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Eli, mom Marypat, Ruby and Sawyer in their larger-than-life tent |
Sleeping Gear: Shelter
Among the things that I wouldn't have imagined for myself 5 or 10 years ago is that I'd become one of those campers with a tent that weighs damn near 20 pounds and would look right at home in a KOA. Yet, here I am, and I wouldn't trade for anything. A roomy tent with enough floor space for everyone, big windows, and height to stand up in makes camping with kids luxurious. The family camp scene is crazed enough to start with, so there's no need to add the minor torture of cramped quarters. Besides, several of the good-quality big tents are reasonably priced.
- I would caution, however, that you need to apply much the same scrutiny to a family tent that you would for a high-end backpacking model. Specifically:
- Check to be sure the mosquito netting is fine enough mesh to turn back gnats and no-see-ums.
- The rain fly should be more than an ornamental hat. It should be well sealed and big enough to cover most, if not all, of the tent.
- Avoid the big clunky monster tents, and steer toward models that have state-of-the-art features like self-standing dome construction and external clips rather than pole sleeves.
Once the kids get older (10 through 18), you may want to split up the accommodations with several smaller and more compact tents that you can also use on backpack trips. Let the children manage their own camp scene. You can set yours up at a safe, and quiet, remove!
Sleeping Gear: Bags
When it comes to sleeping bags, infants are the toughest to accommodate. My experience has been that kids under the age of two can sleep between their parents, or even with parents in zipped-together bags. You can generally make do with a small blanket or two and by sharing bags until the second birthday.
From toddler to adolescent, you run into the same problem you do with clothes. Kids are hard on gear and outgrow it at a disheartening rate. Tough Traveler makes the Growing Bear sleeping bag to deal with this problem. It features a zip-out panel that allows the bag to"grow" along with the kid. During that fast-growth period of children's lives, get along as best you (and your bank account) can.
Given kids' proclivity for getting things wet, down bags are not a good choice for water travel! Of course, every sleeping bag goes into its own waterproof stuff sack and/or plastic garbage bag before it goes in the boat.
Sleeping Gear: Pads
Sleeping pads are another expensive and bulky item. During the infant and toddler stage, folding camp chairs like the Crazy Creek basic models can do double duty as sleeping pads. After that, it's up to parents to negotiate over the merits of Ensolite vs. inflatable. Remember the days before Therma-Rests? We all made do with a half inch of foam between us and the ground. Use it. Your kids really appreciate a cushy pad when they finally get one.
Another advantage to packing in individual clothing duffels is that you can bring them into the tent at night. Make pillows out of them, use them as barriers to stop the downward slide of tiny sleepers, and then have them handy for grabbing pajamas and the appropriate change of clothes in the morning.
Where are you going?
What do you want to do?
