Here are the Best Outdoor Preparation Tips: Always check the weather forecast. Place a mat outside the tent door to collect debris. You should be doing this regardless. If the storm is worsening, you need to know about it. That is ' you can create a leak. Once you're there, common sense and a few tricks of the trade will help you get through unscathed. Remember this - rain is a good thing; without it there wouldn't be much backcountry to enjoy. Here are the Best Outdoor Rain Tips: Never camp in a low lying area. Our best tips for enjoying the backcountry in the rain can be separated into two categories. Standing water and high winds are the enemy of your tent. Pack your sleeping bag in a large plastic trash bag or a specially designed waterproof bag. The first pertains to getting ready to hike, camp or whatever else you love to do outdoors. If you are base camping, the weight of the mat is not worth the benefit ' so use rocks instead. Here are some great ideas for ensuring your backcountry enjoyment when mother nature rains down on you. If the forecast calls for severe thunderstorms with tornados, you will probably plan differently than you might for scattered showers. Pack a brimmed waterproof hat and jacket. Some of the most remarkable times you'll experience will be in the backcountry during a rain storm ' it can be exhilarating! Doesn't sound so bad after all ' does it? Use this information and you'll Get It Right The First Time. Sleep. Do not touch the walls of your tent when it is wet. Look for a campsite this is somewhat protected from wind, flooding and heavy rain fall. Do you have extra batteries for your weather radio? Never hold a fishing pole during a lightning storm. Treat your tent, hat, jacket and pack with waterproofing spray ' even if they're called 'waterproof' to begin with. Change into dry socks, get into your dry sleeping bag. This will adversely affect the water resistant capability of the tent. Check before you go, and check when you're there. Check the forecast every hour. Best Tips for Enjoying the BackCountry in the Rain by: Chuck Fitzgerald If you spend any amount of time in the backcountry at all, it will rain on you. Look for a durable surface which will allow water to run off more effectively. Emergency flares are excellent for igniting wet firewood. Keep away from the tallest tree in the forest ' that's where lightning likes to visit. Under a group of small trees is ideal. Get Outdoors!. For two weeks prior to your trip, be sure to take your multi-vitamins. A good immune system is an outdoor enthusiast's best friend. Always have rain gear with you, even if it is only a large trash bag. Body heat is a precious element. A good weather radio is an essential piece of gear for backcountry recreation. Use a tarp under your tent. Understanding the type of rain to expect may even determine whether you go or not. coolmax hiking socks Factory You should do this regardless of the weather, but when it's raining it becomes important. Store everything you take in re-sealable plastic bags, especially socks, matches, flares, food, maps and your first aid kit. There's nothing better than sleeping in a tent when the rain falls. Keep an eye on your tent, the tent's rain fly and the ropes/stakes holding your tent in place. So now you're packed and out the door. How you prepare for rain and how you handle yourself and gear in the rain, makes the difference between a great experience and a horrible one. Drinking water becomes very important when body heat is being lost. Remember this ' when it rains, you'll see fewer people and fewer insects. Conserve and protect your body by keeping it dry on the outside and wet on the inside.