Wilderness Camping Guides and Gear

Tents

Your home in the backwoods and shelter from the weather. There are many types, sizes and styles for different situations and applications... Learn More About Tents

Tent Alternatives

Other kinds of shelter choices that can be quite practical and lightweight for backpacking applications... Learn More About Tent Alternatives

Backpacks

A properly sized and correctly adjusted backpack can make carrying all your gear a breeze... Learn More About Backpacks

Sleeping Bags

Keeping you warm and comfortable to get a good nights sleep... Learn More About Sleeping Bags

Sleeping Pads

Added to a good quality bag to smooth out the bumps and keep you much warmer... Learn More About Sleeping Pads

Clothing

To make sure you are warm, dry and comfortable while you are on the trail... Learn More About Camp Appropriate Clothing

Additional Gear

There are many other items to make your wilderness experience easier, safer and more enjoyable... Learn More About Additional Gear

More Sites to the Great Outdoors

• Trailer Tent Guide

Wilderness Camping Guide - Advice and Tips

Tent Camping Tips

• »Tents are sized by how many "men" will fit inside. However, this is how many will barely fit; the tent will be very crowded. A two man sized tent is better for a single person as it offers a bit of room to move around. If you plan on camping in a two man tent with someone, make sure you are really good friends.



• »Tents are also rated as to what type of season they are made for. A one and two season tent has a body made with lots of mesh window material covered by a rain fly. A three or four season tent has more fabric on the body, less mesh window material and zip close panels on the windows. Pick a tent that will match the conditions you are likely to experience.



• »Many tent makers produce a "footprint", or "ground cloth", which is usually sold seperately. It is a heavyier fabric panel, coated for waterproofness, that fits under the tent floor. It protects your tent floor from rocks, twigs, debis and keeps it clean and dry. Often, you can use the footprint combined with the tent poles and rain fly to make a light-weight rain shelter.



• »If you don't have a footprint for your tent, make one out of heavy gauge plastic. Cut your footprint just smaller than the floor of your tent plus any area covered by the rain fly. You do not want any of the footprint sticking out beyond the outer border of the tent (or rainfly if using one) as it might catch rain and channel it under your tent between the plastic ground cloth and tent floor.



• »When taking down your tent, fold your footprint or plastic ground cloth so theside that was on the ground is on the inside of the fold. That way any dirt or moisture won't get on other items in your backpack. You can also pack it seperate from your tent in an outside pocket.



• »Look for tents with aluminium poles rather than fiberglass. Aluminium is lighter and more durable.



• »Some tents have what is called a vestibule. This is an area outside the body of the tent that is covered by the rainfly. A good feature to look for in a tent, as a vestibule is the perfect place to store any gear you don't need inside your tent - plus your boots. You can also store a small amount of firewood to keep it dry if rain is threatening.



• »When choosing a campsite watch out for overhead hazards (dead tree limbs and such), low lying areas that are prone to flood, or game and hiking trails. These need to be avoided.



• »If you pitch your tent in the treeline instead of out in the open it will stay cooler and won't collect the morning dew. Making it dryer to pack if you are moving in the morning.



• »If you will be breaking camp in the morning, empty your tent when you get up. Then, as you are fixing breakfast and getting things in order, you can move your tent and footprint/ground cloth out into the sun to dry prior to for packing.



• »Always keep your tent zipped up unless you are entering/exiting it. This keeps the bugs and other critters out. If you are leaving camp, make sure to close up the rainfly in case it rains while you are gone.



• »Once you have chosen a spot to pitch your tent, clear any debris ( twigs, leaves, rocks and stuff ). Spread out your tent's footprint or ground cloth, then lay on top of it where you plan to have your sleeping bag situated. If there is any sort of slope to the ground, make sure you are laying feet downhill. If you lay across the slope you will be fighting rolling into the wall of your tent, or if you lay head downhill, you will wake up with a nasty headache. Rotate your footprint/ground cloth accordingly and set up your tent.



• »Never have any food or scented items (gum, candy, deoderant, shampoo) inside your tent. Wild animals have a very keen sense of smell and won't hesitate to rip up your tent to get at it. All food and scented items should be stored in a seperae pack and suspended between two trees high enough that local wildlife won't be able to get it. Also, never cook or wear your trail clothes inside your tent. Besides having the smell of food on your clothes, you may have insects or perhaps poison ivy residue on them. Take them off before you get in your tent.



• »If you will be leaving your tent unattended, make sure to stake it to the ground. You don't want the wind to come up and take it for a ride.



• »When you buy a new tent, try setting it up to famaliarize yourself before going camping. Now is a good time to reinforce the waterproofing on the rainfly. There are many types of seam sealer available at camping stores. Take off the rainfly and turn it over, apply the sealer to all the stitching on the seams and let dry. Then take a bit of talcum or baby powder and dab it on the seams to keep the waterproofing from sticking when you pack your tent.



• »Always dry your tent when you return home. Even a slightly damp tent will mold and be ruined when packed away.



• »Think about alternatives to a tent like a bivy sack or hammock / bugnet / tarp set up.

Backpack Camping Tips

• »Choose a backpack that will fit your torso size and will be large enough to hold all your gear. Some packs are adjustable in length, and some are designed for women as well. Some also come with a detachable fanny or day pack for doing short hikes.



• »Once you have chosen a backpack, try loading it and then try adjusting it to see what is most comfortable for you. Generally, you'll want the sholder straps to bring in the pack as tight to your shoulders as possible. You want the distance between the shoulder and hip belt to be adjusted so the weight of the pack is split between them.



• »To put on your pack do the following: Have it loaded, bend over at the waist and hike the pack up high on your shoulders. Then tighten down the shoulder strap and connect the sternum strap. While you are still bent over, attach your hip belt and tighten snugly. Then, as you stand up straight, you should feel the weight of your backpack transfer to your shoulders and hips.



• »When loading your backpack try to keep as much of the weight as close to your back as possible. This helps to keep your pack from getting leverage on you, making you feel like you want to tip over backward. Since water is the heaviest thing you are likely to carry, try attaching your canteens to the hipbelt. Some packs come with a water bladder with a sip tube that you can drink from while you hike. That is a nice feature.



• »Try to load your pack with things you are less likely to need on the bottom. For instance: you would put your sleeping bag in first, then your sleep pad, then your tent, then your footprint/groundcloth. Packing this way will allow you to pull out the items in the order you'll be setting them up. Make sure to keep your rain gear on top.



• »Keep a large plastic garbage bag in an accessable outside pocket so when you arrive at your campsite, or stop for a rest, you can pull it out and spread it on the ground to put your backpack on. You can also use a corner of it to sit on as well. This will keep you and your pack clean and off the damp ground.



• »Cinch down all straps nice and tight and secure any loose or dangeling straps. You don't want your pack to shift around or get a loose strap end caught in anything.



• »Do not have anything hanging from your pack. As you walk it will swing around and quickly become bothersome.

Sleeping Bag / Sleeping Pad Tips

• »Sleeping bags are rated in temperature degrees as a way to determine which bag is suitable for the temperatures you may expect. This is a very optomistic rating and I would plan on being comfortable at a temperature no lower than 10 or 20 degrees above the rating of the bag. For instance, if you have a 20 degree sleeping bag and you sleep in anything lower than 30 degree weather you'll start to get cold.



• »Some sleeping bags come in long sizes for taller people, and some are made especially for women. Make sure to get the size right for you. As an example, I am 6'2" and around 210 lbs. I need a long size sleeping bag and one with a shoulder width of no less than 33".



• »A nice feature in some bags is to be able to zip open the area by your feet for venting and to keep your feet from getting too warm.



• »Never put your face inside your sleeping bag to sleep. Your breath will make your bag damp. Instead, try putting a tee shirt or other article of clothing over your face if it gets cold.



• »Pack a pair of nylon pants (non waterproof) and a lightweight wicking tee shirt to sleep in. The nylon pants keep your sleeping bag from bunching up when you roll around.



• »You should never wear your trail clothes to sleep in. You may bring in insects or, worse yet, poison ivy residue. A friend of mine wore his trail shirt in his sleeping bag and ended up with poison ivy all over himslef and his sleeping bag. It took him a long time to get his bag useable after this, so be smart - not sorry.



• »When you get out of your sleeping bag, turn the foot portion inside-out to let it dry out before packing.



• »Pack a pair of nylon pants ( non waterproof ) and a lightweight wicking tee shirt to sleep in. The nylon pants keep your sleeping bag from bunching up when you roll around. You should never wear your trail clothes to sleep in. You may bring in insects, or worse yet, poison ivy residue. A friend of mine wore his trail shirt in his sleeping bag and ended up with poison ivy all over himslef and his sleeping bag. It took him a long time to get his bag useable after this.



• »If the weather is cold and damp don't unpack your sleeping bag until you are ready to get in it. This keeps it protected and safe until you are ready for it.



• »take your sleeping bag out of the stuff sack when not in use for long term storage. This helps to keep the insulation from being compressed and will extend the life of your bag.



• »If you choose an self inflating or inflatable mattress make sure to bring your patch kit incase of a puncture.



• »Some sleeping pads come with additional insulation inside. This really helps to keep the chill out.



• »Store your mattress partially inflated and flat to help keep it from developing creases that over time cause leaks.