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You have bought the good quality camping gear for those great adventures with the family; now you need to look after your investment so you may use your gear over and over and have it ready and in good condition for the next outing.

Mostly commonsense, but things are not always that obvious and there is always just the right [ or the wrong place ] for your gear depending upon how much gear you have and where you live. Obviously tucked away underneath the house may not be the best way to care for those material items such as sleeping bags and tents, etc

Tents;

Tents should always be stored in a dry place away from insects and mice that may eat or live in your investment without your permission.

Before packing your tent away , make sure it is completely dry inside and out; this will prevent mould and mildew and that rotting smell that will spoil a good nights sleep. If you get caught in the rain and have to pack up your tent wet, just wipe,dry and air it out when you get home otherwise the fittings and stitching will get stressed and possibly rot. Make sure the tent pegs are always packed in their own bag with no sharp ends sticking out to tear any fabric and pack them inside the tent; otherwise they will get lost somewhere just when you need them. Check that all the fittings and fabric is in good condition as well. Don't put your tent under a pile of heavy items in case some of the poles get broken. The tent that you have is to be your home away from home so it is important that it be maintained correctly and more so if the weather becomes bad.

Sleeping bags

These are usually fairly robust but don't like dampness at all, they could use a good airing at times although just stored in a dry place away from insects and mice is all they need.

Stoves and Lighting

Ensure these are all clean and in good working order and carry a spare bulb/mantle for those bits that may get damaged or broken and of course check that the tanks are in stable condition [not rusted or damaged] and even make sure the tanks are full if the next use is not too distant. Protective cases will stop damage that may arise from being incorrectly packed or just an accident of some sort ,and these are fairly important in the case of gas lighting with their brittle glass components.

First Aid Kits;

Stockup the various items and possibly carry extra of those items you know you may need/use more than usual.

Backpacks;

These are robust and only require a nice dry spot

Cooking Gear

Gather all your cooking gear together and replace all those things that just disappear or become unuseable for some reason and give them a rough check that they are all clean and easily found.

Your cooking gear is great if it is self reliant and you don't have to raid the kitchen and find the things you need every time you go camping;once again sturdy containers for storage are important.

Keeping all your gear organized and ready can save you lots of time when it comes to packing the car for your next trip away as you will have lots to remember and should be start of a great memorable camping adventure.

When packing the family car to get away, it is best to pack the heaviest things at the bottom and the things you may need readily available [ like jackets etc, in case the weather gets bad] to be put upon the top.

A little advanced preparation will save lots of headaches later