by camper on October 18, 2009
When I was teen camping equipment consisted mainly of a backpack to carry supplies, a sleeping bag, and a tent. Of course we always camped at the same old spots most of the time. Today people have more diverse interest than just building a campfire and doing a little fishing. People now hike, backpack, and climb rocks, just to name a few activities. As they have ventured out and away from the campsite, the risk of getting lost or hurt away from civilization has greatly increased. Survival gear and equipment are now an absolute must for anyone’s camping equipment. The following are some of the most important items that should be a part of every survival kit. These are just a few recommendations from the good folks at 4 Seasons Survival.com.1. Spark Lite fire starter. The spark-lite is the official US military fire starter because it’s so easy to use, even when injured. 2.First Need water purifier. Although there are many filters on the market, there are only a handful that they would use in an emergency. First Need, because it is EPA approved, and so easy to use gets the nod.3.Don’t Bite Me Patch. Each patch offers protection from biting insects for up to 36 hours.4. QuickClot Silver. Stops moderate to severe bleeding until further medical help is available.Once again, these are just some suggestions for your survival kit.In this day and age however, people should be thinking more about a rescue than survival. So your preparedness should absolutely include some type of signaling device. Most people think in terms of electronic beacons or GPS systems, when looking into signaling. For most of us they are still cost prohibitive. The second and perhaps most relevant issue is that with a beacon or GPS unit, if you get separated from the party that has it, the device does you no good. So if dad has control of the device, and his teenage son wanders off and gets lost, searchers can locate dad but what about his son? I have come up with a very simple and cost-effective answer to all these concerns. The LifeTracker is a device that in case of an emergency will, with the pull of a cord, jettisons a heavy gauge red balloon attached to a 1000 ft fishing line up high enough for searchers or a rescue plane to see. The LifeTracker makes it possible for people to be found before panic ever sets in. It not only will save lives, but millions of dollars in search and rescue man hours. The LifeTracker is a series of 3 different products designed to locate anyone lost or in distress, in hours rather than days. The LifeTracker Belt, The LifeTracker Vest, and The LifeTracker flare Gun, can be offered inexpensively enough to allow an entire family to outfit themselves with The LifeTracker for what it might cost to purchase one GPS unit. It even has a 12″ solar light rope for night rescues. In this day and age of electronics, it’s refreshing to find something that is completely mechanical. There are no batteries or bad reception to worry about. Anyone venturing into the wilderness; campers, hikers, backpackers, and rock climbers, will want either the “Belt” or “Vest” as part of their everyday gear.The LifeTracker Belt … 4″ wide with pockets on the outside to store a thermal blanket and other survival supplies.The LifeTracker Vest… Using the same concept as the “Belt” the vests inner side unzips to release a folded lean-to tent complete with telescopic 3 ft poles. Some people will prefer a vest and are willing to pay extra for the complete survival package. This offers a great option, and like the “Belt”, is very marketable.The LifeTracker Flare Gun…Flare guns are very expensive and, of course, the flare only has a short life. With a small adjustment to the LifeTracker Device, it can easily be kept in a lightweight pistol, that can be stored in any backpack, vehicle, boat or plane. It might even have military use.If you would like more information, please go to: The LifeTrackerWhile you are there, please click on CONTACT and let me know what you think about my concept.
Jack has always been in love with the outdoors. Now in his late 50’s, he lives in California surrounded by meadows and trees. So many people go missing each year, so he has come up with an idea to help find anyone lost in the wilderness, in hours rather than days.
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by camper on October 17, 2009
One question I often get from people asking me for advice on family camping is how to choose a good camping tent. With so many different types of tents available out there, even an experienced camper can get easily perplexed by the bewildering variety of tents to choose from. Here are some essential tips to consider when choosing your family camping tent.
1. The Size of Your Tent
First and foremost, when choosing a tent you must know how many persons you will need the tent to cater for. You do not want your whole family cramping inside a tent where there is barely enough space for everyone to sleep comfortably. Tents are normally advertised as two, four, six persons and so on. Believe me, when the tent label says two persons, they meant exactly that. Do not try to stuff your gear together in it. If you need to store your gear in the tent, then consider choosing a larger tent size. Also, youâll want to choose a tent with height that is tall enough for you to stand.
2. Location of Your Campsite
Youâll need to determine the potential weather conditions at where you are going to camp. Different weather can have different effects on the tents. Windy areas require tents with sturdy poles, stakes and anchor ropes. For rainy spots, choose a tent with a completely waterproof rain fly covering as much as possible. The rain fly will also provide shade for tent in sunny locations. Look for tents with large screened windows on opposite sides of the tent which provides air ventilation in case of heat.Â
3. Quick and Easy Tent Set Up
Choose a camp that is easy to set up. Tents basically come in four shapes: Umbrella, A-frame, geodesic or âdomeâ and wall. The umbrella is the most commonly used family camping tent, as it has plenty of standing room, large windows and a rain fly over the top. Some stores are happy to demo the tent setup in store. If not, try setting it up at home. If itâs not quick or easy, look for another tent.
4. Tent Material and Poles
For more durable tent, find one which has a good fabric. Most tents are made out of nylon. Coated nylon is used for waterproofing. Better tents use thicker fabric and tougher polyester rainflies. Poles are also important in determining a tentâs stability. Fiberglass poles are better for durability while aluminium poles are light but strong. You should also test the zippers to ensure they can open and close freely.
5. Budget for Your Tent
You should know how much you are willing to spend for your tent. In general, higher priced tents are made with stronger fabric, stronger poles, and stronger stitching that can last for many years. However, not everyone needs this strength and durability. If you are just starting out in your family camping adventures, you might want to stick with the least expensive tents. Pick a price range you are comfortable with and stick with it until you find a tent that meets all of your needs â in terms of size, style and price.
Your camping tent is not only your shelter against the elements, but also your sanctuary for spending quality time with your family. Have a great family camping trip.
by camper on October 17, 2009
When you are going camping there are a number of basic camping gear essentials that go with any camping trip. These basics show up in most camping trips if you are camping without an RV or camping outside of a sheltered area, like a cabin.
These essentials include items such as a tent, sleeping back, cooking gear, first aid kits, emergency supplies, lighting, fire making kit or heating source, knife, personal hygiene products. There are a lot of items that people view as essential which are not actually essential but make the camping experience more enjoyable.
Some of the items that can make your camping trip more enjoyable and for some people are considered essentials are things like Dutch ovens, which allow you to bake while you are camping. Other items are folding chairs, tables and cots to make sitting and sleeping around the camp easier on the body. Some people bring things like coolers for cold foods, and ice. The essential gear for camping depends on the type of camping you are doing and how rough you want to camp. There are some people who enjoy camping with just a sleeping bag and a small tent or tarp in case it rains but for the most part they sleep lying in their sleeping bag under the stars, cooking on a fire and enjoying the simplicity of nature. Others take it up just a step and have a tent and perhaps some fancier cooking gear while others insist that everything but a kitchen sink is essential to camping.
One of the absolute essentials though is a first aid kit; no matter what type of camping you are planning on doing make sure that you have a fully stocked first aid kit. This also should include a snake bit kit; if you are planning on being anywhere in the deep woods or places where snakes are common. Another good thing to bring along is toilet paper, and a small shovel for creating a latrine some people may not find this an essential but for many it is.