Beach Camping Tips

For those who want to go camping and experience being outdoors, but do not want to run the risk of running into some lions, and tigers, and bears; a great alternative camping location for them to go to would be the beach.

This is perfect for those beach lovers and water babies who just love being near the ocean. A great way to spend the night would be to look at some stars while listening to the sound of the waves lapping in on the ocean. But before individuals can experience this wonderful camping experience that sounds like it came out of a scene from a movie, they would need to prepare for a few things.

Camping-Friendly Locations

Before camping on a beach, individuals would have to make sure that the beach they have set their eyes on does not have any prohibition concerning camping. It is best to contact the local officials that preside over the beach area to find out the regulations.

Another great idea is to camp on the campsite of the beach. There are a lot of commercialized beaches that have special areas set aside for camping. The best thing to do would be to make reservations ahead of time, because sometimes the campsites get too crowded.

Camping over night

For those who want to spend the night on the beach, they should make some preparations ahead of time. Falling asleep on the beach sands only to wake up the next morning with a harsh sunburn is not the best plan. Instead, get a beach tent. Those pop up beach tents start as low as $19. This offers some shelter and protection for those who want to sleep on the beach.

Bonfires are out

A lot of beaches now do not allow bonfires. Some may, but only with a permit! This makes cooking out a little tricky. For those who still want to cook on the beach, they might want to bring a portable cooking stove. Those who do not want to go through this trouble, dry foods and prepackaged foods that don’t need cooking is the way to go.

Camping on the beach for a lot of people is not so about the outdoors experience, or hunting for preys. For the most part, is it about enjoying the ambiance and majestic view of the ocean. This is a more tamed and romantic approach to camping.

Those who want to have the best beach camping experience should make the proper preparations ahead of time. This way, they would have the most memorable and enjoyable experience during their camping trip on the beach.

Tips For Camping With Your Dog

Camping is definitely a great way to spend one’s vacation. The great outdoors is indeed a good venue to take a time off from the hustling and bustling city with the fresh air and nice view that is a welcome replacement to your daily dose of smog and dust.

However, many people are hesitant about taking camping trips especially those who have pets. While pet hotels are now widely available, a lot of dog owners could not bear to be separated from their beloved canines even for just a few days.

One great idea to do is bring Fido along the camping trip. Of course there are advantages as well as disadvantages with bringing your pet dog camping, it is therefore important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before deciding to take Fido along on your trip.

The Pros of Taking Your Pet Dog Camping

Bringing your pet dog camping can be very exciting for both you and your canine friend. The outdoors can be very stimulating for an animal that has spent much of its time in a yard or a secluded doghouse. Your dog would greatly be excited to see, smell, and hear new things. The fresh air of the woods can be very advantageous to your dog’s health. The camping site can also be a great venue for the dog to exercise since you are most likely going to do a lot walks in the forest.

Bringing your pet dog along can also free you of worries that and anxiety of leaving him or her behind. This gives you peace of mind during a time when you are supposed to be relaxing. While pet hotels have been really made to be safe for you pets, seeing your pet all the time is usually the best way to make sure they are safe and are being treated the way you want them to be.

When you bring your dog along, you can also do a lot of activities. You can take your dog in hunts for bugs and other small animals. You can play catch and fetch. Dogs can be great companies for long walks. They can also help guard you from dangerous animals and nosy campers. Dogs are great protectors in the wild. A dog can even help you find your way back to your campsite in case you get lost.

The Cons of Taking Your Pet Dog Camping

Taking you dog along for camping can indeed be fun, however it can also be such a hassle. Dogs can get too excited in the outdoors. They can get rowdy and misbehave because of the new sights, sounds and smells could agitate them. Dogs may also be frightened by the wild animals they might encounter in the woods. Being introduced to a large space may also exhaust your dog especially if it is old.

Bringing your dog along may give you extra things to worry about. Dogs may get lost in the woods and it would really be stressful on your part if they do. Your might constantly need to check on your dog, giving you extra tasks during a time when you are supposed to be relaxing. Your dog can also be extra noisy especially at night, disturbing your sleep and the quiet moments. Dogs may easily get into accidents outdoors as there are many hidden dangers that lurk in the forest. They might run into cliffs or get entangled in bushes. They may get attacked by wild animals or get bitten by snakes and rodents. They may even catch ticks that could cause lyme disease.

Dogs may even restrict you from doing certain activities in the campsite. Some areas in national parks do not allow dogs and other pets and thus you might not be able to gain access to such areas if you bring your dog. Dogs may provoke wild animals and cause and you may be greatly bothered by them.

Taking your pet dog camping can have its merits and demerits. You have to carefully decide whether to bring your dog or not. If you do so, it is best to check with your dog’s veterinarian to make sure that your best friend is fit for the outdoors.

The choice is up to you whether you should bring your dog camping or not. When you finally decide to bring Fido along, the best you could do is to enjoy the moment together, after all, your dog is you’re a good friend.

Lake Camping

From their campsite beside the lake, campers can do many activities like fishing, hiking, hunting, swimming or photographing nature.

While just at the campsite, campers are able to delight in simple activities like pitching their tent, making a campfire, sleeping under a tree and cooking.

For that enjoyable weekend starting the minute you arrive, it is good to have these tips in mind:

1.    Plan ahead .  Be sure to make reservations at least 10 days before. Talk to the Park Rangers to obtain maps of the lake.

2.    Know the water before going.  Determine the lake’s makeup and the kinds of fish that thrives in that area before you head off in order to carry along the right fishing tackle.

3.    Bait.  It is very impractical to carry minnows on your lake camping trip and at times are not permitted by law.

Leaches, if ever allowed, are good baits take with you; just store them securely in a container in a shady area and change the water often.

4.    Food.  As bedtime approaches, keep the lake campsite zone free of food clutter.  Packed your food in sealed plastic bags and put everything inside a covered food pack and hung it high over a tree limb.

5.    Never drink mountain stream water!  No matter how clear and clean the mountain stream water may look, still it is flooded with harmful microorganisms that could cause diarrhea. Bring along purified water for drinking always!

6.    Create a “fire ring” for your campfire.

•    Clear the forest floor of moss and dead leaves by scraping everything until there is soil.

•    Create a ring of rocks in an open place, away from your tent.

•    Make the ring larger compared to the fire that you will be building. Have some space around your fire.

7.    Know how to administer First Aid as well as keep a kit handy always. In cases of emergency, you should know “what to do”. When you are properly trained for first aid, you can save lives.

In a first aid class, it teaches you different ways of properly handling and reacting in different emergency situations.

8.    Clean up after your mess!  Always make certain that all your trash is put in the right containers. Clean the campsite before leaving and check that fires are extinguished completely, leaving everything as it was.

Lakeside camping is a great family outdoor activity that should be properly planned so that everyone will really enjoy what you all came for!  Have fun!

Choosing Camping Clothes

Bad clothing decision on your camping trip can spell doom for any ‘happy family’ camping trip. Just because we all enjoy typically comfortable weather where we live, we can afford to wear pretty much anything we want. However, when venturing into the nature for camping trips and treks, everyday wear won’t be enough to protect you or keep you comfortable. Nature isn’t really known to take it easy on those that venture into its extremes.

So for an assuredly enjoyable camping trip, you will want to be fully clothed against the elements. Over the years advances in clothing technology has spawned a lot of camping wear designed to help keep the elements at bay at your camping trips. However, with the glut of clothing choices, it can get a little confusing to find which wears fit your need.

Here’s a rundown of the stuff you could snag off the stores to keep you comfy during your expeditions and the technologies behind them. Knowing their characteristics will help you find out how these technologies can benefit your outdoor life.

The Materials
The most popular materials for camping wear include technologies that allow water to escape the material, but don’t allow any water in. Ever since man started intentionally developing materials for the comfort of campers and trekker alike, the biggest problem they had to face was how to somehow draw away moisture from the surface of the skin so that the camper did not have to wear wet soggy shirts that made for bad temperature control. The new clothing had to accomplish this while keeping moisture out – it had to have some waterproof properties.

In response to this need, developers have unveiled three breakthrough technologies in the field of outdoor and sports apparel – microporous laminates, microporous coatings, and monolithic membranes. All these materials somehow allow water vapor to escape while preventing moisture from settling in the skin. The monolithic technology is particularly interesting since it absorbs water vapor into itself while using body heat to dissipate the vapor. The harder you work, the more heat you make, and the more vapor is dissipated. Quite an interesting technology that is.

You may want to check garments nowadays for such technologies or similar ones. This technology helps keep you dry and comfortable, and makes maintaining a good temperature easier – especially in unforgivingly cold climes.

Nylon or Polyester?
Nylon has typically been the more popular of the materials used for outdoor wear. This is because it is scratch resistant and can endure the wear and tear of most outdoor activities, plus it is light and breathable. However, polyester, not to be outdone, has steadily become an acceptable compliment or alternative to nylon since it keeps the wearer warmer and absorbs less water than nylon. Look for the new breed of materials – keep with nylon to be safe, the newer polyester kinds do well too.

Keeping you warm
One of the critical needs of outdoors people is apparel that will keep them warm in extreme weather. As mentioned above nylon or polyester coupled with the newer micropore technology does a good job at helping a person keep warm and comfy. However, in more abject frigid weather, you will need extra material to keep you warm.

The greatest issue when choosing a camping wear is whether to purchase down or synthetic fill material. Nothing provides comfort and warmth as down, and down is generally recommended for most outdoor camping trips with the family. However, in the event that it rains and your down-filled clothes get wet, it is going to take forever to get them dry. Synthetic fill clothes, on the other hand, give good warmth and dries quickly if ever they get wet. They are a bit heavier in comparison, though.

Fleece is a good in-betweener for your garments. Contrary to intuition, fleece still keeps one warm even when it is damp. It also keeps moisture away from the skin, keeping one dry and comfortable. Plus they are squishy and comfortable to the feel.

Conclusion
When looking for good camping wear, remember that the above mentioned technologies are very helpful in keeping you comfortable throughout camping trips. Look at each alternative and find out how their advantages fit in with your camping needs.

Building A Campfire

Building a good fire for your camping trick isn’t just a fancy party trick to impress your fellow campers. Although most camping gear today make traditional campfire making look paltry and tedious, knowing how to build a proper camp fire can spell the difference between life and death extreme circumstances.

In the older, simpler, and less complicated days, when matches and gas torches were but luxuries, building a proper camp fire was essential to any outdoor activity. This was where everyone sough warmth against the cold environs, and where people found the means to cook a warm dinner for everyone. Night temperatures can be very unforgiving, and camp fires provided a means for everyone gather around and warm up.

Aside from the heat, camp fires also repelled wild animals. Wild dogs, lions and other beasts are not keen to approach a campfire. That is why camp fires are always left burning well into the night.

While the art of making campfires has been all but forgotten – partly because matches have begun to seem more convenient – campfire making as a skill is still relevant and essential to any camper’s repertoire of tricks.

First of all, the secret to starting camp fires is to start them quickly. You can only do this if you have a firm grasp of what is needed to start a fire – heat, oxygen, and fuel.

Oxygen, while around us, is not always readily available to the campfire, you may have to arrange the fuel in such a way that it has adequate air supply. You may also supplement this supply by blowing into a cinder, or fanning an already blossoming flame.

Heat is generally generated for campfires by friction. You will probably use an assortment of methods to generate this heat – rubbing two sticks together, using flint stones, and other techniques. However, this won’t give you a glorious fan of flames if you don’t have the right fuel.

Fuel is what keeps your fire burning, and finding the right type of fuel is integral to your efforts at building and maintaining a fire. Building a fire by applying the heat to the logs isn’t going to work. You will need tinder. Tinder is easily combustible materials that will burn quickly and hopefully emit enough heat and gases to start a fire with larger pieces of wood.

Ideal tinder includes dry sticks, bark, dry leaves, and twigs. Use these kindling to start the fire and to help maintain it. But remember that you can only successfully build a fire if the larger, harder to burn pieces of wood burn.

Some common designs of campfires include:

Tepee – tepees are great for quick fires, and last long into the night. It makes use of a lot of tinder, so you will need a good bunch of it. The longer burning wood is placed, balanced at against each other vertically around the tinder. This makes sure that the heat and the gases of the tinder are generated in a way to help the larger pieces of wood to burn. It is the perfect fire for boiling water and general purpose campfires.

Pyramid – You build a ‘pyramid’ of logs by laying the logs horizontally on the ground together, then building another layer on top of the next gradually forming a pyramid. Although this type of campfire is a little hard to start up, the advantage of such is that it generates a lot of charcoal that will be useful in the future. It burn pretty well and is quite a stable fire.

Parallel – The parallel fire puts the tinder in between two logs. This is an efficient burning fire since the insides of the log burn too – having the fire and heat going in a good, snug place between two logs.

Star (Indian) – This is the type of fire you usually see on those old Western movies. The logs are laid out like spokes of a wheel. Tinder is placed in the middle. The fire is easy to maintain, although you do have to push each ‘spoke’ of the wheel towards the middle as the fuel burns up.

Conclusion
There are other types of campfires, all with specific purposes. But as with any outdoor skill, creating and maintaining any of them takes a lot of practice to get right. And like mothers usually tell their kids, don’t play with fire. Treat it with respect as it has the power to save and to destroy. Remember to follow safety precautions after using a fire – douse the fire with water or bury the remains of a campfire with dust and dirt. Fires left unattended may cause serious property damage, so always take precautions that nothing that shouldn’t burn gets burned.

Just Because You Are Camping Doesn’t Mean Your Food Has To Be Boring

When camping, it helps to think light and carry light.  However, no matter how pretty the image is of a camp fire with eggs and tasty bacon sizzling in the background, plus hot coffee, reality bites.  And reality is heavy.

In order to make real this food camping image,  one has to carry to the camping trip all the cooking equipments needed such as a cast iron oven, a cooler, as well as ice to keep food fresh, etc.

The usual options therefore are frozen and dried meals which basically costs much,  does not taste like anything at all and are heavy on preservatives and artificial flavors.

Believe it or not, there are a lot better options out there at the grocery store nearest you which provides healthier if not a lot tastier food options.  And they are not just instant noodles.

The following are tips to choose the camping food that is right for you.

Weigh in, weigh out

Camping requires a lot of energy walking and traversing trails and trees.  So any stuff carried during this time must – as much as possible – be light in weight or at least tolerably heavy.  This is because besides food, clothes also need to be packed, a sleeping bag, a system for purifying water, a mattress, and so on.

The cooking system used most during camping trips are stoves that involve micro cooking.  This is composed of a burner primarily used to boil water.  Usually any nourishment a camper would take in are foods that are the dehydrated kind.

Cereal flakes like Cheerios is a good option.  There are also foods that are the dehydrated kind.  Also, there are packaged cereals that all you need to add is hot water so you can enjoy a warm meal.  Oatmeal is one of them, also cream of wheat.  It is best that these type of meals be placed in a bag, preferably a Ziploc bag so you can appropriately portion the quantity you would be taking and eating.  Better this than bringing a whole oatmeal can.

Dried fruits like raisin is also a better and healthy option.  Cranberries that are dried is another, also blueberries.

For drinks, good old powdered orange juice like Tang is readily accessible and easy to carry as well.  Coffee could also be brought in a camping trip, the kind that could be made instantly and not brewed.  A good creamer to bring – when you do not prefer your coffee black – is Cremora.

Another good thing with this type of camping food is that there is less trash left behind.

Man does not live by bread alone,  crackers are good too

During camping, compared to bread, crackers are a better option because it stales a lot less  and fills the tummy too.  Plus it is light and handy.  A good cracker brand is Wasa.  However, if you want cheese with your crackers, choose those that do not need to be refrigerated.  There are available ones in the grocery.  Or if you want to be tastily creative, there is always easily-packed pepperoni and salami.

Peanut butter could also be placed in portable tubes.  Chocolate could also easily be packed and is extremely tasty and emotionally filling especially during that difficult top climb.

However, if you prefer to experience a little of the luxury in the real world to your camping climb, - and do not mind to carry some heavy stuff – pack in a can of liver pate,’  chicken chunks, ham, or tuna.

Relax though, if you are having difficulty sacrificing your wants, try to think that  your camping climb is not forever.  You will be eventually coming back to the world where there is a microwave oven, a stove-top grill, refrigerators  and coffee machines.

Prepare, prepare and prepare

Prior to camping, make sure that you know just how much days or weeks you would be out.    This helps you prepare the meals that you need to take during your trip.  To get the most nourishment without feeling too heavy after having eaten during camping,  calculate the quantity of snacks you could take in.   Usually carbohydrate rich foods do not have a lot of moisture and so is a good choice.

Also,  to avoid a monotony of  the same meals during camping, it is best that you schedule or appropriate different types of food at each moment of your meal.   Dried fruit for breakfast maybe and oatmeal for lunch.  Cookies in between is not bad also.

All in all,  camp food is just like regular food.  Minus the usual amenities.  it could taste good and be healthy too.  If you know where to look.

10 Fun Things Kids Can Do While Camping

No doubt about it, camping trips are fun. A vacation in the wild outdoors, fresh air, roughing it can be such a fun break from the hectic routine of city life. However, a lot of people think they cannot enjoy or even survive a camping trip because of kids. Children can indeed add enjoyment to anybody’s life, but to be honest, it is really hard to bring kids along on a camping trip. Imagine having no television or computers to keep them busy (and quiet). For the average parent, that could spell disaster. But you should not despair, there are many activities in the outdoors that can keep kids entertained during a camping trip. Here are ten of them.

1. Get wet and go splashing. More likely, you would be able to find a nice swimming spot. Whether a big lake or a small brook, you are bound to locate a nice body of water to splash around and have wet fun. Swimming amidst nature can be so much more enjoyable than swimming in a man-made pool. Just be sure that the swimming hole you find is safe for people, normally camping parks would tell you which ones are good for dips and which ones are not. Also, be careful about diving and never leave your kids swimming alone.

2. Bike together. Most camping sites have great bike trails. Riding bicycles is very fun when the view is great. It is faster and cooler than just traveling on foot. Make sure to bring a map and plan your trip so that you would not easily get lost. Do not ride too fast, or you might leave each other behind, anyway, you would not be able to enjoy the scenery if you speed so much.

3. Watch for birds and animals. Most camping sites and forest parks have primers and leaflets about the various animals thriving in their area. You may also bring books about wild animals and see if you could spot them. Try having a contest – the one who spots most kinds of animals wins. See the different animals that come out during the night compare them to those that come out during the day. Just keep your children from a safe distance so that they would not disturb the animals.

4. Play games in the outdoors. It may be the classic sac race, tug-o-war, or just plain tag. Nothing beats the time-tested games when done in the woods. Just be sure to play games in a clear area to avoid accidents. Also, avoid creating so much noise so that you would not disturb the wildlife.

5. Organize a scavenger hunt. Kids love to go on quests and adventures. Scavenger hunts can be a great alternative to the role playing games kids play these days, not to mention that it is more physical, allowing your kids to exercise rather than just sit in front of the computer screen all day. Just be warn your kids about the many prickly plants that could be lurking in the woods, such as poison ivy, oak and sumac.

6. Learn how to read maps and compasses. The great outdoors is a nice way to teach your children about navigation. Take out your map and compass while exploring the forest. Show your kids where you are in the map and show them where you are heading. This can also be done in conjunction with the scavenger hunt.

7. Light a campfire. Perhaps this is among the most awaited activities during camping. This can be the best way to end the day. Gather around the campfire to sing songs and tell stories (scary ones if you would like). Roast marshmallows and hotdogs. Play riddles and other word games.

8. Watch the stars. This is another night activity that can be both fun and educational. You may just simply lie on the grand and appreciate the free light show in the sky, or you may bring out a star chart and look for famous constellations and other heavenly bodies. Look for shooting stars and make your wish.

9. Bathe in the rain. The weather can be unpredictable in many places, you cannot expect to have clear and sunny skies all the time. But do not pout if the rain does pour. You can have fun playing in the rain and enjoy mother earth’s natural shower. Just be careful not to go out when there is thunder and lightning.

10. Just relax and simply enjoy the moment. You are in the outdoors for only a few times in a year (or even in a lifetime). Enjoy what nature has to offer. Avoid bringing any electronic gadget and simply bask in the quiet of the forest. This is the time to bond and enjoy each other’s company.

There are hundreds of other activities to do out doors, these ten are just a fraction of the many activities you can do with your kids on a camping trip. The point of it all is to enjoy spending the time together as a family.

Camping With Kids? Think Safety First

How should you do just that when you are outdoors and away from all the amenities and convenience of civilization?

Easy, there are various ways and means as well as gears that are available to cater to a camper’s every need.

The following are tips and advice to make keeping in touch during camping as easy as a-b-c.

Set boundaries and follow them

Camping, especially if there are kids around, could be quite a complicated activity.  To make it less complex and safe,  try to set some boundaries in and around the campsite.  Advise campers, especially kid campers, what are the things they should do and not do with or without an adult.  Usually, an effective method is requiring kids to always be with a buddy.  This could be an assigned partner where one could check in on each other on where the other’s location is, or update the rest of the group of any location changes.

Familiarize with the surroundings

Once one has arrived in the camp, make sure that you and the campers immediately familiarize yourself with the surroundings.  Try to take note of any noticeable landmarks that are around.  A large tree perhaps,, yet make sure these landmarks are locatable in relation within the campsite.

Whistle, whistle, whistle

Give each camper, especially children campers, with their very own whistle.  Establish a code for specific situations that everyone could easily follow and heed.  For example, a whistle blown two times could be established to mean “help.”  Whistles that are blown three times could mean “I am here.”

Color your world

Or at least, have campers carry trash bags that are colored brightly.  Once lost, these bags could be used as a device to signal to the others your location.  Also, the bags could be used during an emergency like when it is cold outside and they need temporary shelter.  Simply cut a slit at the bag’s top and have it pull it through their heads.  Believe it or not, this  plastic bag could serve as an effective albeit temporary protection that could keep a kid camper alive through the night.

Choose a camp that provides high-tech communication

Believe it or not, there are camp sites that provide campers the same amenities one would usually find in civilization.  Email facilities, fax as well as phone equipments are available in a New Zealand camp site called Old Macdonalds.  That is if you prefer to surf the internet while enjoying the comfort and glory of the natural outdoors.

This type of camp is perfect for those who might want to be in touch with their business or personal affairs while at the camping grounds.  This type of camp strikes a balance between the rugged outdoors and the comfort and convenience of modern technology.

Make use of high-tech communication gears
If you really want to stay connected, utilize modern technology through the following gears:

Hand-held radios.  This equipment is very handy now-a-days and so could be easily transportable anywhere and anytime campers need to communicate with each other.  Currently though, such an equipment is also used not just in camping but also by families that are out shopping or attending a large sports event.

Laser Range finders are now just as handy as radios.  Though they were once large and difficult to actually use, today’s finders are light, user-friendly and extremely accurate.  Believe it or not, these laser range finders are also used in golfing.

Global positioning system.  Currently, units that have gps are used by the military and units involved in search and rescue operations.  Though these equipments have features that are high-tech, they are still easy to operate and very user friendly.

Night vision goggles.  The movies are not the only place this equipment could be seen and used. These devices are now readily available.  Though these equipments are sophisticated, they are very easy to use, weighs light, and is compact and handy.

All in all, staying in touch while camping out may be a bit difficult if you have no idea how to go about it.  To be able to avoid this, prepare beforehand the equipments, rules and stuff you need to go through.  Camping should be fun.  Ample preparation adds to enjoyment and lessens the stress.

Tips For Choosing A Good Sleeping Bag

The last thing you want to happen when you’re 20 miles into the woods is to find your sleeping bag is not warm enough. You will be facing a very long and unrestful night which can ruin your spirits and sap your strength for the next day.

So how do you make sure you’ve selected the best bag for your needs? There are several aspects to consider:

GOOSE DOWN or SYNTHETIC?

There are pros and cons to most of the options available in sleeping bags.

Goose down is very warm. It is lightweight to carry and can be easily compressed for travel and quickly regain form when shaken out. It is by far a better choice for backpackers who intend to carry the bag with them for extended trips because of the lighter weight and smaller packing. However, goose down is also more expensive and losses its insulating properties when wet - a consideration if sleeping outdoors or travelling in inclement weather.

Synthetic filled bags are cheaper than goose down and retain their warmth even in wet conditions. They dry faster than down and are a good choice if travelling by boat or sleeping outdoors on the ground. However, synthetic bags are heavier and larger which can be a downside if you are hiking long distances with the bag.

For the average family camper synthetic bags are the least expensive and least affected by wet conditions. If travelling by car to a campground the size and weight of a synthetic bag should not be a problem.

RECTANGLE, TAPERED or MUMMY BAG?

As with the insulating materials, the shape of bag you choose will depend on your specific needs with pros and cons for each type.

Rectangle bags are most similar to bed sleeping and most familiar to the average user. They permit room for movement and you can easily zip two bags together for shared sleeping. However, rectangle bags are the biggest and not the best option for carrying on extended hikes.

Tapered bags are somewhat narrower towards the feet area of the sleeping bag. This shape provides less freedom of movement but more warmth because of the restricted space.

Mummy bags are the smallest and lightest to carry. They are very snug to the body (as the name suggests) with a hood that can be fitted around the head to conserve the greatest amount of body heat. While the average user may find the mummy bag uncomfortable to sleep in because of the restriction they are the best choice for cold weather camping and long hikes because of their warmth and small size.

WHICH TEMPERATURE RATING?

Sleeping bags will list the coldest temperature they are suitable for sleeping in. Depending on if you are camping in the summer or colder months you will need to choose a bag accordingly. Also take into consideration if you are normally cold or hot when sleeping and make the adjustments.

In most cases it is recommended to choose a warmer bag since you can always open it for venting if it is too warm. The temperature rating is based on using a sleeping pad under the sleeping bag which conserves body heat from the ground.

ADDITIONS:

If you frequently camp out you may want to consider a liner for your bag which will increase its warmth and can be washed separately, saving your sleeping bag from extra wear and tear.

You can also purchase sleeping bag covers. Some of these can substitute for a warm weather sleeping bag and can extend an all season bag into a cold weather bag by increasing the warmth. They can also provide extra protection from wet conditions and are a good choice for protecting goose down sleeping bags.

How comfortable you are when you sleep will drastically affect your enjoyment of a camping or hiking trip. Saving five or ten dollars at the expense of a good nights sleep will not seem like a good idea when you are tired and cold out in the woods, so choose wisely.

Family Camping Tips

Do you want to go camping in the great outdoors to get closer to nature? Camping is one of the most affordable and exciting ways to go on vacation to a variety of unique destinations.

One of the most important considerations for your camping trip is the shelter you use. Many campers prefer the portable convenience of sleeping in a tent. Tents protect you from the outdoor elements while still giving you the feeling of being outside. Having the proper tent and knowing how to set it up before you go ensures accessible and cozy housing when you arrive.

You can purchase a tent at retailers such as Target, Wal-Mart and Cabelas. Here’s what to look for:

1. Choose a waterproof tent with airtight seams so drafts and water won’t get in. The tent should be secure enough to handle basic natural elements such as rain and wind.

2. Select a tent size that is one size up from what you actually need. For example, if you are camping with one other person, purchase a tent for 3-4 people. Extra room in your tent is useful for storing your clothes or simple stretching out comfortably while you sleep.

3. To be protected against fire, buy a fire retardant tent to help shield you against unexpected flames. Even if you have a fire retardant tent, never build a fire inside your tent because it’s extremely dangerous.

Before you go camping, secure a spot at the campgrounds in an area designated for tent camping. Most campsites have separate areas for recreational vehicles, pop up shelters and tents. Make sure you reserve a section at the campgrounds ahead of time so you have a place to pitch your tent when you arrive.

Prior to leaving, practice setting up your tent in the backyard or another wide open space. When you know what to do before you go, it’s much easier to repeat when you get there. And keep in mind you might be driving for a long time and arriving at the campsite tired.

When you finally reach your camping destination, carefully select your tent spot:

1. Pick a place with a dry, level ground and no sharp objects, large rocks or branches.
2. The tent should be set up far way from food storage and fire areas.
3. For additional protection from the elements, bring along a tarp to set up as a portable shelter from rain or sun.
4. Never store food in your tent as it may attract unwanted wildlife and insects.
5. Get rid of trash in designated areas far way from your tent.
6. Lock up your food at night in an airtight container or in your car so pests don’t visit.

To add to your camping getaway, set up your tent in a scenic spot to enjoy a beautiful nature view. Remember that certain campgrounds don’t allow you to pick your spot so take advantage of this luxury if you have it. If you are unable to choose your site, inspect the area and get rid of rocks or debris before you pitch your tent. Leaving debris can rip the bottom of your tent and compromise your shelter.

Camping is a fun way to get away and explore the mysteries of nature. Follow the advice above to make it a great experience for you and your family.

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