Tips Camping - Tips Camping
Types of Camping
When you think of a camping trip you may picture yourself in a tent at a local campground. While this is a classic type of camping, it is not the only way in which you can enjoy camping. There are actually eight different types of camping that range from canoe to recreational vehicle camping. It is important to understand what types of camping options are available as well as the differences between these fun filled options.
There are three main categories of camping which include tent camping, backpacking, and recreational vehicle camping. These three diverse categories of camping enable campers of every background, interest level, and time constraint to enjoy a camping trip. Let’s take a look at each camping category in more detail to determine which type of camping will suit your needs.
Tent Camping
Tent camping involves camping in a tent at a campground, national park, or in the wilderness. Camping tents come in a variety of sizes and intended uses. For example, there are All-Season tents, Three-Season tents, and Winter/Mountaineering tents which are used in tent camping. Tent camping is great for individuals and families that want to experience nature for a few days or long stretches of time. You can hike trails and explore the wilderness while pitching your tent for the night.
Tent camping requires a great deal of equipment as you will need to bring a tent, camping gear such as clothing and sleeping bags, camp cookware, food, and camp safety items. Tent camping requires an initial investment in a tent and camping supplies, but is an affordable option and is fun for the entire family. Tent camping is also versatile in comfort level. For example, you can pitch a tent in a remote wilderness area and create your own campfire and bathroom. Or you can pitch a tent in a local park that has campfire pits and restrooms available.
Backpacking
Backpacking presents a different camping experience. Backpacking is for the physically fit person as you must carry all your camping supplies in your backpack. Backpacking allows you to explore nature, but you must rely on only what you can fit and carry in your backpack. Backpacking enthusiasts range from day backpackers that hike on lake trails to extreme backpackers that climb mountains. Each type of backpacking has individual camping gear needs. Basically, backpacking requires expensive specialized gear that is lightweight.
Recreational Vehicle Camping
Recreational vehicle camping (RV) is for campers that wish to have the comforts of home during their camping trip. RV camping encompasses camping in a popup tent /folding trailer that you tow behind your car, hard-sided trailers, and recreational vehicles known as motor homes. Popup tent/folding trailers are the least expensive of recreational vehicle camping options.
Popup tent/folding trailers are advantageous in that you can use these in both a tent campground and RV park. Popup tent/folding trailers enable you to have a comfortable sleeping area and more protection than a tent. You can travel a greater distance in your popup tent/folding camper than traditional tent camping because you will use your car to pull it. Popup tent/folding trailers are great for individuals and families that wish to take a long camping trip such as the entire summer. Popup tent/folding trailers provide flexibility in your camping experience.
Another form of recreational vehicle camping is to camp in a hard-sided trailers. Hard-sided trailers are trailers that are fully upright when you tow them. Picture a pickup truck towing a hard-sided trailer that you can stand upright in and it extends over the bed of the truck. This type of trailer provides more creature comforts then a Popup tent/folding trailer because your sleeping area is already set up. Plus, hard-sided trailers often have stoves, refrigerators, and a bathroom. A disadvantage to hard-sided trailers is that you must have a strong enough vehicle to properly tow the trailer. Your gas mileage may decrease significantly due to the weight of the trailer. This can cost you money at the gas pump.
Another form of recreational vehicle camping is to travel in a RV. A RV offers all the comforts of your home including a bathroom, shower, oven, stove, refrigerator, air conditioning, TV, stereo, etc. Traveling in a RV is fun for anyone that wishes to see the country.