We all enjoy camping out under the stars and pale moon. Am I right or am I right? There’s not a human being alive that doesn’t adore a good bout with Mother Nature. Just lounging by the campfire, singing a tune and soaking up the peace and quiet. Alright, I admit that there may be a few folks that don’t enjoy the outdoors. As for the rest of us, we need that relaxing break from the “real world” chaos and stress. And with the right outdoor camping equipment, a trip up into the wilderness can be an utter blast. Everyone get your tents, sleeping bags and flashlights ready - we’re headed outdoors.

Less than a month ago I was camping in a nearby woods with my daughter. She was the only one of my family members I could get to go with me. Fortunately she loved the experience. We’re lucky to have a friend that owns a large portion of land and he lets us camp on it whenever we please. Now, you may be wondering why we ventured out into the bush during the winter season. Hey, no one ever said camping was forbidden in February. You simply have to go prepared with the right outdoor camping equipment. Pay attention and I’ll tell you what these consist of.

First you need to dress for the cold weather. Wear what you feel comfortable in outdoors. Heavy coats, stocking caps and gloves are generally essential this time of the year. And be certain you wear shoes that function well over outdoor terrain. Insulated hiking boots are perfect. Then there’s the tent. There are plenty of outstanding tents on the market that withstand strong winds and harsh weather. Choose one suitable to your number of campers. Down sleeping bags are great. These babies will definitely keep you warm and cozy all night long. A must when it comes to winter outdoor camping equipment. Don’t forget to pack plenty of suitable cuisine. And finally there are the flashlights and matches. Personally, I believe Surefire flashlights are the best in the business. Refer to their website for more information. And while “strike anywhere” matches are great and convenient, I do recommend a weather proof lighter such as one from Brunton or Windmill. These are phenomenal.

So there you have it. All the outdoor camping equipment you’ll need to survive the winter weather. A few other places you can search for these products are R.E.I. and Tadgear.com. Happy camping!

Are you planning a family picnic in the park? How about a romantic picnic for you and your husband or wife? If so, no picnic, romantic or otherwise, is complete without high quality picnic blankets. Good picnic blankets will make you and whoever you are picnicking with comfortable, warm and dry. You can purchase them in a wide variety of fabrics, such as fleece, cotton and waterproof.

Many outdoor lovers will tell you that the only way to go in terms of fabric is fleece. They are durable, non-bulky, lightweight and pliable. Also, fleece picnic blankets have repellent qualities for spills. It’s certainly no fun trying to share a romantic moment by the lake when you are sitting in the remnants of a spilled can of soda.

There are many blankets that are especially made for those that are always on the go. They come with shoulder straps and a waterproof backing. Some of these picnic blankets have beautiful designs and are made of a soft, comfortable fabric. For your next picnic, why not use one of these wonderful blankets to protect yourself from the damp ground while staying comfortable and stylish?

Most designs are perfect for the park or the beach, especially those that are waterproof or have a waterproof backing. When looking at blankets to purchase, try to find one that can easily be wiped clean and does not stain. You will want your blanket to be big enough to sit everyone when it is opened. Five feet by five feet is a good size for picnic blankets.  You can purchase them in a much larger size or slightly smaller. Those that come with detachable straps are perfect and are easy to carry.

You’ll also want to find one that folds away easily and is compact enough to store anywhere. You don’t want one that will take up a lot of room and you may even want to consider purchasing picnic blankets that come in a handy tote. This makes storage even easier because you can hang it on the back of a closet or cabinet door and it is there whenever you need it. It can also be stored in the trunk of your car. Picnic blankets that are machine washable, resistant to mildew, abrasion, cracking and discoloration are also good choices.

Don’t be fooled into thinking they are just for the occasional picnic. You can use them to cover up with on those long, cool nights while watching a football game at the local stadium. Maybe you just want to lay outside with your sweetheart and look up at the stars. Picnic blankets can even keep you dry should an unexpected rainfall start. They’re really perfect for this.

Next spring consider purchasing one or two and throwing them in the garage and the trunk of your car. You’ll be glad you did when you find yourself longing for a picnic in the park or during a windy night while watching your youngster play soccer.

If you love to go camping, you need to make sure you have the best tent that money can buy. You may want to skimp when you buy family camping tents, but I can tell you from experience that this is not the way to go. When there is nothing between your family, the weather and the great outdoors, you want the very best and you should settle for nothing less. You may have to spend more, but the extra cost is well worth it. It only takes one bad camping trip to convince your family that they don’t ever want to go again.

There are many types of family camping tents, but don’t get the cheapest one you can find like I did. We went camping on a weekend that was supposed to be clear and sunny. As it turned out, it was cold and damp, and we couldn’t just pack up and leave, as my husband had an obligation he had to fulfill. Had we picked better family camping tents, we would have been a lot happier. Instead we were constantly wet and damp, and all of our clothes and equipment got wet. We ended up in a hotel, which was not part of the plan.

Good family camping tents will keep out the water. There are exceptions, as you can’t stop a river that might be coming at you, but they should keep out the worst of the storms that may arise. You want family camping tents that are totally waterproof and ones that have secure lines and stakes so that strong winds won’t tear them up from the ground if no one is inside. They should have plenty of room for everyone in your family. You should make sure there is enough room to stretch and stand up straight or everyone is going to be miserable.

The size of family camping tents that you might want to buy will depend on who many people you have in your family, and will also depend on where you plan to go camping. If you think you want to do some winter camping, you will need special family camping tents for that. Just remember that this is one time when the more you spend, more comfortable you will be. If you like to go camping, you don’t want to do anything to turn your family off from the activity.

Everyone in my family looks forward to the summer months for the same reason.  It means taking time off for our annual vacation. We love to load up the car and head out to a national park or a public campground for a week of hiking, fishing and sleeping under the stars. But since my boys are still young, they’re not exactly careful with our equipment, if you know what I mean. It’s not unusual for several essential items to get damaged or lost on one of our trips. That’s why I shop for discount camping gear whenever possible.

The emergence of online stores has really made it easy for me to find discount camping gear. The popularity of wholesale sporting goods websites means that I can buy name brand equipment for a fraction of the price that I would pay at a regular retail outlet. Even when I factor in the cost of shipping, I come out way ahead on all of the discount camping gear purchases I make over the Internet. That means my family will have more money left over for our vacations, which is the most important part anyway.

What kind of discount camping gear do I typically buy online? Anything and everything that my family needs! For example, we always seem to be replacing our supply of lanterns and flashlights. These kinds of products have a tendency to break pretty easily, especially when kids are handling them.  It’s nice to be able to save money on items that I’m buying all the time.

I can also find great deals on longer lasting items such as tents, sleeping bags and cots. Anyone who has ever camped out before will tell you that if you can’t sleep comfortably, it will ruin your entire experience. So I really pay attention to the products I purchase in this category and make sure that I stick with well known brands such as Coleman. After all, there’s no sense in buying discount camping gear if the products don’t perform up to expectations.

Cookouts are another favorite part of our trips, so I also make sure that I buy the best cooking accessories that I can find. Online stores that sell discount camping gear often offer an entire lineup of excellent cooking products such as stoves, burners, mess kits, pots and pans, and food packaging containers. These items help make mealtimes come off without a hitch, which isn’t necessarily a given for my crew. Then, once I have well rested and well fed kids, I know the rest of the day will go much more smoothly.

If you need to purchase new equipment or replace old items before you head to the great outdoors for your next expedition, I recommend that you shop for discount camping gear online. You might be surprised at all of the high quality items you can find at amazing prices!