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Are you looking for the perfect sleeping bag for your child’s sleepover or your next camping trip? If you’re like most people, you’d like a few tips on choosing the right sleeping bag. Here are a few helpful tips that you can use to ensure that you spend your money wisely while getting exactly what you need…

What temperature rating do you need?

Consider when and where you’ll be using your sleeping bag. Many individuals just blindly toss one in the cart without checking to see what temperatures it performs best in. This is important to do, especially if you are planning to use it on a camping trip. Depending on where you will be camping, you may require a sleeping bag that protects you or the intended user for very low temperatures. Visit Wikipedia for more on sleeping bag temperature ratings.

Check the sleeping bag material.

The material that the sleeping bag is made of should also be a concern if you plan to use this item on more than a few occasions because some materials tear easily or catch fire quickly. The most durable material you can find a sleeping bag made of is Dryloft. It is popular and also more expensive but it offers several great qualities that you just can’t find in other materials. Water resistance, weather resistance and good breathability are just a few of the amazing qualities of this material. Microfiber is also a good bet for durability and water resistance.

Check the all-important filling.

The filling that your bag contains is another important choice for those intending to use their sleeping bag outdoors. There are several options available, so we will break them down into groups; those that insulate well when wet and those that do not insulate well when wet.

Fillings That Insulate Well When Wet

• Lite-loft
• Primaloft
• Hollofil
• Polarguard
• Microloft

Fillings That Do Not Insulate Well When Wet

• Down

Of course, there is much more to consider when choosing the sleeping bag that’s right for you, but these little facts can help you out a bit if you take them into consideration when you go to purchase your next sleeping bag.

“Retreat? Hell, we just got here.”

These are the famous words uttered by Captain Lloyd W. Williams of the U.S. Marine Corps during the Battle of Belleau Wood (World War I). He was a company commander in the 5th Marines; when it was recommended he should withdraw his men, he uttered this phrase which lives on in Marine Corp history.

This was a particularly bloody battle because the American forces had to make their way across an open field in order to capture the woods. This battle was particularly important because of its location so near Paris, France.

The field Williams and his men were in was being constantly bombarded with German artillery and machine gun fire. The Americans and the French forces were utilizing snipers and sharpshooters in defense. The Marine Corps set a record for casualties that day, which would stand until they captured Tarawa in World War II in November of 1943.

About Lloyd W. Williams

Williams was born in the small town of Berryville, Virginia on June 5th, 1887. He died on June 12th 1918 in the Battle of Chateau-Thierry. After his death he was promoted to major and he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross as well as the Purple Heart for losing his life in battle.

Lloyd W. Williams not only distinguished himself as a USMC hero, but it is also said that he is the first person from Virginia to have died in World War I. He went to school at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute graduating with the class of 1907. It was in 1957 the school honored his memory by dedicating Major Williams Hall to his name.

There are a number of memorials to honor those who lost their lives in this the most ferocious and bloody battle of the First World War. In Germany a cemetery was created in March of 1922 that includes the bodies of men, most unknown or resting in a common grave, that were killed in 1918 between the rivers of Aisne and Marne. They are joined in their final resting place with 70 men who gave their lives in the 1st Battle of the Marne in 1914.

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While you are here, check out the Ka-Bar USMC 100th Anniversary Fighting Knife and the other great Kabar Knives we have.

After we released our free Haleakala Volcano ScreenSaver, some people said that they would like the picture from the screensaver to use as desktops or to add to their Windows pictures screensaver. So…here are the Haleakala Volcano images for your enjoyment!

Note: Please do not remove the tiny attribution on the bottom right corner of each picture.

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We’re going to give away $25 to one lucky blogger on Febuary 1st, 2008. Want a chance to win? Here are the details…

The Prize: The winner of our blog contest will receive $25 cash via Paypal or Money Order.

How To Enter: Make a post on your blog telling your readers about our contest. Link to this post + the homepage of our blog. If your blog sends us a trackback, you’ll be automatically entered. Otherwise, just comment on here with the url of your post.

Other rules: We reserve the right to deny any entry from a blog that contains adult material, illegal material, or is spammy in nature.

Fishing is a sport that is enjoyed by individuals of all ages during every season of the year. Yup, you can fish in the winter, too!

As fun and exciting as fishing can be in the winter, it is important to remember that doing so can be dangerous if you are not careful. With that being said, there are a number of tips, that once implemented, can ensure that your next winter fishing adventure is safe and successful.

Tip 1: No Lone Ranger Fishing

In terms of safety, it is important to never fish alone during the winter. This is particularly important if you will be ice fishing. During every other season, there is likely a large number of individuals in the water or along the shoreline line, but this isn’t always the case during the winter. A fishing partner can assist you should you ever find yourself in a potentially life-threatening situation.

Tip #2: Communicate

If you are unable to fish with a partner, it is important to create a mini itinerary for yourself. Let a trusted friend or relative know exactly where you will be fishing, for how long, and when you are expected to return.

Tip #3: Fish, Don’t Explore

Speaking of location, for safety reasons winter fishers should visit areas that they are familiar with. New locations should be saved for better weather.

Tip #4: It’s Not July

Before leaving for a winter fishing trip, it is important to check the weather and dress for it. Winter weather can be unpredictable; therefore, you are advised against making assumptions. The anticipated weather forecast for your winter fishing trip should be easy to examine. Dressing warmly in the winter is also important for fishers, as it helps to provide comfort. Also, be sure to prepare for the worst, in terms of clothing. While your fishing trip may be successful, there is no harm in planning for certain situations, like being stranded on your boat.

Tip #5: Ice On The Line

In terms of fishing gear, there are a number of winter fishing tips that can help ensure your next fishing trip is filled with great catches. For starters, a line conditioner should be used. Line conditioner, when properly used, can keep all fishing lines free of ice and ice build up. This is not only ideal for ice fishing, but also when the temperatures are below freezing.

Have fun on your winter fishing trip with these tips – stay safe!

Camping is for the most part a safe, fun, and health sport – but there are a few safety rules you should follow if you want your camping trip to be safe and healthy.

Safety Rule #1: Respect Nature

First, respect animals, and the nature that surrounds you. Be aware of any dangerous animals (such as bears or snakes) that live in the area you are camping in. Your policy should be to leave everything exactly the way it was when you came through – in fact, you should try to pick up any garbage you see so you can make it better.

Safety Rule #2: Water Goes Downhill

Be aware of potential flood areas when you’re setting up camp – don’t camp in the bottom of ravines or right next to a creek. Flooding can be dangerous, so make sure you avoid the hazardous areas. Mountainous areas are especially susceptible to flash floods.

Safety Rule #3: Look Around

Third, when you set up camp you should check for any potential dangers. Always look overhead and see if there are dead tree branches above the area where you will be camping. They could fall in the night, directly onto your tent. That is an unpleasant way to be awakened (to say the least), so just avoid areas where that is possible.

Safety Rule #4: Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

Just like Smokey Bear says, you should always be careful with fire. If you are even slightly irresponsible with your campfire, you could end up burning down large tracts of forest. Make sure you know proper campfire technique so that you can contain it and burn it in a controlled manner. Never start a fire unless you have water handy to help control it.

Safety Rule #5: Cool, Clear Water

Finally, be careful of what water you drink. You should never drink anything unless you’re 100% sure it’s purified. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of the wilderness with painful stomach convulsions. Whether you bring your own water, boil it, or use a purifier, just make sure you aren’t ingesting any dangerous water.

If you follow these 5 rules safety rules, you’ll be well on your way to ensuring a safe and fun camping expedition for all involved.

Enjoy the rugged beauty of Haleakala National Park on your computer screen with our newly released 100% free screensaver. Our screensaver features 5 photographs taken in December 2007 on the Haleakala Volcano on Maui, Hawaii.

This screensaver is 100% adware, spyware, and virus-free.

Click here to download the Haleakala ScreenSaver (11.5 MB)

Preview:

In this video, outdoorsman, photographer and park ranger Paul Sundberg shows you his favorite camping spots in Minnesota. Even if you don’t want to camp, these places are still a great place to enjoy the outdoors in Minnesota.