Camping is an experience that appeals to many individuals, and the high number of outdoor reality shows is adding to the appeal. Check out the solid advice and helpful tips below if you are one of those who are ready for a trip into the great outdoors.
Find your best place for camping shelter long before nightfall. Once the sky becomes dark, finding a good spot for your tent, necessary firewood and food preparation become near impossible. This is particularly true for those city-dwellers that are not used to pitch-black darkness. Avoid these circumstances by finding the right shelter while it is still light.
Select the right sleeping bag for the season. A sleep bag designed for winter camping would make you sweat during the summer. On the other hand, you don’t want a lightweight summer sleeping bag if you’re going to be out in the frigid temperatures of wintertime. You would in fact be risking your health and safety.
Sleeping Bag
Pick out your sleeping bag according to what season it is. Bringing a sub-zero type of sleeping bag to use on a trip in the summer will make you sweat the entire night. The opposite is true as well, a summer bag won’t keep you warm in the winter. You might even get hypothermia.
Choose a tent large enough for everyone that is going to sleep in it. This will make it easy for you all to have a comfortable time sleeping, and moving around in the middle of the night when nature calls for people.
Don’t worry about over-packing for your kids. Camping can be messy. Kids simply love to get dirty. As they go about enjoying the natural surroundings, you may find that dirt is added to dirt. You can’t avoid the dirt, but some extra clothes will help out. Prepare thoroughly!
Take along a bandanna or a small towel. This single fabric piece can be used as a carrying bag, hand towel, paper towel, potholder, and blotter. There are countless other uses for such items, so try your best to remember to bring a bandanna or a large handkerchief with you.
When camping alone or in the company of friends, always bring an emergency kit. Pack an emergency kit that contains basic first aid supplies as well as anything needed for the specific location in which you are camping. For example, if you are camping in an area that may have poison ivy, make sure you pack hydro-cortisone.
It’s not totally necessary to rough it during your entire trip. You can bring along something comforting from home for your trip. It can be something as simple as your favorite pillow or coffee creamer. Comforts from home can really spice up the rustic outdoors!
Double check that you have all of your necessary equipment prior to your camping trip. You would be pretty irritated if it turned out that you left your sleeping bag or tent back at home. 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.
If you’re camping where there is dangerous wildlife, double your food reserves. You must wrap everything up tight, store it away from your tent and do not take certain types of food with you. Doing so is going to decrease the likeliness of a random attack.
When you take children camping with you, make sure to go over some of the dangers associated with camping. It’s easy to look at photos online of harmful plants like poison ivy so that they are aware that they should not touch them when they’re camping.
If you bring a dog camping with you, be sure to keep an eye on them and be sure they’re on a leash. You may encounter people with a fear of dogs. You must respect other campers. Also, your pet could be destructive to other people’s belongings.
When it comes to camping, always be prepared for whatever comes your way. Anything can happen while camping so it is crucial to be prepared. Weather problems, injuries and other unexpected things may occur. You need to pay attention to what you’re doing, avoid unnecessarily risky behavior, and think before you act whether you are in a crisis or a normal camping situation.
While camping’s purpose is to survive off the fat of the land, it is still important to prepare yourself. Blankets are essential, in addition to a sleeping bag, to maximize comfort. Blankets make good padding and can help you stay warm if it’s colder than you expect at night.
Be aware of where your campsite is. You have to figure out a spot that doesn’t have too many insects or problems with any animals. If you’re in an area that is rich in vegetation, try wearing long pants and long sleeves to protect yourself from insects. Insect repellent is a life saver.
Try to refrain from draining your flashlight when camping. It is easy to inadvertently turn the flashlight on when digging through your camping equipment. You can avoid dead batteries by installing them in the flashlight backwards until you need the light. That way, there is no way to turn the flashlight on until you switch the batteries around.
Trail Mix
If you’re planning on camping, you need to remember to pack energy food like beef jerky and trail mix. When the day ends, you may feel so tired you aren’t in the mood for cooking. Nutrient-rich treats like beef jerky and trail mix will help satisfy your hunger. Trail mix and beef jerky are non-perishable foods, so they will keep for very long periods of time; you can even bring them home with you if you do not eat them at the campsite.
Make sure your sleeping bag is fit for the environment in which you are going to camp. In warmer weather, you will probably want a lightweight sleeping bag, whereas in cooler weather, you will probably want a heavyweight sleeping bag. Make sure your sleeping bag fits you well, hugs your body and helps you to retain heat.
Camping is one of those things that can be fun, or not so fun. The difference between each experience all comes down to how prepared you are. When you prepare correctly, your trip will be great.
After your trip, be certain you leave the campsite cleaner than it was when you found it. Bring garbage bags with you on the trip so that you have a place to store all of the trash. Take any leftover food with you. The rule of thumb when breaking down a campsite is to only leave footprints behind.
Plan out all of your clothing before leaving for your trip. You should have clean clothes that will last you the entire trip. Clothing that is appropriate for the climate in which you will be camping should also be carried. You should pack at least one pair of durable closed-toed boots.
A common mistake with newer campers is to set their site up near bathrooms. While this can seem convenient, it really isn’t. Bathrooms get a lot of traffic, and they keep the lights on all night. Therefore, they end up not having the convenience and comfort that they expected.
Always wear your clothing in layers for camping outings. You want to make sure that you are comfortable in any weather. You could awake in the morning to cold weather, for it to just turn hot within a short amount of time. During the evenings, it can get pretty chilly. Layering helps you to adjust how you’re dressed and stay comfortable.
Take along a current picture of any kids you have camping with you. If you lose a child at any point, having a picture to show rescuers or search parties could be very useful. Make sure you bring one for emergencies, especially if you are camping far from home.
You will have now realized that camping does require a little thought. However, you are now likely well prepared to deal with the simple situations that pop up. Knowing what to expect goes a long way in planning the ideal camping trip.
