What To Bring Camping

If it has been a while since your last camping trip or if you have never been camping before then a common question is What to Bring Camping?  There are some things that are a necessity, a few that make camping a little easier, and some items are just for the spoiled among us.

The Camping Essentials or the Camping  Necessities:

• A tent, or some type of shelter. You will need protection from the elements. Insects and other pests can make it difficult to sleep. The weather can also ruin a camping trip if you are not well sheltered. and don’t forget the tarp.
• Food: Make sure you pack enough food and water to last for the entire trip. People need a couple thousand calories a day, so pack enough.
• Sleeping Bag and Camping Pillow: these items will make sure you rest well.
• Waterproof Matches or a Good Lighter: or both to make sure you can start a fire when needed.
• A Compass: Just in case you decide to go wandering in the wilderness.
• Toilet Paper: You will definitely need it at some point.
• Flashlight and/or Lantern: How else will you get around in the dark when nature calls?
• Insect Repellant/ Off: There will be insects. But will you be ready for them?
• Proper Clothing: This can vary depending on your planned activities and the season. Make sure you have warm clothes in cool weather and cool clothes in warm weather. Also remember to bring your swimming gear if swimming is in the plans.
• Sunscreen: to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
• A watch: your cell phone may die and you may need to know the time of day.
• A Toothbrush and toothpaste: That feeling of going unbrushed should be motivation enough.

Nice Items to Have Handy while Camping:

• Extra batteries: For the flashlight, or the Handheld video games if your like some of my friends.
• Sunglasses: it’s nice to be able to beat the glare
• Hatchet: For cutting some fire wood.
• Chairs: Because sitting on the ground can get old. there are many good folding chairs out there.
• Soap: If you plan on staying clean while camping
• Comb or brush: you will want to keep your hair looking good.
• Aspirin: Just in case
• Cooking and Eating Gear: You will need to serve the food somehow. there are a lot of good and easy to travel with stoves and dishes that are made just for camping.

These were just a few things off the top of my head for those that have trouble remembering what to bring camping.

This video also has some good advice as to what to bring camping.

Bill Engvall — The Camping Trip — Camping humor

Bill Engvall does a standup act on the topic of camping. I thought this would be a nice fit for our Camping Humor category. Bill Engvall is far from my favorite comedian, but I always enjoy a comedians point of view on camping. Enjoy!

Camp Chef Explorer Series EX-60LW 2-Burner Modular Cooking System Review

Camp Chef Explorer Series EX-60LW

Cooking while camping can sometimes be a difficult task. Cooking on the open flame of a campfire has several issues, the biggest of which is temperature regulation. Most BBQ grills are too large to take camping. Although, there are a few good ones out there. Lately my favorite method of cooking while camping has been the Camp Chef Explorer Series EX-60LW 2-Burner Modular Cooking System . It is fueled by propane, which makes achieving the desired temperatures easy.

I would like to cover some of the appealing  features of the Camp Chef Explorer Series EX-60LW 2-Burner Modular Cooking System. First the legs that support the stove can be individually adjusted, making it easy to get a level cooking surface. This is not a common feature with grills intended for back yard or patio use. The three sided wind screen helps block the wind and keep the burners lit. The burners are 30,000 btu burners which means you can cook just about anything you like. The  Camp Chef Explorer Series EX-60LW is very easy to travel with,  making it not only good for camping, but also for tailgating, canning, or just general use like any other grill. But my favorite feature of all is that it is modular, meaning there are a ton of accessories available for it. Grab a Camp Chef Explorer Series EX-60LW from Amazon now!

• Camp Chef Carry Bag 2-Burner

Camp Chef Carry Bag

Makes traveling with the EX-60LW a cinch.

• Camp Chef SG60 deluxe steel fry griddle

Camp Chef SG60 deluxe steel fry griddle

Turn the stove into a large surface griddle. Perfect for cooking breakfast.

• Camp Chef CGG16 Cast Iron Grill/Griddle

A small griddle that frees up a burner for other uses.

• Camp Chef BB-60L Deluxe Sport Grill Box for 2-Burner Stoves

As a child I always enjoyed the TV show Sanford and Son. In this episode they go on a camping trip. I thought some of you campers might get a few laughs out of it.

Sanford and Son Camping Part 2

Mountain Trails Grand Pass 2-Room 7 Person Family Dome Tent Review

Mountain Trails Grand Pass

The Mountain Trails Grand Pass is one of the cheapest family sized tents I’ve seen lately. But I’m talking about the price, not the quality. You can easily find better  large tents, but you will rarely find one at such a low price. The only other quality tent for this cheap that I can think of is the Coleman Red Canyon.

Size

The Grand Pass is large enough to accommodate up to seven people. Six is a more comfy fit. It measures to eighteen feet of length by ten feet of width. The center height is 76 inches, so standing in the tent is possible, but there is a dome shape so only the center area is tall enough to stand. I don’t do much standing in tents anyway, I prefer to just use them for sleeping. There is a divider curtain that can separate the tent into two rooms. This is always a welcome feature on tents of this size.

Mountain Trails Grand Pass

 Set Up

The set up difficulty for the Mountain Trails Grand Pass is about average for a tent of this size. A single long person can get it done with a little time, but two people make it a lot easier. It took me approximately 25 minutes to get it up alone. There is a pin and ring system that you see on many tents these days,  to help simplify the set up process. One of the best features of the Grand Pass is how it fits into its duffel bag. Once the tent is rolled up, you simply wrap the duffel around the tent, as opposed to trying to squeeze a loose tent back into a tight bag. This can save a few nightmares.

Weather

The rain fly seems to do a good job keeping the place dry in light rains. The floors didn’t seep either, but we had a heavy duty tarp underneath the tent. I haven’t seen the Grand Pass tested in hard rains. I have heard from fellow campers that the tent has stood up in 25 mph winds, but have also heard a complaint that the center pole gave in during 25 mph winds. I have seen it withstand 15 mph, but haven’t seen a Grand Pass in more severe weather. A mesh ceiling and end windows seem to offer enough ventilation to avoid stale air, while offering good views of what’s happening outside of the tent.

Other Features

The Mountain Trails Grand Pass has two D shaped doors that make access in and out of the tent easy. No crawling in is necessary. Each door also has its own door mat to help keep mud and dirt where it belongs, outside of the tent.

Overall

The Grand Pass doesn’t have all the features available on modern tents, nor is it made of the highest quality materials. It is what it is , a decent tent that is available at a great price. Pick up a Mountain Trails Grand Pass Family Tent from Amazon today! Free shipping is available!

McNett Seam Sure Water based Sealer Review

McNett Seam Sure Water based Sealer

Protecting your tents seams from water is very important. While most tents made today offer weather resistance,some can still be leaky if caught in a hard rain, especially if your rain fly is not installed properly. Extra protection is always a safe bet.

Also once tents become aged, their sealants applied from the manufacturer may wear away.

Sealing your tents seams is an important part of general tent maintenance.

The McNett Seam sure water based sealer does a good job of protecting your seams. If applied properly, it will prevent rain from coming through your seams, even in persistent heavy rain. The brush on the tube is supposed to make the application a smooth process. The sealant itself is a little runny, so you should take some precautions to keep it from getting on you and all over the tent. Also, the brush is a bit stiff for use on some fabrics, such as lower end tents. This problem is easily overcome. My suggestion is to pour a little of the sealer in a container and then apply it to the seams with a sponge. Therefore you avoid the hard brush and the runny mess.

McNett Seam Sure Summary

The McNett Seam Sure Sealer is a really good product that will keep you dry. The built-in applicator brush is far from perfect, but you should not let that stop you from using a quality product. Pick up your own tube of McNett Seam Sure Water based Sealer at Amazon now!

Swiss Gear Elite Series 12 Person Huge Family Dome Camping Tent SG33151 Review

3 room tent                       

The Swiss gear Elite Series 12 person tent comes with enough room to sleep the largest of families. Equipped with a cloth divider that splits the tent into three separate rooms, the Elite series has much to offer in the way of privacy. Also, both of the back rooms have their own door so if you are up later or earlier than your fellow campers, you do not have to crawl over or disturb them. The nineteen by nineteen foot base provides enough space to allow all three rooms to fit a queen size air mattress. The middle room has screened walls that can be zipped up to allow  you to turn it into a sleeping area. If not sleeping in the middle room, the walls come down to let in the fresh air and give you an area for eating, playing, or storage. The center height is around six feet and ten inches so unless you are a NBA center, you should be able to walk around inside of this tent. This tent might be too big for some tent pads that are present at some campgrounds. If you are searching for a huge tent that is in an affordable price range, this one will surely satisfy your special needs.

Swiss Gear Elite series Set Up

Setting up the Swiss Gear Elite Series is pretty straight forward. Nothing too complicated. The size of the tent can make it a chore though. One person can assemble the tent alone but it will not be easy. Two people will be able to get it up without a problem. With a tent this large, it is important to follow the directions carefully and not skip any steps. Color coded pole and sleeves make things a little easier to figure out. Set up is time consuming. The few times we’ve set up this tent, we were never able to get it up in under twenty five minutes. That was with two people. But if you need the space, it’s worth it. Taking the tent down can be a bit of a time sink as well, just make sure you fold it up properly and carefully or it will take up more space than it did before.

                                                                      Swiss Gear Elite Series Weather

The Swiss Gear Elite Series 12 person is  fully weather resistant. It is coated to keep out the water and is designed to be wind resistant. That being said, a heavy rain can allow for some leaks if you don’t apply the rain fly properly. You should treat the seams and apply a  sealer before taking the tent out as well. This will ensure you stay dry during wet weather. I’ve only seen this behemoth in low to mild winds, so I haven’t personally seen it wind tested.

 Extra Features

The Elite Series 12 person is equipped with an e-port that allows for access to electrical cords without having to leave the door open. Private doors to avoid other sleepers. The green color is nice in a wilderness setting.

Cons of the Swiss Gear elite series

I’ve read reports of the material tearing on a few occasions, but I believe this is due to improper handling during set up. Most likely from inexperienced people trying to set it up by themselves or not following the directions properly.

 Elite Series Summary

This isn’t the best tent on the market, but it does offer a lot of space at a reasonable price. Click here to check the current pricing at Amazon.

The Wenzel Sunward 30 degree sleeping bag is a quality sleeping bag that is available at a bargain price compared to other bags of the same quality. The Wenzel sunward does an excellent job of keeping me warm on cold nights. Although I must admit, most of my camping trips occur  in Texas, so my definition of cold might be a little different from somebody from, say Wisconsin or Maine. Wenzel says the bag is good for mild weather camping. I’m sorry, but the thirties are cold in my book. My tolerance for cold aside, I’ve slept in this bag in temperatures as low as 40 degrees and felt cozy throughout the night. As comfy as I stayed at 40 degrees, I believe this bag would do well in the thirty degree range  that it is made for. This has been a mild winter so far in 2011–2012 for Texas, so if I get a chance to test these bags at thirty degrees, I will update this review.

 Wenzel Sunward 30-Degree Sleeping Bag Comfort

The Sunward 30 degree sleeping bag is filled with four pounds of hypoallergenic Insul-Therm polyester fiberfill. So people with allergies to certain fabrics shouldn’t have issue with this bag. At four pounds this is not too heavy of a bag for the thirty degree class of bags. Wenzel designed the sleeping bag with quilt through construction to keep the filling from getting bunched up, thus preventing aggravating cold spots and annoying lumps that could interrupt your sleeping. The outside of the sleeping bag is made of a durable polyester that should last for many camping trips.

The Wenzel Sunward thirty degree sleeping bag is equipped with two straps that make folding up, storing, and traveling with it a no hassle experience. The self repairing zipper is another feature that I like about this bag as zippers are one of the leading issues that cause campers to throw away a sleeping bag.

Immeasurable 77 inches in length the Sunward should hold people of above average height. One of my friends is six feet and one inch tall and he fit  in the Sunward without any complaints. The inner liner is a comfortable polyester pongee, making the night a pleasurable experience. We used these bags with and without air mattresses underneath. When we went without the  mattresses, these bags were still comfortable through-out the night. The Thermarest Collapsible Pillow is a good companion to this bag as they both are easy to store and carry.

Wenzel Sunward 30-Degree Sleeping Bag Specs

• Temperature rating: 30 degrees F
• Size: 77 by 33 inches
• Fill weight: 4 pounds
• Fill type: Hypoallergenic Insul-Therm
• Outer: Polyester
• Liner: Soft polyester pongee
• Zipper: Self-repairing
• Storage: 2 elastic straps

I have a couple of these Sunward bags now and have been satisfied with them. Wenzel is a company I’ve grown to like, having used several of their tents in the past several years. Grab a Wenzel Sunward 30-Degree Sleeping Bag from Amazon right now!

“Now where are those marshmallows?”

So you’re getting the gear together for that week-long family camping trip. You’ve got your brand new tent, your sleeping bags, cooking gear, coolers, food, lighting, furniture… Hey! Where are we going to put all this stuff? Where are the kids going to sit?

Well don’t have a tentrum. An easy way to solve your cargo conundrum is with a StowAway Hitch Cargo Carrier. An easily accessible hitch mount cargo box, the StowAway is the ideal combination of storage, security, reliability and convenience. Sliding quickly and securely into the receiver hitch of nearly every make and model of SUV, minivan, truck and RV, StowAways have up to to 16 cubic feet of storage capacity and can carry loads of up to 200 lbs. That’s a lot of s’mores fixin’s!

Offering easy ground-level access to all your gear, the StowAway makes it a snap for any family member to grab what they need at rest stops, and provides easy access to your gear when you reach the campground. Say so long to the inconvenience and fuel inefficiency of a rooftop carrier. A secure locking mechanism keeps your gear safe while you’re at diners, trailheads and other roadside attractions, and protects your food from the wildlife while you’re out in the wild. Manufactured in the USA, the ruggedly constructed StowAway won’t sway or wobble as you’re heading down a rugged back-country road to your favorite remote campsite. A weather tight seal keeps everything nice and dry should the weather turn wet, and there’s a well-placed drain plug for easy clean-up. Your gear will arrive safe and secure, and your passengers comfortable.

Like to take the bikes along when you camp? No problem. The StowAway Hitch Cargo Carrier has been designed to be used simultaneously with the StowAway Hitch Bike Rack, a 4-bike and bike gear rack that can also be used separately for non-camping excursions.

So grab your gear and head on out. With a StowAway Hitch Cargo Carrier you’ll have plenty of space to haul all everything safely and securely to your next great outdoor adventure.

 Thermarest Compressible Pillow Review

 

The Thermarest Compressible Pillow  is quite a wonderful item I have recently added to my camping backpack. For years while sleeping at campsites, I would use rolled up dirty clothes or my backpack as a pillow. These were not good options for several reasons. Comfort being the reason that stands out. A few times I brought pillows from home, but they can be rather bulky and are easily damaged while camping.

Thermarest Comfort

The Thermarest Compressible Pillow solved all my problems while taking up very little space. It rolls up so small, it fits nicely into my backpack. At first I didn’t believe that once it unrolled, it had a chance of retaking a comfortable form again. I was very wrong. Once I unrolled it, it still looked flat but after a minute it had regained its fluffiness and provided the most comfortable camping pillow option I’ve yet to come across. When you roll it up, the attached draw-string secures the pillow and keeps it from unrolling in your backpack or bag. This Thermarest requires no inflation either. Those inflation pillows can be comfy, but they require you to carry around an inflation device, which is why I prefer this pillow.

Compressible Pillow For Travel

The Thermarest Compressible Pillow is a good option for travel as well. Long rides of any sort can be uncomfortable places to try to nap, whether it be car, train, bus, or plane. This pillow can store easily in your carry-on bag or backpack and will let you get your desired rest.

Thermarest Compressible Pillow Review

Camping Pillows

It is also machine washable. I have washed and dried mine several times and it always maintained its comfort.  After storing for long periods of time in the rolled up position, it still comes to full fluffiness within a few minutes.

The Thermarest is available in three different sizes ranging from small to large. There are at least six separate design schemes to choose from as well, including two different cammo patterns, two solid color, and two decorative patterns. I bought one of the polka dotted patterns.

The Compressible Pillow is a great option for campers, hikers, backpackers, and travelers that need a compressible solution for head rest. They make a great gift for the outdoorsman on your shopping list as well. Pick one up from Amazon today! The medium and large sizes are even available with free shipping.