Gear for a Stress-Free Camping Trip

With all the hustle and bustle of school and work, a camping trip is a fantastic way for families to bond. The fond memories of spending time around the campfire, exchanging stories, sharing laughter and joyfully singing.

But planning any trip can be filled with stress. The concern of having to budget might come up while planning the trip. Who should be included, use a camper or a tent or an RV, the size and type of tent to be used, to buy or not to buy and the list goes on!

Choosing the right camping gear is the best way to avoid ruining the whole trip.

An average sized adult will be comfortable with a 30 square foott area. This would mean that the ideal size for two persons is a ten by ten foot tent. Setting up a tent larger than that would pose a problem to the campers because it is heavier load and finding a level spot would be quite a task. Non-rusting zippers, nylon-tape-reinforced seams are a must to find in a tent. Usually, a three-season tent suffices for campers use since not all campers deal with snow.

After picking out the tent, next comes the sleeping bags. Of course, comfort and space is taken into consideration when deciding on which to buy. There are the rectangular and the mummy shaped. Rectangular shaped ones are spacious and are most comfortable. For those that camp at a lower temperature area, the mummy shaped sleeping bag is used for more insulation. It is important for zippers not to pinch or catch on the fabric. Buying an adult sized sleeping bag for children is recommended for those that camp out regularly.

A night out won’t be too good without a hearty meal. Cooking directly over the fire is an option for the heartiest campers. Otherwise there are many options for those who prefer camping stoves.

The best stove to have is a standard-sized, two-burner stove. Manufacturers offer stoves that can accommodate pot sizes. Though there are stoves that are fueled by kerosene, unleaded gasoline, or butane, it is wise to choose from either “white gas” or propane. The white gas or commonly known as the Coleman fuel gives off intense heat, making cooking time shorter and food is free of gas odor. Spilling is of no problem with this type of fuel since it evaporates quickly and is completely odorless.

A propane-fueled stove is widely used because of its user-friendly features and easy availability. Stove extras such as the stand, wind screen and stove starters are important. Wind screen will be greatly appreciated during windy and stormy days. Stove starters prevents burning the hands and stops the hassle of using matches.

Camping frustration because of substandard hiking gear is another stressor to avoid, soy spending a bit more to obtain quality gear is suggested.

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