us.dinodirect.com specialises in selling top quality tents and camping equipment at discount prices. We have operated in this industry for almost 20 years, and 7 years of that online, so when it comes to giving outdoor gear advice, we know our stuff! Being specialists in selling lightweight and ultralight outdoor clothing and camping equipment, here is some very helpful advice for outdoor sports people interested in backpacking, adventure racing, lightweight expeditions and a variety of other lightweight outdoor and camping activities.

Why is lightweight camping and outdoor gear so important?

Lightweight gear is amongst the most technologically advanced outdoor clothing and camping equipment available. This is because it uses the specially advanced technologies which serve the same core purposes as ‘regular weight’ outdoor gear, but at a reduced weight. Outdoor Sports: Outdoor sports enthusiasts and athletes have come to value lightweight camping and sports equipment because of the way it enhances their performance, hence the increasingly popular manufacture of ultralight tents, clothing and equipment. Adventure runners, backpackers and mountain bikers are amongst those looking to shave every gram off their pack weight. Lightweight Backpacking and Travel: It’s important to realise that whilst you’re traveling around the world, taking a gap year, or backpacking for a weekend in the fells, you will greatly appreciate good quality, lightweight clothing and equipment, as no one else is going to offer to carry your backpack for you!

Reduced pack weight: By reducing the weight of the gear you are carrying with you, it means that you are putting less strain on your legs, making yourself less top heavy and more than likely reducing your pack size which means you can squeeze through more crevasses! Reduced clothing weight: Agility is helped by reduced friction against key areas of your body’s movement. By having less weight, you are reducing the gravitational pull of your gear towards the ground, when most people want to be moving forward. Importantly, lightweight and ultralight equipment often means less bulk, which too helps to reduce the friction of clothing against your body and make it easier to conquer another mountain!

Packing Your Backpack

Prioritise. When packing your backpack, like many people I bet you think of an occasion (however remote) where you might actually need the melon baller. Well, the chances are you won’t, so don’t pack it. The rule is, when your lightweight packing, is to focus on absolute need and emergency need, which includes at the very least: water, food, shelter, warmth and safety. Ask yourself these questions when packing your rucksack:

1. Do I need it? Throw out luxury items. ‘Luxury’ means different things to different people but try and stretch yourself with removing these items, as it makes a huge difference to the way you enjoy the outdoors.

2. How many times will I use it? Just the once – is it worth it?

3. Can something else replace it? Can it double-up as something else?

4. Can I share the weight with someone else (e.g. backpackers often share the weight of a tent)

5. If I was caught-out without it, would I be in a safe and secure situation?

Note: Don’t make any cut-back where it might compromise your safety or others.

“Make sure you have the best lightweight outdoor gear”

Providing lightweight equipment to campers and outdoor sports enthusiasts is a speciality in the outdoor industry who are keen to buy top brands at discount prices. If you’re new to specialist lightweight gear, then here are a few items of very lightweight outdoor gear that you might consider investing in…

Ultralight and Lightweight Camping Equipment:

Ultralight tents and lightweight tents – a very popular piece of outdoor kit, these spectacularly clever and technologically advanced lightweight tents and ultralight tents are one of CheapTents.com’s top sellers. Adventure racers and backpackers find that these tents are more than adequate and can weigh less than 1-2kg. The Terra Nova Laser Comp tent is a great example of an ultralight tent, weighing in at a mere 900g – officially regarded as the world’s lightest two-skin tent.

Bivi Bags – if you’re looking for a truly ultralight camping experience, consider a bivi bag. Simply climb into your sleeping bag and bivi bag, and sleep under the stars in a very minimalist and lightweight form of camping.

Ultralight down Camping Sleeping Bag – although you can get lightweight synthetic sleeping bags, the real gains are to be found in the high-loft, warm, ultralight down sleeping bags – a superb investment as getting a good night sleep is vital to enjoying the outdoors. Lightweight camping mat – some hardcore minimalist campers may see any sort of camping mat as a luxury, whereas others see lightweight camp mats as more about getting a good night sleep to aid their recovery and performance the next day.

Lightweight rucksack / backpack – many outdoor people, regardless of whether they are fell runners or backpackers value the weight savings in having a strong yet lightweight rucksack or backpack. Your comfort, speed and agility often correlate with the style of pack that you use. Always choose a specialist, lightweight rucksack or backpack if at all possible.

Lightweight camping stoves – camping stoves have come along way with ultralight versions being available with little, if any, loss to burning and boiling time. Many ultralight camping stoves weigh less than 150-200g making eating a warm, nutritious meal on the hill easy and lightweight.

Titanium pan set – you can eat out of the bowl and the lid also doubles up as a plate. The titanium pan set is ultra lightweight, strong and versatile.

Titanium cutlery – Tired of carrying around cheap cutlery only to break it half way through your Wayfayrer meal? Try titanium cutlery – ultralight weight and incredibly strong.

Ultralight and Lightweight Clothing & Footwear:

Lightweight waterproof jackets – lightweight jackets that are waterproof have been developed by manufacturers for outdoor sports enthusiasts and for stuffing away in your backpack for those ‘just in case’ occasions. CheapTents.com has a great selection of lightweight waterproof jackets and trousers available from some of the very best outdoor brands.

Softshell jackets – for a warm layer, consider a softshell / windproof fleece. Softshell jackets provide the warmth of a fleece, water repellency, breathability and endurance with toughened wear-areas, and promote agility for outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Lightweight trekking trousers – important piece of kit for those trekkers, looking to stay warm, and take advantage of lightweight hard-wearing trousers that can be used for a variety of outdoor activities.

Running shorts – handy to wear whilst your washing your trousers, or simply for running or walking in warmer weather. Running shorts are a great way to save space, weight and stay comfortable in warmer conditions. Even in the rain, runners and walkers often wear them as it means they are not carrying around excess mud and water in their clothing.

Baselayers – baselayers, or base layer tops and bottoms, are quick drying, fast wicking and reduce odour. Avoid cotton t-shirts as they loose insulative properties and gain weight when wet. baselayers are a very important of anyones layering system and is highly recommended! Baselayer underwear – outdoor clothing manufacturers have even gone to effort of keeping people comfortable by designing baselayer boxers and pants.

Weight saving tips:

1. A decent cooking pan can work as a eating bowl, and, you guessed it, a cooking pan! Do you really need a plate and a bowl?

2. How many tent pegs do you need for the weather? You can now get ultralight tent pegs?

3. Many baselayers are quick drying, wicking, low odour and so can be worn again and again, and d

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Credentialing for providers, large groups, or facilities can be a tedious task that can often require a team of specialists to handle all the on-boarding information as well as updates throughout the year. As of April, 2018, CMS now mandates that providers maintain accurate information and timely updates. Providers and facilities that do not keep up with these updates risk having their in-network status with the insurance company taken away as well as fines and penalties.

We have composed some of the most popular questions and concerns that your office may have in choosing someone to credential your providers.

Questions:

Turn-around time – 24 hours
New Provider – Using primary source verification, we are able to pull most of your provider’s information within a few hours. If more information is needed from the provider or facility then we can gather that information quickly by sending you a secure link with information needed to send back.
Resolve a credentialing issue – Our credentialing applications are tailored to the insurance companies specifications. If there is wrong information or information missing then the application cannot be sent out without it being corrected. The turnaround time would be same day for us. If there was information lacking from the provider then they would get a same day email with information needed and a secure link to add the information.
How to send and receive applications and required documents
Most of the information will be gathered via primary source verification. This is the most up to date accurate information that can be populated. In most cases it has more up to date information than what the provider has available to give us. All applications will be generated electronically and able to be signed electronically.
Availability for participation in our on-boarding meetings
We are available 5 days a week. Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings for any conference calls. We would be happy to accommodate your requests.
What distinguishes us from our competitors?
Primary source verification: we are alerted to any changes in the providers license, credentialing, DEA, CAQH, NPPES etc., the same day it is changed in their systems. This is usually weeks before the facility or provider is even aware anything has changed. This allows us to alert you and the provider of any credentialing, licensing, certifications, and board expiration’s that come up in a timely manner so we can correct them and keep your providers and facility in full compliance.
We are able to tailor credentialing applications to the insurance companies specifications so that there is little to no denials.
We have electronic signature capabilities on all credentialing applications that can be sent directly to the provider through secure email. We are also able to provide each on-boarded provider with their own credentialing secure email if your facility would like.
Most everything that we do is electronic, which will eliminate most, if not all, need for paper forms or paper signature requests.
Provider /Facility and its managing employees would have access to our secure software platform for you to view and print any and all provider information, licenses etc., that you may need to keep on file.
We can provide you reporting on when applications have been sent, viewed by the provider, signed by the provider, accepted by the insurance company. We keep track of every email, signature, view, acceptance, denial, and more. All communication is auto-documented and made available for you and your staff to see. Transparency and communication are very important to us.
We are able to integrate with CAQH so there are timely automatic updates as soon as the primary source verification has also been updated.
We are available to speak with you 6 days a week.
Timeline to provide services from date contract is signed
(Once a contract to provider credentialing services to your facility and providers was signed and the Excel spreadsheet was sent over with the providers information, the timeline would be as follows):

Providers would be complete and added to our software within 5-8 business days.
By week two you can expect the providers to be integrated with primary source verification, CAQH, NPPES, PECOS, DEA, and other licensing agencies.
By week three, the credentialing contracts would be generated based on information you provide to us. E-mails would be sent to providers if more information was needed.
By week four, we would like to see everything submitted and sent out electronically.
While we strive to keep within our timelines, we are also at the mercy of the providers responding back to us in a timely manner as well.
After the first month, we would now be considered fully integrated and working on the current applications sent, maintaining provider compliance with insurance company(s), CAQH, NPPES, DEA, State Licensing.

If you have asked yourself the question, ‘How do I apply for a Italian Visa from Dubai?’, you will find the answer here. The procedures to apply for Italy visa online will seem simple and easy. Earlier, the process used to be much more stringent. However, after moving to the online portal, it has provided a fast an easy procedure and improved the process speed. The Online Italy Visa form application can be submitted at the visa application centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It will be assessed by the Embassy of Italy in Abu Dhabi. Only residents of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi can apply for a visa at the visa application centre in Abu Dhabi.

Step 1: Decide the type of visa and collect the documents it requires respectively

Each type of visa requires a different set of documents. The Online Italy Visa form requirements will enlighten you on the documents you will need for the type of visa you will be applying for. The standard documents include adequately filled online Italy Visa form, passport photographs, bank statement, travel plan itinerary, confirmed hotel booking or letter of invitation, medical insurance. Ensure that you are clear on your ‘purpose of visiting Italy, so that there are no complications when you apply for Italy visa.

Step 2: Apply for the visa to Italy

When you apply for the Italy visa, you will need to submit them physically in hand to the officials of the agency. This is the segment of visa application that remains offline dominantly because; the document requirements are very complex and vary with each case. While online mediums works at an advantage to accelerate the procedures that are more standardized, documentation is a crucial procedure that requires uttermost care at each step. When you consider applying for the Italy visa, you need to pay be vigilant and complete this procedure. If this step is not completed satisfactorily, you can expect the delays in submission and approval process, which in turn will be quiet a hassle. Pay the necessary fees where required. The fees are based on your age, type of visa, and duration of stay. Ensure there are no hidden charges that can burden your expenditure.

Step 3: track your Visa application online

You need to keep an eye out for your visa is very easy with the internet. You can track your online Italy visa form application progress with the details available on the website. Just enter your reference number or bar code number or call the call centre to know the status of your application. Once you have made the payment, the procedure is complete for applicant. You can collect your passport once you have got the green seal of approval.

You now have the answers to the question of How do I apply for a Italian Visa from Dubai pay due attention to these procedures as it helps you get the visa. However, it is not a guaranteed process and it depends upon Embassy officials and their decisions which could be changed at any point of time.