Archive for the ‘camping equipment’ Category
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How to Fix a Broken Tent
[The following is a guest post from How to Fix. There you can learn How to Fix a Dishwasher, how to fix a flat tire as well as how to fix a toilet]
Having a tent is an absolute necessity when you’re out in the woods – that is, unless you can find some other form of shelter. Tents keep moisture out, protect you from the elements, and separate you from the wild, even if the separation is a thin one. So if your tent breaks or tears while you’re out camping, you’ll probably recognize when it happens fairly quickly. The only question that remains is simple: how can you fix it without buying a new one?
There is no one answer to this question, because there is more than one way that a tent can be broken. But in this article, we’ll handle two of those ways:
Your tent tearing: If your tent tears, then duct tape is your best friend. It’s generally a good idea to keep some basic tools in your car – duct tape is one of them – around for just this kind of situation. Duct tape won’t only help re-attach the two sides of the tear in your tent, but it will continue to seal out moisture and its adhesive will generally keep the duct tape where you put it. It’s generally a good idea to use more duct tape than you think you need rather than less; don’t be afraid to go a little overboard. After all, you’re not going for beauty here – you simply want to keep your tent working. So make sure you have duct tape with you. The next time you head to the hardware store, buy a couple of rolls of duct tape and put one in the back of your car. It just may come in handy.Tent poles breaking or bending: The structure of the tent is generally held up by loosely-assembled tent poles. These aren’t always the most sturdy foundations to have with you, but they make for light packing and generally an easy tent setup. If one of them breaks, you’ll want to consider your situation. Can you possibly bend the pole back into place, or is it lost forever? If it’s totally broken, you may simply want to toss that pole out and keep your tent up with the rest of the poles. Your tent may be a little uneven because of this, but at least it will stay up, continue to shelter you from the weather, and will continue to work. Worry about a replacement pole or tent once you’re safely back to civilization.
Photo Credits: bgautrea
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Tent Product Review: Eureka’s Apex 2XT Adventure
When it comes to camping, there are campers, and there are campers who enjoy treks through what’s known as the “back country.” Depending on what kind of camper you are – either a casual camper with a family in tow or a borderline professional – you’ll want to get a tent that’s right fo you.
The Eureka Apex 2XT Adventure 7-Foot by 5-Foot Two-Person Tent
is a straightforward, no-thrills tent that emphasizes performance over entertainment: you casual campers might want to try a different one. But if you’re looking for a tent product that is lightweight, flexible, and sturdy, the Apex Adventure is a camping tent that you’ll want to take with you on those trips through the back country across North America.
What does a tent that offers “performance” really do? In addition to being lightweight – hence easy to carry – a tent like the Apex Adventure is built for ideal storage space and ventilation, allowing for comfortable nights that protect you and your equipment from getting wet.
It also emphasizes the experience of camping, with a wall of “no-see-um” mesh that is built for stargazing on clear nights in the summer. This means that the Apex Adventure is built to be your home away from home when you’re on a serious camping trip that tests your resolve. It’s also a welcome respite from a tough day of building fires, gathering wood, hiking, and exploring.A clothesline loop and flashlight loop are also included if you really want to get serious about your camping trip and, you know, do your own laundry.
What are the disadvantages to a tent like the Eureka Apex Adventure? Unless you’re a hardcore “casual camper,” this tent could also work wel for you because of its simplicity and its structure – built for durability even in tough winds.
This means it’s not, shall we say, built for recreational camping, the way you might camp if you’re just camping out with the kids in the backyard. Many of the options featured in the Adventure would be lost on these “urban” campers, as storage space would become less of a worry and entertainment would become the top priority.
The Eureka Apex 2XT Adventure also weighs in at a hefty 99 dollars or so, making it an expensive tent for a two-person option. There are better ways to spend your money if you don’t plan on camping that much in the future.
If, however, you’re looking for a tent that will last through several hiking and camping trips per year and will support you when you feel adventurous, you might want to look into a tent like the Apex Adventure. Durability and security become higher priorities for the camper looking to travel the back-country, more worried about keeping him or herself dry with a tent they can trust than anything else.
This leads to the conclusion that the Apex is a tent for the hardcore camper, the ambitious camper, but not for the camper with kids who’s looking for a more casual time.
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Five Reasons to Bring a Swiss Army Knife
Many of us marvel at television shows like the Discovery Channel’s “Man vs. Wild” and marvel at all of the things the survivalists are able to accomplish with so little support out in the wilderness. But there’s a common denominator to many of these shows – and to better survival, in general – that helps explain their success.
Their knife.
Any knife has a million and one uses in the wild, but a quality knife like a Swiss Army Knife, with its variety of blades and options, is even more practical. With that in mind, here are five reasons to bring a Swiss Army Knife on your next camping trip.
1. Scissors.
Each Swiss Army Knife comes with a small scissors. These scissors might seem superfluous indoors, but it’s only out in the wild where you discover the kind of help they can offer. Whether you’re repairing tents or untying knots, it’s definitely more practical to have a small pair of scissors in your back pocket.
2. Fold-away blades.
It’s not only convenient to have a variety of blades and tools at your disposal, but being able to fold them away safely is a major plus. You can keep all of the different tools and blades tucked away in your back pocket, saving you both worry and space. A Swiss Army Knife can be like having a toolbox the size of a Chicken McNugget.
3. The knife, stupid!
Don’t forget the benefits of a knife – whether you’re cutting meat, gutting a fish, shaving bark, or peeling an apple. The chances aren’t very good that you’ll find yourself in a life-or-death situation on your next camping trip, but it can’t help to be prepared while enjoying the benefits of a strong blade.
4. Preparing for the unexpected.
If you’re really venturing far into the wilderness for a more rustic camping experience, the chances are good that you’ll encounter something you didn’t plan for. A simple knife is definitely beneficial, but a knife with all of the options of a Swiss Army Knife will help you feel that much more prepared.
5. Getting used to the outdoors.
It’s not the same “outdoors” experience when you bring a camper into the woods and enjoy all of the same luxuries you have at home. Sometimes, it’s better to get out there, use tools you wouldn’t otherwise use, and explore your “survivalist” side.
There are more reasons to bring a Swiss Army Knife along with you on your next camping trip – this is just a small sampling. To explore more of the reasons, why not make a purchase and get off of the couch and into the woods?
Photo Credits: Alesist
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Camping Heaters
Camping is likely one of nature’s most loved activities because it is so exciting. Many claim that camping allows them to become one with nature as the camper completely removes himself from all of the luxuries that are offered today. Stepping away from your own element is all part of the adventure but that is what makes it so fun. People that love to camp approach each new camping trip as an adventure and each trip brings about mounting excitement. Sure, there is a lot to do before heading camping but there are so many items that are offered today that can make living outdoors so much easier but at the same time, it can make packing rather challenging. If you’re not careful you will feel like you are packing to move rather than packing to camp.
If you are not an experienced camper you might have to find out the hard way that regardless of the day time temperatures, the night time offers a whole new perspective on the word chilly. Being cold at night indicates that you are not going to sleep well and that can ruin the best camping trip. To avoid problems such as these always bring along a good camping heater. You will be able to enjoy warmth once the campfire is out for the night. Thousands of campers use these camping heaters and get great relief from them, especially if you have children with you. Getting that chill in your bones can make you feel just achy. These camping heaters are very safe and convenient. Don’t look at them as a luxury but instead something that is high on the priority list.
Before you decide that a camping heater might be something that you can go without justifying it by saying that it is all part of the fun, avoid being a hero and use the heater for which it was intended. Camping heaters are made with top of the line materials and made to the best standards. Camping heaters are affordable, durable and last a very long time. There is a huge selection of camping heaters to fit your needs and budget. Camping heaters are portable and are very easy to carry along.Likely the biggest camping complaint is being cold and difficulties sleep in those conditions. This then makes camping heaters a necessity because they offer warmth to campers when it is cold. Decide if you want to fuel your heater by gas or propane, but there are some electric heaters which can be convenient in some cases but not so much in others. If you opt for electric make sure that is a feasible option at your campground.
Camping heaters offer comfortable conditions while camping especially at night. Warmth is very important to campers and the heaters provide that warmth just like a toasty campfire will. The heaters can be used for many years as long as they are cared for properly. A camping heater should always be high on the list of priorities for every camping trip.
Photo Credit: v8media
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The Three Most Important Elements of Camping
When we hear the essential rules of survival, it usually doesn’t dawn on us to relate them to the experience of camping. After all, camping is simply a relaxing excursion into the woods, not a battle between man and nature. But when you’re planning a camping trip, it couldn’t hurt to look at the rules of survival: not only can they help you out should you ever run into trouble, but they can make life in the outdoors much more comfortable. Without further ado, here are the three most important elements of camping.
1: Shelter. The first rule of survival is to build a competent shelter as quickly as possible. When it comes to camping, this can often be easily handled – you simply bring your tent along with you. But if you understand what makes a comfortable shelter comfortable, you’ll enhance your camping experience. You’ll want to keep your tent dry, insulated from the cold, and bug-free. If you can build a good bed outdoors (using something like an air mattress), you’ll get a higher quality of sleep and won’t wake up with bumps and bruises on your back.
2: Clean water. Water is essential for hydration; without it, we would die in a few days. For most people who are camping, hydration isn’t always the issue, as you can pick up a few bottles of water from a local gas station. But even if you’re simply on vacation, having access to clean water will keep you feeling fresh and energized. Make sure you have access to water for washing your hands, showering, cleaning, and of course, drinking.
3: Food. With your shelter and water needs taken care of, you don’t want to camp on an empty stomach. In the wild, you could survive for a relatively long time without food, but without a supply of good, nutritious food, you won’t feel good by the end of the first day camping. That’s why you’ll want to pack a cooler full of good foods: vegetables, fruits, and nuts make great nutritious snacks, while meat will help fill your belly for the main course. Even if you’re living in the wild, that’s no reason to feel wild.One great camping tip related to food: have a giant breakfast. It will help fill you up with plenty of energy for fishing, swimming, and hiking, and you won’t feel as drained throughout the day.
Photo Credits: chanchan222
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The Big Camping Checklist
If you’ve done all of your preparation and have packed nearly everything you thought you needed for your first big camping trip, it’s time to go through your checklist. But there’s just one problem: what if your initial checklist wasn’t comprehensive to begin with? If you start out with a bad checklist, you won’t necessarily bring all of the materials and supplies you’ll need to have a comfortable, fun camping experience. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most important camping materials you’ll need to bring on your big trip.
For the Tent
Inside the tent, you’ll want the following things: sleeping blankets, an air mattress or at least sleeping pads, a flashlight or a lantern, reading material, and enough pillows to rest comfortably. You can also bring some optional material like camping cots, which keep you above the ground.
Why bring reading material? In case there’s a particularly rainy day, you’ll find that your tent is one of the most welcoming places you have. Bringing a favorite book or some humorous material to read can really boost your mood on those ugly-weather days. It should go without saying that you’ll need to bring a tent along with all of these items: do not forget the tent!
Food and FireAfter your sleep is taken care of, another high priority will be your stomach. There’s no point in going camping if the entire time you’re racked with hunger because the campfire won’t start, or you didn’t bring enough supplies to create effective meals.
Make sure you bring a cooler full of food that needs to be cooled: efficient foods include hot dogs, pretzels, energy bars, nuts, trail mix, and buns, breads, and bagels. You’ll also want to make sure that you bring along a camping stove to put over a fire.
When it comes to the fire, try to bring at least some matches or a lighter. It won’t hurt to bring a flint just in case you run out of either of those. If you plan on getting a lot of firewood together, bring a water-resistant tarp that you can store the wood in.
Medical, Communications, and Other Items
The most important thing on your big camping checklist? Safety. Communication with other people can help you stay safe, but you’ll also want to make sure you bring some medical supplies of your own.
In order to stay fully prepared, bring a Swiss army knife, a first aid kit, batteries for the gadgets you’re using, a compass, maps of your area, as well as phones and GPS devices if you can afford them.
Photo Credits: HGruber
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The Top 5 Camping Gadgets
Even though camping, for many people, represents a way to escape from the bustling world of modern society, camping still does represent a neat way to bring some of that civilization with you and use some nifty gadgets. When you’re living a rustic lifestyle, it’s no reason to reject some portable luxuries that you might have gotten used to.
Here are five of the top camping gadgets and gizmos you can find for fun, comfort, and even practicality:
- SolLight Solar-Powered LightCap Water Bottle
– Solar-powered, weatherproof and durable, these LightCaps fit on water bottles, converting those bottles into portable lamps to read by. With a guaranteed lifetime of 50,000 hours, you’ll also be sure that you can bring these lights on countless trips before even worrying about how long they last.
- Coleman Rechargeable Portable Blender
– Okay, maybe this gadget is for those who really want to bring some civilization with them on their camping trip, but you can’t deny the advantages of a good blender when you’re hankering for some real food or a real drink on the trail. Coleman’s portable blender operates on battery power and is designed for easy clean-up – which you’ll need – as well as the ability to break down and mix a drink or snack for you in less than a minute. You might even find yourself as the most popular camper on the campsite.
- Tent power system from Coleman – Coleman also brings a hint of indoor lighting and even air-conditioning-like climate control into your tent with a tent power system that does both at once. Also powered by batteries, a small tent power system can be hooked up inside your tent to provide a cool breeze as well as light at night for reading, playing cards, and staying up late. On warm summer nights, a small setup of this portable power system will be more than worth it when you find yourself sleeping with a cool breeze on your skin.
- Pepperball’s FlashLauncher
– If you’ve ever asked yourself if there’s any flashlight that could also shoot balls of hot pepper powder to defend yourself, you’re in luck – though it’s a strange question to ask. The FlashLauncher can shoot up to five overall PepperBalls that provide a hint of security against wild animals.
- Suunto X10M Wrist-Top GPS Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and GPS
– This is less a “watch” than it is portable computer and meteorologist. Integratable with Google Maps on a PC, it’s like bringing part of your computer with you – with some enhanced abilities. You can track your adventures on Google Earth to get a satellite’s-eye view of your journey, or you can measure any changes in weather with weather alerts and a barometer. The goal of a watch like the Suunto X10 watch is to make the possibility of getting lost obsolete – and with a variety of options sitting just on your wrist, you’ll feel like Magellan as you hike and camp.
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- SolLight Solar-Powered LightCap Water Bottle
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Creating Your Campsite Kitchen
So you’ve finally made it into the great outdoors with a full campsite: you’ve got your fire ready, chairs set up, your tent ready to protect you from the elements, and even a warm place to sleep. You sit down to enjoy the just-beginning sunset, and it suddenly hits you.
Your stomach grumbles.
Oh yeah! After all of that work, you’re still going to have to eat once you’re out in the wild.
For many people, being outdoors is an unappetizing thought, let alone eating outdoors. But it’s not as hard as you might think to create a campsite kitchen that produces good, fresh food and fills you with energy so that you can start worrying about the more interesting activities – like camping! Here are some tips to creating your own campsite kitchen.
Tip #1: Bring your own refrigerator.
Without an RV (which literally lets you bring your own kitchen), you’ll still need a way to keep your food cool so that it lasts as long as possible. Use small coolers – they’re lighter and will require less ice. Make sure to keep cool only that which really needs to keep cool to reduce the burden on your equipment.
Tip #2: Plastics.
Giant, re-sealable plastic bags will be your best friend when you head outdoors – even if you already have another container like a cooler to store your food in. Why is this? Even inside bags and coolers, it’s easy for debris and dust to get on your food if you don’t have your items well-sealed. Plastics will also keep moisture out of your food, which is essential if you want to avoid soggy hot dog buns and wet potato chips.
Tip #3: Easy fire-starters.
Be sure to have plenty of tinder and wood near your fire so that you can easily start a fire for breakfast in the morning, and if you can, cover the wood with a tarp overnight to protect it from potential rain. Even when the weather forecast is clear, you’re never sure if a light shower might break out at four in the morning, so be prepared.
By the way, don’t bring a lighter: bring a torch. The Micro-Jet Lighter Torch will take your lighter and turn it into a flame-blowing torch that will work better in windy conditions.
Tip #4: Bring a decent cooking rack.
Tri-pod racks are popular since they’re relatively easy to set up along with a fire you have just built. Just make sure you have a rock that will be able to stand on its own as you cook hot dogs, burgers, and other meats on your grill.
Photo Credits: BaronBrian
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Using GPS on the Hiking / Camping Trail
Today, with Global Positioning System (GPS) gadgets still a new technology, many people are unaware that GPS wasn’t only meant for the open road. It can be used while hiking or camping, and can even help you from being lost when there are no roads or highways nearby.
How is that possible? Portable GPS’s can track your journey, leaving a trail of digital breadcrumbs that keep you secure even on deep-woods adventures.
Here are some of the top strategies for using GPS on the camping trail:
- Plan in advance – Some GPS systems, like the Suunto X10 GPS watch, allow you to coordinate your GPS map with a map on Google, giving you an advanced knowledge of the track you’ll be heading on. You can also cross-section this map with Google Earth so that you have a better idea of the terrain and environment you’ll expect.Planning in advance is always crucial to having a good time when you’re camping and hiking. If you’re planning on exploring deep into the woods or wilderness, you would do good to prepare your general track by merging your computer with your GPS for an advanced map.
- Keep an eye on the weather – Some GPS devices (including the Suunto X10 GPS watch) allow you to monitor the weather before it happens. If a storm is coming, you should know about it before you see it on the horizon, or before you watch the skies turn grey. The GPS extends your “inner meteorologist” and gives you added technology – such as a barometer – to assist you in watching the weather. While this obviously has implications for your cmaping or hiking trip, it’s useful for a variety of other outdoor activities, as well; especially if you don’t have the internet or a TV to access.
- Watching your time and distance – Especially useful for runners and hikers, keeping a track of your distance is great for athletic endeavors, as you’ll be able to monitor exactly how long it took you to walk, hike, or run how many miles.This allows you to monitor your distance, for example, even if you feel like taking a side jaunt somewhere else entirely. If you have your ideal 10k run mapped out somewhere, and need to take a detour, you’d still be able to keep an eye on the distance you’ve traveled.
These are just three of the strategies you could employ while using your GPS watch or other GPS device while outdoors. Much like a GPS navigation system will help prevent you from ever getting lost in the car, today’s technology can even help you from getting lost in the woods. You’ll be able to monitor weather, altitude, and other variables that let you know about the skies you’re hiking or camping under, and you’ll find yourself having a better time for it.
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Gift Ideas for your Hiker
The holidays seem to roll around earlier and earlier every year. The Christmas season starts before Thanksgiving, Spring Break seems to go on through March and April, and everyone has a birthday rolling around the corner. If you’ve got a hiker in your family, you know what kinds of gifts to buy, but you don’t have any specific ideas on what might be applicable for those special occasions.
That’s why you’ll want to consult this list of gift ideas for your hiker – it not only takes a look at the life of an active hiker who can’t get out into the wilderness enough, but it also might open up some other ideas that you hadn’t originally anticipated. Here are some great gift ideas for your favorite hiker:
- Solar-powered battery and gadget chargers – There are too many to list here, but a quick search around the Internet will yield a treasure trove of sunlight-sucking energy boosters for cell phones, iPods, and all sorts of electronic gadgets that hikers often take with them. This is an especially apt gift for the hiker in your life that likes to push his or her boundaries, get deep into the forrest and take day-long jaunts into the unknown: it always helps to have some extra energy for the cell-phone around, just in case.
- A GPS device – Unless your hiker is the outdoorsy type who needs to get away from technology to relax, the GPS device is an especially appropriate gift that will help your hiker get some air under his/her wings. GPS navigation systems can be worn on watches or handheld devices, and have even expanded to include features like barometers and weather prediction. It’s possible you have enough trouble getting your hiker back into the house as it is, but don’t rule out a handy GPS device that takes the guesswork out of hiking.
- Lightweight, weight-balancing backpacks – While hiking is great exercise, it can also present some unduly stress on the back. Keep an eye peeled for backpacks with enforcement that shifts the balance of weight to a more appropriate place in the body, closer to the center of gravity and the hips, rather than on the shoulders and back. These should also typically be lightweight items with enough carrying space to satisfy your hiker.
- Wool socks – Please note that this is more of a stocking-stuffer than an actual gift: it really doesn’t get much more boring than socks. But socks that wick away sweat, keep your feet dry, and don’t itch are as practical as they are thoughtful; the kind of gift that you don’t appreciate fully until you put them into use.
These are just a few of the potential gifts you could buy the hiker in your life. To find more gift ideas, feel free to browse the web, look for customer product reviews, and ask yourself what your hiker would want or need.
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