Camping is fun and can be a great way of relaxing and bonding with family and friends, it’s also a great way to meet new like minded people but while it’s fun we still have to think safety.

If your going camping on your own make sure you tell people where you are going and give them the exact location of where you are staying, also think about taking a map and compass with you if your out in the wild.

Sometimes the reason for people going camping is to get away from the rat race for some peace and quiet but make sure you take some kind of communication device you with like a mobile phone, it would also be a good idea to take some two-way radios with you so you can communicate with friends or loved ones if you or they happen to get lost. Packing a GPS device with you is a great idea as well, but don’t forget the good old map and compass as a back up solution.

If you plan on hiking your way to a campsite then make sure everyone is in good health, if you have young children then arrange to get them to your camping area before you go, the same goes for older people as taking long walks over rugged terrain may make them tired or aggravate health problems.Muggings and sexual assaults can happen and have no doubt happened in the past when people have been camping so make sure you stick together, safety in numbers. If you have been the victim of a crime then make sure you report it to the police and/or campsite warden right away.

Be aware of your surroundings. If your camping out in a woodland area make sure you tell the kids not to go off on their own, look out for any potentially dangerous areas like lakes, ridges and marshes, and never approach wild animals. Also never eat anything you find on the plants and trees unless you are absolutely 110% sure you know what it is you are eating, and never drink water from lakes or rivers.

Remember to check the weather forecast before you set off so you know roughly what kind of clothes to pack, if it’s cold and rainy you want to wrap up warm so you don’t become ill.

If you or anyone you are camping with smokes then make sure the cigarette is put out properly and never throw it down still lit, you could put water on it or stub out it in sand (as long as it’s not part of a kids play area).

Take a first aid kit with you, if you are unsure what to take in this then visit your local outdoors shop and tell them where you are going, most first aid packs contain the basics. If your still in doubt visit your local GP and ask there.

If you need to see in the dark make sure you use a torch and never use a candle because hot wax may drip on you or it may catch fire, your tent is highly flammable a long with your clothes, sleeping bag and other material. In case of a fire get everyone out quickly but calmly and call the fire service as quick as you can. Try to give an exact location to the fire rescue crew so they can get to you quickly, if you do not know your exact location then tell them of any landmarks, pubs, farms, or nearby roads. You should also alert any campers near you in case the fire spreads, and remember, never smoke in a tent.

When setting up your tent make sure you keep it at least 6 meters away from your neighbours because you do not want to stumble over guy ropes in the night and hurt yourself.

Never have a campfire near your tent or inside your tent, fire can easily spread and get out of control.

Make sure you keep any valuable items on you and do not leave them in the tent, slash and grab theft can occur where the thief will cut through your tent with a sharp object such as a knife and steal anything they see as worth taking.

You may want to put a padlock on your zip to stop anyone looking inside your tent but just beware that to a thief having a lock on your tent might make them think you have something worth taking inside.

If you find a stranger inside your tent do not attempt to drag the person out by force and do not start arguing, alert a campsite warden or tell someone near by.

If your travelling in a caravan make sure you install a fire alarm and check that it works and never block any air vents. When you cook never leave fat pans unattended and keep matches and lighters away from children, have a fire extinguisher next to the main exit.

If there is a smoker in the caravan make sure they put the cigarette out in a metal ashtray and never use any paper cups or paper plates.

Remember to never leave any gas bottles in side the caravan and if you suspect a gas leak never smoke or use a lighter/matches, open up all doors and windows and make sure you turn off all appliances and the main cylinder valve. Never fit any gas appliances yourself, make sure you get a Corgi Registered installer to do it for you. To find a registered installer visit the Trust Corgi website.

Make sure that when you tow your caravan it doesn’t present any danger on the road. For more information check the NTTA Guide To Safe & Legal Towing.

When you leave your caravan unattended make sure you close all the windows and lock the doors. If you have any bikes and toys makes sure you chain them up before leaving or even put them in the caravan before you go out.

I am the webmaster at http://www.campingguide.org.uk which a free information website for UK campers.

Summer camps are special camps offered to kids, children and adults to enjoy their summer. Summer camps are camps offered for kids, teens, girls and boys during summer. Overnight camps, youth camp, children’s camps, boy’s camp, adventure camp, arrowhead camp, coed camp, kid’s camp, girl’s camp, residential camp, sleep away camp and teen camps are offered to the people around the world. Summer camps will be offered by the specialized institutions, schools and many other academies. Generally, this kind of camps is offered in most of the states and countries and they are offered for the benefit of the customer.

It is a special camps offered during summer for kids, children and adults. Summer camps satisfy the requirements of the people around the world. Summer camp come up with special and different kinds of summer programs and the people seems to enjoying the special programs offered. Overnight camps, children camps will be very interesting and almost every student participating will be enjoying. Overnight adventures can be enjoyed by girls, boys and teens and coed camps are also offered in the summer camps. Children camps are special camps which should be taken by the children during their holidays.

Summer camps for kids are special camps which should be organized, supervised and controlled by experts, professionals and many other individuals. This kind of camps will be offered to the people based on the individual age limit, interest and health condition. The prices vary for the camps offered and the each camp for kids, teens comes up with variable price consideration. Huge number of institutions, schools and academies are interested in offering the camps for the kids and adults during their summer for competitive price consideration.

It is said to be the best, exciting, wonderful, educative experience for the people who requires. Students will be more educative if they choose the right camp for their summers to spend their holidays. Summer camps comes up with innovative, specialized programs such as guitar, singing, dancing, horseback riding, indoor games, outdoor games, fashion design, Hollywood stunt, extreme action adventure, water sports, secret agent, broadcast journalism and acting. Children, kids and adults gain more experience and knowledge from the field and help them to settle at the time of need.

Different programs will be available in the overnight camps and the camps will be more exciting, educative and more useful for children, kids and adults. Educational camps, outdoor camps are offered for reasonable and competitive price consideration and with the help of the experience and knowledgeable professionals and experts. The main purpose of creating summer camps is to develop the creativity and extra activity of the kids, children and adults and to learn skills and knowledge in the field. This kind of activity develops self confidence, friendly relationship among the people.

Ron Victor is a Copywriter of pali adventures. He written many articles in various topics such as adventure camp ca, kids culinary camp. For more information visit: http://www.paliadventures.com Contact him at ron.seocopywriter@gmail.com

Camping tent fabric can be formed with many materials including cotton (canvas), nylon, polyester, and felt. Cotton absorbs water, and if wet can become very heavy and unwieldy, but wet cotton is more waterproof than dry cotton. Polyesters and nylon are much brighter than cotton, and do not absorb much water; with multiple layers they can be very waterproof, but they can bend and break over time because of slow chemical collapse caused by UV light. Since sewing makes small holes in the tent fabric, it is important that all possible seams are sealed up in order to block wear and tear.

Rain resistance is measured as a hydrostatic head in millimeters. This shows the pressure of the water necessary on the fabric to penetrate it. heavy wind or claimant rain has higher pressure than light rain. Standing on one groundsheet increases the pressure on underlying water. Fabric with a hydrostatic head of 1000 millimeters or smaller is regarded as shower-resistant, if 1500 millimeters, then they are normally good for summer camping. Year-round tents are usually at least 2000 millimeters, while those for extreme conditions are frequently around 3000. Ground sheets are generally 5000 millimeters or more.

Many tent manufactures indicate the capacity by such phrases like ‘3 berth’ or ‘2 berth’. These numbers indicate how many people the manufacturer thinks can fit into a tent with sleeping bags, comfortably. These numbers do not leave for any personal property or luggage such as inflatable mattresses, camp beds, etc. They also average out height considerations. Experience indicates that Camping can be more comfortable if the actual number of people is less than specified by the manufacturer by 1 or even two people. Tents can be waterproofed even more than by putting a tarp over the top and anchoring it with sticks and rocks. This is easily established; and easily shifted.

More information on camping tents

I highly recommend that backpackers work from a camping list as they plan their gear purchases and pack for their trip. There are two reasons for this. The first and most obvious reason is that if you forget something important, you can’t hop in the car and run to the nearest Wal-Mart to buy a replacement like you can when you’re car camping (I currently own 3 propane bottles due to this phenomenon). The second and less obvious reason is that it helps you limit what you bring, which is very important when you’re carrying everything on your back.

Below I’ll show you my list. Granted, I’m not a thru-hiker, nor have I done 4-season backpacking, but I have done a couple 11-day treks and many shorter trips, and this is what works for me:

Shelter

Most backpackers use tents of some type. I have a Coleman Cobra small two-man tent that I use when the weather is really cold (I had dreams of being chased by a Polar Bear jumping from iceburg to iceburg one night when I tried sleeping in my hammock on night then the temperature was hovering around zero). I’ve found, however, that when the terrain, the rules, and the conditions allow, I prefer using a hammock. I bring the tarp for shelter over my hammock, and it has served at quick shelter for a group of nine during an intense sudden storm that came up while we were on the trail. Obviously, if you’re going to be camping in very rocky terrain, you’ll want a free-standing tent. If you’re going to be hiking in heavy snows, you’ll want a four-season tent. Here’s my shelter:

• Kelty Noah’s Tarp 12 (I considered a 9′ tarp, but to me the 9oz difference was worth it for storm protection. It’s very roomy for one person. I’ve also shared my tarp on occasion. There are lots of tie-outs, so I have plenty of options for set-up.)
• 40″x96″ polycryo groundcloth (very light and folds very small)

Sleeping

Ultralight fanatics would never be caught dead with anything but the absolute lightest down sleeping bags. More power to them. All of my bags are synthetic. I live in an extremely rainy area, and synthetic bags still provide loft and warmth when wet. Due to one unfortunate incident on a Scout trip, I spent a cold night in a bag after wringing it out and other than being a little clammy, was fine. Down, on the other hand, loses all loft when it’s wet. Granted, there are lots of ways to keep your bag dry, but I’d rather prepare for the worst, so I suffer with a few extra ounces and a slightly bulkier bag.

• Homemade hammock (I can’t always use it, but it’s nice when I can)
• 3/4 length Thermarest Guidelite (I can use this on the ground or in the hammock for bottom insulation if needed. I also use it for a “chair” on occasion.)
• Sleeping Bag (I have several and bring the one that’s suited to the weather)
• Sleepwear (ranges from underwear in warm weather to silk long underwear plus wool socks and a beanie in cold weather)

Pack

Some people prefer external frame packs, some prefer internal frame packs. Here are the key differences: an external frame pack is cooler on you back and you have options on how you attach gear to the outside of the pack, but it tends to ride a little further from your back than an internal; internal frame packs ride very close to your back which really reduces load swaying, but they’re hotter on your back and there are fewer options on how to carry your gear. I prefer internal frame packs, simply because I haven’t found an external frame that doesn’t hit the back of my head as I look up. I have a couple of packs, but my current pack is very light, since this is a good place to really trim the pounds.

• Gossamer Gear G5 Hyperlight pack (I wouldn’t recommend this if you are hard on gear, but I’ve found it to be fine for me.)
• Rain Cover

Water

I’ve heard of groups running out of water on the trail. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen to me or a group I’m hiking with.

• Depending on the water supply in the area I’m hiking in, I will bring two Nalgenes, a four-liter Platypus water bag, and if needed, two empty one-liter club soda bottles. Note that if you’re in bear country and your water bottles have ever held anything other than water (club soda is just carbonated water), they should go into the bear bag at night. The food smell permeates the plastic.

• Aquamira Water Treatment

Cooking/Eating

There are lots of options for lightweight high-tech stoves that are available today. I made the alcohol stove after reading an article online, and since it’s pretty cool and tends to be a conversation starter (not to mention being very, very lightweight), it’s what I use. Obviously if you’re going into an area where you have to rely on available fuels, stick with one of the more common white gas stove or even a dual fuel stove that can also use unleaded gas.

• Homemade soda can stove + windscreen
• Small bottle of methanol for fuel
• Aluminum pot (grease pot)
• Titanium mug
• Lexan spork (gotta have a spork)

Safety

Skimp on your tent, and you get wet. Skimp on your sleeping bag, and you’ll be cold. Skimp on your safety equipment, and you could die.

• Survival Kit (always in my pocket)
• First Aid Kit
• Lighter, “waterproof” matches, and a magnesium firestarter (there have been many cold, wet, windy nights where the magnesium turned frustration into fire)
• Headlamp
• Two Pulsar LED lights (one is always clipped to the outside of my pack)
• Topo map
• Compass (I don’t need no stinkin’ GPS - I will bring one, however, if there are any GeoCaches on the route I’m taking)

Accessories

Some people bring less, some bring more. I’ve found through experience that these are the items I use, and also those that I regret if I don’t have.

• Trekking Poles (they REALLY help when you’re loaded down with water in rugged terrain and they can be used to pitch the tarp on the ground)
• Journal + pen + 2 golf pencils (I lost my pen and my backup pencil once. The pencils are very light.)
• Bear Bag Cord
• Several homemade stuff sacks
• Camera (I’ve been bringing a small digital with lithium batteries. The lithium batteries last a LONG time.)
• Sunscreen
• Bug Repellant
• Bandanna
• Toilet Paper in a freezer ziplock
• Plastic trowel (sometimes the ground is just too hard to kick a hole with your boot)
• Crocs for camp shoes
• Bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap
• Lightweight wide-brimmed hat
• Lip Balm
• Baking soda (for toothpaste)
• Compact toothbrush
• Small bottle of hand sanitizer
• Sunglasses with neck cord
• Watch
• Rain Jacket and Pants
• Trash Bag(s) (I normally bring two in case one gets punctured. I also compact my trash very well, so small bags work fine for me.)
• Duct Tape - a couple of yards wrapped around one of the Nalgenes is enough for me.
• Multi-tool (the pliers double as a pot lifter)

Food

Please keep your food and trash completely separate from the rest of your pack items. Gallon Ziplocks will work OK for this. You don’t want your pack or gear to smell like food. Bears have excellent noses!

• Two hot meals a day - oatmeal for breakfasts and variety for dinners
• Cold trail-type food for lunches/snacks. (Make sure you plan for plenty of calories or you’re really start feeling it in the middle of your trek.)

Clothing

I’m not going to list all of the clothing I bring, because it changes significantly season-to-season. However, I think it’s important to list the clothing items I pack (i.e. duplicate items):

• One extra wicking t-shirt
• Two extra wicking underwear
• Two extra pairs of Smartwool socks (I know I wasn’t going to get into clothing specifics, but I have to mention these. I’ve found the Smartwool Trekker socks to be the best for backpacking. I bring three total pairs so that I always (hopefully) have a dry pair to change into.)

Optional Items to Consider

You may think of other items you want to bring, but please remember that an ounce on your back is a pound on your feet!

• Sock liners (I hate them, but some people love them. With Smartwool socks, I have no need.)

• Gaiters (I’ve never used them, but I’m sure they help keep your socks dry in foul weather. They’re on my “should try” list.)
• Extra Ziplock/trash bags
• Feminine Products (Backpacking can make your cycle go wacko, so be prepared)
• Reading Glasses, if needed (how else are you going to read your map?)

• A Sharpie marker
• Extra glasses, especially for contact lens wearers; extra contacts; contact solution

• Deodorant (not recommended in bear country - you really don’t want to smell interesting to bears)

If you use the above camping list as a guideline as you prepare for your next backpacking trip, you can insure that you bring what you need without carrying a lot of stuff you’ll never use.

Bill Weatherspoon is a long-time camper and general outdoorsman. He has been a Boy Scout volunteer, and enjoys hiking and backpacking as well as passing along some of his experiences to those who are just beginning ther camping and hiking.

If you’re nervous about your first camping or backpacking trip, please check out the information on 12 Steps to Getting the Most Enjoyment out of Tent Camping.

Whether you are sitting by the campfire, lounging at the beach, or enjoying an afternoon fishing by the lake, selecting the right camping chair is vital to your comfort and your enjoyment. You want a chair that is comfortable to sit in for whatever activities you plan to do the most, something that is durable and suits your tastes, and you want our camping chair to have all the accessories and features you need for total relaxation.

There are a wide variety of camping chairs available from an assortment of manufacturers, including several leading outdoor equipment brands. Coleman camping chairs are popular for their well-made designs and added features. Traditional chairs used for camping and outdoor activities are lightweight and sturdy and typically fold for convenience. Camping chairs can also be found in cushiony inflatable designs, rocking models, and many other variations. There are table and chair combinations as well that store easily and open to provide the perfect outdoor dining area.

When considering which camping chair is right for you, it is important to think about what you will be using it for. If you will spend most of your time around the campsite, a simple deck chair will probably suffice. If you plan to spend your days reading by the lake or catching some sun at the beach, a comfortably designed high back sling chair may be what you need. Lounger camping chairs are also available for even more comfort. These are perfect by the pool.

If your outdoor activities will take you away from your campsite but still leave you needing a camping chair, look into some of the more versatile designs that include cup holders, tables, and other functional features. The Coleman oversize quad chair with cooler is ideal for fishing, concerts, and more. This durable camping chair provides plenty of comfort for long periods of sitting and features an integrated cooler that can chill 3 or 4 of your favorite drinks.

Before you select a camping chair, consider its weight and think about how far you will typically need to carry the chair. If your favorite fishing destination is half a mile through the woods, you don’t want to lug a 10 pound chair with you. If you are camping at the beach but your campsite is a walk from the ocean, you should choose lightweight chairs that are easy to carry.

You should also consider the elements and climate of the location where you will most often use your camping chair. If you will be spending a lot of time near saltwater or in the edge of a lake or stream, you should select a chair designed to withstand the elements. Look for waterproof materials and frames that resist rust.

Whatever type of camping chair you choose, it will be a very important piece of camping equipment that is used for much more than just camping. The portability and comfort of today’s camping chairs make them favorites for all sorts of outdoor activities, like concerts, tailgate parties, reunions, or just lounging in the backyard. There are several camping chairs designed specifically for kids so the entire family is included.

For more tips and information about Camping Gear, check out www.summitcampinggear.com

We’ve all had tons of fun playing I Spy or taking part in a camping scavenger hunt. There are plenty of board games that are ideal for playing by the campfire and a deck of cards is a must have on any camping trip. But what about some fun camping games just for adults?

Traditional camping sports, like horseshoes, volleyball, and shuffleboard are always fun, but here are a few creative camping games for adults and older teens that are sure to bring lots of enjoyment, as well as a few laughs. Coleman paintball gear is also a fun choice for adult outdoor entertainment.

Mr. B’s Shave
Give everyone a balloon and a marker. Blow up the balloons and instruct everyone to draw Mr. B a face. Apply shaving cream to each balloon and give everyone a plastic knife for their razor. The first person to shave Mr. B without popping him is winner.

Where’s the Grapes?
First, be sure you have plenty of table space for each participant. Put 5 grapes on a plate and heap whipped cream over the top until the grapes are hidden. Place a plate in front of each participant, have them put their hands behind their backs, and see who can uncover and eat their grapes first. Be prepared with lots of napkins for this adult camping game.

Popping Crazy
Before the game, write a selection of crazy actions on strips of paper, like “cluck like a chicken,” “do the twist,” or “imagine your Elvis and perform a song”. Put each action inside a separate balloon and blow them up. All participants should sit, facing one another, in a large circle. Play some upbeat music and start passing the balloons from person to person around the circle. After a few minutes, stop the music. Each time the music stops, everyone should put the balloon they are holding in their chair and sit on it with all their weight for about 5 seconds. Wait for those who popped their balloon to perform their crazy action, then start the music back and continue.

Things That Go Bump in the Night
This camping game for adults is so much fun that you may want to invite your neighboring campers to join in! You need at least 4 people, but the game is more fun the more people involved. You will need a flashlight and should play at night with all your camping lanterns off. Designate one person as the curator and another as the visitor, everyone else is a statue. Statues can move through the dark, but must be completely quiet. The curator should have the flashlight and he and the visitor will walk around trying to catch the statues moving. If a statue is seen moving, heard bumping into something, or talks he becomes a visitor as well and joins the curator in eliminating other statues.

Balloon Lift
This is another camping game for adults that promises hilarious fun! Divide everyone into teams of two and place a balloon on the ground in front of each pair. The object of the game is to pick the balloon up, then pop it between the two people, but without using any hands! The first team to pop their balloon wins. Teams that use their hands are eliminated.

For more tips and infomation about Camping Gear, check out http: www.summitcampinggear.com

When was the last time you visited a theme park with your family? Chances are, you bought very expensive advanced tickets online (if you were lucky). If you weren’t so lucky, you spent what seemed like hours in line with your children in tow, complaining about the heat or the slowness of the lines. When, at last, you reached the ticket window (with a sigh of relief), you probably staggered in disbelief and clutched at your chest when the attendant presented you with your total. Once inside the park, you stared in awe for a moment at the sea of tourists before coming to the startling realization that if you didn’t grab your children and run for the nearest line, you’d have to wait for hours. At the end of the day, you survey the damages: countless bottles of water–$$$, lunch for four–$$$$, souvenirs they’ve wanted for their whole lives–$$$$. Once at home, your tired children dream of the marvels of the day while you and your better half dream of a cheaper, yet no less entertaining, form of relaxation.

There are a few alternatives, all less frustrating (with careful planning) and much less expensive. Have you considered taking your family to experience the great outdoors? These days, too many kids think that the great outdoors consists of the distance from the front door to the bus stop and the playground at school. Not sure what to do or where to start? Not a problem.

There are plenty of national and state parks for you and your family to enjoy. Start with an Internet search of nearby state or national parks. Most of the time, there is at least one much closer than the nearest major theme park, and most (if not all) will take your furry, four-legged children as well, as long as you keep them on a leash and clean up any unpleasant little surprises they leave behind. Another idea, if you live near a river, lake, or the ocean, is to check with local outfitters regarding any camping facilities. Many have rates that include water-sport equipment and provide spaces for RV camping as well as tents.

If you plan to camp in a tent, be sure you make a “dry run” if you have never set up that particular tent before. Also, make sure you have all of the pieces for it. There are no words to describe the feeling that washes over you when, while setting up your tent 30 miles from the nearest Wal-Mart, you realize the tent poles are still in the garage. Take along kid-sized sleeping bags and chairs for your little ones and plenty of games, books, and bug spray. Be sure your cooler is fully stocked and you have an ample supply of propane (for lanterns and such) as well.

Not a fan of tent camping? Try renting an RV for your trip. You get the benefits of an air conditioner/heater and a fairly comfy bed with none of the monthly payments, insurance, or repairs. Most parks and outfitters have designated RV parking with all of the needed hookups. You may also find that your spot of choice has cabins available for rent. While you may not get the Hilton, most are comfortable (you are supposed to be roughing it, after all) and will keep the mosquitoes out. Regardless of your camping modus operandi, however, call ahead to reserve your spot. The only thing worse than arriving without all of your stuff, is arriving (without a Plan B) and discovering that your spot du jour is full.

You are probably wondering, after all of this preparation, what are we going to do once we get there? After all, you probably have children to entertain who get bored easily. Many state parks provide nature trails with lots of interesting rocks, animal tracks, and the occasional animal sighting. Take the opportunity to show your little ones new things like raccoon prints or “gross” snails–the slimier the better. Investigate minnows or tadpoles in the creeks and look for turtles on the banks. Other parks offer horseback riding, rock climbing, playgrounds, swimming, canoeing, and fishing. Some even offer concerts under the stars or social gatherings. To get a list of planned events or activities, check out your state’s parks and wildlife department site or the National Forest Service website.

Most of all–have fun. Laugh at your mistakes and relish the time you spend with your family (without the long lines and expensive food/water/tickets/souvenirs). You will spend less time focused on the $5 hot dog you ordered from the guy in the mouse costume and more time on the face your child makes when he touches a frog for the first time and proceeds to sort his treasured new rock collection. You also get to choose the level of roughing it that is right for you. Some do so in multi-million dollar motor homes, others choose to carry as little as possible on their backs and purify their own water. Most of us fall in between, but, whatever your roughing it level, a good camping supply store can help you find the equipment that is right for you. So, pack up the family (furry ones included) and go camping. It’ll be fun, and who knows, your kids may remember more about your camping trip than that expensive theme park vacation–I know I do.

Marie Graham lives in central Texas and writes occasional articles for CGCamping.com

On her spare time, she teaches high school math and enjoys her two furry, four-legged children.

Like most people who go camping, I love to be outdoors, bringing friends and family closer, where we don’t have to compete with modern distractions, such as televisions, game consoles, etc. and can actually interact with one another.

But if we bring the big RV, it defeats the purpose, because we bring all the distractions along with us. For me the biggest distraction is my computer, but If we go in a tent and really rough it, we can leave it all behind.

The only thing that I can’t do, or perhaps, won’t do, is sleep on the ground, not even on a pad. Laying on the ground to sleep, if I could sleep, would guarantee that I would not be jumping up and ready to greet the day the next morning. But if I have a camping cot, I am good to go.

I truly enjoy camping, whether it is in a tent, or the RV, or the travel trailer that we pulled all over the country 20 years ago. But tent camping is so different and exciting, because you are so much closer to truly roughing it.

Camping cots can be simple or more upscale. What you want will depend on what you need. If you have a large tent, you can get one that is set far up off the ground. If you don’t care about the height, and you have a smaller tent, you can find camping cots that are just a few inches from the ground. They can save space while letting you rest for the activities the next day.

I prefer the higher cots, for more reasons than just my back. Somehow, I feel safer a little higher up, because there are things that could join you in your sleeping bag, if you are close to the ground.

When buying camping cots, you do have a lot of choices. You can find single units that are made just for one, and you can also find ones that you can share comfortably. Some have a sturdy frame and a simple canvas to support your body, and some have a blow up type of feature to give you more comfort if that is what you need.

You may even want to try hammocks as camping cots, that would be one of my favorites, even though they have a folding frame, they still take up considerable room. So you would want to have a rather large tent, if you were going to use one of the folding hammocks as a cot.</