Camping Tips for the Novice Camper

Camping out has exploded in popularity in the last 50 years, appealing to those who link healthy living with the great outdoors.

Camping equipment tips will save you time and money when collecting camping gear. The first thing that you should not do is to run out and buy all new equipment before you have ever gone camping. You should start purchasing equipment after you have been camping a number of times, in all weather conditions, and are convinced that you love it, and will continue doing it, on a regular basis.

Buying Equipment

This tip on buying camping equipment will save you a lot of money. Buying all brand new camping equipment can cost thousands of dollars. There are many opportunities to make great buys in used equipment because many people bought first before they tried camping. They have a bad experience the first time and then put their equipment up for sale.

Off season is a great time to buy. Make sure you take the time to set up that used tent on the spot so you can spot any flaws and also get tips from the previous owner. In addition, any paperwork that you can get from the owner will help you get maximum value when you re-sell the equipment.

Although you are going to buy used, I would recommend shopping for new until you determine what you want, then use craigslist and local classifieds to locate and make a great buy.

Tent

This camping tip, regarding tents, served me very well when I purchased my first tent. If the tent capacity is advertised at eight, it is truly six. If it says it will sleep four, it is truly three. Another important lesson I learned about tents involves circulation and ventilation. Both are much improved if you select a tent that has windows directly across from each other.

When I first learned this camping tip it really surprised me. Most camping tents are either made out of nylon or polyester. Neither one of these fabrics does very well in the direct sunlight for extended periods of time. If left out in direct sunlight over 30 days the fabric could be weakened by as much as 50%. This would make the fabric more likely to rip in windy conditions. Tent stacks that are long, heavy, and wide also help in windy conditions.

Finally, in closing, here is a combination camping and safety tip. Never start a fire or smoke while inside your tent.

Happy Camping!