Definitions of Camping
"Roughing it" has many different interpretations. For some, it means spending a couple of hours in a million dollar motor home with internet access and satellite TV. For others, it means carrying as little as possible on your back (for weeks) while purifying your own water and "living off the land". Most of us, however, fall somewhere in the middle when it comes to our camping supply needs. Consider the following (more common) levels of "roughing it":
1. The Neighborhood Power Outage--It was a dark and stormy night...and all of a sudden a black screen replaces the latest episode of your favorite sitcom, your dog jumps and growls as the smoke alarm chirps, and worst of all, the microwave and a/c are out. Perhaps a nearby transformer has been struck by lightening or a tree limb severed a line on its way to the ground. If this situation sounds too familiar, there may be a few items to make you indoor camping experience a bit more comfortable. First, consider a portable camp stove or portable grill. These are light and easy to set up, and after the rain clears, cooking outdoors is a snap. It may not be as fast as the microwave, but it will usually be faster than waiting for the power to come back on. Then, you might want to look for an electric lantern. Flashlights are great--unless you've ever tried to stand them up to illuminate a room. Most electric lanterns use fluorescent bulbs, and some are rechargeable. They also provide convenient hands-free illumination (let's face it, some situations prevent holding a flashlight) that's safe to use indoors.
2. An Afternoon in the Park--Saturday morning. The sun is shining, a few big white clouds float by, and the scorching days of summer have given way to the cool breezes that signal the start of fall. Why not kick of the season with an afternoon of (insert your favorite outdoor sport here) in the local park? You pack up (or call) your family and friends, and while this was an easy list to make, the list of supplies might be a bit harder. Soooo, start with a cooler. You want one that will keep your drinks and food cold, but drains easily once all the ice melts. Also, consider one on wheels so someone other than "the guys" can move it around. Then, look for a portable camp grill. Yes, most parks provide outdoor grills. However, do you really want to cook your hotdogs where a squirrel was just sitting? These are easy and fast to move around and set up, and you know what it was used for last (and how clean it is) when you use it. Also, to make it less likely to forget simple things, keep a small plastic storage container stocked with plastic utensils, napkins, paper plates, and plastic cups at all times. When you are ready, just pick it up and go.
3. Weekend Camping with the Family--Want to try camping for the weekend but don't want to give up your morning coffee, comfy bed, or hot breakfast? Worried about sleeping with bugs buzzing around your head or getting wet should it rain? No problem. First, be sure to choose a tent large enough for all your campers (even the furry ones) and your stuff (extra clothes, shoes, etc.) You will stay dry in the rain and bug-free as long as you don't leave the door open too long. Coleman Sundome tents, Eureka Timberline tents, and Eureka Copper Canyon tents are great affordable options and can sleep up to six in the Eureka Timberline and Coleman Sundome, and up to 12 in the Eureka Copper Canyon. Take along an air mattress for a good night's sleep. There is nothing like trying to sleep with a stick or rock in your ribs to put you in a less-than-good mood in the morning. If you plan to camp for an extended period of time, a cot may be the way to go. Also look into making things fun for your little ones with kid-sized sleeping bags and folding camp chairs. Take along outdoor games, card games, etc. to keep everyone entertained when the sun goes down. The next morning, heat water and a big breakfast on a camp stove. These are easy to set up and are available in propane or dual fuel models. No cold toaster pastries and water for you!
Whether your camping is surviving a power outage or spending the weekend in the great outdoors, a good camping supply store will have what you need to make "roughing it" a little more comfortable. Who knows, when you master one level, you just might want to up the stakes a little and "rough it" a little rougher next time.
1. The Neighborhood Power Outage--It was a dark and stormy night...and all of a sudden a black screen replaces the latest episode of your favorite sitcom, your dog jumps and growls as the smoke alarm chirps, and worst of all, the microwave and a/c are out. Perhaps a nearby transformer has been struck by lightening or a tree limb severed a line on its way to the ground. If this situation sounds too familiar, there may be a few items to make you indoor camping experience a bit more comfortable. First, consider a portable camp stove or portable grill. These are light and easy to set up, and after the rain clears, cooking outdoors is a snap. It may not be as fast as the microwave, but it will usually be faster than waiting for the power to come back on. Then, you might want to look for an electric lantern. Flashlights are great--unless you've ever tried to stand them up to illuminate a room. Most electric lanterns use fluorescent bulbs, and some are rechargeable. They also provide convenient hands-free illumination (let's face it, some situations prevent holding a flashlight) that's safe to use indoors.
2. An Afternoon in the Park--Saturday morning. The sun is shining, a few big white clouds float by, and the scorching days of summer have given way to the cool breezes that signal the start of fall. Why not kick of the season with an afternoon of (insert your favorite outdoor sport here) in the local park? You pack up (or call) your family and friends, and while this was an easy list to make, the list of supplies might be a bit harder. Soooo, start with a cooler. You want one that will keep your drinks and food cold, but drains easily once all the ice melts. Also, consider one on wheels so someone other than "the guys" can move it around. Then, look for a portable camp grill. Yes, most parks provide outdoor grills. However, do you really want to cook your hotdogs where a squirrel was just sitting? These are easy and fast to move around and set up, and you know what it was used for last (and how clean it is) when you use it. Also, to make it less likely to forget simple things, keep a small plastic storage container stocked with plastic utensils, napkins, paper plates, and plastic cups at all times. When you are ready, just pick it up and go.
3. Weekend Camping with the Family--Want to try camping for the weekend but don't want to give up your morning coffee, comfy bed, or hot breakfast? Worried about sleeping with bugs buzzing around your head or getting wet should it rain? No problem. First, be sure to choose a tent large enough for all your campers (even the furry ones) and your stuff (extra clothes, shoes, etc.) You will stay dry in the rain and bug-free as long as you don't leave the door open too long. Coleman Sundome tents, Eureka Timberline tents, and Eureka Copper Canyon tents are great affordable options and can sleep up to six in the Eureka Timberline and Coleman Sundome, and up to 12 in the Eureka Copper Canyon. Take along an air mattress for a good night's sleep. There is nothing like trying to sleep with a stick or rock in your ribs to put you in a less-than-good mood in the morning. If you plan to camp for an extended period of time, a cot may be the way to go. Also look into making things fun for your little ones with kid-sized sleeping bags and folding camp chairs. Take along outdoor games, card games, etc. to keep everyone entertained when the sun goes down. The next morning, heat water and a big breakfast on a camp stove. These are easy to set up and are available in propane or dual fuel models. No cold toaster pastries and water for you!
Whether your camping is surviving a power outage or spending the weekend in the great outdoors, a good camping supply store will have what you need to make "roughing it" a little more comfortable. Who knows, when you master one level, you just might want to up the stakes a little and "rough it" a little rougher next time.
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