What is the life expectancy of a tent?
It was not that long ago that camping was the vacation of choice among families. Packing up the tent, the cooking utensils and the car full of food and heading off to a natural spot to enjoy lots of fresh air, non-electronic games and sometimes a spot of fishing. If this is not a treat you have yet enjoyed, read on for some great ideas for your next camping trip.
Pre-cool your ice chest by filling it with loads of ice, at least six hours prior to departure. When you are about to leave, pack up your refrigerated cooled drinks and block ice, not cubed. Popping room temp beverages will take up valuable ice-life, and the cubes will melt much quicker than a block!
Research any potential campground well. They all have different amenities. Some may have showers and bathrooms, while others may not. There are even a few campgrounds that are quite fancy, with onsite miniature golf games or water parks. You may not need or want all that, so figure it out ahead of time so that you are not disappointed when you get there.
Bring a survival kit on the trip and keep it on your person all the time. Things to include in your survival pack are a knife, matches that are waterproof, first aid kit, flares and tablets to purify water. This kit can save your life if you get into a dangerous situation. Never leave the kit behind, even for a short excursion.
Be certain your camp fire is completely out before you leave a campsite. To your eye it may seem like the fire is gone, but stir the ashes with a stick and you may find burning embers. Pour enough water and keep stirring until you see no more embers in the fire pit.
Make sure you buy a tent that is big enough for your needs. Many people find themselves crowded in a tent for no reason. Tents are lightweight and very compact, so there is no reason not to have enough space when you buy a tent. Make sure you're buying for comfort.
Prepare some of the food ahead of time so you will not have to mess around with it at the camp site. Make up some sandwiches, precook the pasta and take along foods that can be eaten as is to make each meal less tedious. Other meals can be enjoyable to prepare in the woods, but some should be ready to go on the days the weather is not perfect.
Camping can be incredibly fun or incredibly dangerous depending on just one factor: preparation. You must make sure you are completely prepared before you go camping. If you're going somewhere you've never been, do a little research about the land. Find out the weather, wildlife and the layout of the land.
Bring oranges with you since they are great for snacking and repelling insects. Save the orange peels and rub them into your exposed skin. Insects will stay away from you for an affordable price.
Remember to pack a camera. There are some memories you're going to want to capture on your camping trip. Bring along a small camera that can fit in your pocket. Try to pack something durable that could stand getting dropped or becoming a bit wet. Consider using a disposable camera.
If you are camping outdoors instead of in a travel trailer or RV, it is important to dress in (or carry with you) layers of clothing. While on a camping trip, temperatures can fluctuate widely. The easiest and most effective method to control your body temperature is through adding and removing layers of clothing. Having layers of clothing also protects you from bug bites.
Use specialty camping pillows when camping. Regular bed pillows will feel hot and sticky during humid weather. The moisture in the air can also cause mildew. Pillows designed for camping offer a coating that prevents moisture absorption.
Do not dump any type of food waste on the ground. This is a great way to attract unwanted bugs and animals. The best way to get rid of excess food waste is to dump all of it into the fire pit. It is also not a good idea to bury them.
Camping is fun, and camping with kids can be even more fun, but certain precautions need to be made for these little campers. Take plenty of extra clothes for them, because they will get dirty and wet. It's important they don't stay in wet clothes, because it's possible, it could result in hypothermia. This goes for adults, too.
Plan ahead and come prepared. Not only should you carry a sleeping bag, a few blankets are a good idea also. This will help you to stay warm, comfortable and safe during a cold or wet night.
If the area you are camping in is known for dangerous wildlife, you will need to be doubly careful with food storage. You have to wrap your food tightly and keep them away from the tent; some foods, you may have to forget. This can help you to prevent an attack from a wild animal.
Take a lot of water for everyone to drink for your trip. This will make sure that everyone is hydrated properly throughout the trip, and that you all have access to clean drinking water on your trip. This is always a good idea because you don't want to dehydrate while you're out camping.
If you are already an experienced camper and are finding yourself bored with the same routine, then you should volunteer to help a friend learn how to camp. This will help you to see things through his or her eyes and may give you your passion for yurk tent camping back.
Simply adhering to the ideas presented within this article can pave the way to camping success. In addition to the tips listed here, there is a lot of other great information available. Stay on the lookout for more great tips and improve your camping experience everytime you go.