Gifts For Campers

It's that time of year, time to go shopping for your favorite camper. But what do you get? The possibilities are endless, and only limited by your budget. There is a wide range of ideas for the camper in your life when it comes to gift giving.

There are oodles of nifty gadgets for camping enthusiasts on the market, many are things that people would use but never think to get for themselves. Camp equipment can run the gamut to dollar store finds to big ticket items, and each has their place at the campsite.

For stocking stuffers, fire starters and waterproof matches are always appreciated. These are things that every camper has found themselves needing at one time or another, and they will get used. They also make small waterproof containers to hold matches or other small dry goods, such as spices and seasonings or cell phones. Sterno makes small foldable stoves that are fueled by Sterno's small fuel packs, and are perfect for those with limited space, or to brew coffee while the stove or grill is filled with food.

Lanterns and flashlights are always a good gift for campers, too. Many of the new LED lanterns last what seems like forever on a single set of batteries. Plus, there are many now that don't use batteries at all, but are powered by a hand crank.

A little more on up the scale would be things like a packable sleeping mat or sleeping bag inserts. Both are incredibly handy and versatile, plus pack to a small size. Lightweight camp cookware and cooking accessories are always a nice gift, too.

If you want to go a little higher, a nice camp grill or other propane powered cooking equipment are always appreciated. Of course, refill propane bottles are always great, too. For backpackers, the smaller more lightweight stoves and fuel would be more appropriate, as lugging a heavy stove on your back is cumbersome. 

There are tons of bags geared toward packing camp equipment, I would suggest waterproof bags. My favorite bag is made by Coleman, and has a spot in the bottom for a camp grill, plus several compartments and pockets inside to keep the camp kitchen organized and transported safely. I can pack all my camp kitchen gear inside perfectly, I love it!

There are tons of higher end items, camp shower stalls, hot water on demand systems, cabin tents with a screen room, the list goes on and on. Shopping for the camper in your life has never been easier with so much camp equipment to choose from!

Taking Advantage of Black Friday For Camping Equipment

Black Friday sales are a great way to shop for the camper in your life, or even to replenish your own camping items. The sales are definitely hard to beat! Sporting goods stores are in on the action, too, and there are some hard to beat deals out there.  And just think, hitting Black Friday sales at the sporting goods stores will be hubby-friendly shopping!

Thankfully, we now have the Internet to find the best of the best sales and map out where we want to hit first. Often, there are early bird sales, or sales limited to the first so many people through the door. Keep your eye open for sale ads, you just may find a special on the tent of your dreams you just can't walk away from.

Black Friday has something to offer for everybody, the camper included. BlackFriday.info lists several different stores, including sporting goods and outdoor oriented stores, and has coupons for many different sites. This is just one of many places that has gathered sneak peeks for shoppers.

Many people overlook the advantages of shopping for camping equipment throughout the winter. I have bought a substantial amount of my camp equipment this way, saving boatloads in the process. This is the first year I'm really looking hard on Black Friday for camp stuff, and I'm really excited about it!

Organizing and Storing Camp Equipment

It's that time of year. Unless you like cold weather camping, it's time to put away camping equipment for the season. This is a perfect opportunity to go through your camp equipment and make any necessary repairs, take inventory, and clean it up for storage.

I have several big plastic bins I keep my camping stuff stored in. Each according to type. So most of my camp cookware is stored in one, ropes and such in a bag placed in another container, and personal care items in another.

This is also a good time to take stock and have a list of items you'd like to buy or replace over the winter. Winter time is an excellent time to find camping items on sale, making it the perfect time to buy. Make a quick list of things to watch for and regularly scan sales and eBay.

Tents should ideally be cleaned and aired out before storage. Any tears or waterproofing should be fixed at this time. I've found placing them in a loosely covered trash bag, but not sealed, seems to keep mildew at bay. 

Although I always get that little twinge of sadness when packing my camping stuff away for the season, I can't wait to find new bargains over the winter and start planning for camping trips the following year.

No More Bulky Towels

Packing towels for a camping trip can take up a lot of room. Not to mention, they dry slowly, often leaving a camper having to lug around a damp, bulky towel. 

MSR has the answer to this problem. The MSR Packtowl is lightweight, antimicrobial, and dries very quickly. It even has a strap to ease in hanging and drying. The material is ultra-soft, and softens up with each use.

The price is okay, not fantastic, but it could be worse. It's worth every penny, though, as it's ease of use is sure to please. The Packtowl folds up to almost nothing, even for the largest bath sheet size. Drying time is only minutes, as opposed to bulky terry cloth towels taking an hour or more to dry. 

Plus the absorbency! Holy cow, these could soak up any mess or spill you could imagine at a campsite. The versatility these have for a camper is astounding. There is room in any backpack for a set of Packtowls, and the car camper is also going to appreciate having more room for storage of camping equipment. 

Scout around for the best price, pick up a set or two for your camping equipment stash, and be ready to be impressed. This is another one of those items you will like so much it will be hard to pack away. I have to admit, I have one hanging in my bathroom at the moment, and another one handy for spills in the kitchen. I have yet to have a stain or tear on mine, and I've given them quite a workout in the past couple of years.