It’s no secret that people love spending time in the great outdoors. The best way to maximize any camping excursion is to arm yourself with knowledge of the most useful tips and tricks. Make sure you are familiar with all of these camping tips.
Sleeping Bag
Select your sleeping bag with the weather, season and location of your trip in mind. If you bring sub-zero sleeping bags with you in the dead of summer, you will probably sweat all night. On the flip side, bring a sleeping bag meant for summer camping will make you very cold during your winter camping trip. You may even get hypothermia.
You may wish to take a class that has to do with first aid, especially if you’re traveling with kids. If something bad happens, you’ll be able to take care of it because you’ll know exactly what to do while waiting for a health professional to show up. Also be sure to do all the research you can about the area. Find out if the area has poisonous snakes, what type of wildlife lives in the woods, etc.
Preparation and organization are chief factors to facilitate a great camping trip. Only go camping when you have prepared yourself for it. Do your research and understand the local conditions and wildlife, as well as climate concerns. This is the best way to keep yourself safe and enjoy your trip.
Double check your medical insurance. Out-of-state traveling will sometimes require additional coverage. This can be even more important if you’re leaving to another country when you are camping, such as Canada. It is important to always be prepared.
To start your fires at camp, use dryer lint as kindling. Start collecting lint from the filter in your tumble dryer several weeks before your camping adventure. Have a bag next to the dryer so you don’t forget to collect it. That technique lets you simply grab the kindling you’ll use right before you go on your trip.
Duct tape is a handy tool to carry when you are camping. It can help you out if something happens and your tent gets torn somehow. You can fix leaks on inflatable beds, tape up shoes, seal up any bug netting, and a lot more.
When you decide to camp in an unfamiliar location, you should read up on any dangers that you could encounter. Some examples of dangers are flash floods or poisonous spiders. Many camping areas pose some dangers.
Take care to pack sufficient, non-perishable foods. Depending upon how long your trip will last, you should have plenty of food that won’t spoil over the course of your trip. Food poisoning can ruin your trip in no time. Make sure your food is prepared the right way to avoid the risk of spoilage.
If you bring your dog with you on your trip, make sure they are on a leash and that you watch them carefully. There are campers who do not like dogs. You should keep that in mind while you are on your camping trip. Additionally, your dog may cause damage to the property of someone else if left untethered and unsupervised.
Safety Precautions
If you are camping in a location with dangerous wildlife, take safety precautions with your food. Take safety precautions, such as wrapping your items in many layers for protection. Doing so is going to decrease the likeliness of a random attack.
Be certain to have multiple lanterns or flashlights handy as well as additional batteries. There are going to be moments when you must clearly see certain items when it gets dark. After all, you don’t want to stumble in the dark, or accidentally step on a wild critter. If you have kids with you on your camping trip, hand each of them a flashlight.
Pesky mosquito bites can be avoided with an orange peel. Don’t worry if you forgot your bug spray. Seasoned campers suggest that you can rub your skin with the inside of an ripe orange peel. The mosquitoes should steer clear of you for several hours.
You should always bring a spare utility knife when camping. These types of knives are the key to success when you need tools at a campsite. Carry an extra one in your bags in the event that your main one gets lost.
Pack strategically. Make a list of what you need, and check off items as you pack. If you are planning to camp in an area away from first aid access, then this will be especially necessary.
Waterproof Matches
Waterproof matches should be added to your camping survival kit. They should always be kept in a container where air cannot enter. To save money, dip regular matches in shellac, nail polish or wax to make your own waterproof matches. Your container can be an empty film holder or even a plastic medicine bottle.
Camping is one of life’s true joys for those who have a thorough understanding of how to do it well. While camping isn’t hard, it’s important to have basic knowledge about it so that the trip can go smoothly. Remember everything from this article, and and you’ll be on your way to setting up your campsite.