Camping

[Islandcool 0]

OK need to buy a tent for the Perris DZ.com boogie on memorial day weekend. Never bought a tent in my life. Haven't been camping since I lived in Hawaii. Sleeping bag and beer is about all you need in Hawaii. Anyway. Any suggestions about what to bring to a DZ when camping. Also any recommendations specific models of tents would be appreciated. By the way it has to fit in a Jetta.

Thanks

Ed

[Stacy 0]

I got my tent from sears. I use it pretty often, so i also have coated it with the spray water repellent for extrawaterproofing and i've sealed the seams. I put a tarp underneath it to protect the bottom as well. A little camping lantern is nice (it gets dark outside and there's no electricity in your tent to take out contact lenses, etc etc...

that said, I recommend one of those camping pads or air mattress. the ground gets hard if you're sleeping on it for an extended period.

our campsite also has a plastic flamingo lawn ornament, 3 camping chairs, and a grill.

[SkySlut 0]

I got a tent from here...good price & brand name. I dont really think that it makes too much of a differnce which one you get...its not like you are going to be camping in the artic or anything out of the ordinary...

http://www.cheaptents.com/acatalog/Product_Catalogue_Tents_7.html

[PhillyKev 0]

If you're not likely to use it much or at all after that occasion, just get the cheapest thing you can find. If you want something for extended use, I'd check out a coleman or something from REI.

Dome tents are easiest to set up typically, but are limited in room, especially head room. They're great for short, weekend type trips. Make sure you get stakes and a hammer or mallet as well so that you can make it stay down. And definitely water proof it, especially the seems. You can do that when you get there and set it up as long as it's not raining at the time.

[NoShitThereIWas 0]

I bought my tent at Costco for an unbelievably inexpensive price and it is an excellent quality tent. I think it sleeps 4 or 5 and is very nice and I only paid like $50 bucks for it. Other camping gear??? Hmmm. I like to bring travel candles, a flashlight, lounge chair, tunes and cards or other games to play with friends. Depending on how long I am staying at a campground I may be so inclined to bring my inflatable air matress, blankets and pillows for more comfort. I hear ya about Hawaii though, I used to crash out on the beach in Mokuleia and Haleiwa just in my sleeping bag to camp. Aaaaah, I miss those days

Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

[sdctlc 0]

Sears is a good place. If you have a Costco near by you can get a good "tent Condo" pretty cheap. The things they have are bigger then my first apartment, and nicer. You should put a tarp under it in case it rains. Also if you can seal it with a waterproofer of some sort it, will keep you dry and last a little longer.

We ended up opting out of tents and got a VW winebago conversion van that I have to say beats the heck out of sleeping on the ground. It is a tad more expensive then a tent though....

Scott C.

"He who Hesitates Shall Inherit the Earth!"

[skydivegirl 0]

Sears also has those air mattresses that inflate using D batteries so you don't even need to find a power source. They're pretty rock'n.

Pink Mafia Sis #26

[steve1 5]

I'd get a two man dome tent, if there is just you. Two are a little crowded if you also include your gear in a two man tent. Four person tents are a lot bigger with more head room. I can stand up in one. If you plan to use it for backpacking also, check out the weight factor. The lighter the better. Many tents are fairly heavy and not made for back packing. You should be able to pick one up from $50. to $100.....Steve1

[lizzieb 0]

REI spring sale starts today i think

[kingbunky 3]

another little hint... when youget a rubber mallet for punding in stakes, screw and appropriate sized cup hook into the end of the handle for pulling them back out again..

other camping stuff that is handy... and extra tarp or two and a bunch of bungie cords. if you're camping under trees, you can arrange a tarp over the tent to keep sap and bird crap off the tent. some rope is always a good idea. toilet paper! if the washroom has some, it's usually really cheap stuff.

"Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart."
MB4252 TDS699
killing threads since 2001

[skydiverbrian 0]

check with skymama. she has a tent that sleeps 14ppl.

In a world full of people, only some want to fly... isn't that crazy! --Seal

[Guest]

Quote

OK need to buy a tent for the Perris DZ.com boogie on memorial day weekend. Never bought a tent in my life. Haven't been camping since I lived in Hawaii. Sleeping bag and beer is about all you need in Hawaii. Anyway. Any suggestions about what to bring to a DZ when camping. Also any recommendations specific models of tents would be appreciated. By the way it has to fit in a Jetta.

Thanks

Ed

When I'm at a remote DZ, I use either an 8x10 Coleman or one of those market sunshades with walls. I use a tarp to protect the floor, and I put carpet inside, table, chairs, cot, etc. (I call it the Harju Hilton). If you're going to be camping on the DZ for a few days, why skimp on luxuries?

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[wmw999 2,587]

Well, after my Eloy experience, I can tell you that getting a 6-sided dome tent at a garage sale is a BAD idea

Get one with a decent fly. If it rains, that will help keep your stuff dry; if it's cold, it'll help keep you warmer, and you won't get as much condensation on the inside. And if it's hot it will keep the tent marginally cooler (but a nice light color will help there too).

Make sure and get one that you can sit up in very comfortably, so you can get dressed without too many contortions. Also, the older you are, the more you like a decent quality air mattress and ear plugs.

Have a great time...

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[psuCory 0]

A few more points on picking up a good tent...

Find one that fits the climate in which you will be camping. Some tents are built for mountaineeringHeavy Duty Tent, which will keep you dry, but will resemble a sauna if you plan on using it in temperate (or warmer) climates. Meanwhile, a tent designed for warmer weather like mine -->My Walrus, is built to keep out rain and allow excess heat to vent off.

Now there are a few more "extras" that you can look for. The one that was important to me while I was tent shopping was an extended rain fly. It is almost like a little porch roof above the door. Why is this important? Well, it gives you a place to keep your shoes - if they get muddy you really don't want to bring them inside the tent. The extra storage space is useful as well.

Color... does it matter? Sure it does, a bright tent will be easier to pick out even through a beer induced fog , and will not heat up as fast on those sunny mornings... giving you a few more precious minutes of sleep.

[steve1 5]

Just a couple more ideas. If you are as old and grumpy as I am, you won't want to sleep on the hard ground. They sell some small foam pads for back packing that aren't too bad, an air mattress is good in warm weather. Also make sure your tent will keep the bugs out if you camp in an area that has a lot of mosquitos or black flies, etc.....Steve1

[meridianjumper 0]

Sam, you never camp out with us anyway. You always go out and sleep in your truck with Mollie.

Blue Skies,
Jeremy

[skydivegirl 0]

My truck is comfy! And anyway, you guys are are all sleeping in the heated/air conditioned hanger... that's not so much camping out!

Plus you go to bed too early and then kick others out into the cold. That's not nice.

Pink Mafia Sis #26

[meridianjumper 0]

Going to bed early???!!! How can I when folks are running back and forth getting beer till like 4am? Besides, it is still cold outside. Summer time is getting closer and I will be tenting it then. As for staying up late, I need lots of encouragement and a reason to stay up late.

Blue Skies,
Jeremy

[Kopko 0]

Well, meridianjumper:
You want encouragement,
Was there Beer, Ummm Yes
Was there friends, Ummmm Yes
Was there Kickass music, Ummm Yes

Sleeping next to the fridge brings with it consequences.

I second the Truck Idea. Get an air mattress and you are good to go.

[meridianjumper 0]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I better stop whining before folks really start getting on me.

Blue Skies,
Jeremy

[skydivegirl 0]

Just be glad I didn't 'accidently' kick or fall on you while going to the beer fridge.

And who was putting diet coke in with all the beer? When you're just grabbing for bottles vs. cans in the dark, it sucks when you leave the hangar with 3 beers and a diet coke.

Pink Mafia Sis #26

[riggerrob 643]

You need a decent mattress if you want to be cheerful in the morning.
If bulk is not an issue, then get a fold-up cot, ideally with some form of insulation on the underside.
Thermarest makes the best roll-up air mattresses and they are self-inflating.
For the ultimate in comfort-per-pound, get a Hennessy Hammock. The only limit on a hammock is the need for three or more trees, trucks, stickup thingies a few yards (metres for Europeans) apart. Just remember to sling a reflective Space Blanket under any hammock to keep your butt warm.