Camping Accessories
Camping Accessory Information
Archive for June, 2009
Campers have two basic choices when taking longer vacations. They can camp in public camp grounds that have the features that we have come used to like electricity and flush toilets or they can camp in remote areas without those creature comforts. Public campgrounds often have areas without electric hookups. I have witnessed motor homes with the engine running for no other reason than to power the batteries needed to run the owner’s toys.
An excellent solution is solar generated power to keep the batteries charged to run the toys we think we can’t live without. A camping solar panel makes a lot of sense when gas can be 4 dollars a galleon. Keep the camping solar panel running all day and you will always have the power you need. Charge your boat battery or other batteries where access to electricity is an issue.
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There are many reasons people go camping. One big reason is to get next to a river, ocean, water fall or mountain where not many people sleep. One big obstacle is drinking water. You can carry it from a known safe source or purify it yourself. The problem with trying to carry the water is the amount that you need for a number of days. A Katadyn water filter solves that problem.
The Katadyn water filter is used by the U.S. Armed Forces (Navy SEALS, Army Operations’ Force, Marine Corps, etc.), the U.S. National Parks, Forest Service, International Red Cross, along with many other relief and government agencies worldwide. Microporous, silver incorporated CERAMIC with pore size of 0.2 micron, retains suspended matter, all harmful bacteria and parasites such as cryptosproidium and giardia. Essential minerals remain in the water
Camp food: Why does that bring both fond and not so fond memories? One reason is we start out with food that we think will be fun to eat, yet easy or fun to cook. Sweet corn cooked over a fire or potatoes cooked in the hot ashes of a fire bring fond memories. However, many times the taste of burnt food creates the opposite feeling. This is especially true after several days.
A great solution is a propane camping stove from Stansport. Stansport makes both two burner propane and a portable camp stove with a grill. Stansport has been making camping gear for over 50 years. During that time they have learned what campers want and need. The addition of the camp stove with a grill shows the result of their experience. I keep a Stansport stove at my lake home in case of a power failure. This is another reason to buy a good stove instead of a cheap one.
Campers are rarely sorry when they purchase a Eureka tent. The things that Eureka puts into their tents show that they use their products in many different environments. Have you ever had the experience of getting to a camp site late, the kids are hungry but you need to get the tent pitched before it rains or gets dark. The color coded roof panels on the Eureka Titan make the job or remembering how to pitch the tent a lot easier.
This tent features a 75D StormShield Polyester fly and 210D Nylon Oxford floor fabric for improved durability and resistance to UV, acid rain, and tearing; bathtub floor design. Keep in mind when buying any tent that manufactures tend to overstate the number that their tent can sleep. A good rule of thumb is to subtract one.
Foot prints aren’t the most exciting item campers buy. However, they make a difference between successful camping for years and cutting short your camping experiences and going in other directions. The reason is the foot print protects the bottom of the tent from tears and wearing out before its time.
Make sure your foot print or tent floor protector is a tad smaller than the tent floor but otherwise covers the entire footprint. Water running down the tent should have a place to go and not on top of the pad. The tent should be pitched so the floor doesn’t pull exposing the footprint. Tent accessories should always be checked before going on a camping trip as many times you will get to your site late and obtaining replacement parts might be difficult.
The first time my wife and I went camping I slept on the ground as we didn’t have enough money to purchase two air mattresses. Sleeping wasn’t a problem partly because I was active enough that by bed time I could sleep. Over the years we purchased several air mattresses but being able to sleep was getting worse every year. Buying the right camping gear was always an issue.
The Supreme AirFlow Raised Queen air mattress from Intex solved the problem of not being able to sleep because of a poor quality air mattress. The queen size allows enough room for my wife and me to sleep comfortably. The built in air pump makes inflating and deflating easy. Now if only I could get my fellow campers to want to go to bed the same time I do.
A gentleman once told me that he didn’t respect someone who didn’t take care of his stuff. He felt it was wrong to buy things and not get all the value out of them because you didn’t do proper maintenance. Sleeping bags need to be taken care of properly when they aren’t in use.
Too often they are stored in a hot attic or basement where temperature and humidity are not controlled. The heat will affect the insulation of the bag and humidity will cause mildew. Sleeping bags should only be washed when they stink or become dirty. Don’t wash them more than required. You can put your Big Agnes sleeping bag into the dryer on low heat to dry them.
Camping in dry rocky country has its own challenges compared to camping where it rains on a regular basis. Some campers attempts to get by without putting in stakes either with tents that don’t require them or simply just not putting them in. Everything might be fine until the wind blows and then the question is: Where is the tent?
Pitching a tent with plastic tent stakes isn’t always possible. Plastic stakes break either pounding them in or taking them out. One solution is steel stakes. When buying stakes remember the bigger the tent the bigger the stakes you need. However, stakes need to be pounded all the way down so don’t buy bigger stakes then you need.
Ok, Grampa has a cabin by lake and that is your idea of camping. The only problem is there isn’t enough room when a family reunion comes a few times a summer. A good solution is a Winchester Tent along with some sleeping bags. You pitch a couple of tents and the kids sleep there while you sleep in the cabin. The 100 square foot of floor space allows several kids to sleep in a tent and come into the cabin for meals.
A Winchester tent is easy to pitch and easy on the budget to purchase. I have frequently seen tents pitched by cabins making life easier for everyone. I would suggest that when it is time to store the tent you make sure that is dry and left in a place that is free of rodents. Always use a floor protector to reduce wear on the floor
Cold weather sleeping gear doesn’t have to be expensive. The Wild Basin sleeping bag by Eureka is proof of that. It is rated down to zero degrees which is cold enough for anyone. Eureka sleeping bags have the extra touch you would expect in a more expensive sleeping bag. The adjustable storm collar and draft tube are proof of that.
Occasionally campers wonder what other use they can have for their camping gear. Don’t forget that if you travel in cold country it is a good idea to have survival gear in the car in case of an emergency. The Wild basin sleeping bag covers the temperature requirements very well. Actually having two bags in your car is a good idea in case of an emergency.