Types of Sleeping Bags

If you’ve done any tent camping at all, you’ve very likely used a sleeping bag. Sleeping bags are the best way to keep warm and comfortable when you’re spending the night in the great outdoors.

What many people don’t realize is that there are quite a variety of types of sleeping bags to choose from. Choosing the best sleeping bag for your particular camping experience is important. Here are some of the most common types of sleeping bags:

The Mummy Sleeping Bag

A “Mummy” style sleeping bag is one that can, essentially, cover your entire body, including the head. Mummy bags leave room to breathe, but they keep out most of the cold. Some mummy sleeping bags are rated to go as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit – far below freezing. A mummy style sleeping bag is most useful if you’re camping in the winter, or if you’re camping in a place that is cold all year around. If you’re camping in a temperate climate in the summer, a mummy sleeping bag will be less useful.

The Warm Weather Sleeping Bag

On the opposite end of the spectrum from the mummy sleeping bag is the warm weather style sleeping bag. These sleeping bags are often much thinner than most sleeping bags, and may not even have a vinyl exterior. The warm weather sleeping bag may resemble a blanket with a zipper, more than it resembles other sleeping bags.

The Children’s Sleeping Bag

There are smaller sleeping bags designed especially for children. These sleeping bags typically have interesting designs or popular characters printed on them. Make sure when buying a children’s sleeping bag that it is rated for the temperatures you’ll be experiencing, however. Many children’s sleeping bags are extremely lightweight, and not good for camping when it’s cold outside.

The Oversized Sleeping Bag

There are even sleeping bags that come in larger sizes. There is a queen sized sleeping bag, for example, that couples can use together. In some cases, these oversized sleeping bags can actually be separated into two smaller sleeping bags, should the need arise.

Other Uses for Tents

There are many reasons beyond camping that people use tents. Here is a look at a few common uses.

Semi-permanent military tents are used to house soldiers in combat areas. They are more sophisticated than camping tents. Some military tents have climate control systems and enough room for several people to move around comfortably.

Tents are also used often in emergency situations to shelter displaced people. As an inexpensive and lightweight housing solution, tents are sent to house refugees and victims of natural disasters.

The use of tents isn’t limited to structures that you can sleep inside. Some tents are used as a convenient temporary shelter for outdoor events. Circus tents are a great example of temporary structures that are used specifically for an event and taken down afterward.

Festivals and outdoor concerts often make good use of event tents as well, using them to shield participants from the sun or from inclement weather. Even private parties can use gazebo tents or other temporary structures. They are often used to cover the event’s food or to provide a separate seating or dancing area.

Car tents are a fun innovation in the camping world. These tents rest on the luggage rack on top of your car and fold out to create a unique and space-saving sleeping area on your car’s roof. This is a great way to conserve interior car space for luggage and save money on lodging when taking a long road trip.

Tents have enjoyed a long and varied history and will continue to be valuable accessories for camping and for life. As long as people have a need for easy outdoor shelters, tents will be there to provide shade and protection from the weather.

Trailer Camping for Small Cars

A tent trailer is a trailer that you pull behind your vehicle. Sometimes called a “pop up” trailer, a tent trailer is ideal for someone who doesn’t want to camp in a regular tent, but doesn’t have a big enough vehicle to tow a large trailer.

How much can you tow?

The folding camping trailer that you pick will depend, to some degree, on the type of vehicle you have. To find out how big a folding camping trailer you can tow, you need to find out the towing limit for your vehicle. You can find out your towing limit from your car’s manual, or from the manufacturer.

Next, you need to find out how much the trailer weights. The trailer has a weight known as the “maximum technically permissible laden mass,” which is, essentially, the weight of the trailer while being pulled. As long as your towing limit doesn’t exceed this number, you should be able to tow the folding camping trailer.

What are Folding Camping Trailers?

These trailers are so lightweight that they can be towed by most cars and maneuvered by hand if required. A folding camping trailer may be able to accommodate up to eight people. In many cases, the length of the camping trailer can expand, as well.

Folding camping trailers may have a variety of different amenities. They might come with adequate space for a kitchen, dining, and sleeping area. Some models also offer a convenient shower, toilet, refrigerator, and stove. Most folding camping trailers have some sort of storage compartment or another, where you can store your camping gear.

Folding camping trailers vary quite a bit in price. You may be able to find a used folding camping trailer for just a few hundred dollars or so, while a new high-end folding camping trailer may run as much as $10,000 or more.

If you are looking for a trailers that is affordable, durable, and lightweight, the folding camping trailer is a good choice.

What Size of Tent Should You Buy?

Camping is one of the best ways to foster a sense of family harmony. Even the youngest of preschoolers can benefit from the camping experience.

To make your family campout a success, begin with a good tent. Picking the best one will require assessing your family’s own particular needs.

Tents are typically labeled according to how many people they will sleep. Family-style tents may range from ones that sleep three people all the way to ones that sleep eight or nine.

If you have a family of five, you’ll naturally want to consider at least a five-person tent.

However, it’s important to remember that these sizes are generalizations. A tent that is made for five typically refers to five average-sized adults.

For this reason, a four-person tent may be suitable for a family with two adults and three small children. Conversely, a family with two adults and three large teenagers may find a five-person tent a bit cramped. A six- or seven-person tent may be a better choice.

Remember, you’ll also want to take into account the amount of gear that you’ll be storing inside the tent. The more luggage you have, the more sleeping space you lose.

Trailer Camping for Motorcycles

For years, our family had spend two weeks each summer camping. We started out tent camping, in the early years. We moved up to a pop-up trailer camper after a few years. Eventually, we invested in a full-blown RV for our camping adventures. In all of that time, I never saw a motorcycle pulling a tent trailer until just a couple of years ago.

I have to say, I was surprised the first time I saw one of these things. These are a tent trailer, much like a pop-up trailer for a car, only they are much smaller, shorter, and designed to be pulled behind a motorcycle. I’m aware of two different models, the CampMaster 2 and the CampMaster 4, although it won’t surprise me if these things become more and more popular.

What to look for

Here are the things to look for in a tent trailer for your motorcycle:

• Make sure that that the trailer can carry heavy items.
• It should have a solid frame and hand-laid fiberglass for the strongest possible body.
• The trailer should not be too wide.
• The height of the trailer should not exceed the bottom of the tour trunk, and its front should not be very flat.
• Check to make sure that the bearings are reliable and easily available.
• Finally, the trailer should be designed to utilize the available space efficiently.

Added stability and functionality

One of the most interesting things, to me, about these motorcycle tent trailers was something I learned from a fellow camper. He’d been using one of these for a couple of years, and he explained to me that he tows the trailer with him wherever he goes. He uses it to transport groceries, and get just about anything he needs from one place to another. In addition, the weight of the trailer adds stability to the driving of the bike.

Not just for motorcycles

Once I saw my first CampMaster, I suddenly started to notice that they were popping up, more and more. This past summer, I saw no less than a dozen motorcycles towing one of these things.

They are becoming so popular, in fact, that people who have compact cars are also starting to use them. This is perfect, because these small tent trailers have adjustable hitches that allow them to be pulled behind either a motorcycle or a small vehicle.

The Downside To Camping

Camping can be one of the most enjoyable experiences in your life. It can also be one of the most miserable experiences, if you don’t know what to expect. Knowing the downside to camping ahead of time helps prepare you for what could otherwise be a surprisingly bad experience. Here are some of the hard facts about camping:

1. Camping is hard work. Setting up camp can be an ordeal that lasts several hours. You’ve got to assemble tents, set up gazebos, and unpack your vehicle. The same is true for tearing down camp. Fortunately, those days in between don’t have quite as much work.
2. Cooking when camping can be a challenge. The fact of the matter is that cooking over an open flame can lead to very unevenly cooked foods if you’re not careful. Even if you use a gas grill, you’re going to be limited as to the cooking equipment you have with you. Planning out your meals ahead of time will help to alleviate some of the cooking stress, however.
3. You are going to have plenty of bugs when you’re camping. From ants to mosquitoes, expect these tiny visitors. Keep covered in mosquito spray, keep your lights away from where you’re sitting, and avoid using scented fragrances such as cologne or deodorant. Use unscented versions of these products instead.
4. In the morning, everything is wet. Dew settles in on your campsite most mornings. You can’t avoid the dew, but you can make sure to put everything away at night and to put a tarp over things like your firewood that shouldn’t become wet.
5. Camping can be uncomfortable. It can be difficult to fall asleep on the hard ground, even with a nice fluffy sleeping bag. You might consider a sleeping mat or an air mattress, if you’re concerned about comfort.
6. Camping can be boring. If you don’t have some activities planned, or at least a list of activities for when you do get bored, camping can seem to drag on forever. Board games, card games, and sports equipment like volleyballs or Frisbees can be useful, as well.

One of Mankind’s Greatest Inventions

Have you ever experienced the beauty of a hike with house building materials strapped steadfastly to your back?

No, of course not. You don’t have the size-to-strength ratio of an ant. And we surmise that unless you’re the greatest architect/lumberjack/construction worker the world has ever known, it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to cut down the trees on a mountain side and slap together a sturdy log cabin at a moments notice either.

For centuries, humankind has accepted these simple yet disadvantageous facts, giving rise to one of the greatest inventions man still widely employs today: the tent!

Sometimes Simple is Best

One of the most unheralded creations of all time,. From early nomadic tribes to every army the annals of time has since documented, tents have been there, sheltering men and women from the ire of the elements. Without tents, some of the greatest discoveries and expeditions never would have been possible.

Imagine, for example, some of the very first journeys into the western world without tents. Explorers sleeping under the stars, rain dripping onto their faces while a cougar waits patiently for their eyes to close, the cat planning its next move…

The Most Mobile of Mobile Homes

Tents are the most cost-effective and easy-to-use temporary (and sometimes extended) homes available today. When you want to get out and explore, a tent is the best way to keep yourself shielded from the weather and stay warm. For many of us, our best memories can be associated with tents, hiking and camping.

If you’re ready to embark on a journey into the bright center of a swirling tent-filled universe, take some time to visit. You may enter wondering how much there could possibly be to learn about tents and camping, but you’ll leave overflowing with tent know-how and a desire to plan a return to nature.

Know Your Tents

Understanding the different tents that are on the market can make buying a tent much easier. You can have a focused shopping expedition, online or offline, when you know exactly what type of tent you need to buy. Doing your research makes the process less time-consuming, which leaves you more time for outdoor enjoyment.

Here are some basic tents and their features.

Dome tents. These tents are popular with backpackers, mountaineers and hikers. These are hexagon-shaped and usually made from nylon. Nylon is a tough, synthetic material that is great for those who need durability but don’t want to be weighed down. These tents require simple anchoring with stakes.

Tunnel tents. These tube-like tents offer easy set-up and great ventilation. They are ideal one-person tents. Tunnel tents are lightweight and normally are made of nylon. They are suitable for winter camping because they are durable and moisture-resistant. They offer ease of storage and can fit into a backpack or a tent bag.

A-frame tents. These tents are suitable for backpackers, climbers, hikers, hunters and anglers. They are fairly spacious and allow room for storing some supplies. With these tents, you can add a canopy entrance to the front of the structure. This provides a porch effect: you have the extra space outside, but you’re covered from any rain that might fall.

Cabin tents. Cabin tents are great for family camping trips. They offer a spacious environment with the option of multiple rooms. You also can add room dividers to this type of tent. While they offer more room, their set-up is more complicated. These tents are heavy, so it’s best if two or more adults work at raising them. These tents are best transported by vehicle because they can be quite heavy and cumbersome.

Pop-up tents. Pop-up tents are easy to set up and take down. They are easily set up through pushing tent poles through the tent fabric. They are highly portable and can fit into a backpack or small tent bag with ease. These durable tents are great for the solo hiker or backpacker who needs to travel light.

With the variety of tents available today, you can get any size, shape or color to suit your needs and tastes. You can find tents on the Internet or at your favorite outdoor gear retailer.

Once you decide which one is exactly right for your specific outdoor needs, shopping for a tent can be easy and fun.

Small and Basic Tents

The great outdoors: For centuries, we’ve headed outside when we want to relax. There’s no better way to change up your routine and get away from the rush of everyday life than camping.

You don’t need fancy, expensive equipment to enjoy yourself on a camping trip, but the type of tent that you use is an important part of the experience.

When choosing a camping tent, the different varieties can be confusing. Do you need a three-season tent? Do you need a hiking tent? What size tent do you need? What shape is the best?

The type of camping tent that you choose will depend largely on how you plan to use it. If you are going on a single summer camping trip by yourself, a small and basic tent may be right for you. A small tent doesn’t allow much room for moving around or storing supplies, but it is easier to carry and set up.

Campers who don’t have a lot of experience with camping equipment will find that pop-up tents are easy to use. They also allow more time for having fun. When you don’t have to spend hours figuring out how to set up the tent, you can get to other activities sooner.

Pop-up tents are especially popular with young campers since they don’t require much skill or strength to set up or take down.

With so many types of camping tents to choose from, it’s easy to buy a tent that’s way too big for your needs. Sometimes, sticking to the basics is just enough.

Of course, there are plenty of resources online to point you in the right direction for finding the camping tent that fits you, your lifestyle and your camping plans perfectly.

The Most Common Types of Tents

When we first started camping, I had no idea there were so many different types of tents available. I hadn’t camped in a tent since I was a small child, and back then tents seemed a lot simpler. Here is a quick list of the various types of tents I came across when I started looking to buy a tent:

Dome Tents

Dome tents are made from nylon. They are hexagonal in shape, and have to be staked down to keep from being blown away. Because dome tents are so lightweight, they’re ideal for mountaineers, hikers, winter campers and backpackers. Dome tents tend to be relatively quick and easy to set up, as well.

Tunnel Tents

These are single-user tents. Tunnel tents are made from nylon, and are even lighter in weight than dome tents. You roll and unroll a tunnel tent, and can even store it in a backpack. Tunnel tents have quick and easy setup and tear-down, and usually have excellent ventilation.

A-Frame Tents

Generally more spacious than the two previous types, A-frame tents are popular among backpackers, climbers, hunters, fishermen, and hikers. They also are made of nylon, and typically weigh around three to six pounds. When you use an A-frame tent, you can gain extra space by adding an entrance at the front opening. A-frame tents are not nearly as popular today as they have been in decades past.

Cabin Tents

These are the largest of the tent types. They are heavy, bulky, and often complicated to set up. They are not recommended for campers who need to hike to their campsite. Having said all of that, they are the most convenient and useful tent type for a large family, or for groups of people camping together.

In many cases, cabin tents may offer extra features and amenities, such as a screened-in porch, beverage holders or even a clothesline.

When our family goes camping, we use a cabin tent for the adults, and the children stay in two or three different dome tents, depending on how many of us are camping.

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