Camping gear is expensive, especially tents and it’s probably the main reason why many are reluctant to go camping. It’s a big investment, more so in these tough economic times and a tough one to make until you’re sure you’re going to camp regularly. One way to know if you’re going to like camping is by cabin camping.

It’s cheaper in the short term but much more luxurious than normal camping. It’s not like sleeping in a cabin tent on a camping mattress. It’s more than that. The walls are solid and you’re going to be sleeping on a bed. Sometimes there’s a dining table or a small table. There’s even a couch in some cabins. It’s a great way to camp during winter.

These cabins are available in many state parks in the U.S.. They don’t completely eliminate the necessity of camping gear. You still need a camp stove and cookware for cooking, towel, flip-flops and toiletries. If electricity is available, you can bring some appliances.

http://www.koa.com/facilities/kabin/

Outdoor Research: How to Setup A Bivy Sack from Outdoor Research on Vimeo.

“Bivy sacks are great solo lightweight shelters which can also be carried as a backup emergency shelter. Today we are going to talk about Outdoor Research’s Advanced bivy, which includes 2 poles. It’s a two pole system designed to keep the bivy material off your face.

As you’re thinking about setting up your bivy, first off, you would want to choose an appropriate site. Make sure the area is clear of sharp rocks or other debris that might puncture the fabric of the bivy sack.

Once you’ve done so, go ahead the pull the sack out of its pack and set up its poles. So you’ve got two different poles, one longer than the other. The longer pole is going to go on the inside of the white sleeve. Connect the end pieces at both ends and connect them to the corresponding snaps.

The shorter pole goes into the grey sleeve on the outside. Connect the end pieces at both ends and snap them into place. The sack is now ready.”

There are two straps inside the sack that you can use to strap in your camping mattress. The one used in the video is probably an Exped DownMat 9 by Outdoor Research.

There a variety of configurations you can choose from. The video shows all the possible combinations.