Wednesday, April 18, 2012

How to Choose a Sleeping Bag

During vacations, many families love going camping to spend their vacation. During this time, there is the urge of everyone thinking of where they will sleep. Since we have decided on going camping, it is a convenient way of saving and cutting costs other than sleeping in a motel. However, when going camping, one does not carry along their beds and mattresses to sleep on.

During this time, it is then that one starts thinking of where he/she put their sleeping bags and if one does not have one they start thinking of the costs. When trying to purchase these types of sleeping bags, it is important to get a proper one. Since it is camping and you will be sleeping inside a tent, then getting a warm bag for sleeping is the best choice. At daytime, the weather might be warm, but when night comes, it gets a bit chilly.

Camping Sleeping Bags

When it comes to choosing camping sleeping bags, the local climate is among the most important things to consider. The climate of the region you will be camping is an important aspect to consider. It is important to check whether the region is chilly or warm. These camping sleeping bags come in variety of designs. Many people love the kind of design that zips open, since it offers an additional padding. With the padding, during hot summers, one can cover themselves up with just a sheet. However, it is not the same for the chilly season. The advantage of these bags is that they have thermally insulated.

Apart from this, you should go for moderate temperature sleeping bags when choosing a camping sleeping bag. The most important factor to consider when purchasing a camping bag is that one should choose a camping sleeping bag that is suitable for the area you will be camping. By being suitable, it means that you get a sleeping bag that goes with the type of weather in the region for camping. It is important to consider the budget, durability, warmth, weight, comfort, and laundering, when purchasing camping bags is important.

How To Choose a Sleeping Bag?

Sleeping bags come in different shapes, sizes, materials, and temperature rating. It is important to know how to choose a sleeping bag. Other aspects to consider include the type of material. Bags are made of different types of material. Some are made of natural materials such as cotton, and wool. Bags made of such materials are light in weight and they retain heat. Many people love bags made of these two types of material not only because they are of lightweight and good heat absorbers. However, it is because wool is a type of material that repels water whilst for cotton, is of low cost.

Another aspect to consider when shopping for a camping bag is the shape of the bag. These bags come in many different shapes. However, there are the most common types of sleeping bags, which are the basic and the mummy shapes. If one says he/she want a bag in form of a basic shape, they are ones that are rectangular, with zippers on both or three sides. The basic shaped sleeping bags are best for car camping trips. Unlike the basic shaped sleeping bags, some factors make the mummy shaped bags superior to the basic shaped bags.

Some of these factors include these bags have tapering from head to toe. Some have a special way of reducing volume and surface area. Another characteristic of mummy shaped bags is that unlike the basic shape, the mummy bags have zippers only on one side thus reducing heat escape. They have an added advantage which is they also have a hood like feature at the top of the bag that help in preventing heat escape.

The third factor to consider is the temperature. A good bag is one that has a liner. A liner helps in providing additional warmth while sleeping. Bringing along a camping sleeping bag liner during the cold season or in cold regions is a brilliant idea since it provides the required amount of heat to make one have a comfortable night. The good thing about this type of bag is that it has an advantage of one being able to use on its own during those hot nights. Since they are usually made of cotton, silk, or polyester material they are of lightweight hence easy to carry along and wash. When picking bag liners, make sure you pick the right shape and size.

Sleeping Bag Price

One finally has a clue and idea of the type of bag he/she wants and of what material. It is obvious that when shopping for a camping bag for going camping, you will get one that offers you enough comfort and warm. These two thing matter a lot when choosing bags. However, they matter too when it comes to the sleeping bag price. Since many companies manufacture bags they tend to differs when it comes to how much they cost.

Before making a decision on the type of sleeping bag you want to purchase, it is important to first, carry out further research. Look for a good quality of bag. It should not necessarily be a product of a reputable company just as long as it is of good quality. After getting what you want, try to compare the prices of the different manufacture. Some of them might be sold at a cheaper price yet they are not of quality. It is important to get something that is worthwhile instead of going for a cheap product that will not even serve you for months.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Owning A Swimming Pool Provides A Number Of Advantages

Whether you're adding a pool to your home to improve the value of your home or just want a form of fun recreation right in your own backyard, a swimming pool provides hours of fun and also has health benefits. A pool also serves as an instant gathering place for family and friends. With the variety available through custom designed pools, residents can enjoy a pool that fits their budget, their backyard, and their recreational needs.

Create an Instant Party

When you have a swimming pool in your backyard, you can create an instant party without the need for much preparation. People enjoy swimming and gathering outside during nice weather, so with a few refreshments you can quickly throw together a pool party for any type of celebration. Kids also enjoy having a swimming pool because it can turn a normal day around the house into a fun-filled day when they invite a couple of friends over to swim. Add a slide or waterfall to your pool and you'll notice that your family spends more time outside than inside when the weather's favourable.

Health Benefits of Owning a Pool

Swimming pools aren't just for fun and recreation. Many people find that their pool is useful for exercise and even pain management. Since swimming is a low-impact form of aerobic exercise, people at different fitness levels can take advantage of water aerobics, lap swimming, and even water walking or jogging without putting any strain on muscles or joints. Water therapy is sometimes prescribed by doctors for people with chronic pain, and having a pool on your property is one of the easiest ways to manage your health.

Swimming Pool Designs Cater to Any Style

This area is known for its outdoor recreation along the coast, but not everyone has the ocean in their backyard. Packing up the family and making the trek to the ocean where the peak seasons have plenty of crowds can get tiresome for some and can mean you don't get an opportunity to swim as much as you want. With the various pool designs, families can have a pool that's designed to remind them of the ocean, blend in with their landscaping, or take the most advantage of the space available in the backyard. With a custom pool, you can feel like you're at your favourite vacation spot every day. A pool designer can also add in waterfalls, waterspouts, a hot tub, great lighting, and other features that will make your pool a popular place to be during the summer months. Owning a pool has countless benefits, with opportunities to have fun and take care of your health.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Increasing Vertical Jump - Tips For Jumping Higher

Vertical Jump can be used as a means for measuring how powerful a player or athlete is. It may also be a skill required in playing a game such as in basketball. To increase your vertical jump, what you basically need to do is to practice jumping higher numerous times within a week. Soon, your brain will realize what you have been trying to do and to achieve. In response, the brain will signal the body to act accordingly. You will eventually see that your body has been developing strength and needed qualities such as coordination. You will soon find yourself jumping higher, smoother and more effectively.

It all sounds and seems too simple to perform; but if you practice jumping incorrectly, you are more likely not to achieve your goals. This is why it is important to know first how to correctly do the jump practice. It is equally essential to implement some great tips to further help increase your vertical jump.

There are two types of jumping that one can perform. One is jumping from a standing position and the other is jumping while running.

Jumping While Standing

This is simpler compared to jumping while on a run. In this jumping style, keep in mind that you need to stand as tall as you possibly can before jumping in order to achieve excellent results. You have to rise up on your toes and then raise your arms upward surpassing the top of your head. With this, you can achieve better distance for generating downward forces. These eccentric forces will assist in facilitating your use of stretch cycle.

Jumping While Running

Off the run jumping has an obvious goal of being able to use horizontal speed in achieving better vertical jump results. The added variable from the horizontal movement can considerably make jumping more complex than the simple jump while standing.

You can take a look first into the track and field area. Observe the athletes and runners as they perform long jump, high jump or triple jump. Although the three events have varying approaches, you could get the similarity among them to know the best way to jump off from a run.

You need to work on your run up. For the track and field athlete, he first ensures the maximum distance of his jump wherein he will not run into the bar. You can do this, even without participating in the track and field event, by determining the spot where you exactly want to have a takeoff. From here, you can work backwards. You do not necessarily need to do it as accurate as that of an athlete. Choose a spot within the playing court where you can work at your maximum, yet controlled speed.

Controlled speed is crucial because it lets you absorb the force from running and use it accordingly to jump high. Without controlled speed, you might also be hurting yourself as you jump. When you do your takeoff, this momentum and speed you have while running will be transferred to your height in jumping. So, you have to maintain your speed as consistently as possible.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Don't Forget the Metal Detector

No matter where you are going or what kind of metal detecting you are going to be doing, you should have a check list of what to take along. If you're like me, I invariably get to my spot and I've forgotten something. That's so frustrating. Even if I can continue my hunting without the forgotten item(s), in some cases, I have to turn around and go back home to get whatever it is I forgot because it's something I can not do without - like my metal detector (duh). Don't ask my husband about that story. He loves to tell that one... all the time.

Here is a list I've come up with of things that you should probably have on all your metal detecting hunts. You may or may not think of other things that you personally want to take along, and this list is by no means set in stone, but all in all these things are good to have with you.

Metal Detector- Duh! I say this because sometimes - more often than I'd like to admit, I get so carried away in packing all my stuff that I forget to take the most obvious. Has that ever happened to you? Come on, admit it. Like going to a concert and forgetting the tickets... just saying.

Headphones - If you use headphones, and I think most detectorist's do. Make sure you have them packed. Headphone really help our hear the distinct tones your metal detector makes.

Probe- If you do not have a probe yet, I suggest you invest in a good one. A probe will help to pin point your treasure so you can dig it out without harming it. It's a very good and useful tool to have along.

Digging Tool- Trowel or shovel - Keep your digging tool clean and sharp. There is nothing worse than a dull shovel. Many sites have special digging tools and/or sifters; a great investment, however, a simple garden trowel and shovel does the job also.

Pouch/Bag/baggies - You can't forget to take along something to put your treasures in. I like to take small baggies to keep things separate if I want to. Some sort of collecting bag is essential.

Spare Batteries- Always, always, always have spare batteries with you when you're on your metal detecting excursion. There is nothing more frustrating than having your battery go dead right in the middle of a 'sweet' spot.

Magnifying Glass- I like to take a magnifying glass with me. Sometimes I'll find a relic or coin that I want to investigate closer. With a magnifying glass you can possibly see the date of the coin or item or any small engraving.

Gloves- Gloves save the hands from dirt, cuts, mud, etc. or you can go naked and hope for the best. I like to have gloves. It sucks to ruin a nice manicure.

First Aid Kit- Just in case. Better to take care of a boo-boo right away instead of waiting to get home.

Water/Food- I take a small cooler, and I put in several bottles of drinking water, maybe a soda or other beverage of my choice. I also like to take a gallon jug of water for rinsing, etc. should the need arise. Then I always like to take along snacks. No treasure hunting expedition is complete without snacks... or not. Up to you.

Towels/rags - Always good to have with you. Saves you from wiping the dirt and grime on you pants or jacket sleeves.

There you have it. Just a few items that I think are necessary. Depending on where you're going to be hunting there would be other items needed also.