Camping Now asked:


Buying a camping stove can be a tricky business. You want to make sure you get the right one for you. If you are hiking you need to get something that is compact and will carry easily. A trangia might be a good idea if you need something small, or if you are only cooking for yourself. A Trangia cimbines the methanol burner with all of the equipment that you need to do your cooking. If you are travelling by car then you can go fo a setup as large as you like, right up to a full kitchen set (if it takes your fancy!). Some camping stoves also come with wind protectors, which can be very useful if you’re camping outside.

camping stoves run on a variety of fuels and the type of fuel you will be using will play an important factor in your decision.

The most popular fuel is butan or propane gas or a propane/butane mix. These come in cartridges or refillable cylinder. This type of fuel is predictable and stable, lights easily and performs well, and is controllable in terms of the level of heat you require. The cartridges or cylinders attach directly to the stove. Resealable cartridges are good as they can be removed from the stove, so there is no chance of the gas being switched on accidentally. These smaller stoves are more suited to be sed with smaller pans and cookware sets and cannot comfortably accomodate larger pans.

Larger stoves often use cylinders attached with a gas hose and regulator. This aren’t carried easily so are only suitable if you are travelling by car. These stoves often include a lid and side wind shield. If you are camping in low temperatures, propane is more suitable than butane as it freezes at lower temperatures.

Pressure stoves run on pressurised petroleum. They can get very hot and are very fuel efficient. These types of cookers come in a range of sizes, from small compact burners suitable for backpackers to double burners suitable for families.

Methylated spirit stoves run on meths which, as a liquid, doesn’t need to be pressurised. It is instant lighting and there is no need for preheating. Meths produces an almost colourless flams so care needs to be taken in the daytime. meths only really gives about half the heat of the alternatives so isn’t the most efficiant. The most common types of meths burners is the trangia range which are simple to use, compact lightweight and cost efficient.

You might want to consider the price of the gas refills or methelated spirits when making your purchase. And don’t forget to take spares! There’s nothing worse than having the food to cook with no means to cook it.

If you have small children then safety may be an issue. You might want something that is stable and safe when there are footballs flying about! so you can go for something with a stand



Robin

Camping Now asked:


Buying sleeping bags can be a difficult task, with prices ranging from a few pounds to a few hundred. Ultimately you have to ask what you want to use it for. The sleepig bag is an important part of the kit. If you are hiking then you ideally want something that will pack tightly and is quite lightweight, such as a compact sleeping bag, although you have to be careful as these sometimes don’t provide the best insulation. Temperatures drop at night more than ost people expect, even in the middle of sumer so you should make sure you’re prepared. A sleeping bag traps the warm air around your body which provides the best insulation possible. The best sleeping bag is one which allows moisture to escape while keeping warm air trapped.If you are in a couple, you might prefer a double sleeping bag (there is no better central heating than the body heat of someone else.

Slepping bags are given temperature rating based upon their intended use. One season sleeping bags are designed for use in the sumer months only and aren’t suitable for camping in the winer (they just won’t keep you warm). Two season sleeping bags are suitable for the extended summer months (from early spring to late autumn, but aren’t suitable for sub zero temperatures. Three season sleeping bags will provide warmth in temperatures which are slightly sub zero and four season bags are designed to be used all year round and will be the most expensive type of sleeping bag.

Temperature ratiings should be taken as a general rule, remember, temperatures can drop below zero in spring, particularly at higher altitudes so you should follow specfic directions of the manufacturer. The amount of heating that different people will need can vary widly, with some people requiring more warmth than others.

What you sleep on is also very important, a good ground mat provides great insulation and is very important when camping.

If you are just planning on camping in the summer, you probably don’t need to spend too much, if you are looking at trecking, climbing, mountaineering etc then you really want to look at the top end, as the cheaper models simply won’t keep you warm enough. You might also want to consider a “bivvy bag”, as this can be useful in emergencies, or if temperatures drop lower than expected.

The fill in sleeping bags can be made of a wide range of things, most commonly goose, duck or down. Down is the warmest and often most expensive but not very good if it gets wet.

You may aso want to look out for a bag with a 2 way zip so you can stick your feet out the bottom. Double sleeping bags are also available and singles that join together to form a double. Insulated zips are also important if it gets very cold. A good ground mat is also an essential. They are only cheap and provide excellent insulation.



Dora

Rachel Nunez asked:


I attended a youth camp in southern part of my country last September. Winter season was almost over alas, that was I thought. With my camping sleeping bag with me, I was confident during that time that I will be fine. However, when darkness came, the next thing I knew was I was crawling out of my warm bag and freezing in cold in my tent as temperature persisted to drop as traces of winter madness. I went to my friend’s tent and there, ashamed as I was, shared their camping Heater and spent the whole night with them. Lesson learned: Sleeping bags are good, but camping Heaters are better.

I guess what I can do now to repay my dear friend’s kindness is to spread the good news so no one will ever have to go through to where I have been. The good news: Camping Heaters are absolutely one of the most fantastic and coolest camping tools ever created. Campers who have attempted and done numerous experimentations before to heat their tents rarely report success, and some were not really able to report anything at all as they became victims of carbon monoxide poisoning or because their tents have been burned.

There are heaps of camping Heaters available in the market today as our modern and ever changing technology made it possible. If you are lucky enough to go on camping on a place with electricity, you can just bring your Electric Space Heater inside your tent. However, you must be responsible enough to keep an eye on your electric camping Heater because I bet that the next possible thing you want to see is to witness your tent on fire or be electrocuted. That is why it is best that you do not leave it unattended otherwise, you will end up in a big trouble.

Gas Catalytic Camping Heaters, on the other hand, are more desirable especially if you are camping with kids. This is safer compared to electric heater as it makes use of propane without an open flame. Even huge companies, cargo ships, and military are utilizing this kind of camping Heater.

Another type of camping Heater is what we call the Hot Vent Camping Heater. This is very easy to use compared to other types of camping Heaters as this kind of heater is placed outside the tent. Only the air tubes are inserted inside your tent emitting safe dry hot air.

Although our modern generations almost make all things possible, it is still entirely up to us how we are going to make use of these inventions. One should not go for just low price or convenience but more importantly, for our safety when using a camping Heater. It is important that we consider how safe and not just how warm or how cheap or how handy our camping Heater is! No one wants to end up in a hospital and missing the fun of the camp’s activities just because our heater is not safe enough for a night sleep.

One way to ensure our safety in the camp is to keep in mind that whenever we use our camping Heater, there must always be a room for ventilation. We should leave a vent or window open to permit air and moisture to circulate. At the end of the day, our tent will be warmer if we get rid of the natural dampness that builds up through the night. It is a No-No to seal off every space in our tent thinking that it will be warmer and better. Otherwise, we may end up being suffocated with dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

In the end, it all boils down to extreme cautiousness in whatever type of camping Heater we may choose in the market. It is a must that we may be able to choose the one safe not just for us but for everybody in the camp as we want nothing else but to enjoy every moment in that camp experience with everybody. After all, camping Heaters are definitely the next best thing to make the most of your camp trip.



Virginia