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Expedition Camping Gear – Make it Light

September 7th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are planning an expedition you might want to think about your packing carefully. The last thing you want to do is pack to much because remember that you will have to carry your equipment all the way. The best thing to do for your expedition camping gear is to go lightweight, it will be lighter to transport and if you plan it well you can easily bring everything you need to accommodate your needs.

The most important part of your packing is to make sure everything you need is in a good and working condition. Before packing you should lay out all your equipment so you can see everything you are bringing with you on your expedition. First make sure everything is ok, second ask yourself if you are really going to use that item. Do this for every piece of equipment in your expedition camping gear. If you don’t think you are going to use it…then leave it.

Typically, expeditions are considered long hikes and will take their toll on you, and with some lasting two weeks or longer being prepared for most contingencies as well as packing light enough to be comfortable can be a challenge. The idea is not just to pack only light items, but also to pack the items you will need in your expedition camping gear.

Leave Unnecessary Weight Behind

No one ever got tired hiking by leaving items they do not need at home. Before you start replacing everything in your pack with lightweight items, go through your expedition camping gear and take out anything you will not use. If this is your first trip, it can be difficult but if you have been hiking before you know the odds of needing a particular item. If you have not used it the last two times out, you do not need it adding to the weight of your expedition camping gear.

For example, when packing no one considers putting firewood in their pack, knowing they can find that along the trail. While water is necessary, think about if it is easier to carry heavy gallons jugs of water, or water purification tablets. By looking at your expedition camping gear with the same questions, you can separate the nice from the necessary and lighten your load.

If you are interested in making expeditions, you will soon find out that it is not about bringing tons of equipment just for your comfort but rather surviving and doing well with only the essential expedition camping gears for your survival.

Baby Camping Gear – What do You Need?

July 31st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you have kids like me, you already know that traveling with your babies requires a certain level of organization. There are necessities that you need like a well stocked diaper bag and some other emergency items. And in some cases it is even a good idea to stock some of those items in frequently traveled places like the grand parents and other relative’s houses.

So if you are planning to go on a camping trip with your baby, the situation remains the same, you will need special baby camping gear to accommodate your baby’s needs and yours. Some items you will need in your baby camping gear are:

- Portable crib
- Baby carrier (Front or back)
- Appropriate clothing according to the temperature
- Rain protection
- Sun screen
- Insect repellent
- And a very well stocked diaper bag

Small tips for you Diaper Bag

Here is a small resume of how you should pack your diaper bag. The diaper bag should have at least enough diapers for a full day (plus extra diapers in mom or dads bag), a good changing pad, at least one change of clothes, you should also include around two to three zip-top storage bags, a few toys and do not forget to add some snack (depending if you child is eating solid or not). Another important item would be to add a full refill of swipes (very useful to clean the baby if you are not near water), and other items like pacifiers, bottle etc..)
Using Baby camping gear

Baby camping gear is usually inexpensive and is often extra light weight and durable for long lasting use.  An active family may be able to use the same portable crib with each child.  A portable crib is important for babies because the thick soft sleeping bags are a potential SIDS risk as are air mattresses and pillows.

An infant carrier can really make a hike more enjoyable, the parent can enjoy having their hands free while knowing exactly where their baby is and feeling their baby close to them as they travel.  The baby will also benefit from this piece of infant travel gear as the baby will get to experience the entire hike from the safety and comfort of their parent’s chest.

Climate appropriate clothing is an important part of a babies camping gear, there is nothing worse than a sick baby, having a rain coat, extra warm clothes, cool clothes and a cooling scarf or cloth are a few items that can make the elements more bearable for the smallest hiker in the family.

Baby camping gear wouldn’t be complete without all the tonic and potions that make the great out door’s less friendly residents more agreeable such as insect repellant, sun screen, and a first aid kit.  Insect repellant is tricky with infants, it’s best to spray the repellant on the parent’s hand and rub it on the babies exposed skin. 

Camping is a time honored family tradition that many families begin in the early months of life with their children.  Having the right baby camping gear can make the tip more enjoyable for the entire family, making memories everyone will treasure.

Is Used Camping Gear a Good Investment?

July 23rd, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

If you are planning your first camping trip but your budget is limited, you might consider turning to used camping gear. Used camping gear can save you a lot of money, and if this is your first camping trip, buying used camping gear is probably the best thing to do because in the end if you don’t really like it, you won’t have spent a lot of money for the equipment. You just need to make sure you buy the right gears, to do that you need to weigh the pros and the cons first.

Pros

The main benefit of buying used camping gear is, of course, the lower price you’ll pay for items.  However, the great thing about used camping gear is that often people will sell the gear they have after using it once or twice.  Usually, it comes from people who buy a bunch of new gear to try camping out and decide that it’s not to their taste.  What this means is you get gear that’s nearly new for much less than you’d actually pay.

Buying used camping gear is a good idea in a few situations, usually when you have someone new to camping.  For instance, if you have a child in Boy Scouts looking to go on his first campout, buying used camping gear can get him started without spending too much.  Similarly, if you’re going on your first camping trip and don’t like the idea of spending hundreds at the local sporting good store, you can spend less buy purchasing used gear.  This will ultimately save you money if you later decide that camping isn’t for you.

Cons

One of the problems with used camping gear, though, is that sometimes there’s a good reason why the individual has put it up for sale.  Just as will all goods, some are better than others, and you may find that the gear you purchase is of poor quality.  However, you can help ease the likelihood of getting some awful used camping gear by researching product reviews online.  If you’re purchasing used gear in a store, be sure to try items like backpacks on so you know that they weren’t being sold just because they’re uncomfortable to wear. 

Another disadvantage in buying used camping gear is that you will be limited in the choice of style and colors. This is not very important because the important factor to consider is that your camping equipment must first be functional, only then can you consider the look. In the end if you take great care in what you purchase, your used camping gear can become a great investment and save you a bundle of money while you are preparing your camping trip.

Tips for Your Motorcycle Camping Gear

June 28th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

First let me start this article by saying that there is a difference between a motorcycle camping trip and a road trip. The major difference is that on a road trip you usually spend your nights in motels along the way. On the other hand if you plan to do a real motorcycle camping trip you will need to plan your overnight stops ahead of time. Be aware that some camping grounds are not friendly to motorcycles. Also the amount motorcycle camping gear you will need will depend mostly on the type of trip you are planning.

Motorcycle camping is like hiking

Motorcycle camping gear is very similar to the type of materials hikers bring on their trip. It should always be small and light. Try to buy quality camping gear that you can easily set up at night and tear down in the morning. Make sure that all you motorcycle camping gears are packed as compact as you can. This will make your trip safer and will prevent any part of your equipment to come loose when you ride your bike. If you are planning a long trip you might want to consider the use of a small motorcycle trailer. They are usually very light and are easy to pull depending on the type of motorcycle you ride.

To limit the amount of space needed for your motorcycle camping gear consider buying your food and water on a daily basis since it can take up a lot of space. For cooking, a metal mess kit offers the most diverse uses and can be cleaned at the campsite’s facilities. Be sure to carry a small bottle of liquid dishwashing detergent. In the event you get stuck away from stores, you can carry the freeze-dried, or dehydrated meals sold in many camping supply stores and heat water in a small pot over an open fire at the campground. You will want a small disposable lighter to get the fire started with the wood typically available at the campgrounds.

Be prepared for any type of Weather

As part of your motorcycle camping gear do not forget a change of clothing. More than one is nice, but at least one is necessary in case you get caught in the rain. If you plan to use local laundromats while traveling, make sure you have something to wear while washing your clothes. A small backpacking tent and lightweight sleeping bag can usually be carried on your bike, but consider a small inflatable air mattress for comfort. Once deflated, they take up very little room and can help you sleep better at night.

When packing your motorcycle camping gear remember personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, shampoo and soap, although shampoo can double for body soap and if you run out of room for toothpaste, you can use salt. A first aid kit should also be part of your motorcycle camping gear, regardless of space, but many are available for camping and hold those items most-often needed while camping.

Tips for Your Winter Camping Gear

June 21st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Your Survival Depends on it.

The quality of your winter camping gear is very important and in some case critical. You need to be absolutely sure that it will withstand the temperature variations as well as the extreme conditions you may encounter during your camping excursions. The fact is, nobody goes on a camping trip expecting to be caught by extreme weather conditions or fall down an icy embankment and break an arm or a leg, but these thing happens, so you need to be prepared for any potential situation if you want to survive.

To carry every piece of winter camping gear that you might possibly need to cover every contingency that might come up would take a large truck, not your backpack. What you need to do is consider the least amount of winter camping gear you will need to survive most possible disasters. Since you do not want to carry crutches or boards in the event you do break a leg, consider carrying heavy-duty tape and using sticks you can pick up off the ground. They will work the same and if you do not break a bone, then you did not carry the extra items for nothing.

Since you probably will not carry firewood with you, your winter camping gear should include a small hatchet or folding saw with which to cut wood as needed as well as a disposable lighter to get the fire going. There may be many times when a fire is not necessary, but hot meals and keeping warm may be something you long for after a few days in the cold.

You Need To Be Prepared For Your Everyday Needs.

Below are some small tips to help you pack the required winter camping gear. We don’t usually fell thirsty during the winter but your winter camping gear must absolutely include an item to purify water. Some campers use iodine drops or tablet to that effect, you also need to filter the water. Then comes the eating part, most campers bring some dehydrated pouches which are very tasty, but they get old after a couple of days. Always try to have a couple of simple recipes for cooking over an open fire with food items to cook is always something you should consider having in your winter camping gear.

If you are going for a long camping trip you should always plan on a mean to relieve yourself. Also your winter camping gear should also contain hygiene items to make sure you remain healthy during your excursion. Inexperienced campers are often not aware of that, but maintaining your cleanliness is just as important as when you are at home. To that effect you should also plan on having some waterless sanitizing solution so you can wash your hands for time to time. Always make sure you remain healthy and comfortable during your camping trip.

Zellers Camping Gear, is it any Good?

June 15th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

You don’t know much about camping gear and are wondering if Zeller camping gear is any good? Well put your mind at ease, Seller is one of the biggest retailers in Canada.  Most of the Zellers camping gear is top name brand and will survive under normal weather conditions. The real question you should ask is: Does the Zellers camping gear equipment will survive in the wild? The answer is absolutely yes.

The longevity of the Zellers camping gears is mostly determined by the weather it is used in. But the individual care of your Zellers camping gears is as equally determinant in making sure it performs as expected. On the other hand is you expect to go on a camping trip under cold weather you will probably need to take extra steps as these conditions can be very hard on your equipment. The Golden rule is to keep everything as dry as possible. Make sure you choose you Zellers camping gear carefully according to the weather conditions.

For example, a cheaper sleeping bag may seem to function properly, but if the zipper is the type that can rust, it will ruin the entire bag the first time it gets wet. Work the zipper a few times before buying any Zellers camping gear to make sure it is smooth and does not get caught in the fabric or loose strings. These are things that can render your sleeping bad useless after just a couple of uses.

Protecting Your Body Key To Survival

When planning a camping trip having the right clothing can make a huge difference on whether you can survive any sudden inclement weather. Dressing in layers is always recommended, but dressing in the right layers can mean the difference between life and death. With Zellers camping gear you can find the correct materials for your clothing to make sure you can be warm and comfortable and prepared for most conditions.

The inner layer should provide comfort without irritating your skin and should be made to absorb moisture as you sweat. The outer layer should be made of lightweight waterproof or at least resistant material and if possible should resist tears. The inner layer is going to provide the insulation and wool or synthetic materials that hold the warmth yet dry quickly are most recommended.

Be aware of the fact that cotton will loose it’s insulating capabilities when it’s wet, it will also take longer to dry. You should always avoid using this kind of material. This is one of the reasons why Zellers camping gear does not have any cotton (for insulating purposes).

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