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Three Ways to Sleep Like a Baby While Camping
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.)
2. Bring an inflatable air mattress. When most people hear the word “inflatable,” they think of huffing and puffing away at some giant rubber duck water toy. But just because something is inflatable doesn’t mean it has to be a nuisance. Instead, bring a battery-powered inflater that blows air into your air mattress – you’ll be surprised at how quickly it puffs up. The inflatable air mattress is wider and more comfortable than the camping cot, but it is also bulkier and more difficult to pack. If having your beauty sleep is that important to you, bring the air mattress.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
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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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Three Things the Rookie Camper Needs to Know
For some people, camping is a way of life. Having warm clothes for cool summer nights, knowing how to build a fire, and cooking out in the open air comes easily to them because they’ve been around it for so long. But for the rookie camper, what seems like what could be an ideal vacation is often marred by their lack of experience and the little details that make things different in real life. So how can the rookie camper get off to a good start? By keeping in mind these three things:
1. There’s a good chance you’ll over-pack. When you’re out camping for the first time, the temptation is to bring so many gadgets and so many supplies that you’ll have plenty of options for eating, sleeping, and dressing. But while this may feel fun as you pack, it often just makes things more difficult, getting in the way of utility and taking up precious packing space. You can eat simple foods, you can dress in simple clothes, and you don’t need to bring a laptop with you if you aren’t going to be working on it. Resist the temptation to over-pack on what you don’t need, because you’ll have more space for things you’ll actually use.
2. Going on a “trial-run” is a great idea. Not sure how you’ll fare when camping? Take the weekend before your big trip and decide to camp all day. Camp overnight starting on Friday and go through Saturday night. What does your tent need? How comfortable is your bedding? What gizmos did you find little use for? Even if you’re just camping in your backyard, this trial-run can be a great idea. Be sure to bring a notepad and pen with you so that you can keep track of the little things you notice. There’s nothing quite like a little reality to tell you where you really stand.3. Don’t underestimate the power of the weather. Even in summer, it’s easy for the temperature to drop during the night, and nothing ruins a night of sleep quite like cold air. Don’t be afraid to over-do it with the warm gear. Pack an extra outer layer and make sure that you’ll be well-insulated against the cold at night. Also, be ready for rain and use tents and tarps to protect what needs to remain dry.
Photo Credits: papalars
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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
