Four Steps To Becoming A Great Camper

Four Steps To Becoming A Great Camper by Larry Gilliam

I notice that more and more people are discovering the joys of outdoor living. All types of people: young and old, rich and poor, big families and singles. They have packed up their clothes and grabbed a sleeping bag - and off they go, seeking adventure in the peace and calm of the great outdoors. Perhaps you would like to be one of them - or perhaps you have had some bad times outdoors. We're here to tell you: you can be a better camper this summer!

What is your first priority? Well, believe it or not, it's having the right type of shelter. Once you have finally arrived at your destination, what will you stay in - where will you sleep? Two basic choices in outdoor lodging are the tent or the trailer. Many people choose to live and sleep in a tent, as this has a price advantage: a tent costs much less than a trailer. But what if the weather is bad? Then a tent may not seem like such a great idea. If you do want to use a tent , you will find many options: there are a multitude of tent designs and sizes to choose from, from a one or two man pup tent, all the way up to large family size camping tents.

Perhaps you would rather go with a trailer instead of a tent? Well, you also have many choices: compact trailers, pop-ups, large RV's. It is perhaps best to choose a trailer if you will be camping during any time of the year when the weather might be bad. There's nothing worse (in my opinion) than being stuck in a tent for a week when it is raining every day (I have had this happen to me)! Many people are reluctant to purchase a trailer because of the greater cost, but it is possible to find good used camping trailers at a fraction of their original selling price.

Once you have your shelter squared away, perhaps the next question to ponder is: Where will you cook in the outdoors? If you have purchased a trailer with a built-in kitchen, this will be a non-issue, as you will have a place to cook. However, if you have purchased a tent, then perhaps you should also think about purchasing a good camp stove.

Camp stoves come in various sizes and types: small, lightweight units for backpackers and mountaineers, large single burner units with a large capacity fuel tank, multi-burner units for feeding a hungry family - there are even some camp stoves that have built in ovens for baking! And when you buy your camp oven, don't forget to buy accessories, such as utensils, attachable griddles, lights for cooking at night and replacement hoses and burners.

What else will you need to take on your wilderness trek? Well, consider this: when you need to spend some time sitting at your campsite, what will you sit on? Take it from me: let the kids sit on the old logs and tree stumps - you need something more comfortable than that! One of your wisest purchases will be a good camping chair. The latest models are both lightweight and very sturdy - capable of holding hundreds of pounds of weight, and they won't collapse!

There is one more necessity that you just can't afford to be without: a good camping first aid kit. Again, I must share my experience with you: if you are out-of-doors, in a wilderness area, and a medical emergency arises, YOU are the doctor. A camping first aid kit will help you treat injuries like snake bites, or broken bones, as well as the simple stuff like sunburn and bee stings. People's lives have been saved because someone thought to bring a camping first aid kit along - don't forget yours!

It's a safe bet that once you have selected the proper shelter you will use, outfitted your outdoor kitchen, have some comfy chairs, and are prepared for first aid emergencies, that you will be more prepared than ever to hit the trails and have some camping fun. As always, select products that are good-quality, buy from a reputable dealer, ask about warranties, and don't forget to comparison shop. Don't rush in to making purchases (especially for things like trailers and tents) - you might want to spend time this year researching for next year's purchase. And don't forget to have fun camping in the outdoors this summer!

Author: Larry Gilliam talks about camping, the outdoors and Coleman Camping Stoves Learn more aboutFolding Camping Trailers by stopping by his website.
Get your own completely unique content version of this article.

Article Directory: Article Dashboard