If you have ever seen any of the fantastic Bear Grylls 'Born Survivor' TV series or the outstanding Ray Mears 'Extreme Survival' you will have noticed how both Bear and Ray always carry a good quality knife.

Knives have been used since the stone age when man made remarkably effective and sharp cutting tools from flint and obsidian. The knife is both a practical tool as well as being a very effective weapon. They've received a lot of bad press lately due to the frequency of violent knife crimes on our streets.

But knives are not bad but they can be used by bad people. They are essential tools that, in the outdoors or a survival situation, you would be glad to have.

When camping out a knife can be used in any number of ways including:

• Cutting branches for fire wood
• Preparing kindling
• Cutting rope or string
• Making tent pegs
• Skinning rabbits
• Preparing food
• Almost everything…

It's makes sense to select the most suitable knife for the job. The swiss-army knife is a good example of a practical, versatile knife that comes with a bewildering selection of tools for almost any situation. But a good, strong, sharp knife blade is an essential requirement.

Knives that are best for camping don't really need to be particularly large. Ideally the knife should have a good quality, high carbon-steel blade that will not corrode and will hold and good sharp edge. Your chosen knife can have a fixed or folding blade. Knives with folding blades should ideally lock when the blade is exposed to prevent accidents. The knife should provide an appropriate handle that is comfortable in your hand. The knife blade should have a good sharp point and the handle may have a strong rear bolster (the bit at the end of the handle) which can be used as a hammer.

If you choose a fixed blade knife it will need a suitable sheath that you can carry on your belt. You will need a whetstone to keep the blade sharp. For some applications, such as fishing and hunting, you may like to equip yourself with a knife that has a partially serrated edge, ideal for cutting through bone.

Whatever you choose a knife is an essential part of your camping equipment. While you may be arrested for carrying one in the city streets you would be a fool to venture far outdoors without one.

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Backpacking is challenging and exciting.  It is meant to be an adventure, but in order to be safe and ensure it is fun you should have a basic knowledge of wilderness first aid.  Planning involves some simple preparation before a trip.  Your plan should be well thought out and prepare you for every possible surprise the outdoors can throw your way.  By being properly prepared you will be able to focus on the actually joy of backpacking rather than worrying about the technical details once you get on the trail.

Your backpacking plan really has to do with staying safe.  You should have maps of your planned route so you know exactly what to expect.  You should also check out the predicted weather.  If you are not comfortable with any part of your route or with the weather predictions then consider changing your plans.  You should always trust your inner feelings or gut instinct because it is usually right.  You should also be prepared for any weather changes.  You need to really plan out each leg of your journey and include alternatives in case something does not work out.  Your actual plan should be a map marked with your stopping points and labeled to show when you will be walking each area. 

Lastly, You need to let your family and friends know about your backpacking plans.  If something were to happen you would be more likely to be found if someone knows you should have been back from your trip.  Give them a copy of your route and let them know where you will be along the path at certain times during your trip.  Also make sure they know exactly when you should be home. 

You can not prevent everything, though, so you should also learn basic first aid.  One of the biggest things is to try to keep all supplies sanitary.  This includes trying to clean hands as best as possible before treating a wound or injury.  Bacteria grows quickly and once it is introduced to an injury things can get worse quickly.  You should take a first aid course to brush up on the basics, so if you should veer need them you know them.

To get more info on backpacking go to Best Backpacking Stove and also Backpacking Boot

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Throughout the New Forest you can find pretty much anything that you might want to do and something to suit all ages of the family. With 134 car parks scattered throughout the National Park – you can stop in so many places and go for stroll, take a picnic or have play around. There are considerable cycle, hiking/walking trails, museums and historical sites that can be visited.

There are also many guided tours walking tours are available to help you make the most of your experience here. While one can drive through many parts of the forest, you will then miss out on some of the striking natural beauty to be seen whilst on one of the ranger-guided walks, or even horseback or bicycle tours if you prefer.

Within the forest, things happen throughout the year. No matter when you are visiting this fabulous National Park there are always experienced Forest Rangers and guides to take you through the wonders and beauty of the park. There are also a few good websites you can visit so you can make the most of your trip here.

Throughout many of the guided tours and walks – the experienced ranger or tour guide will offer some history about the places you are visiting. Bucklers Hard for example was where Admiral Nelson’s fleet was built. The forest as you can imagine has a lot of history about it including formerly being the hunting ground of kings.

The New Forest includes many miles of coastline and rivers along the south coast. There are many beautiful and historical sites that can be seen from guided boat tours available here. There are also for the more energetic many water based activities available such as sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. The visitors centre has considerable information and ideas for tourists seeking ideas about the park.

Throughout the park you can experience many wonders of nature and animal species. During just a short walk through any part of the forest you will come across considerable species in their own natural habitat. It’s a marvellous experience to see animals and creatures in their own environment.

Deer are in abundance here as well, as are all manner of birds, frogs and reptiles. At dusk, bats may be seen as they emerge for the evening. If reptiles are your thing, the forest has a Reptile Centre which is certain to both educate and delight children of all ages. Children will delight at the varied wildlife here and to be able to get so close to the animals is an experience to be treasured.

Exbury Gardens in the New Forest although not a forest walk is a beautiful place to visit. The Gardens are situated in 200 acres and there are many miles of wonderful walkways. This is well worth a visit if you can fit it in during your trip.

If your planning a trip to the New Forest and plan to stay over night there is a good variety of New Forest cottages in the region where you can stay which can be found on the New Forest guides website.

Also while you are in the area make sure you visit the nearby city of Southampton which is renowned for its shopping experience and museums.

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The proper camping gear is what is going to make your camping trip fun and exciting as well as safe. You will need the tent or camper for sure, but you also need gear such as pet camping supplies if you have a pet along, flashlights, a portable grill, lawn furniture, coolers, and heaters and insect repellent. If you think about it, you will probably need it when you are camping. This goes for your cooking supplies, bedding, and cleaning and bathing supplies. When you go camping, you do need some camping gear to be happy and safe.

Camping equipment such as a lantern is nice for hanging from a sturdy tree branch to illuminate the areas away from the camper and fire. This is also nice for deterring wild animals from sneaking up on you. On the other hand, some people use deck lights on a string to light up the campsite. You can find these items in camping equipment stores as well as garden shops.

If you plan to camp for long periods, you are probably going to want a screen tent. This is also found in a camping equipment store. They come in different sizes with or without privacy flaps. The ones with the privacy flaps are nice for nighttime sitting. You can put your television outside, sit down, and relax in the comfort of the screen tent without anyone seeing you.

You might even need to bring along a repair kit for your camper top or tent. If you do discover a leak, you are going to need to repair it even if it is temporary, so you do not have any rain or bugs getting inside. Camping gear should also include a first aid kit. No one knows for sure that they will not cut their finger or need some antibiotic cream. You should also have plenty of batteries or a rechargeable battery for the any of your gear that requires batteries. 

You should also have camping gear that includes binoculars, hunting knife, and rain gear and of course, tin foil. Once you have everything you need, you should be all set to get out on the road and find a great place to camp. Camping equipment is actually anything that you think you might need.

Some people will not need the pet camping gear, but some may need gear for kids. The idea behind camping is to have everything that is going to make it fun, safe and relaxing. Whatever you need to accomplish this should be a part of your camping gear.

More info on backpacking can be found here Backpacking Essentials

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If you pay attention to online sales and your local sporting goods store sales, you can find discount camping gear at affordable prices. If you plan accordingly, you can pick up some good deals. One last source to find discount camping gear is at rummage sales. Many people give up camping and sell their gear at cheap prices. Getting in on some of these deals is a real money saver.

When you are considering going on a camping trip, your first thought is probably to hop on the Internet and look up some camping sites in the area that you want to visit. But for some people, paying for a camp site isn’t an issue. They decide to go for the real camping experience and opt for free camping instead. On the surface, this seems to be a much better option. After all, it’s definitely cheaper. But in order to get the benefits from free camping you also have to make some sacrifices. Most camp sites come equipped with hot showers, toilet blocks, a store packed with food and provisions, and much more. When you decide to save money and choose free camping, this is what you’ll be giving up.

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Camping hammocks are very different one from the other and this especially applies to hammocks as a whole group. Hammocks not only have versatility in their favor on the average. But all of them and each of them individually offer relaxation and serve as a tremendous means of comfort for those who need them most. A good many hammocks are also not high in cost and they can serve for different purposes considering the needs of each owner per se. Despite their differences though all hammocks do offer relaxation with each and every one of them no matter what else they have.

Whether you’re sleeping under the stars or in a tent, a sleeping bag is what will keep you warm and comfortable throughout the night. It’s easy to have the wrong sleeping bag, though, but the fault isn’t always with the bag, since one sleeping bag might be a great piece of camping gear in the summertime but awful if you’re high in the mountains or camping in December. When you purchase a sleeping bag, think about the temperatures you’ll be having at night, then buy something that is rated for something about 10 or 20 degrees colder. And if you plan to camp in the winter, buy a separate sleeping bag for subzero temperatures.

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For everyone in the camp there is a chair in which they can fit comfortably, from the smallest children with kid size camping chairs to larger adults with oversized chairs. Possibly the favorite type of camping chairs are those that fold into a small bag that are about six-inches square and under three-feet long. The bag usually has a strap with which it can be carried comfortably over the shoulder. They are also equipped with a handle to allow them to be carried like a small briefcase.

Long walks in the wilderness require more thinking when packing your equipment and many times expedition camping gear is similar to lightweight equipment in that it has to be able to pack light and small. Carrying a huge heavy load will do no one any good while smaller, lighter loads can usually accommodate everything you might need, regardless of the length of the trip.

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The simplest form of camping water purifier is a UV model. This uses ultra violet light to kill unwanted bacteria in the water. This kind of purifier is good for the occasional camping trip, but if you go camping regularly you will be better off investing in a more advanced model, as a UV model won’t last very long. Other purifiers use activated carbon or iodine to purify the water. A camping water purifier can also vary a lot in size. Large units are available to keep handy in your tent during a long stay in one place, but there is also a wide range of personal drinking bottles you can use while hiking or on a day trip, perhaps travelling between camp sites.

There are some wondrous sights waiting to be discovered while Alaska hiking and numerous varieties of wildlife will surely be seen in the wild. Elk, reindeer ands moose are certain possibilities but so are other animals that may not be as accepting of human in their neighborhood such as wolves and bear. You should be prepared with how to handle an encounter with animals and what signs to look for in an area that you should avoid. Typically, they will not attack unless they feel threatened or believe their cubs are in danger, and accidentally walking up on a den is not considered an excuse by an angry mother bear. There are some bears, however that may attack for no apparent reason and while Alaska hiking you should be aware of signs indicating their presence in an area and try your best to avoid contact. When your Alaska hiking trip is over, the only signs left behind of your visit should be footprints in the snow as much of the ecology in many areas is in a delicate balance. Never leave trash behind and make every attempt to preserve the sanctity of the area in which you have been hiking.

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One piece of hunting and camping gear that no one should ever be without is a first aid kit. A first aid kit is your only line of protection if there’s a mishap while out in the wilderness, and can help prevent a disaster from getting any worse, allowing you to treat injuries and ailments until you can get the person afflicted out to where they can receive medical attention. It also ensures that minor injuries don’t become larger problems that detract from your trip. A good first aid kit should contain at least bandages, medicine such as aspirin, and some disinfectant; a great first aid kit will have even more.

When you enter the state of Wisconsin, you will notice that it is rich in both manmade and natural history. This is why hikers find adventure in the hilly terrains of Sidie Hollow and in the bluffs of Perrot State Park. Towards the center of the state is the remote and wild Black River State Forest, which is populated with timber wolves. However, no hiker will want to miss out on the Ice Age Trail that is a special attraction for those wanting to experience the best of Wisconsin hiking. The 1000-mile Ice Age Trail gets its name from the glaciations that occurred there during the Ice Age. This scenic trail has many segments of various lengths that wind their way from the southern edge of the continental glacier, which covered fifty percent of Wisconsin and has since been declared a national scenic trail.

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Tents range from a tiny one-man tent to the huge ones with additional mid sections and detachable awnings. How will you use your tent? How many people need to be accommodated? If you are planning on having your tent just to sleep in, then a smaller one should suffice. A good rule of thumb to go by is to consider how many people are going camping. The more people you have, the more likely it is that you will want to entertain inside your tent during the evenings. Your range of camping goods should include the basics, such as bed rolls, sleeping bags and groundsheets, but for those of you with large tents you might want to get a foldaway table and chairs as well. Just remember you might need a trailer to transport it all behind your car.

You would no doubt be impressed by the fact that Charles Darwin had once visited Patagonia back in 1835, and you will find yourself just as impressed today in the camps that make hiking Patagonia an adventure that every serious hiker will want to undertake. There are some superb facilities available, such as the luxury camps in Cascada’s EcoCamps that provide excellent accessibility to the best parts of this area of the world. Hiking in the Torres del Paine has some of the most spectacular beauty to view and offers adventure to the hiker with wonderful glaciers, lakes, mountains and wild flowers to explore on foot or on horseback.

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