Tips On How to Camp in comfort

Any fool can be uncomfortable!

Here at Outdoor Revival HQ we spend a fair amount of night a year under the stars, we camp under tarps, in hammocks, tents and bivi’s and we love it.

One of the reasons that we love it so much is that after years we know how to be comfortable and that makes all the difference. Sure, sometimes we’re not very comfortable, but that’s usually because we’re trying something out or we forgot to pack something or even because we just didn’t think something through enough leaving us in a situation where we just need to get on with it.

On the whole though, we’re comfortable and we want to be, we recognise that having a good nights rest is really important, if you’ve hiked all day and you’re aching you don’t’ want your sleeping conditions to make things worse, if you’re cold and you need a warm drink you need to be able to provide it and thus enhance your comfort.

Here’ are a few tips on being more comfortable when you’re camping.

Being comfortable can be an important consideration for someone planning a camping trip. Discomfort can really spoil a family holiday or even an individual’s time to recharge.

Firstly, avoid damp and hard surfaces. That means avoid sleeping on the ground, especially on grass. You can buy cots or use an air mattress instead. As well as sleeping soundly, you would be less prone to waking with a bad back, which can really spoil your day.

Secondly, find some quality sleeping bags. The kids will probably sleep anywhere, but if the parents want to enjoy the vacation, they need to have a full nights sleep. If you have a good sleeping bag, you shouldn’t need to bring extra blankets and they should last for years.

For cooking, you may want to go for the campfire experience, but you can’t rely on the weather. If the conditions aren’t any good, you’ll need a good quality cooker. This is good if the campers you’re with worry that their food is not cooked through. You can also choose multi-purpose cookers which will provide light as well as heat, and some models even recharge electronic devices. Some cookers will efficiently use just a few pieces of wood, reducing the need to collect piles of firewood. For food preparation, you can purchase portable kitchens that fold out quite easily, although you don’t want to be carrying these on your back so they’re more for car camping than backpacking.

You can also choose multi-purpose cookers which will provide light as well as heat, and some models even recharge electronic devices. Some cookers will efficiently use just a few pieces of wood, reducing the need to collect piles of firewood. For food preparation, you can purchase portable kitchens that fold out quite easily, although you don’t want to be carrying these on your back so they’re more for car camping than backpacking.

Bring a good quality battery-powered flashlight. Many gas lamps are outdated and smell rather bad, not to mention dangerous. Some batteries will last six days or more if you pick the right flashlight, and you don’t have to worry about them. Another option is to use a hand charged torch if you’re worried about batteries, be warned though that these often need a regular charging or the batteries can fail.

Pack clothes that are appropriate for the weather. If the weather fluctuates, wear clothes in layers so you can strip some off when the weather becomes warmer.

Be sure to take a list of all your camping gear. Know what you’re bringing and make sure it’s suited to your comfort levels. This may require some extra money, but good quality equipment should last a lifetime. Check camping stores online to see what is available, as they might have sales during the holidays. Remember, camping should be an enjoyable experience and it can be if you prepare for your trip.

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We live in a beautiful world, get out there and enjoy it.

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