How To Choose A Good Camping Bed

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Enjoying the great outdoors is what camping is all about. But, sleeping on cold, lumpy ground will make the enjoyment short lived. Being uncomfortable hampers sleep and can only make you irritable and tired.

Camping BedEven though you are outdoors, it is no different to sleeping indoors when it comes to a good nights sleep. A good quality bed will make all the difference and ensure a restful sleep. You will wake up ready to start the day and feeling refreshed. Tackling all the fun activities like hiking, canoeing or just relaxing will be enjoyable and achievable.

The traditional method of sleeping outdoors is to use a sleeping bag. But even the best sleeping bag can’t counteract uncomfortable, hard ground. So, it’s best to use a camping bed and sleeping bag together. That way you will be cushioned from the ground, be more comfortable and warm.

There are plenty of places to shop for camping beds including outdoor sporting goods stores. There are also some good options online.

There are a few different types of camping beds to consider and we’ll take a look at them below.

Inflatable Camping Beds

These are cushioned with air and need to be inflated before using. An air compressor or pump can be used to inflate the bed.

Inflatable beds are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles, so make sure to get one that will do the job properly. Some can take quite a long time to inflate and require you to manually work the pump. But, these are usually the cheapest option as well.

Self inflating beds are another option that are quick and convenient to set up. Usually they cost a little more but it can be worth it for saving time during camp setup.

Once inflated, inflatable beds provide a very comfortable sleeping area. The downside of some inflatable beds is that they are bulky and as a result quite heavy. Check the specifications before buying to make sure their size and weight won’t be an issue.

As with anything inflatable, there is always a chance of puncture. Most will come with a repair kit, so keep that handy along with extra repairs. To avoid puncture, always put the bed on flat ground with no sharp objects in the way. Check for rocks, sticks or any other potential puncture hazards.

Inflatable beds come in plenty of different sizes. From single, right up to king size you can get them to suit all members of the family. If there are a few small children camping, they may be able to sleep together on one larger mattress.

Cot Beds

Another style of bed is cots. These are a great way to stay right off the ground because they are raised. In particular, this makes them great for wet or cold weather. A sleeping bag added on top will give more cushioning and warmth.

Cots are portable and fold up easily to store in a small space. However, they aren’t always ideal to carry long distances as they can be awkard to pack. Typically cots have weight limitations and are for single use.

Sleeping Mats

The last option is sleeping mats. These are foam liners that lie on top of the ground underneath the sleeping bag for extra comfort. These mats have become standard gear for camping use. The foam liner acts to cushion any rocks or hard surfaces that may prevent a restful sleep.

Easy to roll up for convenient storage, foam sleeping mats come in a range of thicknesses. While thin mats will be lighter, they will also only provide minimal padding. Depending on your needs, investing in a high quality, thick mat may be the best option.

They are generally lightweight and easy to carry too. This makes them a great option when hiking and camping in remote areas.

It’s important to choose your camp bed with care. Take into consideration your personal needs and preferences and choose the one that will best suit you. Also, think about the environment you will be camping in and the weather conditions that may be encountered. This will all help you make the best decision.

Lastly, if you will need to carry the bed any distance from your parking area, consider the weight and portability of the camping bed.

Whichever bed you choose, using camping bed will give you a much better sleep and is a much better alternative to sleeping on the ground.

How To Choose The Right Family Camping Tent

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Camping for many is a yearly event for the family. Such excursions and the things that happen on these adventures are often remembered for a lifetime. Choosing the right tent for the family is an important part of ensuring a great experience while camping.

Families laid in tent on summer holidayTips For Choosing The Right Family Camping Tent

Three-season tents are by far the most popular. Typically, families will go camping during the late spring, summer, and early fall. These are the ideal seasons for a three-season tent. They are fairly light weight and made for temperatures that are moderate. They will usually have mesh panels which keep out the bugs but let air flow freely through the tent. When the tent is set up correctly it can hold up to rain storms with fairly strong downpours but they are not designed for harsh or violent storms or snow.

The main function of this type of tent is to give the family some privacy during the night when sleeping. These tents do a reasonably good job of keeping out the bugs and for keeping a family reasonably dry when it’s raining outside. Because these tents are light and easy to set up they are ideal for most family situations.

Four-season tents are often used by professional mountaineers and are specifically designed to hold up to fiercely strong winds and heavy loads of snow. These can be used in any season and their primary purpose is to protect the campers from weather that is severe and inhospitable. The tent material is more heavy duty, they have more poles for stability, and the roof is rounded to help prevent too much snow from collecting on the roof. Their mesh panels extend closer to the ground which helps protect rain and snow from entering inside the tent but also decreases ventilation. This can allow for the tent to be warmer which is good in harsh weather but can be warm in milder temperatures.

Sleeping Capacity

Obviously, when selecting a new tent the buyer will need to know how many people will be staying in the family camping tent. If there is a person or people who are large in size this should also be considered. If there is anyone that will be camping that is claustrophobic then this would be a further consideration when making a purchase.

The key to comfort is getting a tent that is larger than needed. This way, if someone tosses and turns they are not so close to others that they disturb them.

Accessories

There are some accessories that are very handy to have when camping. Having extra stakes and anchors helps when there are unexpected conditions where the tent needs to be set up. It is also extremely helpful to have a tent repair kit. Unforeseen events can happen and if they do, and the family has no way of repairing the tent, then it could mean the camping trip has to be ended early. Repair kits are not very expensive and when they are needed they are invaluable.

Obviously, having a first aid kit would also be something that every family should have when camping.These accessories are often life savers when they are needed. Follow these tips for a great camping experience.

Family Camping Gear To Help Everyone Have More Fun

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Camping is great fun for the whole family but preparing for it can be hard work. Getting everything organized and making sure that everything that’s needed is packed is often nerve-racking. There are the reservations that need to be made, packing the car, preparing the food and making sure that there is enough to keep every family member entertained during the camping excursion, which makes it easy to become overwhelmed by it all.

Camping collection on white background - vector illustration.List Of Family Camping Gear Needed

When preparing, it’s necessary to make sure that the tent being brought is large enough to accommodate everyone that will be going. It should be a bit oversized to allow for those who might toss and turn during the night so that they don’t disturb the others. Also, if there are any members of the family that are large in size then this further creates the need to have a tent that is designed to hold more people than it is actually going to.

Tent poles and stakes will be needed and it’s always a good idea to bring extra in case the terrain or other situations make a need for additional stakes. Sleeping bags will be necessary for each person that will be camping, as well as pillows and blankets. A lantern will be needed and depending on if it’s operated by fuel or batteries then those things will be needed.

It’s a good idea to bring along a tent repair kit and a first aid kit. Having these things can help when a situation arises that would otherwise cause the camping trip to come to a quick halt. Additional items that might be needed are extra blankets if there’s any concern the weather might be cool.

Cooking Items

Many campgrounds have outdoor grills and stoves for cooking but if not, then those items will need to be included. Fuel or coal along with matches as well as skews and a frying pan are all among the things that will likely be needed while camping. If some of the campers are coffee drinkers then a portable coffee maker will be needed.

Other items that might be useful are folding tables, chairs, and a tablecloth. Trash bags along with storage containers for food as well as bowls, plates, spoons and other utensils will be needed.

Additional Items

Campers will want to take a camera to photograph or video the camping trip. If pets are being brought along then pet food will need to be available. If members of the family plan to do any biking or hiking then the bikes and the hiking clothes, boots, and other accessories will be needed.

Putting together all the needed family camping gear is a bit of work, but will make for a more enjoyable trip. Long after the effort of planning and preparing is forgotten, the memory of camping with the family will be remembered.To help the preparation be a bit easier, simply use these tips so that putting it all together will be fairly easy.