping if you suffer from any medical condition that could affect your health during your trip. There are a lot of things that could go wrong that you didn’t consider. A little foresight might make all the difference in the quality of your trip.
If you know what you’re doing, you can have a lot of fun camping. In order to obtain the necessary foundation for planning great camping trips, a bit of research is in order. Use the ideas from the article, and you should be able to set up your tent and start camping whenever you want.
When roaming around the campsite, always carry a map. You’ll need it in case you take a wrong turn and get lost. A map will help you quickly find your way to your camp before dark.