Considering Hydrostatic Head And Sun Protection Factor When Buying A Tent
META: There are certain aspects that we must consider when buying a tents for camping. Two of these important elements that you must contemplate while purchasing a tent are the hydrostatic head and the sun protection factor.
Tents are available in various kinds of material that are suitable for different weather conditions. Canvas, cotton, nylon, polyester and felt are all fabrics that are available. Canvas can become very bulky when it’s absorbed a lot of water so bear this in mind. On the other hand polyester and nylon are lightweight and do not take in much water and so with the right kind of coating they can become completely waterproof. The fabrics over the years will tend to wear as they are exposed to constant harsh UV rays. Each tent, therefore needs to be tested to see how much resistance it will take against natural conditions such as the sunlight and rain.
On nylon and polyester tents the common coating used is polyurethane. The coatings are available with different resistance power and the strength of this resistance is generally measured in Hydrostatic Head. The more the Hydrostatic Head the greater will be the durability of the tent and the longer will its coating last. The fabric is tested to see what force of water it can take. This is done by calculating the resistance of rain in millimetres. A light shower will not harm your tent but a heavy down pour will put more pressure on the tent.
If a fabric indicates a hydrostatic head of 1000mm, it can be classified as good enough for a light shower. A hydrostatic head of 1500mm in a tent fabric is appropriate for summer camps while 2000mm fabrics are durable for more weather types like 4 season tents. Groundheets can exceed the limit of that of a flysheet which can be a good 5000mm or above. If you are going on an expedition you need a tent fabric with a hydrostatic head of 3000mm.
The other aspect that we must take into consideration while selecting a good quality tent is the sun protection factor. You should only expose yourself to the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun for so long, so be sure to check the SPF or sun protection factor as this will show you how long you are allowed to expose yourself for. The greater the SPF number the more protection you have from the sun. Not only are tent fabrics checked for water resistance, they are also marked for the UV protection; this is usually between SPF35 and SPF50. You can find tents with much higher SPF protection but that also means paying that bit extra.
However it is always more sensible to buy a tent that provides you the maximum SPF protection because you are outdoors for several days and need the best safety measures for your skin. Ultraviolet rays can be very harmful to your skin, so make sure that the tent you buy gives you a good amount of safety from the suns rays by blocking the rays from penetrating the tent fabric.
While your tent takes care of you, it is also required that you take equally good care of it. It is important to store it correctly without too many folds or bends, especially after it has been subjected to torrential rain or extreme heat. This will ensure it lasts longer. Signs of wear and tear of the tents fabric will be clearly visible at the folds. So make sure it protects you as much as you protect it.
Gear That You Must Have When You Are Camping
META: When you are on a camping trip, there are some basic essentials that you need to carry with you so that you can have an equally enjoyable time away from home. Since you cannot carry much when you are hiking, you need to prepare a list of things that you require and cannot do without. Therefore, amongst many other things, lightweight tents for camping should be considered.
As exciting as it may be, you cannot enjoy a camping trip if you are not geared up with the right kind of camping equipment. Arriving with the basic necessities is important so check out the your list of the essential things you need.g. tents, cooking equipment and clothes.You need to ensure you take all the appropriate things with you; plan well in advance to ensure that you do not forget anything. Maybe you could start checking your list to ensure you have the appropriate equipment a few weeks beforehand. Unless you have a proper planning, you are bound to forget something or the other and you surely would not want to discover that you have left behind something very important.
The first and foremost thing is to get yourself a tent. A tent that best suits your needs is what you should be looking for, along with a tent that is suitbable for the weather conditions of the place you will be visiting. Sleeping bags come in all different shapes, sizes, fabrics and colours. This is the next important thing on the list, so ensure you get one which is comfortable. If you are looking for better insulation, then include a sleeping mat or an inflated mat, this will give you added comfort.
Your list of foodstuff that you intend to carry depends on how many people are going to eat that food. Avoid taking perishable food as it is difficult to store. As for the cooking and eating utensils you could carry a frying pan, two or three pots, a cooking spoon, spatula while plastic plates, spoons and cups would do beautifully for your meals. You should carry spare containers with you just in case you have any left over food; this can be stored and used for your next meal.
A camp stove can be very handy, if bad weather forbids you to light up a campfire. You can do a great deal with a camp stove; you will be surprised. Fresh meals can be cooked if you can be bothered to take time out to cook them.
If you have to find something in the dark, then a flashlight, matches or a lighter would be useful. You must also have a first-aid kit with you because it can come in handy when you are camping. The kit can include strips of band-aid, cotton balls, gauze, antiseptic ointment, sunscreen, a burn spray, an antibiotic, aspirin, insect repellent and some other medicines that you normally take.
Taking the right clothes for your trip is very important; ensure they are lightweight and easy to carry but also are suitable for the weather conditions that you are likely to face. Do not take clothes that tend to remain damp or do not dry fast. You can add on a lightweight rain gear that could be useful if it happens to rain. Sneakers are the perfect footwear to include unless you are planning on doing loads of hiking. If this is the case include a pair of sturdy boots.
Apart from these you will need a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the harsh sun. You can also do with other necessities such as a small hatchet, an all-purpose knife, a deck of cards, a book or two and any other thing that you would prefer as a pastime.
One thing you must remember is that whatever you take with you, must be lightweight specifically if you are going backpacking because you would not want to come back with a bad back. Gather the most essential stuff, think twice about the weight, pick up everything that you are going to need and you are ready to leave for your camping trip.
Camping Mattress – How To Find Good Quality
Camping mattresses are no longer available in standard weights and in only a few colours. There are lots of different types on the market, but what type should you buy and what are the important things to think about before buying a camping mattress? This article informs by raising objective issues for consideration, prior to purchase.
Most camping mattresses that you buy now are of exceptional quality. Yes you still can buy the very thin and cheap camping mattresses that do very little in terms of providing comfort and warmth, but overall, the world of camping mattresses has evolved significantly over the last few years.If you want luxury then you can have it, since camping mattressess are now a multi-million pound industry!
But there are some basic considerations to take into account before you splash out on a top of the range mattress. For a start, if the mattress is larger than standard and your tent is very bijou then if there are two of you in the tent with larger air mattresses then you may find that the bijou tent is suddenly very small indeed. So make sure that any mattresses that you buy will easily fit into your tents for camping.
Inflatable mattresses are very popular currently, but you need to have a means of inflating them. Due to the fact that you are effectively supported by air, they do feel very comfortable and comfort is a good thing when you are camping! For those who are a little lazier, self-inflating mattresses are also available but these tend to be a little more expensive.
Investing in a good thick camping mattress is better as it should protect you from the dampness and cold.Lying on a thin mattress could mean that you will feel the cold more.While taking account of the space your mattress will take you might want to consider also the thickness as you might find that you are stiff the next morning.
One very important issue is space. If you are travelling by car then you don’t need to worry about weight or how much room your mattresses take up, but if you are travelling by bicycle or hiking, then do you really want to be carrying thick mattresses and a pump to inflate them?the weight of the mattress also has to be considered.
So a good mattress is dependent on a number of factors, balancing comfort, thickness, weight and how you are travelling. Do not be fooled into buying a mattress that is super de luxe, but you find it takes up the whole of your rucksack, just get what is right for you.
What camping accessories should you bring on a camping holiday?
Before you go out and buy any accessories you need to figure out what type of camping holiday you are going to go on. If you are thinking about heading out on a camping trip, as many more people are doing in the current economic climate, there are some essential pieces of camping accessories that you need and others that you do not need. The camping experience can be made into a luxurious one thanks to all the excellent camping accessories that are available for you to purchase. Your camping holiday would not be on at all without tents for camping.
What are your essential camping accessories?
Camp accessories come in two types those that you could well leave at home and the absolute essentials. The few things that you will need regardless of what kind of camping you do are absolutely essential. For instance eating is essential and you have to cook your food, so you need something to cook on. So if you intend to head out on your lonesome into the mountains, you may just need an open fire. There are plenty of light weight alternatives to the kitchen utensils you have at home. You will need to bring some of these in order to cook your food and and eat your food off. But for most of us, a camping stove is an absolute essential. There is a wide range available from single burner stoves, right up to a four burner with grill and oven for those with a car and the right sized tent.
Sleeping camp accessories
The kind of luxury that you expect and the amount of money you are willing to pay will be your only limitations when it comes to sleeping arrangements for camping. Your style of camping will dictate this. You can buy sleeping bags for all different types of weather. They come in sizes to fit both adults and children, and even come in double sized. Camping beds and chairs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You can also buy tables, lanterns, fridges, the list is endless. You could spend hours searching through camping accessory catalogs. Why don’t you have a think about camping holidays in Spain.