Some sleeping bags can double as a nice comforter if you're sharing an air mattress with someone. personally, I would much rather using a sleeping bag as a comforter instead of the regular ones you use in the house, as you can get a waterproof sleeping bag. Very helpful when it's raining and the tent happens to leak above where you're sleeping. You must also be careful with dog nails on an air mattress, making sure to have a few fitted layers to help prevent any holes.

Definitely make sure to bring extras of any important stuff. Tikaani somehow broke his and Tetsu's tie-out lines, while we were setting up the tent, in an attempt to catch some ground squirrels. We didn't bring extras, so they had to be tied up with their leashes for the rest of the trip.


If you've never gone camping before, a great way to get your feet wet is to rent a site at a place close to home. That way, it's not a big deal if you forget something as you can just take a quick drive home to get what you need.

Bring sleeping bags! Seriously, it sucks more than anything else to lay awake shivering at night. Been there, done that multiple times. That was the best part of SERE training, you learn REAL quick how to make a good shelter. Len is right too with the pad. That will insulate you better than a sleeping bag alone. You can even make yourself a pad with a bunch of leaves and sticks, and then throw a space blanket over that. Enough leaves in there and it makes for a reasonably comfortable surface. You just need to make sure it's about 12" thick, because it really compresses once you lay on it.

Even if you are in Ocala, in early Feb it gets cold. It's fairly similar to Pensacola (maybe a little warmer) and I've seen high temps in the 20's in January. Bring extra socks too, I've camped before where everything else was warm enough except my feet. That one sucks really bad too.

Sara, thanks for the offer, but we'll probably just invest in one. Can't hurt to have one. If hubby enjoys this camping trip I'll definitely be wanting to do it more often. I've been wanting to go camping for YEARS and he's never agreed. I think the huskies convinced him

I'm with you Len and Meredith! I'll probably just buy the sleeping bags and he'll end up using them.

I also need to get the dogs backpacks soon so that I can start using them on their walks now. That way they'll be used to it. I believe that we're going on a hike also and they'll need it. Sara, correct me if I'm wrong

Oh boots, we need boots too. Especially since we're going to GA from there and it might be snowing.

Do you think Mya and Kody will need a sweater?

I'm getting a little nervous about camping. Almost to the point of backing out. But I won't because I really want to do this. My only thing is that I am going alone, which scares me a little. But I'm sure I'll have you guys to help

I have a scout camping trip in January, so I'll be testing my equipment then. I still need to make sure I get everything for the Frankster.

Len! I'm kidding, I'm kidding

Dee, I'm getting VERY nervous about it! For many reasons. LOL! We have to make sure that we set up next to each other. I don't know how me and Ivan are going to handle both of these nuts, but we'll figure it out. I was going to drag my brother along to help, but now that we're going to GA he can't miss work for so many days It will be fine though. We'll all help each other out! As long as Ivan has Mya I can help with anything Frankie related! I'm sure him and Kody will become buds

Just so you know, if your fur kids or anyone else's act like they're going to escape the tent, my dad will have his big camper there and we can put any dogs that we need to in crates in the back of it.

I do plan on doing a hike, just need to actually go to the place and check it out for hiking ideas!

I'm so excited, only if it ends up just being a few people. Denise well help you out its fun!


Speaking of cub scout camping trips... When I was little my brother had one of those and it was the worst experience of my life. Lmao

The Boy scout of America (BSA) sponsored campouts are pretty awful, The only good think about them is that the boys get to earn things and do things like canoing, bb guns, and archery which can only be earned at bsa sponsored campouts. The one we are going to in Jan is one our pack is putting together ourselves. We are camping at lion country safari

The BSA camping rules suck. If I wanted to bring a friend, male or female, we could not share a tent because we are not married. They are so anti gay it makes me sick.

I've done a bit of camping with Polar, one thing I didn't see anyone mention is a first aid kit for both the human and the dog. Most of the human stuff can be used on dogs, but a few canine specific items should be in there: safety razor (for shaving), blood stop powder, tick remover/tweezer, dog booties. Dog booties are for when your dog gets an injury on their paws, you can treat the injury then put on the booties to keep the nasties out.

If you do plan to head outdoors a lot, I also recommend taking a wilderness first aid class. Then you will have a better idea with what to put in your first aid kit and how to use it.

Don't forget to have a muzzle in that first aid kit. Your dog might be an angel now and let you manipulate them all you want, but when it's injured and scared you might have a totally different dog on your hands.

C'mon guys...

Polar wrote:

I've done a bit of camping with Polar, one thing I didn't see anyone mention is a first aid kit for both the human and the dog.

rileyflorence wrote:

Don't forget to have a muzzle in that first aid kit.

harrise wrote:

• An extra towel or two • Long lines plus one extra if one should snap. • Lots of nylon rope for anchoring the long lines to trees • Harnesses (they don't tangle the same way tethering to the collar does) • 150% of the food they would normally eat (our hikes will burn off more than that) • 15L of water from home (average of 4L per dog, their intake varies wildly depending on weather but running out would suck) • Additional water for hiking (.5L per dog for every two miles or 500' elevation gain) • Muzzle (part of the first aid kit, taught Ridik to shut the hell up too) • Poop bags • Water and food bowl for each dog • Choke chains/martingales (sometimes they need to be secured by something they can't get out of) • Rawhide/chew toy to occupy them during eating/chilling out times • Brushes (When I remember to, I like leaving their hair in the forest) • Ultra high value treats for added concentration • Beds/pillows for them to sleep on (we have old couch cushions that they use) • Tarps; one to put outside of the tent entrance and one to put inside the tent. This will make it much easier when packing up. Just fold up the tarp from the floor and take all of the hair/mud/debris out in one fluid motion. Also serves the same use inside the vehicle. I went back out to the pile and that looks like everything on the dogs' gear list. Aside from the packs and their hiking contents. I didn't put first aid stuff because it's always there in our kit anyway.

Blast. One day I'll learn to read.