For those of us who enjoy the atmosphere of a well-appointed campground, we tend to put more thought and effort into what camping gear is needed to make it. I’m sure most of us who go camping at least periodically have the essential camping gear needed to provide food and shelter, such as tents, coolers, sleeping bags, and some sort of grill for outdoor cooking. or camping stove. . And if you have these camping essentials, along with the proper cooking and eating utensils, personal hygiene products, flashlights and lanterns, and of course, plenty of camping food, you’ll enjoy camping with no problem.

I think it would be safe to say that there are several items that most of us would agree on that commonly add more enjoyment to a camp. Not in any specific order, but three key ingredients would be the outside environment itself, the landscape, and the wildlife; the location and presentation of the camp; as well as the camping equipment and how it is set up. I would add to this list, a warm, centrally located fire pit to gather around while cooking and eating, or just enjoying camaraderie, with others. Actually, two people sitting on logs by a campfire while enjoying the warmth of friendship and the soothing crackling, soothing aroma of the fire, makes up a complete campsite in the “nth degree.”

However, the gazebo or screen house is an occasionally overlooked item of camping gear that can dramatically increase the enjoyment of your camping trip. For those of you who already enjoy the comfort, protection, and appearance that a screened gazebo adds to your camping or backyard entertaining, you’ll stick with it quite well after you’ve experienced the benefits beforehand. But if you don’t currently use a screened gazebo, you may be excited about the wonderful benefits these affordable screened homes offer.

First, though, I’d like to briefly define several of the different types of fabric shelters and gazebos that are commonly used for camping. The most basic design is the canopy, which usually consists of a canvas or vinyl-type material stretched over a framed roof supported by 4 or 5 tent legs or poles. The basic canopy usually comes without walls, but there are now several camping equipment manufacturers available for sheltered canopies. The open canopy and sheltered canopy are usually the cheapest. Although they generally do not have the stability of a fully enclosed gazebo, they are generally very lightweight and easy to install. If pests like mosquitoes and other flying insects are not a problem and you prefer an open, airy dining area, the open canopy should work well for you. Another type of camping gazebo is the mesh shed or mesh tent. The frame of the screen house is similar to the canopy, although the screen house is designed with screened walls and usually has one or two zippered entry/exit doors. Screened walls provide additional stability, as well as protect you and your food from flying insects and windborne particles such as leaves and other visible airborne particles. In addition to canopy and mosquito net gazebos, there is also the hexagonal mosquito net gazebo. This style of camping gazebo is designed to provide additional stability in addition to a sleek, modern design. The frames consist of a spoke cube post system that creates a 6-sided or 6-section domed canopy, hence the name hexagon. This class may also include the geodesic mesh gazebo, which provides stability for fairly large camping gazebos. Actually, there are several other types of gazebos or canopies, such as the easy-lift or umbrella-type canopy, beach canopies, and garden and event canopies. These, however, do not generally provide the portability of lighter camping gazebos.

Now that you have an idea of ​​the different styles and designs of a camping gazebo, you’ll be even more excited about how they add so much to your outdoor recreation and camping enjoyment. There are few items of camping gear that add as much to the aesthetics of your campsite as a gazebo. Although tents are now designed with much in mind for appearance, a sheltered gazebo is like the centerpiece of a campground. A gazebo with picnic tables inside offers much more comfort while dining compared to eating under a pine needle-shedding tree, or worse yet, a bird sanctuary. And a circular line of camp chairs under a gazebo keeps your campsite from looking overcrowded and is a storyteller’s paradise. A smaller gazebo is convenient and neat for storing all your outdoor gear and food supplies, such as coolers, backpacks, hunting, fishing or birding gear, water jugs, stoves off, flashlights, pots and pans , etc. Simply place a picnic table in the center of the gazebo and you have an instant kitchen, pantry and storage closet, including a table to work on. This also keeps your campsite clean and organized, which in turn allows you to experience and appreciate the wonderful outdoors even more. At night, decorate your gazebo with colored lights to illuminate and add charm. The advantage of using ornamental camping lights or string lights is that they provide a soft, warm glow, enough for activities like dining or playing cards, and add to the peaceful atmosphere that nighttime brings to a campsite. And, of course, there’s always the occasional rainfall that nature needs to keep life happy. If you’ve never experienced the cool, misty breeze and gentle, pouring raindrops inside a screened-in gazebo during an afternoon or evening shower, you’re in for a real treat.

As you can see, there are many obvious benefits to gazebo camping. Surely many of you have other ideas that you have discovered in nature and outdoor recreation. If this article has inspired you to go camping, why not consider adding a gazebo to your outdoor kit? I didn’t mention how affordable they are, usually less than the cost of your tent. And most layouts can be set up very easily with two people. You can also use your gazebo between camping trips in your own backyard. It may not be Yosemite Park, but it’s sure to beat Saturday night TV.