I love camping, but as I’ve gotten older, it’s become harder to camp due to various aches and pains involved with sleeping on anything but a nice mattress. Air mattresses are okay for a while, and sleeping pads definitely take a lot of the harshness out of sleeping on the ground, but my back often winds up killing me after just a couple nights. I suspect I’m not alone in this experience.
According to a survey taken by the Outdoor Foundation, barely half of Americans got outside for any kind of recreation in 2018. From the report [1]:
In 2018, just over half of all Americans, 50.5 percent of the population, engaged in outdoor activities. This 3.1 percent increase from 2017 to 2018 continued a three-year streak of modest growth in outdoor participation rates. The number of outdoor participants also slightly increased. In 2018, 151.8 million people participated in at least one outdoor activity, an increase of 5.7 million participants from 2017 to 2018.
Read: The Anti-Skeeter Canopy Chair of Your Dreams. It’s Time To Enjoy The Outdoors, Bite-Free
In 2018, only 33.2 percent of outdoor participants were considered moderate participants, a drop from 35.1 percent just a decade earlier. The frequency of outdoor activity among youth was equally worrisome. Kids went on 15 percent fewer annual outings in 2018 than they did in 2012. The decline in youth activity was particularly concerning as youth participation is a strong indicator of future activity. In fact, adults that were active outside as children were twice as likely to be active when they became adults.
This is a truly sad state of affairs! When it comes to the outdoors, there’s something for everyone. Parks, easy hiking trails, and highly accessible camping spots.
“We know from study after study that recreating outside, even at minimal levels, greatly benefits an individual’s physical and mental health and also increases academic outcomes and community connections. But unfortunately, the barriers to getting outside are greater for Americans living in cities or in areas with fewer transportation options,” said Lise Aangeenbrug, the executive director of Outdoor Foundation.
“This is why Outdoor Foundation, along with OIA and other like-minded organizations, is working to reach new populations of Americans who don’t get outdoors often or at all or don’t see themselves in the outdoors and encouraging them to get – and thrive – outside.”
But going outdoors doesn’t necessarily mean backpacking up a fourteener or camping in the wilderness. The outdoors can be fun, safe, and comfortable. And when it comes to camping in comfort and style, we’ve got a great item for you to check out.
The Kamp-Rite Tent Cot acts just like a normal tent but elevates you off of the ground with a cot feature. In fact, the entire tent is elevated. Not only is this a more comfortable sleep when camping, but it can also help keep dirt, bugs, mud, and even rainwater from soaking the bottom of your tent. The tent is described as being similar to a pull-out sofa bed, but no metal bars run across the length of the tent, meaning you won’t find yourself laying on anything uncomfortable.
Read: Take Glamping to the Next Level with This mansion-like Tent That’s Bigger than Most Apartments
More support is definitely an option with this tent as well. There’s room to sleep in your sleeping bag and even lay down an extra layer of padding to give yourself even more support.
The tent comes in multiple sizes and styles, including original, compact (Double, Standard, and XL), oversized, and even one for kids. It features zippered windows on each side of the tent that have mesh doors, preventing insects from flying in overnight. It’s elevated nature helps keep pests out as well, though I can’t imagine it’d keep something as large as a bear out!
The tent is also incredibly compact, making it really easy to pack in and pack out – it’s a great tent for someone who wants to backpack for a few miles before selecting a spot to lay down for the night. The double-sized tent is 84 inches long x 53 inches wide x 40 inches tall. When folded for transport, it measures 53 inches long x 31 inches wide x 7 inches thick.
The cot tent also has many of the features that you would expect from a tent, like pockets to hold your belongings and a nice travel pack. If you expect to be hiking and camping in an area where rain is likely, there are waterproof cot tents available as well. But chances are, you won’t need to spring for the waterproof tent if you’re camping in arid climates.
For more information on these tents check our the Kamp-Rite webpage.
- https://outdoorindustry.org/resource/2019-outdoor-participation-report/