Essential Items For Camping: What Should You Take?
Camping is a great way to relax and enjoy nature, disconnect from your daily life, and spend quality time with friends and family. But, before hitting the campsite, it’s important to plan out your trip, and ensure you have all the essential items you’ll need. With my experience camping with three children and visiting numerous campsites, I’ve gathered a list of essential items you should take when getting ready for your camping trip.
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One of the most important things to bring when camping is water. Make sure to bring enough clean drinking water to last the length of your trip, as many campsites do not have access to a water supply. This can be done in many ways, such as carrying the water in jugs, using camping water containers that attach to the back of your car, or bring water filtration tablets to purify water.
Safe cooking and eating utensils are also essential items for a camping trip. You can get disposable plates, bowls, and utensils to minimize the amount of washing up you need to do, or grab a camping cooking set that includes a pot, pan, and other utensils, as well as a coffee pot, so you can make your morning coffee while camping.
A few other items that are essential for camping include a tent, sleeping bags, a flashlight, insect repellent, and sunscreen. If camping in a colder region, you’ll also need camping mats and cold-weather gear to keep you and your family warm.
Clothing
When packing for a camping trip, make sure to come prepared with plenty of warm clothes. Depending on the time of year, you’ll want to bring clothes that can be layered and taken off if it gets too hot. Make sure to also pack some waterproofs in case of rain or a quick dip in the lake.
Camping Food
When packing food for a camping trip, it’s important to plan ahead and choose food that doesn’t require a refrigerator. Pack enough food to last the duration of your camping trip and include snacks and simple meals. Foods like cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter and crackers, canned tuna, and trail mix are all great options. If you’re packing perishables, remember to bring along a cooler.
Important Safety Gear
Safety should always come first when camping so it’s important to pack essential safety gear such as a first aid kit, a charged mobile phone with its charger, and a fire extinguisher. You should also pack a multi-tool in case of any unexpected issues or to help with repairs. It’s also a good idea to bring an emergency shelter, if there is a possibility of a sudden storm.
Entertainment
Don’t forget to pack the items that will bring you entertainment throughout your trip such as board games, cards, books, a portable speaker, and a Frisbee. There are also battery-power portable chargers with a long life to keep electronic devices like tablets, phones and MP3 players charged. Activities like fishing, hiking, canoeing, and swimming can keep you entertained, depending on the location.
Camping can be a great way to break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and relax in the outdoors. With the right preparation and packing of the essential items, you’ll be sure to have an enjoyable, stress-free camping experience. Here is a helpful video to show the basics of setting up camp and what to include.