With the new year and many people making (and breaking) new year resolutions don’t forget to review your camping resolutions.  Often you think about camping during the summer when the days are warm and long.  However, now is an excellent time to review your camping gear when you are not in a rush heading out the door.  Review your camping gear before you realize you forgot to fix or repair something.

Almost everyone has the list of ‘I’ll Remember That’.  What is the ‘I’ll Remember That’ list you ask?  Well that’s the list of things you don’t need to write down because you will never forget that thing.  You know, like picking up stamps or that item from the grocery store… whatever it was.  Don’t worry, you will remember it when you go to grab those stamps and realize you’re out of them.  So let’s set the ego aside for a bit and review the camping gear to start preparing for the next year.

If you are like many people, by now much of your gear is stored away wrapped up until warmer weather has you bringing your gear out to load up for the first trip of the season.  You may have even abused some of your gear by stacking holiday decorations on it, left it laying on the ground or even crushed in some corner.  Take the time to pull out the gear you can access and review it.  First list out your gear and separate it into different categories: 

Must have – these are items you actually used on every trip. 

Nice to bring – items you occasionally use but can live without. 

Do not need – These are items you either got or someone gave you and you never use them and will not use them.

First the easy part, the do not need pile.  Get rid of it.  I don’t care how much it cost or who gave it to you.  If you are not using it and don’t intend to use it, it is a waste of space, time and lots of other things.  I had a waterproof backpack that I had purchased before having kids, intending to do all sorts of camping in the boundary waters of Minnesota.  Priorities changed and what I wanted to do changed but I kept the pack.  Best thing I did was give that pack to a friend who would use it.  Trade that gear that you don’t use and get something you will use or give it to someone who will use it.  Let go of the guilt; you will be a better person and have more storage, too.

Now for the list that’s hard to go through: Nice to bring.  This list gets long, and people often justify it, saying they have the space so they might as well keep it.  Look at each item and be honest if you really need it.  Ask yourself if you have another item that can replace the item.  A classic example is a hammer and camp hatchet.  Both can be used to pound in stakes and help pull them out.  But the hatchet can also chop and split wood.  If you’re not sure that you need it, try bringing the item but not using it.  If you don’t use it after a few trips, ditch it!

Must haves are all the items you are keeping.  Review those items for damage or maintenance that may be needed.  Determine what can be repaired and what items you need to replace, such as a tarp.  If you need to replace items, you can watch for sales and score some deals.  The alternative could be finding out last minute, as you’re setting up, that you need to replace equipment. Then you’re at the mercy of the nearest store, where you may not find what you need, or you have to spend more money than anticipated.

Happy camping!

Camping Tarp Secrets

 Tarps are referred to by many different names; awning, canopy, canvas, ground cover, rain fly, tarpaulin, and many other names.  The variety of names is due to the variety of uses for tarps.  Tarps give you the ability to create shelter, privacy, protect your belongings, create a barrier from the ground and may other things as well. 

 The variety of uses for tarps is also due to the many variety of types and sizes of tarps.  Tarps can be made in almost any size, the small 6’x8’ found in almost any store to specialty tarps made to cover football fields.  There are also a wide variety of materials used in making tarps.  Each material has advantages and disadvantages.  Woven polyethylene is inexpensive and water resistant but has low abrasion resistance and once damaged it is not easily repaired to the same quality as before.  Canvas, or duck, can be made water resistant, although not as water resistant as polyethylene; it is very abrasion resistant and durable.

 Tarps are a very useful tool for people planning a weekend away in the outdoors.  Unfortunately many people look at the tarp as an after thought tossed in at the last moment if it is brought at all.  Instead it should be a one of the items you consider for your outdoor adventures; be it camping or a weekend in a cabin.

 The first common mistake is thinking the most common tarp found, the $0.99 special sold at most DIY centers, is all the tarp you need.  It is usually 6’x8’, a thin woven polyethylene with plastic grommets in the corner.  The size and strength of this inexpensive tarp makes it good for covering firewood or a few small personal items and not much more. 

 Unfortunately once people find the cheap tarp does not meet their needs they fall into mistake number two.  They drive to the local discount store or hardware store and buy a BIG tarp and make sure it does the job.  You can end up with a tarp that is still too small/big or thin or just not the right material.

 The biggest secret to getting the most use and satisfaction from your tarp is to simply think about all the things you want to use that tarp for.  Are you looking to cover your gear in your truck to keep things from shifting?  Is it to be a ground cover to help keep your tent dry?  Did you want to make a temporary wall to block wind and create privacy?  Thinking about how you will use the tarp will help you to pick the correct type and size of tarp to meet your needs.

 Selecting the right type of tarp not only saves you money, it also saves you time and can help to make your outdoor adventure more enjoyable.  Plan ahead and find the right tarp for what you need before you head out!