Adam Van Koeverden - his rustic cabin in Algonquin Park

I've been LAZY!!!

Wow, I've been really lazy this camping season, as far as the blog is concerned. Sorry about that!!! So far I have been to Wilkins Lake for our annual backcountry fishing trip. Once again, I caught nothing, but really enjoyed the weekend, and the hard work that went along with it. The portage ended at a "frozen waterfall", and the inlet was filled with ice. The weather was fantastic, and we spent Saturday paddling around the lake, taking in the sunshine.

For Canada Day weekend, we were at Sandbanks Provincial Park again, enjoying time with friends and family. Finally we had great weather, and spent the majoring of each day at the beach...the kids and parents loved it. Did have a weird experience with a neighbour who continued to complain to me about my music (which wasn't very loud at all) during the daytime. We were not in a radio-free campground...what are your thoughts about music during the day? They added electricity to the area we were in, which was nice (I guess), but they removed some trees in order to do it, reducing the privacy in my site (#161), but our neighbours were our friends. They paved the roads as well, much needed but the cars travelled a little faster...watch your kids. A new mini-golf was built just outside the park, it's a must visit.

Next, we are off to Pog Lake...can't wait.

kirby the camper

Selk'Bag Review

We've been using our Selk'Bag (Musuc'Bag if you're in Europe) for a few months now and we absolutely love it.

What is a Selk'Bag you ask?

It is a totally re-thought design for a sleeping bag that you wear. The bag has two legs with ruggedized feet, and two arms, with a comfortably designed zipper that allows you to wear the bag with its hood on, or off.

Why is it called Selk'Bag?

It's named after the Selk'nam natives of Tierra del Fuego, Chile. Read more about the History of Selk'Bag and the Selk'nam here.
myCampsiteReview.com has the Chrome Yellow Selk'Bag 3G. It's rated for 35°F (1°C) and although we haven't had the opportunity to use it in temperatures near the lower ranges, we have no doubts that it would stand up to that rating. There are zippered vents in each leg and trust me, you will need them! When you separate each of your legs into their own section of a sleeping bag, there is less volume to heat by your body, and it heats up FAST. The ventilation is great to moderate the temperature inside the bag.

This is the most comfortable sleeping bag you will ever sleep in. Because it fits like a snow suit, when you roll around, getting comfortable, the bag stays with you. You don't get all tangled up like you do in a traditional sleeping bag. You'll also never feel confined or restricted in a Selk'Bag. If you want to put your arms up, or hands behind your head, go for it - and you'll still be covered by your super comfortable sleeping bag.

Need to get up in the middle of the night to chase raccoons out of your campsite, you can do it without leaving the warmth of your sleeping bag! The ruggedized feet on the legs is an amazing feature. Paired with the ability to unzip your hands, you'll never need to leave your bag until your ready to pack it up. Pretty great thing to lounge around the morning campfire with a coffee relaxing in your Selk'Bag.

The design even include an internal compartment to zip in your favorite MP3 player.

Even though this product is excellent, and we give it a mega thumbs up, there's a few things that could be tweaked.

I'm an extra large guy, so I ordered the XL Selk'Bag. It turns out I have short legs and a long torso. The legs on the bag were a bit long on me, and the crotch was a bit tight. It would be nice if there was a way to shorten the legs and zip them up - also they could give some more length in the torso.

The material the bag is made of is extremely light and durable and comfortable - but occasionaly the zipper bites into the material and gets jammed. You get this in any sleeping bag, so it's not really a dig at the bag.

We at myCampsiteReview.com absolutely love the Selk'Bag and recommend everyone checking it out. Visit http://www.selkbagusa.com/ to check out the different models and prices. They offer a kids model as well as the newly released 4G model - a thinner, lighter model at a lower price point.

Check out Selk'Bag on their Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter.

Please feel free to message us if you have any questions about the Selk'Bag. Email us your questions at info@mycampsitereview.com, or post them here. We'd be glad to answer them as best we can.

Happy Camping!

Matt - myCampsiteReview.com

Kelly Kettle Review

The Kelly Kettle is a unique system for rapidly boiling water without the need for propane or gas fuels. The kettle is designed to be used with readily available natural fuels, such as dried twigs, leaves and pine cones.
MyCampsiteReview.com had the chance to test the Aluminum Scout - medium sized Kelly Kettle, along with the small cook set, a 16 fluid oz or half litre stainless steel pot with lid/frying pan, 2 piece grill and pot gripper which extends the kettle to a full cooking stove for small meals.





Product Dimensions: (from Kelly Kettle USA website)
Kettle Height ....... 12.25 inches
Kettle Capacity.....44 oz, 5.5 cups, 1.3 Liters
Pot Capacity.........32 oz, 4 cups
Kettle Weight............1.8 lb

Cook set specifications: (from Kelly Kettle USA website)
The Cook set includes:
Pot / Frying Pan (lid) / 2 Piece Grill / Gripper Handle
Capacity.........16 fluid oz (UK) / 0.454 ltr (Capacity)
Diameter.........103mm / 4.05 inch
Height.............65mm / 2.56 inch
Weight............0.36lb / 0.16kg

At just under 2.5 lbs, this isn't the lightest cooking system you could carry with you, but what it has going for it definitely outweighs (sorry for the pun) the weight issue. One big big plus is you aren't carrying fuel with you, which could easily add 600+ grams. Also for the eco-conscious, there's no disposal of fuel canisters.

With some camp stoves, there is a learning curve or some trial and error to get them going. The Kelly Kettle just works. Every time. It's tried and true and has been used for years. We even had some of our fellow campers who are not very savvy fire starters fire up the Kelly Kettle in no time.

Simple set up: Add some small kindling (twigs, leaves, bark, pine cones) to the base. Place the filled kettle on the base and insert lit match in hole in base to start the fire. Add larger twigs or other tree droppings through the chimney in the kettle. You will be amazed at how quickly your fire will start and remain burning. *Note: be sure to remove the cork from the kettle while boiling.

The design of the Kelly Kettle is nothing less than sheer genius. A chimney runs straight through the kettle to allow the heat from the flame to cover more surface area of the kettle, therefor boiling water much more efficiently and rapidly than a conventional kettle or pot - where the flame only reaches the base.

Need even more brilliance? Add the pot support to the chimney and now you can place a pot or small frying pan over top of the chimney and fry your eggs while you boil water for your tea or coffee.

The cook set comes complete with a two piece grill which allows you to cook over the base without the kettle at all. It seems as though the grill might be slightly too close to the flames, thus making it slightly difficult to grill anything not blackened.
The medium sized Scout model would be most appropriate for 2 to 3 people at a base camp or stationary campsite. Some interior/canoe-in campers might be deterred by the size or weight of the kettle, but  remember that what you gain in weight with this kettle, you lose carrying fuel. The Kelly Kettle is very well designed, and breaks down quite compact - the cook set fits in the base, and the kettle itself is somewhat hollow, which provides space to store other items, like freeze dried foods perhaps.

We brought our Kelly Kettle along on our annual Spring trout fishing trip to Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canadaand it quickly became the little hero around the campsite during meals, evenings and cold mornings.

Please feel free to message us if you have any questions about Kelly Kettle. Email us your questions at info@mycampsitereview.com, or post them here. We'd be glad to answer them as best we can.

If you would like to purchase a Kelly Kettle, please visit http://www.kellykettleusa.com/ - you can order online any of the kettles, kits or accessories and recieve them very quickly.

Happy Camping!
Matt - myCampsiteReview.com

Win a Selk'Bag Contest!

myCampsiteReview is giving away a Selk'Bag in the size and color of your choice!

To enter, simply visit www.mycampsitereview.com and submit a campsite review! The more reviews you write, the more chances to win.

Please be sure to register, so that we can contact you via email if you are the winner! Contest open from May 8, 2011 until June 12, 2011.
A random entry will be selected from all campsite reviews submitted during the duration of the contest and the winner will be contacted by email on June 13, 2011.

Good Luck, and Happy Camping!

from www.selkbagusa.com: Developed in the Chilean Andes, the classic 3rd Generation Selk'bag Sleepwear System (35°F) is the most mobile and comfortable sleepwear system available today. The uncommonly comfortable Selk'bag is an excellent solution for those who are uncomfortable in traditional mummy or rectangular sleeping bags. Perfect for a variety of adventures, the Selk'bag is used by outdoor enthusiasts the world over for camping in a tent, under the stars, at the lake, at the beach or even in the cabin. Use the Selk'bag indoors for immaculate comfort, or even in your RV, camper, SUV, or dorm room.

I Want to be a Happy Camper Too!

To celebrate Kevin Callan's new website design - http://www.kevincallan.com/ - we're giving away his book, "Wilderness Pleasures".

From his site:
Kevin Callan is the author of thirteen books, including the best selling “The Happy Camper”, the incredibly popular series of paddling guides, and most reviewed “Wilderness Pleasures: A Practical Guide to Camping Bliss”. On a regular basis, he presents across North America and has been a key speaker at all the major canoe events for over 25 years.

All you have to do to qualify for a chance to win is tweet or retweet the following:

I want to be a Happy Camper too! For details: http://bit.ly/dVSYrj @kchappycamper @mycampsiterevu #camping #outdoors #contest

We'll choose a random tweeter on March 20th, 2011 and send them a copy of Kevin Callan's book.

http://www.kevincallan.com/

Good Luck, and Happy Camping!

Matt
myCampsiteReview.com
Camp. Review. Relax.

Win a Beard Head!

Beard Head knit beard caps combine the comfort and warmth of a traditional knit cap with the amazing styling of having a massive beard and moustache growing on your face!

http://www.beardhead.com/

We're giving away two Beard Heads and it's super easy to qualify to win! All you need to do to enter the contest is sign up at http://www.mycampsitereview.com/ and write a review for a campsite that you've stayed at.
BUT WAIT! There's more ways to win:

Like us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/mycampsitereview = 1 additional entry

Follow us on Twitter – www.twitter.com/mycampsiterevu = 1 additional entry

Every campsite review you submit until the contest closes = 1 additional entry

Each campsite photograph submitted with a campsite review (upload to the website or Facebook page) = 2 additional entries

Leave a comment on our Facebook page about this contest or about a camping experience you've had = 2 additional entries

Tweet about myCampsiteReview.com or this contest - you must include @mycampsiterevu and @BeardHead in your tweet to qualify your tweet = 2 additional entries

Contest is Open from Februrary 1st 2011 until March 6th 2011
Two winners will be selected with the highest point totals and contacted through email. Good Luck!

Dry out your camping gear!!

A couple of weeks ago we camped at Awenda PP. We had a great Saturday cycling and going to the beach. Sunday morning we woke up to pouring rain. Nothing worse than packing up in the rain! Our friends woke up really early and left, due to a leaky tent. When I crawled out of our tent, they were gone, and everything we had left out overnight was soaked. We packed up and went into Penetanguishene to the Blue Sky Restaurant for a great breakfast. On the way home, we actually saw another friend of mine who had just taken up camping this summer (and bought a trailer). They camped north of Barrie that weekend. Once we got home, I took out my tent etc. to dry out.

Labour Day weekend, we camped at Pinery PP. We carry most of our camping gear in Rubbermaid bins. When I opened up the bin with my stove and bbq, I couldn’t believe my eyes. They were both covered in mold and moss (or something else unknown).



Unbelievable!!! I cleaned up the stove, since our food doesn’t actually touch it, and sadly, had to throughout the bbq.

Lesson learned…dry out everything, not just the tents/shelters etc.

Kirby the camper

Labour Day wacky weather

Wow, what a weekend for camping. We are at Pinery Provincial Park, but it sounds like it was similar weather across southern Ontario. At Pinery, it was cold and windy Friday night, so windy that it was too noisy to sleep (well). I was worried my kids wouldn’t sleep, but they did. We got up Saturday morning and decided to eat in town rather than battle the elements. After breakfast, we went to the beach to check out the wave we heard all night. The waves were huge, the sand was blowing, and beach was empty (at noon on the long weekend). There were some lifeguards doing some training, and a woman with a metal detector, and us. I shot a video, which turned out pretty well, although I had no intention of publishing it, and took some pictures. The wind was so strong I had a hard time keeping the camera still.



Back at the campsite, we were shelter a little from the winds, so it wasn’t too bad. The kids didn’t mind, they just did their own thing. We went for a short bike ride to one of the beaches…the waves were coming up the beach so much, that there actually wasn’t a beach. I would imagine that the undertow would have been pretty dangerous.

Sunday was a little better, but still to cool and windy to go to the beach for a swim. We did go for a 21 km bike ride. Oddly, it’s the first long ride we have gone on at Pinery, basically because the weather has always been beach weather. We did stop at Beach 3 to give the kids a break. They played with all the driftwood that washed up on shore.

Overnight Sunday, we had some rain. There is nothing better than packing up wet camping gear in the morning. I have another story to share about what happens when you don’t get “everything” aired out.

We headed home early to get my son ready for his first day of grade 2. It was likely our last camping trip of the year, although my friend is trying to convince me to go to Arrowhead at the end of September. My problem is that hockey season starts then.

Ontario Adventure - Parry Sound: Part Three, Killbear Park

Fun YouTube video from Ontario Outdoor Adventure.

In the third and final instalment of Kevin & Scott's Parry Sound Ontario Adventure, they visit Killbear Provincial Park. Killbear is one of Ontario's best parks with tons of sandy beach, clear blue Georgian Bay water, picturesque islands and lots of great activities for the whole family.

http://www.youtube.com/ontariooutdoor#p/u/2/bNn71IZ9hwk

I think they should have featured Matt when he and his family visited Killbear a couple of weeks ago.

kirby the camper

$100 MEC Gift Card Winner

Hey Kimberly Hopkins... guess what? Your review for Sibbald Point Provincial Park Campsite #814 was randomly picked out of all the reviews submitted since January 1st. Congrats! You won $100 gift card from Mountain Equipment Coop.


Party at Sibbald - Campsite 814
Rating: 1 1/2 stars
Camp Date: 6/25/2010 This campsite has decent privacy from other sites, but is wide open to the road. It's also at the edge of the park, so you can hear cars and people walking right behind the site outside the park. We also had very brazen skunks and raccoons trying to steal our food while we were sitting by the fire. The bathrooms were pretty clean, however the showers were scalding hot. This park has a pretty sweet beach and boat launch, however much of it was covered in goose poop. Definitely more of a party campground than a family campground -- lots of police presence. Reviewed by kimberly.hopkins on 6/27/2010

Thanks Kimberly, and thanks to MEC. Stay tuned for our next contest!

Matt

Sandbanks – Canada Day 2010

It amazes me how much my kids and all of my friend’s kids enjoy camping. Canada Day at Sandbanks is a time when I get to enjoy the company of my friends that I haven’t seen in a while. For my son and daughter, they get to do the same with all the other kids that camp with us that week/weekend. It’s great, the kids love cycling, playing and swimming at the beach and the s’mores by the campfire. This year, I’m pretty sure we had 30 or so kids camping…a bit of chaos, but lots of fun.

Again, like Father’s Day, we had great weather…and spent most of our days at the beach. Luckily we weren’t day use; because they had a long wait in line to get into the park…the beach was packed.

An interesting this happened this year, where a few of my friends showed a further commitment to camping by purchasing tents, rather than renting trailers, as they have in the past. We bought a huge tent a couple of years ago, and my friends have been shocked by the amount of space inside, and the ability to stand up. Anyway, it’s great to see that they are enjoying camping enough to buy a tent. I wasn’t sure if this camping thing would actually catch on with the group, but it has.

Finally some great weather at Pinery Provincial Park

We’ve been going to the Pinery on Father’s Day weekend for the past few years now, and we only rewarded with one good weekend of weather. That finally changed this year, and we had spectacular weather. For these camping trips, we generally spend our days at the beach in Grand Bend. As I have mentioned in previous blogs, it’s a great little town located right on the beach. Last summer they added a bunch of enhancements to the beach area, including some plantings to stabilize the beach, some boardwalks and a playground/water park for the kids. They did a great job! This year, I assume over the winter, the revamped their main street, and it looks great. They have installed new garden areas, street lights, and improved the sidewalks and street parking. Again, they have done a great job. Other small towns should take notice.

Father’s Day weekend also happens to be Burgerfest weekend in Grand Bend. I love burgers, and finally got to enjoy what Burgerfest had to offer. I decided to try the turkey burgers…very good…both Saturday and Sunday!!
Anyway, I hope the rest of the summer weather cooperates like Father’s Day weekend…if so, it should be a great summer of camping.

Follow Us!

Hey there campers!

We hope you're having a great 2010 camping season so far. We're half way through, and the weather has been outstanding in our neck of the woods. Let's hope for more beautiful weather for the remaining of the year.

We've been over to the Pinery Provincial Park, Bruce Peninsula National Park, and we're heading up to Killbear Provincial Park tomorrow for a week of relaxing, family camping.

Remember to enter all your campsite and campground reviews - every review is elligble to win the $100 MEC gift card that we will be giving away on August 22, 2010.

Also - if you're facebooking or twittering, check us out and follow us or like us... for even more camping social fun.

Happy Camping!

Matt - myCampsiteReview.com

Win a MEC $100 Gift Card

Every Campsite Review submitted between January 1st, 2010 and August 22 2010, will be entered into a draw for a $100 MEC Gift Card.

If you can't find a campground you would like to review, use the Add a Camp feature to add the campground, then review the campsite! It only takes a few minutes.

The winning review will be chosen randomly.

The contest closes on August 22, 2010 and the winner will be notified by email, so make sure that when you sign up, your email address is correct.

Good luck!

This contest is sponsored by Mountain Equipment Co-op.