CampVec - Camping and Kayaking Guides and Reviews: Recent Episodes

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Is Kayaking Safe for Non Swimmers?It is quite a common question that we get from many people. Is kayaking safe for non swimmers? It might not be the place to judge but thinking of it as a sport that requires a little bit of effort to float on the water, it might sound like a difficult thing to do if one does not know how to swim.

But is it really true that a non-swimmer cannot be able to kayak? With little ease or difficulty? All these questions we may be asking ourselves and we are just about to find out the reality as we answer them one by one!

How Dangerous Is Kayaking for Non Swimmers?

Many of us experienced kayakers would say that if one doesn't know how to swim, it is very easy to float. The truth is that we don't know because many of us first went kayaking long after swimming.

However, truth be told, kayaking may be very difficult since the amount of composure it requires demands the stability that comes when one is trying to swim. We can easily mess up a kayak if we are not well composed.

Safe or Not Safe, Can We Kayak?

We're already scared? Worry not because we got this. There is always a way to do it right. It might not be more like a set standard of rules or such a similar thing but we have to know that we can still do safe kayaking without even knowing how to swim.

Let's Learn

It doesn't naturally sound good or right but believe me it's most right if you master the specific skills. A kayak lesson can be of the greatest benefit to the non-swimmer. We have to learn the basics of what makes kayaking a thrilling experience.

Through the time of learning, we get to know a lot of things that will help so much in the real-time experience. Since we are non swimmers trying to learn kayaking without learning how to swim, the best lesson we can take here is what we call the wet exit.

With our coach, we can practice on it for real-time experience with the water, several times and get to have pure courage if doing it on our own.

It may all seem vague and a little impractical for a moment but it is never the same when we do a lot of practice. What I am basically suggesting is that we should go learn and practice. One day we'll do it with a lot of energy and do it perfectly right as though we were real swimmers. So, what do you think? Is it still that difficult to try? Okay, is kayaking safe for non swimmers?

Have a PFD

It's all about getting to know how to float, preferably with the help of someone. The main tool we need now is a personal floatation device that we call the life jacket. It is important to have it as we learn to float on the kayak and do the wet exit.

All these trucks involve the composure we have to remain afloat. It might however be so tough for us to remain afloat without having one of these devices. Having one us is in fact a step to safety and that is really important.

Is Kayaking Safe for Non Swimmers - Conclusion

The main advice that anyone who's willing to help us learn this can ever give us is that if we're ever afraid of the waters we should not think of kayaking more often. However, get it right that we can kayak without knowing how to swim. Learning a few major tricks that involve both skill and safety tips is all we need.

Now, if someone were to ask the same question again, is kayaking safe for non swimmers? The best thing we can give for an answer when it comes to that is that kayaking is perfectly safe for a non-swimmer who learns and keeps practicing all the time. In the end, it turns out to be easy to do with the heavy skill acquired.

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Best Time to Buy a TentFor nature lovers, the idea of a camping trip is exciting. If you are planning an escape from the everyday monotony, you will have to invest in a camping tent. And if you are on a tight budget and looking for a discount, you might wonder: what is the best time to buy a tent? Read on to learn.

Learn About Clearance Sales

Tents go on clearance around late fall. During this time, stores offer large discounts on outdoor gear. They do it to replace the old items with the new season’s products. Camping gear is like fashion items. They get fancier every year.

All stores are not the same. But you will definitely find stores that offer discounts on last year’s products. Manufacturers know that camping gear is highly in demand during the camping season. Therefore, they do not reduce the prices when the products are highly in demand.

When looking for discounts, there is another thing to consider. You might find a good deal on special days such as the fourth of July, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Big discounts are also offered during the winter holidays.

How Many Discounts Can You Expect?

Discounts depend on brands and stores. When stores offer discounts on lower quality tents, you might assume that the stores are just showing a reason to purchase new products. Popular and higher-end brands rarely offer big discounts.

When Do Top Brands Offer Discounts?

If you look at the brands that regularly offer discounts on their products, you will notice that these are not usually the top brands. Top brands such as Marmot, Patagonia, and The North Face have strategies for preventing retailers from offering discounts on their products.

Things to Consider When Buying a Tent

You know the best time to buy a tent, and you will probably get a big discount. But the price is not the only thing to consider when buying a tent. What about the quality of the product you are going to invest in? Just because you are buying a tent at a big discount doesn't mean that you have to buy the worst tent in the market.

First, consider the size of the tent. Do not think that four people can comfortably sleep in a four-person tent. In fact, in a four-person tent, only two people can comfortably sleep. So, choose a tent that is a bit larger than you need.

You are going to need some extra space in your tent if the weather is poor. Remember, when it comes to choosing a tent, size matters.

Also, buy a tent that is easy to use. Do not end up investing in one that takes a lot of time and a small army to set up. After arriving at your campsite, you do not want to waste your time trying to set up your tent. If you want to get rid of the hassle altogether, consider buying a freestanding tent.

Be careful when reading online reviews. Do not watch manufacturer videos because they mostly focus on the good features. Read independent reviews. You will learn what other users think about the tent.

The tent’s ventilation is another important thing to consider. If the ventilation is poor, you will wake up in the morning and find everything damp. It can be a horrendous experience. Even if the tent has vents, make sure they are well-placed.

Best Time to Buy a Tent - Conclusion

Late fall or early winter is the best time to buy a tent. However, it is not easy to say when the best time is. Before you invest in camping gear or any other expensive item, it is a good idea to visit a few stores and look at a few websites. It will help you make an informed decision.

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How to Keep Tent Dry in RainWhen you and your family want to go on a camping trip, it’s a good feeling when you know that there would be clear skies and the nights and days will be calm and mild, but also bear in mind that the rain might fall down unexpectedly. Therefore you have to know how to keep tent dry in rain before you go out there for camping.

You don’t want a wet sleeping mattress or bag, wet gear, or a family tent. As I also have been in this situation, I learned a few tricks to keep my tent as dry as possible during the camping time. It is very easy to prepare and keep yourself ready for the rain and to salvage this situation there are a lot of options to consider when you are faced with the same situation as I did.

The truth is that during your camping duration it is very possible for you to keep dry and nice together with your tent and luggage.

How to Ensure That Your Camping Gear and Tent Are Dry While in Rain

Down below are some of the options that you might consider when knowing how to keep tent dry in rain.

How to keep tent dry in rain - waterproof tent

It’s highly advisable that you check the threading of the tent's waterproof abilities before purchasing the tent. Hydrostatic heads are used by the tent manufacturers to look for the resistant abilities of a tent. Higher hydrostatic heads are highly waterproof than the lower numbers.

Please consider what you require before going to buy the lowest number. The two to three season family tents have a hydrostatics head of about 1000to 1600. This means and is interpreted that it can withhold 1000 to 1600 milliliters of rain before leakage.

In certain areas around the globe, this will be more than enough to endure if your tent is dry during the rain. In case you are in for heavy rain, then it is highly advisable that you purchase a three to four-season family tent with a hydrostatic head of 3000 and above.

You should be aware that the only factor that gives the tent its waterproof abilities is the Hydrostatic headcount. Seams, general manufacturing, and stitching also contributed a great deal in keeping the tent dry.

Add a bag particularly a bivvy one’s

A bivy sack or bag can be very useful especially when you are alone camping. If you are on your own, a bivy sack or bag is a must so as to ensure that you are dry and warm during rainstorms.

Bivvy bags can be similar to sleeping bags as they have a similar level of defense and protection which includes a lighter nylon breathable ripstop fabric and a nylon coated waterproof shell. You can also put it under a sleeping bag for extra protection and to keep you dry and warm.

Staying dry and safe and enjoying the camping experience

There is nothing that sounds so good as spending your time outdoors. Even though it rains, you can still go on with your activities normally as you have learned how to keep tent dry in rain. In fact, rain can contribute to the element of smoothness and adventure in your comping journey.

Staying dry is not a hard thing as long as you follow our advice on then there is no way you won’t enjoy your camping experience.

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Is Kayaking Dangerous?Kayaking is an exciting and fun water sport that can be enjoyed by all ages, ranging from the youngest to the eldest. All you need to do is master the basics and have little experience to paddle solely. Is Kayaking dangerous?

Yes, just like any other sporting activity, kayaking is also prone to its own dangers which every paddler should get to know and learn how to handle every situation. Furthermore, kayaking has higher danger levels than other sports since it is done on water surfaces.

Therefore, go for the basics and make sure you are fully prepared before you carry your paddler and kayak down to the lake.

Various Paddling Activities

Depending on your geographical location, you'll have variant paddling activities at your exposure compared to another individual at a different location. You can go paddling down the river, in the ocean, or decide to participate in a sea kayaking competition. These competitions have made kayak enthusiasts concentrate on investment in their equipment since everyone wants to get better day by day. Prepare well and look for kayak and canoeing parks to improve your skills anytime at cost-effective fees.

Types of Kayaking Injuries

• Hypothermia

Your kayak may capsize and you will be deep in cold water within a split of a second. Hypothermia is the rapid drop of one's core temperature due to exposure to low temperatures especially if it's in contact with cold water.

Consider wearing a dry suit to make sure the water doesn't come into contact with your core. Over the past years, many people have kept on asking 'why is kayaking dangerous? especially when done on deepwater body surfaces.

Avoid paddling on deep waters during the cold season for safety measures. Keep it close to the shore and make sure you are properly geared. You can even carry an extra set of clothing to curb any uprising emergencies as you kayak.

• Shoulder sprain

Due to the muscular power required to make the strokes efficient enough to sail forward, one can get a shoulder strain out of too much stress on your shoulders. This happens especially if one is not doing the strokes correctly due to poor basics. Get to learn and master the basics well to avoid this kind of injury.

• Dehydration and sunburns

Since this activity is carried out outside, it can expose you to varying weather conditions and a sunny day is one of them. Paddling during a sunny day or during the summer season can bring in sunburns and enhance body dehydration due to extreme exposure to the sun.

Wear a cap or hat to prevent getting sunburns on your face when enjoying your afternoons. However, always remember to have your helmet on especially if you’re having your first experiences in kayaking.

• Wrist joint injuries

This can be brought about by the regular and recurrent wrist movement when paddling through the waters. Kayaking for a long time without getting to take any rest can lead to fatigue on your wrist joints or strain. Remember to take a break and rest for a few minutes so that you can continue having the fun as soon as you are refreshed.

Is Kayaking Dangerous - Conclusion

Lastly, remember to at least let someone know that you’re going out kayaking for safety measures. Is kayaking dangerous? I believe you have your answer already. Make sure all safety measures are taken including having the correct equipment.

Don’t go out paddling on your own unless you’re a good swimmer. Have an enjoyable time kayaking with your friends, what a sport!

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Tips for Camping In a Tent

Tent camping is an amazing way to break the everyday monotony and reconnect with Mother Nature. However, to make your camping trip comfortable, you need some preparation. Packing the right gear is important, but there are many other things to consider. Here are some tips for camping in a gear such as an inflatable tent.

Learn How to Set Up the Tent

Setting up a tent may look easy, but in fact, it is not. It is something you have to learn. Testing out your camping skills at the last moment is not a good idea at all. Master this skill before you go out in the woods.

What about practicing it in your living room? This way you will learn what goes where in the comfort of your home. And when you are out in the woods, you will not have to waste your time trying to figure out how it works.

Choose Your Campsite Early On

You will feel overwhelmed when there are only a few minutes of sunlight left and you have not yet picked up your campsite. To avoid this issue, make sure you choose your campsite ahead of time.

If there are authorities, talk to them. They may help you choose a good place for setting up your tent. They may also be able to provide you with some amenities.

In some places, reservation is allowed even before you leave your home. If you can do it, you will save a lot of time.

Prepare Campfire-friendly Meals

Even if you follow just a few tips for camping in a tent, take this tip seriously. Having access to a kitchen is not a precondition for having good food. Yes, you can enjoy good food when you are camping. Planning is the key.

Prepare some meals that can be cooked over the campfire. Pack the meals in plastic bags. This method will save you time because you will be able to cook your meals in just a few minutes. Do some research online and you will find plenty of camping recipes.

Bring Extra Padding

Do what it takes to make your stay in the tent comfortable. A good sleeping pad or inflatable mattress is critical for warmth and comfort. After a day of hiking, you will sleep on your pad like a baby. There is camping gear specially designed for tent camping.

Locate Your Toilet

Note that it’s one of the most useful tips for camping in a tent. Locate your nearest toilet before you go to bed. If there is no toilet nearby, designate a place beforehand so that you do not have to look for the place at the last moment. Have a head torch handy. It will help you walk in the dark.

Stay Up Late

After the day’s activities, you will be pleasantly exhausted. Do not go to sleep just after the sun disappears. If you go to sleep early, you will just lie there and do nothing. Sit under the open sky. Observe nature. Go to sleep when you actually feel sleepy.

Get the Dirt Out

Yes, your shoes will get dirty. To keep the floor clean, avoid dragging those dirty shoes around the tent. A dirty bed can cause a lot of discomforts. Assign a place for keeping your shoes. Put off your shoes when you enter your tent.

Blackout Materials

To make your tent darker, you can use a blackout product. Some blackout materials are specially designed for tents. They are usually black, and therefore capable of absorbing sunlight. As a result, your tent remains dark. Blackout materials are really useful for tents that are brightly colored.

Stay Safe

On a camping trip, safety is of utmost importance. Make sure you bring along personal medications, sunscreen, creams for blisters, and of course a first-aid kit. Depending on where you are camping, take appropriate safety measures. Hopefully, you will be safe if you follow all other tips for camping in a tent.