For those of us who enjoy the atmosphere of a well-set-up campsite, we tend to put more thought and effort into what camping gear is needed to do so. 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 basic camping items, along with proper cooking and eating utensils, personal hygiene products, flashlights and lanterns, and of course, plenty of camping food, you’ll have no problem camping.

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 camping. Not in any specific order, but three key ingredients would be the outdoor 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 while cooking and eating, or just enjoying the camaraderie, with others. In fact, two people sitting on logs by a campfire, enjoying the warmth of friendship and the soothing, crackling aroma of the fire, is complete camping to the “umpteenth degree.”

However, the gazebo or screen house is an occasionally overlooked item of camping equipment 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 follow along pretty well after experiencing the benefits beforehand. But if you don’t currently use a screened gazebo, you might be excited about the wonderful benefits these affordable screened homes offer.

First, however, I would like to briefly define several of the different types of cloth shelters and gazebos that are commonly used for camping. The most basic design is the canopy, which is usually a canvas or vinyl type material stretched over a framed ceiling supported by 4 or 5 legs or tent poles. The basic canopy usually comes without walls, but there are now several camping equipment manufacturers available for sheltered canopies. The open canopy and the sheltered canopy are usually the most economical. Although they usually do not have the stability of a fully protected gazebo, they are generally very lightweight and easy to install. If pests like mosquitoes and other flying insects aren’t 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 gazebo 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 wind-borne particles such as leaves and other visible airborne particles. In addition to gazebos with canopy and fly screen, there is also the gazebo with hexagonal fly screen. This style of camping gazebo is designed for extra stability, along with a sleek, modern design. The frames consist of a spoke cube post system creating a 6 sided or 6 section vaulted canopy, hence the name hexagon. This class may also include the geodesic mesh gazebo, which provides stability for fairly large camping gazebos. There are actually several other types of gazebos or canopies, such as the easy-to-raise or umbrella-type canopy, beach canopies, and garden and event canopies. These, however, generally do not 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 equipment that add as much to your campground aesthetic as a gazebo. Although tents are now designed with a lot of appearance in mind, a sheltered gazebo is like the centerpiece of a campsite. A gazebo with picnic tables inside offers much more comfort while dining compared to eating under a tree spewing pine needles, or worse, a bird shelter. And a circular line of camping chairs under a gazebo keeps your campsite from looking crowded and is a storyteller’s paradise. A smaller gazebo is convenient and neat for storing all of your outdoor gear and food supplies, such as coolers, backpacks, hunting, fishing or birding gear, water jugs, turned off stoves, 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 from. This also keeps your campsite clean and organized, which in turn allows you to experience and appreciate the wonderful outdoors even more. In the evenings, decorate your gazebo with colored lights to illuminate and add charm. The advantage of using camping ornamental lights or rope lights is that they provide a soft, warm glow, enough for activities like dining or playing cards, and add to the peaceful ambiance that evening brings to a campsite. And of course, there is always the occasional precipitation that nature needs to keep life happy. If you’ve never experienced cool, misty breezes and soft, torrential 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 camping in gazebos. Surely many of you have other ideas that you have discovered in nature and outdoor recreation. If this article has encouraged 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 designs 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 sure beats Saturday night TV.