It’s hard to believe that July is nearing an end and Labor Day is just around the corner, but this is a great time to take a look at how your existing gear is performing – and think about what you might want to pick up, for this fall’s camping trips.

Dog Kennel

A dog exercise pen works great for taking pets camping

Camping with pets always adds an extra twist to the experience, like what to do with them when you are at the campsite. We stumbled across this exercise pen at Petco® and it’s proven to be a great place to stash Oreo, while we are eating or just hanging out around the campfire. We don’t have to constantly untangle her leash and there is still enough room for her to move around.

Sleeping Bags for the Girls

It’s time to buy the kids new school clothes, but this summer we also figured out that it’s time for some new sleeping bags, too. Our 5-year old son will get a hand-me-down (hey Ryan, what do you think about hot pink?), but the girls are outgrowing their bags and it’s time for some larger ones. I’m torn between getting new tween-sized bags, or just getting them adult-sized bags. Hey, they’re growing like weeds!

Rebuild the Ice Chest

Service parts available for our Igloo MaxCold

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know you could get repair parts for ice chests! At least for Igloo® models you can, and our 10-year old MaxCold® is calling out for some new hinges and other small parts. That’s great news, because the cooler still works great, so I’m happy to save some money by refurbishing this one. This is certainly something to think about, if you are shopping for a new ice chest.

Plates and Bowls

Inexpensive polypropylene dinnerwear works great for camping

Honestly, I don’t even remember where we picked up this polypropylene dinner set of plates and bowls, but they’ve really outperformed any expectations that we had, for such an inexpensive set. They pack easily and they are indestructible. Best of all, we’re not burning through (literally) paper plates, anymore.

What have you discovered (good and bad) about your camping gear, so far this summer?

See also…

• 2010 Ice Chest Survey
• 5 Non-Essentials to Consider this Summer
• 5 Products to Keep You Warm during Fall Camping

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I am a big fan of cargo shorts, whether I’m hiking in the mountains or picking up some groceries at the store. One of the best features of cargo shorts is, of course, the cargo pockets. I usually have my camera in one of the pockets and a Leatherman® multitool in the other, and maybe even my 18oz. Kleen Kanteen® if I’m hiking without my hydration pack. I recently picked up several new pair of cargo shorts, at a popular outdoor specialty store, and have noticed some differences between them and my tried-and-true ones.

My new shorts have an integrated nylon belt. I do not have a huge beef with this belt, but it runs through narrow channels around the hips, which preclude me from using a wider belt. My older pair cargo shorts do not have a belt, although  they do have regular-sized belt loops.

Another feature I like about my older cargo shorts is the button closure. Buttons may seem “old school” in this day of snaps, but buttons can be sewed back on. When a snap fails, you are pretty much out of luck. And, while I am not having any trouble with the snaps on my new shorts now, I’m worried that in a few years they will not stay snapped, as well as they do now. There is nothing more annoying than a snap-closure that keeps coming undone, particularly if it is underneath your backpack’s hipbelt.

My old cargo shorts have these cool loops on the pocket, making them easier to open with one hand. The Velcro® closure on each end of the pocket is also reinforced with cross-stitching. The new shorts do not have either of these features.

One interesting difference between these cargo shorts is that my old ones are 100% nylon and the new ones are 100% polyester. So far, I have not noticed any difference between the two materials – they both breathe reasonably well, and dry-out very quickly. The nylon shorts are several years old and do not show any signs of snags or abrasion damage, so only time will tell if the polyester shorts hold up as well.

See also…

• 5 Non-Essentials to Consider this Summer
• 10 Outdoor Headlamps for Under $30
• Merrell Intercept Gore-Tex Hiking Shoes

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This weekend I packed-up the family and headed to the 22nd Annual Spring RV Show, in Pleasanton, California. We have friends with truck campers, pop-up tent trailers and camping trailers, but this is the first time we have ever gone to an RV show, in order to get an idea of what is out there and how the different types of RVs compare, for family camping.

Quicksilver™ Tent Trailer

The biggest disappointment at this RV show was the lack of pop-up tent trailers. The lone exception, however, was this cool little tent trailer from Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles, in Wakarusa, Indiana. The Quicksilver 10.0, shown here, is only 14 feet long – a tad shorter than a Honda Civic – so it can be stored at home, in your garage.

One of the best features of the Quicksilver is it’s all-aluminum construction. With a gross weight of 1,500 pounds, this little tent trailer can be towed by most family vehicles. At $5,995 it is competitively priced against heavier tent trailers in this class and I was impressed with the big beds and the marine-grade materials inside, which should be easy to clean.

TrailManor™ Folding Trailer

Bridging the gap between tent trailers and full-size camping trailers is the TrailManor line of folding trailers. Many family vehicles, like minivans and small SUVs, are rated to tow 3,500 pounds, which is adequate for a TrailManor.

In its raised position, the TrailManor looks much like a regular camping trailer, with real windows, air conditioning and an awning. The interior ceiling height is 6’ 4” which was just enough to allow me to walk around, without bumping my head. At around $27,000 the TrailManor is a big step up from a tent trailer, but it is a full hard-side camping trailer that you can probably tow with your current family vehicle.

The TrailManor 2720 model, shown here, is laid-out really well for families – with beds on either end and a dinette that converts into a third bed. I was really impressed with the light interior, with maple cabinetry and woodgrain flooring.

Arctic Fox Truck Camper

We have friends in Oregon who are big boaters, so their camper-of-choice is a truck camper, since that allows them to also tow their boat, on their family camping trips. I have not seen the inside of their truck camper, yet, but I’ve always wondered how well these work for families, because they look fairly small.

The model 990, shown here, has a queen bed up front, for mom and dad, along with a dinette that converts into a bed and a fold-down bunk, overhead. There is an amazing amount of functionality, in such a small space, and it did not feel cramped with the five of us, inside. At $28,303 the Arctic Fox is priced similar to many higher-end camping trailers, but if your family camping adventures include boating or offroad vehicles, a truck camper makes a lot of sense.

The RV industry has had a rough couple of years, but it was nice to see some family-oriented products at the show. Certainly the majority of the RVs we looked at were geared towards couples and, of course, a number of them were monstrosities that will never venture far from the Interstate. I did notice a number of RVs with bunk beds for kids, though, which means the manufacturers are starting to address this growing demographic.

See also…

• The Teardrop Revolution
• Sport Utility Trailer and Toy Hauler
• 10 Great Features of Pop-up Tent Trailers

Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.

This weekend I packed-up the family and headed to the 22nd Annual Spring RV Show, in Pleasanton, California. We have friends with truck campers, pop-up tent trailers and camping trailers, but this is the first time we have ever gone to an RV show, in order to get an idea of what is out there and how the different types of RVs compare, for family camping.

Quicksilver™ Tent Trailer

The biggest disappointment at this RV show was the lack of pop-up tent trailers. The lone exception, however, was this cool little tent trailer from Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles, in Wakarusa, Indiana. The Quicksilver 10.0, shown here, is only 14 feet long – a tad shorter than a Honda Civic – so it can be stored at home, in your garage.

One of the best features of the Quicksilver is it’s all-aluminum construction. With a gross weight of 1,500 pounds, this little tent trailer can be towed by most family vehicles. At $5,995 it is competitively priced against heavier tent trailers in this class and I was impressed with the big beds and the marine-grade materials inside, which should be easy to clean.

TrailManor™ Folding Trailer

Bridging the gap between tent trailers and full-size camping trailers is the TrailManor line of folding trailers. Many family vehicles, like minivans and small SUVs, are rated to tow 3,500 pounds, which is adequate for a TrailManor.

In its raised position, the TrailManor looks much like a regular camping trailer, with real windows, air conditioning and an awning. The interior ceiling height is 6’ 4” which was just enough to allow me to walk around, without bumping my head. At around $27,000 the TrailManor is a big step up from a tent trailer, but it is a full hard-side camping trailer that you can probably tow with your current family vehicle.

The TrailManor 2720 model, shown here, is laid-out really well for families – with beds on either end and a dinette that converts into a third bed. I was really impressed with the light interior, with maple cabinetry and woodgrain flooring.

Arctic Fox Truck Camper

We have friends in Oregon who are big boaters, so their camper-of-choice is a truck camper, since that allows them to also tow their boat, on their family camping trips. I have not seen the inside of their truck camper, yet, but I’ve always wondered how well these work for families, because they look fairly small.

The model 990, shown here, has a queen bed up front, for mom and dad, along with a dinette that converts into a bed and a fold-down bunk, overhead. There is an amazing amount of functionality, in such a small space, and it did not feel cramped with the five of us, inside. At $28,303 the Arctic Fox is priced similar to many higher-end camping trailers, but if your family camping adventures include boating or offroad vehicles, a truck camper makes a lot of sense.

The RV industry has had a rough couple of years, but it was nice to see some family-oriented products at the show. Certainly the majority of the RVs we looked at were geared towards couples and, of course, a number of them were monstrosities that will never venture far from the Interstate. I did notice a number of RVs with bunk beds for kids, though, which means the manufacturers are starting to address this growing demographic.

See also…

• The Teardrop Revolution
• Sport Utility Trailer and Toy Hauler
• 10 Great Features of Pop-up Tent Trailers

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I was browsing through the Costco® coupon booklet, this weekend, when I stumbled across this little jewel on the last page. $100 for a 16-foot by 7-foot tent sounds almost too good to be true, but the Coleman® Montana™ is a useable family tent, if price is a major consideration.

Like most cheap tents, the rain fly on the Montana is more for looks than it is for rain protection. Luckily, this is easy to fix with a big tarp, if weather should threaten your family camping trip. The best feature of the Montana is all that room! You can pack all of your gear on one side and still have plenty of room for sleeping bags on the other. The center section is just over 6-feet tall, which is great for entry, exit and getting dressed.

The Montana is still a low-end tent, though. The 11mm fiberglass poles are a lot thinner than you will find on a more expensive tent, of this size. The tent stakes (pins, really) should be replaced by something a bit more substantial, like Coleman’s heavier duty blade-type stakes. You will also want some kind of protection for the bottom of the tent, since it does not come with a footprint. Even with an extra $25 for tent stakes and a tarp, though, the Montana is still a pretty good value for family campers.

See also…

• 2010 Mountain Hardwear Family Camping Tents
• 2010 Big Agnes Family Camping Tents
• Anatomy of a Really Bad Tent

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The ice chest is one of the core pieces of camping gear, at least if you are car camping, and they are really useful for other family functions, too, which makes them a good buy even if you don’t camp a lot. Ice chest are also really durable. Ours has weathered over ten years of camping, birthday parties, family cookouts and picnics, along with three moves.

Ice chests come in all shapes and sizes and while it might seem beneficial to go with the largest one you can find, there are advantages to sticking with smaller ones, or even two smaller ones. Ice is heavy – our 70-quart ice chest takes over 25 lbs. of block ice to keep it cold over the weekend. A good rule-of-thumb is that 20 to 30 percent of an ice chest’s capacity should be devoted to ice, and at roughly seven pounds per gallon, that adds up quick.

Another advantage of the smaller ice chests is that they are just easier to fit into your car or SUV. Our 70-quart model is challenging enough, at 30-inches long and 16-inches wide. A 120-quart model from the same manufacturer is a trunk-busting 38-inches long and 18-inches wide (and a few inches taller). Add 40-pounds of ice (20% of 120 quarts is 6 gallons, at 7lbs. each) and it quickly becomes a multi-person operation to get it into and out of the car.

For these reasons, I will focus on high-end (those rated for 5 or 6 day use) ice chests in the 50 to 70 quart capacity range.

Coleman Xtreme® 5

Price: $79.99
Size: 31.5”L x 18.25”W x 16”H
Interior: 24″L x 9.75″W x 12.75”H
Weight: 13.5 lbs.
Capacity: 70 Qts.
www.coleman.com

Engel DeepBlue™ Ice Chest

Price: $279
Size: 29.8”L x 16.75”W x 16.5”H
Interior: 23.5”L x 11”W x 11.5”H
Weight: 28 lbs.
Capacity: 65 Qt.
www.engel-usa.com

Igloo MaxCold® 70

Price: $83.99
Size: 29.5″L x 16.31″W x 15.69″H
Interior: 23.25”L x 11.50”W x 12.75”H
Weight: 11.4 lbs.
Capacity: 70 Qt.
www.igloocoolers.com

Yeti® Coolers Tundra

Price: $329.99
Size: 30.5”L x 17.13”W x 16.25”H
Interior: 24.38”L x 12”W x 12”H
Weight: 27 lbs.
Capacity: 65 Qt.
www.yeticoolers.com

Coleman Xtreme® 5

Price: $54.99
Size: 27.75″L x 14.95″W x 17.25″H
Interior: 20.5″L x 8.75″W x 12.25″H
Weight: 12.9 lbs.
Capacity: 52 Qt.
www.coleman.com

Igloo MaxCold® 50

Price: $65.99
Size: 25.5”L x 15.25”W x 17.38”H
Interior: 18.81”L x 10”W x 11.5”H
Weight: 11.3 lbs.
Capacity: 50 Qt.
www.igloocoolers.com

Coleman Xtreme® 6 Wheeled

Price: $94.99
Size: 31.50″L x 16.13″W x 18.25″H
Interior: 16″L x 8.5″W x 12″H
Weight: 15.3 lbs.
Capacity: 50 Qt.
www.coleman.com

Igloo MaxCold® 60 Roller

Price: $79.99
Size: 28”L x 16.13”W x 17.56”H
Interior: 22”L x 10.25”W x 13.25”H
Weight: 14.8 lbs.
Capacity: 60 Qt.
www.igloocoolers.com

Rubbermaid® Wheeled Cooler

Price: $48
Size: 23.38″L x 15.25″W x 19.00″H
Interior: not specified
Weight: 14.25 lbs.
Capacity: 50 Qt.
www.rubbermaid.com

See also…

• 4 Ways to Keep Camping Food Cold
• Yeti Tundra Cooler
• How to Use an Ice Chest

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The ice chest is one of the core pieces of camping gear, at least if you are car camping, and they are really useful for other family functions, too, which makes them a good buy even if you don’t camp a lot. Ice chest are also really durable. Ours has weathered over ten years of camping, birthday parties, family cookouts and picnics, along with three moves.

Ice chests come in all shapes and sizes and while it might seem beneficial to go with the largest one you can find, there are advantages to sticking with smaller ones, or even two smaller ones. Ice is heavy – our 70-quart ice chest takes over 25 lbs. of block ice to keep it cold over the weekend. A good rule-of-thumb is that 20 to 30 percent of an ice chest’s capacity should be devoted to ice, and at roughly seven pounds per gallon, that adds up quick.

Another advantage of the smaller ice chests is that they are just easier to fit into your car or SUV. Our 70-quart model is challenging enough, at 30-inches long and 16-inches wide. A 120-quart model from the same manufacturer is a trunk-busting 38-inches long and 18-inches wide (and a few inches taller). Add 40-pounds of ice (20% of 120 quarts is 6 gallons, at 7lbs. each) and it quickly becomes a multi-person operation to get it into and out of the car.

For these reasons, I will focus on high-end (those rated for 5 or 6 day use) ice chests in the 50 to 70 quart capacity range.

Coleman Xtreme® 5

Price: $79.99
Size: 31.5”L x 18.25”W x 16”H
Interior: 24″L x 9.75″W x 12.75”H
Weight: 13.5 lbs.
Capacity: 70 Qts.
www.coleman.com

Engel DeepBlue™ Ice Chest

Price: $279
Size: 29.8”L x 16.75”W x 16.5”H
Interior: 23.5”L x 11”W x 11.5”H
Weight: 28 lbs.
Capacity: 65 Qt.
www.engel-usa.com

Igloo MaxCold® 70

Price: $83.99
Size: 29.5″L x 16.31″W x 15.69″H
Interior: 23.25”L x 11.50”W x 12.75”H
Weight: 11.4 lbs.
Capacity: 70 Qt.
www.igloocoolers.com

Yeti® Coolers Tundra

Price: $329.99
Size: 30.5”L x 17.13”W x 16.25”H
Interior: 24.38”L x 12”W x 12”H
Weight: 27 lbs.
Capacity: 65 Qt.
www.yeticoolers.com

Coleman Xtreme® 5

Price: $54.99
Size: 27.75″L x 14.95″W x 17.25″H
Interior: 20.5″L x 8.75″W x 12.25″H
Weight: 12.9 lbs.
Capacity: 52 Qt.
www.coleman.com

Igloo MaxCold® 50

Price: $65.99
Size: 25.5”L x 15.25”W x 17.38”H
Interior: 18.81”L x 10”W x 11.5”H
Weight: 11.3 lbs.
Capacity: 50 Qt.
www.igloocoolers.com

Coleman Xtreme® 6 Wheeled

Price: $94.99
Size: 31.50″L x 16.13″W x 18.25″H
Interior: 16″L x 8.5″W x 12″H
Weight: 15.3 lbs.
Capacity: 50 Qt.
www.coleman.com

Igloo MaxCold® 60 Roller

Price: $79.99
Size: 28”L x 16.13”W x 17.56”H
Interior: 22”L x 10.25”W x 13.25”H
Weight: 14.8 lbs.
Capacity: 60 Qt.
www.igloocoolers.com

Rubbermaid® Wheeled Cooler

Price: $48
Size: 23.38″L x 15.25″W x 19.00″H
Interior: not specified
Weight: 14.25 lbs.
Capacity: 50 Qt.
www.rubbermaid.com

See also…

• 4 Ways to Keep Camping Food Cold
• Yeti Tundra Cooler
• How to Use an Ice Chest

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If you got a few family camping trips under your belt last summer, then you probably have a good start on some core camping gear and are ready to hit the backcountry. Some camping gear cannot really be classified as “essential” but it sure makes your life a lot easier, or safer, around the campsite. Here are five items that we have acquired, over the years, that have become an essential part of our camping gear, even though they don’t show-up on very many camping gear lists.

Weather Radio

You don’t have to live in the tornado belt in order to justify a good weather radio. Thunderstorms and lightening can crop-up at the most inopportune times, like a Saturday afternoon in the backcountry. A weather radio, like those offered by Eton® and Midland®, can warn you of potentially dangerous weather conditions in your area. Models with Specific Area Message Encoding, or S.A.M.E., can be set to only alert you about conditions in specific counties, which reduces false alarms.

Daypack

The first few times you take your family camping, you might find yourself sticking around the campsite and getting familiar with the camping routine. Eventually, however, you and your family are going to want to venture out on the trail and see some sights. A daypack is the best way to carry all of that “stuff” that makes family hikes go smoothly. Snacks, water, camera and hopefully the “10 Essentials” will all fit inside a small daypack.

Topo Maps

Once you start becoming a regular at certain campgrounds, you will probably want to find out more about what there is to see around those favorite sites. Topo maps are the best way to discover waterfalls, compare trails and generally get ideas on places to go around the area. Generic topo maps are available directly from the USGS, or from commercial companies that provide more customized maps. The cost of a map from either source is very reasonable.

Rollup Table

If you are still cooking with your camp stove on the picnic table, it might be time to take a good look at aluminum rollup tables. Rollup tables provide a stable surface for cooking, freeing up valuable room on the picnic table and keep the hot stove away from little hands. Best of all, they roll up to about the size of camp chairs, making them much more portable than folding tables.

Dishpan

One of the most-used pieces of camping gear we own isn’t even made for camping. The Rubbermaid® 15.25 Qt. Dishpan is perfect for washing dishes or clothes, because it is deep enough to hold larger items. The handles are great, too, if you have to carry water back to the campsite.

See also…

• Camping: How Much Stuff is Enough?
• Essential Gear: the underappreciated big blue tarp
• The Backcountry Essentials

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They tempt you with pictures of happy campers, laughing and enjoying their new camping gadget that promises comfort and performance at an unbelievable price. It would be easy to blame a naive consumer for squandering their hard-earned money on this junk, but unfortunately a lot of it comes from name-brand companies.

Cheap Air Mattresses

These are really tempting, particularly if you are trying to convince your spouse that a night in the tent really can be just as comfortable as their favorite bed at home. After all, for less than $30, what’s the worst that could happen? The worst that can happen is that you and your spouse wake up on the ground, with only a flat piece of cheap PVC plastic between you and the hard surface. If your spouse was suspicious of camping before, they’re absolutely convinced, now. Here are some actual reviews of these “value” products:

I purchased this product and returned it 5 times for a replacement and every time it was the same thing….after a few days of sleeping on this mattress it would leak air. After inflating the mattress each night the air will slowly leak out and become flat by the time you wake up.

This air bed is horrible!! My husband and I woke at least 3 times every night we were camping to air it back up.

Thin material, no patch kit included. I think that says it all, I don’t expect this to last. It will be okay for company at the house but its too thin to expect it to survive camping trips.

Folding Picnic Tables

These actually look like a great idea, if you are car camping in the backcountry outside of established campgrounds. As with many of these products, the pictures can be deceiving, however. The table surface measures just 3-feet long by 2-feet wide which, if you have kids, is about the same size as their toy picnic table. Almost. The Step2 Naturally Playful Table with Umbrella (the one on the right, if you are wondering) is actually 44-inches long by 26-inches wide. Of course, size isn’t the only thing that matters, when it comes to camping gear – here are some actual reviews:

Got the table out of the box, set it up, sat down and it broke immediately in two places.

This table collapsed on its first outing. Nobody sitting at it was more than 150 lbs and yet the plastic supports under the seats all buckled. This is dangerous.

I read the reviews before I bought it but thought I would give it a chance. Please DO NOT buy this for adults. It may hold children but definitely NOT adults.

Cheap Aluminum Griddles

There’s a reason Hop Sing cooked with a cast iron pot, in the old Bonanza TV series. Campfires get hot and a thin piece of aluminum won’t disperse the heat and cook your food evenly, like a heavy slab of cast iron will. To make matters worse, these cheap griddles have an anti-stick coating applied to them. These coatings scratch off easily and end up in your food – yuck!

I was very disappointed with this grill. I liked the fact that it was enamel, but the underlying metal was so cheap the grill warped the first time I used it.

First use the non-stick coating started coming off the aluminum base. Guess it really is a non-stick coating.

Have had two of these griddles. They warped easily.

See also…

• Outdoor Gifts to Avoid this Christmas
• 5 More Useless Camping Products
• 5 Useless Camping Products from Outside Magazine

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Sometimes Christmas comes twice a year. I was cleaning out the garage last month and getting my gear in order, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a brand new hammock from Trek Light Gear! I had forgotten all about buying these – I gave away several of them last summer, one in a contest and another to the 1,000th reader comment, here on CampingBlogger. Obviously I kept one for myself, and proceeded to forget all about it, until stumbling across the hammock six month later.

Like a kid with a new toy, all further thoughts of spring cleaning went immediately out the window, as I proceeded to checkout my new-found hammock. The Trek Light Gear hammock is made out of a nylon that reminds me a lot of the parachute material we used in the Army. It’s extremely tough and does not stretch, but it’s also really light weight. The hammock is ten feet long and five feet wide, yet it only weighs sixteen ounces. That’s light enough to keep in my daypack, where it will make a great ground cover for lunch breaks on hikes, when not serving its primary purpose.

The best part about the Trek Light Gear hammock is that you lay down in it, instead of on it like the traditional hammocks most of us are used to. There is no sense of tipping and balance isn’t an issue at all, because your body weight is lower than the attachment points, on each end of the hammock.

I had a lot of fun with the Trek Light Gear hammock, over the weekend and I’m looking forward to using it on our next camping trip – if I can get the kids out of it.

See Also…

• Black Diamond Octane Pack
• The Backcountry Essentials
• Best Waterproof Bag. Period.

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