The recreational pastime of camping has always been a popular way for individuals and families to enjoy the outdoors and be in touch with nature. Camping also provides an incredible opportunity for families to leave behind the diversions of life. Often these diversions prevent families from interacting and, subsequently, prevent families from knowing each other.
One of the critical camping items, when families and individuals decide to go camping, is some type of shelter. These shelters can be recreational vehicles, trailers, tents or hammock tents.
A hammock tent is simply a traditional hammock that is utilized by the camper rather than sleeping in a sleeping bag on the ground protected from the elements by a tent. What a hammock tent is, how it is set up and its benefits are important considerations when pondering the utilization of a hammock tent.
What Is A Hammock Tent?
A traditional way for campers to be sheltered while camping outdoors was to pitch a tent and roll out a sleeping bag. Rest was then obtained by sleeping on the ground under the protection of the shelter.
A hammock tent is a piece of camping equipment that also provides rest and protection for a camper. A hammock tent is a typical hammock that is suspended between two supporting items of strength. Generally, these items are trees. To complete the design of a hammock tent an attached covering hovers over the hammock tent to protect the camper from the elements.
Because of the simplicity of constructing a hammock tent many campers choose to build their own hammock tent. However, there are more elaborate hammock tents on the market. These hammock tents are manufactured so that the protective side and ceiling are attached to the hammock tent. In addition, these hammock tents come complete with an entry system that is modeled after the construction of a traditional tent. This entry way can be sealed off using a zipper, snaps or other sealing system.
Benefits
There are many benefits that are attributed to using a hammock tent. Some of those benefits are to the environment while some of the benefits are to the camper.
Benefits to the environment include the fact that normally the hammock tent is secured between two trees. Utilizing trees has little or no affect on the exterior of the tree. However, when a tent is pitched the negative effects of that process are seen on the area where the tent is pitched.
Also, there are many benefits to the camper. For example, because the camper is suspended in the air, there are no issues with crawling insects that the camper may come in contact with if sleeping on the ground. In addition, if a tent has been pitched on the ground and the campers are unaware of a stone or other hard item, this may be cause for a poor night’s sleep. Sleeping in a hammock tent alleviates the chances of sleeping on a stone or other hard surface.
If you are planning to spend some time trekking and camping out in the wilderness, there will be some additional camping gear that you will need to take along with you. If your time away is going to be an extended hike through the great outdoors for several days and you plan on sleeping outdoors, there may be other additional items that you may want to consider adding to your backpack. Instead of rushing out and buying your camping gear at the last minute, plan your camping trip ahead and only purchase the camping gear that you will need. This will give you time to shop around for the best quality at the best price.
The amount of camping gear that you will need to take will depend on several factors
The length of time you will be away. If it is a short time such as a few days or over night then you will only need a small amount of food and clothing. Cooking can be kept to a minimum. For longer periods away you will have to take more food and better cooking equipment.
The time of year is an important consideration. If it is in the summer months then light clothing is all that is required. If it is in the cooler months then you will require heavier, warmer clothing and better rain wear. Remember to always take good quality rainwear regardless of the weather forecast.
Are you camping out in the wilderness or are you staying in hikers cabins. This will determine whether you need to carry a suitable tent.
Always remember to share your camping gear between your hiking partners to balance the load.
The most important piece of camping gear that you will need is your backpack. This needs to be large enough to carry everything that you will need for your time away. Do not buy the cheapest backpack but look for the best one that will sit on your back comfortably. Make sure that it is light enough. Most camping store owners will show you how to adjust the backpack to balance the weight correctly. Another tip is to always use a waterproof pack liner. I have yet to find a pack that will not leak from consistent rain.
Take plenty of Food and Water
Never make the mistake of loading all of your food for your trek straight out of your pantry into your backpack, such as tinned items or food in a jar. The best food to take is dehydrated meals. Although these meals may not look too appetizing, they will sustain you and they can be a fraction of the weight. Also make sure you take plenty of water. This is important because you need to stay hydrated during your walk and when you camp there may not be any good quality drinking water.
Never take away large quantities of basic items such as sugar or salt. If you work out what quantity you need for each meal and then double it you will be surprised how little you need. Make sure that all of your camping gear is in water proof containers or plastic bags.
The most important thing is not to pack any unnecessary or heavy items of camping gear that you probably will not use, especially on a short trek away. For those weekend stays away in the wilderness, if you do find something that you left at home, then it doesn’t matter. It is only for a day or two and you can not take everything.
Any camper who claims never to make a mistake in the bush is either handling the truth carelessly or doesn’t get out there too often. No matter how many years we’ve been at it, all of us are guilty of an occasional “error of judgement”.
But is that such a problem? Certainly not. If we admit to the blunder, carefully think through it, and try to salvage a lesson from it, each mistake becomes a more effective learning experience than any number of trouble-free camping trips.
It seems to me, though, a few campground blunders crop up more frequently than others, particularly among newbies of the outdoor scene. Here are seven bloopers you should watch out for:
Mistake #1: Poor choice of equipment
No doubt the earliest trap of all for enthusiastic but inexperienced campers lurks among that vast array of equipment and hardware that confronts them in a well-stocked outdoor supplier’s store. It’s right here where they are most vulnerable to the well-meaning but poorly informed — and usually equally inexperienced — sales assistant. Possible results are inappropriate, insufficient and unnecessary camping gear.
Solution: Hasten slowly. Hold off buying too much stuff until you get a feel for the outdoor lifestyle and activities that most appeal to you and your family. Read, ask, look around; maybe hire some gear to see if it suits. After each trip, review your equipment options, then add (or discard) according to your needs, wants and outdoor aspirations.
Mistake #2: A tough first trip
By leaping straight into the deep end — perhaps a week-long trip through remote and uninhabited desert country — it is possible that you or your family may never want to go camping again. Unfamiliar equipment, seemingly hostile terrain, lack of established routines and very little skill add up to a trip you all, quite probably, would prefer to forget.
Solution: Take your camping one step at a time, progressively developing each trip from the one before. For example, try a shake-down trip, first up, to a not-too-distant country town where there’s a commercial campground or RV park. Next, visit national parks that offer basic facilities and amenities. Finally, venture into the “real bush” or further into the back blocks where higher levels of self-sufficiency are necessary.
Mistake #3: Traveling too far or too fast
Many outdoor people fail to distinguish between camping and touring. They spend maybe a week of their two-week camping vacation just getting to and coming from. Or they travel on such a tight driving schedule that the whole trip becomes one frantic dash from campsite to campsite. Isn’t this meant to be a holiday?
Solution: When touring, take the time to see and experience the country. A good daily maximum is 300-400 km. On the other hand, when off on a camping trip, try to spend no more than 25 percent of total holiday time traveling. Plan your route or your destination accordingly.
Mistake #4: No stand-up-height shelter
With the increased popularity of small, low-profile tents, more and more campers get caught with no other form of shelter. A two or three person hike tent is fine for sleeping, but that’s all they’re good for. Who wants to spend a day of foul weather hunched and huddled in a space the size of a dog box. After all, no matter where you go, one day it’s going to rain. Every so often, it will bucket down.
Solution: As well as your sleeping accommodation, take along a large tarp or awning to string up, at head height, between trees, vehicles, poles or whatever to provide day to day living space during pouring rain or blazing sun. Go for quality and sturdy construction, with sufficient room for all in your group, plus a bit of camp furniture.
Mistake #5: Unsuitable toilet arrangements
If there’s one thing that’s inevitable in the city or the bush, it’s the need for a toilet. On unimproved campsites for a night or two, the camp shovel and a long walk is often adequate. But always use the shovel. There’s not much worse than finding toilet waste around the perimeter of a campsite — the hygiene implications don’t bear thinking about! Unfortunately, this is so common I can only conclude that few campers give toilet arrangements any forethought at all.
Solution: Add a small shovel to your camping gear and take it along on every trip. For camps of four days or more, a bucket-style chemical toilet will be more convenient, but you still, eventually, need to bury it. Indeed, in some areas, taking all forms of waste back out with you is now the only legal option, so prepare accordingly.
Mistake #6: No campfire preparations
A cosy campfire — where they’re allowed — is an integral part of camping’s attraction, so it’s always a surprise to witness the blundering, half-hearted attempts of many new campers. Scrounging for damp wood, huffing and puffing (even dousing their meagre efforts with petrol!) they usually finish up with more smoke and frayed tempers than flames and comfort. Believe it or not, most campsites — particularly the popular areas — rarely provide sufficient kindling let alone dry firewood.
Solution: Plan ahead. Collect enough dry firewood and kindling for your first campfire, either before you leave home or along the way. A bow saw and an empty carton is all you need. Also, a supply of waterproof matches, newspaper, and firelighters should be packed on board where you can get to them soon after arrival.
Mistake #7: Inadequate refrigeration
It seems to me, whoever came up with the idea to carry an icebox on roof racks or in an open trailer is a couple of cans short of a six-pack. He’s probably the same guy who buys a bag of party ice for a long-weekend camping trip and wonders why the steaks are sloshing about in a cooler of bloodied water by Saturday night. Getting the most out of an icebox requires a bit of thought and careful nurturing.
Solution: If possible, use block ice. (Make your own in the freezer at home.) If party ice is your only option, choose bags that are frozen solid and leave them unbroken. Carry more ice than you think you need. Better still, find a supplier of dry ice. Always carry and store the icebox in a shaded spot, or cover it with a heat-reflective tarp. Keep a layer of cans or watertight containers across the bottom to keep food (in containers!) out of the water.
Don’t be too surprised if, in your early camping days, you bump up against a lot more mistakes than these. But take heart: Each error you make eventually adds to your outdoor savvy. And although there will always be campers with more experience than you, there are even more with considerably less. Watch and learn from their mistakes.
Are you planning on taking a camping trip in the near future? If this is your first time going camping, you will need to get camping gear to take with you, as you may not already own it. While your first impulse may be to head on down to your local sports store, did you know that you have another option as well? You do. In addition to buying your own camping gear, you may also be able to rent it.
When it comes to determining whether you should buy your own camping gear or just rent the camping gear that you need, you may have a difficult time deciding what to do. If you are wondering what you should do, you will want to continue reading on. Below, the pros and cons of both buying your own camping gear and renting your camping gear are outlined.
As for buying your own camping gear, you will find that the biggest con or downside to doing so is the cost. Depending on what you need to buy, it can get pretty expensive to purchase your own camping gear. With that in mind though, there are a number of camping gear equipment pieces, like camping tents or sleeping bags, that can be purchased for affordable prices. If you are looking to camp on a budget, you can still buy your own camping gear, but you just need to know where to look.
Although there are a number of downsides, like the price, to buying your own camping gear, you will also find that there are a number of pros or plus sides to doing so as well. One of those plus sides is the fact that you will own the camping gear in question. This means that you can use it as little or as often as you would like. If you are planning to take a number of camping trips in the future, you will find that it is easier, as well as cheaper in the long run, to buy your own camping gear.
It is also important to mention the freedom that you have, when buying your own camping gear. When buying your own camping gear, you can buy basically whatever you want. For instance, if you would like a camping tent that is the color black, you are free to do so. When you buy your own camping gear, you have the ability to be picky if you want to be. With a large selection of camping gear pieces to choose from, from a number of different retailers, the decision as to what you want to buy is yours to make.
If you are unable to buy your own camping gear or if you would prefer not you, your other option is to rent your camping gear. When it comes to renting camping gear, you will also find a number of pros and cons. As for the cons of renting your camping gear, you may find that you are faced with a limited selection of camping gear pieces to choose from. Many camping gear rental stations only carry the basic items, like tents, hot plates, and coolers. While you may have some choices, you will mostly find that your selection is limited.
As for the pros or plus sides to renting your camping gear, instead of buying it, you will find that the cost is much more affordable. Despite being relatively affordable, different camping gear rental stations charge different rental fees. You will also find that camping gear can typically be rented for as little as one day or as long as a couple of weeks. Renting your camping gear is nice if this is your first time going camping and if you are unsure as to whether or not you would be interested in doing so again.
As you can see, there are a number of pros and cons to both buying your own camping gear and renting it. In addition to the two above mentioned options, you may also want to think about borrowing camping gear from someone that you know. You may even be able to do so free of charge.
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.
