Camping Tips:

Here is some great recipes to take with you on your camping trip.

Backpack Tent Tips - Pitching and Caring For Your Tent

The tent is one of the most important parts of the camping experience. Without it you are left exposed to the elements and that is not a pleasant way to spend a camping experience. Learning how and where to set your tent up is the key to camping success. One of the best ways to learn how to set the tent up is to do a "dry run" at home. It will take a little more time of course, but it will pay off in the end.

Before You Set One Up You Need To Buy One - Here are some suggestions.

There are many choices today in high quality tents. They are affordable, durable and lightweight. One thing is for sure, you don't want to skimp too much. You will pay the price one way or the other and it is better to pay it in the store than out in the great outdoors.

You want to make sure you keep the rain off so it is important to get one with a "hood" that fits over most of the tent. This will help to buffer the rain and other debris from the top of your tent. It acts like a little roof. One of the first tents I owned years ago only had a small little hood and it did very little in keeping rain and debris from the top of the tent. Ever since then I have made sure the hood covers a large portion of the tent.

Depending on your application, hiking or car camping will determine what size of tent you will need. It is nice to have some room in the tent to store some of your things when it rains but if you are hiking you don't want to carry something that is a waste of space.

Where to Pitch the Tent.

Putting the tent in the right spot is critical.  You want to be on high ground in case it rains.  I was camping some years ago in St. Augustine, Florida.  It poured.  We arrived late so we had to hurry and put our camp together.  I remember cooking just outside of the tent on some canned heat because it was raining so hard.  We got lucky and were on some higher ground but other campers were not so lucky.  The next morning a lot of campers had left in the middle of the night because they were on low ground and the water was flowing through their campsite and into their tent.  I would have hated to try and break camp, in the dark in a downpour.  We were dry in our tent and our bellies were full of beans. 

If you are hiking, try and set your tent off the trail a bit.  100 feet is a good distance.  That will give you more privacy and allow other hikers to retain the serenity they are seeking on the trail.

Pitch your tent in designated areas.  This will keep the surroundings undisturbed and provide more security for you.

Keep your tent 100 feet from the campfire and 100 feet from the food.  I always have a rope that I can tie my food up off the ground.  Camping away from the food will give you added protection from wild animals looking for food. 

It is best to find a nice semi-shady spot that has dry soil.  You need to have some firm ground to drive your tent stakes in.  Sand does not provide a stable enough ground to secure the tent.  Do not pitch the tent under a tree with dead branches as they could fall and injure you. 

Make sure you have cleaned the ground that will be under the tent thoroughly before pitching the tent.  Remove any rocks or sharp edges.  It is best to put down a tarp under the tent to buffer the bottom from the ground. 

Once you have pitched the tent there are some important things to remember. 

Keep the tent closed.  If you leave it open you never know what might crawl inside and be waiting for you when you are sleeping. 

Don't overcrowd the tent.  Sleep the number of people the tent is designed for.

Never put food in the tent.  Food attracts wild animals and you don't want to be locked in your tent with a hungry, wild animal tearing the tent apart for the food you have inside. 

Make sure you have a flashlight in the tent.  This is important so you can see inside and outside of the tent when you need to. 

Sleeping up against the side of the tent is not a good idea.  Another reason why you don't want to overcrowd the tent.  This will allow moisture to accumulate in the tent, making if uncomfortable and cold.

Let the tent dry out before rolling and packing it away.  The tent will mildew if you don't let it dry out first. 

Make sure you are not storing or putting the tent in with any sharp objects.  Especially if you are putting it in your pack.  Puncturing your tent is the last thing you want to do. 

Follow these tips and you will have a successful tent camping trip. 

Happy Camping and Happy Hubbing.