Inside Outdoor Magazine

tents, however, are being pitched in non-traditional places. Rooftop and truck bed tents were hardly on KOA’s radar in 2016, when 0 percent of Millen- nials surveyed said they had tried it as a new accommodation. But in 2017, 6 percent of Millennials claimed to have camped in one for the first time, a simi- lar percentage to those who tried more traditional methods such as fifth-wheels or rustic cabins. Among non-white Mil- lennials, 10 percent slept in a rooftop or truck bed tent for the first time in 2017. New campers in 2017 also really liked cabins, with a full quarter of new campers listing cabins as their primary accommodation when camping, up from mid-teen percentages among all camp- ers the past two years. “That’s a much higher rate than the previous year and is likely due to the large increase in first-time, non-white campers who express a preference for cabins,” said the KOA study. It also seems to emphasize the increas- ing importance of comfort within the camping experience and the ongoing trend to “bring the luxuries of home” to the campground, as full service cabins were nearly three times more popular than “rustic” cabins when choosing a new type of accommodation. African American/Black campers are most likely to consider the availability of cabins im- portant to campground choice, followed by Asians/Pacific Islanders. “African American/Black campers are much more likely to try different camp- ing accommodations compared to other campers (about 80 percent compared to 53 percent for all other campers),” said the study. “They are also much more likely to try camping in a motorhome. In fact, 24 percent of African American/Black campers say they tried a motorhome or camping van in 2017, compared to just 9 percent of all other campers.” Almost one-third of all African American/Black campers say they would like to purchase an RV or be- come fulltime RVers. That compares to just 15 percent of campers overall. Millennials, meanwhile, now make up 37 percent of RVers. Why-Fi? One might assume that young and new campers would be enthusiastic about incorporating technology into their camping experiences, but in some ways that assumption misses the point of why people camp in the first place. Campers, rather, view technology as a bit of a dichotomy when camping. For starters, nearly all campers (97 percent) said they bring technology with them while camping. Access to technol- ogy, such as Wi-Fi and cloud connectiv- ity, allows folks to camp longer and more often, say respondents. It can even break down barriers to participation. “Access to technology brings information to a prospective camper’s fingertips. Answers to their questions are as close as a Google search, and help, should they need it, is often just a call away,” said the KOA study. “Easy access to technology, and especially mobile devices, also puts their minds at ease regarding safety, allowing them to more fully enjoy their outdoor experience.” TM 3-YEAR SHELF LIFE! * *From date of manufacturing if stored at 80˚f or less. Ready to Eat Cheese & Pepperoni Pizza! GREAT COLD OR HOT. PERFECT FOR EVERY OUTDOOR ADVENTURE! Add variety to your camping food section JUST TEAR OPEN AND EAT. NO WATER OR HEATING REQUIRED. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT BRIDGFORD.COM/READYTOEAT 048-1285 Bridgford IO-05.pdf 1 4/24/18 8:13 PM SPRING 2018 | Inside Outdoor 31