Camping Lantern Zone http://www.campinglanternzone.com a safe camping guide Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:16:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Flashlights: The Most Durable LED’s, The Brightest HIDs http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/11/flashlights-the-most-durable-leds-the-brightest-hids/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/11/flashlights-the-most-durable-leds-the-brightest-hids/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 22:35:05 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=285 Have you ever found yourself in this situation?  Its dark, you’re in your campsite, you are about to fire up the flashlights and they just don’t seem to be bright enough?

So now, put yourself in the same situation, but this time, imagine having a light that brightens up everything around you. Kind of different, isn’t it.

For very long, incadescent bulbs were the staple of flashlights. But now there are LEDs, HIDs and other technologies.  Also, flashlights, especially tactical ones have durabilty you wouldn’t believe.

With camping and flashlights, you want something that’s reliable and bright at the same time. To help you out in your search, I’m going to cover specialty type… the tactical flashlight and then the very bright HID and LED styles.

Now when you’re done with this article, you’ll know about some of the brightest flashlights that exist on the market, and even one that isn’t for sale.

Tactical Flashlights: Durability
Lets start out with tactical flashlights.  Most of the time you’ll find these mounted on the end of weapons. But they are removeable and very reliable.

Now the first one we’ll talk about is the ToolLogic SLPro 2. It’s packaged with an alloy fire rod that can start a fire in a tough situation.  So its packaged as a survival kit, but the light is detachable, and its built solidly out of waterproof anodized aluminum.

Another tactical flashlight is the JetBeam PC25 with a 408 lumen light beam. Its used by law enforcement and pushes 273 hours of output.

Speaking of lumens, let me explain the idea briefly.  A candle puts out over 10 lumens. 100-200 is used by police and SWAT.  Search lights are rated at about 1000.  And probably the biggest lumen output comes from the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas with its mammoth 30 billion lumens output!

LED’s: Bright And Durable
LED flashlights put out a whole lot of light for the dollar, are durable and have a lot of features. Check out the Redline Nebo for instance. Along with the high and low settings, it has an SOS blinking feature. This can be a real lifesaver out on the water. But let me share a few more.

First is the Fenix PB20 with probably the best light output and “throw” of any small flashlight. If you look on YouTube, you’ll find videos of this flashlight being subjected to destruction tests like boiling and throwing it continually against concrete and rock.  Its durable to say the least!

Another great example of LEDs, and rather extreme is the 100 LED Aluminum Alloy Flashlight on Amazon.com.  Its extreme because instead of 1 or 2 LED’s it uses literally 100 LED’s to create light. It uses batteries up pretty fast, but it does put out the light.

The crop of LEDs right now that are the most powerful are the Cree XRE P4-R2 bin, Luxeon Rebel 90-100 bin and the Luxeon TFFC 180 bin. Look for these LED’s to power the brighter flashlights. But if money is no object, and its light you want… then go for a HID light.

HID’s: The Worlds Brightest
Its not uncommon to find these taking the place of headlights in cars. Seriously. And if you check out youtube, you’ll find the brightest that exists. It’s a 20,000 Lumen home made handheld (with two hands) made by a German. It’s pretty unreal.

When it comes to true handhelds, the 5200 Polarion PH50 Helios is very capable. Its used by the military, so you know its reliable.

Here’s another HID to check out. The 6500 LM 65W HID from HID Country. The battery life isn’t much… 1 hour and weighs in at just under 5 pounds. Its military grade construction is very evident in how it looks.  But here’s the kicker. Its range is 3,000 feet. That’s over 1/2 mile.  aaahh.. thats what I’m talkin’ about!

Flashlights and their features are pretty exciting to watch.  I’m amazed at what’s available these days. So let me give you a little challenge for this week.  Check out the Redline Nebo at your local outdoor and wilderness store and give it a little test.

Want to know more about camping gear flashlights and lanterns?  Then check out JoesCampFire, grab a cup of joe and take a seat by the fire.

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]]> http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/11/flashlights-the-most-durable-leds-the-brightest-hids/feed/ 0 How to Replace a Boat Mattress http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-a-boat-mattress/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-a-boat-mattress/#comments Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:18:06 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=284 If you love boating, you want to spend as much time as possible out on your boat. You want to eat on the boat, sleep on the boat and just hang out there in general. To do that comfortably you need to make sure that your boat has everything that you need to be comfortable, including the right mattress!  After all, you can’t spend the night on your boat if you don’t have anywhere decent to sleep. But, replacing a boat mattress isn’t as easy as just walking into a furniture store and picking one out.

There is so much more planning required for acquiring a new boat mattress than there is for your home mattress. For one thing you need to make sure that your mattress is made of mildew resistant materials. In the very damp atmosphere of a boat everything gets mildewy and musty unless you choose a mattress that is naturally anti-micrbobial and anti-bacterial, like natural latex.

Another big issue to address when replacing a boat mattress is making sure that you measure it correctly so that it actually fits. Since the beds get shoved into all sorts of odd-shaped areas (like the v-berth), so that there is room for everything, boat mattresses do not come in standardized sizes or shapes. In fact, it is an absolute necessity to measure everything you can before you order a mattress. You should measure length, width, depth and unique angles and curves. If your bunk is a really odd shape then you might want to think about making a template from paper versus trying to draw something that is accurate. That way you can take or mail the paper template to a company that does custom work knowing you will receive a new mattress that will fit exactly into the space you have available.

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]]> http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-a-boat-mattress/feed/ 0 Does Kelley Make a Blue Book Value Camper http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/11/does-kelley-make-a-blue-book-value-camper/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/11/does-kelley-make-a-blue-book-value-camper/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:47:03 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=280 Now that you have the desire to go camping, what kind of camper trailers are you looking for?  If you’re new to camping, I’d like to suggest you do what my family does, and that’s check for used campers for sale on Craigslist or eBay.  You can get a good idea of what’s available, and also check out the current Kelly Blue Book Camper Values.   Here are some of the popular types of rv campers:

  • Small Campers – this makes sense if you’re a first time camper buyer, or if you’re downsizing from an expensive recreational vehicle.  Small campers come in a variety of styles, you can tour your local travel trailer sales lot to familiarize yourself with the current stock on hand.  If you’re just getting started it would be a good idea to bring your tow vehicle to your dealer or mechanic to make sure you get the rating for how much your vehicle can tow.  (Also check out your trailer hitch or have one installed if your don’t already have one.
  • Hybrid Travel Trailers – these are part camper, part fold out tent trailer.  If you’re a camper that uses your tent trailer more than about a dozen times per year and want a bit more creature comforts, a hybrid travel trailer may be just right for your.  You’ll have the hard sides of a camper with a slide out or fold out bed area.  Be sure to add your cargo weight to the hybrid travel trailer weight, and include your water and holding tanks, to calculate the entire towed weight for your hybrid travel trailer.

When you’re looking at used campers you’ll want to get an idea of how much they’re worth.  Some valuable resources to consider for establishing camper blue book values include the Kelley Guides for Camper Blue Book Value.  Their website is a bit tricky to navigate, but what you can do is call their customer service to subscribe to the guides.  They come out quarterly.  (You can also buy just one, for a one time need.)  The Kelley Guides have information for motorhomes, campers, van conversions, fifth wheel trailers, folding trailers, motor homes and travel trailers.  You can also go online at the Nada Guides site, or eBay Motors.  Nada Guides is pretty straight forward to search online, but the eBay site (eBay Motors) only shows you current prices.  You can get around this by logging in, which will allow you to do specialized searches to find the sold prices.

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]]> http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/11/does-kelley-make-a-blue-book-value-camper/feed/ 0 Camping Successfully in Your Truck Shell http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/10/camping-successfully-in-your-truck-shell/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/10/camping-successfully-in-your-truck-shell/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:39:05 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=273 When you want to go camping in Utah take some time to understand how you can use a pickup truck cap or truck shell.  Truck shells in Utah and other big camping states  are very  popular because of the shelter from the elements that you are camping in.

Take the time that you need to understand that when you are not camping in a truck you are exposed to much more.  When camping in a tent you may find that you have to deal with a lot of creatures in the forest.

There are a lot of people that have a hard time understanding how they are going to avoid those bugs and rodents.  Especially make sure that you understand how you are going to avoid scorpions or snakes crawling into your sleeping space.

There are a lot of different creatures that can get into your tent.  Finding a way to camp in your truck may be much more beneficial and enjoyable than camping in a tent.

When you have a truck, understanding how to measure your truck bed well for any truck accessories you may want to include is important. A store specializing in truck accessories in Salt Lake City suggests that you may even want to place a composite board in the bed of the truck so you have a nice flat surface to sleep on.

Take the time that you need to know how you can cut the board to the width and length of the truck.  This way, you can be sure that you are able to know if you want to make the truck a camper or if you just want to rough it.

If you just want to rough it in the back of the truck you can use an air mattress on top of the board.  When you put the composite board down you will have an even place that you can put the air mattress, regular mattress or even a sleeping bag.

Take the time to try this out before camping so there are no surprises later.  Installing your own camping system into the back of your truck can be a pretty permanent solution and you want to be sure that this is how you are always going to use it.

If you are going to create a frame for your bed take the time that you need to understand how you are going to build a secure frame.  Take the time that you need to get the proper hardware installed into your truck.

When you have a secure bed frame built you can be sure that you are able to put a mattress onto the bed frame.  Take the time that you need to understand that as you put the mattress on the bed frame you will have to be sure it is secure before you sleep a whole night on it.

As you are putting the camping stuff into the truck you should make sure that you know how you can store all of your gear.  There are a lot of people that do not realize how they can build in their storage for their camping gear.

When you put a bed in, you should be sure that you know how you can put the storage unit underneath the bed that you are building, this way you can be sure that you are able to put the things that you need in the truck. Space will be limited, so you will have to build wisely.

Throughout the truck you will have to make sure that you are storing all of the things that you need.  Make sure that you are putting the alarm clock, toilet paper, flashlight and even the different food items that you need.

You have to make sure that you understand how you are going to stay safe when you are in your truck. There are a lot of people that have a hard time understanding that they will have to find a way to stay warm during the cold weather.

Make sure that you understand that when the temperature will drop more than twenty degrees you need some quality bedding.  Find the quality bedding to be sure that you are safe while camping in a truck shell.

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]]> http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/10/camping-successfully-in-your-truck-shell/feed/ 0 Double Sleeping Bags And Blow Up Beds http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/10/double-sleeping-bags-and-blow-up-beds/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/10/double-sleeping-bags-and-blow-up-beds/#comments Tue, 11 Oct 2011 03:31:04 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=272 While camping is meant to be an adventurous and relaxing activity, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort and, more importantly, a good night’s sleep. It’s imperative to go camping equipped with the proper supplies to make the most out of your experience. One of the most important items you will bring is sleep gear. A double sleeping bag is the perfect accessory due to the spacious interior that allows you to roll around without feeling cramped or accommodate more than one person.

Colder weather might possibly pose a threat, which is why buying a double sleeping bag liner for extra warmth is always a good idea, especially when you encounter unexpected temperature drops. Further, the liner can be inserted and taken out easily, according to your comfort zone.

The advantages of having a big sleeping bag with plenty of room and heat retention will help save money that would otherwise be spent on your heating bill. Sleeping bags are made with the expected temperature in mind. Some bags are designed to keep you warm when the temperature dips below 30 degrees, while other are made to endure nothing below 40 degrees. Therefore, it’s smart to buy your sleeping bag with the weather of your camping trip on your mind.

Additionally, if you are worried about the discomfort of sleeping on the bare ground with rocks prodding you all night, investing in blow up beds is the way to go. A blow up mattress is both durable, easy to set up, and portable which makes it perfect for enhancing your sleep. Bringing along a small hand pump will save you the hassle of blowing the mattress up with your own breath, which can be very exhausting and time consuming. In conclusion, to maximize the enjoyment of your sleep, bringing along a double wide sleeping bag and blow up bed is necessary.

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]]> http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/10/double-sleeping-bags-and-blow-up-beds/feed/ 0 A New Tent for a New Adventure http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/10/a-new-tent-for-a-new-adventure/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/10/a-new-tent-for-a-new-adventure/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 16:26:06 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=271 I am a lover of adventure and thrill and I constantly seek it out. Being involved in outdoor sports and activities usually provides me with most of the adventure that I need and look for. The excitement and challenges are enough to meet my expectations, although there are times when I want even more. But of course I need to make do with what is available to me, and even those often prove to be quite formidable enough. I also compete in different sports, just to make sure that I don’t lose the competitive edge within me. Playing different kinds of sports also serves as an outlet for the burning fire within me.

The outdoor activity that I have most recently been involved and busy with has been camping. It is a little less intense and exciting than the others, but it is where I have most of my friends and family together with me. I really make sure of the fact that I have either friends or my siblings or cousins whenever I am going camping. We make it a point to bond while we are at it, so it’s really quite nice. This coming weekend, I am going camping once again, and this time it would be with some cousins of mine. There is a slight problem though, because the camping tent that we have been using for so long is already damaged. So I out going to buy the best 6 person tent that I could manage to find. I really want to go for quality, so we would be able to use for a far longer period of time than the last one that we had. The price doesn’t really matter, as quality should come first. While I am shopping for the tent, I would also sneak in buying the
best running shoes for bad knees. I have been having some soreness in my knees lately, and having and using a running shoe that addresses that condition can really help.

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]]> http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/10/a-new-tent-for-a-new-adventure/feed/ 0 Use a Stay Awake Device to Avoid Road Traffic Accidents http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/use-a-stay-awake-device-to-avoid-road-traffic-accidents/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/use-a-stay-awake-device-to-avoid-road-traffic-accidents/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:01:06 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=267 There have been studies confirming that those who doze off while driving pose the same risks as people who drive while drunk. This is because when individuals are sleepy or drunk their reflexes are not as fast. So, if circumstances call for quick thinking and fast action in order to avoid serious accidents, a drunk or sleepy person will not be able to act quickly. This is why there are now many new gadgets that help in keeping drivers awake, and one such tool is the stay awake device.

What is a stay awake driving device? Well, this is a type of gadget that is capable of waking up drivers who are beginning to doze off. Such kinds of tools typically run on batteries and these appear like Bluetooth gadgets that can be placed on the ears. Once these are on the ears, drivers just need to activate such devices and then these are good to go. When a person gets drowsy and his head begins to bob up and down, the device will detect the bobbing motion. Then, it will release alarm signals. Some signals are high-pitched sounds that are loud enough to wake a driver up, while others vibrate strongly to jolt drivers awake.

Using a stay awake device is just one way of making sure that you keep from falling asleep while driving. Other simple methods include: drinking a cup of coffee before driving; eating chips or chewing gum while driving; and making many stops in order to stretch and loosen up. These are just simple but effective ways that will help keep sleep at bay. Just remember these tips if you will be driving and you know that you are overly tired or sleepy. If you employ these means, you will protect yourself and others from undue harm.

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]]> http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/use-a-stay-awake-device-to-avoid-road-traffic-accidents/feed/ 0 What Is The Wilderness? http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/what-is-the-wilderness/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/what-is-the-wilderness/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:32:18 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=266 What do you envision when you hear the term “wilderness”? Do you think of a bleak, desolate, forgotten place or do you picture an adventure waiting to happen? Have you ever considered that it could be both a forgotten space of land and an adventurous, exciting place? Utah and its neighboring states have plenty of wilderness areas available for public use, and most are ideal areas to enjoy your favorite extreme sport.

At climbingoutdoors.com the wilderness is viewed as the ultimate playground. The untouched and unaffected areas often provide the best adventures. Backpacking through the wild areas of the western United States is one of the best ways to truly enjoy our world. Great camp sites can easily be found near excellent hiking trails, rock climbing sites and rappelling spots. Mountain biking can be enjoyed on or off trails, and combined with other types of adventuring. During the winter, skiing off the proverbial beaten path can be truly amazing. There are so many ways to enjoy the world in its natural state.

Learning to enjoy wilderness areas is only one part of the purpose of climbingoutdoors.com. In order to safely enjoy these types of adventures, one must be as prepared as possible for whatever one may encounter. This is why readers of this website will find information on equipment and gear for every outdoor sport. The articles on the website share news about the latest gear as well as give accurate information on what is actually required to enjoy a particular activity. Safety is extremely important, and taking precautions are critical. Details such as being sure someone knows where you are headed and what you will do and when you expect to return could save your life. Having the right types of supplies can too. Be sure to check all recommendations on this website and state websites to be sure your adventure is a success, and not a disaster.

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]]> http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/what-is-the-wilderness/feed/ 0 3 Camping Items That You Cannot Afford To Do Without http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/3-camping-items-that-you-cannot-afford-to-do-without/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/3-camping-items-that-you-cannot-afford-to-do-without/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:54:06 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=263 Our family just returned from a three-week family camping car trip in northern California and central Oregon. We travel in a fully loaded Subaru Outback station wagon with a Thule car top carrier. We learn so much from all of our trips and I want to pass on some of those family camping tips to you. Trust me, we make a lot of mistakes on every camping trip. The worst mistake I made on this trip was taking a wrong turn on a one-way steep mountain grade gravel that lead to a fire lookout tower.  To make matters worse, it was 97 degrees F and the mercury was still rising.  Our vehicle came to almost a complete stop because the grade was too steep and the on-board thermometer was nearing the red zone. Lesson learned–use better detailed maps when traveling on local roads and asked for directions.

Aside from that blunder in navigational skills, I usually try to look for improvements in our comfort, cooking, and sleeping arrangements.

How To Keep Your Camp Lit Up With A 190 Lumen LED Coleman Lantern

After years of fussing with a dual fuel gasoline lantern that worked absolutely fantastic, my wife suggested that we replace it with a Coleman LED lantern that she found at Costco.  Battery LED lights are standard operating procedure for us on camping trips as they last so long in between charging the batteries.   I was very reluctant to make the change because the white gas lantern worked just fine even though I usually broke a mantle or two on every trip. Maybe I’m just stubborn. We bought the lantern and added 8 “D” size batteries and never had to recharge them in our 22 days on the road. This lantern has the ability to run non-stop for over 60 hours in the low power mode and will last over 30 hours on high power which is ample from most family camping trips. You don’t have to mess with pouring fuel into it or changing out a broken mantle. While it does not emit as much light as my gasoline lantern, it did a much better job because all I had to do was turn on a switch to use it and never have to worry about burning down the campsite or cabin that we stayed in.

How To Cook Tasty Gourmet Camp Meals With A 2 Burner Stove And A Round Caste Iron Griddle

My lovely wife found a Frontier round cast iron griddle a few years ago at either a thrift store or a garage sale to take on camping trips and I never got too excited about it because I said it was too heavy.  This winter, she started making this incredible omelets for our family dinner and they were better than anything I have ever had in a restaurant.  The secret to great omelets is in the pan.  Guys, listen to your wife because a woman usually never wrong when it comes to intuition.   The Frontier round griddle is flat and compact.  We used it for making whole grain pancakes and flat breads.  We caramelized onions for our omelets and t-bone steaks.  If you want to eat gourmet meals without breaking the bank at a fancy eatery, then get a round caste iron griddle.

The cast iron griddle itself is no good unless you have a working stove.  I don’t suggest to be one of those die-hard fire only campers.  Do yourself a favor and purchase a high quality gasoline or propane stove.  Having two burners will benefit your cooking because it’s rare that you will only need one burner.  I have used Coleman gas stoves my entire life.  I talk with men in the 70’s that still have their antique green stoves.  I can honestly say that I see families still using 30 year old Coleman white gas stoves.  The biggest benefit of using a white gas stove is that you can use unleaded fuel if you ever run out of white gas.  I used to have a single burner Coleman Peak 1 white gas stove that I burned unleaded fuel in because I was on a cross country bicycle trip for 6 months and white gas was near impossible to get in small amounts.

How To Keep Your Water Cool and BPA Free With A Stainless Steel Water Dispenser

Recently, we got rid of our plastic water dispenser at home and replaced it with a Dinuba 6 gallon stainless water dispenser that we picked up at Amazon.  The water always felt like it was a few degrees cooler than the ambient air temperature.  Additionally, we never had the bad plastic after-taste that we experienced with our 5 gallon plastic water jug.  I never thought that we could fit this container in the back of our Subaru until I measured it and realized that it was only about an inch wider than our old 5 gallon  plastic water container.   We liked the fact that it held an additional 1.6 gallons more than our plastic model.  The top is completely sealed and the dispenser has a locking mechanism to prevent it from dispenser water while you are traveling.

Camping trips should be as simple as possible.  Resist the temptation to bring too many fancy gadgets.  After you pack something away, ask your self again “Can I live without this item?”  Only bring the necessities that will benefit you and make your trip more enjoyable.

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]]> http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/3-camping-items-that-you-cannot-afford-to-do-without/feed/ 0 Green Camping – Enjoy and Protect the Great Outdoors http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/green-camping-enjoy-and-protect-the-great-outdoors/ http://www.campinglanternzone.com/2011/09/green-camping-enjoy-and-protect-the-great-outdoors/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:34:04 +0000 GuestPoster http://www.campinglanternzone.com/?p=262 Camping is a fun and family friendly activity and the perfect way to save cash on a holiday. Its also ‘greener’ – a chance to connect with the great outdoors and avoid the pollution caused air travel and tourism in so many popular parts of the world.

However, there are still a few things to consider when you’re planning a camping trip and want to minimize your impact on the natural world that you’re enjoying. Here we have a few tips to help you make the most of your holiday and ‘leave only footprints’ at the end of it.

Equipment

Use whatever you have – tent, sleeping bag, hiking clothes… It’s easy to give into temptation and seek out some shiny new gear each time you go away, leaving the older items rolled up and stuffed in the back of a cupboard, and the most environmentally friendly thing you can do is re-use and repair them until they fall apart.

If you absolutely must have a new something-or-other this year then consider the impact of its production and buy eco-friendly when you can. For clothing, natural materials such as bamboo are gaining popularity over their synthetic alternatives as an environmentally friendly choice so make sure you investigate your options.

Energy Use

While its wonderful to escape for a while from the daily grind and to feel free from modern technology the chances are that you’ll be taking something that uses energy. A torch, a mobile phone or a netbook? If you feel lost without your technology then consider buying yourself a solar or wind-up charger so that you are not using batteries (which can be quite harmful to the environment if not disposed of properly).

Don’t forget it when you get home either! A solar charger can save you electricity all year round so make the most of it as often as possible and you’ll reduce your environmental footprint.

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