Vacations are highly anticipated, especially when they involve camping. If you want to maximize your enjoyment, read this article from some great camping tips. They will be essential in enjoying your wilderness excursion.
When camping, be sure to locate a shelter before dark. Once it grows black in the woods, you can have a hard time setting up your tent, preparing food, and getting adequate firewood. This is very true if you’re used to being in a city where there isn’t any darkness ever. Do not wind up in this position. Seek shelter and make camp for the night well before darkness sets in.
Your sleeping bag should be seasonally appropriate. Bringing a winter bag camping in summer can cause you to roast all night. On the other hand, bringing a lightweight sleeping bap for a winter trip can make you really uncomfortable the entire trip. You may even risk hypothermia.
If you have a new tent to take on your camping trip, you should set it up at home before you go on your camping trip. This allows you to check and see that all the pieces are there and that you know how to assemble your shelter correctly. This also makes setting up your tent at the campsite a much smoother process.
Remember that everything you bring will get dirty on your trip. If you’re prepared beforehand then you won’t be so stressed out when things start to get dirtier. Allow yourself to be improper, messy and just “let go” while outside. You can go back to normal when you go home.
Duct tape is the cure-all for many mishaps in 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 sure that you have a big enough tent for everyone that’s going to need it for shelter at night. This will allow you to sleep more comfortably and get up easier during the night when you need to use the bathroom.
Make sure you choose a sleeping bag that is appropriate for where you will be camping. If the weather is warm, you want a lightweight bag. If frigid temperatures will be present, choose a sub-zero rated bag. You might even consider a body hugging one as it helps you retain your body heat.
Camping can be incredibly fun or incredibly dangerous depending on just one factor: preparation. Be sure you’re always prepared before you go camping. Do some research on the climate and wildlife if you are unfamiliar with the area.
Don’t let your kids out of your sight. Kids can get lost easily, even in the campsite and they have to be aware of others driving on the camp roads. It takes just a second and something can happen; therefore be certain you always give kids the proper supervision.
If you are going camping with children, eat a “jungle breakfast”. Tie up small boxes of juice, cereal and food to a tree. When the kids awake, you can tell them to “hunt” for breakfast. It adds some fun to camping.
To avoid those nasty mosquito bites the next time you go camping, try the peel from an ordinary orange. If you forgot your mosquito repellant, do not worry. Rub the inner peel of an orange over your body as mosquitoes will refrain from biting you. Mosquitoes hate the smell and will fly away for a few good hours; and you will be free of the nuisance.
Try to camp near water, where you can also enjoy swimming. A hot shower can be sorely missed. The cool water helps you to feel fresher, and you may just miss your shower a bit less.
Make sure to carry a utility knife with you when you are camping. These types of knives are the key to success when you need tools at a campsite. Carry an extra one in your bags in the event that your main one gets lost.
Take a bandana or handkerchief with you. This single fabric piece can be used as a carrying bag, hand towel, paper towel, potholder, and blotter. It is very versatile, so be sure you take one with you every time you go camping.
Don’t make the mistake of waiting until dark to pitch your tent. It’s hard to start pitching a tent when it’s dark outside. If you wait until dark to pitch your tent, you will need to build a fire or light several lanterns to ensure you can see to pitch your tent correctly. It is basically easier to get your campsite set up before it gets dark and you are not fumbling around in the dark.
Don’t wait until nightfall to set up camp. If you are in a vehicle, this means find a secure spot to park the vehicle. Seek out flat, dry ground if you are roughing it with a tent. If you do that before it gets dark, you can get a good look at your immediate surroundings. It will also save some time and frustration since you will be able to see better.
Take time to learn map and compass reading. If you have visited the campsite before, you can still get lost once you arrive. This skill can potentially save your life.
It’s important to have all your equipment with you when camping. For example, your trip can be ruined if you forget your sleeping bag or tent. Check and double check your list to ensure that you pack everything you need.
When setting up a tent, be sure its seams are all sealed. Tubes of sealer are readily available at the sporting good shop. This will stop critters and rainwater from entering your tent.
Don’t go far from home during your first couple of camping trips. You may encounter problems with your equipment, or you may decide to come home early. You might not pack enough food, or you may run short on clothing. Lots of calamities can befall new campers, so sticking close to home at first is wise.
People who don’t pack food correctly risk food poisoning. If you don’t preserve, pack and prepare your food right, you’re at risk. Bring ample amounts of ice along in coolers to keep perishable items cold, and drain the water from melting ice each day to prevent food from becoming wet.
Take along things to do while you are in the wild. You can entertain yourself and your family by fishing, playing card games or setting up a scavenger hunt. Children often complain that they’re bored wherever they go, so bring along as many items as you can think of to keep them entertained.
It’s a common mistake to set up your campsite near the restrooms. They might think this will make things easier, but they will learn otherwise. Bathrooms attract many people and also end up lit up at night. Therefore they can be more of a nuisance than anything else.
If the area in which you’ll be camping is well known for wildlife that poses a danger, special precautions must be taken regarding your food. This means you must warp things up tightly, keep them away from the tent, and avoid some food types while camping. Making sure to do this, will lessen any chance of a wild animal attack.
What is your plan for cooking during your camping trip? Decide before leaving the house what cooking method you’re going to use, and pack the right supplies. Cooking over an open campfire can be tasty and fun, but if you are not prepared for it, it can be impossible.
Duct Tape
Plan activities to make the trip exciting from beginning to end. Campfires and making smores aren’t all there is to do when you’re going camping. Be sure to include activities that every member of the party can participate in. Take everyone into consideration when you’re making your camping trip plans.
You should always have some duct tape along on any camping adventure. A roll of duct tape has a great number of uses on a campsite. Tape can be used to seal holes in your sleeping mattress. It can repair a rip in a sleeping bag, tarp or tent. If you are going on a long hike, you can put it on the sensitive parts of your feet for blister prevention. It can also be used in lieu of bandages.
Your tent should be kept ventilated and free of moisture. If your tent is completed sealed, you will find that condensation will accumulate on the sides of the tent from breathing and perspiration. This sometimes causes campers to wake from a deep sleep feeling wet. Tents usually have some openings in them to ensure that moisture doesn’t build up too much.
Is this your first tent? Spend time practicing pitching a tent prior to leaving for your trip. By doing so, you will know that the equipment is all included, and you will be familiar with the process of pitching it. This also allows you to get this done fast when you show up where you’re camping, prior to night falling.
A full first aid kit should be a vital part of your camping gear. This kit needs proper emergency gear in case there’s an accident. The first aid kit should include bandages, allergy and pain medicine and other essentials. Accidents can and do happen on many camping trips, so always travel prepared.
Drained Batteries
When taking an extended camping trip, be sure to bring along some form of entertainment. Multiple electronics may kill the spirit of the trip; however, books, music and games can bring some much needed excitement to the group, or offer a diversion when you are alone.
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. It is very easy to accidentally press the ‘on’ button of your flashlight when it is jostling in a bag with other camping equipment. To avoid drained batteries, store your flashlights with the batteries backwards. This way, if the button is turned on, the flashlight will not light and your batteries remain full.
Pocket lint is an essential for camping. Lint is an inexpensive way to start a campfire. Lint fosters brighter flames than wood. Collect the lint from your dryer for a couple of weeks leading up to your trip and you’ll be rewarded with a quick, bright fire.
Prior to going camping, be sure to create a list of what you’ll need. This is especially crucial if the campgrounds are in a remote location. Start getting things together a couple of days before you plan to leave, and check things off the list as you pack them.
It is a good idea to set up your shelter before darkness arrives. Try to arrive in time at your camp site so that you are not caught with the light fading before you can finish setting up. No matter what you are using for shelter, it is so much easier to set up when there is natural light outside.
When you are camping, be sure you choose the right sleeping bag for the site conditions. If the weather is warm, you want a lightweight bag. If frigid temperatures will be present, choose a sub-zero rated bag. 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.
Make sure you know which plants are poisonous. You should know what to look for. Search the Internet for information on these plants for your safety. That helps you avoid the plants altogether.
Camping is more fun if you have good advice. Hopefully, you get a lot of that here. Use the advice offered here to help you have the best camping trip possible.
Camping with your pet is fun, but make sure you pack for all of their accessories. Restraints are necessary in case other animals appear. There are also times when a regular leash is needed as well. Before you leave on the camping trip, make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Clean water, food bowls and meals will be required. Always clean up, and throw things away properly.
