The Difference Between a Good Camping Experience a Bad One – Camping Apparel
Bad clothing decision on your camping trip can spell doom for any ‘happy family’ camping trip. Just because we all enjoy typically comfortable weather where we live, we can afford to wear pretty much anything we want. However, when venturing into the nature for camping trips and treks, everyday wear won’t be enough to protect you or keep you comfortable. Nature isn’t really known to take it easy on those that venture into its extremes.
So for an assuredly enjoyable camping trip, you will want to be fully clothed against the elements. Over the years advances in clothing technology has spawned a lot of camping wear designed to help keep the elements at bay at your camping trips. However, with the glut of clothing choices, it can get a little confusing to find which wears fit your need.
Here’s a rundown of the stuff you could snag off the stores to keep you comfy during your expeditions and the technologies behind them. Knowing their characteristics will help you find out how these technologies can benefit your outdoor life.
The Materials
The most popular materials for camping wear include technologies that allow water to escape the material, but don’t allow any water in. Ever since man started intentionally developing materials for the comfort of campers and trekker alike, the biggest problem they had to face was how to somehow draw away moisture from the surface of the skin so that the camper did not have to wear wet soggy shirts that made for bad temperature control. The new clothing had to accomplish this while keeping moisture out – it had to have some waterproof properties.
In response to this need, developers have unveiled three breakthrough technologies in the field of outdoor and sports apparel – microporous laminates, microporous coatings, and monolithic membranes. All these materials somehow allow water vapor to escape while preventing moisture from settling in the skin. The monolithic technology is particularly interesting since it absorbs water vapor into itself while using body heat to dissipate the vapor. The harder you work, the more heat you make, and the more vapor is dissipated. Quite an interesting technology that is.
You may want to check garments nowadays for such technologies or similar ones. This technology helps keep you dry and comfortable, and makes maintaining a good temperature easier – especially in unforgivingly cold climes.
Nylon or Polyester?
Nylon has typically been the more popular of the materials used for outdoor wear. This is because it is scratch resistant and can endure the wear and tear of most outdoor activities, plus it is light and breathable. However, polyester, not to be outdone, has steadily become an acceptable compliment or alternative to nylon since it keeps the wearer warmer and absorbs less water than nylon. Look for the new breed of materials – keep with nylon to be safe, the newer polyester kinds do well too.
Keeping you warm
One of the critical needs of outdoors people is apparel that will keep them warm in extreme weather. As mentioned above nylon or polyester coupled with the newer micropore technology does a good job at helping a person keep warm and comfy. However, in more abject frigid weather, you will need extra material to keep you warm.
The greatest issue when choosing a camping wear is whether to purchase down or synthetic fill material. Nothing provides comfort and warmth as down, and down is generally recommended for most outdoor camping trips with the family. However, in the event that it rains and your down-filled clothes get wet, it is going to take forever to get them dry. Synthetic fill clothes, on the other hand, give good warmth and dries quickly if ever they get wet. They are a bit heavier in comparison, though.
Fleece is a good in-betweener for your garments. Contrary to intuition, fleece still keeps one warm even when it is damp. It also keeps moisture away from the skin, keeping one dry and comfortable. Plus they are squishy and comfortable to the feel.
Conclusion
When looking for good camping wear, remember that the above mentioned technologies are very helpful in keeping you comfortable throughout camping trips. Look at each alternative and find out how their advantages fit in with your camping needs.
Three Tips to Choosing the Right Camping Backpack
“It’s just a bag”
That’s what most inexperienced campers say. Unknown to them, the choice of bag is no trivial matter to any serious camper. You will never appreciate how a good backpack can benefit your trek until you try going on a major one using an ill-fitting pack.
Take for example the experience of a trekker who went on a trip to the Appalachians in 1994. Instead of an exhilarating camp experience, he had to go home broken and bleeding from the weight of an ill-fitting pack damaging his hips. A decade later – with him a lot wiser and experienced – this hiker, accompanied by a better fitting pack, made 960 miles of terrain – a better and greater experience than having your trip cut short by inconveniences due to terrible equipment.
Now you know how important a good pack is, here are a few tips to help you choose a good pack for the journey that lies ahead of you.
1. Know what you need – hikers and campers vary sharply in camping preferences, some are very minimalist in nature and take only the bare essentials. Others take a lot more equipment on their trips. The amount and type of equipment you bring will definitely shape the decision you make towards what backpack you will need.
You can then do some simple computation on your space needs. Most capable sales representatives can give you the amount of space their bags offer. When doing this try using the measurement for the amount of equipment you take for the longest trip you expect to go on.
2. Is it comfortable – this is probably the most important consideration when choosing a backpack for camping. The goal of every good camping bag is to help campers carry the most amount of weight with the least amount of effort – and inconvenience for that matter.
Good packs distribute weight efficiently, allowing you maximum comfort when carrying the pack. To know how well a pack does this, you will have to test the pack itself. Most camp stores will have sand weights to place in the pack so that you can test how the pack holds up to the weight. You will have to carefully consider how comfortable these packs are before even considering them for purchase.
A rule of the thumb to remember is that the shoulder straps should carry about 30% of the weight, while the hips – being a lot more stable should carry about 70% of the weight. When testing the pack, make sure the shoulder straps are not uncomfortable or restrictive. Try moving around in them to see how much mobility the backpack gives you.
Most packs also have a sternum strap. These straps help stabilize the backpack. Sternum straps should be positioned below the collarbone to ensure comfort and stability.
The hipbelts on the other hand should not constrict your breathing, nor should they be too thick that they reduce your mobility too much.
Designs always vary and backpack companies are always heralding a ‘new and improved’ technology for campers to try out. The only way to really know if these new bags work is for you to try them out
3. Choose your frame – there are two types of frames to choose from – internal and external. Internal frames are slimmer and hug your body closer, making them ideal for hard trails since they are so maneuverable and do not restrain mobility. They are a bit harder to load though. External framed backpacks are great for beginners on easy trails since they are easier to pack. However, they are a bit stiffer and may restrict mobility. It’s the best type of backpack for children and beginners though.
4. Extras – when purchasing backpacks consider whether the pack is compatible with weather sheets to protect your pack against the elements. Also consider how attachments can be adapted for your pack. Most packs rings and snap-ons that allow for accessories to integrate with your pack.
Conclusion
In the end, a good pack is almost synonymous with a great trek. Choosing a good pack will definitely enhance your camping experience tenfold. Choose carefully, since your backpack will probably be your most trusted companion in all of your camping trips. Good luck hunting!
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