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Choosing the Right Camping Gear
James Thurman - Senior Editor
The right camping gear is guaranteed to make any camping trip a success. It won't matter if the weather is good or bad, if you're camping in your backyard or the back-country, the right gear is essential to having a good time. The right gear doesn't have to be expensive - it simply needs to be right for the job at hand.
Camping implies being outside and exposed to the elements. If you want your trip to be as fun as possible, you must start by considering and planning for the great outdoors. Here's some tips to jump-start your trip:
- Plan and prepare for the worst possible weather you think you'll run into. If it's winter, then you'll have to consider that you may be isolated or immobilized for an extended period of time if the weather really sets in;
- Plan and prepare for your specific destination. If it's a state park on a local lake, an isolated creek few miles down a fire-road or on top of a mountain, every location presents specific challenges. For example, you may or may not have to plan for bringing along something as basic as your own drinking water;
- Plan and prepare your clothing based on the previous two points. If you're going to be working especially hard, carefully consider your water stores and resources and pay particular attention to layering your clothes. When working hard, you can stay comfortable by peeling off layers as you heat up and putting them back on as you cool down;
- How you get to and from your final destination will have a huge impact on what you can bring. If you're driving right up to your camp-site, you can bring as much as gear as you can fit into your vehicle; and
- Last but not least, you must inform someone who is not coming with you of your plans and whereabouts. This is perhaps the most important aspect of your trip. If something unexpected happens, someone will already be briefed and prepared to take action.
Of all the camping gear you can possibly own, the most important piece is going to be your shelter. Humans can go without food for weeks and without water for days. But without adequate shelter, we can be incapacitated in hours. When we think of shelter, most people automatically think of something with a roof on it. But shelter begins with what we wear. So if you're going camping, and you want to be comfortable and safe, pay particular attention to what you'll be wearing.
Think long and hard about trying to scrimp and save a few dollars on your clothing. You could literally be gambling with your life. In all likelihood, it will never come to that but it's easy enough to get a bad sun-burn and have an otherwise great trip ruined because of it.
Here are some simple things to look out for when buying outdoor clothing for camping:
- Buy the stuff that fits. Not the stuff that looks good;
- Familiarize yourself with some of the technical details of the garment you might be buying. Things like breathability, wind and water proofing, abrasion and UV A and B resistance;
- Try to determine how easy it is to wash and dry;
- Examine the buttons, zippers and other closures carefully. Often times they are less than reliable, too hard to work or not accessible; and
- Pockets are good!
When you find something you like, it is possible to get it at a rock-bottom price if you're willing to do a little research. You can wait for it to go on sale. You can ask that the store price-match a cheaper price from another store or from on online retailer. Or you can ask if there is a similar article that has a cosmetic flaw. Cosmetically flawed articles are usually sold at huge savings from full retail.
Camping is one of America's favorite past-times. With advances in materials and technology, you can find the right gear and the right price for any adventure anywhere your heart desires to go. Spend a little extra time planning and you'll have memories that will last you and your camping companions a life-time!
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