SUMMER VACATION & FUN IDEAS

Vacation and Fun

Enjoy The Great Outdoors - Introduction to Camping

At Your Summer Ideas we want to help you get the most out of camping.  Whether your a beginner or seasoned.  At Your Summer Ideas you will find helpful information to help you get started camping.  So if.....Your Family would like to start camping this Summer, or if you want to teach your son or daughter how to fish this Summer, maybe you would like to go for a hike and explore new areas.  Find information for this and many other outdoor activities here at Your Summer Ideas. 

Camping Equipment for Summer

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There is nothing like being in a secluded area, the sound of rushing water, the fresh air, the crystal clear nights with the stars shining bright, the smell of roasted marshmellows on a campfire.  When you wake up in the morning you grab your fishing rod and gear to  go after that big one that no one has ever hooked before.  After cooking up your catch on your campstove, you decide grab your backpack to go explore and hike into virgin land to take in the beauty of the GREAT OUTDOORS.  Don't forget your camera. When it is time to turn in for the night, you find your tent inviting you to come in with your sleeping bags and lantern glowing.  Its been a good day.  Find a camping location at the bottom of this page.

Ideas on how to pick the right tent for your needs:

There are a few things to consider in choosing the appropriate camping tent. There are different sizes, shapes, material, and person capacity.  If you are looking for a quality camping tent, then be prepared to shell out some money. Eureka tents offer high quality durable tents. In the mid-price range, Coleman sells good quality tents. Ozark or Great Trails would comprise the lower end camping tents in the market.

When purchasing, first figure out the number of people who will be using it. This will generally determine the suitable size as well as the style. There are different styles to choose from; The dome style's round shape offers wind resistance aside from its being small and simple to set-up. If you are looking to sleep,  4 to 9 people, then consider the family camping tents .  Some even come with wall partitions. 

The umbrella style offers roomy head room for many people and is well-ventilated. Another style that can house many people is screen houses. Compared to the previous style, this offers first-rate ventilation. If you are a backpackers and camper, the A-frame style tent and backpacking tent are the ones to get because it is lightweight and simple to set-up. These come in varying sizes from 2 to 4 people.

Something else to consider is the sort of conditions and elements the tent will need to cope with. This will in turn lead to choosing according to durability. For those on a budget and those who will be going to fairly good camping locations, the two-season tent is one of the cheapest in the market. The three-season tent is said to be the most popular because it is sufficiently durable to deal with rain throughout the seasons except winter.

For extreme weather conditions, the four-season tent is recommended. It is intended for heavier winds and snow compared to the previous style for this kind of tent is comprised of a higher class of fabrics and added poles for increased strength. Shop for your Camping Equipment on the Shopping Page.

Find The Right Sleeping Bag

 Heat loss is always a big problem in Sleeping Bags, especially the heat loss through the sleeping bag opening, your shoulder area, and your head. Furthermore, the more close-fitting your Sleeping Bag is, the less volume of air there will be that has to be heated by your body.

These two principles have led to the following:

Nowadays, almost all Outdoor Sleeping Bags are 'mummy bags', meaning that they snugly fit your entire body and if fully closed properly, these only leave your mouth and nose exposed to the outside air. By pulling the draw string on the hood of the Sleeping Bag, the air inside the Sleeping Bag is trapped inside, forming a good insulator. Mummy bags force you to sleep on your back, a sleeping position which may not be preferred by some poeple, and many people find mummy bags too claustrophobic. However, they are absolutely the best in cold conditions.

To ensure a snug fit, many manufacturers give the dimensions of their Sleeping Bags in shoulder, hip, and foot girth. Special Sleeping Bags for women have a slimmer shoulder and a wider hip area to ensure a snug fit.

Some Sleeping Bags can be used in warmer conditions by either closing or opening the hood drawstrings and zippers. Most styles have convenient two-way zippers that allow you to open up sections.

Sleeping Bag Fill

The insulation power of any Sleeping Bag is determined by its fill and the ability of the filling material to retain air. Good filling materials:  are able to retain a lot of air pockets,    are lightweight, are compact when compressed, quickly expand, are able to insulate even when wet, and do not give you any rashes or allergic reactions.

 There are roughly two classes of Sleeping Bag fill:

Down
This is still the preferred material for high quality Sleeping Bags. Specifically, Geese down is known for its great insulation characteristics. It scores great on all the qualities expected from a good Sleeping Bag fill. It takes very little space when compressed and it fluffs up fully and easily once unrolled. Down is often graded in 'Fill Power' which is the space it consumes per weight unit. Good down will be at 500-800 cubic inches per ounce. The only problem with down is that is loses most of its insulation qualities when wet and it is hard to wash and dry. Furthermore, good down is very expensive and some people are allergic to it. So you may want to check your allergies before you buy an expensive Down Sleeping Bag.

Synthetic Fibers
Modern synthetic Sleeping Bag fills try to combine the qualities of down with better insulation qualities when wet and much cheaper prices. There are many of these synthetic Sleeping Bag fillings and some of the most common names are Polarguard, Hollofil, and Micro-loft.

Configuration of Tubes and Baffles

Many Sleeping Bag fillings, particularly down, are pretty much free-flowing. To keep the filling from building up at certain areas and going very thin on others, Sleeping Bags have sealed off compartments that keep the filling from displacing too much. These compartments could be seen as tubes that run across the Sleeping Bag from side to side. Each of these tubes are connected to the other at the tube walls, or baffles. In most Sleeping Bags, the baffles are about 5-6 inches apart. Most synthetic Sleeping Bag fills are not free-flowing and do not need compartments to keep the fill from moving.

Other Sleeping Bag Features & Characteristics

Comfort Temperature Rating
Many manufacturers give their Sleeping Bags a comfort temperature rating which is basically the lowest temperature at which an average person will still be able to have a good night's sleep whilst using the bag. Of course this rating is just an indication and you actual comfort rating will depend on many other factors like your tent and the weather conditions. 
 

Weight
As in all your Hiking and Camping Equipment, you are looking for ways to minimize your packing weight. You are looking for maximum comfort against minimal weight. In general, the lower the comfort temperature rating, the heavier the bag will be. Size, Circumference, Volume, and  

Stuff Sack Size
As explained above, the size of a Sleeping Bag is usually given for the full length and for the circumference on shoulder, hip, and feet height. Another important factor is the volume that the Sleeping Bag consumes when properly rolled up and compressed. This is often called the Stuff Sack Size which is the size of the container that you use to transport the Sleeping Bag.

Shell and Liner Materials
Just like in hiking clothing and outdoor tents, Outdoor Sleeping Bags are expected to give good protection against cold weather and moisture while being breathable so that body moisture is able to leave the inner pocket of your backpack. This is why you will usually find the same type of breathable laminates used for Sleeping Bag liners. In most cases, these laminates are treated to make them softer to the skin. Common tent fabric features, like ripstop and other re-enforcing features can often be found in Sleeping Bags as well.

Stitching
Stitches are a possible weak point in your Sleeping Bag's defenses. Stitching that goes through your entire layer (lines, fill, and shell) will definitely form places where heat loss will occur. Tuck stitching is a method used in better Sleeping Bags where the fabric is folded inwards and the stitch is made at the inside. This gives an invisible and protected seam that minimizes the loss in insulation power.

 Zippers

Zippers are another possible vulnerable spot for heat loss. Good Sleeping Bags have waterproof zippers which are protected by draft flaps, preventing heat loss through the zippers.

Hoods
Hoods are very important as a very large part of body heat loss happens through your head. A hood will seal of the air pocket in your Sleeping Bag and it will insulate your head, leaving only a small area of your face open. Hoods mostly come with either one or two drawstrings that allow you to seal the hood. Most hoods are an integrated part of the Sleeping Bag but some manufacturers create separate hoods that you can use when needed.

Collars
To further reduce heat loss through the Sleeping Bag's head opening, some models come with built-in collars. Removable collars make your Sleeping Bag more flexible. Fixed built-in-collars are only for extremely cold conditions.

Pillow Pockets
Many Sleeping Bags come with special pockets that you can fill to form a pillow. You can either insert an inflatable pillow or stuff it with clothes to increase your comfort level.

Sleeping Pad Connections
If you find it hard to sleep and roll around a lot, chances are that you will wake up and find yourself beside your sleeping pads & mats. To prevent this, some styles come with special clips that you can use to secure your Sleeping Bag to your Sleeping Mat.

Color
Sleeping Bags come in all colors with fashion sense still playing a powerful role. In general, darker colors sun-dry quicker. Also, stains (if any) are not that noticeable in dark-colored styles.

Want To Know Where To Go Camping?

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