When to start

Seven · 02-08-2011, 01:13 PM

When do you start getting all your camping gear together? I like to have mine packed at all times spring-fall, as I have them in a couple plastic totes with lids. I usually air out things and get sleeping bags and blankets out the first week of May.

Lorax · 02-09-2011, 04:10 AM

My gear stays in use all year long, whether it's 85 and sunny or 4 feet of snowpack.

GPER · 02-09-2011, 04:17 PM

All i have to do is pack a cooler and toss the stuff on the trailer.

Trabitha · 02-09-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seven

When do you start getting all your camping gear together? I like to have mine packed at all times spring-fall, as I have them in a couple plastic totes with lids. I usually air out things and get sleeping bags and blankets out the first week of May.

Ditto, although we will be getting things cleaned up and aired out earlier, as our first hike/camping trip will be earlier this year.

IndianaHiker · 02-09-2011, 10:23 PM

One thing to keep in mind is that some gear shouldn't be kept packed. Sleeping bags come to mind as they shouldn't be stored in any manner that compresses them. This can result in the bag losing loft and will not be as warm. If you use any sleeping mats that have insulation these also should be stored flat and not folded. I know most of this stuff applies to backpacking but geed to remember not to use a stuff sack for storage of sleeping bag.

IndianaHiker · 02-09-2011, 10:24 PM

Just remember not to store sleeping bags in a stuff sack. These need to not be compressed for a long period of time. Will result in lost of loft and a colder bag.

ejdixon · 09-29-2011, 02:52 AM

I do my airing and replenishing of camping supplies once March rolls in. That's the start of camping season for me.

Michael · 09-29-2011, 09:44 AM

The stuff that doesn't have to worry about compression (tarp, saw, etc) lives in my pack all the time. The stuff that does have to worry about compression (sleeping bag, etc) lives outside of my pack unless I'm using it. Some stuff (Swiss Army knife, bug spray, etc) migrates between my camping pack and my hiking pack as necessary, but is almost always packed in one or the other.

Everything gets put into its proper configuration either the night before or the morning of a camping trip.

Ready · 10-02-2011, 11:35 AM

Am I the only one who does not air out my tent before taking it out? I just toss it in the car and it gets aired out plenty when we set it up!

As for the rest of our gear, we just keep it all in the same spot except the sleepingbags which I always have to chase down a few days before we leave.

Geezer · 10-09-2011, 11:02 AM

I used to keep my gear all together in the basement but I lost a lot of it due to flooding. Now I keep it in a storage closet in the house. It doesn't take up much space and it's always together in one place.