At one time, the only camping options were tent or open air. A hundred years ago, you would have been fortunate to have a canvas tent. Camping, as a vacation option, really took off about 50 years ago after the post-WWII economy boomed and the highway system developed. Thousands of trucks were fitted with a camper shell, but sleeping accommodations were still cramped.

Today, there are a half-dozen options for building a home away from home.

Tents are still enormously popular and they have evolved to a high art. Internal frame tents are easy to assemble (you have to do little more than just pop them open). They’re made from tough nylon and many are in the form of domes, making them ultra strong. External frame tents are still popular and they have the advantages of being larger, rectangular (so space is optimized) and super sturdy against wind.

But tents are no longer the only viable option.

Some SUV models are so large now that sleeping two adults in the rear with the seats laid flat is a definite possibility. They provide excellent protection against infiltration from wildlife and with an air mattress, are as comfortable as a tent. Some styles are even as easy to wash out with a hose as a tent. Fold down or easy-remove seats with plastic flooring make for easy clean up.

RVs have been around for 20 years, growing out of the ‘truck with camper shell’ idea. RVs now have running water, propane, electricity, movable awnings, air conditioning and space, space, space. Some are so large they may well be used as a semi-permanent home.

They can cost as much, too, with the largest models selling for $200,000 or more. But they have every luxury you could wish for and they are powerful enough to easily tow an SUV for trips away from the campsite.

Motels have been around forever, but these days you’re much more likely to enjoy a low-cost, clean and pleasant room from a major chain. In the past, many motels were… shall we say, an adventure all their own. But big business has made a cheap motel room cheap only in the dollars and cents sense.

Of course, in many areas - and at many times of the year - it’s still possible to truly duplicate the outdoor experience of a hundred years ago. You can lay your blanket or sleeping bag out on the ground under the stars and imagine what it must have been like.

Fortunately, the sleeping bag you are likely to employ is considerably better than one from that era. Modern materials provide both the exterior and the interior with top flight endurance and comfort. Primaloft insulation, 900 fill down and tough nylon shells make sleeping bags warm, cozy and waterproof.

The geometry has been much improved, too. Mummy bags with room for a pillow or protection for your head, as well as widened waist and foot areas are much more ergonomic. They are shaped as the human body is, making them retain heat better, while allowing easy turning but preventing shifting.

If you really want to get the feeling of what life was like a hundred years ago, you can always go with just a blanket. But you’ll find that the experience that looks so romantic in the movies has a lot more realism than most people would want.

 

Campers are always faced with a dilemma. Either you bring the entire house or you invariably find that the one thing you need was left at home. 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. That type has all the major components needed to keep the tent sturdy and upright as part of one integrated unit.

You’ll find it easy to assemble (the name is only a slight exaggeration) and much easier to pack, unpack and haul to the campsite. Look for one made from waterproof material and that has sturdy seams.

Something to sleep on is essential. Sleeping on the ground may look adventurous in old Western films, but it’s hard on the back. That will reduce your enjoyment of camping and make hiking the next day difficult. There are a hundred different kind of inflatables, sleeping bags and other options. 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. You don’t want to spend all your time packing, unpacking, cleaning and so forth. If you bring disposable utensils, make sure they’re sturdy enough to handle the type of food you prepare and eat.

A first aid kit is a must. A splint can be improvised from available material, but you’ll need bandages (both wrap around and stick on band-aids). A disinfectant and/or anti-bacterial cream or spray is essential. A minor cut or scrape can become deadly out in the wilderness, but is trivial if treated properly. Aspirin is a great all-around drug, but ibuprofen or acetominophen are good substitutes for those with sensitive stomachs.

Bug bite spray or cream can prevent a minor irritant from becoming a major annoyance or worse. Some moleskin is a good idea for treating blisters, too. Scissors or a multi-purpose, Swiss Army-style knife can be really handy. Resist the temptation to bring a hundred different tools, though. Some cleansing towelettes can be great for hygiene and first aid.

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. Water weighs about 8 lbs (3.6kg) per gallon (~4 liters), so plan ahead. You don’t want to haul several hundred pounds of water anywhere.

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.

Think ‘essential’, minimize luxuries. If you want all the comforts of home, bring a big RV or just stay home.

 

One of the great things about camping is the opportunity to get out into the outdoors and enjoy the environment. One of the potential downsides in camping is getting out into the outdoors and enduring it.

Testing your hardiness is a fun part of camping, but being wet, cold and windblown is not. Planning ahead by getting a good weather report for your intended location is a good idea, but weather in wilderness areas can change rapidly. The change tends to be more extreme than in urban areas, as well. The temperature difference between daytime and nighttime is often greater in mountainous areas, where many campsites are located.

Bring along a clock of the type that has indoor/outdoor temperatures for in the tent and outside. Or, better still, get one of the more extensive weather stations. They report rainfall, air pressure (a good weather indicator), temperature, humidity and other factors that can affect your plans on the site. They’re portable, powered by AA batteries and accurate.

Summer camping is more common, but weather is still a factor. Daytime highs in many camping areas can reach the 90s or higher in July and August, then drop down to the 50s at night.

That daytime high is a concern for hikers, a common activity during camping. It creates a need for additional water and minerals (bring along a low-sugar sports drink). Be prepared to rest at least five minutes every hour. Dress in layers so you can take clothing off during the heat, but still be comfortable as the day cools off.

Don’t go shirtless except in open areas, and sometimes not even then. Toxic plants, scrapes from bushes, trees  and rocks can turn septic more readily outdoors. Excessive UV exposure is a greater problem in high altitude areas. Use sunscreen on exposed areas of skin and keep those areas to a minimum.

Winter camping is less common but a great delight for those who enjoy snow and colder temperatures. The chances for seeing wildlife can be greater since deer, moose and other creatures have to forage at lower altitudes to get adequate food. Bear sightings are less common, which is another advantage. It may sound cool to see a bear, and it can be. But they can be dangerous and grizzlies see people as food, not playmates.

Thermal socks and underwear, the type that wicks away sweat and still allows some air to pass slowly through the material, is a good item to take along. You’ll be more comfortable and temperature control is important during colder weather. Frostbite is a real possibility and sometimes the damage it does to nerves and tissue is permanent.

Avoid walking on frozen lakes, ponds and streams during winter camping trips. The ice is often only a couple of inches thick (if that), and the crystalline structure of natural ice is riddled with asymmetries. That leads to cracking at random moments. Ice that was sturdy ten minutes earlier can fail to support you without warning. There’s nothing quite so unpleasant, and potentially dangerous, as icy water against your skin.

Plan ahead for the season and the climate for your intended location and you’ll find your trip that much more enjoyable.

Not having every comfort of home is part of the camping experience - and a very pleasurable part, as you test your hardiness while enjoying the outdoors. But even primitive man had fire, both for cooking and for providing needed heat on those chilly nights.

Some campsites don’t allow fires in pits, some don’t allow them at all. That leaves campers with the necessity to supply their own method for cooking and heating. Modern technology to the rescue! Today you can find cooking stoves and heaters that do a great job of satisfying those two needs.

Though they are usually called propane stoves or Colemans, there are several different types of fuel used and many manufacturers. Stoves typically burn either propane, butane or white gas (’Coleman fuel’), though some still use kerosene or even unleaded gasoline. The latter two shouldn’t be anyone’s first choice. They produce odors that are unpleasant and even unsafe, particularly when used for cooking.

Propane and butane are roughly equivalent, though the former is probably a little more common these days. Coleman fuel burns cleanly and produces the most heat, though propane stoves can become plenty hot. If you must use unleaded gasoline, avoid spilling any on your skin and restrict its use to boiling water, except in emergencies.

Duel fuel stoves are available that allow you to have two different types in twin containers. But they can also be used as a repository for twice as much of the same fuel. They’re more expensive to use, since Coleman fuel is higher than gasoline. But it burns much more cleanly.

Propane will burn the most cleanly of all, but propane prices have been rising for the past few years. Also, they don’t produce quite as much heat as liquid fuels. Propane in a container is liquid, but only because it’s under high pressure. At room temperature it’s a gas.

Fuel cannisters come in several sizes - 5 gallon, 10 gallon and up. For most camping, you won’t want anything larger than the 10 gallon container. They’re about 10 inches high and 10 inches in diameter. Larger containers are unwieldy, unless they’re attached to your RV via a hose and connector.

There are several sizes to choose from and you may want to consider having more than one. A smaller one is lighter and easier to pack for those short trips, larger ones are handy for cooking for multiple people in the shortest time.

Two-burner stoves are common and convenient. They allow you to cook for two people or, more often, two different foods - such as meat and vegetables, or pasta and sauce. There are special cooking pots that can be stacked on top of one another to allow even more choices. You can boil potatoes in water on the top pot, for example.

Even two-burner stoves, however, come in different sizes. Larger grills are great for making eggs, hamburgers, pancake and other foods that require a little space to prepare. Remember, though, that the larger pot - especially if filled with water, will require more gas to heat it.

There are smaller stoves, just for backpacking. They fit well in a backpack, but are designed to prepare only very small meals, which might be just fine for one person.

Many commercial campsites provide cooking facilities, but most State and National parks don’t. Plan your trip to ensure that you have a stove if you need one.