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Tent Camping EquipmentThere are many things to consider when purchasing equipment for tent camping: The size of your family, the season you will be camping in, the length of camping trips you will be taking, and the campgrounds you will be staying in just to name a few. This article will give you an introduction to some of the essentials you will need. As you camp more, you will find other helpful items.Camping TentsDon't skimp on your camping tent. It is the most important piece of camping equipment. Spend a little more and get a high quality tent. In the long run, it will pay off. Cheaper tents tend to leak, the zippers break, the poles aren't as strong or light as more expensive models. They are usually harder to put up, although today's tents are all pretty simple to put up.Camping tents come in all shapes and sizes. There are large family camping tents on down to small backpacking tents. Tents are described as the number of people they will sleep (two person, four person, six person, etc.). Double this number if you want your family to be comfortable. If you are a family of four, try to get a 6 to 8 person tent. The one exception is if you will be backpacking and weight and packed size matter. If your children are old enough and show the desire, you may want to consider purchasing two tents, or a two room tent. 25-30 square feet of floor space per person is a good rule of thumb. If you are planning longer camping trips, try to get even a bigger tent. You should also consider the height of the tent. Make sure it is at least 6 inches to a foot taller than the tallest person in your camping family. You should take the footprint of your tent (length and width) into consideration too. If you are six feet tall or more, you need at one seven foot side to lay down comfortably. Multiply that by 3 feet wide, and that is 21 Square Feet. Add some space for your gear, and you will get the idea of what size camping tent you actually need. You may want to consider two smaller tents rather than one large one. Finding a level spot at your campsite for a 10' x 20' tent may be difficult. Camping tents come in different shapes. Dome tents are the easiest to put up and break down. They also roll up small and pack easily. A-frame tents and wall tents are similar, but a wall tent is larger and has vertical side walls. An umbrella tent is a common family camping tent. It has lots of head room, large windows, and a large footprint. Tents with square or rectangular foot prints are generally better for larger camping families because you can get more camping gear in them. When considering which tent to purchase, be sure to look at the tent poles, tent fabric, tent seams, and the zippers. Most tent poles are made from aluminum or fiberglass. They are usually linked together with elasitc, and separate for efficient storage. Nearly all tents are made of nylon. Look for coated nylon. It is used for waterproofing. The thicker the nylon, the harder it is to rip. Seams should be reinforced. Look for nylon tape stitched into each seam. This will make the seam stronger and somewhat waterproof. Use seam sealer to make the seams more waterproof. The seams are where water can get in the tent easiest. You should apply seam sealer at least once each camping season. Test the zippers before you buy the tent. If they don't slide easy, or if they bind on the fabric, buy another tent. Sleeping BagsAfter tents, a good sleeping bag is your next most important piece of camping equipment. Like camping tents, there are many types of sleeping bags you can choose from. There are different shapes, fabrics and insulation materials. Be sure to visit your local camping store to see all that they offer. There are two basic shapes, rectangular sleeping bags and mummy bags. The rectangular style is the most common sleeping bag. It is generally larger than a mummy bag. Two rectangular bags can zip together to make one larger bag for a couple. Make sure you purchase a sleeping bag that has high quality zippers that don't catch the fabric when you zip them up. Also make sure you can zip them up from the inside. A mummy bag sleeping bag wraps around the camper and it provides maximum warmth and uses less material. If you will are camping in cold weather (40 degrees or below), you might want to consider a mummy bag. They generally cost more, but they also pack smaller and keep you warmer. Almost all sleeping bags have temperature ratings. (0 degrees, 40 degrees, etc.) These are more like suggestions than ratings. Get a bag that will keep you comfortable in your warmest weather. There are many ways to make a bag warmer, but very few ways to make a bag cooler. Goose down used to be used for insulation. It is use very rarely now. Modern synthetics have replaced down for sleeping bag insulation. They cost less and are washable. They are as warm as down. You should have at the very minimum a sleeping pad underneath your sleeping bag. It is recommended you get at least an air mattress. A sleeping cot is probably the most comfortable.Camping StovesYou have many choices for stove, but it is recommend you get a propane stove if you're just starting out. They are the easiest to use, and they come with two burners. There are also white gas stoves. White gas burns cleanly without any odor. These stoves get hotter than propane, but are a little more difficult to use. Just make sure you get a stove that has two burners.Camping Equipment Checklist
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