Essential Camp Gear: Airbeds and Backpacks

Camping can be a dangerous activity; at least, it can be if you do it anywhere outside of a backyard or secure camping area. Without the proper gear and training one could be hurt or otherwise made miserable by the experience. Likewise, camping is an activity that takes a fair amount of planning to execute. Without making a list of supplies, anyone could forget something vital. And if this forgotten item is vital enough, one may have to backtrack home to retrieve it and thus taking time out of camping. This kind of error could essentially kill a weekend.

This is why it is necessary to make sure everything is packed and ready before setting off. Flashlights, tents, food, among other essentials are needed. Today I’d like to talk about a couple other very important items: the backpack and airbed.

The backpack is a camper’s, hiker’s, and biker’s essence in the woods. It typically cares everything that is vital for a trip which is particularly crucial hiking. One never knows when basic medical aid and food may be needed. A backpack can be viewed as the life blood of anyone who enjoys adventuring in the outdoors.

Because of this, it is critical choosing the right backpack for the trip. Make sure it has enough pockets to hold and protect necessary items. If it cannot hold enough volume then it is probably time to look for a pack. Also, make sure you choose a backpack that has been made out of sturdy straps and material. It will be a pain if it breaks mid-trip and needs to be cared by hand rather than a person’s shoulders.

Choosing the proper air mattress for camping, while not life critical, is very useful if you do not want to incur the expense of buying a new one every year. These are also useful and will make the trip less miserable if you are older and have a back that doesn’t do well on solid, uneven ground. For these make sure they are also made of thick plastic and strong material. You don’t want an airbed to pop and deflate or else you might have not brought one at all. Also, check to see if it seals well. Any air leaks and you’ll wake up on an airless mattress.

Hopefully, next time you go camping you’ll take these tips and warnings to heart. Always make sure your gear is top notch, you never know when someone’s life may depend on it.

Justin Oliver has an aero airbed store and has written a great potato salad recipe.