Innovative Food and Camping Gear

When I was a kid, I loved camping. As soon as the weather turned warm my family would load up the car with gear and head off to the woods. Camping was a tradition for my family and it was something we did every year until I was a teenager. It was fun and we had some good times. As I grow up, I still enjoy camping but it's not the same as when I was a kid.

Now if I sleep on the ground I wake with aches and pains, and I am no longer thrilled by getting to eat hot dogs cooked over an open fire. When I wake in the morning I want to feel refreshed and I'd also like one cup of fresh coffee. For dinner I want hot meals that actually taste good. Thankfully there are lots of camping supply stores and new products available everyday. From traditional GORP to outdoor kitchens, there is a range of products to choose from that will make camping much more enjoyable. The great outdoors is a wonderful place and the best thing to do while in it, is enjoy it. Here are some suggestions on great new products you should try the next time you or your family goes on a camping adventure. Hunters and fishermen will also love these as they come in handy for lots of people.

Who Says You Have to Sleep on the Ground?
First, when setting up camp which is usually the first thing you do upon arrival, you of course decide how to sleep. When I was a kid it didn't matter if I slept on the ground with a sleeping bag and a tent, but now I need something better. In the past I tried blow up mattresses but after a couple of uses they tend to go flat. After buying two of these air beds I decided it was a waste of money and hastily gave up the idea. It was then I decided to go with a cot, military style. Who else would have the perfect cot for sleeping in the woods? Military style cots are lightweight and easy to carry; they are built to be carried by soldiers after all. Check your local military supply store for cots. If you can't find one there, try a camping supply store, or buy online. A good cot should be small, lightweight, and sturdy when opened flat.

Now that you've settled your sleeping arrangements you'll have plenty of time to kick back and enjoy the scenery. Hiking is a good way to see the area you're visiting. If you're unfamiliar with the trails make sure you follow a guided tour or use a map and compass. Before heading out for a hike, be sure to ask which trails are best and which to avoid. Some trails are not for the casual hiker and require a good amount of endurance. If you have health conditions stay close to the bottom of the hills or mountains where walking is easier.

Sweets and Treats
Dried fruits and vegetables, nuts, and even chocolate are great snacks for the camper or hiker. Dried or dehydrated fruits and vegetables are very easy to buy and easy to carry. They aren't messy and they don't attract bugs like fresh fruit. Of course, nuts are great for the same reasons and they go great with dried fruit. Backpackers Chocolate can be bought and brought just about anywhere. Backpackers Chocolate is wrapped in brightly colored, thick wax that protects it from melting and making a mess, so go ahead and have those s'mores. Backpackers Chocolate is also melt proof because the recipe is more like fudge.

Gourmet Meals Made Easy
A company called Mountain House is making eating home style in the woods easy. Mountain House has actually been around since the 1960s and is a longtime favorite of campers and hikers. They offer all kinds of foods from fruits and vegetables, to breakfasts, chicken dinner, beef stew, spaghetti and meatballs, and desserts too. The meals come in pouches of varying sizes and all you have to do is add boiling water.

Mountain House foods can be bought at most major sport supply retailers. Local camping supply stores may also carry the Mountain House brand. The food packs are super light, easy to pack and there is no mess to clean up. That means you can take a lot of food with you, minus the weight of conventional food. You can find these meals at Dick's, Sports Authority, and Wal-Mart.

Outdoor Kitchens and Baths
With the help of a pressurized water system you can take a quick shower or wash dishes. For as little as $150 you can buy an outdoor kitchen set up complete with cutting boards, storage space, drying racks, and countertops. GSI Outdoors sells an outdoor kitchen that is lightweight and easy to set up anywhere. The outdoor kitchen has a double sink and many of the pieces have dual uses which is great for the camper, hunter, and fisher.

GSI Outdoors also sells shower accessories that can come in handy when you're far out in the woods. From privacy curtains, pressurized pumps, and foldable cedar shower decks GSI Outdoors has a lot to choose from. Of course, a lot of this kind of stuff can be found in just about any camping supply store. When it comes to outdoor kitchens and baths it really pays to spend a little time and money on what you buy.

If you really want to be comfortable while camping you have to bring comfort with you. Eliminate excess clutter and stuff you don't need. You're camping after all, do you really need more than one pair of shoes, or make up, or cologne? Not really. Scale down the things you do bring with you. Whatever it is should be collapsible, foldable, or stackable; not to mention lightweight.