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Tents come in all shapes and sizes. The right one for
you will not necessarily be the right one for someone else. Hence,
the wide variety being sold in stores and catalogs. Read our
article for more info about choosing a
camping tent, its size, features and cost.
We bought a four man tent, but found out that
it is barely big enough for two of us. Why is that?
Tents are advertised as two man, four man, six man and
so on. However, at best this is the maximum number of persons you
can cram into the tent for sleeping in close company with no
personal gear. This rating method might make sense for backpackers
who are traveling light, but it is terrible for all others. A ten
by ten foot tent is ideal for two adults. You will have enough
space for cots or a double air mattress, plus space to stand up
when changing clothes. Read our article for more info about choosing a
camping tent, its size, features and cost.
How much should I pay for a tent?
In general, the higher priced tents are made with
stronger fabric, stronger poles, and stronger stitching. They will
withstand higher winds and heavier rain. They will last longer. A
good tent can last for many years. However, not everyone needs
this strength and durability. The milder and drier the climate,
and the closer to home you camp, the more likely that a less
expensive tent will be a very good bargain for you. If you are
just starting out in your family camping adventures, and don't
know if you will really like camping, then you might want to stick
with the least expensive tents. Many families do. It is very
likely that you will try your first trips when the weather is warm
and dry, and will probably keep close to civilization until you
gain some experience and decide whether you like camping or not.
You can always upgrade to a better tent later, and keep your
original budget tent for when conditions allow. Read our article
for more info about choosing a
camping tent, its size, features and cost.
How do I go about choosing a sleeping bag?
There seems to be so many different choices.
Choosing a sleeping bag is next in importance after
your tent. Like your tent, your sleeping bag can be one of many
types depending mostly on personal preferences and outside
temperature. The shape, roominess and fabric feel should be tried
just as you would try out a new mattress at home. Sometimes the
weather will be warm and dry, so you might not even need a
sleeping bag, just a light cover as you would at home. Other
times, the cool night air will dictate a warm bag or combination
of warm clothes and warm bag. Read our article for more info about
choosing
a sleeping bag.
We have sleeping bags made for warm summer
weather, but now we want to take a trip in the fall when the weather
is cooler. Should we buy new bags?
There are several ways to make a bag warmer, other
than wearing warmer pajamas. One common way is to use a "liner"
bag. These bags are placed inside your regular sleeping bag, like
adding an extra blanket to your bed. You can buy these bags ready
made, or make one by attaching a blanket inside the sleeping bag
with safety pins. You can also just throw a blanket over the top
of you bag, rather than put it inside. When it is really cold, two
summer bags can be used, one inside the other. Temperature ratings
are often advertised by manufacturers as 0 degrees, 20 degrees, 40
degrees, etc. Consider these as guidelines only. You may sleep
warmer or cooler than someone else. These guidelines seem to
assume that you will be wearing warm clothing too. Read our
article for more info about choosing a
sleeping bag.
Which type of camping stove is best, gas or
propane?
Both fuels make good stoves. The best one for you
depends on your preference and the type of camping you plan to do.
The white gas stoves will product the most heat of any camping
stoves. It burns cleanly without any odor or effect on food taste.
If you spill the fuel it will evaporate very quickly and will not
leave an odor. Propane does not give out as much heat as the white
gas stoves, but propane stoves are much easier to use. The propane
comes in bottles that are screwed into the stove, not poured into
the tank through a small filler spout. All you need to do to start
a propane stove is turn on the gas, and light the burner - just
like home. There are even propane stoves with built in electronic
starters - just like home. This feature makes the transition from
cooking at home to cooking at camp easier for most people. Read
our article for more about choosing a
camping stove, and learn more about the different choices
available.
I have trouble getting my campfire going. How
should I go about this?
Start the fire by building a small teepee of dry
sticks or twigs, and igniting it with a match. If you can’t find
very small twigs, add some tinder under the teepee. Newspaper and
birch bark make excellent tinder. As the fire gets going, add
larger pieces of wood until the fire is the size you
want.
Can I use gasoline to start my campfire?
Never use gasoline or Coleman Fuel (white gas). These
are explosive and can result in great injury. Flammable fluids
like charcoal lighter fluid and kerosene are used by some campers.
However, always apply the fuel before lighting the fire, and never
add fuel to hot coals or after the fire has been lit. Flames can
travel up the stream of fluid and into the container causing a
very dangerous situation. It is always better to take your time
starting the fire with small twigs and tinder, and thus avoid any
need for a flammable liquid fuel.
How can I be sure my campfire is out, before I
leave the area?
Never leave a fire unattended, and always have water
readily available to extinguish the fire properly. Extinguish all
fires by pouring water on them, stirring the ashes and pouring
more water. Ashes should be cool to the touch before you leave the
site. If you have used a prepared fire pit at a campground this
will be sufficient. However, if the fire was built on fresh
ground, a fire can burn into the soil debris without being
detected – until it breaks out when no one is around to put it
out. Many forest fires are started by these campfires that someone
thought were out. Putting out a campfire built on fresh ground
will require lots of water to assure that the ground beneath the
fire is thoroughly soaked.
My tent gets muddy inside and out. How do I
keep it clean?
Put a plastic tarp on the ground under the tent. It
should match the "footprint" of the tent so that it doesn't gather
rainwater. This groundsheet protects the floor of your tent from
stones, sticks, and general wear and tear. Keep a whiskbroom in
the tent for sweeping out dirt and leaves. Use an old towel or
small piece of carpet as a door matt for wiping off feet before
entering the tent. Remove your shoes before entering the tent.
This helps keep the tent floor and sleeping bags clean.
My brand new tent leaked in the rain. Should I
return it?
Maybe not. Your new tent may have performed just as
the manufacturer planned. Did you seal the seams before using the
tent? The seams on all nylon tents must be sealed before using the
tent, and periodically thereafter. Seam sealer is sold in
applicator bottles which you rub along the inside of all
waterproof seams. It is always wise to set up a new tent at home
before your trip. This lets you check its condition, and learn how
to set it up without the pressure of darkness or rain at camp. It
is also the best time to seal all the seams.
I heard that are camping area has disease
carrying ticks how can we keep from getting infected?
Depending on where you go, ticks can be a problem.
Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are carried by ticks
in some areas, in addition to some other less common infections.
Generally, you must be bitten by the tick and have its bodily
juices get into your bloodstream in order to be infected. Avoid
tick bites by staying on trails and avoiding grassy, brushy areas.
Wear light colored clothing so ticks can be seen. Tuck shirts into
pants and pant legs into socks. Do not wear shorts on the trails.
Insect repellants containing DEET are known to be effective
against ticks as well as other biting insects. If a tick is
attached to your skin, grab it with tweezers and remove it. Do not
crush the tick's body, as this can force bacteria into your skin.
Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If you think part of
the tick has remained in the skin, or if you think the tick has
been attached for longer than 48 hours, seek medical attention. Be
alert to a subsequent fever or skin rash. Report these to the
doctor.
My children are afraid of the dark - wild
animals, bogeymen, etc. How can I keep them happy and interested in
camping when night time arrives?
One good idea is to provide each child with a
flashlight. To prevent any arguments, make sure each one has their
own. Children love to play with the flashlights, and having one
also will make them more at ease after dark. Flashlights are also
handy when making trips to the restroom, for making shadow puppets
on tent walls and for reading before bed.
It seems like there is so much to do around
camp that I can never relax and enjoy myself. What is the
secret?
The more you camp, the more efficient you will become.
Plan and prepare ahead of time so cooking and camp chores are as
simple as possible. Plan a simple and filling menu. One or two pot
meals are best for camping. Meals that can be cooked at home ahead
of time, and travel well in a cooler, will save a lot of time
especially on the first night of your trip. Precooked meats will
also last longer in the cooler than raw meats. Paper plates and
cups can also save time. Make your cookout a family activity.
Bring along food that the whole family can participate in cooking
like hotdogs on a sharpened stick or even potatoes that the kids
can help peel. And don't forget the marshmallows and "s'mores."
Use Aluminum Foil for making packet meals. Just wrap up some
sliced potatoes, onions, carrots, zucchini, salt & pepper, and
a little butter, seal the ends well, and lay it on the grill to
roast.
We tried camping, but it rained and everyone
was miserable. How do other folks deal with bad weather and still
enjoy camping?
One cannot predict the weather very well, and every
weekend will not be sunny and warm. Nevertheless, lots of campers
come prepared and can enjoy a bit of rain. There are a few things
you can do to make rain into just another one of those things that
you experience and conquer when camping. I suggest you use a rain
fly. This is a large tarp that is erected over the picnic table
for shelter from sun and rain. Avoid those with a pole in the
center. That's where you'll want to put the table. Instead, get
one with a ridgepole. Always securely stake down the rain fly to
keep it stable in the wind, even if it is calm when you set it up.
Wind has a habit of rising up in the middle of night during a
thunderstorm. If you secured it right, you can avoid getting out
of bed to check on it during the storm. Also, remember that
children get cold faster than adults. The key to comfortable
camping is to dress them in several layers, which can be peeled
off as they get warm and added on as they cool off.
