Photos of your camping setup.
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- Mick Smith
- Posts: 4957
- Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:09 pm
- Location: Surf Coast Victoria
Photos of your camping setup.
Most of us here on this site are into camping, in one way or another. I'm always interested to see how everyone else organises themselves. I think it says something about the person, when you see what they take with them camping. Some people take everything including the kitchen sink, others are minimalists. I fit into the latter catagory as I'm a lazy so and so and hate packing up heaps of 'unnecessary' stuff.
If you've got any photos of your campsites, please post them here so we can see what sort of gear you use. We might even pick up a few good ideas, you never know.
Mick
If you've got any photos of your campsites, please post them here so we can see what sort of gear you use. We might even pick up a few good ideas, you never know.
Mick
- Attachments
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- Camp at Dunolly.JPG (68.15 KiB) Viewed 11932 times
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- Macpac Ultralite.JPG (74.53 KiB) Viewed 11948 times
There is no use focusing on aiming if you don't execute the shot well enough to hit what your are aiming at.
- Mick Smith
- Posts: 4957
- Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:09 pm
- Location: Surf Coast Victoria
Yeah, I'm much the same fellas. If I'm going by myself, I just take the Macpac Ultralite tent (the one in the first photo). It packs down into a very small package and only weighs something like 1.2 kgs. I've also got a very lightweight Fairydown sleeping bag and one of those thin self inflating mattresses. It's all you really need even in cold conditions. In hot conditions this tent is great, as one whole side opens up to let the air in and there's insect mesh to keep the bugs out.
The best part about this gear, apart from being very lightweight, is the fact that it takes just a couple of minutes to set up camp and the same to pack it up.
It seems we don't have many campers on this site.
Mick
The best part about this gear, apart from being very lightweight, is the fact that it takes just a couple of minutes to set up camp and the same to pack it up.
It seems we don't have many campers on this site.
Mick
There is no use focusing on aiming if you don't execute the shot well enough to hit what your are aiming at.
In Micks photo that's our tent in the very corner... well, my dad's tent actually. Matt and I usually use our $25 rays dome tent that packs up pretty small, but in Dunolly we borrowed a bigger canvas tent that was supposed to help with the frost... needless to say it was better than the dome tent but I was still wearing two shirts and a jumper in my sleeping bag!
Other camping essentials include the sleeping bags, camp chairs, spotlight, fishing rods (depending on where we go), well stocked esky, Matt's bow (I haven't been hunting yet but plan to one day so we'll be taking my bow too) and that's pretty much it. I don't have any photo's but I'm sure during November we'll be in some.
Other camping essentials include the sleeping bags, camp chairs, spotlight, fishing rods (depending on where we go), well stocked esky, Matt's bow (I haven't been hunting yet but plan to one day so we'll be taking my bow too) and that's pretty much it. I don't have any photo's but I'm sure during November we'll be in some.
Nokhoi Khori! ("Hold the dog!" in Mongolian)
- Mick Smith
- Posts: 4957
- Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:09 pm
- Location: Surf Coast Victoria
Abaci
It sure was cold at Dunolly. Those frosts are something I'm not used to, as I live close enough to the ocean to make them a rare event at home. Besides I don't sleep in a tent at home anyway.
I actually put one sleeping bag inside another one, so in effect I was using two sleeping bags. On the first morning I was as warm as toast, but my head was very cold. I suppose there's not enough hair to retain the warmth these days. I wore my beanie on the second night.
I really liked the benefits of having a tent that was large enough to stand up in. It's so much more comfortable and convenient. Getting dressed in a hiking tent is a real pain.
Our next 2 day traditional shoot shouldn't be anywhere near as cold.
Hey Mick, that looks like a pretty desolate spot to hunt. You wisely picked a spot where that bush blocked some of the wind at least. Thanks for your input.
Mick
It sure was cold at Dunolly. Those frosts are something I'm not used to, as I live close enough to the ocean to make them a rare event at home. Besides I don't sleep in a tent at home anyway.
I actually put one sleeping bag inside another one, so in effect I was using two sleeping bags. On the first morning I was as warm as toast, but my head was very cold. I suppose there's not enough hair to retain the warmth these days. I wore my beanie on the second night.
I really liked the benefits of having a tent that was large enough to stand up in. It's so much more comfortable and convenient. Getting dressed in a hiking tent is a real pain.
Our next 2 day traditional shoot shouldn't be anywhere near as cold.
Hey Mick, that looks like a pretty desolate spot to hunt. You wisely picked a spot where that bush blocked some of the wind at least. Thanks for your input.
Mick
There is no use focusing on aiming if you don't execute the shot well enough to hit what your are aiming at.
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- Posts: 69
- Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2003 11:12 am
- Location: Dandenong
We mainly use a tarp, peg down the back, middle held up by a rope between 2 tree's and the front supported by extendable poles, have since found an adjustable rigid centre pole for the times when you can't find a couple of suitable tree's in the right place .Under this we set up the camp strecher and swag , cooking will be on anything from the trangia or single burner straight on top of the gas bottle, or if more people, the two burner coleman, we also have foldable chairs ,table and fluro lights run from a power pac.Also have the minamalist gear ,which includes light wieght Fairydown sleeping bag, 17 years old and still going strong, Sierra designs clip flashlight tent
- Mick Smith
- Posts: 4957
- Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:09 pm
- Location: Surf Coast Victoria
Ron
There's a lot to be said of a good tarp. They're such a handy item and they can make a camp a very comfortable place to be. I reckon you need a good quality one, those cheap plastic tarps make too much noise in anything like a breeze and they don't last very long either, whereas a good canvas tarp in nice and silent, doesn't tend to blow around too much and last's for many years.
I've got 2 good tarps that I use for camping, one is 12 foot square and the other is 12 x 24 feet. I use the smaller one the most as it's quick and easy to put up.
Your camp in the photo looks very comfortable and airy.
RC
I see you have flys over both tents in the photo. I think that a fly is essential in really cold conditions (they're great in hot sunny conditions too), as they vastly reduce the amound of condensation inside the tent. Condensation makes everything wet and clammy and miserable. Your flys look great, they're nice and big, covering the walls of the tent as well.
The use of wood stoves in a tent is almost unheard of in Australia. I've never seen one or even heard of anyone using one. They're a tradition in North America. I can imagine that a stove would make living in a tent bearable in the sort of temperatures that you commonly experience.
When I get too cold in my larger tent I just turn the gas lantern on for a while, the hot air soon warms it up, but a stove would be much better, especially for our winter months on a sambar hunting camp in the Australian Alps. Up there, we usually just light a big fire outside the tent and sit around that, one side roasted and the other frozen.
Mick
There's a lot to be said of a good tarp. They're such a handy item and they can make a camp a very comfortable place to be. I reckon you need a good quality one, those cheap plastic tarps make too much noise in anything like a breeze and they don't last very long either, whereas a good canvas tarp in nice and silent, doesn't tend to blow around too much and last's for many years.
I've got 2 good tarps that I use for camping, one is 12 foot square and the other is 12 x 24 feet. I use the smaller one the most as it's quick and easy to put up.
Your camp in the photo looks very comfortable and airy.
RC
I see you have flys over both tents in the photo. I think that a fly is essential in really cold conditions (they're great in hot sunny conditions too), as they vastly reduce the amound of condensation inside the tent. Condensation makes everything wet and clammy and miserable. Your flys look great, they're nice and big, covering the walls of the tent as well.
The use of wood stoves in a tent is almost unheard of in Australia. I've never seen one or even heard of anyone using one. They're a tradition in North America. I can imagine that a stove would make living in a tent bearable in the sort of temperatures that you commonly experience.
When I get too cold in my larger tent I just turn the gas lantern on for a while, the hot air soon warms it up, but a stove would be much better, especially for our winter months on a sambar hunting camp in the Australian Alps. Up there, we usually just light a big fire outside the tent and sit around that, one side roasted and the other frozen.
Mick
There is no use focusing on aiming if you don't execute the shot well enough to hit what your are aiming at.
- jindydiver
- Posts: 1333
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 3:06 pm
- Location: ACT
I set up a little folding table with the two burner gas stove and I have 2 tubs of cooking gear and food stuff. We keep it simple and then it takes no time at all to set up or pack away.
Mick
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln
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- Location: Dandenong
- Brett Finger
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Thu Jun 19, 2008 9:34 pm
- Location: BUNDABERG - QLD
Re: Photos of your camping setup.
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- super swag.JPG (38.67 KiB) Viewed 11077 times
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- Gringa Bows
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- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:09 pm
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Re: Photos of your camping setup.
this is the set up ive been using the last couple of years going to shoots with my wife
double bed mattress in the back just like sleeping in my own bed at home
double bed mattress in the back just like sleeping in my own bed at home
Re: Photos of your camping setup.
Cant beat a tarp and a good fire in the wet.
Cheap tarps are ok if you run a tight rope along the edges and use small D shackles through the eyelets onto the rope. Poles are then pulling on the rope and dont overstress the tarp eyelets.
Canvas tarps are heavy and bulky when wet and need drying out before storage so they dont rot with mould. A cheaper plastic tarp is within most budgets also.
Tents in the wet are a hassle, for tracking in mud and they dont have much living area.
A swag on a camp stretcher, under the tarp, with a good quality sleeping bag will keep you toasty in any weather.
The most essential piece of equipment for keeping warm is a decent chainsaw
Cheap tarps are ok if you run a tight rope along the edges and use small D shackles through the eyelets onto the rope. Poles are then pulling on the rope and dont overstress the tarp eyelets.
Canvas tarps are heavy and bulky when wet and need drying out before storage so they dont rot with mould. A cheaper plastic tarp is within most budgets also.
Tents in the wet are a hassle, for tracking in mud and they dont have much living area.
A swag on a camp stretcher, under the tarp, with a good quality sleeping bag will keep you toasty in any weather.
The most essential piece of equipment for keeping warm is a decent chainsaw
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- Woody.jpg (50.68 KiB) Viewed 10946 times
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- Gringa Bows
- Posts: 6331
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:09 pm
- Location: Bundaberg QLD
Re: Photos of your camping setup.
Woody, thats a good idea about using rope and u bolts,i've had a good run with mine,i think its 20x12ft. paid $35 new from northern warehouse cheap shop been set up at least a dozen times in all types of weather,but i think it will have to be retired soon.but the next one will be set up with the rope and u bolts as you suggested thanks mate.......Rod
Re: Photos of your camping setup.
Rod,LB rod 55 wrote:Woody, thats a good idea about using rope and u bolts,i've had a good run with mine,i think its 20x12ft. paid $35 new from northern warehouse cheap shop been set up at least a dozen times in all types of weather,but i think it will have to be retired soon.but the next one will be set up with the rope and u bolts as you suggested thanks mate.......Rod
The D shackles thru the eyelets are also through the rope, I twist the rope a little to loosen it and pass the shackle through 2 of the 3 rope twists. This keeps the rope aligned correctly along the tarp edge. ( stops the shackles from sliding along the rope.)
On the corners, and at intervals along the rope, where I want a tent pole, I use a single link of chain, and attach the ropes to the chain link by splicing loops in the rope.
The pole spikes go thru the chain link for a solid connection.
For tent pegs I use 35 X 35 X 6mm angle, 300mm long with a point made by cutting a 45 degree angle each side.
These are the best type tent pegs bar none. Round rod pegs are useless in a lot of soil types.
A single chain link is welded on the inside, near the top of the peg. For the back edge of the tarp pegs, I use a carabiner clip to clip onto the chain links in the rope.
The pegs for the poles have an extension spring with the pole rope and tensioners permanantly attached. The rope end has a link of chain to go over the pole spike after the pole spike is up thru the tarp edge rope chain link.
The centre of the tarp rope, ( the one thats usually strung between two trees) is connected to the side ropes on a heavy duty steel ring, ( large chain link) making a tee at the rope intersection.
A heavy duty pole, each side at this point, and two 400mm long angle pegs and longer ropes with spring and tensioner will negate the reliance on using trees as the centre rope support.
Not a good practice setting up under gum trees, for safety reasons.
I use different color ropes to differentiate the front, back and sides of the tarps, and also the side pole ropes from the front pole ropes.
To set the tarp up, I pick the direction of the prevailing wind, as this determines where the back wall of the tarp goes to block the wind.
The tarp back edge is then pegged out.
The tarp is now flat on the ground. On top of it around the edge in the right positions I mark with a heavy waterproof texta the positions of the tent pegs, with a number, which denotes metres directly out from the tarp where to place the peg exactly.
This makes set up simple. Once all the pegs are hammered into the ground in the exact right positions, with their permanantly attached springs tensioned ropes, its just a matter of walking around and standing up the poles. Jobs done.
It takes a while to set this up correctly, but you only have to do it once.
Three things you can never take back, time past, an angry word and a well sped arrow
Re: Photos of your camping setup.
I like a small dome tent with a throwover and a sleeping bag. Doesnt take up much room, water proof, bug proof and keeps most of the body heat inside. I like sleeping in the open in a swag but the mosquitoes are so anoying when trying to go to sleep. Also i dont enjoy waking up to a spider crawling along my face
Re: Photos of your camping setup.
took the family camping for first time with all the boys. dry run overnighter before the 3 day trip at christmas.Camp works well for 4 small kids and 2 adults but when it is just me I have an oberon hiking tent or just a hootchie.
Bowhunting (Hunting for Bows)
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Re: Photos of your camping setup.
And for short trips in summer or up north, have a new swag that I need to use!
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- For long trips in winter/summer:
- DSCF1850.JPG (285.06 KiB) Viewed 10712 times
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- For short trips in winter:
- Sambar Hunt May 2007 005.jpg (262.03 KiB) Viewed 10713 times