Posts Tagged ‘camping tents’
Our Annual Backpacking Adventure
My brother and I take a couple weeks off from work every summer and go backpacking through the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. We have a strong disdain for technology despite the fact that we both work for an IT company, so it’s a good opportunity to disconnect and reacquaint ourselves with nature. Since we carry our packs with us everywhere, we bring nothing but the essentials: backpacking tents, emergency rations, tools and a few other miscellaneous lightweight supplies.
It may seem irresponsible to head into the great outdoors with such minimal equipment, but my brother and I were both Eagle Scouts and spent time in the Marines, so we’re well versed in the ways of the wild. Much of our food comes from fishing, which is one of our favorite activities on these journeys. On particularly good days, we dry some of the fish to save for later when they may not be biting.
Setting Up Camp in Inclement Weather
Although it would be nice if every camping excursion were characterized by warm temperatures and low winds, the reality is somewhat different. Camping trips are often planned weeks in advance after much work is done to clear schedules and secure reliable transportation. By the time the big day arrives, backing out because of bad weather just isn’t an option. It’s therefore critical for campers to learn to adapt.
When pitching your Paha Que tents in inclement weather, spend as much time as you need to find a suitable location. There’s nothing worse than going through the process of setting up camp - pounding the stakes into the ground, erecting the fiberglass tent poles and so on - only to find that the elements are making the tent uninhabitable. Move your operation to the leeward side of a stand of trees or a rock outcropping; that way you’ll have protection from the wind and the prevailing rain direction.
A Hiker’s Checklist
Before setting off on a multiday hike, it’s best to make an inventory of equipment and supplies. That way, you can minimize the number of unfortunate surprises - “What? I forgot a Swiss army knife?” - along the way. A camp-worthy tent is one of the first items to check off your list. Allot some time before your journey to set up your tent in the backyard. This makes it easy to discover any missing tent poles or other similar problems.
If the time has come to check out new dome tents, make sure to prioritize a few key features. Waterproof floors are one of the most underrated benefits of top-class hiking tents, and they are essential in traditionally rainy areas. A tent’s thermal properties should be taken into account, as should the strength of its frame. Once you’ve made an informed choice of tent, you’ll be ready to head out into nature’s vast expanse.
Camping Is A Family Affair
If you grew up in a family that put a lot of value on the outdoors, there’s little doubt that some of your fondest childhood memories revolve around a campsite. Whether it’s sitting around the campfire eating S’mores or fishing at the local fishing hole, camping is a great way to teach children about self sufficiency as well as foster a general appreciation and love of the outdoors. If you have a family and they would be interested in the camping experience, consider purchasing a family tent. While many tents seem overly small and uncomfortable for a family, family tents are spacious and designed to accommodate a crowd.
With family tents, camping doesn’t have to be an abandonment of everything civilized. There’s plenty of room within these accommodations for some of the creature comforts of home. Just remember that camping spans an entire range of intensity. Sure, you can backpack into your campsite 13 miles with a 30 pound bag. But that’s not the only option. You can also drive up to your site and spend a quiet night or weekend with the family. Either way, you get some fresh air, some fond memories, and a better appreciation of just how good you have it at home.
Selecting a Lightweight Structure
Portability is key when choosing backpacking equipment, especially if you’re making a long haul through arduous terrain. Toting massive quantities of supplies just isn’t an option, so it’s best to pick and choose wisely. Make a list of the items you just can’t live without, and be sure to top the list with a lightweight tent.
The main selling point for a backpacking tent is its portability. After all, you’ll be hauling it around all day before setting it up at night. Ease of use is a secondary but also immensely important consideration. No one wants to wrestle around with a tent after a long day on the trail. When scanning the market for tents, factor in the total weight - not just the trail weight, which often doesn’t include the stakes and poles.
Big Agnes Tents
Before heading out with your family and friends, know how important it is to have the right gear that will make your camping trip a pleasurable one. The Big Agnes brand has been around for many years gearing up hikers and campers so that they can have the best outdoor experiences. Big Agnes tents are designed to give you the most comfortable rest out in the wilds. They are constructed using high-quality materials that can withstand the harshness of any outdoor environment. The poles and nylon fabric are strong, yet very light to carry.
As you head out camping, choose the right type of tent that fits your party. Big Agnes tents come in different sizes depending on the number of people who will occupy them. They also come in different types of usage. For example, four season tents are designed to cover all types of season in a year. While three season tents are for tropical hiking environments. The materials of the latter are thin and light with a bigger screen mesh to allow for more ventilation.
Change Your Strategy for Winter Camping
Now that cold weather is a fact of life for the next few months, it’s time to start planning for winter camping excursions. Compared to summer hiking and camping, the winter variety takes a whole new level of commitment. On the positive side, you’ll see an entirely different side of familiar outdoor landscapes. Without the leaves on the trees obscuring your view, you’ll enjoy beautiful vistas for miles around.
The wildlife you encounter will also be somewhat unfamiliar. Make sure to camp on public land as you could potentially run into hunters elsewhere. Some of your provisions and equipment will remain unchanged – Stansport tents will stand you in good stead in all seasons – but this late in the year you’ll want to have a portable heater at the ready and a cozy down sleeping bag for the frigid nights.
Truth in Advertising
Experienced backpackers understand the value of being skeptical when shopping around for tents. In many cases, tents are advertised as having a “lightweight construction” when in fact they aren’t much lighter than a standard family tent. Misleading statements like these can mean extra back-breaking work along the trail. It’s therefore crucial for prospective buyers to look for trustworthy names that specialize in backpacking tents.
The hub pole design of a Big Agnes seedhouse tent sets it apart from the competition. Its mesh construction, sheathed in a protective canvas layer, makes it simple to set up and a snap to take apart in the morning. Tents such as this can be used comfortably three seasons out of the year. Perhaps most importantly, these tents are legitimately lightweight.
A Little Privacy in the Great Outdoors
Camping trips are often touted for their way of strengthening family bonds. Fathers can teach their sons and daughters how to fish – although actually catching something might be another story. The whole family can work on perfecting a new recipe over the roaring campfire. Still, by the end of an active day in the woods a little privacy is in order.
Family-size tents help to meet that requirement, and they feature more than just space in abundance. One of their more underrated attributes is deceptively simple: a removable barrier that turns one large, communal room into two smaller ones for sleeping. Tents such as the Eureka family tent make it easy to maintain peace and harmony during a relaxing camping trip.