How To Pick The Best Tent To Ensure A Comfortable And Safe Refuge While Camping
An essential outdoor piece of equipment, your outdoor camping experience is largely dependent on the tent quality of your choice. Which is why a large selection tent styles are available for you to select from.
The first and simplest way so as narrow your tent choices is to decide the tent dimension that you require.
Tents are constructed to house a specific number of individuals. So that a solo backpacker will be looking for a tent that is smaller much different from family campers that require a bigger and roomier tent.
Almost all tents are labeled with description and their capacity which indicates how many individuals the tent can hold.
So that if you really do not intent on having a collection of tents in different capacity or sizes, it is wise that you establish the largest number of individuals you believe will sleep altogether in the tent.
If you normally backpack with a companion but this summer is going solo, then it is wise purchase a “two-person” tent.
Basically, there are four tent components namely the poles, tent body, rain fly and the tarp which is some kind of footprint or ground cloth to extend your tent’s floor life.
Apart from these basic components, here are some guidelines in choosing the best tent for you:
1. Consider your needs. Know your particular camping requirements, such as where do you mostly go camping, at what season, would be backpacking? And how many are you. All these can give you a clear idea of what type of tent you will need.
2. Set your budget. When you allocate a budget before you go looking for a tent, most likely, you will not overspend.
3. Tent weight and size. How many individuals will be sleeping in the tent? The size of your tent will not really matter should you go “car camping”; however, if you intend of going backpacking, then consider a “light-weight” tent.
4. Tent features. Today, there tent manufacturers offering a lot of features for their tents.
Mesh panels allow the breeze go in your tent at the same time keep the mosquitoes and bugs out, “shock-corded” tent poles allow speedy setup, waterproof and flame resistant for safety, a rain fly for added rain protection, etc.
Make certain you choose the tent that best caters to your all your basic requirements.
5. Make certain that you select a durable fabric tent. It will cost you more money however definitely this is an area certainly worth spending extra money.
6. Select the proper tent color. Inspect how the color of the tent transmits light well unto its interior. Certain colors generate a brighter interior, whereas others create a cave-like and dreary ambience.
Light colors, take note are best during summer camping since they tend to be cooler whereas dark colors are able to absorb in solar energy so that they are great during camping in cold weather.
7. Check the tent’s coating. Remember that you must see a waterproof and shiny coating inside the floor and rain fly. If this is not visible or you can not feel this on the tent’s fabric, than it is not thick enough so to withstand heavy use.
8. Know that your tent needs when camping in the summer is very much different compared to camping in the snow.
Almost all tents available in the market have weather ratings. Make sure that you purchase a tent specifically made for a particular weather condition or season that you will be out camping.
9. Tent manufacturers. Various tent manufacturers have their unique design and name. Some are identified to make inexpensive tents, while others are well recognized to make high quality but expensive tents.
Popular tent makers are Coleman, Wenger, Eddie Bauer and Greatland Tents. Choose a tent manufacturer that has been trusted for years.
In the forest or wilderness especially, the wrong camping equipment if not kill you, will really send you down packing to a motel and regret having planned camping.
For that well-planned and enjoyable camping vacation, take your time when you purchase your tent.
Remember, it will be your home for a few days. Having the right tent will keep you comfortable and warm especially on rainy and cold nights.
Are we there yet? Helpful ways to make them stop complaining.
Road trips are fun, during the first hour perhaps after which everything goes downhill from there.
So how can road trips be fun from when the journey starts up until the destination? The following are tips and advice to help make road trips – especially if it involves kids – fun and happy.
Pack and prepare
As always, prevention is always better than cure. Packing and preparing prior to a long road trip must also include planning the activities the kids could do during the ride. Face it, eight-hour drives are difficult for kids. It will not be much of a help if the stops you make are only at gas stations or when during meal times. Keep your kids pre-occupied and entertained at least. They are your responsibility and it is you who are taking them for the ride.
Do not forget to pack in some snacks, hopefully some healthy ones, so kids have something to nibble on during the long ride.
Research, research and research
Get to know the road that you are to take prior to you going on the journey ahead. This helps you make the necessary stops and recreational activities that kids may need to pack with them. Stopping at a park or a kids attraction is a good distraction for the long trip ahead.
Another helpful advise is that families must make sure to stay clear from same old restaurant chains. Food must be special also and it would help if traditional bbq joints are avoided in favor of specialized and decent road diners.
Depart really late or depart really early
A very looong road trip requires that departure time be in the late evening or early morning. Both options helps avoid heavy traffic. Also, the kids are given the time to have some additional sleep, thus keeping them quiet along the road.
Stop in the name of love
According to a study, it is highly recommended that stops be made at least every hour or two. This allows your kids to have the necessary breaks. This also allows them to avoid carsickness.
Carsickness could best be avoided by walking around. Kids need to do this to keep their blood circulating during the long trip. Avoid giving motion sickness drugs to kids as it could keep them unnecessarily sedated.
Pack some handy game boards
Games that are magnetized and could be easily transported anywhere could provide hours of fun in the car’s back seat. Also, books that have activities on them are good options also.
Believe it or not, there is a company that manufactures products and books that are focused on travel. Some of the activities found on these books are crossword puzzles. This is also a good way to make friends in a long journey.
Collect stuff and make them to a scrapbook
Try to encourage children to keep and collect little trinkets found during the journey. Stubs from tickets, brochures and postcards may be kept and be later put into a scrapbook.
Bring in books and DvDs
Thankfully, DVDs have the uncanny ability to keep everyone occupied, at peace and in harmony with each other especially on long trips. Audio books are also a great way to keep kids listening and therefore quiet.
Chill out, sit back and relax
The saying, the journey is better than the destination has never rung so true. The memories of a road trip that is filled with activities and good memories are better than thinking of the stress of actually getting there. In the end, it is better to look back with fondness than with frustration.
Involve kids in your travel plans
The trip will actually be best enjoyed by kids more than adults. So as much as possible, get kids to be involved in the planning. Allow them to look at the maps, show them the guidebooks. They would better appreciate the journey if you let them in on what they are getting themselves into. Who knows, they may even suggest helpful tips to make the journey more enjoyable. Never underestimate their wisdom.
All in all, a trip is best enjoyed if there is less control and if you just let go and allow thing to positively flow.
This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse, you agree to our Privacy Policy