Other Camping Gear

Camping Filter – Is it necessary?

Clean drinking water is a definite requirement for any camping trip. Depending on where you go, a reliable, nearby source of clean drinking water may not always be available. While this blog is more for casual family campers than rugged survivalists, weâ€™ve surely all had the experience when we had to pack in our own water and enough of it to last the duration of the trip.

Unfortunately, water is heavy and takes up a lot of space. When you already have coolers packed full of food, cooking utensils, and more, finding enough room for a family supply of drinking water can be a bit daunting. Even if you are planning a camping trip to an established campground with water supplies readily available, any day hiking trip will require you to haul enough water on your person for each member of your family. Everyone knows adding extra weight on a hiking trip is never ideal.

Thatâ€™s where a camping filter comes in to play. It may be a product youâ€™ve never considered before, but [Read more...]

Filed Under: Other Camping Gear

Camping Hammocks

8:49 pm By Myrtha Chang 1 Comment

Technorati tags: camping gear, camping hammock, lightweight hammock
Camping hammocks are a lot of fun. Even this black bear knows that.

I've been trained to bear-proof my campsite, but I've never read anything about bear-proofing the hammock. Then again, this bear just wants a little frolick. Play the video below, have you ever seen anything like that?

What would you do if you were confronted with this scene? How calm and collected this New Jersey camper must have been to quietly aim her video camcorder on this amazing sight.

Related Post: How to avoid a Bear Attack

Filed Under: Other Camping Gear

Should camping and electric scooter go together?

12:59 am By carrie 3 Comments

My 10-year old son wants to bring his Razor electric scooter to our next camping trip. Now before you picture a rumbling, roaring motorcycle, let me explain. The Razor E200S Scooter is – like it says – electric, so thereâ€™s no gas emissions to pollute the fresh [tag]campground[/tag] air. It runs around 8-10 miles per hour and generates as much noise as a hair-dryer.

I consulted other camping families and opinion is mixed, as you would expect. One parent loves that her kid with electric wheels now happily offers to run errands to the camp mini-mart, asks to go on long nature trails, and actually starts noticing [Read more...]

Filed Under: Camping Activities, Family Camping, Other Camping Gear

Camping Safety – What's in Your First Aid Kit?

2:50 am By Myrtha Chang 1 Comment

VideoJug: First Aid Items To Take To The Wilds

I like Simon Eller's approach to figuring out what first-aid items to bring for camping safety. He simply asks himself, what are the most common camping mishaps that can happen, let me prepare for that.

By the way, when Simon Eller says 'plaster', that's band-aid. And if you've never heard of steri-strips, they are made by 3M (yes, the folks that make our sticky post-it notes) and they are similar to butterfly-strips.

Simon also stressed that camping safety is not just about getting the biggest, most complete first-aid kit out there. More importantly, [Read more...]

Filed Under: Other Camping Gear, Safety Tips

10 Great Reasons to Go Camping This Year

10:32 pm By Myrtha Chang 4 Comments

Click To Play

Reason #10. You have tried everything else to peel the kids (or the hubby?) away from the TV and Xbox. One thing I learn as a parent, when I yell, "Turn that TV off!" I need to provide an alternative. Kids can't substitute TV for vacuum. Gotta give them something to occupy their active minds like Surviving in the Wilderness.

Reason #9. You can't remember the last time you gazed at the stars. It's time to see the Big Dipper beyond the printed page.

Reason # 8. The only bird chirping you have ever woken up to is the cuckoo clock in the living room.

Reason # 7. Ten years from now, when your kids lament to their therapists that you were absent in their lives, you can show videos and pictures of your [tag]family camping[/tag] experience.

Reason # 6. Food tastes better outdoors. I'll tell you about the Baby Weber Grill at another time.

10 Reasons to go Camping Reason # 5. Its affordable. You can buy very nice camping gear with the equivalent of a couple nights hotel stay. And you get to keep the gear. (Its like owning your own home instead of renting).

Reason # 4. Enjoy the inheritance that was saved for you. In 1916, your grandparents and mine made a commitment to preserve, protect and share the natural beauty of this land through the National Park Service. When was the last time your eyes feasted on the natural beauty of our [tag/]national parks[/tag]?

Reason # 3. Camping is so easy today. Down-filled sleeping bags, 10-minute-set-up tents, instant fire starters, and yes, that Baby Weber Grill. Today's camping equipment is easy enough for the beginner campers.

Reason # 2. There are many ways to camp, so you can choose what suits you best. There's rustic cabin camping, car camping, [tag]luxury camping[/tag] such as at the Adirondacks, RV camping and backpacking. Start with something you are comfortable with. Chances are, you'll explore other more adventurous camping with time.

Reason # 1. You have never gone camping before. Well, then you absolutely have to go camping this year. Do it before you are set in your ways. Do it before you take yourselves too seriously. Do it before the kids leave the nest. Do it before you can't do it. In other words, just do it.