Crazy For Camping?

By Glenn H. Kipps

Tent Camping can be a great experience. However, the reason a lot of people don’t go tent camping is the initial high cost of [tag-tec]camping equipment[/tag-tec]. These people do not realize that careful planning and bargain shopping can greatly reduce that cost. In this article, my intention is to give insight to the [tag-ice]new camper[/tag-ice] on reducing the cost of camping equipment.

The first thing you must do is decide what you like. You can ask your friends what they use. This will give you a guideline for making your decision when shopping for your equipment. The first time around, you may want to borrow equipment from them. This way, you get to use the equipment and decide whether or not you like the brand of equipment they use.

Another way is to take the info you got from your friends and go to stores that sell camping equipment and try their recommendations out. This way, you are not limited to your friends’ recommendations. There may be another brand in the store that catches your eye. Try it out and see if you think this equipment is superior to that used by your friends. If so, go with your instinct. If not, stick with your friends’ recommendations. You can also get recommendations on the internet through discussion forums on camping.

Now that you know what you want, it is time to shop and make your purchases. One place to start is to visit discount camping stores. However, some of the best deals can be found online. There are discount camping stores, online coupons, online classifieds (craig’s list is one of the most popular ones), etc. This will give you a price range to measure. Then, go to ebay. You can often find the best deals on ebay.

Another option is to take advantage of clearance sales. These sale are usually around Labor Day and the end of the winter. If you are in no hurry, you can wait for these sales.

You can also buy used equipment. This can be done by going to yard sales and/or army surplus stores or looking at classifieds in your local newspaper or online (craig’s list). After that, go to ebay to see if you can beat the average price. New or used, you can often get the best deals on ebay.

If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to get quality camping equipment relatively cheap. After the initial cost, with proper care and storage of your equipment, the upkeep costs are extremely small. You are now well armed and ready to start reducing the cost of camping equipment.

by Glenn H. Kipps

Here are a few things you should know if you are new to camping. These tips, while broad in nature, will give you some idea on what you should bring to make your trip a great experience. The rest is just plain common sense.

First, expect to have a good time, but be prepared for the worst. For instance, it may not rain at all on your Camping Trip, but you should be prepared in case it does. Do not put your tent directly at the bottom of a hill. It is certain that it will flood in a torrential downpour. Make sure you have a sturdy tarp to keep you and your group dry. It should also be able to withstand the strong winds that often accompany a rain storm. Other things to be prepared for are cold weather, pesty insects, sickness, etc.

If you are hiking or canoeing, you should pack MRE’s (meals ready to eat) and other types of food that do not require cooking. In other words, you should pack light (the lighter the better). Save the cooking for when you get back to the [tag-tec]campsite[/tag-tec]. Some [tag-ice]campgrounds[/tag-ice] do not allow fires. Therefore, you should pack a camp stove just in case.

If you like comfort, be sure to invest in a quality air mattress with a quick pump. You should also bring mosquito netting so you do not get eaten alive while you are trying to sleep. Of course a comfy sleeping bag and a tent that doesn’t bleed (rain water seeping through the walls of the tent) are also big essentials.

Do not put a lot of leaves in your campfire. Leaves tend to make a fire smoke (getting more smoke than flame). You do not want to smoke out your neighbors. If there are quiet hours in the area you are camping, please observe them. It all boils down to respect for your camping neighbors.

On packing day, make sure you take all of your garbage with you (or if a facility is provided, use it) and leave the campsite the way you found it. When packing your gear, make sure it is dry. Wet camping gear can develop a musty smell and rot over time.

In conclusion, if you are new to camping, these broad tips should provide a nice foundation from which you can build. The rest is up to you.