CAMPOLOGY

Camping is fun, exciting, relaxing, fullfilling, and therapeutic ... however it can also be very dangerous and potentially miserable if you are not prepared.  

We have put together 100 essential camping tips to help you make your next outdoor adventure both enjoyable and rewarding ... or shall I say "rough it in comfort".

100 Camping Tips:

1. Camp with a friend - safer and more fun
2. Don't drink alcohol winter camping - when you need to keep your wits the most
3. Make your own first aid kit - often cheaper and better meets your needs
4. Be prepared for a zombie attack - although unlikely, it’s always good to be prepared
5. Wolves don't attack humans - there has never been a confirmed wolf kill of a human in North America's wilds 
6. Dogs attack humans - dogs are far more dangerous to humans than wolves
7. A sharp knife is a safe knife - they work better and hence there is less chance of a mishap
8. Bring saw ... leave the axe - An axe has more risk to injury - they are heavy and dangerous in the hands of a rookie ... bring a saw
9. An ounce on your feet is a pound in your pack - light hiking boots are best in most cases
10. Roughing it is for TV survivalists - if you are comfortable, life is good
11. Electric music is for the city - leave your ipod at home ... and blasters are a no no
12. Scotch is a better camping beverage than beer - more bang for the weight. Leave the beer in the fridge at home
13. Food always tastes better in the backwoods - this is a mystery
14. Food is your fuel - eat well and perform better
15. Water is more important that fuel - if you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated
16. Store your self inflating mattress unrolled - protects the insulation and reduces mould
17. Stuffing a sleeping bag is better than rolling it - easier and protects the insulation
18. Store a sleeping bag in a large, loose, breathable bag - protects sleeping bag
19. 3 bangs or 3 whistle blasts - the international signal for distress
20. Children love camping - go slow, take lots or breaks and stop at every cool place to play.
21. Dogs chase wild animals - train or leash them.
22. Cats don't do anything - gold fish with fur!
23. Bring sleeping socks - always dry and warm
24. Wear a helmet - when on white water, biking or downhill skiing ... if you choose not to wear a helmet then you obviously don’t have much brain matter to protect ... think Darwin
25. Wear a hat - protect your skin and eyes from the sun and your head from bugs
26. Sunscreen is for everyone ... all complexions - always and everywhere
27. Bandanas are wonderful - tons of uses
28. Blaze orange is good - better for being seen and found
29. Camouflage is silly for camping - it is great for hiding, however if you want to be found and seen ... go with bright colours
30. Blow your nose without tissue - hold one nostril shut ... then point and blow!
31. Moleskin is essential - apply at first signs of a “hot spot” on your feet to prevent a blister from developing
32. Down is great when dry and not so much when wet - light and compactible, however when it gets wet ... most to all the insulation value is lost
33. Synthetic insulation works even when wet - a little heavier than down, but always works
34. Trekking poles can double as tent poles
35. Black widow, Recluse and Hobo Spiders are venomous
36. Keep your tent zipped at all times - you don’t want spiders, snakes or other curious critters crawling in your tent while you are gathering wood.
37. Shake out footwear before putting it on - snakes and spiders love hiding in dark warm places
38. Round rocks are great for wiping as an alternative to toilet paper - really
39. Remove ticks gently without pulling or squeezing - reduce Lyme Disease
40. Sleep in your warm clothing and bring a lighter sleeping bag
41. Stuff sacks make great camp shoes
42. Put hot water in a water bottle before bed - warm up your sleeping bag
43. Place extra clothing under your sleeping bag - increase insulation
44. A warm hat - a light and easy way to regulate your body temperature
45. Get in shape - not the round/soft kind of shape!
46. Layer clothing - 1) thin synthetic/wool against skin, 2) insulation layer,  3) windproof/waterproof/breathable for the outer layer
47. Cotton is rotten - holds sweat and moisture for days ... and takes forever to dry 
48. Nylon hikers are not good for deserts - fine sand passes through the nylon and causes grief
49. Keep pocket zippers closed at all times - open pockets get caught on branches and valuable stuff can fall out
50. Don’t eat yellow snow
51. Zip tops - then regulate body heat
52. Keep maps in outside pocket of pack or clothing - dahhh!
53. Layer socks - thin wicking layer against the skin and then a thicker insulated layer. Will reduce blisters and increase padding
54. Aftermarket footbeds - they place your feet in a better position in your boot, and improve fit and padding 
55. Bring repair kits and know how to work them - tent, self inflating mattress, stove, canoe, sewing, etc
56. A spork is all you need - its a spoon & fork combined, and you already have a pocket knife in your essential kit
57. Wide mouth water bottles - easier to fill and clean
58. Metal water bottles in the winter are nasty - your tongue and lips can stick to ice cold metal
59. A candle lantern will warm tent - amazing ... one candle can change a frigid tent to a nice place to read or play cards
60. A candle lantern emits carbine monoxide - ensure there is good ventilation
61. Don’t cook in tent - fire and carbine monoxide are not good things in a tent
62. Don’t cook or eat near campsite - you will attract hungry and curious critters
63. Don’t wash dishes at shoreline - wash dishes 50 feet from both the water source and/or your campsite
64. Head lamps are easier than flashlights
65. Air mattresses are comfortable, however have no insulation
66. Compasses don’t need batteries
67. Compasses are not reliable north of 60º 
68. Black bears can be dangerous, Brown bears are dangerous, Polar bears are very very dangerous
69. Use biodegradable soap ... better yet ... don’t use soap
70. Use “natural” toothpaste and swallow ... better yet, brush without toothpaste
71. Death can occur ... 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food.
72. Campers should eat 1.5-2.5 pounds of food per day or 2500-5000 calories
73. Cook your meals in one pot
74. First day's meal can be meat ... pack a frozen steak in the morning, and by dinner time it will be thawed and ready to cook
75. Chocolate is not good in the summer - it will become a molten mess
76. Don’t eat wild plants unless you are sure they are safe
77. Know what poison ivy looks like
78. Pack and separate your gear with loosely packed stuff sacks
79. Bear defence - bring bangers, spray, and canisters
80. Hang your food or place your food canister ... far far away from camp
81. Don’t hang food in your backpack or anything you don’t mind being torn apart by bears or aggressive red squirrels
82. Don’t put loose/open food in backpack - your pack or contents shouldn’t smell like "food"
83. Put toothpaste in food bag at night
84. Get you backpack fitted properly
85. Socks can double as mitts
86. Wear your hiking boots loose not tight 
87. Point and shoot cameras are easier and lighter than DSLR
88. Leave deodorant at home - embrace the stink
89. Learn how to read a map
90. An altimeter helps identify your location
91. Trekking poles help your knees and ankles
92. Gaiters keep water, snow, dirt and debris from getting in your boots and socks
93. Crossing rivers is more dangerous than you think
94. Set your tent in a safe location - look up, down and all around
95. Hand sanitizer - can save you from getting the runs
96. Small injuries can turn into big injuries if not attended promptly
97. Blister treatment - best treatment is prevention
98. Take nothing from the great outdoors other than photos and memories 
99. Avoid metal or high places during a lightning storm
100. Zombies don’t camp