The Camping Outfitter

The real joy of a camping outing is in sitting under the open sky with a cracking fire at your feet to keep you warm. However, this is also the part that most people find difficult since it is not easy to start a fire in the wild, though my Australian friends would differ on that! Preparing cotton balls which are soaked in petroleum jelly is a great option as this keeps the fire burning for a few minutes.

Coating a stiff cardboard with wax from a candle or any other source is a pretty useful tool to start a fire. An alternate option to the petroleum jelly balls is to extend the same concept to wax. Soaking a cotton ball in molten wax, allows its absorb the wax and expand. Store these in a plastic bag and when you need to use them, you can just pull a few strands of the cotton to light the fire.

Yes, you can take that awesome camping tent of yours and have a blast when you go out on your next outdoor trip.  It’s not just for hunting or hiking excursions.  Check out this new article to get you going:

When Did Camping Tents Become Toys For Kids?

The beautiful snow flakes that cover the forrest and park are one of the most pleasant sites to behold.  There’s almost no better way to enjoy the scenery than actually experiencing it while on a winter camping trip.  Our newest article will give you some guidance as to how to properly prepare:

Camping Gear And Tips For A Winter Escape

Especially if you live in the north, you realize what a frigid winter this has been and will continue to be.  However, that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the outdoors.  Read our new article to find out some tips on picking out the right camping gear for the winter months:

Choosing The Right Camping Gear For Winter

Many backpackers who are hiking in good weather conditions decide to forgo carrying an outdoor tent and instead just pick a lightweight tarp or pad.  But it is always a good idea to carry an emergency tent in case weather conditions turn bad or ill health strikes.  Fortunately, there are many extremely light weight emergency tents on the market that make a great choice for a backpacker.

Lightweight emergency tents add only a few ounces to the backpacker’s load and can be set up in mere moments with no equipment.  Most fit a single person, but some can be found that will fit two.  Many hikers have been saved by having had the foresight to carry an emergency tent.  Carrying a tarp is not a good alternative, because it can take a long time to set up the tarp adequately to protect you from the weather.  In the case of a sudden storm, you won’t have any time to spare.  You certainly don’t want to be caught out in the storm shivering while struggling to anchor a tarp that keeps threatening to blow away.

Regardless of what kind of camping equipment you own, flashlights, kayaks, canoes, etc., if you don’t take good care of them you are going to shorten their life.  Check out TheCampingOutfitter.com’s newest article for excellent maintenance tips:

How To Take Care Of Camping Equipment

When camping it’s important to have the right camping gear for your trip.  Having too little gear can make the experience a little more difficult.  For example, if you’re planning starting a fire and cooking out, not having a match or lighter to light your fire can make it more difficult than it needs to be.  Forgetting the stakes for your tent can render your tent almost useless.

Before you set out, make sure you thoroughly think your trip through from start to finish.  Make a note of everything you’ll need for each part of your camping experience.  Planning ahead like this will make your camping trip so much more relaxed as you can feel confident you’ve got everything you need.

You want to be sure you plan for any issues that might come up, beyond your typical camping activities. For example, it’s always a good idea to have a well stocked first-aid kit. So long as you’re careful and pay attention to what you’re doing, it’s unlikely you’ll need it but you can never be too prepared.

There are a lot of different types of campgrounds you can take advantage of on your camping trip.  The best place for you will depend on exactly what you’re looking for in a camping experience.  Some people like to go camping in a secluded wooded area. This can make them feel closer to nature.  Those who choose this type of camping experience will have a lot of privacy but will also need to make sure they bring extra camping gear. They won’t have access to things like electricity or running water and will need to make sure they pack accordingly.

Others prefer a more structured camp site.  This will be in a group camping area that will have lots of different campers around. This is nice because they get to meet a lot of new people and maybe even make life long friends.  They also will likely have access to running water and electricity.  Some campgrounds even come with a kitchen that campers are able to use.  This is nice because the campers get to have a lot of amenities, which means they can travel lighter, but they will miss out on some of the more rustic aspects of camping.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  Camping is one of those endevours that is excellent for any time of the year and almost under any conditions and locations…which makes it so great.  It can be done as an individual, as a family, or as friends.  But if ever there was one particular season or time of year to camp outdoors, it’s beyond a shadow of a doubt autumn.  Read our new article to discover why:

Outdoor Camping In Autumn

Flashlights are not all one and the same.  Some are more efficient than others in different situations and circumstances when out hunting or hiking.  Read TheCampingOutfitter.com’s latest article to find out why this is so:

Why You Need A Dependable Flashlight

….or at least close to it!  Check out TheCampingOutfitter.com’s latest article to discover a couple of things you need to do in order to make sure you extend the life of your camping flashlight:

Extending The Life Of Your Flashlight

A buck knife can prove to be your best friend when outdoors camping, hiking, hunting, picnicing, or anything else in between.  Read our latest article to catch up on why a buck knife is so important and some tips behing their use:

Use Buck Knife For Your Wilderness Trip

If you are a camper who often finds yourself camping in the rain, or even the hail, sleet or snow, you will probably want to purchase an all weather tent. Not only will it protect you from any precipitation you may encounter, an all weather tent can also act as an insulator to the cold weather. Of course, all weather tents are more expensive than a tent that is designed for use in the Spring or Summer – but paying that little bit extra really can mean the difference between a successful, comfortable camping trip and a miserable time in the woods.

There are many different types of all weather tents for you to choose from, so you will want to make sure to pick one that best suits your needs. If you are hiking alone to a campsite, for example, there is no need for that large 6 person tent; all it’s going to do is take up space in your pack and weigh you down. On the other hand, you’ll want to make sure you have something that is big enough to store your gear when it’s not in use, as well.