Buy from a Hiking or Camping Store

Buying hiking boots is one of those times when it’s best to buy from an expert on the subject. If you’ve never purchased boots before, a professional fitter will help determine which pair is best for your feet. If you have wide feet, fallen arches or any other condition that requires special shoes, you’ll need to find hiking boots that accommodate these needs. A professional salesperson who has an extensive knowledge about the different styles of hiking boots available will be able to find the best fit for your needs.

Think Support

When you try on a pair of hiking boots, the first thing you should look for is good support in both the arch and the ankle. The arch of the boot should feel comfortable, but not too high. While you can expect the arch to settle slightly with use, an insole that feels uncomfortably high is unlikely to give enough to fit correctly. In addition, the upper portion of the boot should feel snug around the ankle, but not so tight that it will chafe with regular use. The upper boot will help to protect the ankle from rolling or twisting while hiking, but again, don’t expect it to give too much if it feels uncomfortable on your first fitting.

Examine the Construction

As with regular shoes, the way hiking boots are constructed will vary. Some boots are attached to their soles with glue only, while others are supplemented with stitching. Once you’ve narrowed down your selection of hiking boots, closely examine the construction of each of your finalists. Is the sole made out of a durable material? Is the boot made out of high quality leather, or does it feel cheap to the touch? Does the tongue appear to be connected firmly to the boot? If you have any concerns about the construction of the hiking boot, see if there’s another pair that feels better – the last thing you want is for your boot to come apart on your trip!

Consider Cost

Of course, cost shouldn’t be your first consideration – cheap boots are just that, and put your whole vacation in jeopardy. However, expensive hiking boots can easily run as much as $300 or more, so it’s important to find the right fit for both your feet and your budget. The price of the boots is often an indication of the quality of the materials used in their construction, so you’ll need to find a balance between cost and value. Spend as much as you can afford to, without taking out a second mortgage to do so.

Scissors
Safety pins
Tweezers
30+ SPF sunscreen
Insect repellent
Insect bite lotion (Stingose or calamine lotion)
Pain relief tablets
Antihistamine tablets

Most camping stores sell pre-packed first aid kits that contain all of these items, although you may need to supplement it with additional items. It’s also a good idea to include an extra supply of any prescription medications you take in your first aid kit.
But a first aid kit alone won’t treat your maladies. Print out the following tips and carry a copy in your first aid kit so that you’ll know how to cope with any incidents that occur.

Bee Stings – If you know you’ve been stung by a bee, take the following steps:

1. Scrape the stinger out using a knife edge or fingernail. Don’t squeeze the area, as this will only inject more venom.
2. Apply a cold compress or take antihistamines to reduce pain and swelling.
3. If you experience any allergic reaction with bee stings, including rash, hives or swelling of the tongue or throat, seek medical attention immediately.

Ticks – Ticks are nasty, blood-sucking nuisances that live in the woods and fields of campgrounds, and that can carry Lyme Disease and other bugs. Treat tick bites with the following steps:

1. Spray the tick with tick repellent spray or dab with kerosene.
2. Using tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards, removing as much of the tick as possible.
3. Treat the bite area with antiseptic and cover with a bandage.
4. Save the tick – if you experience any unusual rashes or symptoms in the following days, seek medical attention and have the tick tested.

Scrapes and Scratches – There are numerous opportunities for scrapes and scratches on the campground. If you find yourself affected, take the following steps:

1. If you notice bleeding, wash the injury and remove any debris.
2. Cover with a clean bandage and apply pressure to the area.
3. If the bleeding stops quickly, cover the wound with antiseptic cream and a clean bandage.
4. If the bleeding does not stop, apply additional bandages on top of the original, maintain pressure and elevate the affected area above the heart. Seek medical attention if the bleeding is severe.

Dehydration – Spending all day in the sun can quickly lead to dehydration if you aren’t careful. If you feel excessively thirsty or nauseous, or if your skin looks pale and clammy, take the following steps:

1. Rest in the shade or in a cool place
2. Remove any unnecessary clothing
3. Drink cool water

If symptoms don’t go away, or if you begin to sweat profusely, feel headachy or confused, seek medical attention – you may have more serious heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

When you’re packing up for your big camping trip, the last thing you want to do is to weigh down your car with all the extra pots, pans and kitchen utensils you’ll need to prepare your favorite meals over the camp stove.  You also need to pack sensibly when it comes to perishable foods – nothing will ruin your camping trip quite as quickly as spoiled meat or potato salad.  If you’re stuck on what to pack for your camping trip, read on for more tips on easy-to-prepare campsite meals.

Breakfast

Check your local grocery store for pre-mixed pancake batter.  In most cases, all you’ll need to do is add a certain amount of water to the package, shake to mix and pour onto a fry pan on your camp stove.  To round out the meal, pack a few eggs and some strips of bacon.  Cook the pancakes first, then the bacon and then the eggs – they’ll pick up a nice outdoorsy flavor from leftover bacon grease in the pan.  Just be sure to eat this meal within the first day or two of arriving at your campsite so that the eggs and bacon will still be fresh.  After the fresh stuff is gone, cereal and toast (check your sporting goods store for a camp stove toaster) can get you through the rest of your trip.

Lunch

Lunchmeat and deli cheese make great lunch sandwiches for the first day or two you’re at your campsite, but if you’re going to be around for longer, you’ll want to pack some non-perishable items as well.  If sandwiches are your thing, consider peanut butter and jelly or grilled cheese – their ingredients will keep longer in your cooler.  You can also try things like canned spaghetti or soups that heat up well in only one pot.  Be sure to pack plenty of goodies – like cookies, crackers and other snacks that will help round out your meals and keep hungry kids going until mealtime.

Dinner

When you’re making dinner at your campsite, you have a couple different options.  For an authentic camping experience, consider roasting hotdogs on sticks over the fire.  Just be sure to purchase pre-cooked hotdogs – there’s no guarantee that an over-excited 8-year-old will evenly roast a hotdog to an internal temperature of 160o!  If you have a Dutch oven or tripod for hanging pots over the fire, you can also experiment with stews (either canned or pre-mixed from home) or by cooking baked potatoes in the fire. 
If you’re working with a camp stove, you’re options are only limited to what food products you can bring with you or purchase from a local store.  With a single fry pan and sauce pot, you can cook up dinners as complicated as ham steaks and rice pilaf or as simple as canned ravioli and green beans.  You can also ask at the campground check-in station for directions to the nearest pizza place. If it’s nearby, you may be surprised to find out that they’ll deliver directly to the campground.

Above all, when you’re planning meals for your upcoming camping trip, think food safety first.  Meat products and any salads should be eaten within a day or two, since the temperature of your cooler isn’t as stable as your refrigerator at home.  Milk, cheese, eggs and condiments have a slightly longer shelf life, provided you ice down the cooler regularly and make sure that the items are as buried in the cooler as possible.

Camping can be a lot of fun for younger children – however, you’ll need to prepare differently than you would for a camping trip with your buddies. If you’re thinking about taking your children on their first camping trip, read on for more helpful tips on camping with young kids:

Start with Short Trips

Even if you pride yourself on the month long wilderness adventure you recently took, it’s best to start young children on shorter camping trips – no more than two to three days at a time.  Camping trips – as fun as they may be – are stressful on young children, who aren’t yet used to being out of their comfort zone for an extended period of time.  Young children may feel uncomfortable when they’re away from their usual routines, even if you believe the natural world is infinitely more fascinating than the host of television programs and video games that seem to constitute a normal day in your house.  Start small, and when your children start begging to stay longer, go ahead and up the length of your trip.

Plan Your Days Wisely

However, don’t think that you need to pack more activities into these few days, just because you’re taking a shorter trip.  Camping should be a relaxing activity for you and your children – and you won’t achieve that if you plan something for every moment of every day.  All those fabulous attractions and learning opportunities will still be there next year, but if you try to shuttle your children back and forth to all of them over the span of a weekend, you’ll end up with some cranky children – at best.  Instead, shoot for one or two attractions a day, and be sure to leave plenty of time for bumming around the beach.

Look for Campgrounds with Family Amenities

Campgrounds vary widely in the amenities they have on site for families with young children.  While most have at least a playground for younger visitors, some campgrounds also feature waterfront access, picnic facilities and sports fields.  Some campgrounds even host special programming for children.  These programs are typically free to campground guests, and may include everything from identifying local plants and wildlife to junior ranger programs that teach children outdoors skills.