Tents for Your Family

There are so many camping tents on the market it can get confusing trying to find the that will suit your needs.
The first thing you need to consider is how many people you would like to sleep in your tent. Sizes range from very small backpacking one person tents to very large 9+ person tents. Of course the bigger the tent generally the more time you will need to spend setting it up.
You might also consider specialty tents for your pets and kids tents for the little ones to have their own special place on your camping trips.

Down or Synthetic Sleeping Bag

Are you wondering whether you should get a down sleeping bag or a synthetic filled sleeping bag? How, where, and when you plan on using your sleeping bags will determine which fill is better for your needs.
Synthetic sleeping bags are usually cheaper and many feel they are not nearly as warm, but they are getting better all the time. Synthetic bags pack down easier and dry quicker than down filled sleeping bags. I use this type of bag in the spring and summer and especially on long backpacking trips.
Down sleeping bags is my bag of choice for winter camping. When it is cold outside there is nothing like crawling into a snuggly down bag! Down sleeping bags do tend to cost more, but if you ensure it is thoroughly dry before storing it away it should last you several seasons.

Using Coleman Lanterns

Everyone knows Coleman lanterns are a handy item for when you are camping, but they come in very useful at other times as well.
Recently ice storms and tornados knocked out power in many homes in the Midwest, coleman battery powered lanterns are very useful in these situations. These lanterns are a great way to safely light your home during power outages without any fear of fire or fumes endangering your family.
Summit Camping Gear, not only carries the complete coleman lanterns line, as well as coleman flashlights, but also a complete line of parts for many of the coleman lanterns made.

Usefulness of Coleman Coolers

One of our most used camping supplies is used for more than just camping! We own several coleman coolers, and we use them constantly.
The coleman wheeled cooler is the workhorse since we use it for picnics, fishing trips, the minor league baseball games, and so many other weekend activities. The cooler holds plenty of snacks and drinks, while the wheels make getting them from car to wherever so much easier than carrying a regular cooler.
The coleman gallon jug cooler is used several times a week for baseball games and practice. These little coolers and some cups on the bench keeps the kids hydrated while we do our part to save the environment by cutting down on water bottle usage.

Desert Camping

For those lucky enough to live near a desert, now is a great time to pack your camping supplies and watch the winter get shook off for spring.
The days are a perfect temperature for hiking without any worries of the desert heat. The nights at this time of year can be a little cool, but with good camping tents and sleeping bags you can sleep well after a day of exploring even in the cooler temps.
When camping in the desert also make sure you have plenty of camping chairs and tables. With lots of sand and rock everywhere having a comfortable place to sit as well as a clean place to lay your food makes the trip so much easier.

Easy Camping Burritos

One of my kids’ favorite recipes when camping is my now famous Chicken Camping Burritos! I would like to pretend they are really extravagant, but they are actually just something I created that is easy to make on top of coleman stoves, and requires little if any dishes.

To make these burritos you need:

1 package lipton instant spanish rice
1 can of chicken breast (usually next to the tuna)
cheese
salsa
sour cream
burrito shells

Make the lipton noodles as directed in a camping sauce pan on your coleman stove, and when almost finished add the can of chicken.
When this is ready fill burrito shells, add cheese, salsa, and sour cream. Roll and eat!

With this recipe I have one dirty pan and one spoon to wash! This leaves more time for me to enjoy my trip with my family.

Inventory Camping Gear Now for Spring

Spring break is just over one month away, and a quick check on the family camping gear is reminding me I need to get a few things before we can head out on a week long camping trip.
Right now we only have one coleman camping chair for each of us, but it is rare for us to ever get away without some of my kids friends in tow. Since everyone wants a chair a few more would be ideal.
With more people on the trip we also need more camping tents, another for the boys and one more for the girls.
One month sounds like quite a bit of time, but it is never too early to take inventory on your camping supplies and start getting ready for the upcoming camping season.