Find Your Style Of Camping
Day Hiking
Day hiking has gained in popularity amongst campers of all ages and all it requires is an ability to walk long distances. The objective of a day hike is to set out for the day and return to the camping ground before nightfall.
As well as being moderately fit you will also
need to be ready for changing weather conditions as well
as have the right tools. Some navigation techniques may
also be required so you can retrace your steps back to the
campsite.
Probably one of the most important pieces of equipment for day hiking is the correct style of footwear. Your best bet is to buy footwear specifically designed for hiking which are comfortable and have some level of waterproofing. A good hiking shoe will have a waterproof mesh that also breathes so your feet aren't swimming in sweat halfway through your walk.
Many people are attracted to day hiking because of the variable nature of goals an individual can set for themselves. A camper can set their own objective and then set out to beat it. Just remember that day hiking does require some commitment and planning.
RV Camping
Most people know that RV stands for Recreational Vehicle. RV'ing is becoming more and more popular as it allows even the most inexperienced of us to get out and about and explore the great outdoors. The biggest appeal to RV camping is the fact that you don't have to give up many of the creature comforts that are afforded to our modern lifestyle.
RV's are like a little lodge on wheels. At the very minimum they come with heater, refrigerator, 12 volt electrical power and beds. Most will also contain ovens, stoves, shower and toilet.
The big appeal for RV camping is that you can enjoy cooking and cleaning, bathing and sleeping in relative modern comfort while still being parked in some distant or remote campground.
A great option to find out whether RV camping is for you is to rent a vehicle out and try it before committing to a large purchase.
Backpacking Camping
Backpacking is the probably the most exciting and basic way to experience the great outdoors.
It adds new excitement to wilderness exploration because everything you need is carried on your person. There is no need to travel back to a central campsite to restock.
The art of backpacking simply means that you are exploring the beautiful wilderness on foot, being self sufficient with only the essentials and setting up camp in mostly undeveloped and primitive areas.
Because you will be out in the wilderness depending on yourself for survival it is very important that you choose the right backpacking equipment. The wrong kind of gear or even too much of the right gear can bring about an excessively heavy backpack that will spoil your enjoyment.
Backpacking equipment is generally a bit more expensive than your average car camping equipment as it needs to be of higher quality and made out of lighter materials but is also much less compared to RV camping. Take note that most backpack camping sites are free to use.
Tent Camping
Tent camping is a popular pastime amongst families with children because children seem to be the ones to enjoy tent camping the most and it is rugged and inexpensive.
With tent camping you generally require a vehicle to get to an established campground that has full amenities and allows standard car access.
Tents are usually categorized by how many sleepers they can fit on the floor space. The usual marketing practices are employed with these measurements and are probably more akin to how many clowns can you fit inside a telephone booth. Seriously though, when these measurements are determined it's usually with people only. You can fit 4 people inside but that's it. Don't expect to get any gear in there with you. Best advice is to go 1 or 2 sizes higher. That way, when it rains for a couple of days you won't be sitting in each other's pockets and your gear will be dry.
If you're into comfort then you also want to make sure you have enough room for an air mattress. This might seem a bit too cozy for a camping trip but there's no need to go extreme survivalist when you've got your kids with you. Take your height into consideration as well. Your tent needs to be able to accomadate your height when your lying down. No good having a 6 foot wide tent if you are 7 foot tall.
To choose the best tent for your camping trips you need to determine what sort of camping you will be doing and what seasons you will be doing it in. Decide on whether you are more of a summer camper or do you like to do it all year round. Each season creates different requirements so you need to consider this. You don't want to be shoveling your way out of your tent because of a slightly out of season blizzard and you decided you only needed a summer tent.