Camping Accessories
Camping Accessory Information
Archive for March, 2010
In a recent article I commented on having camping hammock in a remote area to enjoy the peace and beauty of the area. An Eagles Nest hammock works great for that purpose since it can roll up into a small ball. One great addition to that is the Bug Nest. A Bug Nest will prevent the bugs from bothering you making the hammock a lot more enjoyable.
Innovative people find ways to enjoy life without spending a lot of money. I really don’t have any issue with people who want to do an expensive tourist trap activity just those that do them just for something to do. Many cheaper activities are more fun so enjoy.
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I do a lot of traveling and enjoy getting into remote areas that I have never seen before. I love to get there during the week when very few people are hiking in those locations. Frequently I find someone who has a camping hammock tied between two trees. I envy them as they have found a great way to have a low cost vacation. As a senior citizen spending the night in a hammock has lost its appeal but I envy those who can.
The beauty of hanging a camping hammock in a remote area is not only do you get a great view but the peace of a remote area as well. In my humble or not so humble opinion that beats expensive tourist traps all hallow.
In a recent article I commented on the need to buy the right sleeping bag and taking care of it as the cheapest best option. There is an Eureka sleeping bag that works for different occasions. Eureka and other companies make both the warm mummy types and traditional rectangular design. From time to time I have observed people using the mummy types in warm weather. Unless you get cold easy and need extra insulation during the summer don’t purchase the extra warm sleeping bags just for the summer.
During cool weather keeping warm often is a matter of right air mattress as much as the right camping sleeping bag. The cold comes up from the ground and not sleeping bag that is directly on the ground is as warm as one that has an air layer under it. So buy the sleeping bag that is right for you and take care of it.
Take care of your camping sleeping bag and buy the right one
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
posted by Gary 10:19 AM
It is time to start checking out our camping gear. Remember that camping sleeping bag you tossed under some stuff because you knew you didn’t need it for a few months. Now it is smashed and lost some of it’s’ value. If that is your situation clean it if needed and hang it on a clothes line. Look for any torn spots or damages beyond repair. Normally if the sleeping bag is torn or extremely soiled it is better to replace it.
As with anything buying quality and taking care of it is the cheapest option. Buying quality starts with buying the right camping sleeping bag. Are you going to use it in cold weather or just warm weather camping? How big are you? Have fun and with the right camping gear it is more fun.
Cooking outdoors can be challenging even with good equipment. Portable camping stoves have come a long way from the old stoves we used to have. Not that the old ones were bad but propane makes a lot cleaner fuel. There are a few tips that can make cooking a lot easier while camping.
Most camping stoves have a wind break but if the wind is a little stronger it might not be enough. A little planning ahead of time to have a possible additional wind break can make life a lot easier. Plan your meals to be simpler to cook with fewer steps that need to be taken. Keep in mind that coolers won’t keep meat frozen so don’t bring huge amounts.
New fiberglass tent poles can extend the life of your tent
Monday, March 29, 2010
posted by Gary 8:48 AM
During a recession even people who have jobs cut back and reduce their spending. They do this so in the event of a reduction in their income they have fewer bills to pay. This effort causes them to use their camping gear one or two extra years. One way to extend the life of your tent is replacing your tent poles when they wear out. Not only does that make the tent more comfortable in the short run but if done in time the tent will last longer.
A camping tent that isn’t erected correctly will have additional stress put on it during a storm. The camping tent is designed to have the rain run down and the wind blow by the camping tent. This requires good tent poles. So if money is an issue check your camping tent accessories and replace the worn ones. Fiberglass tent poles are easy to get and a lot cheaper than a new camping tent.
Camping accessories are often the difference between being able to enjoy something and just getting by. One example is an insect screen that you can sleep insect free the stars. Why would anyone want to sleep under the stars? Actually there are many reasons. Backpackers need to reduce weight and volume that they carry in. Others just want to have the experience that seeing the stars at night while falling asleep can bring.
In northern Minnesota the air is clean enough that we can see a lot more stars than in other parts of the country. In fact sometimes I wake up at night thinking the neighbors left there light on and find it is the moon shining and lighting up the night. One of the many reasons to enjoy the great outdoors.
One of life’s mysteries is why someone purchases bottled water. I agree that sometimes while you are traveling buying water is better than soft drinks and bringing your own water doesn’t make sense. What I am referring to is using bottled water at home, your cabin or even your camping site. Most Americans obtain their drinking water from city sources and although sometimes the taste might be off the water is safe. For those who can’t drink city water because of the chemicals added to make it safe or whose water source isn’t tested as safe there are water filters.
A Katadyn water filter will filter your water and remove the impurities from it. Although there is a cost to get started it is cheaper than buying bottled water and better for the environment. Remember some bottled water is nothing more than city water anyway.
In a recent blog I commented on the fact that today’s plastic is a lot stronger than the material used years ago. Fiberglass now replaces aluminum in many boats and kayaks. A newer concept than fiberglass is inflatable boats and kayaks. The nice part about inflatable kayaks is you don’t have the transporting and storage issues you have with the hard sided versions. There really isn’t a much better way to enjoy the great outdoors than going down a river in a kayak.
My wife and I have a double kayak that we use on a river that goes by our lake home. The wildlife can be fantastic particularly during the week when there isn’t any boat traffic. The exercise is just a bonus.
Many years ago I bought a state of the art transistor radio. I suspect there are going to be readers who never heard the term transistor radio. At the time it meant that the radio didn’t have vacuum tubes meaning it didn’t need to warm up or take a lot of power. The point I am going to make is it was also made out of plastic. It was expensive considering the wage scale and my parents assured me that in short order the plastic would break. Eventually it did but by that time the entire radio was shot.
There are those that now say the same thing about inflatable boats. They aren’t going to last as long as a hard sided boat. Like my radio that will depend on how you take care of it. However, remember that hard sided boats don’t last forever either.