It’s never a bad time to start planning your next camping trip. And regardless if this is an adventure you take on as often as you can or as an occasional recreational treat, you must prepare for it, and prepare properly. There’s plenty of predestined camping sites with certain commodities already on the spot. Of course, there’s also the unregulated and unpredictable wilderness that you can decide to go to on your own, taking you’ve already obtained the camping permit and the preliminary camping experience.
Whichever way the road takes you, there are certain essentials you can’t possibly go without if you’re planning to have a smooth experience. You should also always take into consideration that the least expected might happen, but what’s in your power is to be as prepared as possible.
Camping Tent and Sleeping Bag
A sleeping bag is an insulated covering for a person, essentially a lightweight quilt that can be closed with a zipper which functions as lightweight, portable bedding when a person is sleeping outdoors. Depending on the size of your group and the amount of time you will be staying, your tent could be large, medium or small. Additionally, considering the expected weather conditions, you may choose a tent that is tougher and more climate-resistant. Don’t forget to protect your tent against mosquitoes with a net and spray and other bugs during the summertime that can ruin your night when you should be resting. Your sleeping bag (plus a sleeping mat) should be comfortable and warm, keeping your back protected from rocky surfaces when you lay flat on the ground.
Rechargeable Spotlight
Flashlights compared to spotlights are slimmer, portable, with a wide-spread beam of light. On the other hand, a rechargeable spotlight has a more powerful beam of light and offers superior features for your camping nights. The only downside is that spotlight is a bulkier, heavier item and if you have in plan to travel by foot a lot make sure you organise your backpack as best as possible. Take what is truly essential, and a spotlight with up to 4500 lumens, and custom light functions is one of those items. It will not only help guide your way through the road or mountain trail but performing night activities with bright visibility will now be possible. The powerful battery of all good rechargeable spotlights is charged with the Magnetic Charge System and have a quick charge function. The compact searchlight for all outdoor adventures can also be placed on the end cap and thus positioned vertically on the ground or table and allow you to see all of your surroundings in the pitch dark.
Cooking Gear, Water and Food Items
Food and water are obvious items that everyone should have on them at all times when travelling far from home. But make sure you have a mix of dried goods as well as fresh ones. You need to plan on having extra food for unforeseen situations. An example of some of the best snacks to bring along are dehydrated meets, beef jerky, dried fruit, trail mix, nuts, protein bars, cans of pre-cooked beans and other legumes, bread, bagels, pasta, peanut butter, etc. If you’re a regular coffee drinker, don’t forget to bring along instant coffee packages. A quality gas cooker is a good backup in case the weather doesn’t allow you any conditions for starting a fire. As for kitchen camping utensils, be sure to bring knives, plates, cups, cookware, tin foil (to store leftovers), sanitiser and trash bags.
Multi-Functional Folding Knife
Along with your first-aid kit, your pocket knife is another super important survival tool. Multitasker that you should keep in your pocket in any situation. The functionality and versatility of camping knives are at their most evolved at the moment, helping you cut through the meet, break glass and restart engines. When it’s time to go offline and deep into nature, you’ll want a multi-functional knife in your pocket. One that has a sharp cutting blade, screwdriver, scissors and a bottle opener for your convenience. Keep the blade length 5 inches or under, with an overall heavyweight structure for added stability and opt for either stainless-steel or high carbon steel.
A Compact Backpack
Other than comfortable hiking shoes, the other most important piece of gear you need to go backpacking is a backpack. Your pack will hold all your food, water and overnight gear, and, if it’s a good one, feel comfortable all the while. All campers, hikers and explorers are looking for a backpack that is comfortable and full of advanced features. A light pack allows you to keep your base weight low but while a lightweight does many things right, there is no perfect pack for everyone. Some backpacks can help you carry more items but the condition for that will be a more robust suspension which adds to the pack’s baseline weight. There’s plenty of reviews and sources online for which backpack is suitable for what activity. If you’re mostly driving to your desired location and spending a night or two, don’t worry about it too much. But if you’re planning on exploring for longer than just a day, a quality backpack is a worthy investment.
Don’t Forget
– Plan your trip accordingly: check your equipment, gear, vehicle and the upcoming weather
– Pack only the necessities: safety, comfort, plenty of water, and a full belly come first
– Depending on how often you’re adventuring the outdoors, think about how much you need to invest in quality pieces of gear
– Surprise your friends and family with a memorable experience together in nature and bring along fun ideas for group activities
