When going out for camping, good preparation can make the difference between a successful and a poor camping experience. But how can you ensure that your camp will be successful? For a wonderful experience, be prepared with the following equipment.
Sleeping bags
Rectangular sleeping bag
Mummy bag
Sleepings bags are the mattress and blanket of outdoor camping. They look like large pillows that you can wrap around your body. They work by trapping air between you and the fabric. Your body warms this air and the sleeping bag prevents the warm air form escaping.
Types of sleeping bags
Rectangular These are very roomy and comfortable to the restless sleepers. They have a lot of room for movement. However , they are bulkier and retain less heat.
Mummy bags These are tapered at the feet. They tend to wrap around the body. Most are made to retain heat on the feet (which tend to lose heat very easily) by the design of the zip which stop just below the knee.
Hybrids These are almost rectangular but are slightly tapered. They are suitable for people with larger build.
If you camp in warm weather, a rectangular bag is more suitable. Mummy bags are more suited for colder climate.
Evaluating Sleeping bags Check Temperature rating Type of insulation Temperature rating These are set by the manufacturer. It is a rating of the coldest temperature that the bag can keep you comfortable. Generally, Determine the coldest temperature you expect then look for a sleeping bag with a temperature rating of about 6 degrees Celsius less than the environment. If the weather is colder, you can always compensate with more clothing.
Type of insulation
Some bags are warmer yet slimmer than others. It all depends on the filling material. Many natural fibers are lighter and generally compress better, however, they cannot retain warmth when wet. Synthetic fibers are bigger but are warm when wet. Generally, you want a slim bag. Therefore, if a bag is too heavy, keep shopping.
Over bags
Over bags look like thin sleeping bags. They are wrapped around the normal sleeping bags tp provide additional waterproofing and can serve as thin sleeping bags in hot camping environments
Tents
Tents are the home away from home. They provide shelter from cold, heat and even rain. In temperate zones, tents are developed to withstand strong winds and snow.
Characteristics of a good camping tent
It should have a waterproof floor sewn to the bottom (Army tents don't have floors). It should have a flysheet that allows for ventilation. It should be easy to set up. This is especially noticed when you arrive in a camp site in the dark. :-) It should have adequate ventilation with openings on most sides of the tent. Better yet, a good tent will have mesh screens covering the openings.
Tent Classification
There are 3 season, 4 season and all season tents. 3 Season tents are built for all seasons except the extreme cold (Snow). They are most ideal in Africa because has very variable weather conditions and no snow. 4 season tents are made for extreme weather conditions and may not be suitable for the hot conditions except on Mountains. You can think of the all season tents as family tents, which are not for serious camping. All season tents are for those who want to sample the outdoors in a safe/tame environment. They are therefore not as rugged as the former 2.
Tent Capacity
Most tents have a classified accommodation capacity. You will hear of 1 man, 2 man, 4 man, 8 man tents and so on (of course this includes women :-))You need to be very careful when looking at tent capacity. Some tents say 2 man and really mean 2 man without their luggage. Others give allowance for the luggage. Before purchase, spread out the tent to confirm its size.
Types of tents
Dome Shaped - Normally built for extreme conditions. Its shape can withstand punishment from the elements. They allow room for standing and moving around in. This is the shape of most 4 season tents. Tunnel Shaped Normally used by long distance hikers due to its light weight. They have less poles and less fabric while their shape can withstand rain and strong winds. Most tunnel shaped tents fall under the 3 season category.
The fly sheet Fly sheets are light waterproof coverings for tents. When a fly sheet covers the whole tent, it is known as a full fly sheet. If you will be camping in rainy conditions (Practically anywhere in Africa), it is advisable to have a tent that has a full fly sheet otherwise, rain and water may tend to seep through any uncovered sections of your tent.
Stoves and grills
The best camping stoves in Kenya are ones that use butane or preferably a fuel mixture of butane and propane. These are the best fuels in outdoor camping. The temperatures in Kenya are conducive to both of these fuels. Other fuels are alcohol (invisible flame, less heat), kerosene and gasoline (poisonous toxic fumes).
Stoves heat is measured by BTU (British thermal units). The higher the BTU the hotter the stove. A stove's BTU can be given as the rating or as the time it takes the stove to boil a quart of water at full throttle at sea level. Generally, the ideal is 3 to 5 minutes.
After looking at the BTU or the boiling time, consider the efficiency of the stove. Good stoves burn about 170 gm of fuel per hour when running on full throttle.
Lanterns and flashlights
Gone are the days when lantern fuel was more efficient than batteries. With the advent of LEDs, flame less becomes cheaper, more efficient and safer. LEDs also work well in all weather, thus making them the best choice for lighting up the inside of a tent.
However, LEDs don't have as much light as well designed lanterns. When lighting up a whole campsite, then go for fuel lanterns. Remember, lighting fuel lanterns inside a tent is a bad thing. Tipping it while asleep is can seriously jeopardize your life.