The biggest mistake of most first time campers is they pack way too much camping supplies. They go crazy the moment they walk into the camping gear store and stock up with so much stuff they don’t even consider that they’ll have to lug all that stuff to the camp grounds. Especially if the camping trip involves hiking, they don’t consider how heavy all that camping equipment is going to be. They just see all that gear and think they’ll need it. Most of the time, they don’t even know how to use most of the items. Don’t fall into this trap. Before you walk into a camping equipment store, have a list made of everything you think you’ll need. That way, you won’t go overboard and you’ll have exactly everything you’ll need to have a great time camping.

The three necessities that you should take with you are shelter, food and water. Any other camping equipment besides that is extra bulk. Of course, there are certain pieces of camping equipment that provide one of these three things. There are tents for shelter, there are knives and guns for the gathering of food, and there are strainers and water purifiers to help you obtain clean water. Those are intelligent camping equipment choices as they provide one of the necessities.

You can, of course, get all the camping equipment you want. Just make sure you’re ready to carry it all around. Some extras are ok, such as blankets for keeping warm, stoves for cooking food, pots, pans, silverware, things like that. The trick is to maintain a healthy balance between what you need and what you don’t. You don’t want to be walking around the woods banging and clanging with a bunch of useless camping equipment you’ll never use.

Before you even go to the camping equipment store, make a list of what you think you’ll need on your camping trip. Then, once you actually go to the store, stick to that list and don’t get anything else just because you think you may need it. If you didn’t need it when you were making the list, you don’t need it. You’ll save money and you’ll be glad you didn’t take as much stuff. Just remember, camping is about experiencing nature. It’s about getting away from the hustle and bustle of your hectic schedule and it’s about doing without all the computers and cell phones and all the rest of life’s luxuries. It’s not about the camping equipment itself.

So you are going on a backpacking adventure but don’t know what you should wear! The question you probably have is how do you prepare yourself for you backpacking trips? You can start off by getting the right outdoor gear. Some of the basic items that you will need could vary and to help you out here are some of them which would be critical items to carry on you backpacking adventures.

Proper Shoes

If you intend to go hiking all day, then you will most definitely want to ensure that you have the right shoes. One of the best ways to make the most of you backpacking experience is to ensure that your feet are comfortable, and one of the most ideal brands to use would be YakTrx. They have the perfect shoes that will surely make hiking fun for you. You can even wear the shoes from YakTrx in the snow or on ice to keep you from falling, which is ideal especially if you plan to take a winter hiking adventure. Many of the more popular sports brands like Adidas and Puma also have fantastic hiking shoes that will provide you with good feet and ankle support.

The Sleeping Bag

At the end of a day of hiking you will most likely want to get some rest for the following day, and would want to cuddle into a warm and cozy sleeping bag. One of the best is Moonstone, and they have the sleeping bag that you will need if you want to stay warm during the night. The insulation of the bag is great and at the same time it is also lightweight, so it makes it easy for you to carry around when you’re hiking. However, if you want to stay cool but comfortable then perhaps you should use the Exped sleeping bag. This has just enough padding to keep you comfortable, and also has a thin lining the makes ideal if you want to have a cooler temperature.

The Carrying Gear or Backpack

Of course, you’re going to need the right backpack! Outdoor gear has to be stored in your bag, and you’ll want to make sure the pack is comfortable, so this is one of the most important items for your camping trip. Brands like Jansport carry great camping bags with lots of compartments so you can sort your items without getting disorganized, and you can also check out brands like High Sierra, so that you can get bags with stands and extra components to help you hold any heavy items that you may bring with you. These companies also make camping bags for kids, so if you plan on bring your children with you, you can be sure they will have a place for their camping gear as well.

An excellent way to do something other than the regular routine of your life like working, going to school, eating & sleeping is to go camping. It offers the perfect opportunity to be surrounded by nature, something that most people cannot or do not do on a day-to-day basis.

How to choose the perfect camping location?
You will need to find a great campground before picking the camp site that will be perfect for you. This is easy thanks to the Internet and the fact that many campgrounds have their own website. You may preview the campsites online prior to making the trip there, permitting you to make an informed decision on your campground selection.
Keep in mind however that much like menu-pictures in a restaurant, a campsite always looks a bit more glorified than it actually is.

Deciding what type of camping you want to do is the first step in choosing your campsite. A few campgrounds still offer what is known as “primitive camping.” Do you know what that means?
At a primitive campground you will need to bring everything with you that you will need. Prepare to bring everything from toilet paper to a first aid kit and from shelter to lots of water. Primitive campsites are sites without electricity, showers, or even water and pit toilets. Hence, they are “primitive”. These sites tend to be deep in the wilderness.

At the other end of the spectrum, you’ll come across campgrounds that provide connections for water, sewage, and electricity - all with a glorious natural backdrop. A number of campgrounds even offer relaxing spas!

Most campgrounds fall somewhere in between these two extremes. Campings in private parks will more than likely provide all the amenities that you desire. Many campgrounds welcome long-term guests since they offer laundry facilities, arcades and shops. The majority of private parks have family oriented activites for all including but not limited to bingo, sport competitions for children, fun games for the kids, human stratego, etc.

The Cost of Campgrounds.
The fee to stay at a private park will be higher than renting a spot at a public campground. Some state parks have very minimal, rustic campgrounds while accommodations in others are fairly luxurious. A number of them provide connections for electric, swimming pools, shower and flush toilet facilities, guided tours, play areas for the kids, and so on.
Most camping facilities within state or national parks are usually very simplistic. You will probably find fire rings, picnic tables, and pit toilets. One of the great things about camping in state or national parks is that it can be extremely affordable as many sites are free or cost just a few dollars a day.

Make reservations early with favorable weather.
The better the weather the quicker people will settle down to enjoy the day. To get the best spot you must arrive early and have a bit of luck.
Do you want a site near the pool and playground? Although it is an ideal site for kids it may be somewhat noisy due to pedestrian activity. The same can be said for locations close to restroom and shower facilities. People are likely to be walking by your tent day and night.

Would you rather be in the middle of commotion and excitement, or do you desire a calm and tranquil atmosphere? Since camping has so much to offer, you should have no problem finding the campground that matches you and your family’s needs.

Visit these camping tips for more information on Camping.

I can almost guarantee that when I go on a camping trip will invariably see a family that looks they have bought the entire contents of there house with them.

Sure we all like the trappings of luxury but when you go camping you just simply have to compromise as much as possible.

There’s no perfect way out of this, but a little thought will help improve your odds. Bring what you really need, without overflowing your vehicle or breaking your back.

If you’re planning on tent Camping , you’ll need the tent, of course. But that can mean poles, stakes, ropes and other items as well, along with any tools you need to assemble it. Reduce your headaches by investigating a self-assembling tent if possible.

Something to sleep on is essential. Sleeping on the ground may look adventurous in old Western films, but it’s hard on the back. If you bring an inflatable or air mattress, make sure it’s self-inflating. Make sure your sleeping bag is waterproof and made with good insulating material with a durable shell.

Unless you want to subsist solely on pre-packaged, ready-to-eat food, you’ll want to bring something to cook with. Keep items to a minimum - a multi-purpose pan, a lightweight camping stove, a few utensils.

Many campsites have a water supply, but the quality varies. Be prepared. Bring water bottles for drinking, cooking and emergency cleaning (wound treatment). You won’t be able to haul enough to shower every day, but you might be able to bring enough to wash your hair once every few days.

A rechargeable flashlight (of the sort that can be plugged into the cigarette lighter or cell phone recharger in the car) can be a lifesaver. Even in non-emergency situations, it’s about the most helpful thing you can have at night when you’re a few feet from the campsite.

Camping is great fun and you just need to have the right mindset, you will be a little uncomfortable and your hair will be a bit messy but so what, just relax and enjoy the experience.

Twenty per cent of our atmosphere is oxygen. When this gas is united chemically with hydrogen gas, the result is water, our body’s most important nutrient.

Water benefits us in many ways. It washes toxins from the body, keeps blood at the right viscosity, maintains body temperature, lubricates and cushions organs, transports nutrients, metabolizes body fat, and does many other things for the body. Water makes up 70%-80% of our body weight.

Everyone needs a minimum of 64 ounces of water per day, and more if you are physically active. Dehydration is the result of not ingesting enough water. When this happens, the body takes water from other places, like the blood.

When the body gets dehydrated, it closes down some of the capillaries. The blood becomes thicker, more likely to clot, and it is harder for the heart to pump it through the systems. This results in high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol. Dehydration has also been linked to heartburn, headaches, and arthritis.

Dehydration is a common problem among Americans, up to 75% of us! The body may seem to be signaling hunger when its real need is water. In fact, even when the stomach is hungry, it can be temporarily satisfied with a drink of water. This helps maintain proper body weight.

Some feel that the coffee, tea, or soft drinks they ingest suffices for the needed water. Actually, they can cause a greater need for water! This is because some contain caffeine which is a diuretic. In other words, they force the water and nutrients out of the cells.

Dehydration is a dangerous problem. Just a 2% drop in body weight caused by a lack of water affects the mind. A 5% drop can affect physical performance as much as 20% to 30%. A 10% drop will be evidenced in actual sickness and a 20% drop will bring death. With water being so important to our health, most people realize the importance of being sure their drinking water is pure.

While a lack of water is often the cause of some ailments, drinking water is likewise also the cure. Problems such as ulcers, stress, headaches, high blood pressure, kidney problems, and problems related to cholesterol are often alleviated by drinking pure water. Just 64 ounces a day of the free liquid have decreased the risk of breast cancer by 79%, bladder cancer by 50%, and colon cancer by 45%.

Perhaps your body is craving water right now and you don’t even know it. So go get a glass. But be sure it is pure first. Water taken from the tap will probably have impurities. So might even bottled water. Best is the water you purify yourself through a charcoal filter like the Black Berkey Water Filter. You can trust it to help you maintain good health.

One charcoal water filtration system has stood the test of time. Using a gravity filtration method, the Berkey Filter is able to filter out a much higher percentage of contaminants than filters where water pressure forces the contaminants through. Learn more about the amazing effectiveness of the Berkey Water Filters, including how they can filter up to 6000 gallons with each included pair of filters.

Before you go out and play paintball, you must first have the proper paintball equipment. There are various paintball equipments that you must first have before going out on the field. You can either rent them or it is much advisable that you buy your own paintball equipment. Here are some of the basic paintball equipments that you should know.
Paintmask
Don’t ever go out into the battlefield without a paintmask. Paintmask are also known as “goggles”. They are safety headgear device that every paintball player is required to wear. Paintmask protects the eyes, mouth, nose and ears of the wearer. Some masks also have throat guards. The lenses of paintmask are engineered to stop paintballs; however one must remember that these lenses are not intended to resist impacts of paintballs traveling at enormously great speeds. Remember that permanent blindness or impairment in the vision can be a result if you are hit in the eye if you don’t wear your protective paintmask.
Paintball Marker or Gun
Paintball marker is also known as paintball gun. This is the primary device used in this game. Paintball gun marks an opposing player when the opponent is hit by its paint ball. Carbon dioxide forces the paintball through the barrel at a high velocity, sufficient enough for the paintball to break upon impact, but not enough for some serious injury rather than mild bruising.
Barrel Blocking Device
A barrel blocking device is a safety device that is inserted into the barrel to prevent any accidental discharge of your paintball marker thus preventing injury to you or to others. All paintball fields won’t let you play paintball if you don’t have a barrel blocking device.
Propellants
Most pump action and pistol paintball markers use 12 gram cartridges. Most paintball markers use carbon dioxide because it is a lot cheaper even though nitrogen or high pressure air is a lot better than carbon dioxide.
Hoppers or Loader
Hoppers and loaders work the same way as a clip or magazine will do on a rifle or handgun. These two are the main form of providing ammunition for the paintball marker. Hoppers are the traditional way of holding the ammunition of the paintball marker. The most common and basic hopper is a black shell that has a hinged cover on the back for reloading. It is inserted neck down into the paintball marker’s “feedneck” so that the paint ball can go into the marker one at a time. Loaders are very similar to hoppers, but it uses some sort of mechanical or sometimes electrical means of forcing the paintballs into the paintball marker’s feedneck and down into the chamber for a much faster and steadier supply of ammo to the paintball marker.

There are also lots of extra safety equipments. However they are not necessary but they allow added protection for your body. You go for the paintball equipment that you think is necessary for your needs.

Having the proper paintball gear does not limit to paintball markers, hopper, tank and paintball mask alone. You should also consider having those little paintball gear stuffs that you think is not important. Extra safety paintball gear and equipments can mean a lot of difference between enjoying the day and not getting to play because of injury or defective equipments.
You should always bring your gun manual and gun schematics along whenever you go out to play. You will never know when you’re going to dismantle or disassemble your paintball markers. But remember that manuals and schematics are useless without those allen wrenches right? You must have one set handy available at all times.
Don’t forget to bring spare batteries with you. Don’t let small things like a dead battery ruin your fun in the battlefield. Neck guards are good protection from painful shots in the neck. Opt for a lightweight wrap around strap for comfort. Wearing thigh cups is also a good idea. You will never know where you’re going to be shot at with all the action in the field. Shin guards, gloves and elbow pads are also handy when it comes to running, dodging and crawling in the field. A little advice, don’t ever take chances when it comes to the eyes. Replace those cracked or scratched paintmask, even if they are only scratched because they were hit at close range. Always have an extra paintmask available.
So many paintball marker problems can easily be fixed like replacing the cupseal and o-rings. These are small but very important parts that easily break and can cause your paintball marker to malfunction. To have an efficient paintball marker you must always lubricate it every now and then. Bring a paintball marker oil always with you whenever playing. Also have an extra squeegee when you are out in the field. You will never know that you might need it to get rid of some substance that is stuck in your barrel.
Once you get to know your paintball gear, you will have some decent idea on what kind of paintball gear and equipment to bring along with you. Don’t forget the tweezers, pliers and screwdrivers. These tools are very essential in your paintball gear. Also don’t forget to bring along some bolts, screws, springs, Teflon and, yes, duct tape.
It would hurt if you also bring along some first aid kits. A lot of things happen on the paintball field. You might not able to use it, but hey, it pays to be ready.
The main idea is to be prepared and ready at all times because if ever something comes up or all problems break loose, you would be ready for it.

More and more people cut back on vacationing abroad during slow economic times. Many of these people find a great (and inexpensive) alternative closer to home in camping. If you don’t mind reconnecting with nature, then you should consider a camping trip for your next vacation.

safe camping trip
Camping can be great fun, but the basics are often overlooked. Follow these 6 fundamental camping tips and you’re in for a fun camping trip!

Let someone know where you’re going - An accident in the middle of nowhere can turn out really bad if nobody knows where you are, or that you’re missing in the first place. “Jimmy wasn’t at Karate today? He’s probably out sick” - meanwhile Jimmy broke 2 legs in the middle of nowhere with no rescue in sight.

Extra Clothing - If you’ve ever experienced hypothermia you know how horrible it is. You can get it very easily by running around in wet clothes. So bring extra clothes just in case you get caught in a storm. Don’t forget to put your spare clothes in a WATERPROOF bag too.

Don’t take risks when it comes to the Weather - The sky might be clear and temperatures might be comfortable today, but that can change overnight or even within hours. Before going on a camping trip, check the weather forecast. It would suck to have nasty weather ruin your camping trip wouldn’t it?

Fire - If you’re going to build a campfire, be sure to clear at least 20 feet around it. Also note that just because you took the necessary precautions doesn’t mean the camper a few miles away from you did. If you see a big plume of smoke in the distance, you better pack up FAST as wildfires can travel at insane speeds.

Water - Water, the building blocks of life. You would be surprised how many people tend to oversee the fact that a lot of campgrounds don’t have running water (unless you consider a river running water). It is highly advisable to take at least 2 five-gallon containers with drinking water when spending more than a few days out in the outdoors. A few gallons will do if you’re only going for 1 or 2 days.

Bring Food - Bring your own food as not every campsite has a store, some not even without an hour’s driving range. Nuts, beef jerky, dried fruit, as well as high energy bars are your best choice because they are high in nutrients but light in weight. See the camping for noobs for more “what food to bring”-tips.

These are very basic tips. You can find details as well as other tips on safety, packing for camping, recipes, instructional videos, choosing a tent, and much more at my camping guide-site.

When it comes to birding, binoculars are a must have item. What appears as a tiny dot to the human eye turns into something you can add to your bird watching experience when viewed through your binoculars. Depending on what type you are looking for there is a great selection of birding binoculars on the market ranging from those costing a few dollars to the ones which will set you back a few thousand. Popular brands include Nikon and Swarovski. Nikon make many quality optic products and their birding binoculars are especially good. Nikon binoculars are excellent for the early morning or dusk - times that most species of birds are quite active.

Magnification and Front Lens Diameter

For beginners, a pair of binoculars such as sold in any hardware store or sporting goods shop should fit the bill nicely. They are only a few dollars and usually hold up fairly well. Binoculars are always rated with two numbers. The first indicates the magnification power that the binoculars has. The second number indicates the front lens diameter. The best binoculars for birding also provide a wide view so that birds can be viewed in flight, as well as in a static situation.

These details are usually written as, say, 7×23. Thus, these binoculars would have a magnification power of seven and front lens diameter of 23 millimeters. Magnification power needed is dependent on from what distance you want to observe birds. For merely watching birds in the trees near your home, a smaller magnification power is likely to be just fine. For those that want the ability to spend a large amount of time watching birds interact naturally or where the required distance is significantly greater than watching normal everyday birds, you will want to get a stronger magnification.

Changing the Level of Magnification

There are bird watching binoculars that have a single level of magnification, these are usually the basic style that allow for a small amount of focusing. There are then the styles that allow you to be able to alter not only the focus of the lens but also the level of magnification, allowing you to adjust between objects that are closer and farther away without having to have additional sets of binoculars.

Make Sure Your Binoculars Are Not Too Heavy

Weight is something which you should always take into account when purchasing binoculars - don’t choose a pair which will be too heavy to comfortably hold for a long period. Some pairs can be hard to handle or hold up for longer periods of time, so this is another factor that you should consider if you are in the market to purchase a pair of binoculars. There are a number of lightweight models that offer a full range of features without being hard to handle. After all, if you intend to carry them around with you whilst out on your adventures bird watching you do not want to be struggling with a heavy pair of binoculars.

Nothing ruins a birding trip more than ending up not being able to spend the time you want or get to where you want due to the weight of the equipment. Some additional things to keep an eye out for are a scratch resistant lens, and a means of carrying the binoculars without the use of your hands or having them hanging round your neck. This will help to not only protect them, but keep them out of the way while you are making your way to your location of choice.

Using Solar Power for Recreational Purposes

Recent developments in solar technology have now put solar power within the reach of everyone.

Up until a few years ago, solar panels were relatively inefficient, bulky, rather heavy to lug around and on top of all this, very expensive. In other words not very practical for the average person.

Solar Power and solar technology have however advanced rapidly in the last few years, and has come to the point where it is within the reach of the average person.

You can now buy relatively cheap and light weight solar panels (or solar chargers, as they are sometimes called) that will recharge your cell phone, Ipod, MP3 player, and a whole host of other small electronic devices. There are even some medium size portable solar chargers that allow you to recharge your laptop batteries and some even will run your laptop.

In effect you could move your office to the beach if you wanted to, set up a portable solar panel and power your laptop with solar energy right at the beach. (Your boss, however, might disagree.)

In the field of portable solar panels we have two different type of solar chargers. Both of which have their uses and advantages.

There are two types of portable solar battery chargers on the market these days, both come in different models and sizes.

There is the portable solar battery that has rechargeable batteries built into the device and there is the portable solar battery charger that simply comes as a small foldable or flexible solar panel that stores easily.

A company called Solio manufactures the type of Solar Charger that has internal rechargeable batteries. The advantage of this type of solar charger is that you can have it sit in the sun and collect solar energy, which it uses to recharge the internal batteries. Once the internal batteries are charged you hook up your cell phone, Ipod, MP3 Player or whatever electronic device you want to recharge and charge it. You can also operate your device directly form this portable solar charger.

As the solar energy collected is stored within the internal batteries you can use it any time of day whenever and wherever. An additional advantage of this type of solar battery charger is that they usually also allow you to charge it from regular wall sockets and sometimes even from your cigarette lighter socket in your car or vehicle. So you are not dependent just on the sun. Technically we would call such a solar device a hybrid solar charger, as you are able to charge it from more than one source of energy.

The other type of solar charger/solar battery charger, is simply a small Solar Panel that can either be folded or rolled up. These tend to be more powerful than the previously mentioned type and lighter to carry around. Due to their larger power output these can be used to power or recharge larger electrical devices such as laptops, radios, small TVs and coolers.

This makes them an ideal accessory for a beach party or a picnic. A small portable solar charger would be enough to power a cooler to keep your food fresh or the beers cold. I am sure we will see some coolers coming out shortly that have built in solar panels to operate them. As the solar panel would most likely not need to be larger than the lid itself and could be incorporated into the lid of the cooler.

Such panels in even in small sizes provide enough solar energy to power iPods, MP3s and cell phones and lots of other small devices. So if you are spending the day on the beach this would most likely cover all your electrical needs.

If you have any questions as to how powerful a solar charger needs to be in order to run a particular device you can find information at Solar Charger Guide.