Campers Info Source

Within the range of people who designate themselves as backpackers exists a more specific designation known as ultra lightweight backpackers. These people are true naturalists, preferring to live in the wild with few of the modern comforts. Most ultra lightweight backpackers don’t bring cookware, backpacking tents, or even water on their trips, instead vying for dry food, a tarp, and a water filter. Unlike most backpackers, ultra lightweight backpackers tend to have a broader knowledge of nature and much better survival skills. Just about anyone who can walk can attend a backpacking expedition, but only the true survivalist can be an ultra lightweight backpacker. In addition to their more honed wilderness survival skills, ultra lightweight backpackers have the added benefit of being able to cover more ground because of the reduced weight of their packs. Ultra lightweight backpackers are more like hikers who have the equivalent of a day pack and depend more on the wilderness for sustenance.

For aspiring ultra lightweight backpackers, it’s important to start with regular backpacking to ensure the basics are known before moving on to more advanced survival.  There’s no shame in beginning with backpacking tents, lightweight cookware, and down sleeping bags.

One of my most memorable camping trips is also one that I’d love to forget if I could.  One of the things that is really important is making sure your wife is having fun camping because if she is not having fun, you won’t have fun either.  My wife and I went camping with our three kids several years ago in one of our family camping tents and it rained.  She did not get one bit of sleep our first night there and was miserable the whole next day.  The family camping tent was slowly dripping right on her or beside her all night long.   Although our kids and I slept right through it, she did not.  She got more angry every waking moment and by 5:00 in the morning, she was more than ready to go home.  But what I learned that next day was very important.  Was the dripping caused by rain?  Yes a little, but not entirely.  Some of the dripping was caused by condensation.

You know when you place a cold can of soda on the counter and droplets form on the outside?  The can is not leaking; that’s condensation. Warm air and cold air colliding.  Drops happen.  That’s what happened on that night in Texas.

When you have a “regular” (double wall) tent, there is a tent body (which is at least somewhat breathable if it’s a four season tent or very breathable if it is a three season tent with mosquito netting).  The tent body by itself is not waterproof; it requires the flysheet to cover the tent body and repel the elements.

Condensation occurs on double wall tents as well, but it usually occurs on the underside of the flysheet where you don’t see it.  After all, the tent body is between you and the flysheet.

Double Wall tents are for:

• Users looking for a versatile tent,
• Where weight may not always be the first concern,
• Users going to places with humid, no wind conditions, and
• Users expecting some rain.

Suffice it to say, I did not have a double wall tent that night. 

Single Wall tents are generally (though not always) lighter, but they are really designed for four specific users. They always suffer from condensation, they are often not as waterproof as they should be and they usually cost more than an equivalent three-season tent.

Single Wall tents are for:

• Long distance hikers that are counting every gram,
• Users traveling in extremely cold, dry climates; These tents are ideal in snow or for use above the timberline,
• Users that are very sure there will be no rain, and
• Users expecting weather conditions to remain around the same temperate through out the trip and not vary more than 40 degrees, minimizing condensation.

We had a single wall tent and what happened was that the dripping started with the rain but then the dripping continued because of an extreme change in temperature which caused lots of condensation.

Suffice it to say that our future camping trips only occurred when we we 100% sure it was NOT going to rain.  My recommendations to you are:

1. Keep your wife happy,
2. Don’t ever camp in the rain if you can avoid it and you are with your wife,
3. Consider buying a double wall tent or one with a rain fly over it,
4. If it does happen to rain and you didn’t buy a double wall tent and it does start dripping, tell you wife in advance to wake you up and stay up with her to at least keep her company and address item #1 above.

With proper care and regular use a dome tent can last anywhere from 5 to 20 years. This is not to say that you won’t have to replace poles, maybe change out a zipper or fix a hole. If you get a hole in your dome tent you need to know how to fix it. You not only want to fix the hole but make sure that it is waterproof as well.

You can use an iron on patch to fix the hole if you want. Make sure that you check the heat of the iron before placing it on the tent. You don’t want the iron so hot that it burns a new hole in the tent. You can use a sewing machine if you are at home as long as the sewing machine offers tight stitching with thread and thin needle.

There are a few different ways you can patch the hole in your dome tent, here is the simplest.

1. Cut a piece of nylon slightly larger than the hole. Make sure you cut it in the shape of a square, not circle due to the fact that nylon will unravel.
2. Seal the edge of the patch. To seal the edge you light a candle and pass the flame along the edges of the patch. (You can use a sewing machine as well, but you can use a candle or other flame regardless of where you are.)
3. Waterproof your patch. Tent Seam Sealant can be used to waterproof the patch.

You can also find kits at your local camping store or on an online camping site. Hole repair kits come with everything you will need to repair your tent and can range in price starting at $2.95 and up. You can get a can of Texsport Waterproof Sealant for around $6.95.

For those of you who love tent camping off the beaten track you are really going to want to check out North Face tents. They are simply amazing. Not only they are rugged and the most water proof tents on the market today but they can weather some of the most punishing wind you will find in any camping situation. Each tent has a vestibule where you can store gear and to help keep you from bringing any dirt into the actual sleeping area. 

The North Face VE 25 is a great tent for mountain camping and is made for extreme weather conditions while the North Face Tadpole 23 BX 2 person 3 season tent is light weight and idea for backpacking. It folds up amazingly small. All of North Face tents are color coded for easy assembly and they are easy to set up and take down. 

The makers of this tent went the extra mile to see to your comfort as well. When using the rain fly you can even keep vents open so that you stay cool without water getting in. Best of all, you will never have to buy another tent as The Northface tents come with a lifetime warranty.

Historically you would have packed a set of binoculars and a digital camera along with lots of other items of camping gear.   But that’s not necessary any more.  All you have to do is pack one.  The Bushnell Image View 10 x 25 w/ SD Card Slot combines the outstanding optical performance of Bushnell binoculars with a high-resolution digital camera, so you can see the moment with the amazing clarity and save it to memory.  Unbelievable!!!  Just imagine using your binoculars to zoom in on a deer, moose, ducks, geese or any other thing you want that is far awayand then being able take a picture of that item and save it.  WOW!!!  Cooool.

You would think a set of binoculars with a built in digital camera would be very expensive but the price is actually very reasonable.  Check out our article on “Tips for selecting the right binoculars.” then get yourself a set of binoculars with a digital camera to pack with your camping gear and enjoy pictures like you’ve never been able to before..

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Kids are to be seen but not heard”.  When I was little, I heard this phrase a lot, especially from my dad when we were in church.  We had seven kids in the family and I was the oldest and did a little too much talking.  Apparently, the unspoken rule was you were not supposed to talk in church.   I never knew why and never liked the rule.  I still don’t.  While growing up, I’ve observed three other areas where the unspoken rule it to NOT talk.

1. When in a men’s restroom, men do not talk.  It’s an unspoken rule that when you’re standing in front of a urinal, you stare straight ahead.  You are NOT allowed to look to the right, look to the left or talk.  Who knows why?
2. After entering an elevator, people just don’t talk.  They either look at the floor to avoid eye contact with others or they stare at the lamp at the top of the elevator showing the floor numbers as they pass them.  But they do NOT talk.  Who knows why.
3. When on a bus, people either close their eyes and pretend they are sleeping or they insert ear plugs to listen to their ipod or they read a book; all to avoid talking to other people.  Who knows why?

I am so glad this unspoken rule does NOT exist when camping.  When camping, we’re always talking; whether its around the campfire, in the boat fishing with your favorite fishing gear or eating breakfast or dinner at the camp table.  Perhaps the fact that we know the people we are camping with makes it easier to talk but we don’t know the people in the elevator, bus or restroom so we keep quiet.  Perhaps it’s because we were taught never to talk to strangers.  What a shame when you are older.  Nevertheless, life would be so much more enjoyable if the unspoken rule simply went away.  If you want to watch the unspoken rule disappear before your very eyes even when with people you don’t know, go fishing in a boat with your favorite camping gear and some friend of a friend.  You won’t believe how the atmosphere in the boat.  You talk about the weather, fish you’ve caught before, partners you’ve fished with before, which of your fishing lures works best etc.  You also talk about women, men, kids, religion, politics, money, smoking, dieting, big fish, little fish etc.  You get the idea.  But fishing can also be the weirdest thing.  It can also be a quiet time where nobody talks but it’s not because of any stupid unspoken rule about talking.  It’s usually because you just want to relax or ran out of stuff to say.

So next time you go camping, pack your fishing rod, fishing reel and your favorite camping gear,  hook up your boat to the trailer, pick up a good friend or take you wife and kids and when cathing fish, watch the unspoken rule disappear yourself.

What does “Roughing it” mean to you.  I know it means different things to different people.  For some teenagers, having to live without their ipod, cell phone or access to face book for a whole week is roughing it.  My oldest daughter Jenny is 27 years old and she says roughing it means living with the bare necessities.  My 24 year old son Ryan says roughing it means having only the bare neccessities to do what you want to do and having a lot of fun doing it.  Ryan’s friend Darcy says roughing it means going up in the Colorado mountains and camping.  Another of Ryan’s friends says not showering for two days is roughing it.  And another of his friends says making do with what you got is roughing it.  To me, roughing it means living off the land eating only what you trap, catch or shoot, sleeping in a dome tent in cold, rainy weather and sleeping on the ground where one or both of your hands can easily touch the dirt. 

I don’t consider sleeping in a dome tent to be roughing it.  In fact, living and sleeping in a tent is heaven to me.  Watching the sun rise and set.  Feeling the coolness on your clothes and the smell of dew on everything.  Listening to birds chirping, loons whistling, beavers slapping the water and pheasants cackling in the distance.  Being able to sleep in any kind of tent makes life so much more enjoyable whether its in a backpacking tent, family tent, expedition tent, truck tent or a dome tent.  My youngest daughter Lisa is 20 years old and she says roughing it means “Playing rough” and her boyfriend says Camping without amenities is roughing it.  My 45 year old cousin Gary says Roughing it means no running water, no toilet and sleeping on the ground.  My 43 year old sister Carolyn says roughing it is No bed, no indoor plumbing, and being stuck outdoors in bad weather.

I think the bottom line is this.  Roughing it is “FUN” and although camping in a dome tent or family tent my be roughing it for some people, it’s still a lot of fun so give it a try.  Get yourself a new dome tent today and try roughing it.

One of the real positive benefits of camping that is seldom discussed is the romance that occurs when in family camping tents.  Today I celebrated my 31st wedding anniversary with my wonderful wife Kay.  We went to dinner at Apple-bee’s and reminisced a little bit about previous years.  I then gave her an anniversary card and a salted nut roll.  I told her the salted nut roll was a symbol of what we have in common after 31 years; when mixed, one of us (me) is a little nutty on the outside and the other (her) is very sweet on the inside.  We then returned home where one hour later she received 6 red roses I had delivered.  The weather was nice and love was in the air.

After being home a while I reminiced about all the times we enjoyed camping over the years with our friends, family, and 3 kids and their friends.  Our 3 kids are now avid campers and they own their own family camping tents.  I truly believe that one of the key reasons we are still married after 31 years is partially because of the fun and laughter had at camping sites in Texas and Minnesota.  Our love started early on when I took Kay camping with my best friend Chip and his girlfriend before we got married.  The outing was rainy and a little depressing but we made the most of it.  It was hard times like that that helped our love grow and blossom over the years.  Now we go camping with our kids and our grandchildren and its a blast. 

So if you are interested in starting a romance and watching it blossom, get a family camping tent and head out to a campsite and laugh and have fun.  Tell stories, play games, roast marshmallows and make smores.

Many people are so in love with their pet dog, cat, bird, lizard or bunny that they want to bring it everywhere they go; including camping.   Just like parents want to bring children with them camping, I know pet lovers feel the same way about their pets.  I may get a whipping with a wet noodle for this one but I say “Leave your Pets at Home”.  Why?  Many reasons.

• Nothing is worse than a pet peeing or pooping at your camp site except doing it inside your family tent.  Pet lovers might say they’ll take their pet for a walk and make sure this doesn’t happen at the camp site or in the family tent.   Yeah right!!!
• There is an unspoken rule of etiquette at a camp ground and that is to not cross over onto another campers site.  This also applies to pets.  Now pet lovers will say they will keep the pet on a leash or in a cage to prevent them from going to other sites.  But  I say:  “If you are going to put the pet on the leash on in a cage, keep them at home where they will be a lot more comfortable”. 
• Barking or meowing or any other noises are just annoying in the middle of the night and
  even during the daytime.  I understand children crying can be annoying to but all attempts to quiet the noise of animals or children normally requires the animal or child be in your family tent which brings us to the first reason above.  You don’t want to cleaning up after a pet if it doo doo’s all over.
• If you do risk bringing the pet into your family camping tents, note that the little light that you have at the campsite will cause shadows to appear on the sides of the tent and pets are often afraid of these shadows which wil cause them to get up and walk around or bark and meow, ultimately waking others up and disrupting their sleep.

The bottom line here is that pets live with you at home most of the time and they are comfortable around that home so leave them there and have someone babysit the pet twice a day.  Sure, your pet needs a getaway every once in a while just like you.  But I suggest you simply take your pet on a short ride to the woods, a baseball field or a soccer field for a few hours or take them to the lake.  They will enjoy this a lot more than being tied up or put on a leash and they will love you for it.

Almost everyone I know would be afraid if they saw a bear in the woods near their camping site and that includes me.  I don’t care whether you are on a trip with your expedition tent and see a grizzly bear, polar bear or a black bear.  Each of these bears strikes fear in most people.  Even as strong and durable as expedition tents are, they are not designed to keep bears out.  You’ll have to be well prepared and very careful on any bear hunting expedition. 

Imagine if your could catch a bear.   I know it’s hard to imagine but wouldn’t that be cool.  Here’s something I know you can do when you go on your next expedition.  Next time you are relaxing around the campfire by your expedition tent with your family or friends, tell this little story and you’re sure to get a laugh or two. 

Ask your friends if they know how to catch a bear.  After they all say NO, recite the following steps to them on How to Catch a Bear.

First, dig a hole 10 feet wide by 10 feet long and 10 feet deep.  Then fill the hole with logs and burn them until they all turn to ashes in the bottom of the hole.  Then place some branches over the top of the hole to make it look like the surrounding grass.  Lastly, get two cans of peas, pour them around the hole, throw the can in the hole and go hide about 30 feet from the hole and wait.

Ready……..

When the bear comes to take a pea, run up to it and kick him in the ash-hole.  Ha Ha. I’ve enjoyed telling this to many adults and all agree its a good, clean joke.  Pass it on.  Meanwhile, going on expeditions are fun and sleeping in expediton tents is even more fun and safe to.