When you go camping, if there is one thing among all your other camping equipment that is essential to a perfect camping trip, it is certainly your tent. The choices for picking out a tent may seem endless, so to choose the right one for you, below are a few recommendations.

From considering the size of the tent to its material, these tips will help you narrow down which tent will be most suited for your trip.

Who Will be Joining You?

First, you need to consider how many people will be staying in the tent. If you are traveling by yourself, then a single person tent should be fine for your needs.

However if you travel with your entire family, you may need a tent that has sufficient capacity for many additional people to sleep, and even some “rooms” in which to hang out. After all, once you’ve driven to a park and set up camp, it’s not like you can simply jump into an RV if you later determine you haven’t sufficiently prepared for the number in your party.

All tents should clearly state how many people can fit comfortably in them to help you avoid the packed-in-like-sardines syndrome.

Seasonality Matters

Second, look at where and when you plan to go camping. Depending on the season, you may actually need a different type of tent. There are many tents designed for at least three seasons, and some that are specifically geared toward only one.

Consider also whether you will be carrying this tent in a backpack or hiking with it. That issue alone may change your preference for the size or weight of your tent.

Consider Your Expenses

Third, factor in your overall budget. Tents can be very pricey once you start to get into the larger sized options. If you need to remain within a smaller budget, avoid the temptation to look at huge tents that have added rooms, such as screened in sections and skylights.

They may make you drool, but if you don’t have the funds, avert your eyes. Pup tents are the most budget friendly, but are of course very small. There are tents, fortunately, that compromise somewhere between the bare minimum and luxury.

Don’t Get Weighed Down

Finally, as mentioned earlier, consider the weight of the tent. Even some of the larger tents come in lighter weights so you can hike and carry it at the same time without too much exertion.

They fold down relatively easily but may be bulky or heavy, so you need to determine the most convenient means of transporting the tent to your site. The larger tents are best brought by car, whereas 2-person tents are normally fine for hiking.

What’s it Made Of?

By evaluating the tent material used for your particular camping season - as well as whether it offers any amenities such as mesh panels - you can more easily locate and purchase a tent that will truly suit your purposes.

Take the time to find just the right kind of tent because you will need it to protect yourself from the elements and give you the comfort you need to enjoy a great camping trip.

Throughout the New Forest you can find pretty much anything that you might want to do and something to suit all ages of the family. With 134 car parks scattered throughout the National Park – you can stop in so many places and go for stroll, take a picnic or have play around. There are considerable cycle, hiking/walking trails, museums and historical sites that can be visited.

There are also many guided tours walking tours are available to help you make the most of your experience here. While one can drive through many parts of the forest, you will then miss out on some of the striking natural beauty to be seen whilst on one of the ranger-guided walks, or even horseback or bicycle tours if you prefer.

Expert guides can inform you about the natural marvels of the park, with walking tours given by wildlife experts, geologists and more throughout the year. No matter when you plan to take a holiday, there is always something to see, as events seem to happen somewhere in the park every single day of the year!

Throughout many of the guided tours and walks – the experienced ranger or tour guide will offer some history about the places you are visiting. Bucklers Hard for example was where Admiral Nelson’s fleet was built. The forest as you can imagine has a lot of history about it including formerly being the hunting ground of kings.

The visitors centre has information and ideas for travellers visiting the park, and the town itself is where Alice Lidell, inspiration for Alice in Wonderland lived. With the forest’s many miles of coastline and rivers, there are many aquatic attractions to be seen as well. Water sports such as kayaking may be enjoyed, along with boat trips from which one can see many historical sites.

The wildlife lover can quite literally have a field day walking around the park. Its status as a wildlife preserve means that there are many animal species here to be observed in their natural habitats. One of the best way to observe them is on one of the multitude of walks, whether guided or solitary in nature.

Amongst all the wildlife you will find deer in abundance hiding out in the depth of the trees. You might come across a herd of cows blocking your path in the road with all the time in the day and not bothering to let you pass. Horses and pony’s wandering aimlessly across the village green. This is life in the New Forest and just a tiny part of the beauty that this park has to offer.

Exbury Gardens in the New Forest although not a forest walk is a beautiful place to visit. The Gardens are situated in 200 acres and there are many miles of wonderful walkways. This is well worth a visit if you can fit it in during your trip.

If your planning a trip to the New Forest and plan to stay over night there is a good variety of New Forest cottages in the region where you can stay which can be found on the New Forest guides website.

Also while you are in the area make sure you visit the nearby city of Southampton which is renowned for its shopping experience and museums.

Camping cookware should be lightweight, easy to clean and should hold up well for years. If you look online, many websites sell all different brands of cookware besides Coleman. In many campgrounds, you will even find people who use every day household cookware as camping cookware. You can use just about anything if you want too. Camping is fun when you just use the aluminum foil for your cooking needs. The aluminum bags also work nice for making different types of meals. One day you might have a great time cooking and the next might be a little rougher. Camping cookware is nice for different aspects of cooking, but you do want your meals to be easy clean ups as well. The nonstick cookware eliminates scrubbing; therefore, you would like that type more than the aluminum cookware.

Camping can be a great deal of fun; however even when having all that enjoyment you still need to do it safely. Although chances are good that nothing will go wrong, you want to make sure that you are prepared if it does.

That is why you should abide by these tips for remaining safe while you are camping, even if you’re bringing along an RV.

Safety First

First, you should never go camping without a complete first aid kit. It may seem insignificant if you get a tiny cut, but with all the dirt, leaves, and water you will be touching it is in your best interest to have at least a band-aid to cover it up.

You should also carry a first aid kit to help with any allergic reactions, such as bee stings. Bring antiseptic, pain relievers for everyday headaches, and even a snake bite kit if you are going somewhere that is rather remote.

Be Sure You have Essentials

When camping, carry your basic camping equipment, such as flashlights to get to the bathroom at night. Along with this, it is imperative to carry a hunting knife, a whistle in case you get lost, fire starter for the same reason, warm clothing, and food even if you do not plan to stay overnight. You never know when you might get a little off the beaten track and need extra essentials.

Checking the weather before you leave for your camping trip is extremely important. Even if there is just a slight chance of rain, you should be prepared with waterproof clothes and a tent, as well as waterproof matches to light a fire if you need it.

When you first get to the camp site, check around for potential hazards. That includes uneven terrain nearby that you may walk over at night when it is difficult to see, as well as any beehives in the vicinity of your camp site.

You also want to make a quick check for any poisonous plants that may be in the area in which you are sleeping so that you can avoid settling near them.

Once on the Campsite

Most campers eventually light a fire, and although camp sites usually have a specific fire pit for your use, make sure that it is safe. Keep all flammable objects - including dry leaves - well away from the fire, and don’t allow your personal belongings to get any closer than 12 feet because of sparks that may jump out of the fire.

This includes your tent and clothes. And speaking of dangerous fire, you should never use candles or heating devices inside your tent at any time.

Lastly, you need to use common sense for your entire camping experience. Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean that you should take a vacation from safety! This includes disposing of your garbage in the proper bins since garbage can attract unwelcome animals that you simply do not want anywhere near you.

Don’t panic if something negative does happen during your camping trip. As long as you are prepared for most typical camping dangers, you should be well positioned to handle it.

What To Eat While Camping

One of the most fun times you can have while camping is cooking for the group. Cooking is generally done over a fire or on a grill. You should bring foods that are easy to store and keep fresh. You should include snacks for the trail as well as foods to prepare for each meal. Perishable items should be stored in a refrigerator or in a cooler on ice.

Breakfast

Start your day off right with a breakfast that will get you ready for a day of hiking or exploring. Slice up some mushrooms, onions, bacon and potatoes and grill in a skillet over the fire until done. Mix eggs with a little milk and pour over the mixture to heat until the eggs are fully cooked. This is a great skillet meal that is easy to prepare and clean up. Another easy meal to prepare is a breakfast taco. Cook some eggs and place inside a tortilla with cheese and picante sauce. If you feel a bit more adventurous, try a breakfast pizza using pre made crusts and eggs. You can cook the eggs any way you like them and add bacon, potatoes or sausage. Heat the pizza crusts over the fire and top with your egg mixture and cheese.

Lunch

Keep lunch simple and easy to prepare and clean up so you get back to your adventures. Sandwiches are a great lunchtime treat using easy to store and prepare foods. Sliced lunch meats with vegetables on bread make the perfect pick me up. For a hot side dish to accompany the sandwiches take some frozen French fries, chili and cheese sauce; combine them in foil, wrapping it tightly. Throw the package on the fire and cook until the fries are cooked through and then enjoy your gooey chili cheese fries.

Dinner

Dinner consisting of a hearty stew is a great option. Using canned vegetables, mix equal parts of your favorites in a heavy pot. These can include corn, peas and beans. Also add a can of chunk chicken and pre made barbecue pork. Add two cans of tomato sauce and two cans of chopped tomatoes and simmer slowly over an open fire for a filling stew. If you went fishing and were lucky enough to make a catch, fry it for dinner. After cleaning the fish, cut it into fillets. Combine one can of beer with two eggs until thoroughly mixed. To that add twelve ounces of flour, two teaspoons of baking powder and salt and pepper to taste. Dip the fish in cornstarch then the batter. Place it in hot oil and fry until the batter puffs. This is a great way to enjoy the efforts put forth after a day of fishing.

Trail Snacks

No camping trip is complete without snacks to prepare and bring while you are out on a nature hike. Walking and hiking is hard work so you should bring some foods that will help boost your energy. Popcorn popped over an open flame is a fun way to prepare the next day’s snack. Trail mix is a traditional option and is limited to only your imagination. Use a combination of hearty ingredients with sweets. Combine granola, raisins, chocolate chips, M & M’s, cereal, dried fruits and nuts. Use whatever combinations you like.

My favorite camping meals though, are made with pudgie pie makers. They are made of cast iron or metal and have long handles. Our family uses pudgie pie makers to meal delicious treats for lunch and dinner. Bread is the staple ingredient in making a pudgie pie. My favorite is grilled cheese. To make one, butter two slices of bread. Place the buttered side down in the pudgie pie maker. This will prevent the bread from sticking. Place a cheese slice on top of each slice of bread. Close the pudgie pie maker. Place in the coals of your campfire. It will only take a few minutes for the pie to cook. Turn the pie maker after about a minute. Watch your sandwich closely. Depending on how hot your fire is, the sandwich will cook very quickly. Ham and tomato are also very good additions to your cheese sandwich.

Pizza pudgie pies are popular with our family too. Again, butter two slices of bread and place the buttered side down in the pudgie pie maker. Add your favorite pizza toppings (ours are canned pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese). Close the pudgie pie maker and place in the coals of your campfire to cook. Be careful when removing pudgie pies from your pudgie pie maker. Both the pudgie pie maker and your sandwich will be very hot.

Another favorite type of pudgie pie that our family enjoys are dessert ones. Butter your two slices of bread and place the buttered sides down in the pudgie pie maker. Spoon in some of your favorite prepared pie filling. Cook in the fire and enjoy.

And of course, no camping trip is complete without making smores. They’re also very easy to make. Start by roasting a marshmallow over your fire. Once your marshmallow is warm and gooey, stick it on top of a graham cracker and a piece of a chocolate bar, and then top with another graham cracker.

Cooking while camping can really be a lot of fun. Preparing foods should be easy and require little clean up and use few pots and pans. At the end of the night, though, no camping trip would be complete without toasting marshmallows. Cut some branches and skewer large marshmallows. Hold each stick over the flame until brown and toasty. It makes a great, gooey dessert and an ideal end to your day.

Read more about camping food and camping recipes.

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