Latest Trends in Camping and Survival Gear for 2006: Outdoorsmen Point the Way through the Wilderness

Fields, forests and mountains are the real playgrounds for millions of Americans, if you ask those who like to camp, hike, hunt and fish. For many people, these activities are considered the "big four" in the outdoor industry. According to a recent study done by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, Americans are consistently spending more money on outdoor recreation like camping and hiking, and over 40 million Americans enjoy these activities every year. In order to meet their equipment needs, specialized websites are emerging that provide every conceivable form of outdoor gear.

Outside Magazine has been writing about one of the newest directions in outdoor supplies. This is the great push toward lighter, easier-to-carry items. The "Lightpacking" trend includes new lightweight versions of sleeping bags, backpacks and tents.

Thomas Sciacca, a former Marine, outdoorsman, and President of CampingSurvival.com says, “The lighter, the better. And with the newer materials and designs being used, this gear lasts as long as the standard versions.” CampingSurvival.com is a complete, one-stop answer with over 15,000 products for outdoor enthusiasts, campers, backpacking, fishing, hunting, survival, and emergency preparedness.

Spending time and energy in the great outdoors inevitably creates a ravenous appetite. Gear that gets food into the stomach faster and cuts down on cooking time is always popular. Sciacca says, “I’ve been watching buying trends of campers and have found that fire starters and tinders are big items. The best tinder materials are unaffected by wind or water and because of their new universal lighting material, can help get a blaze going even in a downpour.”

A new generation of survival food has become the “vogue” with outdoors and wilderness buffs. US military food scientists came up with a great-tasting high tech food that uses the best of several new food preservation technologies. It’s named MRE or "Meals Ready to Eat," because of its pre-cooked condition. These have a shelf life of 5 to 10 years, include main entrees, side dishes and dessert packs, and retain all the moisture, gravy and sauces in their natural form.

Whether you’re a backpacker looking for a pre-made supply bag for your next trip, or you simply want a convenient way to be prepared for the next man-made or natural disaster, “Go Bags” are your best bet. These pre-made kits contain lightweight items such as a tent, flashlight, first aid kit, utility knife, AM radio, waterproof matches, camper’s stove, solar blanket, food bars and water packs.

While camping gear can be purchased one item at a time at brick and mortar stores, Sciacca has found that people save time by getting all the items they need at one web site. “We get a lot of campers, as well as wilderness and survivalist types. Our 800 line also gets calls from hurricane survivors who need supplies shipped overnight, as well as local governments who buy MRE’s for their emergency preparedness plans. The same gear that keeps campers going in the wilderness, can sustain people when their water, electricity and phones are cut off.”

For free camping and survival gear advice and promotional pricing, visit www.campingsurvival.com.

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For More Information Contact:
Tom Sciacca
Phone: (800) 537-1339 ext. 222
Fax: 315-592-4796
28 W First St South
Fulton, NY 13069
sales@campingsurvival.com
www.campingsurvival.com