June 07 2011

Camping Mattress – A Bed for Everyone

A modern camping mattress makes the idea of a family camping trip an exciting option even for less than enthusiastic campers in your family. If you are one who enjoys time in the great outdoors, camping may be a passion for you.

One of the biggest benefits in the camping experience is the multitude of options available as accommodations. State parks across the country have small rustic cabins you can rent. These may be one room enclosures or may be one or even two bedroom styles with a small kitchen and living area. Almost always such a cabin will have a screened porch or a deck looking out over the trees or the water.

Long time campers have their own version of a cabin in rolling trailers and vehicles with every comfort of home. It’s a great way to travel. Campgrounds have a reputation for friendliness that you won’t find when staying in a motel. People are always willing to give directions or help you out, your kids will have other children to meet and play with. Campgrounds are well know for their friendly neighborhood atmosphere.

Pros
Renting a cabin is often an option for parents of very young children or for retirees who make infrequent camping trips. The price is usually about the same as a standard motel room and there is plenty of outdoor space you won’t find with a commercial lodging.

In the larger parks, the cabin area is usually supplied with a limited access entry which adds to the safety factor and keeps the traffic down in the area. The beds will have mattresses in place but some travelers prefer to also bring their own inflatable mattress or foam pad to increase the comfort of a cabin bed. Others use their own camping pad to avoid sleeping on a mattress that may have been used by many other people.

Whether staying in a cabin in a state park or driving your own luxury camper, you will have a better trip with a good mattress to sleep on.

If you like roughing it you may choose a simple tent for shelter when camping. This is the choice most likely to generate complaints from other family members. For a wife or teen who enjoy their comfort, sleeping on the ground holds little appeal.

A camping mattress can convince your family to try a weekend campout they might otherwise avoid. Knowing they can have a comfortable bed removes one big objection to tent camping. For backpack campers, some type of padding is almost a necessity after a long day of hiking and carrying a heavy pack.

Cons
The type of camping mattress you choose must suit the type of camping you plan to do. If you have a van or truck that can be loaded down with your tent and other supplies, you can choose from a wide choice of mattress types.

If you are planning a trip backpacking through the wilderness, the size and weight of your camping mattress are of the utmost concern. Every item added to the backpack increases the weight you must carry. This dictates an inflatable mattress as the best choice for backpackers. A thin, lightweight foam pad is another option as this can be rolled with the backpack and tied to the top of the pack frame.

Price is not a huge consideration when choose camp bedding. Unless you are looking for a specialized or luxury product, prices are reasonable and competitive.

Features
An inflatable camping mattress is always a good choice. Today’s air mattresses often have a built-in air pump to both inflate and deflate the mattress. You can unfold your air mattress and have it ready to use in just a few minutes. In the morning you can be folding it up again seconds after you wake up.

The quality of the air pump for these mattresses is critical. If this is your choice you should buy the best quality you can afford and pay special attention to the manufacturer’s reputation for reliability.

Of course, the big problem with an inflatable is the likelihood of punctures to the surface of the product. There are patches available to fix small leaks and use of a ground cloth will help avoid punctures as well.

For smaller children, there is an inflatable air mattress designed to help them stay in the bed and reduce the risk of rolling off the surface. In this product, there is a separate air chamber about 6-8” wide around all sides of the mattress. This area inflates slightly higher than the sleeping surface in the center and provides a soft rail to help keep children safe. This mattress is also a good option when staying in a rustic cabin as often beds in the cabins are bunk sized which might pose a risk of small children falling off during the night.

Camping mattresses fall under several categories in consumer products. They may be listed as sleeping pads or air beds or foam pads. If you have a pickup truck or a long van you use for family trips you can find a mattress specifically designed to fill the cargo space and turn it into a large bed. The more detailed your requirements are for features you need, the higher the price will go.

A camping mattress can be used for more than simple camping trips. If you travel for long hours on car trips you can find small mattresses that will make it easier for children to sleep in the back seat of your car. If your dog goes everywhere with you a travel mattress made of foam with a sturdy cover will provide a soft place for your pup to sleep in the back of your SUV.

Summary
A camping mattress may be anything from a 1” thick memory foam pad to an air bed. It can also be a more standard mattress of about 4” thick if you have the space to carry it to a camping spot.  Your mattress may do double duty if you choose one that will cushion the back seat of a car of the cargo bay in your van.

These products are easy to find in camping stores and online. Consider durability, easy of use, weight and cost – and sleep well when camping.

May 31 2011

Why Are Big Agnes Sleeping Bags So Popular?

Big agnes sleeping bag are protective bags used by people for sleeping in. They are more like blankets that can be closed for example using something like a zip. Their main function is to cover up in situations where the beds are not available for example during hiking, camping, hill climbing and other such like outdoor functions.

Sleeping bags are used to provide warmth, thermal insulation, and comfy to people away from their bedrooms. They can also be use in case where there are no enough beds especially in a sleep over event.

Different materials are used to make sleeping bags. Such materials include synthetic which is said to be the most common fiber. It has good character like ability to dry easily, is not water absorbent and is also said to provide warmth even when it might be toughly soaked in   wetness.

Other materials that have come up include cotton and wool which are also been used but not as much effective as the synthetic fiber. There are different kinds of sleeping bags. Other big agnes sleeping bag include Cross mountain, Gold sleek, Crystal, Gunn sleek, REM mummy work, Lost ranger and REM sleeping pad.

Few tips are necessary in achieving the best sleeping bags for your outdoor experience. They include ensuring that the bags have the kind of insulation that you need. Some people prefer synthetic insulation which is good for people who are allergic as compared to down insulation.

In addition, they should be able to proof moisture and match with the kind of season that you are holding your functions .That is some people need down one that absorbs moisture as compare to synthetic which doesn’t.

Moreover, it is also important to choose the shape of the sleeping bag in which to you need to use such has mummy, semi-rectangular and rectangular for you own pleasure. Shapes like rectangular are more spacious and comfortable.

Finally, It is worth noting that after all these good features that the sleeping bags offer, it is only good that you return with the knowledge of maintaining them for best results.

May 31 2011

Preparations Before Getting That Family Camping Tents

Camping is a nice excuse of taking your family out for a vacation that they will live to remember. It is also a great way to ensure that your family will have bonding time while enjoying the out doors.

You must be well prepared though when you plan on taking them for a camping vacation. Know what you need in advance to avoid disasters that could have been avoided with good preparations.

When you decide where you will take them, the next thing will be to find out the size of the family camping tent that will fit your family. There are two options; getting a big tent with compartments or two tents. One for the children and one for the parents.

This will ensure that everyone will get their privacy but still be on the same place. To ensure that everyone will be comfortable enough to enjoy the vacation on a tent, ask everyone involved what they would prefer.  Tents are very elaborate and you can find some with different rooms and also different levels.

The next thing you will need to find out is the cost of the tent and how easy it will be to assemble it when you reach your destination. Do not go for a cheap tent if you can afford it. You will always get what you pay for.

You should get a camping tent that will not only offer you protection and shelter but one that will also last for years. It is the first time you are going out for the camping make sure that the tent you get will be easy to assemble. This will prevent you from reaching there only to find out you cannot pitch the tent.

To get the best tent ideas look at the information that is on the net. You can also do the shopping online. You will also get information on the best models that will suit family camping. Also read the recommendation parts to know what other families are using. Then you can be assured you will have a good time camping with your family.

May 31 2011

Ideal Backpacking Sleeping Bags

Sleeping in wild camps can be enhanced by the right choice of backpacking sleeping bags. There are so many types that one can find it hard to select the suitable one. To lessen the burden of choosing the right one you must be guided by a number of factors. Although these bags serve the same purpose, their convenience to your sleeping needs should ultimately guide you to find the ideal one.

First, the backpacking down sleeping bags should provide adequate cover and warmth. You should be able to tuck yourself completely in your sleeping bag and not just lie on it (e.g camper mattress) . This is crucial because sleeping in such places requires that you get adequate warmth. Temperatures may drop so badly at night and you may be forced to put on additional clothing to keep yourself warm.

Backpacking hiking sleeping bags should not be exquisite or grand in design. There purpose should therefore inform you about the right choice when shopping for one. Ideally, they should not be bright in color. If you sleep on dirt, it will just get dirty and you may not like to sleep on it. Worse still you will find it difficult to wash. So you need to look for one that will not require much cleaning.

Ideal backpacking sleeping bags should also be easy to fold and carry. Your size will determine which one fits you. They should have good straps and zips should be properly fixed. Traveling with a defective sleeping bag will cause a lot of disappointment because you will not get adequate cover. You will also be forced to use a separate strap when folding them.

Such backpacking sleeping backs are no hard to find and they don’t cost a fortune. If you value your sleep and the warmth of your body, then you will not compromise on the quality of sleeping bag.