Inflatable Kayak Blog

By M.A.S. (Guest Blogger)

If you are like most Baby Boomers, myself included, you may have spent your childhood in the great outdoors. I spent mine camping.

I remember my folks dragging out the old Army tent, the gas stove, the lawn chairs and tarps. After spending most of the first day setting up, we would sit around the campfire to detail our plans. We decided we would spend our time fishing, hiking, swimming and kayaking. Kayaking and fishing turned out to be a chore. We would have to drag those big metal boats out on the lake. By days end, I remember being so tired as we ate our dinner next to an open fire pit.

Today, my husband and I love to camp, however the experience is much better. We get the outdoor experience without going broke or packing all the heavy supplies.

We have a easier time setting up camp. We bought a pop-up tent which takes minutes to set up and opens up in 3 seconds. No more metal Kayaks or fishing boats either, After an on-line search, we bought an inflatable kayak and an inflatable boat. And, of course, now we have access to excellent electronic gadgets like GPS and ‘fish finders’ and the waterproof cases to carry them in.

We can now pack up our small car with ease. The pop-up tent along with our portable kayak and inflatable boat still leaves us room for our sleeping bags, cooler, lights and even our camp stove.

We “Boomers” are downsizing and downsizing our camping equipment is no exception. After we return from our trips, unpacking our tent, the portable kayak, inflatable boat and the rest of our gear, we can place them on the same shelf either in a bedroom closet or in the garage for safekeeping until our next trip.

If you still long for the good old days, I think I still have that old army tent hidden in the back of the garage.

Procrastinators rejoice! I ran across this last minute shopping special from The North Face. In case you don’t know, The North Face is a company that makes some excellent quality outdoor clothing for kayaking and other outdoor accessories, such as tents, that any outdoor lover on your list will enjoy. For one day only, December 22, 2009, The North Face will upgrade customers to Free Overnight Shipping on orders over $150 to ensure delivery by December 24. Orders must be placed by 11:59 PM EST on December 22. The offer will automatically show up in the checkout if you click through on the link below. There’s no promotion code required. Shipping costs will automatically be removed at checkout once minimum is reached.

Here’s the link … One day only – Dec 22, upgrade to Free Overnight Shipping on orders over $150.

A few months ago I spotted a new product online that really shortens the setup time for a campsite. The Wind Ridge Tent from Eldorado Outdoor Products is a revolutionary new tent that’s both durable and lightweight. It sleeps three adults and sets up in only 3 seconds. That’s right, 3 seconds! The Wind Ridge Tent is fast and easy to setup in only 3 seconds because of a revolutionary central hub system. This system quickly pulls its strong flexi poles into place and takes away the hassle of setting up a tent.

The tent is built for 3 seasons; Spring, Summer and Fall. It’s been tested to survive the most challenging weather. Interior dimensions are 7 foot by 7 foot with an interior height of a little over 4 foot. The tent weighs less than 9 pounds. Just take the tent out of its carry sack, hold it by the top and give it a shake. The Wind Ridge Tent is up and ready. It’s a perfect tent for overnight kayak trips or backpacking.