Camping How To

Camping for the first time can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. With a little bit of planning, and the right gear you'll find yourself having a wonderful time in the great outdoors. To help, we've prepared a simple Camping How To.

1. The first thing you will want to consider is what type of camping you will be doing. There are basically two types:
   1. Backpacking - where you access your campsite by foot. You carry all your camping gear you will need in a backpack. Because you'll be carrying all your gear, comfort is usually sacrificed for weight, or lack of.
   2. Car Camping - where you access your campsite by car. All your camping gear is in the car that you drive to your campsite. Car camping allows for greater comfort and luxury because you can bring whatever fits in your car. This is the easiest way to start camping.
2. The next important part of camping is Camping Gear or Equipment. Car camping gear includes most importantly a tent for shelter and sleeping pads or mattresses for a good night sleep. Other items include your clothing, outdoor furniture, cooking gear, and sleeping bags. We'll give a few suggestions for each below, but be sure and do more of your own research.
   1. Tent - Your tent is arguably the most important part of your gear because it is your home-away-from-home. You'll store gear, get out of any inclement weather (which happens), and most importantly sleep here. Do not skimp when it comes to your tent. ComforTrails™ Tents feature our exclusive patent-pending features of combining a tent with the option to have single-height air mattresses inserted in the floor of the tent. This makes setting-up, taking-down, and storing your tent as easy as 1-2-3. Take a look at some of the other great features of ComforTrails™ Tents:
      • Built-in pocketed floor system that can hold removable air mattresses ranging in size from a single twin to a king
      • Sleeps 4-5 campers
      • Convenient carrying bag holds: the tent, tent parts, air mattress, & pump
      • Attached fully enclosed vestibule
      • Zipper mesh screen door at the vestibule & main chamber
      • Zipper guard at vestibule door to help channel water from zipper & seam
      • Interior gear pouches (2)
      • Mesh roof panels in top of dome, allowing for ultimate breathability and star gazing
      • Lantern hook
      • Rear mesh window with zip-up solid flap
      • water-resistant tent
      • Built-in guy lines (10)
      • Rain fly included
   2. Sleeping Pads or Mattresses - The thicker the more comfortable. Our air mattresses, single high twin or queen, are recommended for use with ComforTrails Tents. Great for campers that need a simple air mattress with high marks in comfort, affordability, and ease of use. The ComforTrails Tents patent-pending pocketed floor system can hold any single high air mattress ranging in size from a single twin to a king.
   3. Clothing - Dress in layers with synthetic layers closest to your body. This allows moisture to be wicked away from your skin keeping you dry and warm. Avoid cotton.
   4. Outdoor Furniture - Campsite can be dusty and dirty. You are in the great outdoors after all. Still, camping doesn't have to be uncomfortable. It's nice to have a comfortable place to sit and a table to cook on your campsite doesn't include a picnic table. Buy some inexpensive folding camp furniture at your local sporting goods store.
   5. Cooking Gear - You'll need a camp stove to cook your meals. A two-burner stove that works on compressed gas is a must. They are the easy to use and last forever. You'll also need pots and pans, utensils, and paper or plastic plates. Don't forget your kitchen tools like a spatula, big spoon, sharp knife, can-opener, and wine-opener.
   6. Sleeping Bags - You're sleeping bag is also and important piece if camping equipment. Sleeping bags generally come with a minimum temperature range that they will work in. For typical car camping, a 0°F or 20°F bag should be fine depending on what time of the year your going to camp and where. Some people even have more than one bag to use in different conditions. There are two main types of sleeping bag insulation:
      • Down - Goose or duck down is an extremely light-weight and compressible insulation. This makes it desirable for back-packing. The main drawbacks of down is that it can be more expensive and if it gets wet, it is slow to dry.
      • Synthetic - Man-made fibers do not compress as easily, and generally weigh more than down, but tend to dry faster and are less expensive. A synthetic sleeping bag is usually best for car camping.
      • Campsites - There are thousands of camp sites and finding the perfect one might take some time. National and State Parks are a great value around the world and can often be reserved in advance online, over the phone, or through the mail. There are also lots of guide books that will give you descriptions and maps of parks and campgrounds. It's best to explore and see what you can find.

   We hope our Camping How To helps you to get out in the wilds as soon as possible. There is a lot of the world out there to see. And we hope a ComforTrails™ Tent will help you see that world in comfort.