Clear Answers for Common Questions

The idea of roughing it during a camping trip might sound appealing if it weren't for the bugs, wild animals, sudden storms, leaking tents, smelly sleeping bags, and questionable food. For a number of people, their first camping experience often becomes their last, but there is now a camping ...

A propane stove is a stovetop powered with tanks or canisters of propane. The most common applications for this type of stove are small stoves that are portable and can be taken on camping trips, or propane or gas barbecues that feature one or more stovetop burners. A stove that ...

Tents are simple structures that are used for shelter and that consist of a frame supporting some type of material. In many cases, they are made to be easily assembled or taken down, making them ideal for travel. They can be used as semipermanent shelters, for short-term camping trips ...

Good food ideas for camping are extremely important, especially if you won't be near anywhere convenient to buy food during your trip. Without decent food, your camping trip is not likely to be very enjoyable! The best thing is that great food ideas for camping can be very simple ...

A banana boat is a dessert that is designed to be made while camping. Many generations of campers have developed their own unique takes on the banana boat; the earliest published recipes for this dessert appear in Girl Scout guides. As one might imagine, the centerpiece of the dessert is ...

Part of the charm of camping is enjoying the great outdoors while you eat. While camping food can seem somewhat limited, the fact is that it is possible to find all sorts of easy meals to prepare while camping. There are simple camping recipes that require few or no pots ...

Kerosene may not have the popularity around the home that it once enjoyed, but there are still enough household uses that the strong odor can cause some problems. A number of different additives can be used to reduce or eliminate the odor, or the fuel can be filtered to remove ...

A camping trip can be a delightful excursion for seeing the great outdoors, as well as a wonderful way for families and friends to spend time together in a relaxed setting at a relatively low cost. Campgrounds abound all over the world, but they are especially popular in well known ...

Backpacking is an outdoor pastime which is popular in many parts of the world. Backpacking involves hiking to a camping location while carrying a pack which contains food and gear for the hikers. Backpacking usually involves at least one night of outdoor camping, but can last for months if hikers ...

Tent stakes are nearly as important as the tent itself. Today’s tents are often designed to withstand the elements, keeping occupants protected from changes in weather. However, they are not built to stand up against much wind. As such, tent stakes are vital for keeping your tent where you ...

In the past, setting up a tent was often a major headache, but today’s tents nearly assemble themselves. Popular dome tents made of durable rip-stop nylon pop up in minutes with little effort. However, you might find your tent rolling away with the first breeze unless you use ...

Kayak camping is an outdoor sport which involves paddling kayaks to a camping site and spending the night. A kayak camping trip can last overnight, or much longer, depending on personal taste, and campsites can be reached through rivers, lakes, or the open ocean. Properly preparing for a kayak camping ...

Winter camping is camping which takes place in winter weather; most people are talking specifically about snow camping when they mention winter camping, although it can also refer more generally to camping in cooler conditions. There are a number of reasons to go winter camping, and many people find it ...

Making the decision between light camping and heavy camping is a no-brainer for most recreational campers: the less your equipment weighs, the less you have to lug around while hiking, skiing, biking, boating, or otherwise traveling. Light campers buy expensive gear to save weight and use high tech fabrics ...

Upscale camping also called glamorous camping or shortened to glamping is a new way to enjoy the outdoors, without sacrificing on the modern conveniences so many of us feel we can’t do without. Across the world, many resorts offer luxury tents or tent cabins with campgrounds that differ from ...

The term “boondocking” is used to refer to camping in a recreational vehicle (RV) without access to amenities, typically in a secluded location. You may also hear boondocking referred to as free camping, dry camping, or independent parking. There are a number of reasons to choose to boondock rather than ...

Camping can be a casual and occasional experience, a part-time hobby, or a serious, routine excursion depending on an individual’s quest for adventure. Considering camping is a different experience for different interest and experience levels, camping equipment is also varied to suit all needs. A three season tent ...

A three season tent can be a great option for those who plan to camp only in the spring, summer, and fall, and in most cases, it will suit a camper just fine. Winter camping often requires some extra protection, however, and a four season tent can offer that. As ...

A backpack chair is a folding chair which also doubles as a backpack, allowing people to pack out supplies and a comfortable place to sit in one convenient package. Backpack chairs can be very useful for short camping trips, days at the beach, and so forth, and they come in ...

When buying a backpack, there are several things you should consider. The most important consideration when buying a backpack is its future use. A backpack used for carrying school supplies, for example, may not need to have as many features as a backpack that is to be used for hiking ...

Camping in a family tent can be a lot of fun for both adults and children. However, buying a family tent that is spacious and comfortable enough for everyone is key to a great family camping experience. In addition to comfort and roominess, when buying a family tent you should ...

When people go camping or need another bed, they may choose a travel cot. A travel cot is essentially what its name implies: a small, portable bed suitable for traveling. These cots are most often used for children in the United Kingdom, but in the United States, a travel cot ...

An air mattress is exactly what its name implies – a mattress filled with air. What’s especially convenient about an air mattress is that one can provide a quick, comfortable place to sleep without an allocated space for a bed. Air mattresses come in very handy for camping, overnight guests ...

Many people purchase an air mattress as auxiliary bedding for overnight guests, while others use an air mattress for additional comfort on camping trips. Whatever the reason, buying an air mattress requires some comparison shopping and an inventory of all the specific features one might desire in the ideal model ...

A tarpaulin is a piece of material which has been designed to treated to be waterproof or water resistant. Tarpaulins are used in a wide range of settings for everything from providing shelter from inclement weather to protecting flooring from paint drips. Many hardware stores sell tarpaulins or “tarps” as ...

Camping is a favorite weekend pastime of many outdoor enthusiasts, but dog lovers sometimes find it difficult to include their canine pals in the excursion. Finding good places to go camping with your dog requires planning ahead and learning policies of local campgrounds, but there are many pet-friendly camping ...

Camping trips can be a great weekend activity with family and friends. However, there are some particular challenges when camping with toddlers or older children. Here are some things you should keep in mind when camping with kids that will make the trip much more enjoyable both for you and ...

Couples that want to be alone but are on a tight budget often wonder if there are still any cheap romantic getaways today. The good news is that there are a number of options where little or no expense required to enjoy each other’s company without a lot of ...

With dozens of designs, styles and sizes available, choosing a camping lantern can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here are some tips to help you make the process as painless as possible, including the pros and cons of each model. The most common type of camping ...

Camping gas is bottled gas that can be used for many activities associated with the experience of camping or outdoor cooking. Containing gas that has been pressurized and liquefied, the cylinder or bottle usually fits onto different types of devices and provides the energy source for a given function. It ...

In the West, a hibachi is a small, portable grill inspired by the Japanese shichirin. In Japanese, a hibachi is actually a form of heater, traditionally used in the winter to warm a room. Like many borrowed concepts and words, the hibachi evolved as it spread across the Pacific Ocean ...

Whether it's a family camping trip or a survival situation, a campfire can be both enjoyable and a necessity. With enough willpower and experimenting, almost anyone can start a campfire. There are several tried and true methods that can increase the chances of success. With the correct preparations and ...

Cooking over a campfire is a great outdoor tradition. It can be done while camping, in your own backyard at a social gathering, or simply while enjoying time with your family. To ensure that you have a great time and stay safe, there are a few things to keep in ...

Bear boxes are locked containers that campers uses while sleeping in proximity to bears. Since bears are smart, other methods for protecting food tend not to work as well as these boxes do. For example, storing food or a cooler in one’s car may mean the bear simply breaks ...

For anyone who enjoys spending weekends in the great outdoors, taking along a WAG bag® or two is an excellent idea. More properly known as a waste alleviation and gelling bag, the purpose of the device is to provide a sanitary way to dispose of human waste when there ...

A bivy, also called a bivouac sack or bivy sack, is a lightweight protection device most commonly used when camping outdoors. It should be large enough to fit over a person's sleeping bag and offer extra protection from the weather. The sack comes in a range of materials and ...

Mountaineering tents are tents that are constructed to withstand extreme weather situations. Often used for wilderness camping in cold climates, a mountaineering tent provides additional room for both living, sleeping, and the storage of supplies. The appearance of a mountaineering tent resembles that of many other tents, but it has ...

When people are camping, safe drinking water isn't always available. Water that looks clean might still be filled with bacteria, parasites or other contaminants that can induce vomiting or diarrhea, which can quickly lead to dehydration. Camping water purifiers are portable devices that people can use to easily turn ...

Packing the right travel medicines can save a lot of time and hassle on your vacation, and can even be a lifesaver in the event drugs are not available locally. But even when you can avail yourself of local markets and pharmacies, it is always more convenient and often less ...

Whether storing water around the home as part of an emergency kit, using it on a camping trip, or making the tap water in the home healthier and better tasting, there are a few simple and quick ways to purify it. There are four basic methods to achieve water purification ...

Many people enjoy spending time outdoors, and there are many who like to take their enjoyment of the great outdoors one step further through the recreation of camping. When spending time with nature, there are many items that the camping enthusiast will need, not only to ensure his or her ...

The first consideration when choosing between campgrounds is navigating the reservation process. You’ll want to know as much as possible about the location and how far in advance you need to make reservations. Be aware that some campgrounds have a first come, first served policy, for some if not ...

Backpacking is a great way to explore the wilderness. When you prepare for a backpacking trip, keep in mind that you will be both hiking and camping, so you need to bring enough equipment to cover both aspects of the journey. If you are taking your first backpacking trip, there ...

Ripstop fabric, sometimes called a sports fabric, is a woven, lightweight, nylon-threaded material that resists tearing and ripping. It can be water resistant and is commonly used for camping equipment such as tents and the outer shells of sleeping bags. This material is also used to make hang glider ...

Sleeping bags come in three basic shapes: rectangular, the "mummy" or cocoon style, and tapered. The rectangular shape is self explanatory and offers a roomy design. It comes in a single or a double and the double is large enough for two average size people to sleep in. The cocoon ...

A sleeping pad can be a simple or complexly designed pad typically used by people who are sleeping on the floor or ground in a sleeping bag. The pad can serve several purposes. It can slightly cushion a hard sleeping surface, which may make sleeping on the ground more comfortable ...

A mummy bag is a type of sleeping bag which narrows at either end to conserve heat, causing it to look slightly like an Egyptian mummy case. Many manufacturers of sleeping bags make mummy bags, which are usually rated for extremely cold weather. A variety of materials are used to ...

If you are planning a vacation and want to save money, there are many things you can do to stretch your budget significantly. The key to a budget vacation is in setting up as many details as possible beforehand so you do not have to deal with unexpected expenses, which ...

With budget and economy being on the forefront of people’s minds, taking affordable family vacations has become a trickier task. Vacations are an important chance for a family to bond, to show youngsters new and exciting things. While taking affordable family vacations may be more difficult than in ...