camping backpack types image
Danilo Cam
Hi there. I'm looking to do some camping while on a one week trip through New Mexico. Seems a lot more fun to grab some time under the stars rather than spend each night in a motel.
My question: What's my best bet to comfortably sleep outside while in the southwest in August? I'd prefer to do it without a tent. Do I need a sleeping bag? Sleeping pad? No fear of the outdoors here, just never roughed it quite this thoroughly.
Thanks for your help!
Answer
It does get chilly overnight in NM, even in summer, especially on clear nights. You definitely need a pad to sleep on both to insulate your body and for comfort. If you're on a budget you can get a 24" x 72" "egg-crate" foam pad pretty cheaply -- I've even bought the ones you can use as a mattress topper from a discount store. If you can afford a little more, get a cloth-covered one from a camping store. On-line, CampMor's catalog has good deals. Take a small tarp or old shower curtain to put under it to keep it clean and dry. For a sleeping bag, either get an inexpensive light nylon bag with polyester fill or get one of the inexpensive polar-pile zippered bags AND a travel sheet liner (you can get these at CampMor or in places like Bed, Bath and Beyond.) The advantage of using the travel-sheet and polar-pile bag together is if you get too warm you can fold pack the pile and sleep under the sheet only.
Though it is great to sleep under the stars there is always the possibility of a shower and, more importantly, critters that will want to crawl in that nice warm bag with you (I don't want to scare you, but I woke up once in southern Utah to find a tiny scorpion had crawled in with me -- I was able to shoo him out and neither of us got hurt). I'd recommend getting a mosquito-netting backpacking type tent with a separate rain fly. I have one and it's nice to sleep out with the open sky but the protection of having the netting keeping the insects, ground squirrels and even tumbleweeds from landing on you. And if it starts to rain you can quickly clip on the rainfly. You can even get what's called a "bivy bag" which is a nylon sleeping bag cover that has like a mini tent of bug netting at the end around your head. CampMor has those as well. You could probably get everything you need for under $100. Here are links to examples of what I'm describing:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=7581&memberId=12500226
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39293865&memberId=12500226
Have a great trip -- NM is a beautiful state.
It does get chilly overnight in NM, even in summer, especially on clear nights. You definitely need a pad to sleep on both to insulate your body and for comfort. If you're on a budget you can get a 24" x 72" "egg-crate" foam pad pretty cheaply -- I've even bought the ones you can use as a mattress topper from a discount store. If you can afford a little more, get a cloth-covered one from a camping store. On-line, CampMor's catalog has good deals. Take a small tarp or old shower curtain to put under it to keep it clean and dry. For a sleeping bag, either get an inexpensive light nylon bag with polyester fill or get one of the inexpensive polar-pile zippered bags AND a travel sheet liner (you can get these at CampMor or in places like Bed, Bath and Beyond.) The advantage of using the travel-sheet and polar-pile bag together is if you get too warm you can fold pack the pile and sleep under the sheet only.
Though it is great to sleep under the stars there is always the possibility of a shower and, more importantly, critters that will want to crawl in that nice warm bag with you (I don't want to scare you, but I woke up once in southern Utah to find a tiny scorpion had crawled in with me -- I was able to shoo him out and neither of us got hurt). I'd recommend getting a mosquito-netting backpacking type tent with a separate rain fly. I have one and it's nice to sleep out with the open sky but the protection of having the netting keeping the insects, ground squirrels and even tumbleweeds from landing on you. And if it starts to rain you can quickly clip on the rainfly. You can even get what's called a "bivy bag" which is a nylon sleeping bag cover that has like a mini tent of bug netting at the end around your head. CampMor has those as well. You could probably get everything you need for under $100. Here are links to examples of what I'm describing:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=7581&memberId=12500226
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=39293865&memberId=12500226
Have a great trip -- NM is a beautiful state.
What types of things should I bring for a camping trip for about a week?
Hannah
My friend and I are going on a kind of trip/adventure and I'm not sure what we should bring with us. We are going to be spending 3-5 days in the woods walking for a long period of time and camping out in the woods so we didn't really want to travel heavily since we will be moving around a lot. I know we will need things like water, food, etc but just in case I wanted to know what else we should DEFINITELY bring with us. Things we will definitely need to have once we are out there. Things like extra clothes, things for sleeping arrangements, etc. I just don't want to forget anything important.
Answer
You should have lightweight backpacking equipment if you are going to be moving alot.
Some things to bring-
-Cooking stove
-Water filtration system (especially usefull for longer trips)
-synthetic all in one mess kit
-tent
-sleeping bag
-sleeping mat (a must)
-tarp or large rain fly
-lightweight food such as pasta or dehydrated stews that can be packed in a canister for several meals.
-compas
- topo map
- knive, silverware
-rope
-flash light or mini lantern
Just go to gander mountain or any outdoor store and talk to somewone about useful products, and remember when things are convenient its easier to have fun, and without fun there is no point in even going.
You should have lightweight backpacking equipment if you are going to be moving alot.
Some things to bring-
-Cooking stove
-Water filtration system (especially usefull for longer trips)
-synthetic all in one mess kit
-tent
-sleeping bag
-sleeping mat (a must)
-tarp or large rain fly
-lightweight food such as pasta or dehydrated stews that can be packed in a canister for several meals.
-compas
- topo map
- knive, silverware
-rope
-flash light or mini lantern
Just go to gander mountain or any outdoor store and talk to somewone about useful products, and remember when things are convenient its easier to have fun, and without fun there is no point in even going.
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Title Post: How do I camp under the stars in New Mexico?
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Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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