When the weather turns fine, the hearts of millions of families, individuals and groups turn to camping whether it is for a long vacation or just a few days break. The need therefore arises for these people to begin thinking about where to buy camping gear and supplies. If you are a devoted camper, then you will in all probability already have most of your camping gear, but everyone needs to stock up on supplies before they actually depart.

Luckily, there is no shortage of suppliers of camping gear and supplies and with the Internet as well, you will never be short of somewhere to buy camping gear and supplies. However, before you hurry to get your wallet out, you first have to work out what you require. It is often useful to split the stuff you need to go camping into two separate types.

First there is camping gear or equipment. which includes thing like the tent, sleeping bags, rucksacks and tools and then there are the supplies, by which is meant foodstuffs, toiletries, matches et cetera.

The first type of places to try for buying camping gear and supplies is sport shops, if there is no specialist camping store close to you. Many sports people such as fishermen and hunters take a tent with them when they venture out, so you will find nearly everything you need for camping at these sports shops as well. You are bound to find a hunting and fishing or sports shop close to you or you will find large sports shops on line. The sports section of a large department store is also apt to stock these items.

Department stores may not stock such a wide variety as camping and sports shops, but you will often find that the prices are lower. Be wary of the quality though. Equipment bought from a sports shop will normally be robust and of high quality, whereas gear from a department store may be for children to use in the garden. It is better to do some research on line for respectable brands and then go to see what is available locally.

Army and navy surplus stores often offer high quality, military grade camping equipment. After all, if people trust their lives to this kit in battle, it must be good enough for you to go away for a week or two camping, must it not? As long as you like camouflage colours, that is.

No happy greens, yellows, reds and blues in the army and navy surplus stores though. Still, they are excellent if you want to study nature or go fishing. They will also have the correct tools too, like collapsible spades and camping stoves.

You could break camping supplies up into two parts too really: luxuries and essentials. The luxuries, such as Coco Pops, beer and the like are far cheaper in the supermarkets. Try to buy the dried varieties of anything you take, like dried milk and instant coffee, especially if you are hiking a long way.

The necessities can be bought in the supermarket too, but you may find some interesting food products in the army and navy stores as well. There might be soldiers’ ration packs and instant fire lighters. These are serious products intended for soldiers on active service, but you may like to try them out for amusement and experience.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many topics, but is presently concerned with Poconos camping. If you are interested in a rental in the Poconos Mountains, please go to our website at Poconos Vacations

Do you like camping out in the winter? Have you ever tried camping in the Pocono Mountains with your tent on your back? Well, one thing is for certain, it is not a family type of holiday! It is definitely an extreme sport for the hardened outdoor type. Whether you go traipsing through the snow on skis langlaufen style, use huskies and a sled or go by snowmobile, it is still an arduous enterprise. Problems from the cold such as frost bite and hypothermia are very real dangers.

Vacations such as these must definitely not be undertaken lightly. The days in the Pocono Mountains during the winter are cold enough, but at night the temperature just plummets. If you have never had such a holiday before, then you are not ready to take one on your own now. You will have to have specialized knowledge either from the military or from other such institution.

Planning and research are the two most important aspects. You will have to be conscious at all times of where the nearest help centres are. Places such as mountain rescue, hospitals, towns, shops, garages and first aid centres. You should also be conscious of the weather conditions and future weather predictions.

Staying overnight on such an arduous trip only increases the chances of encountering danger. Besides the cold there are wolves and bears. Wolves are not normally dangerous unless they are famished, but bears can be a problem. You will have to know how to maintain a clean camping site so as not to attract wild animals, but you will also have to know what to do if they do come poking about.

Thermal clothing are essential for any winter activity like snowmobiling and they are even more essential if you are going to sleep outdoors overnight. If you stay outdoors overnight you will also need a very warm sleeping bag. You will also need to take account of how long you will stay away and what provisions you will need to endure the length of time of your holiday. You will obviously need to eat, so suitable, nutritious food will have to be taken with you, unless you intend travelling from town to town.

Water will not be a problem with the snow available which is very handy for re-hydrating dried foods such as packet soups and drinking chocolate, both of which are very warming after travelling all day in sub-zero temperatures.

Fuel will be a major concern for your snowmobile, but if you plan your journey carefully, you will be able to pick up a few containers of petrol every day. In this manner, ten to fifteen gallons should be enough to see you through every day.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with Poconos camping. If you are interested in a rental in the Poconos Mountains, please go to our website at Poconos Vacations