Camping Advice
Luchi Quines provides advice on everything you need to know before going camping.
Even the most urban people may still get the urge to camp out once in a while. Finding the right gear and all the preparations required can sometimes be overwhelming. When going camping, you can keep it simple, especially if it is for the first time.
Remember, by keeping camping simple, you can save money when you rent big-ticket gear. You can also bring the right clothes for the rain and cold to be comfortable. Besides this, you should bring enough food to satisfy your hunger. This article explains everything you need to know before going camping.
Essential camping gear
Camping is like living in a primitive cabin without the cabin itself. Hence, besides the tent, you need to pack everything as if you are going to a place with little or no furniture, stove, refrigerator, or electricity, and there is nothing in the cupboards. You can have running water and a community bathroom a few yards away in a developed campground. A standard campsite may have a place to park, a place to pitch a tent and a table.
You can always keep the initial investment low when renting or borrowing expensive items like tents, sleeping bags, and pads. It is a better tactic than paying lots of cash for an item that may not last a camping visit. That said, if you decide to invest in camping gear, below are a couple of things you need to consider before buying them:
The tent
If you have enough budget, then you can check the Expert Camper to purchase a large tent for camping. A 3-person tent offers more breathing room to a couple, while a 6-person tent is ideal for a family of four who can quickly find harmony.
You should also check the tent's peak height to see if you want a high enough tent to allow you to stand up. This can make moving around and dressing up easier. Vestibules outside the door are ideal if you want to stow muddy shoes, and a tent with two doors may also help you avoid going through sleeping people for a late-night bathroom break.
Once you purchase a tent, make sure that you first practice setting it up while at home. Remember that a right-sized footprint, especially if you have a too small groundsheet, may not fully protect the tent floor. If it is too big, it may catch water and place it underneath the tent.
The sleeping bag
When choosing a sleeping bag, it makes sense to start by looking at its temperature rating. A summer bag is all you need if you only plan for fair-weather camping. However, a 3-season sleeping bag can offer more options for unpredictable weather conditions.
If you always feel cold or hot, you can adjust the 3-season sleeping bag accordingly. Even better, you do not need a super-snug bag like backpackers usually use when you can take a rectangular camping bag that gives your body more space to move.
The sleeping pad
Finding your perfect campsite can sometimes be easy, but you need a good sleeping pad like a mattress on a bed. It should also have high-tech insulation to prevent you from losing body heat during cold weather conditions. You can find big air mattresses similar to what visitors sleep on at home. But they lack insulation properties, so they can leave you feeling cold.
It is essential to take specifications when you compare sleeping pads. If you get thicker, wider, or longer, it can be more comfortable and even warmer as it may have a higher insulation value called the R-value. Setting your sleeping bag, tent, and pad quite early is a good idea to avoid doing it in the dark.
Other crucial items
As you may know, campsites do not have lighting, so you must bring your own. Even a flashlight can do wonders, though a headlamp can free up your hands to do other camp tasks. A lantern can also be helpful for ambient light. Some campers also prefer to make a campfire for illumination, but you must watch for fire restrictions.
You may also need a stove, making a classic two-burner propane camp stove an excellent choice. This is because you do not need to spend lots of money preparing your morning drinks and cooking breakfast simultaneously. You need to bring a few fuel canisters and a lighter, but it would help if you lighted it at home to ensure it works.
You may have a cooler at home, so it works well. But make sure that it has adequate capacity to keep a few cold drinks and perishable food along with ice that can keep them that way. You can find some coolers with extra-thick insulation to let the ice last longer.
Plates, pots, and cups are also essential items you should consider taking for camping. Keep in mind that you must bring everything needed to prepare food and consume it. You can go into your home kitchen and figure out all the items you need to take with you. You may also need a scrubber, a towel, biodegradable soap, and a small washtub if you want to avoid taking dirty dishes home.
You can store all the kitchen gear in a single large clear plastic bin with a lid. It can make it easier to store away while at home and all the items will be ready when you decide to go camping next time.
Lastly, you may also need camp chairs, which are optional if you do not mind sitting at the camp picnic table. To make camping more comfortable and enjoyable, take a hammock for afternoon naps and a place to sit.
Page Reference
If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:
- QUINES, L. (2021) Camping Advice [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article622.htm [Accessed
About the Author
Luchi Quines is a freelance writer.