Cheap Tents Info

Easy Tents To Set Up

paul65 — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:39:14 +0000

When it comes to easy tents to set up, it's difficult to beat the ease and speed of the pop up tent. These tents come in a number of different designs and sizes, each having its pros and cons, and we will look at these tents in more detail here.

The easiest of the pop up tents to set up is the single-skinned (single-walled) design. With this type of tent it's as easy as taking the tent out of its carry bag and allowing it to spring open, then pegging it down where you want to camp. It's then ready for use. Double-skinned (double-walled) pop up tents need a little more pegging out due to the outer flysheet.

The single-skinned tents are sometimes affected by condensation inside the tent than the double-skinned tents, and this can cause sleeping bags and clothes to become wet from the condensation. They are usually slightly quicker to erect than the double-skinned types though.

Double-skinned types have a little more insulation from the cold due to the flysheet, and are often warmer as a consequence. Also, the inner tents on this design are usually breathable, so are less prone to condensation.

Pop up tents can be unsuitable for very windy conditions, due to their flexibility. Some are fitted with guy ropes and this can help greatly in making the tent more wind resistant and stable.

Quechua Tent Waterproof Pop Up 2 Seconds AIR II, 2 Man
US $149.00

CAMPRIGHT Portable Pop-Up Tent 90" x 72" NEW
US $99.95

Chicago White Sox MLB Logo Tailgate Canopy Pop-up Tent 9'x9' - FREE SHIPPING!!!
US $125.00

Ice Fishing Shanty 4 Person Pop Up Hut Portable Shelter Folding Tent Black NEW
US $138.88

Oregon State Beavers 9'X9' Ez Pop Up Canopy Tent
US $195.99

DAMON CAMPLITE SPARE TIRE COVER POP UP TENT TRAILER RV
US $16.95

A Guide To Choosing Sleeping Bags

paul65 — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:46:39 +0000

When it comes to camping, the sleeping bag that you use is almost as important as the tent. Without a good sleeping bag you won't enjoy your camping as you will be cold, uncomfortable and tired. In certain situations having the wrong sleeping bag can be dangerous, for example if you are camping in remote areas. If you are in this situation and your sleeping bag doesn't insulate well enough you are at risk of hypothermia and this could potentially be very serious. Being tired also means that you will not be able to navigate properly, and getting lost can mean extra exertion trying to find the correct route which can also contribute to hypothermia. Even on a campsite near to civilisation you can become dangerously cold. It is therefore worth taking some time and trouble when choosing a sleeping bag, and getting the best you can afford which will do the job. Here we will look at the different types of sleeping bag which are available and some of their strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right bag. Remember that when you are using a sleeping bag you also need some form of insulation underneath the sleeping bag such as a closed cell foam sleeping mat. Even if you are using an air bed this does not give you enough insulation and you will still need to put a sleeping mat on top of the air bed.

Sleeping Bag Design

The majority of sleeping bags are filled with either synthetic fibre or down (feathers). Synthetic fibre tends to be heavier than down and does not compress to as small a pack size. It does have the advantage that when wet it will still keep most of its insulating properties meaning that it will still keep you warm if it gets wet. Down loses all of its insulation properties when wet, and under these circumstances does not keep you warm at all. Down filling is lighter than synthetic fibre, insulates very well when dry and compresses easily to a small size. This compressibility means that a down sleeping bag will take up less space when packed away than synthetic fibre filled sleeping bag.

Cheap Sleeping Bags

Before you buy the cheapest sleeping bag you can find you need to think about where you are going to use it. If you're only going to be camping in warm weather then the cheapest sleeping bags will probably be warm enough for you. Most cheap bags have a rating of around two seasons, meaning that they are suitable for warm weather use but not for use in cold weather. Some people who feel the cold particularly badly may not find these sleeping bags to be warm enough, and may want to choose one with a higher rating. For couples, having two of these sleeping bags which zip together can sometimes be warmer.

NEW SEALED SLEEPING BAG FOR SALE SYDNEY CHEAP!! $25 350GSM DARCHE
US $26.92

Lightweight Sleeping Bags

The lightest sleeping bags are those which are filled with down. They are useful for camping trips where you need to carry all of your camping gear with you such as when you are camping in mountainous areas. They are, however, quite expensive.

Kelty Camp 30° Sleeping Bag Cloudloft Insulated Full Zipper Lightweight Warm
US $27.99

Mountain Hard wear Flip 25/40 thermic MX back packing sleeping bag lightweight
US $45.00

Yellow Lightweight 100% Natural Duck Down Sleeping Bag
US $75.99

NEW DOUBLE NYLON CAMPING HAMMOCK LIGHTWEIGHT OUTDOOR TRAVEL SLEEPING CARRY BAG
US $52.79

Kelty Camp 30 Degree Lightweight Green Sleeping Bag 33" X 75" NIB
US $45.99

ALPS Mountaineering Razor Lightweight Sleeping Bag Liner
US $48.24

Kids Sleeping Bags

There are several different designs of sleeping bags made specifically for children. Some of these sleeping bags are only designed for sleepovers, but others are suitable for camping. You need to be sure that the one you are choosing is suitable for how your child is going to use it. The sleeping bag shouldn't have too much empty space in it when your child is inside the bag, as it will tend to be cold in use. Some sleeping bags have adjustable size so that you can increase the size as your child grows.

The North Face, Tigger child sleeping bag, green, Regular, Right Hand, NWT, 20 F
US $69.99

Bazoongi Pirates of the Sea Kids Slumber Bag Sleeping Bag BRAND NEW!!
US $34.99

Wenzel Camou Kids Sleeping Bag - Blue Camou 49233
US $33.88

FINE LIFE KID'S SLEEPING BAG
US $19.99

Mattel Polly Pocket Child's Sleeping Bag Pretend Play Dolls Camping Sleepovers
US $15.95

POTTERY BARN KIDS SANTA BARBARA SLEEPING BAG BOYS NEW ISLAND SURF HAWAIIAN
US $29.99

The Pop Up Tent For Camping And Play

paul65 — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:33:42 +0000

Pop up tents are a relatively new addition to the world of tent designs. They can be used for serious camping and there are also some which are designed for children to play in. They are also popular with festival-goers as they are easy to use, light and inexpensive. Here we will look at some different designs for camping, festivals and play.

Tents For Camping And Festivals
For lightweight camping and festival camping a 2 person pop up tent is light and small enough to be easily carried and is usually good value. As with most pop up tents pitching is just a matter of removing the tent from its carry bag, allowing it to pop open and pegging it out. Look for one with taped seams and a hydrostatic head of at least 2000 mm (usually PU-coated nylon). The hydrostatic head is a measurement of how waterproof the tent fabric is and the taped seams will prevent rain from coming in through the stitch holes on the seams. These tents are either single skinned or double skinned. Double skinned designs have an inner tent covered by an outer flysheet, whereas single skinned designs have a single layer of waterproof fabric with no flysheet. Double skinned tents tend to be a little warmer than single skinned ones, but are usually heavier. Single skin tents can be more prone to condensation buildup in cold weather than double skin models.

POP UP 2 Person Hiking Hunting Tent Rain Cover Camping
US $55.50

EPE Speedy® 2 Person Original Pop-Up Camping Tent
US $144.95

Caribee Get Up 2 Person Instant Pop-Up Camping Tent
US $105.04

2 Person Double Layer Camouflage Pop Up Tent fast Ship
US $139.99

Vango DS Dart 200 POP-UP 2 Person Camping Tent
US $150.28

For a person camping alone a two-person tent will be spacious. For two people camping together, you may find a two-person tent a little small and it may be advisable to choose a 3 person pop up tent, however the extra weight will need to be taken into consideration if you are carrying all your kit in a backpack.

If you are transporting your camping gear by car and don't need to carry the gear any distance, using a 4 person pop up tent is a possibility. Weighing around 6kg (aprox 13lbs) this size of tent is a little too heavy to be carried in a backpack. Currently there are no pop up models designed for more than four people.

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Tents For Children

Due to their speed of pitching, pop up play tents are ideal for children. They come in a number of designs including a castle, truck, space rocket, house plus film and cartoon characters. They are not intended for camping in, but are designed just for playing in. There are also pop up tents intended to give children extra protection from the sun in places such as the beach where there is little natural shade.

Beauty Boutique Playhut Tent Pop Up Play Hut House NIB
US $34.99

Tunnel Toy kids Play Tub Patch Pop Up Discovery Tent Thomas And Friends Wooden
US $25.06

BRAND NEW POP UP FIRE TRUCK PLAY TENT HUT FOLD OPEN FOLD CLOSED WITH CARRY BAG
US $26.99

Tunnel Toy kids Play Tub Patch Pop Up Discovery Tent Sarah s Silks Yellow Silk
US $23.50

pop up play tent 3pc tunnel adventure set with carry bag Brand New FREE SHIPPING
US $29.99

Snappy Baby Pop up play activity gym shadded cover w/ carry bag portable tent
US $18.99

Why Choose A Down Sleeping Bag?

paul65 — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:57:14 +0000

Most sleeping bags are filled with either hollow synthetic fibre or down (soft bird feathers, usually from geese or ducks). They both have their advantages and disadvantages, and it is worth looking in more detail at the differences between down and hollow fibre for sleeping bags to enable you to make a more informed choice when buying a sleeping bag.

Hollow Fibre Filling

Hollow synthetic fibres used in sleeping bag filling are slightly heavier than down sleeping bag filling. Hollow fibre filling cannot be compressed as much as down, and therefore the sleeping bag size cannot be reduced as much as one which is made using down filling. Therefore hollow fibre filled sleeping bags will take up more space than those filled with down. People who object to products which have come from animals may prefer to use hollow fibre filled sleeping bags.

On the plus side, hollow fibre does not absorb much water and this means that if a sleeping bag filled with hollow fibre gets wet it will still keep a lot of its insulating properties and will therefore still keep the occupant warm. This could be very important if you are camping in remote areas where your sleeping bag is likely to get wet.

4LBS CAMPING HOLLOW FIBER PILOT SLEEPING BAG NIB~02R
US $.99

Down Filling

Down filling is lighter than hollow fibre filling and compresses well which means that sleeping bags filled with down can pack smaller than those filled with hollow fibre. It also insulates very well when it is dry, its insulation properties being better than those of synthetic fibres. However, if down gets wet it loses all of its insulating properties and will therefore not keep the sleeping bag occupant warm at all. In the worst conditions in low temperatures this loss of insulation could lead to hypothermia. Many sleeping bags using down have been designed to keep the down dry even in wet conditions so that the bags maintain their insulating properties, so if you are concerned about this it is worth checking to see if a sleeping bag has this feature before you buy it. Down filled sleeping bags also tend to be a lot more expensive than hollow fibre filled bags.

US Military Mummy M-1949 Mountain Down Sleeping Bag VG
US $58.95

Down Camping Sleeping Bag 7°C 0.75kg Warm Mummy Outdoor
US $139.99

185G Warm Mummy Down Sleeping Bag Camping 7°C 0.65kg
US $139.99

Big Agnes Down LOST RANGER Sleeping Bag 15 degree NEW Left Zip Regular
US $175.85

THE NORTH FACE BLUE IGLOO WOMEN'S 600 FILL DOWN SLEEPING BAG
US $165.00

Vintage DOWN FILLED Blue Mummy SLEEPING BAG And Marmot Carry BAG
US $45.09

Not all down filling is of the same quality, and there are two main measurements for the quality of a down sleeping bag: fill power and down content.

Fill power is a measurement of the down's ability to stand up to being compressed and its ability to loft. The higher the fill power is, the better the down is and the warmer a bag will be. The fill power is given a numerical rating, but care must be taken when comparing US and European values as the system of measurement differs and therefore the same fill power will be given a different rating in the US and Europe.

Down content is another measurement of the quality of a down filling. This is a ratio which gives the percentage of down cluster to small feathers. For example 90:10 means that 90% of the filling is down cluster and 10% of the filling is small feathers. The higher the percentage of down cluster, the warmer the bag will be.

Which To Buy?

Which type of sleeping bag you choose depends on your personal preferences, and also in your budget. If your budget is not very large or if it is likely that your sleeping bag will get wet then you will probably want to opt for a hollow fibre filled sleeping bag. If you will be using your sleeping bag in dry conditions and have a big enough budget, then down filled bags would probably be the better choice.

The best down sleeping bag for you will depend on when and where you camp and also on how warm you like your sleeping bag to be. Don't buy something just because it was in the down sleeping bag sale. Decide whether you want a mummy-shaped or rectangular down sleeping bag, then get some advice from an experienced sales person in a reputable outdoor equipment shop. There is no substitute for the experience of somebody who has used the sleeping bags which they sell and can tell you which bags suit which conditions the best. If you have to buy online, then read a few reviews by people who have used the sleeping bag which you are thinking of buying before parting with any money.

A Few Tips On Canvas Tent Waterproofing

paul65 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:25:21 +0000

Most people who own a canvas tent will know that from time to time the canvas will need reproofing in order to keep it waterproof. Here are a few tips on waterproofing your canvas tent, follow them and you should have no problems with the procedure. If you have a nylon (polyester) tent, the steps are basically the same but you'll find that the tent dries faster than canvas tents.

When To Reproof?

Some signs that your tent needs to be reproofed are: the canvas becomes soaked by rain, which no longer beads up and runs off the canvas. Drops of water pass through the tent outer without it being touched. It hasn't been reproofed for several years.

Preparation

You will need to wait for dry weather before you start the reproofing process. Before you start to waterproof your tent, you need to make sure that the canvas is really clean. Using a clean brush, brushed off loose dirt endorsed and sponge the canvas down with either clean water or a purpose made cleaning solution such as Fabsil Universal Cleaner or Grangers tent and awning cleaner.

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This solution will ensure that your canvas is really clean, but the downside to using this cleaning solution is that you have to make sure all of the solution is rinsed off your canvas otherwise the reproofing may not work out very well. Let the canvas dry out completely before moving onto the reproofing stage.

Reproofing

For reproofing the canvas choose a silicone based proofer such as Fabsil or Fabsil Gold.

300ml Spray On Waterproofer BOAT CANVAS CANOPY COVERS, sailing jacket not FABSIL
US $15.78

They are very similar products, however Fabsil Gold has a higher concentration of silicone and therefore has an bit more waterproofing power. 1 litre of the proofing liquid covers about 7.5 square metres of light weight canvas, 5 square metres of medium weight canvas or 18 square metres of nylon. A 2 person tent is roughly 6 square metres. Small tents and small areas of canvas which need reproofing can be treated with Fabsil in aerosol form. Larger areas will need to be treated by using a container of proofer solution and a clean paintbrush to apply the proofer. Apply the proofer to the canvas, using a clean cloth to rub any droplets which form into the canvas. Make sure that you cover the whole area of the fabric, and do not miss any parts out. The solution is flammable, so avoid heat sources when using it and keep it out of the reach of children.

Once you have covered all of the fabric with the proofing solution, you must leave it to dry out thoroughly before putting the tent away or before getting it wet. If you follow these steps correctly your tent should now be fully waterproof once again. If you find that the tent is not sufficiently waterproof, you can repeat the proofing process after rinsing the dirt off with clean water and letting the canvas dry out before proofing again.

Once the tent has been reproofed, it is a good idea to keep it clean to maintain the waterproof qualities and to avoid any soap or detergent coming into contact with the canvas, including children's bubble solution.

Camping In Canvas Tents

paul65 — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:07:14 +0000

For many years canvas was the only material available for making tents. These days there are far more tents made from polyester, and while PU coated polyester is a great material for making tents, canvas does have a few advantages over polyester. Here we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of canvas tents, and some manufacturers of this type of tent.

Canvas Pros
Canvas is more breathable than PU coated polyester fabric, and will allow moisture vapour to pass through the fabric of the tent. This can mean that you have less condensation buildup inside the tent. It also tends to be a lot cooler in summer in a canvas tent than inside one which is made from polyester. Unless they are very well ventilated, tents made from polyester can become very hot inside during sunny weather. Another advantage of canvas for tents is that it is very durable and will last for many years if looked after, and can be repaired quite easily. In very cold weather, some types of canvas tents are designed so that you can use heating inside, such as a wood-burning stove. In very cold climates this means that you could camp all year round, and makes for a very cosy tent.

Canvas Cons
It does have its disadvantages when compared to polyester that it tends to be a lot heavier, and also takes longer to dry out if it becomes wet. It will also need to be re-proofed periodically, how often depending on how much camping you do.

Canvas Tent Manufacturers
One of the biggest manufacturers of canvas tents is the French company Cabanon, and they have a wide range of different designs to choose from. Most Cabanon tents tend to be fairly large, and are well suited to family use. The quality of their construction is very high, and they will last for many years if looked after.

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If you're looking for something smaller such as a two-person tent, the Vango Force 10 canvas tent is strong enough for mountaineering use. It has an A-frame design and has been popular with mountaineering expeditions for many years. The combination of the canvas fabric and the A-frame make for a very strong tent which is capable of staying up in really bad weather conditions including high winds and snow.

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If you are looking for a new tent, why not go and have a look at some canvas tents. You may find a canvas tent is just what you are looking for and it might suit you better than other types of tent. If you aren't sure about camping in a canvas tent, you could always hire one to try out for a few days.

Canvas Tent Picture Frame
US $19.95

1982 Press Photo A Trip Plays a Tune Under Colorful Canvas Tent at Kup's Column
US $27.88

2 US PUP Tent Shelter Halves Canvas OD Green
US $14.95

PRE / EARLY WW1 BROWN CANVAS IMPERIAL GERMAN ARMY ZELTBAHN TENT . VERY RARE!
US $30.02

BREKINA HO - # 44303B - MB L 325 w/Tent Canvas, blue
US $18.04

BREKINA HO - # 44303G - MB L 325 w/Tent Canvas, green
US $18.04

Some Cheap Tents To Consider

paul65 — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:08:27 +0000

The type of cheap tent which you choose depends on what you want to use it for. Here we look at some tents for a few different uses, which should be cheap to buy and which should serve you well.

Tents For Festivals
Most people who are going to festivals will need a tent which is both cheap and waterproof, and which is easy to pitch. It will also need to be fairly light in case it needs to be carried for long distances. Probably the easiest type of tent to use the festivals is the pop-up tent, which can just be removed from the bag and then pops out ready for pegging out. Most of these tents are single-skinned, and therefore condensation buildup can be a bit of a problem. They are also not quite as warm inside as a double skinned tent but are a lot easier to pitch. They are also quite small and are therefore not suitable for families.

POP UP 2 Person Hiking Hunting Tent Rain Cover Camping
US $55.50

EPE Speedy® 2 Person Original Pop-Up Camping Tent
US $144.95

Instant Pop Up Camping Tent Shelter Beach 2 Persons
US $49.99

Caribee Get Up 2 Person Instant Pop-Up Camping Tent
US $105.04

POPUP TREATED MOSQUITO NET - DOUBLE 2 MAN PERSON TENT
US $69.97

Genji Sports Pop Up Outdoor Family Camping Tent 2 Person People Man
US $61.63

Tents For Campsites
Tents for campsites can be heavier than those for festivals, as you normally are able to park closer to your pitch. For families and people who like a lot of space inside the tent, tunnel tents are very popular. They are easy and fast to pitch and can be very spacious inside. However, they tend to be quite heavy and are best suited for people who transport their tents by car.

Disney Princesses Playhut Castle Tent and Tunnel Set New in Box, Folds Easily!
US $.99

Jungle Safari Tent & Tunnel Combo
US $59.99

Find Me Lady Bug Tent and Tunnel Combination Playset
US $69.99

Vango Beta 250 2 Person Tunnel Camping Tent
US $159.49

DISNEY TINKER BELL HIDEAWAY TENT,PLAYHUT,TUNNEL PORT
US $21.95

Playhut Tent & Tunnel * 6pc * LARGE set * playground * 15 feet
US $55.00

Dome tents are a very popular design of tent, they can stand up to wind and rain pretty well due to the crossover design of their poles.

GigaTent Free Standing Large Explorer Dome Camping 2 ppl Tent 5x5x3 New
US $26.89

Coleman SunDome 7-Foot by 7-Ft 3-Person Dome Tent NEW
US $68.73

Wenzel Alpine 8.5 X 8 ' Dome Tent Camping BRAND NEW!!
US $69.98

Wenzel Ridgeline 7 X 7-Feet 2 erson Dome Camping Tent!!
US $49.99

Suisse Sport Wyoming 3 Room Family Dome Tent 18 x 10 !
US $144.08

NEW Suisse Sport Wyoming 3 Room Family Dome Tent 18 x 1
US $143.73

Tents For Wild Camping
If you are going wild camping your tent will need to be light enough to be carried in the rucksack, and will also have to be strong enough to stand up to any bad weather as your tent pitch is more likely to be exposed to bad weather than a pitch on a campsite. This type of tent also has to be quite small in order to keep its weight to a minimum, and is often a bit more expensive due to the stronger materials used in its construction.

Mountain Trails 11-by-11 Foot 6-Person Camping Tent
US $74.08

Brand New Mountain Hardwear Drifter 2 Tent - Backpacking -
US $131.95

Mountain Peak 5 Person Family Dome Tent 10 x 10 10x10
US $75.00

MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR HELION 2 TENT "BRAND NEW"
US $199.99

Mountain Trails Grand Pass 18- by 10-Foot, 2-Room 9 to 10Person Family Dome Tent
US $94.99

Gander Mountain GSX 3-Man Dome Backpack Tent
US $55.00

What To Look For In A Cheap Tent

paul65 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:14 +0000

Tents are a cheap means of getting away for a short break or longer holiday. Cheap tents currently are popular for outdoor music festivals and are also a good way of seeing whether or not you like camping.

Not all cheap tents nowadays are useless if you know what to look for, and there are some bargains to be had, especially at the end of the camping season. If you buy the right equipment, you can stay warm and dry on clear, starry nights or in heavy rain. Some of the design features which are good to have are listed here.

Waterproof Fabric

The fabrics used in most cheaper tent construction are nylon and polyester. These are considerably lighter in weight than traditional canvas, which makes them easier to carry in a rucksack or to lift in and out of the car. The nylon/polyester fabrics are sometimes coated inside with polyurethane (PU), to increase the waterproofing of the tent's fabric.

photo credit: David Vincent Johnson

Sealed Seams

Look inside the outer tent (flysheet) at the stitching which holds the various fabric panels together. Ideally these seams should already be taped, and you will see what looks like a thin strip of adhesive tape along the length of the seams. This will help to keep rain from entering through the seam holes. Some tents will come without taped seams, but with one or more tubes of seam sealer. This looks similar to glue, and must be applied to the seams to seal the stitch holes, and allowed to dry before using the tent. If the tent doesn't have taped seams and doesn't come with seam sealer, you should make sure that you buy some.

Tent Poles

Most tents are supported by poles. Steel tent poles are common in larger tents, and are strong but heavy. Cheaper types of small tent often use glass reinforced plastic (GRP) poles. These are quite lightweight, but can be prone to breaking. Alloy poles are both light and strong, but are usually only found on more expensive tents.

Single Skin vs. Flysheet & Inner

Some tents are single-skinned, meaning they only have one layer of fabric between the living area inside and the outside world. This type of tent will not be quite as warm inside as one with an inner tent covered with a flysheet, and can get condensation inside, but will be easier and quicker to erect.

Tents with a flysheet and inner tent are warmer inside in cold weather, and are also less prone to condensation.

Size Of Tent

Usually, tent manufacturers are not too generous when it comes to space inside the tent. Often, tents described as a 4-person tent, there will not be much room inside with 4 people. It's usually better for comfort reasons to buy a tent which is slightly bigger than you the number of people who are going to be in it. For example, a 5-person tent is likely to be a more realistic size to fit 4 people.

Choosing Where To Camp

paul65 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:42:55 +0000

Your choice of where to camp can make a big difference to your enjoyment of camping. It could be a quiet and remote pitch on a mountain or a pitch on a well-equipped and busy camp site close to civilization. If you are new to camping, it's probably best not to camp anywhere too remote. Once you are more experienced, however, this can be one of the most enjoyable types of camping. The newcomer to camping would be better off camping at a well-equipped site with facilities like hot showers, toilets, drying rooms (for wet gear) etc.

photo credit: Vagabond Shutterbug

Where To Pitch Your Tent?

On some commercial camp sites you are often told exactly where to pitch your tent, so you won't have to worry about the best place to put your tent. Other sites will tell you to pitch where you want to. For safety reasons it's best not to pitch tents too close together. If there was a fire, it could spread quickly from tent to tent where they are closely pitched. A minimum of about 6 paces should be left between tents for this reason.

Avoid pitching the tent on low areas of the site, if it rains heavily these are the first places to flood.

Keep away from underneath tree canopies if possible, as they can be dangerous in thunder storms and also drip sticky sap on your tent. Also, after rain the tree will continue to drip for a long time onto your tent.

Try to get some shelter around the tent by pitching near to walls or similar if it's likely to be windy, the tent will have a better chance of staying up in the wind that way.

If it's likely to be hot, you could look for a shaded part of the site. Some tent get pretty hot inside in sunny weather so the shade will really help to keep you cooler.

If you don't have your own chemical toilet, you'll need to be fairly close to the camp site toilets but not so close that you have the sound of people constantly passing your tent. If the site has a children's play area, pitching near to it can be a very good idea if you have children, or a very bad idea if you don't! Parents can conveniently watch younger children while they play, but if you don't like the sound (noise?!) of children playing, the play area would be best avoided.

Your First Camping Trip

paul65 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:17:36 +0000

Before you get to the camp site and start camping for real, it's better to try putting up your tent if you haven't already tried it out. This will ensure that you have everything you need for erecting the tent. It will also avoid the confusion of getting to the campsite, looking at the instructions and wondering what you need to do. You will also avoid becoming the entertainment for the whole camp site as you argue with your partner while struggling with tent, instructions, poles, pegs, guy ropes and other seemingly pointless parts. That was my first camping experience, anyway. If you have a choice, wait for dry and still weather before the first attempt at the tent. Wind will make everything ten times more difficult, and rain means having to dry the tent completely before packing it away, otherwise mould will start to form on it.

photo credit: abbybatchelder

Your first camping trip should preferably be quite close to home, so if anything goes wrong you don't have far to travel. It also means that if you've forgotten anything you're probably close enough to go home and get it.

Your choice of camp site will be determined by the level of comfort you want, and your budget. Sites with hot showers, toilets, shop and a play area for the kids are great but usually more expensive than basic sites with just cold water and a place to empty the chemical toilet. If you can afford to stay at one of the better-equipped sites, it will give you a slightly more comfortable introduction to camping. When you become tent-hardened, you can then go for more basic sites or even wild camp if you have a light enough tent and equipment. This is free and as basic as it gets, but you get more freedom to choose where to pitch your tent and a real wilderness feeling even when you're pretty close to civilization.

The two main problems that people seem to have when first camping are leaking tents letting the rain in, and being cold at night. Some cheap tents don't have PU-coated flysheets and these can sometimes leak in heavy rain. If you have a tent with a PU-coated flysheet and taped or sealed seams, then leaks shouldn't be a problem. Keeping warm is easier if you have an insulated foam mat under your sleeping bag or bedding. Also make sure the sleeping bag or bedding is thick enough to keep your body heat in, and covering your head will also keep you warmer. Some sleeping bags have a hood, if yours doesn't then consider wearing a fleece hat or similar. Ok, you won't look too attractive in it, but it'll keep you much warmer.