By Jonsky Sicyna
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonsky_Sicuna
On the field there’s only so much you can do to care for your sleeping bag. Just remember to keep it clean and try to keep it away from anything wet including wet and dirty clothes.
At home you can do a lot more to maintain your sleeping bag so that it can last a little bit longer. These tips cover how to wash, dry, store and repair your sleeping bag in the proper way.
Washing and Drying
- Keep your sleeping bags clean by washing it frequently but only when it is necessary. Washing too much can break down the properties of both down and synthetic fills.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions manual and use mild soap. You can hand wash or wash in the gentle cycle of a washing machine. If your sleeping bags are too large, bring them to a launderette and use a larger machine but never dry-clean a sleeping bag.
- When using the tumble dryer, use the lowest setting . Put a tennis ball into the machine to prevent the down from clumping. The ball will help dissipate the clumps.
- When wet, handle with extreme care. Do not dry on a clothesline. Find some place to that can support the weight of the bag so that the delicate baffles do not tear. Hanging it on the dryer is a common practice.
Storing
- Store your sleeping bag in a large cotton storage sack. Make sure the bag sit loosely in the sack. Avoid putting the bag in a stuff sack for long periods of storage because compressing it too much will reduce its loft.
- Don’t store the sleeping bag in a plastic sack as the moisture will be trapped and hence provide a suitable breeding ground for mould, mildew and bacteria. Only store your bag when it is completely dry.
Repair
- Tears need to be repaired immediately especially the ones on the shell and lining.
- For temporary repairs use a duct tape or Gaffa tape. Instead on cutting the tape in a square, cut it in a circle so that it doesn’t snag the fabric.
- Permanent repairs can be made with a nylon repair tape or patches that are sold in most outdoor stores.
- You can also ask a professional company that can do repair jobs for tears, separating seams and zip problems. There are quite a few of these companies around and they might even throw you a discount if you ask nicely.
By Ian Kurz (from http://www.everything-about-camping.com )
Have you thought about which camping lantern would be the best one for your camping trip? Sure it’s nice to be out by the fire at night but when you need to rummage through your tent then the fire doesn’t help you out like a lantern will.
I can remember camping with my family when I was just a young boy. We had a camping lantern that required a liquid fuel and my father would be constantly warning me to stay away from it for fear of knocking it over and spreading fire everywhere. Fortunately there is a multitude for you to choose from these days so we don’t need to have those specific fears.
All the same, most lanterns on the market these days still have flame whether they use candles or propane fuel or LPG gas. With that in mind you still need to be aware that even though they may not be the spilling hazard they were years ago, they can still become very hot and still cause fires if not used correctly.
I’ve seen some lanterns that are battery operated and have fluorescent type lights. This type of lantern is perfect for the true urbanite that is just trying to get away with their family for the weekend. A lantern like this is obviously far more kid friendly and you would have no worries at all using one. The only problem with this type of lantern is the battery life and the fact that battery disposal is somewhat harsh on the environment. If you’re opting for a battery operated lantern then it would be a good idea to look into some sort of LED technology. These little lights last for an incredible number of hours from their battery source. You could even consider using rechargable batteries and a solar charger to keep them usable every night.
For the outright good lighting type of camping lantern I would opt for some sort of gas lantern. Coleman is the obvious first choice for many campers but if you’re hiking or canoe tripping then you may want to consider something compatible with LPG fuel. Not because they really give a better light but because they’re smaller and easier to carry. The Coleman lantern would barely fit into a backpack. The Coleman ones work very well though and like the LPG models have adjustable flame heights so you can ensure it lasts’ longer.
My personal favorite camping lantern is the candle lantern. These guys are small and light and in my opinion the greatest camping gadget ever. They’re a telescoping tube that takes a specially formulated candle that burns for up to nine hours. The candle burns all night long and the flame height is regulated by the spring that pushes the candle upward as it melts away. The candles are designed to be essentially dripless and smokeless which is a plus because when they’re burned up you don’t have to worry about lugging around empty fuel cans out of your campsite. All that will be left is a half inch of wax and because it’s designed to burn you can pretty much throw it in your fire to let it melt away. These offer enough light to read by but not so much that it hurts your eyes if you wake up in the night (I use one in my tent overnight). I don’t recommend fire in your tent but if you do decide to use them you’ll find that on top of giving you some light they’ll help dry out the condensated air from your breathing which helps get rid of that “wet sleeping bag in the morning” feeling. Also they may give a few degrees of temperature to the inside of your tent which is a bonus if you’re camping in the spring or in the fall.
No matter what type of camping lantern you choose,you need to be aware that if you bring batteries or fuel cans to a campsite, you need to take them with you when you leave. Our parks and forests won’t stay beautiful with people leaving their junk all over them. Be responsible.
By Steven Gillman (from http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com)
What kind of sleeping bag should you get? That depends on how you will use it. Of course, it also depends on what your budget is. So decide what you can spend, and then consider the following six questions before you go shopping.
1. What is the coldest weather you will be camping in?
If your backpacking is limited to the summer months, you can probably get away with any sleeping bag rated down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). Otherwise, consider your future plans and get a bag that will work at the coldest temperatures you expect to encounter. If it is too warm for summer use, you can always open it up like a blanket and lay it loosely over yourself so it won’t hold in so much heat. Another alternative is to buy one bag for winter trips and one for summer.
2. What kinds of conditions will you be camping in?
The conditions you can expect will determine what fill is best for you. If you will always be backpacking in the northwest, and so possibly getting wet most of the time, you don’t want down. It loses most of its insulating ability when wet. A good synthetic fill is better. On the other hand, if you will be camping most of the time in the desert southwest, a down sleeping bag is the lightest (and most compressible) option available. My own down bag weighs just 17 ounces, stuffs into a bread bag, and has kept me warm to below freezing. If you are careful you can keep any bag dry, but it is tough in some conditions, so ask yourself where you’ll be going, and how good you are at staying dry.
3. How claustrophobic are you?
Some people really can’t get comfortable in a mummy bag. They need room to move around. If you aren’t sure how you feel about this, there is one way to find out: get in those bags. See if you feel good in a snug mummy. Borrow one and spend a night in it if you have to. A good mummy is the warmest sleeping bag you can get for the weight, but semi-rectangular may be better for comfort.
4. How big are you?
If you are tall, be sure you can fit comfortably in that sleeping bag with the hood closed. What if you are too big for a tight mummy bag? Try a rectangular or semi-rectangular one.
5. How heavy is the sleeping bag?
Even if you are not into ultralight backpacking, there is no reason to carry too much weight if it isn’t necessary. A decent summer sleeping bag shouldn’t weigh more than about three pounds. To get down to the weight of my down bag (17 ounces) you’ll have to spend more. A winter bag will be heavier because of the additional filling, but in any case, compare the various bags according to their temperature ratings and total weight (with the stuff sack if you’ll be using it).
6. How packable is it?
No filling invented yet is as compressible as down. For that reason, if you use a small backpack, you may want to consider a down sleeping bag. Some synthetics can be packed in compression sacks to reduce their volume, but this can eventually damage the filling and so reduce the bags insulating ability. Also, a compression sack adds more weight to your load. It is probably better to simply put a large synthetic-fill bag on the outside of the pack.
There are certainly other specific questions to ask about sleeping bags as you look at them. A zipper that opens at the bottom is nice for those with hot feet. A water-resistant shell can keep dripping tent condensation from wetting the filling of the sleeping bag, or allow dew to be shaken off in the morning if camping in the open. There are many other features you might find too, but start with the six questions above to quickly narrow down the options.
By: Chris Morris (from http://www.camping-tent-guide.com)
Been shopping for a new camping tent? Wonder what 3-season or 4-season means? Confused about what a family tent or convertible tent classification means? Let’s try to cut through all the marketing lingo and get down to what you should really look for when you see camping tent ratings or classifications.
When you get right down to it, you should think of a camping tent as either 3-season or 4-season. So what’s in a name?
Generally speaking your average 3-season tent is built to hold up well in light to moderate weather conditions. They are built to be comfortable in Spring, Summer and Fall in most any location, hence the name 3-season.
Three-season tents are generally more affordable than 4-season. You will find a vast range of 3-season tent quality from the cheap units found in big retail stores to expensive models found in specialty camping stores.
The downside of 3-season tents? These tents do not hold up well in high winds, torrential rain and heavy snowfall. 3-season tents are generally not the tent of choice for backcountry expeditions through Alaska in January.
The best 3-season tents generally come with a waterproof rain fly and a breathable canopy. Ideally you want to find a three season tent with a waterproof floor. The rugged “bathtub” floor is generally reserved for the more expensive four season tent (but not always).
Four season tents are great for just about any weather condition that you may encounter, assuming its winter. The 4-season rating really should be classified as 1-season. Why? Because a quality 4-season tent performs great in winter conditions but may suffer from over-insulation in the summer months.
Structurally 4-season tents generally have at least four aluminum poles for strength (the more the better) to withstand sleet and snow. They are aerodynamic in design and typically they are dark colored in order to absorb heat. And they are generally much lighter.
The roof lines on four season tents are fully defined and very strong so water and snow cannot collect on top of the tent. Most four season tents can be utilized free standing in the event there is no place to pound stakes into the ground such as on the side of a mountain or in frozen terrain.
Four season tents have a fully encompassing rainfly to combat the elements. They also have excellent waterproof floors that are called “bathtubs” as they come up to about six inches on the side of the tent. Additionaly the seams are very hardy and strong throughout the tent.
The downside to the 4-season tent? Price. You can end up paying a hefty sum for the technology built in to keep you protected.
Also, as I alluded to above, if you are camping in the middle of summer you will want air movement through your tent to keep things cooler. 4-season tents are generally made to inhibit the elements from cutting through the camping tent, which is great in the winter and not so great in balmy summer.
So where does a family tent fit into these ratings? A family tent is simply a 3-season tent.
What’s going on with a convertible 3-4 season tent? This kind of tent generally has some sort of built in airflow ventilator. I would not take this type tent into the backcountry where survival was important. If the ventilator malfunctioned and it would not close, you could become an unhappy camper pretty fast.
Bottom line: The 3-season tent is the recommended choice for the majority of campers. It is the most cost effective tent and will allow the user to camp in a variety of conditions up to, but not including, severe winter weather conditions.
If you camp from Spring, Summer and Fall, a 3-season camping tent will fill your needs. If you camp where severe winter weather is possible then you should be getting a 4-season camping tent.
By: Jonkelly (from www.worldsolarpanels.com)
No matter what you are planning to do, there is probably a solar system available to help you generating power. On increasingly popular choice is RV solar panels, which can help you run these large vehicles off the power of the sun. If you are interested in helping to save money as well as help the environment, you should research your options for what kind of RV solar panels are available.
RV solar panels are a component of an electrical system which converts light from the sun into electricity. This electricity is used to charge the RV batteries and are capable of running all the basics in your RV, including the lighting and appliances. On great advantage of using RV solar panels is that you can travel to a wider variety of locations. No longer will you have to worry about finding a source of power for your vehicles when you travel. As long as the sun is shining, you will be taking your power with you.
Thousands of companies in countries around the world now offer different RV solar panels for your convenience. When you decide to make the purchase, spend time researching which options are available to you so you can buy the best system and the lowest possible price.
Alpine Survival
Alpine Survival is one of the top choices for people looking to purchase RV solar panels. The RV solar panels that they sell are durable, lightweight, and easy to transport. One of the benefits of these and other top of the line solar panels is that they continue to generate electricity even if they are in partial shade.
Even the clumsy need not worry about the durability of Alpine Survival RV solar panels. You can pack them up and transport them without worrying about breaking them. They are so durable that it has been reported that dropping them and stepping on them still does not cause them to be ruined (although I would not recommend trying)! These RV solar panels have a unique design with lightweight construction and a nylon fabric covering which allows the entire unit to be folded into the size of a book. This makes them perfect to store and transport.
Mr. Solar
Another brand to consider when purchasing RV solar panels is Mr. Solar. They sell many of the most high efficiency brand names and kits, including such reliable names as Sharp, Sanyo, Photowatt, Mitsubishi, BP, GE, and more. This selection of RV solar panels and kits will ensure that you can find the exact one you want for your RV.
If you love to travel, RV solar panels are the perfect option. Your trips will be more convenient because you will no longer have to base your destination on where you can find a power source. Not only that, but you will save money by reducing your use of a traditional gas generator. With rising fuel prices, RV solar panels make practical sense for any traveler.
