TENT, TIMBER RIDGE SPORT DOME, 9 X 7

NULL

There are many ways to camp. And then, there are awesome ways to camp.

Ordinary campers pack their gear and take off for their campgrounds or state parks. Extraordinary campers, look, surf, research and plan exactly what they are taking with them. They pack their gear, but before they close their packs up, they go through the gear one more time for the perfect packing experience. And they prepare weeks in advance instead of packing the night before.

Here is what these campers look for:

• Items that do double duty (For example, a flying disk toy can also be used as a plate or a paper plate holder or a disk to gather water in).
• Items that have half the weight of their ordinary supplies. (For example, plastic utensils instead of heavy metal utensils. And in storms it is better to have plastic anyway).
• Ways to pack clothing and items so that they can fit more inside of their pack.
• Packs that are in pieces instead of a one piece pack.
• Good quality gear that is inexpensive.

Here are items and ideas that help campers have an easier time camping and also help campers carry less gear:

1. Large, lighter tents rather than family tents. Usually when you use family tents, the set-up is longer, and usually it takes two or three people to put the tent up, especially on a windy day. Instead of one enormous family tent, purchase a few smaller tents. You don't spend too much time inside the tents, so you can do with the smaller tents. You can let the children sleep inside one of the larger tents with you. You can manage that for a few nights.
2. Buckets, bins, containers and other items that hold smaller items. When you use buckets, bins and containers for inside of your tents, you can put all the smaller items inside one container. Then when you go to empty the tent, instead of making many trips back inside the tent for many smaller items, you just make one trip and take the bin out of the tent. This system cuts down on trips to the tent and cuts down on wear and tear on tents and zippers.
3. Flashlights, batteries and more batteries. Use solar-powered flashlights whenever possible. This is self-explanatory.
4. Hiking sticks. These are essential if you are hiking for a few days. Hiking sticks will take 20,000 pounds of pressure off of your knees on your average hiking trip. Now, there are special hiking sticks for photographers. They look exactly like a normal hiking stick except the top has a silver-color screw in it to hold the camera onto the top.
5. Food selection. If you are planning a short trip, consider using food that is already prepared. (You can bring raisens, bananas, fruits, and raw vegetables. You can bring popcorn, bread sticks, puffed rice and puffed millet. You can bring meat sticks and cheese sticks, and cans of tuna. None of these require refrigeration or preparation. Bring your vitamins along and you will do just fine on your trip.
6. Medications. If you are allergic to anything, remember to bring your allergy pills with you. If you have any other medical needs, bring everything that you need with you.
7. Electronics. Yes, electronics. If you have cellular phones or other gadgets that are for your safety, these are the things that you need to bring with you when you backpack. Bring a portable radio, preferably with solar batteries. You will need the radio to hear the weather reports. When you camp out in the forest or state parks, you need to know the forecasts so that you can be prepared to leave quickly if there are storms, tornadoes or hurricanes approaching.
8. Music. Bring mp3 players or music players to soothe everyone during the storm, and also these are good for nighttime if the campers are having trouble sleeping.

These are camping basics for a wonderful trip. I will write more articles on camping in the near future.

The author of this article has had many works published in the USA. She has traveled extensively throughout the East Coast and through the South while observing people and writing about life and everything that is in it. She invites you to connect with her at her website. Contact her through ezine, or reach her through towriteus@yahoo.com