Camping Knowledge Thread

[AnythingAtAll]

There's a lot of camping expertise that exists among the members of this site.  I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread where that type of knowledge could be gathered and exhanged.  Tips, hints, cool ideas that have worked out, things that work just as well for less $, those kind of things.  I know there's this kind of info scattered throughout various threads, but it can be tough to dig out.

So here's a start:  Seam Sealer for tents-

The waterbased stuff in the plastic bottle with the felt applicator pad is Ok and sometimes does the trick- but this is about the gooey glue-like stuff that comes in tubes and can really seal things up. 

Loctite's "Stik n Seal" (clear, "Original"- there are apparently several varieties of this stuff) does just as good a job as the expensive seam sealers that run $7-9 at sporting good stores for a 1oz. tube.  It comes in a 2oz. tube and can be found for around $3, same price as the waterbased stuff.

[Auntie Hope]

Shop (carefully) for camping equipment on Craig's List. It's a real money saver and with the economy the way it is at the monent, someone out there is bound to need the funds / you be able to save funds. Shop from now through the spring (cleaning) and pace it all out so you're not taking a big hit right before the trip!

You'll need everything from a bathing suit to a ski jacket in Telluride. The temps go from 90 during the day to possible 25 at night, and maybe rain, and maybe snow, and maybe gropple, and maybe hail, and maybe heavy winds, and maybe........

Auntie Hope 

[Ron N Deb]

ok two cents here ....two words....Potta Potti..
no more late night ..putting clothes on walks to the Jon
Great for Number One ......Not Number Two !
 

[Cindy Lou]

Staying up all night solves that.   

[Ron N Deb]

Ok Lemme open up the Can of Worms
The Great Bed Debate !
 

[Auntie Hope]

Back on Topic......

No open flame cooking. 

Telluride is in a BOX CANYON, Historic Town on the National Historic Register with one road in, and that's the same road out.

Propane is your friend! 

Auntie Hope 

[stongwrcs]

Wwwweeeellll.... if I Caannn find mmmyyy way baacckk to mmy tennt, I lloovvee my cccoottt!
 
 

 Listening to: dog snoring again!

[Schleintz]

You'll need everything from a bathing suit to a ski jacket in Telluride. The temps go from 90 during the day to possible 25 at night, and maybe rain, and maybe snow, and maybe gropple, and maybe hail, and maybe heavy winds, and maybe........

Auntie Hope 
[/quote]
 
we have brought all of this, and used all of this in one weekend!!
bring extra beer and your favorite drink. the drinking can wittle yer wallet 

[Cindy Lou]

Ok Lemme open up the Can of Worms
The Great Bed Debate !
 

  Raw'n honey, if Deb is coming with you, then there should be no debate as to who's bed you'll be in!  

[Auntie Hope]

Ok Lemme open up the Can of Worms
The Great Bed Debate !
 

  Raw'n honey, if Deb is coming with you, then there should be no debate as to who's bed you'll be in!  

Not sure there would be a debat even if Deb was NOT coming with you in 2010! Deb trusts you... better yet! DEB TRUSTS US! 



Back on Topic.... An air mattress gets Very Cold at night! (especially with no Deb!)

Auntie Hope 

[lalagay]

Remember, if you think you're over doing it on the cold weather front: YOU'RE NOT! 
Honestly, I came with an extensive range of cold weather clothing last year, fleece included, and I used it all, simultaneously, when I finally made it back to my tent for a few hours of rest. The nights are FREEZING, no joke, and you'll need all the layers of fleece you can get! 
As for late night frollocking, it's severely impeded by the number of layers to get through before hand, plus looking like an overdressed penguin isn't exactly enticing 
I don't think Deb needs to be concerned on that front! 

 Listening to: crooked still - Florence

[landshark]

A quilt beneath an Airbed, a feather bed on top of airbed covered by flannel fitted sheets, down comforter and longjohns..... sleep like a kitten.

Tons of stuff to haul but,,,, but sleep is a good thing.

I love car campin cause you can bring some crazy yummy things to make it work really well.
I will never forget meeting a guy named Barefoot at RGA this past summer.
No cooler for this guy, he brought a solar driven kitchen stove and refrigerator...... resourcefull dude indeed.

I say if you've got room in the car, bring it!

[Ron N Deb]

  Raw'n honey, if Deb is coming with you, then there should be no debate as to who's bed you'll be in!  
[/quote]

Not sure there would be a debat even if Deb was NOT coming with you in 2010! Deb trusts you... better yet! DEB TRUSTS US! 



Back on Topic.... An air mattress gets Very Cold at night! (especially with no Deb!)

Auntie Hope 

[/quote]

Deb Is Coming ...even though she isnt breathing Hard at this moment !

[AnythingAtAll]

Ok Lemme open up the Can of Worms
The Great Bed Debate !
 

As individual as you (and your space available/sleeping requirements/comfort desires) are: 

Bare basics cheap- closed cell foam sleeping pads and/or blankets/quilts are good for insulating underneath you.  Self inflating/ Thermarest pads good too, but can get pricey.  Most sleeping bags compressed on the underside lose insulating ability.  Air mattresses are great for comfort, but the air inside will match nighttime temps, so you still need something insulating you from the air mattress. 
I use an air mattress, but one that can be inflated/vacuum deflated with a basic bellows foot pump- no need for recharge or batteries.

Wouldn't consider using a bag alone rated above 20/25 degrees for Telluride.

While not cheap(or small), we love our Coleman "ProCat" catalytic propane heater- rated for indoor use, push-button ignition- does a great job of warming a tent in just a few minutes.  It does require some space and respect- it can make a tent go POOF real quick too. 

[captain pete]

Last year we finally solved the great bed debate, at least we think so.  And the way I look at it, I'm moving to Telluride for a week in June.  Some of you Parkies are there for closer to a month.   So you might at well make it plush, I mean no one likes waking up with a hangover (what?!!) on a mostly deflated air mattress, right?
So our solution was this:
2 cots side by side (can you believe that 6 months of searching every outdoor and army surplus store between Denver and Vail and we couldn't find a double cot?)
One Paco Pad on each cot (river rats you'll already know what these are, for the unitiated, its a PVC coated sleeping pad, 1-4 inches thick, untearable, buoyant, waterproof, kickass!!) (Also a little pricey...)
Old comforter spread over the pacos to keep the cold air where it belongs.
On warm nights, so clearly not last summer, we just use a sheet and blanket like at home, on cold nights we go with the mummy bags.
We slept better last summer than we ever have at Telluride and I can officially say there is now one area of our Festival camp that no longer needs to be tinkered with.

One more helpful tip- because we all have someone in camp who just can't seemn to get up and help with teardown on Monday morning, right?  Make sure you keep a large squirt gun loaded with chilly water in camp at all times.  Come Monday morning just stick that sucker in the offending slacker's tent and let loose. Problem solved.

 Listening to: Football