Petey
I am going camping north of Bakersfield, CA on March 18-20 and at night it will be around 35 degrees. We would have a tent and campfire for warmth, but we went there once at a similar time and wasn't prepared enough for it.
What can I buy that is cheap (under $10 preferably) that will insulate me well, I don't want to wear 10 shirts and 3 pants and not be able to be comfortable.
I thought about Under Armour, well I do have Nike compression shirts that, in my theory, would help insulate the heat but I'm not positive.
Any help is appreciated, Thanks!
Answer
It's important to dress in layers so you can add/remove layers to manage heat and moisture. While it's obvious that not enough insulation will leave you cold, too much will cause you to sweat, the sweat will make your clothing damp, and damp clothing has less insulating properties (wet cotton has no insulating properties, which is why wool or synthetic materials are preferred). Also, as the sweat evaporates off your skin it will lower your skin temperature.
For moisture management, the innermost layer (underwear) should be synthetic, if at all possible, to help transfer moisture away from your skin. Under Amour is a popular brand that can often be found discounted at sporting goods stores, though under $10 will be tough to find. Synthetic sock liners will help your feet stay dry.
Next would come a base insulating layer. Wool is warm and comfortable, and is good for moisture management. Polypropylene is also good, though not as comfortable as wool, but is less expensive. You can find a set of Polypro long johns and long shirt for around $12-20 at Walmart. As for socks, find thick wool hiking socks. Costco often has wool hiking socks at around $10 for 4 pairs. A base layer is not very thick but adds a lot of insulation value. If you don't mind the smell (Polypro tends to get funky smelling after a short while), one set can last a week.
On top of this goes your normal pants and shirt. But avoid cotton if possible, because once wet it's useless for insulation and takes a long time to dry.
For outer layer I've been pleasantly surprised with the $15 "Starter" brand polar fleece jacket I got the beginning of the season from Walmart. I've used this with no outer shell in temperatures down to 15*F, and with a lightweight nylon jacket down to 8*F. Similar jackets from Mountain Hardwear, The North Face and other brand names cost over $100. The only negative is the zipper easily catches the inner wind flap, but I've learned to deal with it. It is also not waterproof, so adding a water repellent wind breaker or even a rain jacket is needed in wet and snowy weather, at around $30-$60 if you don't already have one.
Also a good buy at Walmart is the "Starter" Stay-Dry nylon pants with lining. These aren't water repellent, but dry quickly and don't trap moisture. However, I've sprayed mine with Scotchguard Outdoor Water/Stain Repellent and it makes them usable in the snow and light rain.
It's important to dress in layers so you can add/remove layers to manage heat and moisture. While it's obvious that not enough insulation will leave you cold, too much will cause you to sweat, the sweat will make your clothing damp, and damp clothing has less insulating properties (wet cotton has no insulating properties, which is why wool or synthetic materials are preferred). Also, as the sweat evaporates off your skin it will lower your skin temperature.
For moisture management, the innermost layer (underwear) should be synthetic, if at all possible, to help transfer moisture away from your skin. Under Amour is a popular brand that can often be found discounted at sporting goods stores, though under $10 will be tough to find. Synthetic sock liners will help your feet stay dry.
Next would come a base insulating layer. Wool is warm and comfortable, and is good for moisture management. Polypropylene is also good, though not as comfortable as wool, but is less expensive. You can find a set of Polypro long johns and long shirt for around $12-20 at Walmart. As for socks, find thick wool hiking socks. Costco often has wool hiking socks at around $10 for 4 pairs. A base layer is not very thick but adds a lot of insulation value. If you don't mind the smell (Polypro tends to get funky smelling after a short while), one set can last a week.
On top of this goes your normal pants and shirt. But avoid cotton if possible, because once wet it's useless for insulation and takes a long time to dry.
For outer layer I've been pleasantly surprised with the $15 "Starter" brand polar fleece jacket I got the beginning of the season from Walmart. I've used this with no outer shell in temperatures down to 15*F, and with a lightweight nylon jacket down to 8*F. Similar jackets from Mountain Hardwear, The North Face and other brand names cost over $100. The only negative is the zipper easily catches the inner wind flap, but I've learned to deal with it. It is also not waterproof, so adding a water repellent wind breaker or even a rain jacket is needed in wet and snowy weather, at around $30-$60 if you don't already have one.
Also a good buy at Walmart is the "Starter" Stay-Dry nylon pants with lining. These aren't water repellent, but dry quickly and don't trap moisture. However, I've sprayed mine with Scotchguard Outdoor Water/Stain Repellent and it makes them usable in the snow and light rain.
Please recommend an 8 or 10 person family tent for us?
Q. Can anyone recommend a tent that would be big enough for me, my wife , and 3 children? My youngest will be sleeping in a pack and play.
Would like a bathtub floor, good ventilation. A canopy over the front door would be a great bonus. I like the idea of divided rooms.
We are not camping anywhere very cold.. but would need something that will stand up to rain.
We are considering a family camping tent a friend is using.
Would like a bathtub floor, good ventilation. A canopy over the front door would be a great bonus. I like the idea of divided rooms.
We are not camping anywhere very cold.. but would need something that will stand up to rain.
We are considering a family camping tent a friend is using.
Answer
Your best bet is a 6-man and a 4-man, with the two oldest in the 4. Consider one quality tent (REI? Sierra Designs? Big Agnes?) and one cheapie (Eureka Tetragon 8?) and upgrade later. Anything over 6 is difficult to set up, is bigger than most ideal spaces (10X10) at the campsite, usually is under-engineered with poles too thin for the amount of "canvas" they're holding up, have too thin a denier of fabric, large to transport and possibly compromised with steel poles, lack full-coverage rainflys, have screen porches you will almost never use, etc. Those huge tents are great for long-term or seasonal setups but are a real PIA for typical 3-day weekend camping. The advice above regarding Costco Coleman tents is good advice, while they are the bottom-rung in quality, the low Big Box price makes parting less difficult and at least you're out there gaining experience.
Your best bet is a 6-man and a 4-man, with the two oldest in the 4. Consider one quality tent (REI? Sierra Designs? Big Agnes?) and one cheapie (Eureka Tetragon 8?) and upgrade later. Anything over 6 is difficult to set up, is bigger than most ideal spaces (10X10) at the campsite, usually is under-engineered with poles too thin for the amount of "canvas" they're holding up, have too thin a denier of fabric, large to transport and possibly compromised with steel poles, lack full-coverage rainflys, have screen porches you will almost never use, etc. Those huge tents are great for long-term or seasonal setups but are a real PIA for typical 3-day weekend camping. The advice above regarding Costco Coleman tents is good advice, while they are the bottom-rung in quality, the low Big Box price makes parting less difficult and at least you're out there gaining experience.
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