Tarps - the lightweight tent alternative
Admittedly, a tarp is not the right tent for a family vacation, but it is still worth having this tarpaulin with you. A tarp can be many things and is incredibly versatile . Essentially, it is a light tarpaulin with eyelets, although there are also variants with provisions for poles. The usage is almost self-explanatory. Tarps are stretched on the eyelets - or with the help of the poles - and now serve as an all-round open roof. Or they are mounted on a slope so that there is at least contact with the ground on one side. Not stretched, but laid out, they offer a great and stable base to sit on the floor. And why should families also use this equipment? For this reason:
- Additional playground – when camping there is not much space in the caravan and tent. Tarps are ideal so that the children have a protected place even when the sun is shining or the weather is bad.
- Humidity – many campers use a tent that is open at the bottom. They are practical, but if it rains and the ground becomes soft, there will soon be mud in the tent. Now the tarp can be laid out on the ground.
- Play tarp – until the ground outside has dried, the tarp can easily be attached to the ground and the children can play on a dry surface.
For light travelers and those who would like to sleep in nature, tarps are the ideal option to provide a certain level of protection. They can be easily attached to branches and now offer wind and rain protection.
Cooler bags – a must
It doesn't matter whether a family is traveling or whether friends want to spend a weekend in nature. Cool bags or cool boxes simply cannot be missing from camping equipment. Because, hand on heart: Neither non-alcoholic drinks nor beer taste good when they are warm. There are variants of the cool box:
- Manual cooling – everyone knows this variant. Ice packs that have previously been frozen in the ice compartment are placed in the cool box. By the way, good models can keep you cool for a day this way, depending on the outside temperature.
- Automatic cooling – this variant is recommended for longer trips and is ideal if the car, caravan or even a motorhome is ready anyway. The cool boxes are connected to the cigarette lighter via USB and thus cool continuously.
Cool bags and boxes should really be available in every household, as they can also be practical aids in everyday life. Bread freshly prepared in the morning simply tastes better during your lunch break in midsummer if it's stored in the cooler bag. And since these come in all sizes, they are also available as a break box.
Camping grill
It may sound cliché, but if you take a look around campsites you will realize that this cliché is simply a fact. Grilling is part of camping and we recommend taking a good camping grill with you:
- Variant : It is available in charcoal and gas versions. This depends on personal taste, but the gas variants are generally more sensible and can be used more universally. Since the cartridge can be turned on and off, the grill can be easily switched off and therefore used for a limited time.
- Use: Such a grill, especially if it runs on gas, can be used universally when camping and also conjures up fresh coffee on the table in the morning. Cans of food can also be warmed up on it - interesting for festival campers. Depending on the size, it can even fit two smaller pots so that it can be used for real cooking.
By the way, the gas variant has the advantage that it can usually be used anywhere. Not every campsite allows the use of charcoal grills due to the risk of fire and smoke.
Pocket shower
Even if there is a caravan, the amount of water available is limited without a connection. Anyone traveling with small pop-up tents doesn't even have this water connection. Festival tenters know this all too well. And there is a clean solution for exactly these camping trips: the pocket shower .
- What is that? It is a bag made of dark, sun-sensitive fabric that holds almost ten liters of water. The bag is filled with water and hung in the sun.
- Attachment : The shower can be hung on any more stable branch. It should only hang high enough that you can comfortably stand underneath it.
- Showering : The bag has a closure that can actually be unscrewed to release a real shower jet. The ten liters are enough for a seven-minute shower.
This equipment is perfect for those who want to take a proper shower while camping in nature or at festivals without having to walk long distances to bathhouses or the stream. The bag can be refilled again and again.
Figure 2: Charcoal grills are not allowed on every campsite - you should take a closer look here.
Conclusion - equipment for more fun
Of course, there are the hardliners who would like to camp the way it once was. But why should campers go without a little luxury or great equipment when it simply increases the enjoyment? Hardly anyone will deny the usefulness of a freezer, as it helps to keep food fresh and cool. And tarps are also practical for backpackers and campers alike. The bag shower, on the other hand, is the highlight for festival campers. Admittedly, the water will be cold early in the morning, but this shower will also drive away the last remnants of last night.
Image sources:
- Figure 1: @ Free-Photos (CC0 license) / pixabay.com
- Figure 2: @Taken (CC0 license) / pixabay.com
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