Tips for Women: How to Camp Comfortably

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

We all know that any given woman is capable of accomplishing the same things outdoors as any given man, and that what makes a good camper is not only attitude, but skill. Either gender is capable of developing both. But when it comes to camping comfortably, it would be just plain wrong to act like there are no differences between men and women, and it’s fair to say that women have higher needs for comfort than many men. With that in mind, here are a few tips for the adventurous women out there.

First, getting a good’s night sleep during a camping weekend should be considered the most vital aspect of your comfortable camping experience. If you wake up with a sore back, it’s going to ruin the rest of your day. But if you wake up like you wake up out of your bed at home, you should feel absolutely fine and have more energy to accomplish the things you want to accomplish while camping that day.

Next, think about the kind of equipment you’ll be using during the daytime that will change your camping experience. For example, what luxury at home can’t you live without? If it’s a shower, you can find portable camping showers that function similar to showers at home, or simply find a campsite shower on a campground. It’s usually a good idea to try out a night of camping out in your backyard, without the conveniences at home except the ones in your bag, to get an idea of how you’ll fare when you’re camping. Make sure to bring a notepad to keep track of all of the things you believe you’ll need and that which you won’t need to bring on your trip.

Having a comfortable camping experience is all about preparation. As long as you have your bases covered, you should have a great experience that feels like you’re at one with nature, not constantly fighting it by tossing and turning all night.

Photo Credits: russelljsmith

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The Tent-less Outdoor Sleeping Guide

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

For some people, the definition of “rustic” means simply heading out into the woods – even if you bring a camper with a bathroom, a sink, and a microwave. For others, “rustic” means an experience that at least has some amenities like tents to keep your dry and covered from rain. But for the die-hard campers, there’s only one definition of rustic: tent-less camping, including true under-the-stars sleeping. If you’ve always wanted to do this, here’s your guide.

What to bring: Even if you’re not bringing a tent, you’ll need to bring something in order to keep you warm and separate your back from the hard, rocky ground. Many people bring a simple sleeping bag and sleeping pad, and possibly a camping cot, in order to sleep outdoors.

The good thing about sleeping without a tent is that you can stay warm near – but not too near – a fire. Even so, you’ll want to stay warm for the entire night, including after the fire dies down on its own. Make sure you bring enough to keep you warm and relatively comfortable when you sleep on the ground.

Watch the weather: When you’re thinking about camping in a tent, knowing it’s going to rain is less important knowledge than when you’re sleeping outdoors. You’ll want to be sure that a high-pressure system is moving through the area you intend on sleeping in; these systems keep things clear – and usually provide for better views of the stars anyway. If there’s going to be rain, you probably won’t be able to have a good night’s sleep, so you might want to consider throwing in the towel and simply sleeping under a tarp or simply a tent.

All in all, sleeping outdoors can be a pleasant experience, but it’s not without its risks. You’ll want to be aware of local insects and wildlife before you sleeping without shelter. When in doubt, simply sleep in your tent so that you can stay dry and not worry about everything that comes from sleeping outdoors. You might just be glad you did.

Photo Credits: anoldent

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Things to Remember When Going Camping

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Ever gotten all the way out to your campsite, only to forget that one essential item?  Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Whether you’re going out for a week long hike or just overnight, the last thing you want to do is get to the camp site and discover that you’re missing that one vital element. This guide will give you a basic list of the items you’ll need to remember in order to make your trip a success.

* Bring the right shelter. Regardless of what kind of camping you’re planning on doing, a proper shelter is will make the difference between a good trip and bad one. Shelters can vary from a simple tarp and rope affair to sophisticated high tech tents. You must pick a tent based on your needs for the trip. Choose one that’s both large enough and sturdy enough.

* Navigational aides. Who wants to get lost when you’re out there to enjoy yourself? There are all sorts of fun technological gadgets to help you find your way on the trip; however, make sure such a device will work where you’ll be traveling. While these gadgets may be useful, if you’re going to be hiking, you may want to have a backup map, compass, and someone familiar with their use.

* Provisions. Rations come in all shapes and sizes, but make sure you keep a couple things in mind when packing them. First, confirm that you’re carrying enough water for the duration of your trip. Second, if you must carry everything in backpacks, make sure not to weigh yourself down with unnecessary luxuries. If, however, you’re just out for a fun time overnight then by all means pack those coolers full.

While camping can be both fun and arduous, this guide will help you make sure your trip is enjoyable. Make sure to keep in mind the kind of weather you’ll encounter, how long your excursion will be, and how you’ll go about navigating. Hopefully, with the help of this basic list, you will make your trip one to remember, not one to forget.

Photo credits: El Dav

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Keeping Away the Creepy Crawlers While Camping

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

If there’s one thing that can quickly turn a nice camping trip into a miserable one, it’s an overabundance of bugs. Yeah, bugs – you know the ones I’m talking about – those creepy-crawly, overly-juicy, quick-footed insects that can get inside your tent or even your sleeping bag and cause a lot of ruckus with just a little bit of presence.

Part of you knows that heading into the great outdoors is the reason you should expect to see bugs. But you can minimize the experience you have with them if you follow just a few simple tips and tricks.

Create a home base in your tent. If you want a refuge from your bugs, you’re going to need a good home base, where everything is sealed off from nature – except the air, of course. Take some time to put up your tent before a camping trip to make sure that it’s clean, dry, and doesn’t have any holes in it – for now, you can plug up holes with some duct tape in order to seal out bugs. Make sure to clean out the tent to get rid of any already-existing bugs, and always make sure that you close your door right after you use it, so nothing crawls in with you.

Come equipped with bug spray. Mosquitoes are among the worst “bugs” that can really irritate you during a camping trip. They don’t gross many people out, but they can wreak the most havoc on the good time you’re trying to have. So make sure you pack at least a full can of bug spray – you’ll really find that you need it when the sun drops in the sky and the mosquitoes start coming out.

Don’t let the fear of bugs get in the way of having a good time. Realize that many of the bugs you encounter will be harmless, unless you’re in an exotic location in which case you’ll want to do more research and seek more advice on how to beat them. If you do find a bug or two inside your tent, use some tissues and get rid of it. It’s that simple.

Photo Credits: Kevin Saff

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Five Essential Items For Your Camping To-Do List

Monday, October 12th, 2009

Have you ever gone camping before and felt, well, terrible at it? Sure, you might have packed well, but when your feet actually hit the great outdoors, you’re in a whole different world, especially if your experience is going to be truly rustic. Good camping comes with good experience, but it also comes with the right kind of knowledge.

If you ever feel lost camping, this article is for you. Here’s your checklist to kick off your camping trip right:

1. Shelter first. I was recently on a camping trip with some friends and we arrived in the twilight hours. Luckily, we followed the idea of “shelter first” by setting up our tents with the limited light we had left. By the time we were done setting up camp, it was dark out and we were getting our fire ready. If we had built the fire first, putting up the tents would have been a major nuisance.

3. Get warm. The fire is useful for keeping warm at night, but you’ll also want to be ready for sleeping out under the stars. Even on summer nights the temperature can drop drastically and you’ll want to make sure you’re properly insulated. Bring some heavy flannel clothes even for camping in the summer and be sure you have a sleeping bag that really traps heat well.

4. Plan for the next meal. If your shelter is up and you’ve got heat taken care of, plan for the next meal – even if it’s tomorrow’s breakfast. Check your cooler and make sure you have all of the utensils and goods you need. When you wake up tomorrow, you should be ready to start a fire and get the bacon crackling.

5. Set up your wants. The three needs of survival in the wilderness tend to go like this: shelter, water, food. With all of that taken care of (you brought fresh water, right?), set up your “wants.” Have the DVD player ready to go in your tent. If you brought an outdoor shower, make sure you found a suitable place to put it, and that it’s filled.

Photo Credits: tranchis

How to Have a Comfortable Night’s Sleep When You’re Camping

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

Even when a morning is sunny and beautiful out over your campsite, one thing that can make everything seem dark and dull is the quality of sleep you had: if you slept on the hard ground, your back and neck might be killing you all day! One of the best prescriptions for a great vacation is having a great sleep every night. If you’re camping, you’re going to need to know how to bring your bed with you as best as you can. Here are some tips for doing exactly that.

Put a lot between you and the ground. It’s not enough to simply have a sleeping bag – a sleeping bag is for keeping you warm, and not much else. You’re going to want to put a lot between your back and the ground, particularly something stable and soft, if possible. Air mattresses (along with a quick inflating gadget) can be invaluable for having a great night’s sleep. Cots that hang high off of the ground can also be comfortable, making sure you don’t touch the ground. Do your best to find a solution that keeps your back off the ground but also travels well, such as a folding cot or an inflatable air mattress.

Bring a pillow from home. Consider your pillow one of your luxury items: it doesn’t pack very well, but it is important enough to make that kind of sacrifice. A large, fluffy but firm pillow will help you to rest your neck and head comfortably, allowing you to feel comfortable enough the following day so that you can hike, swim, and do all of the things associated with camping.

Make sure you’re insulated from moisture. If you’ve brought a camper, this is an easy consideration. If you’re in a tent, however, you’ll want to make sure that everything is secure. You’ll want to keep the outside world as sealed off as possible so that your tent can be warm, soft, and dry. Make sure you’re protected from rain during the night and that everything is properly zipped up.

Photo Credits: lbshopgirl

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Three Ways to Sleep Like a Baby While Camping

Friday, September 4th, 2009

When most city slickers think about camping, one of their biggest fears is waking up with a back ache thanks to the rocky, hard ground most associated with the outdoors. There’s really no reason to have a bad night’s sleep while camping, even if you want your experience to be “rustic.” If you plan ahead and use a little foresight, you’ll be able to make your bed and sleep in it, too, without simply taking your queen-sized from home and strapping it to the roof of your car. Here are three ways to enjoy a good night’s sleep while you camp.

1. Bring a camping cot. Unlike the type of cot you’d typically associate with a hotel room, a camping cot is a very simple piece of equipment that’s relatively lightweight and easy to put together. You can carry your camping cot on your back and simply unfold it after you’ve put the tent together. Make sure you unfold it inside the tent.

How does a camping cot work? Essentially, it keeps you comfortable by holding you off of the ground, often by a few feet, and having some give to it so that your body doesn’t feel like it’s sleeping on rocks. Bring a pillow and a sleeping bag and you’ll have a warm, dry, comfortable night. (Note: You can also add a pad to the camping cot to make it even softer.)

3. Bring a camping pad. A camping sleeping pad is exactly what it sounds like – a pad that puts a layer of comfort in between you and the ground. This won’t be a perfect solution for everyone, as it can cost a lot of money and won’t necessarily smoothen out every kink in the ground, but it can enhance your experience.

Sleep doesn’t have to be a luxury when you head camping – if you plan for it. Make sure you plan ahead, choose the option that’s right for you, and you’ll be sleeping in a dry tent in your warm camping bed.

Photo Credits: Rob Lee

Sleeping in Style on the Campsite

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009

Anyone who has ever gone camping before knows that when dawn hits, there’s only one thought on your mind: the quality of your sleep. Sleeping uncomfortably on the ground can be torture throughout the night, not only causing you pain but taking away from precious hours of energy-replenishing sleep.

That’s why it’s important to plan for a good night’s sleep even before you head out into the woods, particularly if you plan on sleeping on a good-sized tent that will protect you from the elements and give you your own “room” outdoors.

First, if you plan on sleeping in style, you’ve got to have a good foundation for a comfortable night’s sleep. In other words, you absolutely have to have something buffering between your bones and the ground.

Of course, for those of you who have used an air mattress before, you might be rolling your eyes and saying “an air mattress? How will I ever fill it with air in time to get a good night’s sleep?” The answer? Go online to find the Coleman Quick Pump. Simply fill it with batteries and the air will flow automatically into your air mattress. Voila.

You can’t simply rest on an air mattress all night and expect a decent night’s sleep, however, particularly if you’re in a northern state. In the northern states, the temperature can drop unexpectedly even on summer nights.

It’s tempting to bring extra sheets and blankets, but this might add unnecessary bulk to your load. Instead, simply use a zip-able sleeping bag and unzip it over your mattress. You’ll receive the coverage of a normal blanket with the insulation of a sleeping bag.

As for pillows, this one is up to you. You can bring a pillow from home if you have the room for it, but some air mattresses will also come with inflatable pillows that will be easier to pack. If you’re someone who can’t live without their pillow made from Down, this might be an indulgence you won’t want to leave at home.

Remember to plan your entire camping experience ahead of time so that you have the equipment and know-how for some rustic fun without the discomforts of being outdoors.

Photo Credits: kysbydabeach

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Making Your Camping Bed (And Sleeping In It, Too)

Friday, July 31st, 2009

It’s no secret that one of the purported miseries of camping – as espoused by the willfully-sheltered folk who happily name themselves “indoor types” – is that sleeping on the ground is no fun. In fact, it can be downright painful. The experienced camper, however, knows that sleeping on the ground would be like eating a camping diet solely comprised of almonds and hot dogs: with a little preparation it’s not necessary. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how you can make your camping bed and actually want to sleep in it, too.

First, understand your options. An airmattress will keep you off the ground, but so will a cot, a futon, a foam pad, and even something home-made. So many people think about sleeping on the ground outdoors that they forget it takes very little action in order to rectify the problem: simply buy something for your bed that you can bring with you.

That’s why you’ll still want to bring that camping staple so many enjoy: the sleeping bag. Most sleeping bags come with zippers that allow them to fold out like blankets. You can use this feature to spread out the sleeping bag like a blanket on your airmattress or cot.

Why not just use a regular blanket? Regular blankets work well, but they’re not designed for the outdoors. Sleeping blankets usually have lining on the outside that keeps them dry, sealed off from insects, and insulating well against the cold. You’d be surprised how much heat you can still trap with a sleeping blanket that’s been folded out.

Once you have your gear ready, simply bring a comfortable pillow or two from home. If you really want to stay luxurious, you can even bring sheets; it will feel like you’re still in your bedroom. Make sure to keep your pillow and sheets in a safe, dry place (such as the back of your car, if it’s nearby); exposing them to the elements can mean bugs, sticks, and moisture. Make sure to put together your bed after you’ve set up your tent: when bedtime arrives, you’ll be ready to slip in the covers right away, just like at home.

Photo Credits: Felipe Skroski