About camping gear

Rucksack

Rucksacks generally come in one of three categories. Frameless, external frame and internal frame. The materials most commonly used for backpacks are canvas, nylon, ripstop fabric or cordura. Rucksacks made for outdoor activities such as camping and trekking are designed and made to carry heavier loads than conventional rucksacks. These rucksacks are designed to attach to the shoulders by shoulder straps and additionally to the hips using a padded hip strap thus enabling even weight distribution to the legs and back. This allows more even balance and comfort on long treks or the carrying of heavy loads.

Sleeping Bag

The sleeping bag is simply a blanket with zips on both sides providing warmth and insulation. They are very easy to transport as they can be folded in half or thirds, rolled up and secured to any rucksack with straps. There are several types of fill used for sleeping bags. Cotton, wool, and synthetic fills such as prim aloft or down are mostly used. Synthetic fills are probably more suitable and efficient owing to the fact that they don’t readily absorb water, dry easily and even when soaked through they still provide warmth.

Cooking Stove

Most camping and hiking stoves today are made to the specifications of the Mountain Safety Research. These consist of four basic parts.: a free standing burner with integrated pot supports, the fuel bottle, a pump that screws into the bottle and a flexible tube that connects the fuel bottle to the burner. Fuels used are : white gas, butane, kerosene, propane and alcohol.

Compass

The majority of modern compass usually consist of a magnetized needle inside a capsule completely filled with a fluid such as oil or alcohol. The compass comes in many designs and sizes so selecting one is up to ones own preference and taste. An essential tool for all campers and trekkers.