No Excuse. You have Backyard
The backyard is not merely a space for grass, nor a place where you put a patio dining set; it is much more. The backyard can be considered a group of small worlds among which people can move smoothly at any time. To talk about the benefits of the backyard may be very long, so we will outline the most important benefits that come from owning a backyard.
Benefits of Having a Backyard
Natural Space:
Natural Space:The backyard will bring you closer to nature as it lets you keep a garden full of flowers and nice plants. Also, you can grow your vegetables and fruit. Your backyard will make you closely witness the life cycle of nature throughout the year, and also watch the rebirth of plants and trees every spring.
Kids space:
Parents know how important is to provide children with an outdoor playing space. Physical exertion such as running, jumping, and climbing is not a mere kid going crazy. It’s an exit of great energy that children have. But nothing can be safer and more enjoyable than letting your kids play in your backyard since you can design it the way you and your kids like. Let alone the physiological benefits, the psychological benefits are a lot: improving imagination and meditation and boosting emotions and feelings are just a few examples. One more thing, your backyard will help you know more about your kids and their friends.
Family space:
Spending quality time with our families is what most of us miss. From nice breakfasts to small BBQs, your backyard will allow you to have pleasant meals with your family. Exercising and working out with your kids in the morning can be more comfortable. Disclosing your problems and feeling won’t be more relaxing than doing it over a cup of hot drink in the backyards.
Activity and socializing space:
A countless number of social activities can be done in your yard. Mini-golf, ring toss, darts, Frisbee are some of the most cheerful and invigorating outdoor games that get people together and bring them closer to each other. Other soothing activities can be yoga, book day, sale yard or
Pet animals’ space:
We all know that having a pet at home is a great responsibility, part of which is offering your pet the best environment in order not to feel alienated or bored. The best way to perk up your pets is to let them out into your backyard. On top of that, owning a backyard gives you many more choices when it comes to owning a pet animal: lizards, rabbits, turtles, parrots are some of the most adorable options.
Tips on How to Maintain a Beautiful, Healthy Yard
The convenience:
Equipping the backyard with the necessary patio furniture is an essential task. Whether for a dining table, chairs, coffee tables, or patio swing, they all seem to be part and parcel of your yard required experience. Shads and shelters must be provided to avoid sunrays in summer and the rain in winter. The availability of adequate lighting and electric sockets is fundamental.
The design:
Choosing the right decor in terms of design, colors, and comfort is what helps you enjoy your backyard completely. It is not logical, for instance, to place a huge patio dining set in a small space, nor it is rational to place a hard-to-move metal sofa in front of the gate. Every corner of the backyard must be carefully structuralized.
Healthy turf:
When you have a backyard, caring for flowers and plants becomes more important. Watering, fertilizing, repairing, mowing, and aerating the lawn are the most important tasks that should not be ignored. Nevertheless, you need to have enough gardening knowledge to be able to carry out these tasks professionally. The availability of garden tools and equipment, such as tow sprayers, fertilizer spreaders, lawnmowers, for example, certainly help you do these tasks.
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Swimming is the Best Family Activity
Oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes have been an integral part of literature and arts. Civilizations since the dawn of history have been showing their love of the sea and water: countless myths about sea gods and goddesses, sailors’ fantasies seeing mermaids, adventurers’ stories about crimson coral, and wondrous pearls. This unique relationship to water explains why the majority of people adore swimming. Just as mothers hug their babies to express love and passion, people jump into the water with joy and happiness to announce their love of water. Everything belongs to swimming is ceremonial and vivid: colorful pool floats and goggles, flashy swimsuits, soft towels, light flip-flops, and beach umbrellas with joyful colors are just a few examples. Nothing can bring families and friends together better than swimming. It is the best liberating and relaxing family activity by no means.
Health benefits of swimming
No wonder that families are remarkably fond of swimming since it suits every single one in the family. From small kids to grandparents, swimming helps everyone keep healthy and in shape. This activity allows many patients to get better as well. Even those who don’t know how to swim, using armbands or inflatable rings lets them obtain the same beneficial results. Let alone the health benefits of water sports, mere walking in water is highly recommended by physicians. Based on the fact that swimming engages all body parts and muscles, this activity is the best to help your family keep fit. Nothing better than swimming in terms of burning calories. Swimming increases the capacity of the lungs and helps you better control your breath. Luckily, people can get all the above-mentioned benefits sweat-free.
Social benefits of swimming
Your little ones, youngsters and everybody else in your family will definitely learn a lot from the activity of swimming. Enhancing the feeling of responsibility and commitment is one of the most notable social benefits of swimming. Brothers and sisters will learn how to protect and help each other, forgetting all fights and arguments off the pool. Moreover, swimming helps people feel more self-confident and self-disciplined at an early age, which in turns improves teamwork skills. It is one of the few sports that encourage you to set goals and insist on meeting them in an enjoyable and cheerful way.
Emotional and mental wellbeing
Besides the countless physical benefits, the brain functions better when people go swimming. The splash, jump, joy and laugh all put our brains at ease and comfort our souls. Swimming improves cognitive skills and fosters the growth of neuro-cells; hence, it reduces anxiety and stress feelings. The emotional positive impact of swimming represents itself in the boost of mood people feel during swimming, and in the improvement in sleep afterwards. One more time, swimming proves itself to be the best activity for families.
How to make swimming a new style of living?
How much money do you pay for a gym membership for yourself and for your family? How many times you struggle to catch up with public pools schedules and leizure centres time tables? Don’t you have enough commuting from and to work every day, and you feel fed up accompany your kids to and from sport centers? I think we all have been there and I believe it is worth installing our own swimming pool. When I think of all the benefits of swimming, I start to think of making this activity the new trend of my life. If you don’t have a pool, you can consider to have one of the Above Ground Pools. In contrast to what you may think, there are a couple of reason why you should buy one of those above ground pools.
- The affordability: the cost is minimal comparing to building up a regular swimming pool. It is between 60% to 80% cheaper than the normal in-ground pools.
- Wide range models, sizes and layouts: based on the available space you have, you can choose from numerous option offered by many dealers. You can also choose the appropriate design for your house. Unlike in-ground pools, slopes up or down doesn’t make it difficult to install the pool since its walls are adjustable.
- A lot of DIY options available in the market: if you are looking for a better budget option, you can go for DIY above ground pools.
- Easy and fast to install: in most cases, above ground pools can be installed in one day only.
- Easy and simple maintenance: the pool kits and equipment are easy to reach and repaired as they are above the ground.
- Easy to move: with this type of pools, you don’t need to worry about the money you spent on the pool when you move to another house; it can simply move with you, too.
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Baseball Is Becoming More Popular In The States
Baseball in one of the three most popular sports in the United States. If we look at the history of sports in the States, we can easily conclude that baseball is the most popular sport in the history of the country – ever.
Baseball’s fame rise in the early 20th century and dominates for decades. Even though its popularity drops at the end of the century and is overshadowed by the American Football and the Basketball, baseball never ranked lower than third among the Americans. Now, at the end of the second decade of the 21st century, the popularity of baseball is rising again and is about to reach its peak again.
One of the reasons why baseball’s popularity is going back is the rise of popularity of softball as a variant of the sport. Actually, a lot of people don’t know that softball was invented a long time ago. Softball was first played in 1887 in Chicago. It was invented as an indoor sport but later evolved into something we know today. Softball is played with a slightly bigger ball and on a smaller field.
Usually, kids start practicing softball because it’s easier for playing, but as they grow up, their interest in the sport rises and they want to play the traditional baseball. Everyone knows that you can’t have excellent professional athletes if you have no youth loving the sport. That’s why softball is very important for baseball even though softball exists as a serious professional sport of its own.
If you want your children to love baseball it’s important to let them play softball at their youngest age. This will prepare them for the more serious challenge later. So let’s see what you need for playing softball.
Basic Equipment For Softball
Depending on the position the player is at, the equipment varies. Some players might never wear some of the equipment. However, softball equipment is almost the same as the one in baseball players with a slight difference in the type of balls and bats. As we mentioned, the ball in softball is bigger, also the bats are more adjusted to this type of play. The rest of the equipment consists of helmets, uniforms, gloves and chest protector for the catcher.
Types of Softball
Another important part why baseball is very popular is the variety of version of the sport. Even softball its own has more versions. The most popular one is called slow-pitch softball, then there is a fast-pitch softball and modified softball. They all differ one to the others by only a little, but they have their own rules that you must know before you enter the field.
For example, in modified softball, the popular windmill swing is not allowed. The fast-pitch softball is popular exactly for this. Slow-pitch softball is played with ten players infield while the fast-pitch with only nine. Another difference is the type of balls used and the bats for the batters. The ball can be a different size depending on the age of the players too. The material and the weight of the bats also.
Fastpitch Softball Bats Vs Slowpitch Softball Bats
Picking up a softball bat is very important. The first thing you must know is that there is a different bat for every age, player weight, and type of game. When it comes to age, it’s normal to get a smaller bet for the younger categories of players. However, if the player is aged 10 but has a muscular body and is already as strong as a 12-year old, then he or she can get a bigger bat.
When it comes to the type of game, choosing the right bat is also important. Fastpitch and softpitch softball use different rules when it comes to pitching. That’s why the batter needs a different bat for a different kind of pitch. Good quality fastpitch softball bats are usually lighter than those used in slowpitch. This is so because of the speed of the ball pitched in the two versions. Pitchers in fastpitch throw the ball faster and the batter needs a bat that will be lightweight enough to react. In softpitch, the batter has more time to prepare, so the bat can be heavier and cause more impact. In professional baseball, where players are adults, the bats are heavier while their length is just like in softball.
Conclusion
As you can see, the popularity of baseball is not just marketing and professional games. The love for baseball is implemented in American kids from the youngest age. This, however, is a result from playing softball and getting one step at a time toward the professional baseball.
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Entertainment During Camping
Camping is a lot of fun, no doubt. However, the trips in nature, setting up the camp, and enjoying the silence can become pretty boring after some time. Usually, people that spend more time in the great outdoors, carry some of their favorite outdoor activities that can be practiced during their stay. Some love meditating, some love cooking in the open using nature as their kitchen, and some like other things.
When you’re in nature there are basically no limitations on what you can and cannot do. The world is your playground. Up in the mountains and forests, you can’t find people for miles and you have nothing to worry about. If you have no inspiration, here are some ideas about what to do during your camping in nature.
Archery
Since there is a lot of land without anyone in it to get hurt, you can practice your archery skills on distant targets. Bow and arrow, shooting with a gun or a rifle, you name it. Place the target on a nearby tree that you think has enough distance and enjoy the silence while concentrating on your target. Just make sure that there are no wild animals in the middle or behind your target. We wouldn’t like to get them hurt, right?
Golf nets
Golf nets are very easy to store and almost take no space in your backpack. They are also incredibly easy to install and will give you hours of fun if golfing is what you love. Practicing your swing is a good way to spend quality time while camping, but you simply can’t have a hundred golf balls with you, right? Even if you can, you can’t just swing away and look for them in the distance.
That’s why golf nets are the solution and one of the perfect ways to entertain yourself while camping. You swing the ball and it still stays right next to you. Golf nets are the number one pal for golf lovers that also love to go on outdoor adventures.
Frisbee
If you’re not traveling solo, one of the best games for entertaining yourselves is Frisbee. With all the free space around you, you can fly the frisbee without the danger of hurting someone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional or love to play a real game with rules and everything, or just a friendly throw and catch. Frisbee is a fun way to spend time and get some physical exercise too.
Boomerang
Did you ever throw a boomerang in your life? It’s fun, isn’t it? The boomerang is a traditional weapon of Australian Aborigines. Today it’s a toy. No matter how you like to threat the boomerang, the fact is it needs a lot of open space to be practiced. If you do it in a park, chances are great someone will get hurt. In the wild, no one except a tree or a bush will get hurt.
Kites
Flying a kite is a joyful experience. Yes, it may require a little too much space, but if you have the chance, flying a kite in nature can be a time well spent. Kites require wind and in nature, winds are a more normal occurrence than in cities. You don’t have to wait for special conditions, you can do it almost any time of the day.
Watching The Stars
Light pollution in the cities is a serious problem. When it comes to watching the stars, it’s nearly impossible to do it while you’re in an urban area. Camping in the great outdoors will give you the chance to watch the stars and see all the famous constellations. You don’t need any equipment, but if you have the chance for carrying something with you, then this is the perfect time to mount all the parts on your telescope and enjoy hours and hours of watching the sky and everything visible in it.
Social gaming
Camping with a friend or more people is perfect for playing social games. Chess, cards, or other friendly games that you all love. Just imagine the picture – the campfire is quietly preparing your tacos, you listen to the song of wild birds in the distance and have nothing around to break your concentration while you’re thinking of your next chess move.
It’s even better with cards. More people can play cards. Sometimes there are guys that can’t stand losing and turn the game into a verbal fight with everyone playing. Don’t worry about it, there’s no one but you and the birds listening to this joyful arguing that is more of a game than anything serious.
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Everyday Supplies That Can be Repurposed For Survival
Going out in the wilderness and enjoying the great outdoors is an amazing experience, right? Of course, hiking in fresh air or pumping up testosterone while climbing rocky mountains. But have you ever thought about safety? One can never be prepared for everything that might occur in nature and nature can be rough sometimes.
People going on adventures usually get ready for everything that might come their way, but sometimes they just go on short trips and expect to get back home safe and sound. Bad weather, sudden injuries, or other unwanted situations might change the plan. If something like this happens, it’s hard to stay calm. Some events are life-threatening, so it’s good to know what everyday supplies can be used in the survival mode.
Wristwatch
Today’s watches worn on your hand are much more of just time-tellers. They have lots of options including internet possibilities. Meaning, a simple watch on your hand can save your life. Most of the watches made for adventurers have a compass on them so you can be sure you’re not walking in circles in case you get lost.
Even if the watch is of no use for more than just telling time, it can be useful in desperate situations. If you get lost and need help, you can use the watch to signal distant places, like far away villages from top of a mountain, or a helicopter looking for you while you’re in the woods with a broken leg. The sun beams will reflect off the watch’s surface and travel long distances. This way you can signal someone about your position and hope for help.
Condoms
It may sound silly, but some people take condoms intentionally with them while traveling in the great outdoors. A condom is very affordable, takes no space whatsoever and is extremely lightweight. At the same time, it can be used to store lots of water. Imagine you end up in a middle of nowhere without drinking water. You’re lost. You’re looking for a way home, but it seems like it can take a while. You come near a spring of fresh water but you didn’t come prepared and the condom is the only thing you can store water in.
A condom can carry more than a liter of water. Just make sure you tie both ends of it to a sling so the weight of the water doesn’t hit only one end and the condom explode. This way, you can continue your journey and have drinking water for at least a few more hours.
Tennis strings and equipment
People who play tennis often keep their equipment in the trunk of their car. If you’ve gone camping by car and suddenly you need a rope but there’s nothing available to be used, the tennis racquet can be used. The strings of the racquet can be used for many purposes as they are strong and flexible.
Tennis strings are made of many materials, polyester, nylon, natural gut, etc. All these materials are very firm, strong, durable, but at the same time very flexible and can be used for many different needs while you’re in the wild. Take off the strings from the racquet and tie anything you need with them. You can be sure that they won’t show any fatigue no matter what you need them for. They are specially designed to hold heavy impacts, and that’s exactly why they can hold a lot of weight too.
Shoelaces
Unless you’re a three-year-old child, chances are big you have shoes with laces on them. When you get yourself unprepared in nature, everything is good for surviving. Shoelaces are not as strong as the tennis strings, but can also be used a tying material. It’s very important to have something you can tie two ends because this is the basis for making a shelter. Get a few strong branches, tie them with the laces and place some leaves over, and you have an improvised shelter.
Pants Belt
Another thing that can be used in nature is your belt. Having a belt in desperate situations can be very helpful. The belt is strong and can hold big weights. Climbing over rocks would be impossible if you have no help from special equipment, but a single belt can make a huge difference on your way to civilization.
The best part is that a belt has a buckle that can be used for tying up. You can collect a lot of branches and tie them up with your belt. Then just put them over your shoulder and get them to camp. You can also use it as a leverage while climbing. If the belt is made of quality materials it will surely hold you and help you get where you want to go.
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Outdoor Family Weekend Activities
There’s nothing more special to a family than spending the weekend together enjoying the time off work. Spending time with your children and spouse is time best spent. All those laughs, positive energy from the kids’ joy and relaxing time while breading fresh air of the great outdoors is something you can’t compare to anything else.
If you have trouble finding inspiration about what to do next, these points might help you out. If you already had in mind something like the following, we will help in giving advice on how to do it better. Follow up and learn about some of the most popular outdoor activities for families.
Bike ride
Kids love bikes. Grown-ups also live relaxing biking. Take your kids on a “Tour de Frank’s”, and visit your old friend Frank that lives three blocks down. Of course, make a destination on your own, because chances are not big you really have a friend named Frank that lives close to your house.
Don’t forget to get all the equipment needed for a safe ride. Also, check the bikes. Make sure they’re in proper order and that nothing bad will happen during the ride. Riding bikes with your family will make you happier because the trip will make you joyful and everyone will get a little exercise which is very important for the kids, but also for the parents.
If you have a chance for a longer trip, you can practice some mountain biking. Pack the bikes in your car and visit some of the places nearby suitable for this. You can all enjoy nature and have even more exercise since mountain biking is much more exhausting than regular street biking.
Picnic
This activity can be very fun for everyone. You don’t even have to go somewhere far. You can visit the park and have a romantic lunch with your spouse while the kids are having fun nearby. Pack an extra pair of clothes because the kids will surely make a mess of themselves. Then, prepare some sandwiches, enough water to get through the day, and everything else that you’d like. A problem with food and drinks in this situation is that they might spoil from the heat.
Cooler bags for storing food and drinks
The solution for spoiling food and drinks is getting a cooler bag. This is mandatory equipment for every picnic. Just imagine how annoying can be when you pull out a warm beer that you couldn’t wait to open. Cooler bags will keep everything cold enough. The sandwiches will also be ready for consumption the moment you need them and the heat won’t make the cheese melt, for example.
Fishing
Even though fishing is an activity practiced most of the time in silence, it bonds the family perfectly. This is happening because the family feels like a team and spends time together doing something they all love.
An important part that must be mentioned here is safety. Fishing hooks are very dangerous if they’re not used with maximum caution. Also, keep an eye on your kids at all times because falling into the water might not be life treating, but it’s not a pleasant experience whatsoever.
Going to The Beach
Summer days are perfect for going to the beach. The best activity that kids absolutely adore is playing in sand and water. There’s some kind of magic in this combination so you can be sure that you have provided some amazing time for your kids in which they will be completely happy.
During the time they are playing you and your spouse can also enjoy the water, getting tanned, or relax under the umbrella. This is a place where cooler bags we mentioned previously is highly important. The sun and the hot weather will ruin everything you carry with you unless you store them inside the cooler bag. Imagine spending a day under the hot sun and having no cold water – a true nightmare, right?
Camping
For families that love the great outdoors and know how to deal with nature’s challenges, there’s camping. Spending a night under the clear sky and sleeping in a tent is a beautiful experience. Just, be sure you are highly prepared for this and absolutely sure you can handle everything to provide safety for your family.
Things you must take camping
Before you leave your home, make sure you have these things with you. A tent with all the equipment for it, sleeping bags for everyone, first aid kit, accessories for making a campfire, cooling bag with drinks and food, and tools that’ll help you in most situations. This is mandatory. Everything else is extra, but never leave your home without these things.
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Making a DIY Portable Wine Cooler for Camping
Reuniting with nature like camping is an exciting adventure. Spending some time with the great outdoors is a refreshing way to unwind and take a break from the noise, pollution, and stress from our everyday lives.
And while the majority of the camping public choose to stock up some beer and Gatorade, wine enthusiasts like us are different by opting for a little ‘winey’ camping experience.
By that said, it will be sad if we are just going to toss some warm glass of wine because we haven’t thought of bringing some wine cooler. That would really stress up what’s supposed to be a ‘stress-free’ adventure. Now, these DIY tricks for having your wine served at the right temperature.
Step 1 Choose an Icebox
Bringing simple plastic coolers are not so ideal in camping because of their solid lids and thin foam lining are not capable of keeping your drinks cold for quite a while. The most reliable and practical to bring is a simple icebox and you can even use it for different purposes.
First, we want to add some few features to our box to add more insulation to it. We have to consider that the more insulative the box is, the longer it will take for the ice to melt. Second, the thicker the walls of the cooler will be, the slower the heat transfer is thus, keeping the inside of the cooler much colder for longer.
You also have to consider the size of the cooler to fit at the back of your car so you need to find the proper size that’s suitable for different arrangements of the ice and beverage containers. For me, I chose a box with 7” X 10.6” internal size and 10 inches in height. However, this tutorial is also applicable for different box sizes.
For the materials, I used a 1.5” EPS to achieve a 3” thickness of the walls although you can choose other thickness if you want thinner or thicker walls.
Step 2 Assembling
Cut the panel sizes with a hot wire cutter or the circular saw with your desired measurements and assemble it using polyurethane glue or anything similar in the market. They have an excellent bond strength and fill the gaps in between the edges as it expands.
Clamps are also necessary to hold the box intact while the glue is not completely dry. If you don’t have clamps, tapes would be equally helpful to hold the sheets tight.
Step 3 Final Touches
Since your cooler is intended to sit in the car or outdoors during camping, it is necessary that we minimized the heat absorbed by the box through giving it a reflective surface. The cheapest way to do this is to cover the entire surface of the box with an aluminized mylar sheet also known as emergency or space blanket. This material is only very cheap and is very effective if you can’t put your cooler in the shade.
To properly attach it, you will have to spray some adhesives like 3M Spra-Ment. Remember that not all spray adhesives are applicable for foam boards. Once all the films cover your improvised cooler, you can secure all the edges with a clear adhesive tape to reinforce all the corners.
Step 4 Ready to Use!
Once everything has been assembled, it is important to let the box air out before using it. Then your specially made wine cooler is now ready for testing. There are also some really nice wine coolers at winecoolerlab.com
There could also be some ways you can keep your wine or other beverages cold. One natural and easy way is to dip the wine bottle in a nearby river for some time to let it cool before drinking it. But you have to make sure to never let the mouth of the bottle touch the water to prevent it from getting contaminated. Tying it off on a nearby tree could do the trick to keep the bottle steady and spout up. You can also look for a camping cooler on Coolerlist!
While for those who can’t find some stream or river nearby, letting it rest under the shade for some hour would also be applicable. What’s important is you enjoy this entire camping escapade with someone even more important than sipping a nice cold wine.
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Hunting Fun on Outdoor Channel! Hunting Gear and Protection
Hunting is fun and a great way to involve your family or friends in the wild gaming experience. As long as you have the right gun and gear, your outdoor time can be quite amazing. Shooting using a gun will definitely produce sound, and that is why you will need ear protectors such as earmuffs to prevent impact on your hearing. Experienced hunters know the right shooting protection devices, although they come in different types. Young hunters can use light guns such as pellet guns because they have less nasty kick, and 
produce low sound ensuring you will not feel your head ringing afterwards.
We understand hunting enthusiasts are familiar with several safety measures while undertaking their activities. Nevertheless, new hunters may lack enough basic knowledge about protecting their hearing when hunting. This article will remind you about shooting earmuffs, and then we shall highlight a few guidelines on hearing protection while hunting. A good way to protect your gear is to have a sturdy tactical backpack.
Choosing Shooting Earmuffs
Noise from gunfire can cause immediate or even permanent hearing damage. Hearing loss may start with ringing in the ears, a condition known as tinnitus. If you have been hunting without ear protection and your hearing is still intact, it does not mean you are already safe next time. Any sound over 85dB is dangerous, and most shots produce average of 150dB. Therefore, wearing ear protection is very necessary no matter how often you go hunting.
Gunshots surpass the normal hearing level that we should be exposed to. The sound is measured in terms of decibels (dB). A person addressing public congregation registers about 60 decibels, while a vehicle engine ranges from 70 to 90 decibels. Gunshots exceed 100 decibels, usually 140 to 150 decibels. Such a loud sound is harmful to the human ear and can cause permanent hearing loss. According to experts, any sound exceeding 100 decibels is harmful and can damage ears.
New hunters usually get basic safety tips which include hearing protection. There are different kinds of hearing protection devices. The quality of each is different from one another, but your choice depends on budget and preference. But we all know that quality of a product is directly proportional to its price. This means the higher the price, the more quality of the item. Below are the three main hearing protection options for hunters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDoaFFb9qx0
Options of Hearing Protection
Ear Plugs:
Ear plugs are the least expensive, and they are available in most local shops. Since they are inserted into the ears, a number of people may not prefer using them. They also don’t allow the hunter to hear the magnitude of the noise, and probably you may not know if an animal is close.
Passive Earmuffs:
Passive earmuffs are like headphones, but they are more improved than earplugs. They usually have a protective layer, suitable for a better hunting experience. They mold around the head and cover the ears fully, hence enhancing hearing protection. Passive earmuffs are more comfortable, and block sound completely. While wearing these hearing protectors, you cannot converse with someone else.
Electronic Earmuffs:
Electronic earmuffs are most expensive compared to both earplugs and passive earmuffs. They are highly preferred by many professional hunters because they filter sound and the user can converse with other people. Electronic earmuffs allow a hunter to hear the magnitude of the noise, and can even know when an animal is close. Gunshot sound is dampened such that your hearing is protected, and still, you can communicate with ease. For serious hunters, electronic earmuffs are the best option to include in your hunting kit.
Hearing Protection Tips When Hunting
WearPlug.com states that for the best ear protection, electronic earmuffs are good for hunters, as they allow the user to communicate and know the amount of noise produced after shooting. You can even hear any form of movement made by an animal, hence prevent missing your hunt. Earplugs and passive earmuffs are only fit to use whenever you are preparing to shoot. This is because they cancel all sounds around you, and probably you may not hear that deer near you.
If you are hunting together with friends, using electronic earmuffs is the best idea. Remember, someone will shoot immediately after spotting an animal and gunfire near you may impact your hearing. If you just have earplugs or passive earmuffs and you are hunting as a group, consider wearing them in advance. However, you can agree to notify each other whenever an animal is spotted. This will enable the next person to insert the earplugs before shooting is done.
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The Outdoor Channel – Everything From Camping to Hunting and Fishing
Spending time in the outdoors is not just a fun pastime, it’s also a great way to see the beautiful nature and tone up in the process. Whether you like camping, hiking, fishing or hunting, all are great ways to get out into the outdoors. It gives you a good chance for connection to the earth. Our outdoor channel blog was created as a guide for people who love to hunt, fish and camp. If you are looking for some tips or reviews of gear for these activities, you will find many useful guides on our pages. Being prepared with essential information, you can enhance your outdoor experience.
Camping
One of the best ways to spend time surrounded by nature is camping. While camping, you can also do hiking, fishing, kayaking, backpacking and so much more. If you have never camped before, you might think that it’s too uncomfortable. But it doesn’t have to be so. There’re many campgrounds and campsites in the national parks, where you can experience the outdoor life the more “civilized way”. This way you can start slow and gradually test your comfort zone. After some time you might be ready for real camping in the backcountry. These campgrounds can offer tents, water and different other amenities. If you are camping with kids, some camps might also have group activities and classes to keep entertained.
For camping in the backcountry, further in the wilderness, there are also a lot of equipment that can make your adventure more comfortable, fun and most importantly safe. Among the camping gear, there are the essential items and optional items that you might or might not need according to your preference and comfort needs. We are constantly reviewing new gear, like tents, sleeping bags, backpacks and much more.
To make sure that your camping trip goes smoothly with only enjoyable moments, you might want to be prepared with some useful information. First of all, it’s very important for your safety. In the wilderness you should follow certain safety rules, especially in places with wild animals, and you should be prepared to handle emergency situations.
Camping is exceptional experience and also a great chance to bond with your family and friends. Sitting around the campfire and watching the starlit sky at night are unforgettable memories, especially if you share them with special people.
Fishing
One of the favored hobbies of the outdoor enthusiast is fishing. It can be saltwater, freshwater or ice fishing. For those who practice this sport we have prepared plenty of fishing tips and advice on the techniques and more. So even if you are just starting out in this sport, with us you can learn how to fish with tips on how to tie the knots, and do a proper catch and release.
Just like camping, fishing is a great activity for a person of any age. Anyone can learn to fish. All it takes is just some time and practice. However, before fishing you should check your state fishing regulations, as you might need to purchase first a fishing license.
While finishing is not a dangerous sport, it’s still very important to be prepared with safety precautions for your time on the water. For example, the boat should have one life jacket for each of the passengers. Before setting out into the waters, you should know the area and the depth and current strength. It’s best that you have another person with you in case something goes wrong. Come equipped with proper clothing to protect you from the sun or bad weather. The fishing equipment should also be handled responsibly.
There are many fantastic places in the United States where you can find the perfect locations for fishing. Depending on the area, you can also fish for different species.
Outdoor Gear
For your activities in the outdoors you need to be equipped with appropriate gear. Having all the essentials you will be able to get the most out of your nature experience.
For camping you need certain outdoor gear that will make your stay surrounded by nature both safe and comfortable. There’s equipment that is must have for any camping trip, such as a tent, sleeping bag and other.
For fishing you need a fishing rod as well as other gear required for any fishing practice.
In our category of outdoor gear you can find reviews and tips on how to choose and find the right equipment. From tents, backpacks and many other equipment that you might find useful for your outdoor experience.
Posted in CAMPING by outfitters with no comments yet.
Benefits Of Having a Rifle Scope – Useful Hunting Outdoor accessories
There are several different rifle scopes out there in the market. As a hunter or a hunting enthusiast, you may be interested in knowing how different are these rifle scopes and which works well and which doesn’t. This is very important because you want something which will work for you with high level of efficiency and also with ease of usage. You want something which will cover long distance or you just want something which will cover a small distance. What are you looking for in rifle scope?
When you begin to interrogate yourself like that, you begin to have a clear view of what you are looking for. When you want to do a long distance focusing, then you are looking for a rifle scope which is able to cover long distances while when you are keen on accuracy within a small range, then you will be looking for something which covers short distance but is highly accurate, no room for error. You are about precision, accuracy to the highest possible level. You have no chance to retry.
So what you should look for to find the best rifle scope? The manufacturers of these rifle scopes have tried to answer this question and through their attempts, came up with various rifle scopes. If you are into tactical gear this is an outstanding website. There are rifle scopes which are very compact and light. Women and children would love it because it’s light. If you are not thinking about the weight, then you probably think of the distance from you to the target. There are people who want to magnify as much as possible the target as well as objects around the target. So they will go for rifle scopes which are able to magnify the targets well and also the objects around the target. This help in focusing on the target but also being mindful of the surrounding objects next to the target. Get more tips and read reviews on this air rifle guide.
There are also rifle scopes which focus on giving you the distance between where you are as a hunter and where the target is. This meets the need of those so keen on the distance before anything else. There are people who would want to know the distance between them and the target before hunting. It’s a good move for planning purposes. This kind of rifle scope
is greater and better to me because you need to be equipped to collect the kill and if you don’t know the distance, you can hand in difficulties.
What else are people looking for? There could be other factors out there like cost, warranty, etc. How do these different types of rifle scopes benefit hunters? As a hunter, you want to deliver on output in terms of how many targets you are able to gun down and at what cost? Knowing these rifle scopes will help in minimizing interruptions, planning to hunt well and also purchasing the right gun rifle scope based on your circumstances. You can also benefit from increased productivity because you have the right gun rifle scope. You can check more reviews at shooting & safety
As a hunter, you can do yourself a favour by listing your gun needs and then doing some research to get the correct one for you. If you get the right gun rifle scope, then hunting will even be a fun activity but if you get the wrong one, it can turn out to be a frustrating affair. So it boils down to the approach you have used. If you spare time and understood your needs, then you will be able to look for the right gun and gun rifle scope. If you get the right one, then it will be a fun activity.
Posted in HUNTING by outfitters with no comments yet.
Hunting Experience – How to Choose the Right Crossbow
If you are new to archery, you might not know what to expect from the tool. All crossbow features for a beginner might seem confusing, so making a buying decision can be difficult. To get the most out of the crossbow you will buy, you need to look for the right features. You should by understanding the basics of how to use a crossbow and the features it offers. Following the tips provided below will help you to choose the best crossbow for your needs whether it’s hunting or target shooting.
Choose Your Purpose
First of all, you need to choose the purpose you will be using the crossbow for. Will it be for target practice? Or do you plan to do deer hunting? If it’s just for fun and target practice, features like weight, size and some others, are not as important for you since you will be mostly using it as a stationary crossbow. For hunters, these features become more important.
Weight
One of the major considerations of crossbow features it its weight. Heavy weight will keep it more steady and will provide a more accurate shot. The downside to it is if you have to carry it around a lot, it will not be as convenient.
If you are a beginner, don’t think that the lightest crossbow will be the best choice. If it’s too light, it will be difficult to keep it steady. A heavier crossbow will also be sturdier and will be able to withstand extensive use. On the other hand, a crossbow that is too heavy you might find physically restraining. For a beginner it is important to read more about the best crossbow reviews in order to find the best fit for the users purpose.
Noise
Another feature more important for hunters than target shooters is the noise. Some crossbows are equipped with parallel limbs that make the shots quieter. Others have cam mechanisms, which make them noisier.
Speed
Speed is also an important consideration, especially if you plan to hunt big game. To take it down you will need high speed and strength of the arrow. The velocity depends on the draw weight of the crossbow and the bolts you are using. More draw weight means higher speed.
Draw Weight
Overall the draw weight on crossbows ranges between 75 to 125 pounds. In most states you will find specific regulations for using a certain draw weight for hunting particular game. For hunting bigger game, some crossbows even offer draw weight between 150 to 175 pounds.
Scope
With the right scope it will be easier for you to have continuous accurate shots. There are four variations to consider. They include optical, multi-reticle, single red dot and multi red dot.
Cocking Aid
To correctly cock the crossbow or if the draw weight is too high for you to be physically able to cock it, you can use a cocking aid. They are usually available in the form of ropes, cranks or straps. The most commonly used are the rope and the strap cocking device.
Don’t Fall for Cheap Products
Don’t choose a crossbow just by the price. A cheap one may lack quality, so you won’t get good value for the money. The parts can be made of low quality plastic which will not be very durable. So it’s better to invest in a more sturdy crossbow that will not be easy to break off. It can be a good idea to check crossbow reviews. For example on Archer’s Café they constantly review the top products on the market and give good recommendations.
For Beginners
If you are just starting out in the archery sport and have never yet held a crossbow, it might be a good idea to keep it simple at the beginning. Look for a crossbow with a more simplistic design. Choose one that has a basic design and less of the high end crossbow gimmicks.
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How to Choose the Best Hunting Knives
When you plan on going on a hunting trip there you are going to need the right equipment, whether you are going to hunt a deer or buck, you must be equipped with the right gear. In this article we are going to talk about hunting knives and the most important aspects to think about when choosing the right hunting knife for your trip.
What Makes a “Hunting Knife”?
When you need to cut and skin the wild, hunting knife gets the job done. It’s not used to kill the game; instead it takes on the job of cutting and skinning the meat. For these particular functions, hunting knives have two particular features:
- A slightly curved blade
- A single sharpened edge
Though hunting knives are as ancient as human history but these are also as evolved as mankind. This evolution brought variety in the design and material of these exotic tools. It is very critical for a curious hunter like you to get familiar with key factors in choosing a great hunting knife.
Choose the Best – Three Key Factors
The modern world is full of exciting choices and when it comes to hunting knives you get to choose the best as there really is so many great knives out there (here is nice site with reviews and articles about best hunting knives) and they will most often not cost much! However, without enough knowledge you cannot pick the great among good.
For your convenience, I am presenting you three key factors to choose the great hunting knife:
- Blade design
- Blade length
- Blade material
Different blade designs, lengths and materials serve different purposes in dressing and cutting the game animal. Thus the three most admired hunting knife blade designs are: the drop point, the clip point and the trailing point.
The Drop point blade design is characterized by a dropped down back that curves up at the tip and meets the cutting edge of the blade. This blade design enables your hunting knife to be precise and keep away from digging holes through the hide.
The Clip point blade design appears as if the back of the blade has been “clipped off”. This design gives the hunting knife more balance and strength, thus it can be used to work through tight parts like leg joints. However, this blade design hunting knife is not great when it comes to skinning the animal because it can puncture the hide in a split second.
The Trailing point blade design hunting knife incorporates a long length of the back such that the tip of blade lies above the back. It increases the surface area of cutting edge and you can easily use it to open the stomach of animal without puncturing other organs.
Furthermore, the blade length of hunting knife can also facilitate you to choose the best one. Most of the hunters prefer a short length blade but when it comes to dressing a big animal then obviously 6″ to 8″ length blade hunting knives are preferred.
The last but not the least key factor in deciding upon a great hunting knife is blade material. The hunting knife blade materials are categorized as:
- Stainless steel
- Non-stainless steel
The fanatically avid hunters almost always opt for stainless steel hunting knives. The modern technology has also made the stainless steel blades more exotic and efficient, thus named them “super steels”.
Hence, while embarking on any hunting endeavor these three key factors are going to be your best buddies. Make the best confident choice and leave the rest to hunting knives!
Posted in HUNTING by outfitters with no comments yet.
How To Set Up the Trail Camera To Get Better Shots
One of the important parts of using a trail camera is its proper setup. It’s not just throwing your camera up on the tree and expecting a deer or other game to walk past. By taking just a little more time and following some small steps the outcome will guarantee a more enjoyable scouting experience. You will have better images and will have a better idea of the game on the property you are watching.
Location
First of all, you want the camera to be in an area that is frequented by the game that you want to watch. Try to find high traffic areas. It can be a trail leading to food or water. Try to find animal tracks. Your main focus should be to set up the camera at a location that the game will most likely cross.
Direction
In order to avoid the sun washing out the light from the taken pictures, mount the trail cam facing north or south. Make sure that it is not facing the sunrise and sunset. This simple step will eliminate any blurred and whited-out photos.
Since on most cameras the trigger time varies between 2 to 5 seconds, if you aim the cam directly across the trail, you might get a lot of photos with the game already out of the shot. So mount it at a 45 degree angle to the trail instead. This gives the camera wider viewing and after being triggered there’s more potential that the animal will be captured in the frame. The second benefit of this position is that it won’t be directly facing the animal, so there’s less chance that it will spook it.
Background
It’s also important to choose the right background. It shouldn’t be too busy with too many shrubs, trees and such. If there’s such cover around the camera, it might be difficult to clearly make out an animal in the photo. It’s better if the background is contrasting. A good background would be an open field with an open skyline, with water and with distant trees.
Camouflage
The animals are always on the look out for potential danger. They are always on high alert and you don’t want to spook them with your camera. So what you want is to capture images of the animals without them knowing it.
All the trail cameras that you will find on the market (top ten best trail cameras) 
come in a camouflage case that has the texture of tree bark. When setting up in any location, make sure that it does not stick out as a sore thumb. Mounting the trail camera on a single tree will still make it stand out, even though it has the camouflage. You can hide the cam in a pile of brush. However, make sure that the twigs don’t obstruct the view of the camera.
Different Features
You should also keep in mind that there are many different features you can choose from when it comes to trail cameras. You will therefore have to do some research into which features fit your needs, so make sure to do some research (you can read trail camera reviews) to make the process of finding the best fit for your needs as easy as possible.
Camera Settings
After mounting the camera, the final step would be adjusting the settings. This also plays a big part in the outcome of the image capturing. Depending on the situation, the settings that would be best for you may vary. As mentioned in trailcameras.reviews, if your camera will be mounted on a high level and out of the animal’s main line of sight, you can choose to use the burst or video mode. However, if your camera is mounted in a position that could get easily picked up by the animal, these two settings would not be suitable since they would spook the animal.
Some trail cameras allow adjusting the sensitivity level of the IR sensor. If your camera does support this feature, put it on high for open areas and on low for areas with a lot of brush and grass around.
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Keep Warm in the Wilderness With a Camping Space Heater
The cold winter season is coming up and if you are a devoted camping enthusiast, you probably wouldn’t want to pause your camping trips till the warm months come. Of course, for winter camping you will need a four season tent, a good sleeping pad that would insulate the cold coming from the ground, and a very warm sleeping bag to keep you warm on those chilly nights. But to really improve your camping experience and if you really don’t like to be cold, you can add a space heater to your camping essentials list.
Since you won’t have a power supply line to connect your heater, instead of the home electrical heater you will need a propane space heater or a portable kerosene heater. If your campground will be offering an electrical line then of course you can also consider an electrical heater. Choosing the best camping space heater, one important thing to keep in mind is safety. If you plan to place the heater in the tent, you need to be sure that your tent has enough space for it and that the walls won’t be too close to each other.
Another important feature for camping heaters it portability. That’s why propane and kerosene heaters are the better option here. To have them powered and running you don’t need any cord connected to it, so you can take it anywhere with you. You can keep it in the tent to warm it up before you go to sleep, or give you heat when you wake up, or take it outside to keep your family warm in the chilly weather as you gather around for dinner or lunch. With a good variety of options available, you can find a model that would suit your preference and needs. You can find more compact or more powerful units.
If you are a backpacker, you obviously wouldn’t include a heater to your gear list as it will add too much additional weight and you want your backpack to be as lightweight as possible. But on the other hand, if you are car camping and driving directly to your campsite, then a camping space heater can be an excellent addition, if not a must have item.
My camping heater of choice and one that I have been using for many years is Mr Heater Big Buddy. Mr Heater brand has a series of tent heaters and this model is one of the biggest among them. The highest setting of the unit offers 18,000 BTUs, which is the power enough to heat up about 400 square feet. I’ve got a big family and so accordingly I also have a big family tent. The high power of this propane heater is perfect to keep the large space inside our tent comfortably warm. The lowest setting of the heater is 4,000 BTUs. I decided to purchase it after reading some nice reviews on www.homeair.org
Alternatively, if you have a small tent, you can opt for the standard Buddy model. Its highest setting is equivalent to the lowest of the Big Buddy’s.
For even distribution of the heat and for keeping all the corners of the tent equally warm, the Mr Heater heaters feature a fan blower system. To keep your mind at ease, the units are also equipped with essential safety features.
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Battery Operated Blenders – The Perfect Solution for Healthy Meals While Camping
Many of us have gotten used to having a blender in the kitchen and it has become one of the most essential tools there. The blenders today keep developing and giving us new options. We are given more blending options and evolving functions. From the many options we can also choose either a basic blender, a blender food processor combo or even a battery operated blender. If you are an avid traveler and camper, then a portable battery operated blender can be very handy. With such a blender you can enjoy a nice smoothie or a strawberry daiquiri or some other blend right in the outdoors. This blender you can take anywhere with you, be it camping, tailgating or picnicking.
Among the best battery operated blenders, stands out the Coleman rechargeable portable blender. This unit was designed specifically to fit the needs of campers, mariners, tailgaters and of those who use it at home. It’s lightweight and incorporates a durable and powerful motor. It’s convenient for camping, as it offers many functions for preparing a variety of blenders and its lightweight makes for convenient portability.Full charge takes about 24 hours and this will give enough power to make about 20-30 pitchers of blends. The full pitcher is 48 ounces and you can measure your mixture using the measurement markings on the container.
Another popular battery operated blender is Margaritaville DM-900 Frozen Concoction Maker. It also operates without any 
cord. You just charge the 18-volt Ni-Cd battery pack and then you can use the charge to blend up to 80 drinks. It’s the perfect choice for those who love frozen drinks. It shaves ice and prepares your favorite drink. You can also create your perfect consistency for your taste by switching the shave only or the blend only controls. The 36 ounces container can prepare up to three drinks in one blend. The pre-programmed settings of the blender also include options for you to choose to prepare either one, two or three drinks in one cycle. You can read more about battery powered blenders on Blender Judge.
Battery powered blenders are obviously not something that you could include into your backpacking gear. But if you are car camping, it can be a great addition to your cooking gear. They are great and extremely convenient for making various blended drinks, but also can be a big help in preparing different foods. Their functions allow more versatility in cooking camping dinners and lunches.If you follow a healthy diet, then a battery powered blender can become a useful tool that would help you stick to it even when away from the city utilities. You can fully charge it and operate the unit on batteries your whole camping trip. With the unit at hand, you can always prepare any healthy smoothie or shake in just a matter of seconds and then enjoy it as you sit with your family around the fire.
The models we have mentioned are the most popular models of this kind of blenders and which are perfectly suitable for taking camping or other outdoor activities. With a battery powered blender you get the convenience of preparing your favorite meals and drinks anywhere you go. They are compact, so you easily through it in the car with your other camping gear and essentials. This type of blenders is also quite affordable, but this doesn’t mean that they are less durable and not as powerful. Coleman and Margaritaville, especially, are designed for heavy use and offer good durability. You can check more blender reviews on www.blenderjudge.com
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