     |
About camping-gearcheck out the Camping and Hiking swicki at eurekster.com
CAMPING-GEAR – CAMPING COMFORT 101
What type of camping-gear and how much you buy is dependent on many factors. The main factors include the type of camping you intend doing, and the degree of comfort you wish to have.
In general you should get the best quality gear that you can afford. Also you should get gear that performs in the maximum environmental conditions you anticipate with a margin for excessive conditions. Also don't buy more gear than the type of camping you are doing requires. If you anticipate progressively undertaking harder expeditions then it is economically sensible to invest in gear that is capable of accommodating your plans. There are many great and innovative products that have great performance and weight characteristics. Remember that whatever you choose you may have to carry it on your back.
CAMPING-GEAR – ITEM 1 – THE SLEEPING PAD
Remember those really sore backs and stiff joints, when a camping or sleeping pad, tarp was simply a waterproof sheet, if anything. A sleeping pad is an indispensable and warming insulation layer between your sleeping bag and the hard ground beneath you.
It is surprising how much body heat you can lose. This may be a very simple thin foam mat that are so popular with backpackers to something more substantial. A pad is one of my essential camping-gear comfort items. RV, trailer or truck campers have more options ranging from full mattress to something thicker and more luxurious and an old futon mattress is great for this.
Another option is one that I have used in days past and that is the inflatable mattress. The important thing is to ensure that you get a good nights rest and awake invigorated ready for the days activities. If you are hiking and walking then a good nights rest is essential if you are to survive the following days trek.
The important criteria to consider are the quality of the insulation, the comfort factor that it gives, how heavy and bulky it is, and how durable it will be. For the average camper that isn't into extreme cold weather camping comfort will probably feature fairly high up.
Consider carefully what type of camping you will do. Also carefully consider how much comfort you want, personally I like something a little more than the thinnest basic models. The weight factor is also important here, for those doing long treks every ounce counts, however those that car camp, then the weight and carriage issue isn't a significant factor. The same applies to overall bulk of the pad. The basic air mattress has been around a long time and is often an alternative to the pad. While giving lots of comfort they are relatively heavy and bulky and tend to more used by car campers. The open cell foam pads are very comfortable and low weight indeed, with very effective insulation qualities. The main drawbacks are that they easily absorb moisture and water, tend to be bulky, and hard to roll up and compress. The closed cell foam pad is a very effective insulator, and non-absorbent. They are not as flexible as the open cell pads.
The self-inflating pads are nylon cover enclosed open cell foam pads and are very good insulators, with the ability to control the air volume inside and the firmness of the pad. They can also be rolled up very compactly. They are expensive, and easily punctured, and weight is greater than open or closed cell pads.
When purchasing make sure you get the pad is the right shape, length and width to suit your sleeping bag. Also practically test how easy it is handle, inflate, or deflate or roll up. Pad manufacturers also offer many additional features that include integrated pillows, textured non-slip surfaces, and tapered shapes to cut down on weight. Like all camping-gear there are many accessories and for pad accessories that I like include elastic anti-slip straps that enable the sleeping bag and pad to be attached so you don't slip off.
CAMPING-GEAR ITEM 2 – THE SLEEPING BAG
The sleeping-bag is the one essential piece of camping-gear. These days a camper is presented with a wide range of sleeping bag options to choose from. They are light weight, roll up small, have very efficient thermal ratings that cover virtually any type of weather conditions and cold, are made from durable and water resistant materials, and even more important made from breathable materials. Of course the RV and truck or trailer camper hand differing camping-gear requirements and can have the luxury of sheets and quilts however we will concentrate on the range of sleeping bags. How do you choose a sleeping bag? And you though a sleeping bag is a simple piece of camping-gear! Choose it well and consider all the factors, it really is well worth the effort. You must match the sleeping bag comfort rating with the coldest temperature that you will expect on your trip. Don't under-estimate as it will be one cold night exposing you to hypothermia if you get it wrong. Many folk move up to the next rating.
Things to consider when choosing a sleeping bag include the comfort rating, the type of insulation, the weight, the bag shape, and the net size when rolled up or compacted. You should also look at your personal sleeping factors, one important one is whether you are a net hot or cold sleeper. Do you seem to generate a lot of heat or do you need a lot. I fall into the hot category myself.
How does a sleeping bag work?
The basic principle is the use of a persons body heat, the insulated bag retaining of warmed air this layer close to the body. The layer of warm air then acts as a barrier between the body and the cold air outside the bag. The sleeping bag acts as an insulator between the cold air and ground and as a heat retention bag.
What is the comfort rating?
The comfort rating is essentially the temperature rating of a sleeping bag. This is the most extreme temperature that the both you and bag can withstand. What does for example a +20 bag comfort rating mean. This means that someone will remain comfortable warm with an outside air temperature down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The comfort rating is affected by a persons metabolic rate, that is the cold or warm sleeper, men tend to be warm sleepers and women cold ones, although this is very subjective and anecdotal. The comfort rating is also affected by the quality of the insulated sleeping pad.
Cold and frosty grounds need a full length pad and when camping in snow or frozen ground then a warmer rated one or even two is required. It is surprizing how much heat that can be lost through the ground. Another factor that you should consider is how much clothing you wear to bed. Some wear warm socks, long underwear, tee shirts and more. This all affects how warm you will be inside the sleeping bag. One last thing to consider is being hungry and dehydrated, a good warm meal and water intake will help produce body heat. If the bag gets too hot then you can always unzip and vent the bag a little around your legs.
What about the insulation materials?
Like all camping-gear the factors are the weight and therefore the comfort factor, the degree of compressibility and the service life or durability. Ducks and geese are always warm and their feather or down is an extremely efficient insulators with goose down being the lightest and best. Like the pillows and quilts at home the down filled sleeping bags are very light and have a higher weight to warmth ratio than the synthetically filled bags. They do compress well into small rolls and tend to have a significantly increased service life over synthetic fills. Down is graded in accordance with what is called the fill power, which is the number of cubic inches one ounce of down will displace, so the higher the rating number the better the insulation value. Down isn't perfect however as if it gets wet it must be dried out. While more expensive this is more than made up by the longer life.
Synthetic fill materials are essentially plastic strands or polymers, which are commonly hollow to reduce weight and trap air. Unlike down they will give some insulation when wet and dry rapidly, which suits those camping out in rain a lot and they are also cheaper to buy. They are also non-allergenic for those that can't take the goose down. The shortcomings are that they are bulkier, have increased weight, have a shorter lifespan and does not hug the body shape as well as a down bag. As the weight of a body will compress insulation within the bag the importance of a good sleeping pad is essential as an accompanying piece of camping-gear.
What about the sleeping bag shape?
The shape of any sleeping bag is very important. The most efficient bags are the mummy shaped ones. They offer the best insulation and warmth as they hug the body shape. The traditional rectangular shaped bag allows you more room to move and alter sleeping position however the increased air space requires more heating up.
CAMPING-GEAR ITEM 3 – THE CAMPING TARP
The camping tarp is one very useful piece of camping-gear. It has many of the same criteria of the sleeping pad. In most cases it is made from a sheet of urethane coated nylon, either taffeta or oxford with most tent floors being made from taffeta. Some are also made from Polyethylene, which is made from a woven and laminated, waterproof plastic sheet, we are all familiar with these typically blue or live green colored sheets. It is more durable than nylon however it is also much stiffer and heavier. Both the nylon and polyethylene tarps have a rectangular shape with metal reinforced grommets at each corner for tying down. Footprints are tarps that are manufactured to match the floor plan of specific tents. Tarps are quite versatile item of camping-gear apart from just being a tent floor, or as an extra barrier for an integral tent floor. They are also excellent as simple shelters and windbreaks for day hikers and minimalist campers, the ultimate multi-purpose camping-gear item.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMPING-GEAR AND HIKING BACKPACKS Complete line of Coleman camping products. Coleman tents, coolers, lanterns, flashlights, kayaks, stoves, grills, road trip grills and accesssories, sleeping bags, tables, chairs, boats, mosquito control units, lamps and more on sale now at Coleman Camping Store.
Camping Equipment, Camping Gear & Camping Links - Find Coleman camping gear & camping equipment at Summit Camping Gear.
Camping Equipment, Camping Gear & Camping Links - Find Coleman camping gear & camping equipment at Camping Gear Pro.
Deer Blinds Provides us with information about the different types of Deer Blinds, including different styles, FAQs, and where to buy your next deer blinds
solar products, including solar lights, solar statues, solar holiday & solar novelty items Direct from the importer/manufacturer. Accessorize and Light up your garden, pool, backyard, camp ground and more with Solaragy™ cool solar powered products
Camping Lanterns Provides information on all camping lanterns, including FAQ's, Safety tips, and where to buy your new camping lantern.
Outdoor Schools From adventure sports to science camp we have the resources
All the camping-gear you will ever need is here
Whizardworks Whizardworks carries more than 300 AC DC and other travel products and travel accessories for auto, marine, RV, Camper, boating, trucking, and tailgating. We carry 12 volt products and accessories, from coolers to coffee makers, plus spotlights, travel bags, inverters, travel clocks, and much more.
Outdoor Directory An outdoor directory that features links to websites on camping, trail running, hiking, snowboarding, skiing, rafting and biking.
Outdoor Adventure Visit our outdoor adventure home page full of current outdoor related news, forums, articles, information, tips, event calendar and much, much more! All related to the great outdoors your enjoy!
All the camping-gear you will ever need is here
Thomson Outdoor Supply Discount outdoor goods store. All you need to go camping and hiking
All the camping-gear you will ever need is here Women's Clothing - A women's website for mind, body and spirit, as well as the shopper. Features women's clothing and outdoor equipment
All the camping-gear you will ever need is here
1st in Outdoor Gear Outdoor equipment and clothing for camping, hiking, walking and all outdoor pursuits.
All the camping-gear you will ever need is here
At Hobby and Lifestyle.com you'll find an ever expanding range of topics covered everything from pet ownership to travel and lots of other things in between
All the camping-gear you will ever need is here
Outdoor Survival Kits Survival training and survival equipment that could save your life. Be prepared for disasters in advance.
Camping tents|Sleeping bags at affordable prices
All the camping-gear you will ever need is here
Camping and Hiking Equipment from Laurel Cove Outfitters
All the camping-gear you will ever need is here
Backpacking gear
All the camping-gear you will ever need is here
Camping and Gear
Camping Gear and Camping Equipment
#1 Outdoor Gear
Camping chairs
Camping Equipment and Camping Gear
Rifle Scopes, Camping Gear, Autographed Sports Memorabilia
Camping Gear, Camping Equipment and Outdoor Supplies at Camping Comfortably Shop for affordable brand name camping gear and camping equipment for hiking, backpacking, camping and other outdoor recreational activities. Their brands include Coleman, Camp Chef, Black Pine Sports, Eureka, and more!.
Link Helpers - Webmasters helping webmasters develop high value relevant links. Promoting ethical web-marketing using the time trusted pillars of relevance and popularity.
Hunting And Fishing Gear Reviews - This is the only place you can find comprehensive reviews of hunting and fishing gear submitted by actual users. Search our database of user submitted reviews for all kinds of outdoor equipment
Nushagak King Salmon Fishing - True Alaskan wilderness experience in the comfort of a Bristol Bay fishing lodge. Whether you fish or hunt we provide you with a variety of opportunities and campsites on the fabled Nushagak River.
Sell Timeshare - The leading Full Service Timeshare Resale Company and vacation rental agency. Thirty years of experience ready to go to work for you when you want to buy, rent or sell your timeshare resort
#1 Free Link Exchange Directory On The Web - Link Market
Hard Rain Cafe
Garden Decor
Paintball Stuff
Eilat Nature, Portal To Eilat, Israel, The Negev, The Arava
Pepper Spray
Affordable Wifi Hotspots, High Speed Wifi Wireless Hotspots
Home Based Business All the camping-gear you will ever need is here
Upper Michigan Products and Services - Bringing the hand crafted Products and Services from beautiful and unique Upper Michigan Peninsula to the world. Locally made products and services that are unique to the Upper Michigan Peninsula.
Uncle Ducky Charters - Lake Superior Charter Fishing vacation packages from Uncle Ducky. Vacation Packages for: Lake Michigamee, Craig Lake State Park, Lake Superior Fishing, Lake Independence and Lake Michigan Charters.
Alaska Fishing Charter - State of the art charter boats specifically designed for saltwater fishing in Alaska make us the first choice for quality Seward Alaska fishing charters for salmon, halibut and lingcod
Get the right camping-gear. This site has all the best practical camping advice and information with resources for quality equipment
Fixitboss.com
Key West Fishing
Galapagos Islands A Great Georgia Rv Park At Mcintosh Lake
Get the right camping-gear. This site has all the best practical camping advice and information with resources for quality equipment
Bookafloridavilla.com
Belize
Bermuda
Argentina
Get the right camping-gear. This site has all the best practical camping advice and information with resources for quality equipment
Travel
Lido Islander Get the right camping-gear. This site has all the best practical camping advice and information with resources for quality equipment
Camping Gear Store Provides information on the different types of camping gear products and prices, including different brand names, FAQs, selection type and where to buy all your next camping gear equipment
Get the right camping-gear. This site has all the best practical camping advice and information with resources for quality equipment
|
