Your tips for making life on the ground better at your camp site.

[iClint]

I like my helinox chair I would never camp without it. It packs down small and light and is ready to sit in only seconds after pulling it out of the bag. I recently got a table of similar construction to the chairs that I am keen to try out.

As for sleeping if on my own I have an aerobed pakmat. If the mrs comes with me it's a queen Aerobed and queen size sleeping bag.

 

[tomatocity]

- A friend designed a mat to be used for on road repairs. We discussed it and he made it a bit larger to also be used for tent entry (held in place with smaller stakes).

- Bring something to start a fire in the rain. There are retail products available but you can be creative. Purell Gel and cotton balls are things you can get when staying at some hotels/motels. Waterproof matches are a constant. WetFire fire starting tinder. Camping without a fire is California get used to it.

- A good headlamp goes a long way when trying to setup camp in dark dark dark conditions.

- Not necessarily for camp but I carry a compact umbrella (thank you Michele), Never know when you need shade.

- Favorite handy water source. Doesn't matter how much it cost or how good it is... stay hydrated.

- Of course, as others have mentioned, your favorite camping chair.

 

[low drag]

A good night's sleep is paramount so all the talk about mats and bags is good to go. Some sleeping mats have additional stuff to make the mat into a little stadium chair. I also bring a poncho liner (light blanket) to cover up with if it's too warm for the sleeping bag.
Other random stuff:
Candle lantern, I've used one for over 20 years, in particular in cold weather while in the US Marines. They're worth their weight in gold.
Poncho or light weight tarp to add to your tent opening should you run into crap weather and have to sit at the camp site. Of course a tent large enough to sit in rather than just lay down and sleep. Shade is nice too.
Lines! Boot laces can be used for just about anything, the laces hold up like no other line you can use. Combine with bungees with that poncho. Para cord for various things like clothes lines and use to put your trash up high over a tree branch in bear country.
Zippo lighter for stove lighting, those darn Bic lighters end up burning your thumb when you light a stove. Fire paste makes lighting a camp stove a breeze, no big flame up when the stove is warming up. I like a solid camping plate to eat from.
I like cotton socks and other clothes at camp rather than all the synthetics you wear to wick moisture. It's much more comfortable.
Bug head net if in an area with lots of insects, of course bug juice.
A water bladder to hang off a tree etc with small water bottle for convenient drinking.
Stuff to wash up with. Baby wipes are nice but a wash cloth with soap/water really makes you feel better to get that good night's sleep.

 

[Ramseybella]

A good night's sleep is paramount so all the talk about mats and bags is good to go. Some sleeping mats have additional stuff to make the mat into a little stadium chair. I also bring a poncho liner (light blanket) to cover up with if it's too warm for the sleeping bag.
Other random stuff:
Candle lantern, I've used one for over 20 years, in particular in cold weather while in the US Marines. They're worth their weight in gold.
Poncho or light weight tarp to add to your tent opening should you run into crap weather and have to sit at the camp site. Of course a tent large enough to sit in rather than just lay down and sleep. Shade is nice too.
Lines! Boot laces can be used for just about anything, the laces hold up like no other line you can use. Combine with bungees with that poncho. Para cord for various things like clothes lines and use to put your trash up high over a tree branch in bear country.
Zippo lighter for stove lighting, those darn Bic lighters end up burning your thumb when you light a stove. Fire paste makes lighting a camp stove a breeze, no big flame up when the stove is warming up. I like a solid camping plate to eat from.
I like cotton socks and other clothes at camp rather than all the synthetics you wear to wick moisture. It's much more comfortable.
Bug head net if in an area with lots of insects, of course bug juice.
A water bladder to hang off a tree etc with small water bottle for convenient drinking.
Stuff to wash up with. Baby wipes are nice but a wash cloth with soap/water really makes you feel better to get that good night's sleep.

::026:: on the Candle lantern.
I have used them in colder temps, never had a wet tent wall knocks down the condensation level.
I have been working on my own candle lamp using the smallest baby food jars.
What burns in your house burns differently in outdoors when it's cold.
Small wicks burn cold and go out to large and it gets to high of a flame.
The UCO candle makers have that formula down to a science.

 

[shrekonwheels]

In Montana the nights usually get cold, so a Mummy bag is nice. Regardless of your preference in style this is one area to spend some coin, more coin buys you a bag actually rated for the temp, more durable, and of course lighter and truly compresses.

Visqueen for underneath the tent, this helps to keep both the cold coming up from the ground, as well as thorns/needles from poking the bottom. I like to keep mine about 2 feet wider than the tent so I have someplace to put my boots and help keep my tent clean and needle free.

I like an air mattress, which I use the electric pump I carry to blow up.

To warm up in the mornings if I know there will be frost on the tent I will use a small back pack lantern to warm things up a couple minutes before I get up.

If you have a folding chair, those are nice to sit on inside the tent.

Small hand broom or towel to sweep out inside of tent in morning.

Solar Showers are nice and work well if you can leave it up for an afternoon.

Cotton socks are horrible, they hold moisture in, use wool socks to keep your feet warm, although modern synthetic moisture wicking material is pretty good and thin, I still use wool though

Paracord, sometimes you need to hang stuff up to dry, this can be done inside the tent on shit days, or outside of course on nice days.

Duct Tape, god knows holes in tents can appear and of course it has many other uses.

 

[Don in Lodi]

The coldest I've ever been was on an air mattress. No insulation value at all. Don't quite get the physics of why what I was laying on was so much colder than the air around the rest of me, heat soak maybe... Super comfy otherwise, LOL.

 

[shrekonwheels]

I have never noticed that before, but you van bet your ass I will now! : :

 

[Mellow]

The coldest I've ever been was on an air mattress. No insulation value at all. Don't quite get the physics of why what I was laying on was so much colder than the air around the rest of me, heat soak maybe... Super comfy otherwise, LOL.

It has little to do with the air around you, and more about the ground temp. Without insulation, the ground is cooling off the air inside the mattress and the mattress is then sucking warmth from your body. An insulated mattress will allow your body warms to warm up the air inside the mattress and keep it warm to create that layer of warmth/protection.

Also, the volume of air your body has to warm makes a difference, the thinner the mattress the quicker you can warm it up - those 6" thick non-insulated mattresses are suicide.

 

[shrekonwheels]

You are probably correct but I have always only used a cheap wally world standard five inch air mattress. The longest it was used was in 05 on a fire in Wisdom MT for a month, with two weeks of that month waking up to ice crusting on the outside of the tent by morning, I was perfectly comfy.

 

[tomatocity]

The coldest I've ever been was on an air mattress. No insulation value at all. Don't quite get the physics of why what I was laying on was so much colder than the air around the rest of me, heat soak maybe... Super comfy otherwise, LOL.

Guessing that is the reason for an Insulated Air Pad/Mattress.

 

[Andylaser]

I echo the thoughts about mummy bags. This is the Dutch army bag with its cotton liner and sack.

It may appear mummy like, but is considerably bigger. I can easily sleep on my side or move around inside it. The downside is it is quite bulky. I have happily used it at 0 deg C though.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Guessing that is the reason for an Insulated Air Pad/Mattress.

Yep, I'm on a down filled Exped mat now. Luxurious.

 

[default]

Well I figure Ill throw this here too.

I am an avid camper, and one of the reasons I got the S10 is because the FJ just wouldnt cut it to camp with.

My personal bend is to hammock camp. I was the founder and president of my states Hammock Camping Club! Comfortable, fast, modular and best of all you really freak out the squares that expect to see something under the tarp.

Anywho, heres a quick video of me and the KLR I had this time last year (to the day, actually)

my one big change from this video is the chair, Im a bigger guy and while it could be comfy, it just wasnt good enough for me "long term", I have since replaced it with a Kermit chair and have kept the table, so I have the perfect setup i feel.


Feel free to ask any questions, PM me if you like as well!

http://youtu.be/QUdP0EavZzM

 

[AVGeek]

Well I figure Ill throw this here too.

I am an avid camper, and one of the reasons I got the S10 is because the FJ just wouldnt cut it to camp with.

My personal bend is to hammock camp. I was the founder and president of my states Hammock Camping Club! Comfortable, fast, modular and best of all you really freak out the squares that expect to see something under the tarp.

Anywho, heres a quick video of me and the KLR I had this time last year (to the day, actually)

my one big change from this video is the chair, Im a bigger guy and while it could be comfy, it just wasnt good enough for me "long term", I have since replaced it with a Kermit chair and have kept the table, so I have the perfect setup i feel.


Feel free to ask any questions, PM me if you like as well!

http://youtu.be/QUdP0EavZzM

Little help on the video embed:

How REV lives, Spring Swing 2014`

 

[shrekonwheels]

I like the chair, but man that tart would go bye bye here, we always have wind it seems ???

 

[Masterkick]

Hennessey Hammock. As long as there are trees or other structures to tie onto I'll never sleep on the ground again. http://www.campsaver.com/explorer-deluxe-a-sym-hammock

 

[lacofdfireman]

Never found a Hammock that was comfortable to sleep in. Guess I like to move around to much. When I sleep in a hammock Imwake up feeling like I've been hit with a Mack truck. Guess I'm the exception though as it looks like a lot of you love yours.

 

[Ramseybella]

I would like to see that KLR packed up with the portable heater.. ???
I wanted to try a Hammock but I am to restless and with my shoulder width would feel like I am in a body bag.

 

[spklbuk]

I would like to see that KLR packed up with the portable heater.. ???
I wanted to try a Hammock but I am to restless and with my shoulder width would feel like I am in a body bag.

Here is a hammock to remedy that feeling...http://www.warbonnetoutdoors.com/ridgerunner-hammock/