Few things are more relaxing than a camping trip. Disconnecting with the modern world and returning to nature is not only fun, but it’s good for your mind, too.
However, that relaxing getaway can go sideways in a hurry if you forget to check off everything you need on your camping trip list.
So to make sure that you can make the best of your time in the great outdoors, here are some crucial things to bring camping, along with a few camping tips on how to select and use them most effectively.
Table of Contents
1. Sturdy Shelter
Providing shelter is essential in any wilderness scenario, so it should be one of the first things you consider when making your preparations.
For recreational camping, this almost always means finding a sturdy tent. While they come in all shapes and sizes, you don’t need to be extravagant. Remember that the more extravagant the tent is, the heavier, bulkier, and more time-consuming to set up and take down it will be.
You’ll also need stakes, and a tarp to set your tent on is usually a good idea. While not strictly essential, camping tarps can help keep moisture out of your tent and extend its lifespan by reducing wear and tear.
2. Sleeping Bags and Pillows
While the die-hard outdoorsman types are proud to sleep rough, we’re looking to enjoy our sojourn out in nature. So while a sleeping bag won’t be as comfortable as a warm bed, it’s leagues better than the cold ground.
How much bedding you’ll want will depend on where you’re camping and the time of year. If you’re expecting wet or chilly conditions, bringing along a foam camping pad to put under your sleeping bag is a good idea. That extra inch of cushioning will help keep the ground from sapping away warmth as you try to sleep.
3. Food and Water
You won’t last very long in the wild without a supply of fresh food and clean water. At the same time, you don’t want to be overburdened by the amount that you have to carry with you.
There are a few ways to strike a balance between those two factors.
Camping near a stream or river gives you the ability to trade heavy jugs of water for a lightweight water filter, for example. Choosing meals that can be cooked in a single pot or skillet lets you reduce the amount of gear you need, and opting for dried goods, like rice, beans, and the like cuts down on water weight.
For food, you’ll normally want to avoid anything perishable like meat and dairy, as it always tends to spoil faster than you think it will. One way around that restriction, however, is an electric cooler hooked up to a portable solar generator.
If you’re unfamiliar, portable solar generators are basically battery packs with an attached solar panel, ideal for running simple electronics like a cooler, radios, or for charging cell phones.
Staggered between periods of running the cooler and recharging, you should be able to use one to keep food out of the temperature danger zone without too much trouble.
And they come in miniature varieties ideal for use in campsites. For an example of what these portable solar generators look like, check out this Jackery 500 review.
4. Camping Stove and Cookware
Unless you were planning on living off trail mix for the duration of your trip, you’ll need something to cook with. And while cooking over the open fire has a certain romantic appeal, it’s trickier than it looks and might cause undue headaches if you don’t have any experience.
Instead, a simple gas-powered cooking stove will make life much easier. Don’t forget the cookware to match your intended menu, along with plates, cups, and flatware. You’ll also want to bring a tub and mild soap to handle the washing.
5. Durable Clothing and Shoes
It happens more often than you would imagine that novice outdoorsmen run down their camping checklist only to fail to realize they haven’t dressed for the trip.
Depending on the length of your trip, you want to bring enough changes of clothes to last you. Having to sit in damp or dirty clothes for an extended period is a sure way to sap the fun out of your excursion.
You’ll also want those clothes to be durable enough to withstand hard use, but comfortable enough to be bearable for long periods. This extends especially to shoes. A sturdy pair of hiking boots — broken in ahead of time — is essential.
6. Light Sources
If it’s been a while since you’ve been outside of the city, you might underestimate how dark it can get out in the bush. Once you’re away from all the ambient light pollution most of us are used to, you’ll get well-acquainted with the meaning of “pitch black.”
And as nice to look at as they are, the moon and stars won’t be nearly bright enough for you to see by.
So even if you don’t have any nighttime activities planned, keeping flashlights, camp lanterns, and batteries is a basic safety rule. You don’t want to have to deal with an emergency when you can’t see your hand in front of your face.
7. First Aid Kit
Staying safe in the woods should always be your number one priority. But you can’t always predict what’s going to happen out there in the wild. So a first aid kit is something you’d rather have and not need, than need and not have.
You can buy professionally assembled kits from any camping supply or big box store, so you shouldn’t have to worry about gathering all the materials you need yourself. But you should make sure that your kit is fully stocked every time you’re preparing to head out, and any materials you’ve used are replaced.
All the Camping Trip Essentials You Need to Enjoy the Great Outdoors
Above all else, the key to enjoying a camping trip is preparedness. Planning out every detail of your trip and your activities well in advance can alleviate a lot of headaches.
Living on a tight budget doesn’t mean you can’t travel. It may take a bit more planning, but traveling on a budget is totally doable – these tips will show you how.
And most of all, be prepared to be unprepared.
Whether camping or at home, you never can predict what life may throw at you. So to make sure that you’re always ready for whatever may come, be sure to keep up with all our health and lifestyle hacks and guides.