Waterproof a Tent

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There are few things worse in life, and more importantly, in camping than waking up to a wet sleeping bag and wet camping gear. To take it a step further, it's ever worse if the rain isn't planning on stopping for a while, or long enough for you to dry out your gear. Having a waterproof tent in rainy climates is crucial. However, it is rarely as simple as getting a tent that is made out of 100% canvas and lets no water in our out. Do that, and you will wake up wet anyways. What should you look for, and what should you do to completely waterproof a tent?

1. Know that there is no true waterproof tent: A good waterproof tent needs to keep the rain out of the inside and let moisture vent out from the inside. Maintaining this balance is hard and will be different for different climates.

2. More fly is better than less: Many newer tents are designed with the intent to cut weight and increase ventilation. These are both good things, but can be not so good when the tent does not keep the camper dry. When in doubt, get a tent that has a fly that covers more of the tent than not. Obviously, like I said before, you don't want to live in a plastic box, but you do want to make sure that you are covered. Just make sure to stay ventilated.

3. Just make sure to stay ventilated: It's a hard balance, but keeping water in while letting water out is very difficult. Camping in areas that are dryer won't be as difficult to keep dry naturally, but you always need to keep ventilated. If you have a tent that has a nice big fly, open up some of the vent windows to let moisture out. This is critical in areas where the rain is pushed by wind and can enter the tent sideways.

4. Waterseal the seams: It only takes a couple tubes of paste, but waterproofing those seams is very important and only takes a few minutes to do and a few hours to let dry.

5. Dam up water flow around the tent at the campsite: Many will tell you that the best way to keep water from streaming inside the tent is to dig a trench around the tent to make a small canal. First of all, it's almost always to buy a tent that has a bathtub bottom. Second, there is a more effective way to keep the stream away from the bottom to waterproof a tent. Instead of digging a trench, which is much easier I must add, it is better to build an embankment of dirt as a dam instead of building a small trench as a canal.

The problem with digging a trench is that the trench has a much higher chance of wearing away than the embankment. Naturally if you dig a huge trench, it probably won't wash away, but if water keeps working on the inner side of the trench closest to the tent, it can wear it away and get to the tent anyway, whereas water has only one thing to wear away at with an embankment, and since it wasn't there before anyways, you don't' have to fix something that was naturally there. It sounds weird, but it has been proven over and over.

Staying dry while camping is one of the ultimate challenges as a camper and will always be. Make sure that you don't wake up soaked because you didn't take the necessary steps to keep dry. Taking those steps to waterproof a tent that you are planning on using will make a world of difference in your camping experience.

Lance Dobson, a Backpack Tents Pro himself, would love to hear from his readers. Feel free to contact him at http://www.backpacktentspros.com/.

Reasons to Go Camping!

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Plenty of people enjoy camping and general outdoor activities!

You can choose to go camping at just about any place, especially in America. You'll find this country provides tremendous opportunities to make the most of a camping experience, in the hills, in the mountains, across the ocean, on the beach and more.

My favorite place to go camping is in North Florida where you can find some very large tourist areas, especially during the summer season. I wouldn't recommend going there during the holiday months, unless you want to pay higher rates and see crowds of people.

But in less busier times of the year, you practically have the place to yourself, with just the locals for company. During this time, camping can be a very enjoyable experience, especially if you bring the whole family.

Why limit the fun to just yourself? I recommend splitting the cost on everything when you plan a camping and general outdoor vacation. This includes food, your accomodation, gas, you name it.

By splitting the cost, you pay less money to do more things. In the end you won't be limited to your own financial means.

To make the experience even more enjoyable, try to forget all about the modern world. Unless you're in fear of an emergency situation turn your cell phone off. Try doing without a microwave, or a stove even.

There's nothing like camping under the stars and roasting marshmallows over a fire. This is what it is all about, getting out of the house and getting in touch with nature, that's what the camping experience is all about.

So, turn off the TV, grab a book, light the fire, and tell some stories.

Here are the things you may want to consider when camping in the mountains...

There are lots of tourist attractions in the Rockies. Do some mountain climbing yourself and make sure when you are camping in mountains to bring the right equipment.

Safety should always come first and you should never go anywhere by yourself. Always have a guide when you're venturing into places that you're not familiar with.

And furthermore, always let people know where you are going to be. The last thing you want, is to have an accident and not have anyone know where you are.

You may want to bring a GPS device with you just in case. No matter what, always carry lots of water because, if you get lost, and you get dehydrated, this could present a very dangerous situation.

Just remember, it's good to have a good time but it's more important to be safe when camping. Bring a map of the area and a compass. If nothing else you need a good sense of direction.

Now, what are you waiting for? Have fun and go camping!

For some more great camping advice and resources please check out http://www.campingandgeneral.org/.

Tent Styles - A Discussion Of Family Style Tents

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Camping is an activity that many families enjoy. Being outdoors for a few days with your children is an excellent way to bond with them. However, being uncomfortable by using a tent not designed for your requirements can be frustrating. A little information on what to look for in a tent for your family can create memories for a lifetime.

The size of the tent may be the most important thing to look at. Depending on how many people will be camping can dictate how large it should be. Manufacturers produce products stating their recommendations on the number of people that can use a particular size. Typically, these recommendations are accurate for sleeping.

If you want more comfort or you bring a lot of gear, you may want to look at a larger size model. For instance, if there are four people camping you could be well served with a 4- person tent. But a 6-person tent will give additional room for pets or air mattresses to spread out and sleep on. Larger tents are typically a little more expensive, heavier and take longer to setup and take down, but can provide more comfort.

Tepees

Teepee tents may be the oldest style there is. They typically have adequate room for sleeping and storage. They are high in the middle for standing but get lower as you move away from the center. Setup and take down is fairly quick as there is only a center pole and stakes that keep it up. One thing to consider is most teepee tents do not come with a floor. An additional ground sheet or tarp should be purchased to complete the setup.

A-Frames

A-frame tents are also an older style. They are held up on each side by a pole and a pole runs down the center to complete the frame. Stakes and tie lines are usually required to secure the sides and top. Like the teepee, the a-frame models are adequate for sleeping and storage and are taller in the center. A-frames take a little longer to setup and take down due to the extra poles and tie lines.

Domes

Dome tents are becoming very popular. They are typically made with lightweight waterproof materials. Some models are made with the poles built in so setup and take down is easier. The dome design allows for more standing room. Floor plans can be square, rectangular or hexagonal allowing additional room. Some family model tents contain two separate domes with a flysheet or a living area between them. These are good designs for privacy for parents and children in separate areas.

When looking for a tent head down to the local sporting goods store. Many stores will have a number of tents setup for display purposes. Take the entire family with you so you can see how much space you may need. Find the model you have chosen in the box so you know how much it weighs and that those moving it into and out of a vehicle can handle it easily. Then enjoy your outdoor experience.

Keith Quain is a writer who specializes in sports and outdoor activities. You can check out his latest website at Quechua Tents, where he provides unbiased reviews and buying advice for a range of tents, including the Quechua 2 Second, Base Seconds 4.2, T4.1 B, and much more.

The Kelty Sleeping Bags Guide

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If you are thinking about purchasing Kelty sleeping bags, then there are a few basic guidelines that you will want to consider before making a decision. It's important to select the right sleeping bag for the conditions that you may be exposed to.

Kelty is a very reputable brand that has a long history and their sleeping bags are amongst the bestselling sleeping bags due to their reliability and value for money.

We have outlined a few simple guidelines to help you make the right choice when choosing your sleeping bag whether it's a Kelty sleeping bag or any other brand that you may be interested in.

First you will need to think about the sort of environment you planning to venture into along with the climate. Also think about whether you will be doing a great amount of hiking as this will determine if a lightweight bag is needed.

You will also need to decide on what shape sleeping bag you prefer, as there are a few to choose from and each has different thermal qualities.

What Season Is It!

Kelty sleeping bags come in three different categories according to season. They are Warm Weather, Cold Weather and 3-Season. Within each of these seasons there are bags for different temperature ranges. Kelty has made it easy to choose a bag by placing a number after the bag model name. This number is actually the lowest temperature that the bag is designed for before it starts to lose its thermal capabilities. So in this step just simply determine what season it will be when you go on your camping trip.

For cold weather Kelty has a number of sleeping bags to choose from, such as the Coromell 0. This bag will definitely keep you warm on the coldest nights. It is "semi-rectangular" in shape and has a removable hood, 550 fill down and lots of other features like ground-level seams that prevent heat escaping and this bag can be fully unzipped and used as a blanket.

Another popular choice for cold weather is the Cosmic Down 0. This bag is bright yellow to give the feeling of warmth and is the perfect companion for winter camping as it has hood and collar baffles which are padded material rolls that fit around the head and neck to prevent heat loss. This bag also has 550 fill down and is available in a Long size for the taller person.

A couple of good choices for the warm weather are Kelty's Light Year Down 40 and the Callisto 35. The Light Year Down is a Mummy shaped bag that has 600 fill down and weighs less than 2 pounds. It also has chevron stitching which limits the movement of the down (fill). This bag is a perfect choice for those warm summer nights. The other warm weather choice is the Callisto 35. This is a very inexpensive bag but still loaded with features such as that it can be unzipped and used as a blanket and can also be zipped together with another to form a double bag. It has Kelty's unique synthetic CloudLoft fill and quilt stitching.

A couple of choices for Kelty sleeping bags in the 3 Season range are the Mistral 20 which is a great bag for those on a budget who want a reliable and comfortable bag. It can be fully unzipped to be used as a blanket and also has extra CloudLoft insulation around the chest area.

The other good choice here is the Cosmic Down 20 which comes in three different lengths and weighs from just 1kg to 1.23kg. It is a Mummy shape and is suited for those cooler fall nights.

Which Insulation Do I Choose?

Kelty offers a couple of choices when it comes to insulation. You may choose Down insulation or Synthetic insulation.

Down is lighter and more compressible than synthetic but is also more expensive as it is a natural product from geese or ducks. It is also the warmest fill available. The drawback of down is that if it gets wet it will lose its thermal capabilities. So this is not the ideal bag to take into wet environments.

Synthetic is less expensive and will still perform even when wet. It will dry out quickly and because synthetic is manmade, it is usually hypoallergenic. Synthetic is also less compact so it is not suitable if you are doing a lot of hiking.

What Shape Is Best?

This all comes down to personal choice although the different shape bags do have varying thermal qualities.

If you are the sort of person that moves around while sleeping, then a Rectangular shape bag would be a good choice for you. The only issue here is that they are will take longer to heat up and also lose heat quicker. The Calisto, Galactic and Eclipse Kelty sleeping bags are popular choices here.

Next there is the Semi-Rectangular shape which still offers some room to move but will warm up much faster and retain heat for longer. A very good choice is the Coromell.

The most popular bags today are the Mummy shape as they reach their thermal capabilities much quicker and with all the extra baffles and other features, they also retain the heat longer. These bags are more lightweight and compressible so are ideal for hikers.

There is also a range of Kelty sleeping bags specifically designed for kids so that they can also take full advantage of the thermal qualities of these bags. Other designs that Kelty offers are woman's sleeping bags that are designed to fit a woman's contour.

Now you should have enough information to make a wise decision when choosing your Kelty sleeping bag and remember that Kelty has been around for over 50 years and are known for their high quality and reliable products. They also offer a lifetime guarantee on their products.

Noel Samuels is a review writer for sporting goods and outdoor products. For more great information visit Kelty Sleeping Bags. Here you can find reviews and a buying guides for sleeping bags such as the Kelty Cosmic Down, Light Year and others.

Reminders When Camping

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Camping is an exciting activity that brings a lot of experiences and thrills. This is especially true when it's done within the wild outdoors because there's no way of telling what could happen there. Although it's really fun, camping may also be risky and dangerous. There are many cases where people got lost or even died while camping, but this shouldn't faze you from pursuing your plans. All you need to do is to be prepared of what you're about to face whether you know it or not.

Of course it's very important that you try to learn as much as you can about the place you're going to. This way, you'll be sure about the safest spots and the areas you need to be far away from. This will also provide you necessary information such as how or where you can immediately get help. This is very necessary if you plan to camp out in the wilderness. Also, be sure that you're with a group of people because going alone is more dangerous. When you're going with your family, be sure to have more adults since kids are more prone to danger.

Prepare all the stuff you'll be bringing days before the actual trip. The tents, sleeping bags, clothes, water and food supply, are basics so ensure to have these readied first. Next, prepare the flashlights, extra batteries, first aid kit, and goggles. You might also want to bring a nigh-vision device such as the Yukon night vision monocular for ease at nighttime. Just be sure that necessities are packed and add some that you think will be necessary. You may also want to bring a weapon along for security. Just be sure it's legal for you and the area.

Prior to leaving your home, it's also best that you inform someone you trust about where you'll be going and for how long you'll be staying there. Also leave details on how they can contact you and ask how you can contact them just in case something arises. This way, you can immediately be traced whenever you don't show up when you're supposed to. This also applies prior to reaching the site. Some famous camping sites already have marshals you may need to register to, so be sure to know where you can find them.

Once you're there, try inspecting the area before setting up your camping site so that you'll be familiar with the place. Also, be sure to set up the tents securely and keep the place well-lit. Before resting, make sure that your area is clear by inspecting it with your Yukon night vision monocular.

Safety should be your number one priority when camping because if it isn't, the trip could turn to something scary rather than a memorable one.

Would you like to take a closer look at the Yukon Night Vision Monocular? We have all the information you possibly need on our website about the Yukon Night Vision Monocular.

RV Travel With Children

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RV travel and camping is a great way to pass along your love of the outdoors and the joys of travel to your children or grandchildren. RV travel can be a very rewarding experience for the entire family. Whether you have escaped the rat race and are a full-time RV nomad or just taking a RV camping vacation, RV travel and camping strengthens family relationships. The confinement of the RV gives the opportunity to spend quality time together as a family and really get to know one another. RV travel is a terrific way for parents or grandparents to develop strong bonds with the children. The freedom of a long road trip can be a very exciting and fun way of practicing decision-making as a team. So many sights to see and so many places to experience, RV travels are full of enlightenment and growth for all ages. Long road trips can be, at times, difficult for children but with a little planning you will feel rest-assured and enthusiastic about hitting the road with the young ones. Here are some tips to help you bring out the best in your RV experience.

Involve the children in the planning procedure.

Before you even hit the road get the children involved. Involving the children is great way to help them develop important planning skills, problem solving skills and organization skills. Children almost always love when you ask them for their opinion and take great pride in giving their thoughts and ideas. This helps build a very strong unshakable foundation of confidence within them. The planning procedure shapes enthusiasm, excitement, and anticipation for RV travel and camping. Give the children choices and really listen to what they want and have to say. Work as a team. Take a vote when conflicting desires arise. Post a map and allow the children to draw a route of the entire trip. This is a great way to teach children map reading and direction skills. Supply each child with their own personal map and compass. Children love to learn and this will keep them involved and active the entire trip.

Make and post a list of rules. Be sure to enforce it. It never hurts to have a little bit of leverage. Reward children with the activities, toys, games, snacks, etc. that they love and punish them by taking something away. You can also use campground activities as rewards for good behavior. Campgrounds provide a fun environment for children. Encourage team work by rewarding the entire family with an activity such as horseback riding, canoeing etc. Rewarding everyone for doing such a great job is very encouraging. Team work builds strong communication skills and teaches everyone to value and appreciate each other. Remember to follow the rules yourself. Children learn more by example than anything. Teach children to be responsible for themselves, respectful to themselves and to others.

Understand child passenger safety.

Be aware of child passenger laws and follow them to a tee. There are differences in child passenger laws from state to state. Child passenger restraint requirements vary based on age, weight and height. No matter what state you are in be sure that children stay seated and belted while the RV is in motion. Stop the RV often and take frequent breaks to give everyone a chance to stretch and go to the restroom.

Teach children to pay it forward.

Encourage random acts of kindness toward each other. Acts of kindness are small, simple, selfless acts done for others without expecting anything in return. Teach the children to look around and see if anything needs done at camp, in the RV or if anyone needs anything. Help mold acts of kindness and get them into the habit of doing one nice thing for someone everyday. Take turns talking about how doing nice things makes everyone feel about themselves.

Busy minds need activities to participate in. Keep children entertained and focused by giving them special crafts to work on. There are lots of crafts that you can do while traveling. Many children will look forward to crafting. Some fun crafting include making jewelry, knitting, origami, aluminum foil art, paper dolls, sticker collages, sock puppets, etc. Choose crafts that are not very messy or require any scissors or sharp, dangerous objects. Prepare craft kits before-hand if scissors are necessary or pack child safety scissors to avoid any preventable accidents or injuries.

Keep children entertained, busy and happy for hours with fun games that they can play on the road. Bring a deck of cards and a book of card games. Road trips are a perfect opportunity to learn a new card game along with playing some all time favorites. Magnetic board games, especially the car version games are nice because they are small, compact and easy to play even on bumpy roads. Bingo is lots of fun to play in the RV. Plenty of places online offer free printable Bingo games. There are lots of road games that have no requirements other than participation and everyone can play together, even the driver. Some fun road games include I spy, the license plate game, the alphabet game, license plate poker, twenty questions, scavenger hunt and a is for armadillo. For extra fun, purchase small toys, crafts, special snacks, etc as prizes.

Audio books are a great way to keep children, and adults, entertained. While it is tempting to keep children quiet and behaved with DVDs, storytelling is a healthy way to encourage creativity, to teach listening skills, help build vocabulary and improve overall language skills. Audio books are also lots of fun.

Closing Notes: Create memories. Enjoy life. Have fun and be happy!

Angel StJohn

http://loveofcamping.blogspot.com/

If you have an idea for an article or a question about camping please visit me at:

http://loveofcamping.blogspot.com/

Security Tips for Your RV or Motor Home

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For the more adventurous, free camping in a motor home, RV or van can be a cheap and safe holiday at home or abroad. Once you stop using camping grounds, you'll be surprised at how easy it becomes to find free places to park for the night. Here are some suggestions for places to park your motor home.

In the city, a public car park or a quiet spot in a residential street can be a good place to spend the night. Choose a place where there's not much foot traffic.

In the country there's more choice. A peaceful spot beside a lake or river or close to a forest can be very hospitable. Often a car park near a wharf or marina is an ideal spot and even a back country road can be a safe place to park. It's usually better to be right in the middle of a town or else way out in the country, as parking areas close to a town can have locals coming and going in the night.

A motor home can attract unwanted attention in even the safest parking spot so it's useful to have a good security system when you're asleep. This will give you the confidence to have a good night's sleep, knowing that it's going to be difficult for someone to break in.

A very effective security measure is to have a chain and padlock running between the front door handles.

You just need a solid chain which is looped through the door handles with the two ends joined in the middle of the front seat by a padlock.

Lock the padlock to secure the chain when you go to bed or any time you leave your motor home unattended. This will give you peace of mind.

A quick glance in the cab will show any potential thief that this is going to be a difficult vehicle to enter.

When you go to bed at night it's also a good idea to take your valuables with you and have them close at hand, not lying on the front seat. This includes keys, glasses, money, cards, passports and mobile phones. In fact it's never a good idea to leave personal items on show in your mobile home.

So find a safe spot where there's not much foot traffic, remove your valuables to the sleeping area, secure the front door handles with a chain, and have a peaceful night's sleep.

With some advance planning and common sense, free camping in a motor home or RV can be a relaxing and cheap way to see the country. The more you do it, the more your confidence will grow.

Popular Features of A Vacation in Tahiti

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Vacations are precious moments in a person's life, because given the busy schedule nowadays, we are unable to find time to relax and enjoy life with our dear ones. So, it's important to choose the best place to spend our vacation in the most enthralling way. The place should not be just beautiful, but adventurous too. There must be several activities, capable of engaging us completely. Apart from this, the place should also possess high quality accommodation that surpasses expectations. However, identifying such a perfect place is always a difficult task.

If you're one of those searching for the perfect place on earth, Tahiti is the perfect getaway. The place is sure to satisfy every expectation that an average traveler would have about the Polynesian Islands. It encloses some features that are simply awesome, to say the least.

Some popular features of the Tahiti Islands includes:

Accommodation:

There are numerous guest houses, over-water bungalows and luxurious resorts that are available throughout the island. You can choose one that meets your expectations and budget. Needless to say, the quality of these places would vary along with the price. You can choose from the several cheap basic accommodations to highly expensive resorts.

One such feature is the over-water bungalow. From these bungalows you can see the beauty of the blue sky as well as the crystal clear water during your breakfast.

Outdoor Activities:

You can find different types of outdoor activities that are capable of engaging you throughout the day. Some interesting outdoor activities in Tahiti include swimming with reef sharks and colorful fishes, snorkeling, diving and much more. And if you're in mood for a safari ride, a visit to the majestic Moorea vacations with a view of the several pineapple, grape fruit and vanilla plantations is sure to please you.

Food:

The ancient Tahitian was known to indulge in fish and vegetables including taro, yam and breadfruit. However the influence of British missionaries, the French and Chinese immigrants contributed to a healthy confluence of different cuisine. Today, traditional Tahitian cuisine is an eclectic mix of French and Asian cuisine. There are several restaurants that offers a healthy mix of both local Polynesian and international cuisine,including French, Italian, and even Chinese.

Dance and Music:

To make you energetic in the night, traditional dance and music are performed. Local musical instruments are used for performing beautiful and appealing dances.

Transport Facilities:

Transport is no longer a problem, as Air Tahiti Nui has announced regular flights to Tahiti and Bora Bora.

Cruise ships:

There are different types of cruise ships that range from the cheap to modest and luxurious. You can enjoy the beauty of the island and surrounding places through the journey.

All these salient features help the island retain its topmost position as one of the major international tourist destination. All you have to do is grab one of the several Tahiti vacation packages as soon as possible and start to explore the beauty of this amazing island.

Tahiti vacation packages will help you to save more money during your Tahiti vacations.

Review of the SteriPEN Traveler

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Travelers to developing world areas often don't have access to potable tap water. As a result, many travelers purchase bottled water, a cost that can quickly add up over the course of a trip. There are other options, however, including chlorine tablets, iodine drops, and good old fashioned boiling. My preferred method of water treatment, though, is UV light treatment. SteriPEN makes a variety of handheld UV light treatment devices and after using several, I've come to rely on the SteriPEN Traveler for my water treatment needs.

The SteriPEN Traveler uses UV light to render the DNA of bacteria and viruses, inactive. It takes approximately 45 seconds for the device to treat a half liter of water. All you need to do is place the light wand in the water you want to treat, hit the button, and gently stir the water as the UV light does its work. When the solid green light comes on, the water has been treated and it is safe to drink.

The SteriPEN Traveler is lightweight and highly portable. It easily fits into my daypack and it only takes 4 AA batteries. I use rechargeable NiMH batteries and each charge is good for roughly 200 treatments. The device also comes with a plastic cap which protects the UV wand when you are not using it. I have traveled throughout West Africa with the SteriPEN Traveler and it has consistently performed in a variety of environments.

One thing to keep in mind when using this device: make sure to filter the water before using the UV light. As is the case for most treatment options, the SteriPEN Traveler is ineffective when it comes to treating cloudy water that contains suspended particles. You can buy a water filter or you can use a coffee filter for a more low-tech solution. If you're really in a bind, you can even use a t-shirt.

The light wand on the SteriPEN Traveler is somewhat fragile and there have been several occasions where I almost broke it. Be careful when using the device and make sure to always put the plastic cap on when you are not using it. This may be the biggest complaint by SteriPEN customers, but if you take the proper precautions and use the device carefully, you won't have anything to worry about.

There are many different ways to treat your water when you are traveling. The SteriPEN Traveler is one option that I've found to be both convenient and effective.

For additional information and a video SteriPEN Traveler review, visit sickontheroad.com.

Travel RVing - GPS Systems - Practical and Fun While You're on the Road

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Travel RVing finds the Global Positioning System (GPS) to be a technological marvel. When on a long trips in unknown territory, RVers know that having a good GPS system on board makes driving time more simple, efficient, and enjoyable.

Taking the correct route is, in all likelihood, more important to the RVer than to any other group of travelers. Turning around a 40 foot motorhome while pulling a towable car can be a challenge to even the most seasoned RVer.

The GPS system is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites. GPS works in all kinds of weather conditions, 24 hours a day, all over the world. The system has to be defined by three coordinates--the latitude and longitude, as well as the elevation above sea level. This is called trilateration -- that thing they do in all the TV shows to catch crooks using a cell phones or tracking devices. I know you appreciate this technical information that I am imparting to you and I'm sure you know that I have no idea how the darn thing works-- I just know it works...most of the time.

For the RV traveler, GPS devices can provide a whole array of useful functions in addition to getting from point A to point B. Depending on how sophisticated the device is (that means how expensive) it can find gas stations, campgrounds, emergency locations, landmarks, restaurants and Joe the Plumber.

GPS devices come in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Some are mountable, some hand- held, and some are in-dash units. Which one is best depends entirely upon what you are looking for your GPS to do. Gosh, some of them will play cds, dvds, and mp-3s. The portable models have some advantages over the in-dash units since they can be taken out of the RV and used for excursions away from the RV like hiking or bicycling. They can also, of course, be used in the tow vehicle for all those fun things you want to go see and do while in a given area.

Since GPS devices have become so prominent, lots of folks these days are into geocaching. Geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Isn't that great? Guess playing hide and seek never gets old. This is really great family fun.

Travel RVing is a real fan of the GPS. But, unfortunately, GPS does not always work. Remember that a GPS device receives signals from satellites which are in a galaxy far, far away. It has to receive signals from at least 3 satellites in order to calculate its position. If these signals are too weak or obstructed by tall buildings or heavy foliage, GPS tracking can be "iffy". These are the times that try men's souls.

Recalculating... Recalculating... Recalculating...

Sandy St. Germaine has a website devoted to the RV lifestyle. Please contact me at Travel RVing

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The Sleek New Camp Chef Sport Grill MVP

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The new Camp Chef Sport Grill MVP in my humble opinion is one of the best tailgating BBQ grills on the planet. It has a sleek modern design that shows off well at any tailgating activity. It is portable fitting easily in the back of any family wagon, SUV or pickup truck and sets up easily on a table or it's own stand alone legs and has the power of a full size backyard grill.

Having a good looking grill that others can appreciate is important to any discriminating tailgater. Getting approving glances and comments from fellow tailgaters is a great ego booster which makes the Camp Chef Sport Grill MVP a winner due to it's modern styling and eye appeal. The red suitcase design with black trim and handles, stainless steel side panels and hooded top are some of the eye catching features that make this stove desirable to any avid tailgater.

A good tailgating grill should be portable enough to easily load and unload from the back of a vehicle. The fact that the Sport Grill is 29"x16"x12" and weighs less than 60 Lbs. makes it one of the most portable of all the high output 2 burner tailgating grills. The Sport Grill is also very versatile with removable legs for use on a table surface or on its own, free standing. The legs and shelves store under the grill for easy set up and transportation, these features make the Camp Chef Sport Grill MVP one of the best grills available for use at the parking lot of any major sporting event, backyard barbecue or other tailgating or camping activities.

A tailgating grill, along with being portable, should also have the ability to cook a fair amount of food in a reasonable length of time and the Camp Chef Sport Grill MVP is up to the challenge. Don't let it's size and portability fool you, this baby has the feel and capacity of a full size backyard grill with a 375 in. cooking surface and two powerful burners that put out an impressive total of 25,000 BTU's of cooking power that will easily cook thick steaks, tri-tip roasts or a rack of ribs to perfection in no time, along with matchless ignition for easy, effortless starting, giving it's owner more time to enjoy other tailgating activities and less time spent slaving over a hot grill.

The Camp Chef Sport Grill MVP, with it's good looks and stylish design that gets it the approving glances and comments of other tailgaters, it's portability and versatility that makes it easy to load, unload and set up on a table or on it's own foldout legs and the fact that it has the cooking power and performance of a full size backyard grill so that a full coarse meal can be prepared in relatively short amount of time, is a complete package created specifically for the tailgating enthusiast and in my opinion the ultimate in tailgating sport grills.

Howard Hicks is a retired retail market manager who is traveling full time with his wife Cyndy and their two dogs, Tilly a toy Schnauzer and Buddy a rat terrier. Howard manages his e-commerce business that offers the Sport Grill as well as other varieties of camp stoves Howard spent much of his time as a retail Market manager making sure the stores in his charge gave extra ordinary customer service. He now applies this experience to his online customers making sure each one is completely satisfied with all services and products he provides.

What to Look for When Buying a Tent - A Guide

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With so many high quality tents on the market these days, where should one start when thinking of buying a tent? There are a few topics worth considering before choosing your tent.

Design: How and when you plan to use your tent is going to dictate what type of tent you look to buy. The different types of tent you might consider are:

Dome: Simple design, typically two crossing poles bent into a dome shape, with a flysheet pulled over the top and the inner pegged to the inside. Moderately stable in poor weather, but will struggle in high winds. Generally cheaper than other designs, the dome is best suited for those looking for a straight-forward tent for summer camping, perhaps as a family holiday or at festivals. Dome tents tend to sleep 2-3 people, although larger versions can accommodate 4 or even 5. The Vango Alpha 250 is a classic entry level dome tent.
Geodesic (or semi-geodesic): The expensive brother of the dome tent, geodesic tents have a series of curved poled ergonomically designed to distribution tension from high winds across the surface of the tent and down into the anchor point. Poles generally rest on one another, to prevent excess pressure on one point. These tents are steady as a rock even in dreadful weather, and unlike tunnel tents can tolerate winds from any direction without much trouble. As a result, geodesic tents tend to be more expensive than other tents. The Vango Hurricane 200, with its four criss-crossing poles is one of the cheaper geodesics on the market, but don't expect much change from 200. Only really required by those on expedition or planning for winter camping in hostile climes, but they will also get envious looks at a summer music festival if you've got the money to spend.
Tunnel: The idea behind tunnel designs is that they cut through the wind and as such represent greater stability. This may be very true on the smaller tents, such as the Force 10 Helium 100, which hugs the ground and is steady even in very high winds, but for the larger group tents we suspect that most use the tunnel design because it is the easiest way of accommodating large groups of people. Group tents with ends that taper down to the ground, such as the Vango Orchy 600 are a little more stable than the 'barrel-shaped' alternatives. A point to note with all tunnel tents, they should be pitched so the 'blunt' end (i.e. where it tapers from the highest point to the ground the most quickly) faces into the wind.

Weight: If you are planning on carrying the tent when backpacking or cycle touring, the weight of the tent is going to be very important. As a good rule of thumb, anything under 1.5 kgs per person should be considered as lightweight.

Lighter tents are more expensive, as the materials from which they are made are better quality to provide similar conditions at lighter weight, so you should decide whether you really need to go for a super-lightweight tent. As cool as it might be to brag over titanium tent pegs and poles designed by NASA, you might be able to save lots of money with a slightly heavier tent. On the other hand, if you are taking part in mountain marathons or keen fairly extreme backpacking then shaving an extra 500g off your total pack weight will pay dividends as you approach the top of your fourth munro of the day. For example, the Terra Nova Laser Photon 1 weighs just 720g - lighter than a pint of beer, and just as satisfying at the end of a long day in the hills.

Internal dimensions: All three internal dimensions, length width and height, are important considerations when choosing your tent.

Length: On length, most tents reviewed on this site give between 205cm and 230cm of length. Remember that the inners of most tents taper down to the bottom edge, so we'd recommend that anyone over 6ft tall probably avoid the 205cm, and anyone over 6ft 4in will find 210cm a little short. Only the tallest campers should have a problem with 220cm and above.

Width: One person tents tend to vary from 70cm to 110cm in width. For two person tents, the width tends to vary from 100cm to 150cm. For 3+ person tents, a good guide for comfort is 60cm per person. As a point of reference, a normal sized double bed in the UK is 135cm wide, so a two person tent of close to this width should be more than comfortable enough for two people.

Height: The internal height of tents varies considerably. It is only likely to be of importance in group tents, where there is an external area that can be used to relaxing, on which we'd recommend you look for a tent with a max height greater than your own so you can at least stand straight-up. On smaller tents, less than 80cm of height generally means that it might feel claustrophobic for some campers - but a low profile improves the stability of the tent in high winds.

Hydrostatic Head: Arguably the most important statistic of a flysheet or groundsheet is the 'hydrostatic head', a rather obscure measure to test what height of water can suspended on the fabric. A 1000mm hydrostatic head implies that pressure associated with one metre of water can be withstood by the fabric before it begins to leak. The Ministy of Defence defines materials with a hydrostatic head of 800mm or more as waterproof, whereas most tent manufacturers would consider 1000mm as fully waterproof.

However, the hydrostatic head (often abbreviated to HH) also tells you a lot about the general strength of the material. High winds can stress the fabric on flysheet, whereas stones and other debris can tear groundsheets, so a high hydrostatic head is beneficial in lots of ways.

Generally speaking, the following guide can be used to the hydrostatic head of flysheets:

1500-2500mm: Waterproof, but best suited to spring or summer conditions, may show some weakness in high winds or torrential rain and not suited to repeated exposure to poor weather3000-4000mm: Suitable for pretty much anything the UK weather can throw at it, but may occasionally suffer in extremely poor weather or wintry conditions5000mm: Expedition quality, all-weather fabric

Note that a higher hydrostatic head to the flysheet can adversely affect breathability of the fabric, and as such may worsen condensation issues.

Groundsheets should have a hydrostatic head of at least 6000mm, although 8000-10000mm is more common. Most modern tents have a 'bathtub' groundsheet design, in that the groundsheet also rises up about 15cm around the base of the tent. A high hydrostatic head twinned with a bathtub groundsheet should keep you dry even if you pitch your tent on ground which floods (provided that the flood water is not higher than the bathtub lip).

Hopefully this has helped you decide what kind of tent you are looking for - or maybe it has just added to your confusion! Don't worry, our tent buying guides at Top Tents will help you find the perfect tent in no time