CAMPING

GEAR How to Choose It and

Tips to Enjoy Any Camping Trip

Table of Contents

Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….1

Camping checklist…………………………………………………………………………………………….2

Campsite preparing………………………………………………………………………………………...3

Choosing a tent …………………………………………………………………………………………………..4

Pick sleeping bags……………………………………………………………………………………………..7

About air mattresses………………………………………………………………………………………..8

First aid kits ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9

Cooking outside……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10

Eating tips…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11

Types of lanterns……………………………………………………………………………………………... 13

Guide for backpacking………………………………………………………………………………… 14

Backpacking for kids……………………………………………………………………………………..15

Tips for backpacking……………………………………………………………………………………..17

Safety tips………………………………………..…………………………………………...18

S U M M I T C A M P I N G G E A R

1

It's definitely like no other feeling in the world when you're in the

peaceful haven of nature, listening to the calming sounds of trees

swaying while the wonderful warmth of the sun gloriously shines

on your skin. It's no wonder why many people are crazy about go-

ing on camping trips.

After being stuck in the chaotic metropolis where your sights are

usually limited to buildings and car traffic jams, a camping trip is

literally and figuratively a breath of fresh air. However, it's impor-

tant to note that for a camping trip to be successful one, careful

planning and preparation should be practiced.

Two of the most important things to accomplish for a camping

trip is to pick the right camping equipment and to pack the right

things. In this e-book you will read some tips to help you experi-

ence the best camping trip.

A camping trip is never complete without the gears and equip-

ment. It is cool to have all the things that you need so that you

won't have a hard time adjusting and enjoying the outdoor life.

Sometimes it is hard though to get all the stuff that you need.

There is a lot of gear that is needed during camping trips and

listed below are some of them.

Don’t forget about

the camping check-

list:

● Tent

● Sleeping bag

● Air mattress

● First aid kit

● Food & drinks

● Portable stove

● Lanterns & flash-

lights

● Ropes & cords

● Matches

● Garbage bags

● Clothes

● Camera

● Batteries

S U M M I T C A M P I N G G E A R

C a m p i n g C h e c k l i s t

Your checklist of camping equipment should include:

1. A durable shelter device like a tent.

2. A comfortable sleeping bag for a good night's sleep.

3. An inflatable air mattress or sleeping pad.

4. First aid kit and medications you take.

5. Sufficient food and drinks.

6. Portable stove, pots and pans and eating utensils.

7. Lanterns and flashlights to light your way.

8. Ropes and cords which you'll find useful for a variety of

purposes.

9. Matches or other fire starters.

10. Garbage bags

11. Sufficient clothing.

12. Camera and film.

2

Important tips for

preparing a camp-

site:

● Pick a relatively high and level ground place

● Look for a water

source nearby

● Look for a safe

animal area

● Don’t cook inside

the tent

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C a m p s i t e p r e p a r i n g

Now, when it comes to picking and preparing a campsite, it's

good that you know how important this is to ensure not only

an enjoyable trip but also a safe one.

1. Look for a relatively high and level ground to pitch your

tent.

2. Never stake your tent on a slope unless you want to liter-

ally roll the night away in your sleeping bag.

3. Check for a clean and safe water source. This is extremely

important when picking a campsite. Because there's a possi-

bility that you may run out of drinking water, it's good to

have an alternative safe water source nearby to keep yourself

and your family from getting dehydrated.

4. If you plan to cook, be sure there's a spacious area that is

far from leaves, twigs or branches that may catch fire. Never

cook inside your tent.

Pick a campsite with shade. This is especially true for sum-

mer camping and camping in hot weather.

Factors for

choosing a tent:

● Weather-resistant

fabric

● Protected seams

● Waterproof floors

● Leak-resistant

seams

● Zipper protection

● Wind strong

frame

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4

C h o o s i n g a t e n t

The best way to enjoy any camping trip

is to have the perfect gear for the occa-

sion. One vital camping gear that a

camper need is the camping tent. This

serves as the camper's resting place after

a day of exploring the great outdoors. In

addition, the camping tent will be the

one to shelter you from the cold air and mosquito bites

when you sleep at night, or when a heavy rain suddenly

falls. Thus, it is important for the camper to choose the ap-

propriate camping tent before he/she embarks on a camping

trip.

In choosing the perfect camping tent, one should consider

the following factors: weather-resistant fabric, protected

seams, waterproof floors, leak-resistant seams, zipper pro-

tection, and wind strong frame. Weather-resistant fabrics are

achieved by combining polyester coated fabric with anti-

wicking thread, webbing, and zippers, while water-proof

floors are by welding technology. Wind strong frames are

made from redesigned poles and guy-out triangles while

cuffs are added to the zippers to ensure zipper protection.

These factors can be found in one brand of camping gears:

Coleman.

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Coleman is an outdoor company that manufacture different types

of equipments and gears intended for outdoor activities like hunt-

ing, camping, fishing, and mountaineering. One their products are

camping tents.

Coleman tents are generally divided into eight categories: 3 sea-

son and 4 season tents, cabin tents, lightweight backpacking tents,

dome tents, canvas tents, family camping tents and kids tents.

Tents for camping are generally classified based on three factors:

the weather they can with stand, physical appearance, and their

size. Some of the tents are: three-season tents, four-season tents,

warm weather tents, convertible tents, and bivy tents. Three-season

tents are lightweight and are advisable to use only during spring,

summer and fall, because it is not made to last during harsh

weather conditions. On the other hand, four-season tents are made

with more support, usually heavier, and can with stand harsh

weather conditions like hard or heavy snow.

Convertible tents as the name says can be converted from three-

season to four-season tents. Bivy tents are more of a "sleeping

tubes" since it only occupies one person, and they are also fre-

quently used by mountaineers.

The kid's tent should not be left behind. It

may be designed for little kids but it has eve-

rything any camping kid need to stay dry and

comfortable while camping in the woods.

Types of tents:

● Convertible tents

● Bivy tents

● A-frame tents

● Dome tents

● Cabin tents

● Geodesic tents

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Tents for camping are generally classified based on three fac-

tors: the weather they can with stand, physical appearance,

and their size.

Convertible tents as the name says can be converted from

three-season to four-season tents.

Bivy tents are more of a "sleeping tubes" since it only occu-

pies one person, and they are also frequently used by moun-

taineers.

With regards to their appearance, the most common types of

tents are: A-frame, dome, cabin, and geodesic tents.

An A-frame tent can occupy two persons and is easy to build.

It normally consists of two poles on both sides that fit to-

gether to form a triangle while a pole across the top holds the

middle of the tent up.

The dome tent is becoming the most popular in the industry

today because it comes in various sizes, and is usually easy to

move. It can occupy from two people, to five, and sometimes

even more. On the downside, it is more complicated to build

than the A-frame tent.

Cabin tent is a large, very durable tent design for camping

with a car. Your car can even fit inside it. It can be used when

you are having a party.

The last type of tent is the geodesic tent. It is similar to the

dome tent but can withstand rain and snow. It is also a lot

complicated to build because it has poles in many directions.

Types of sleeping

bags

● Mummy sleeping

bags

● Classic rectangu-

lar sleeping bag

● Kids sleeping

bags

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P i ck s l e e p i n g b a g s

People come in all shapes and sizes so camping gear

manufacturers produce camping sleeping bags of all

shapes and sizes and temperature ratings in an attempt to

have a bag that will fit just about anybody who loves to

s p e n d t i m e i n t h e o u t d o o r s .

Mummy sleeping bags are for those who do not mind the

tighter fit of a sleeping bag that will weigh less for the

backpacker and provide plenty of warmth due to less lose

of heat from excess space. As with most styles the

mummy sleeping bag is available in synthetic fill or down

filled for your personal preference for materials.

The classic rectangular sleeping bag is for those who want

a roomier bag to move around in during the night for a

more open feeling. These bags tend to be heavier and are

not as valued by the backpacker but the cost savings make

t h e m p o p u l a r w i t h t h e c a r c a m p e r .

Of course kids need a bag that fits them in order to get the

best possible warmth on colder nights so a kids sleeping

bag is ideal for the smaller camper who is not afraid to

spend the night out no matter what the weather.

Need a bed

quick?

● Camping air mat-tresses make a great guest bed and come in king and queen sizes

● When you are

uncomfortable trying to sleep it can ruin a whole day and maybe even the whole trip

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A b o u t a i r m a t t r e s s e s

A good quality camping air mattress

can make the difference between enjoy-

ing your camping trip and wishing you

could just head on home.

When you are uncomfortable trying to

sleep whether due to the hardness of

the surface or do to the chill of the ground beneath you it

can ruin a whole day and maybe even the whole trip.

Find the full line of Coleman air mattresses and most air

mattresses are always in stock. Inflatable air mattresses

easily inflate with a Coleman air pump so not only are

they comfortable, but easy to use as well.

Need a guest bed quick? Camping air mattresses make a

great guest bed and come in king and queen sizes. Twin

and double size air mattresses for when space is tight.

Whether you are camping or using them as a additional

bed for guests these air mattresses are simple to use, easy

to store, and a true lifesaver when in need of a comfortable

place to sleep.

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F i r s t a i d k i t s

We often watch movies with

plots in which people get

stranded on an island or get lost

in the middle of the woods. And

while these movies are fiction

and you may think this could

never happen to you, you should

always remember that anything

is possible.

If you love to go camping and

hiking, it is very important that

you learn basic wilderness sur-

vival skills.

Some of the things you need to

bring for the hike are your camping first aid kits, fire start-

ers like lighters and matches that are placed in waterproof

film canisters, knife, magnesium stone, cord, compass, whis-

tle, map, pot, Swiss Army knife, and your most important sur-

vival tool, a clear and relaxed mind.

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C o o k i n g o u t s i d e

Eating is truly one of the greatest pleasures in life. For most

campers, great food is largely contributory to the success of

a camping trip. Why wouldn't it? Can you imagine enjoy-

ing a camping vacation when come mealtime, you would

have to force utterly terrible food down your throat? It is

hard to imagine.

And since food and drinks are not only for pleasure but

more significantly are vital in our everyday lives, this

makes it doubly important that you are able to make sure

that great food is included in your camping trip.

Unfortunately, creating sumptuous dishes is not as easy as

we would want to. Unless of course if you're an iron chef or

some kind of a food expert which only very few of us are.

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E a t i n g t i p s

1. Plan your meals and create a menu. A menu is very helpful

as it will give you an overview on what ingredients and types

of cookware you'll need.

2. Choose delicious but easy-to-cook meals for your camping

trip. Remember, you have a lot of camping activities ahead of

you so spending the whole day cooking is not practical. There

are many 30-minute (or less) recipes available online and on

recipe books that you may want to try.

3. To save time and energy, it's a good idea to pre-cook some of

the major ingredients like chicken or meat at home. It's also

best to measure other ingredients and put them in sealable plas-

tic bags so that cooking is easier and more convenient.

4. When planning for meals, it's recommended to check on the

people you're going camping with if they have any food aller-

gies or aversions.

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5. Consider the climate. If you're camping in cold weather, it's a

good idea to include a lot of hot food in your menu.

6. Bring reliable cooking equipment. It's best that you use only high

quality cookware to ensure you of food that are of excellent quality.

For example if you're planning to have a barbecue feast, don't forget

that a Coleman grill is the way to go.

7. Be sure that you have safe drinking water with you. If there is an

accessible source of water in your campground but you're in doubt,

a purification method like putting iodine tables can make it safe for

drinking.

8. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. This will ensure that no

food gets spoiled.

9. Cover pots, pans and plates all the time to keep food clean and

free from germs and bacteria.

10. Carry lightweight and convenient food for backup. Canned and

instant foods are great to have during camping since they are light

and very easy to cook.

11. Bring crackers instead of bread because the latter are not that

easy to carry about and can spoil easily.

12. Don't forget to bring along healthy snacks. Energy bars, trail

mixes, raisins, nuts, chips, dried fruit are great when you need some

energy boost for your hiking adventure or fishing activity.

With these helpful food tips, you're bound to have a delicious camp-

ing experience.

Types of lanters:

● Gas lanterns

● Electric lanterns

● Battery lanterns

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T y p e s o f l a n t e r n s

1. Gas Lantern – This kind of lantern is very practical to use

because it is easy on the pocket. Gas is a very affordable fuel

compared to others. It is very efficient in the sense that you

can use the same type of fuel in operating other camping

equipment.

2. Electric Lantern – This is a wonderful Coleman lantern to

use. Why? It is because it is totally safe to use and easy to

carry. Its main feature is that it utilizes LED, which means

that the light produced by the lantern is safe to kids.

3. Battery Lantern – This lantern is operated by means of

using the usual alkaline batteries. This lantern is ideal to use

unlike the other ones for the reason that it is user-friendly

and quiet. The only drawback of this tool is that it is not suit-

able to use during wintry weather due to the fact that the bat-

teries tend to wear out fast because of the cold climate.

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G u i d e f o r b a c k p a c k s

Ever wondered why bags are such a necessity for each indi-

vidual? Aside from being color coded with the clothes that

people wear and its brand, people use bags to put their stuff in.

For each trip a person is about to make, there is a specific bag

that he chooses to use. Just like in camping, a person chooses

his bag for many reasons. Example, if a person chooses a

Swiss gear backpack for his trip, it may be because of the du-

rability of the bag and the size of it. Compartments can also be

found in these bags to accommodate those things that need

easy access during the trip. The material of it is sturdier and is

mostly water resistant. With the different climates and weather

conditions this bag may be exposed to then it is built for any

environment it may be brought to.

Choosing the size of the bag should also be well thought and

consider the height of the carrier. If the person is tall, then he

can go for a bigger or lengthier bag.

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B a ck p a ck s f o r k i d s

Backpacks are the most popular school bags and camping bags

for kids. Because of their popularity there are so many brands

and styles of backpacks for kids. Choosing the right backpack

for your child should be easy when you follow the following

helpful tips on how to buy the right backpacks for kids.

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Right size: Consider your child's built and height when buying the

backpack. The backpack should be just the right size for your kid.

A bag that is too big or too small for your child may cause dis-

comfort to your child. When carried, the backpack should be

about two inches above the waist and should be close to the body.

When the backpack sits too low on the back it causes an unneces-

sary pressure on the shoulders. Most backpacks feature adjustable

straps so it should be easy to find a bag that will fit your child's

back.

Functionality: Choose a design that is aesthetically-appealing.

This should not be your priority but it's still a factor that you

should consider when purchasing a backpack. The bag should be

nice enough so that your child would want to carry it around

school. Thankfully these days there are so many beautiful and

functional backpacks in the market. Coleman backpacks success-

fully combine aesthetic appeal with functionality. Made of dura-

ble materials in a wide range of colors, this brand of backpacks

for kids are appealing not just to parents but to kids as well.

Pads and Pockets: Choose a bag with wide straps that are padded.

The pads should prevent the straps from digging into your child's

shoulder. The wide straps will also make it easier for your child to

carry the bag around.

Durability: Check the bag's durability. One way to ensure that you

are getting a durable bag is to go for established brands such as

Coleman backpacks. Established brands usually have good qual-

ity control. When checking the product at the stores, check the

stitching and the materials used in the backpack. You should also

check the zipper to see if it easy to zip.

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T i p s f o r b a ck p a ck i n g

1. Backpacking demands physical energy. With this said, it is im-

perative that you prepare yourself physically before you go into

your backpacking quest. Exercise weeks before the trip by going

jogging or biking. Biking is always the better option since you will

be using the same muscles during biking as you would when hiking

uphill. Exercising will build your stamina, increase your strength

and make it easier for you to enjoy the trip.

2. You always have to keep yourself hydrated. During the trip,

you will be perspiring a lot and it's easy to be dehydrated. Carry-

ing sufficient water is important when you go backpacking.

3. Wise packing contributes largely to the success of the trip.

Be sure that you load your pack in such a way that weight is

evenly distributed on both sides and that the things you will con-

stantly need like you bottle of water are placed in an accessible lo-

cation.

4. Cheap backpacking gear can fail you in the middle of the

trip. Rely only on high quality equipment such as backpacking

tents , cookware and lanterns. This will ensure that they will work

out fine during the trip and will last a long time with you.

5. Focus and patience are important virtues of a backpacker.

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S a f e t y t i p s

1. Choose a high quality tent. In order to this, you must choose a

trusted camping brand that produces tents of good quality and ex-

cellent durability. It is a smart idea to invest time and effort when

shopping for a tent because this will serve as your shelter and

your home away from home.

2. Select a safe spot to pitch your tent. Make sure that the site

you choose is flat, dry, clean, and far away from stagnant waters

that are breeding ground for harmful insects. Avoid pitching your

tent in slopes and hills; otherwise, you may find yourself rolling

down in the middle of the night. It is also good to stay away from

open fields, which can put your lone tent a lightning target in

case a rainstorm happens.

3. Do not put up a campfire near the tent. Fires can be a great

hazard and even if you are tent is flame-resistant; it is still not

safe to light up a fire near the sleeping area.

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19

4. Place the camp kitchen a good distance away from the tent.

And of course, never ever cook inside your tent.

5. Do not leave your tent heater on the entire night. Before you

sleep, do not forget to turn your tent heater off.

6. It is not a good idea to smoke inside your tent either.

7. Use only flashlights to light up your tent. Never use lanterns or

candles inside it.

8. Know the proper way of setting up your tent. Practice pitching it

at home and read the manual of directions carefully.

9. Keep in mind the maximum number of occupants that the tent is

designer for and do your best not to exceed it.

10. Even if it is your hobby to munch on some snacks before doz-

ing off, it is not a good idea to eat inside your tent because this

may leave crumbs that will attract ants and other insects. Do you

night snacking outside the tent but be sure to keep away any food

after you do so as not to attract any bears.

HAVE A NICE TRIP!