Should I get a canvas tent?
Not a lot can beat taking a few nights to sleep outside with people you love. Camping is a great pastime for a reason. To ensure that you enjoy your experience, you should do a bit of planning and preparation beforehand. The following advice will help you be better prepared for going camping.
Plan accordingly when it comes to food. It is a hassle to make room in your car for all the food you need. However, proper nourishment is crucial when you are in the woods. Also, items that are fairly inexpensive in your local store often carry a higher price tag near camping sites. Bringing enough food means that you will save money and keep everyone in your family in a good mood.
If you are going backcountry camping, you should probably carry a snake bite kit in your gear. The best snake bite kits are the ones that use suction. Some kits have scalpels and blood flow constrictors in them. Scalpels can actually cut the poison into the blood stream faster, and constrictors can be deadly if not used properly.
With camping, comes the campfire. Make sure your campfire is in an open space and far enough away from brush or trees so you don't run the risk of a stray spark catching them on fire. Surround the fire with stones to help keep it contained. Most importantly, never leave any campfire unattended. If you need to leave for any reason, make sure the campfire is extinguished completely.
Build yourself a survival kit; keep it with you anywhere you go while camping. A first aid kit, matches in a water tight container, a good knife, flares and tablet to purify water are some essentials to include. Your kit may be all that stands between you and certain death if you become lost, as the items within it are essential to survival. Always carry it on your person when you venture away from your campsite, or it won't do you much good.
Do plenty of research on your camping site and ensure that it offers everything that your group will need. Consider the individual needs of each camper to ensure that everyone is taken care of. This alleviates the need to make supply runs, or worst case, have to end the trip too soon.
If you're new to camping, you're going to want to arrive early to the campground. The reason for this is you will be new to the campground site and rules, and this will slow you down. You don't want to be stuck setting up camp after dark, so just arrive a little earlier than you usually would.
Bring your cellphone with you when you go camping. Even if you are serious about roughing it, cell phones are still very useful in emergencies and should not be left at home. A cell phone is no longer a hobby, and when you go camping it can help you reach police and emergency personnel--bring it.
If your canteen is beginning to smell musty, you can give it a good cleaning with baking soda. Place a little bit of water in your canteen, and then add three tablespoons of baking soda. Shake gently, let it sit for sixty minutes, and then rinse with water. Your canteen will be refreshingly clean!
Remember, when you are camping you will not have access to many kitchen luxuries. At most, you will have a can opener as well as a basic burner. This means canned foods make a great meal, but even better are things that need very little preparation, like peanut butter sandwiches.
Choose your campsite carefully. The location in which you're camping can make all the difference. Do plenty of research before you make any plans. What is the weather like? Does the campsite have specific rules? How crowded will the campsite be? Poor planning can make for a miserable camping experience.
Write down a list of all the essentials that are required before embarking on your trip. If the campgrounds are located at fair distance from your home, then this step will be crucial. Start packing a few days ahead of your trip, and tick items off as you pack them.
Plan what you're going to wear before setting off on a camping trip. This way you'll have enough clean clothing for your trip. It is also important to have clothing that is right for the weather you might encounter. You should pack at least one pair of durable closed-toed boots.
Protect yourself from disease carrying ticks while on your camping trip. Always dress in light-colored clothing while in wooded areas so that ticks can be easily seen. Check your body frequently for ticks during the day. Use a tick repellant to discourage ticks and other biting insects. Tuck your pants into your socks for added protection.
If you're ready to head to the wildnerness to camp but haven't ventured outside of your home in the past, it's easy to test your readiness. Set up your tent in your backyard and camp out for a night. No matter what happens, stay out of the house. If you like this, you'll like camping!
Never hike alone. It may sound juvenile, but always use the buddy system. It can be easy to get lost or turned around in nature. You could slip and hurt yourself. In instances like these, it is best to have someone along. Even if you have your cellphone handy, you may find it doesn't get reception in the woods.
How do you plan to cook your food when you camp? Decide this before you leave so you have everything you need. Cooking over a campfire sounds appealing, but it isn't so easy if you don't have the right supplies.
Pack an emergency repair kit for your tent. You can get them at any camping supply shop. These kits will make it easy for you to repair rips, broken poles and failing zippers. The last thing you want while camping is to have your tent fail and not have the tools and supplies to fix it.
Don't miss out on the fun part of camping because you are build a tent platform ill-prepared. Even if you already are well-versed on the subject, it is never a bad idea to learn more. Keep the information shared here in mind when you embark on your next camping trip.