Some pieces of outdoor camping equipment can be quite expensive, but they will last you a long time if you look after them properly. Whether you go camping once in blue moon or whether you want to be out in the open every chance you get, you do much better if you have the right camping gear. Nobody wants to sleep in a tent that lets water, or where there is not room to move once you have got everything in it. If you are taking the family camping then think about buying a six berth rather than a four berth tent if you don’t like feeling cramped. Buy the best tent that you can afford and then look after it.
On your return from a camping trip, make sure that you check all your equipment thoroughly before putting it away. You want your outdoor camping equipment to last so get into the habit of maintaining it. There is nothing worse for a tent than an accumulation of damp and mold. Never put away your tent if it is still damp. Let it dry out thoroughly – if you don’t then the fabric will start to smell and rot. Clean the ground sheet and check that the guy ropes are ok and the pegs aren’t broken – replace any that are before you want to use them again.
If you look after your outdoor camping equipment then it will serve you well. Make sure that you air your sleeping bags after washing them. Check that the zips are working properly and then pack them away carefully in a dry place.
When you get home at the end of a camping trip you should check over all of your outdoor camping equipment. Whether you have a portable stove or a grill make sure that they are cleaned and oiled before putting them away. Clean and pack up all of your cutlery and crockery. If you have air beds than then make sure that they are clean and that all the air is out of them if you want them to be of service next time.
Wash and put away whatever survival clothing you have as part of your outdoor camping equipment. If wilderness hiking is part of your camping trips then make sure that you have the right kind of hiking boots. Always clean them thoroughly after a trip and stuff them with newspaper before you put them away.
The only way to get the best from your outdoor camping equipment is to keep it clean and serviced. Then the next time that you want to take off in the wilds it will be fit for service again.