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Long term camping [First timer], Would like tips
- Thread starter Big Bud Bear
- Start date
NOKUY said:
Better get a headlamp...Petzl...save your hands for something more useful...For boots..make sure they are made with vibram...and Garmont and La Sportiva are good companies...dont know if you have them in the States tho...
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HAPPYTREE
Member
1) compass 2) map 3)knife 4)change of clothes 5) firestarter 6)water 7)extra food 8)flashlight 9)bivvy bag (meregency shelter) 10 )sunglasses/sunscreen
just 10 essential things you need if traveling in the back country
hes got it right
when carcamping weight is not an issue
when back packing weight is everything
Buy a good water filter and light weight down bag/ and get fitted for a god backpack
Good LUck
HT
ps If you get a compass learn how to use it
field to map/ map to field . bearings etcetc
Have fun
HT
just 10 essential things you need if traveling in the back country
hes got it right
when carcamping weight is not an issue
when back packing weight is everything
Buy a good water filter and light weight down bag/ and get fitted for a god backpack
Good LUck
HT
ps If you get a compass learn how to use it
field to map/ map to field . bearings etcetc
Have fun
HT
if you use a tent, i would also get a large tarp and hang over top of the tent as sort of an additional fly. all tents leak when it rains hard and nothing more miserable then being cold and wet. I camped for a week several times and with a tarp over my tent stayed dry even in all day rain. I would camp near a good trout stream, bring a good ultralite spinning or fly rod, one of those magnesium rods for sparking tender for fire and a saw rather then a hatchet for cutting wood. When i was into backpacking, i would bring a tarp and lots of cord to arrange shelters in a multitude of designs. I went tent camping last weekend with my g/f and found these old bones very creaky trying to stand up and get out of the tent in the middle of the night especially after a few beers. I am now considering an RV for sale on a lake with a golf course nearby and one of the top 5 trout streams in my state less than a mile away.
its around 4000.00 but has electric, gas and sewer and a deck and barbeque, microwave, refridge and tv and stereo. LOL i know this wouldnt really be camping but its alot more comfortable and would allow me a place to escape to any time i needed.
its around 4000.00 but has electric, gas and sewer and a deck and barbeque, microwave, refridge and tv and stereo. LOL i know this wouldnt really be camping but its alot more comfortable and would allow me a place to escape to any time i needed.
G
Guest
You say you want to keep this for life hey? If you want a tent to do that, you're going to want a canvas tent.
Don't know if anyone has suggested visiting an army surplus store, thats where you'll find the good stuff.
Don't know if anyone has suggested visiting an army surplus store, thats where you'll find the good stuff.
JJDubz
Active member
You definetly dont want a canvas tent as those weigh a ton and luggin that shit with all his other gear just aint practical...
I agree with the saw rather than the axe, uses much less energy... dont get a big heavy maglight, you can get these new LED flashlights with 1 watt bulbs, runs on 4 batteries with 50 hours of shine time, they are brighter than any maglight (assuming you spend at least $25 on a decent one) that I have ever seen.
Also, I think smoeone mentioned it, but a first aid kit is a must, ive cut myself so many times camping and although you may not think it, a small untreated cut can quickly turn nasty on you and thats the end of your camping trip.
just make sure you dont bring food to where you sleep, hang it up at least 50 yards away at a lower elevation than where you are.
Be smart, and have fun!
I agree with the saw rather than the axe, uses much less energy... dont get a big heavy maglight, you can get these new LED flashlights with 1 watt bulbs, runs on 4 batteries with 50 hours of shine time, they are brighter than any maglight (assuming you spend at least $25 on a decent one) that I have ever seen.
Also, I think smoeone mentioned it, but a first aid kit is a must, ive cut myself so many times camping and although you may not think it, a small untreated cut can quickly turn nasty on you and thats the end of your camping trip.
just make sure you dont bring food to where you sleep, hang it up at least 50 yards away at a lower elevation than where you are.
Be smart, and have fun!
Gotta go with saw rather than axe too.
As far as stoves, you can get great lightweight stoves all over the place. One of the most popular lightweight stove among thru-hikers (full-length at one of the trans-continentals at once), who really REALLY watch the weight, is an alcohol stove. You can find them on Ebay for about $5, or make your own. Then you can cook whenever, whereever, for less than 3 oz, including the alcohol fuel. I just carry the alcohol in one of those little hotel size shampoo bottles.
Here's a link to a kit with windscreen and pot support for $20 on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/WHITE-BOX-STOVE...ryZ87136QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
If you're using a wood fire, you can make a great firestarter for cheap that'll start even wet timber. Super lightweight too. Get some of those little paper pill type cups, and fill them with dryer lint and melted paraffin wax. When you're ready, just light the cup. Great way to be prepared for those cold wet nights you'll be facing.
As far as lightweight food, check out www.freezerbagcooking.com - For backpackers, by backpackers. All kinds of GREAT recipes for dehydration.
If you're going to be in the same spot, get a Katadyn Base Camp Filter. It filters on demand by gravity. Just fill it, and hang it in a tree, and you've got hot water on tap.
Check out Kelty four season tents, but as said before, get rid of that 6 person idea.
Great rule for winter camping:
If you forget an item while camping in the summer, it's an inconvenience. In the winter, forgetting an item is deadly.
Check out www.backpacking.net forums, and their ten essentials list. Great resource for backpacking and backcountry camping.
As far as stoves, you can get great lightweight stoves all over the place. One of the most popular lightweight stove among thru-hikers (full-length at one of the trans-continentals at once), who really REALLY watch the weight, is an alcohol stove. You can find them on Ebay for about $5, or make your own. Then you can cook whenever, whereever, for less than 3 oz, including the alcohol fuel. I just carry the alcohol in one of those little hotel size shampoo bottles.
Here's a link to a kit with windscreen and pot support for $20 on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/WHITE-BOX-STOVE...ryZ87136QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
If you're using a wood fire, you can make a great firestarter for cheap that'll start even wet timber. Super lightweight too. Get some of those little paper pill type cups, and fill them with dryer lint and melted paraffin wax. When you're ready, just light the cup. Great way to be prepared for those cold wet nights you'll be facing.
As far as lightweight food, check out www.freezerbagcooking.com - For backpackers, by backpackers. All kinds of GREAT recipes for dehydration.
If you're going to be in the same spot, get a Katadyn Base Camp Filter. It filters on demand by gravity. Just fill it, and hang it in a tree, and you've got hot water on tap.
Check out Kelty four season tents, but as said before, get rid of that 6 person idea.
Great rule for winter camping:
If you forget an item while camping in the summer, it's an inconvenience. In the winter, forgetting an item is deadly.
Check out www.backpacking.net forums, and their ten essentials list. Great resource for backpacking and backcountry camping.
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G
Guest
Big Bud Bear said:
Looks like he said big and durable, not lightweight and compact.
You want a canvas tent. But he is right, they're heavy and for the size you're contemplating is no backpacking type tent, but I don't think you're going to find a 6-8 person tent that is!
Also, you're likely to find (at least I have) that those figures are generally conservative as far as how many people you can really cram in there. I'm sure that milage will vary though.
I will also agree with the saw, I think it's called a bowsaw cuts thru wood like butter. A hatchet has it's place, I bring both.
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I only need a tent for myself. But would like something roomy, so i think i will go for a 4 person style tent
JJDubz
Active member
You can actually be in real lightweight survival mode, and pack just a rollable saw BLADE - I sometimes do this as its a lot of fun actually...roll it up and I usually store it in the pot, as it will unravel as its metal (duh!)
Basically you make your own saw...find a piece of wood thats not too dry, break it off if you must, make sure its somewhat thick (at least a half an inch in diameter) then you want to make sure its a softwood, like Willow or whatnot, take it to the fire, and heat it in the middle, dont burn...just heat so it will become pliable...bend it, and once its heated enough, you will want to get an approx measure of the length of the blade, then you will want to cut the wood to length, so that when you bend it, the two tips of the stick will bend to the ends of the blade - -
Make a sliced notch in each end of the stick, for the blade to go in...dont worry, you can always bash it in a bit once you have the notch started...bend the wood, notch both tips, push the blade in...you got yourself a saw!
Basically you make your own saw...find a piece of wood thats not too dry, break it off if you must, make sure its somewhat thick (at least a half an inch in diameter) then you want to make sure its a softwood, like Willow or whatnot, take it to the fire, and heat it in the middle, dont burn...just heat so it will become pliable...bend it, and once its heated enough, you will want to get an approx measure of the length of the blade, then you will want to cut the wood to length, so that when you bend it, the two tips of the stick will bend to the ends of the blade - -
Make a sliced notch in each end of the stick, for the blade to go in...dont worry, you can always bash it in a bit once you have the notch started...bend the wood, notch both tips, push the blade in...you got yourself a saw!
Blackvelvet
Member
Don't forget the toilet paper. 
bump..........
Fidel Castro
Member
Big Bud, are you going backpacking? hiking into a campsite? camping right by your car? theres lots of different gear for different types of camping
VictoryGardener
holy hell
pre- made foil packs work great... just lay down three layers of foil, pile on the potatoes, onions, green peppers, and whatever else you want... you can cook virtualy anything in a foil pack... well, when you have everything in the middle of the foil, lay down another 3- 4 layers and roll up the sides very securely... then refrigerate until you throw it in the corner of the fire... let it cook for 10 minutes, flip it over, and then another 10- 12 minutes.... then pull it out, unwrap, and check to see if its done.. if not, wrap it back up and give it another few minutes...
This is perfect for camping, and is very easy, even for a beginner! I used this method of cooking countless times through the boy scouts.. it can be as simple or as complex as you want it.
I would devide up the parts of the meal, for example, one pack for the meat, one pack for the veggies... you can do an entire new england clam bake if you want!
easy and tasty
good luck.
This is perfect for camping, and is very easy, even for a beginner! I used this method of cooking countless times through the boy scouts.. it can be as simple or as complex as you want it.
I would devide up the parts of the meal, for example, one pack for the meat, one pack for the veggies... you can do an entire new england clam bake if you want!
easy and tasty
good luck.
VictoryGardener
holy hell
oh yea, one more thing... DON'T SPRAY BUG REPELLENT IN THE TENT!
VictoryGardener said:
Yeah, that'll get your ass kicked
I dunno about the foils though, I'm too near bear country to carry fresh food. I'll
stick with my dehydrated stuff.
Guess it's not much different though. They'd both have to be handled the same way, bear proofed.
begeesterdechol
Member
I don't think anyone mentioned it, but if you are planning on going backpacking and buying yourself one. Don't save money on it. You will regret it.
Heard a lot of people complaining after a couple of hours, there back, hips neck, shoulders start to hurt, including myself.
Get one that's adjustable to you body size, with a decent formed backside. It'll pay off.
I like the ones with two zippers on front (make sure they are durable!) so you can lay it on it's back, and get stuff from the bottom of the pack really easy.
Heard a lot of people complaining after a couple of hours, there back, hips neck, shoulders start to hurt, including myself.
Get one that's adjustable to you body size, with a decent formed backside. It'll pay off.
I like the ones with two zippers on front (make sure they are durable!) so you can lay it on it's back, and get stuff from the bottom of the pack really easy.
