What is the life expectancy of a tent?
Whether you choose to go camping by yourself or take the whole family, few destinations make for such amazing fun and adventure! Learn how to make the most of your time with nature in the great outdoors, by reading the following tips that will guide you to the best camping trip ever.
Leave no trace of your outing at your campsite, for environmental reasons and as a courtesy to park officials who clean up and the next camping crew. Make sure all trash is picked up, you refill holes you may have dug and of course, that your campfire is completely out!
Bring a large trash bag for dirtied laundry, and keep it in a central location, suitable for everyone in your party. Let them pack their clothing individually, as this makes it much easier to find than if you pile it all in a community storage box or bag. Toss in a dryer sheet to any bag you want smelling fresh.
Look up activities to engage in prior to getting to your destination. This will allow you to check for any deals that may be offered. Also, it will help you be more prepared when you actually get to your destination. You can find trails that may be appropriate for everyone in your family or restaurants that you would enjoy.
When you're getting a brand new tent for your camping trip, take it out and set it up at home before you go camping. That way, you can make sure you have everything you need to set up the tent, including knowledge of how to do it properly. You will find your frustration level diminishes greatly as well.
Introduce yourselves to other families camping in your immediate area, as a means of being social and more apt to help each other out. If another crew arrives after you've set up, offer to help with their tent or equipment. If something goes awry during the trip for anyone, it's much easier to ask for help from somebody who was courteous enough to introduce themselves.
If you are new to camping and you are going without a more practiced friend, you should consider staying in a campground rather than camping in the wilderness. This will help you to learn the basics of camping while still having basic infrastructure and friendly people around you in case of emergency.
If you are camping and the weather is starting to rise significantly, tale the coolers that you have with you and put them somewhere in the shade. It will also help to keep them covered with some type of tarp. This will keep the temperature inside the cooler from rising too much.
Get everything you need ready for your meals before you get to your campsite. If you are only camping for a few days, this initial trip to the store should be all that you need to do. Stock up on nonperishable items, too. You don't want you or your family members to be hungry on your trip.
Make sure that you take some activity equipment with you. Pack such things as cards, fishing poles or even plan for a scavenger hunt. If you are bringing children on your trip, you should bring a few more entertainment supplies than you think you'll need.
Save space in your bag by leaving mixing spoons and containers behind, and instead just bring plastic zip-lock bags. Place the foods or liquids that you want to mix in the bag, and ensure that the zipper is well closed before mixing. Not only do the bags take up considerably less space than build a tent platform bowls and spoons, but they're much more lightweight as well!
If you are taking your children camping with you, don't forget to take walkie talkies along with you. Although each of you may own a cell phone, the area where you are camping may not have adequate coverage. It is best to invest in walkie talkies that have a range of several miles. By having walkie talkies or Family Radio Service (FRS) radio, you can remain in contact with all members of your family.
Don't forget to pack up some duct tape when you're camping because it's very versatile. You can patch holes in tents, shoes and inflatables as well as using it to secure your tent or seal your mosquito netting.
Use the appropriate sleeping bag for the current season. In the summer months, you need a lightweight option. Meanwhile, if you are camping during the winter months, you will probably desire a more heavyweight sleep bag that will protect the body's extremities from frostbite.
Think carefully on your next trip to prevent the drainage of your flashlight batteries. Your flashlight's power switch can be easily turned on by mistake while you search through your bag. You can avoid dead batteries by installing them in the flashlight backwards until you need the light. This way they won't activate if the switch is nudged and will stay fresh till you need them.
A great tip for those of you planning a camping trip would be to bring along flashlights that are LED and run on lithium batteries. These types of flashlights last much longer than traditional flashlight and the last thing you want when out in the wilderness is a broken flashlight.
It's is important to have first aid essentials or a kit with you. Make sure the kit contains everything you may need for any type of mishap. The first aid kit should include bandages, allergy and pain medicine and other essentials. Safety is an important consideration when you are camping, but it is important to be prepared for accidents.
A lot of people forget to put up shelter before it gets dark. It's hard and frustrating to set up a tent in the dark. You need to make a fire or use a flashlight. It is much simpler to set up your campsite before sunset.
Learning and living with nature is one of the best ways to spend your hard earned vacation time. Pack and prepare with everything you need to make your camping adventure a success, and be sure to keep all the tips from this article in mind to make it go more smoothly.