Camping is a fantastic outdoor activity, be it solo or with your friends and family. Mother Nature will always do well for you, and you will be sure to create some long-lasting memories in the great outdoors. Organizing a camping trip can be a task on its own, and it will depend on how long you are planning to stay outside. You need to make sure that you’re ready for all situations and that you will be able to survive in any situation! Nothing should be missing in your backpack, and we do suggest making a checklist when packing! With that, we will do a quick, brief overview of the bare essentials that you need to think of before going on a camping/hiking trip!
Choosing a Campsite
First of all, you need to make sure that you know the exact location where you will spend your time. Popular campgrounds can quickly fill up, and you need to make sure that there will be space for you. If you’re going into the wild, that maybe won’t be an issue, but we always suggest carefully choosing your campground. If you’re alone, make sure that someone knows where you will be heading and always try to have means of communicating, be it radio, or carrying enough external batteries.
Camping 101
What is camping without a tent! Always make sure that the tent is suitable for the weather conditions that you’re going into and be sure that you have all the poles, stakes and a mallet to fix the tent in the right way. There are various types of tents, and you should also think of that when you’re packing. Sleeping bags are a must or an air mattress that can fit in your tent. Folding chairs and a table should also be on the list. A good camping knife can go a long way, and be sure to include it in your backpack, maybe even have a spare one. A good pocket knife can help in various situations, and we can’t stress that enough! Here we can also include a flashlight, an essential item, with multiple batteries!
Clothes
If your stationary clothes won’t be too much of an issue, but if you plan to hike or change locations, every bit of clothes can be heavy on your back. Depending on the season, bring suitable clothes but having a hat, a nice waterproof jacket and warm socks is always a must. The mountain can be unforgiving and the nights can be cold! Functional boots are a must-have and a swimsuit if you are near a river or a lake close.
Food and Drinks
Plan ahead! The chances are that you will be preparing your food! A portable stove with fuel is a must if you’re staying for more than a few days. Prepacked food, canned food, and snacks are always a welcome addition and will get you by if you’re staying just for the weekend. There are many ready to eat camping meals to choose from, but we always suggest cooking while you camp. That food prepared by you, in that location, will just taste better! Oh, and don’t forget a pair of eating utensils!
Personal Items
Be sure to bring toiletries like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, and a toothbrush! We can’t stress enough how important it is to bring a first aid kit with you as accidents happen, and you always need to be prepared! We also suggest bringing some aspirin, just in case! A photo camera or a pair of binoculars can also be super fun to bring on the camping trip!
One more important item, if you plan on hiking or exploring, a map and a compass are a must! A portable GPS would be ideal, but for a beginner, that may be overkill!
With these items in your backpack, you will be sure that you are ready for your first camping trip! Like said, a checklist is a great way to keep track. Are you prepared enough! We wish you good luck and a lot of fun!