LARP and SCA Camping Tips

Shelter

Bedding

Some events take place at camps, so all you will need is your bedding. If you don't have a sleeping bag you can improvise one by making a bedroll, which might even feel less modern.

To make a bedroll, you need five blanket pins, also called kilt pins, which are large, heavy safety pins. Many camping stores have them, as do a number of online stores. Otherwise, you need a twin sized blanket, and a twin top sheet. Place the blanket on the floor, spread out flat, and place the sheet on top. Pin the bottom corner, the enter of the bottom, and pin the open side. This works even better if you can sew the sheet closed to make a "sleep sack." If you are camping for more than five days, you might consider a second sheet, for a change. camping is a great deal dirtier than regular living, even if you have good bathing facilities on hand. If you are pressed for space, a cloak can make a very effective pillow, or extra blanket layer. If you can, spread you bedding out in the morning to air while you have breakfast. It can get damp with condensation in the night, and will not be as comfortable as completely dry bedding, nor will it dry in you tent, no matter how warm it gets during the day. One note—bedrolls are recommended only for temperate summer camping because they are not as warm as most commercial sleeping bags. (But they do look cooler!)

If you are sleeping out for more than one or two nights, you are going to want more padding between you and the ground. A folded kilt can make an adequate pad, but commercial backpacking pads are much better, and better still are air mattresses, despite their tendency to deflate in the night. be sure to bring a small pump with you. Some folks go the full decadent route and build rope or slat beds, with futons or straw mattresses.

The first thing you need to know about tents is this: The number of people they are listed for is for backpackers, and is based on how many bodies you can pile on the floor. Do yourself a favor—allow yourself more space. A four-man tent can be good for one person, or a close couple. That leaves room to sleep, and to put your stuff, without touching the sides. Anything touching the side may create a leak. Nylon tents are not nearly as sensitive as canvas tents, but they do still leak.

The second thing you need to know is that you cannot use a brand-new tent "straight out of the box." All of the seams may need to be sealed. You can get tubes of sealer anywhere you get a tent. I strongly recommend setting the tent up in advance at least once before the event, to get the seams sealed, and to ensure that all the parts are there! You will also want a "ground cloth," a tarp to put under your tent, even if your tent has a floor. this will not only help prevent flooding, but will also substantially prolong the life of your tent.

Choose a flat spot for your tent, and make sure the area is clear of everything. Even a small pebble can feel quite large when it is digging into your ribs in the middle of the night. If you can, pitch your tent so that it gets shade, especially in the morning, other wise you may find yourself "burnt out of bed" within an hour of sunrise. Nylon tents heat up fast.

Cabins

If you are camping in cabins, confirm what the accommodations are, so you don't need to bring bedding you don't need. of course many of those old mattresses are quite lumpy so you might want a sleeping pad to lay over them. Another optional item to consider is mosquito netting. Most cabins, while study and rain proof may have window screens, and screen doors in poor repair. you can get mosquito netting, or even use scrap fabric (though it ought to be very light fabric) To create a drape over the bed, so there is a barrier between you and the bugs.

< Intro · Food >