What Not to Bring Camping: An Experienced Camper’s Guide to Pack Lightly
Are you planning a camping trip? Before packing your bags, make sure you know what not to bring camping with you. It’s easy to get overly excited and fill your car with items you don’t need – especially if you’re a first-time camper. But, in reality, the more you pack, the more you will be carrying around on the trail. As an experienced camper and a father of three kids, I understand the importance of packing lightly for a camping trip. In this blog post, I’ll share some of the most important things to leave behind when heading out for the forest.
[recommendations keyword=’what-not-to-bring-camping’]
Heavy Electronics
Heavy electronics are a definite no-no when camping. Setting up a large TV, or a complicated stereo system requires a significant amount of effort and space. Plus, most camping sites don’t have access to electricity, so all your electronics will be rendered useless. However, if you need to use small electronics while camping, make sure to bring power banks and solar powered chargers.
Tents
If you’re planning an extended trip and will be camping for several consecutive nights, you may want to invest in a large tent. However, if you’re only camping for one night, then it’s probably not necessary to bring a tent. For overnight camping trips, bringing a lightweight tarp and a few large blankets helps you stay warm without any extra bulk.
Too Many Clothes
You don’t need to pack your entire wardrobe for a camping trip. Even if you plan to stay for a week, you only need a few sets of casual clothing. It’s best to bring lightweight fabrics such as linen or cotton so that they don’t weigh your bag down. Plus, when camping, you’ll usually be doing some type of physical activity, so you won’t want to be wearing thick or heavy clothing. A few additional socks and underwear will come in handy if you get wet or muddy.
Too Much Food
It’s easy to get carried away in the supermarket aisles and pack your camping bags with food. However, too much food will take up a huge portion of your packing limit. Instead of packing a full menu for your trip, it’s best to stick to simple and lightweight meals like canned beef and tuna, and food packs like instant noodles. Of course, you can also bring some treats along with you like jerky, nuts, and energy bars.
Fancy Kitchen Dishes & Utensils
If you plan to cook more than just a few quick meals, you may want to bring along some cooking items. But, before packing your bags, think carefully about the items you really need. You don’t need to haul your expensive kitchen cookware with you – instead, pick lightweight and durable utensils like a pan, cutting board, spatula, and dish towels. And, don’t forget to wash your dishes after every meal!
Unnecessary Water Bottles
On an average camping trip, water bottles can quickly rack up the weight of your luggage. Did you know that most campsites have fresh drinking water? You only need to bring one or two excess water bottles for emergencies so that you don’t depend on the host for a top up when you run out.
Things You Don’t Need
Before packing for your camping trip, make sure to think about the items that you really don’t need. Do you really need to bring along an extra pillow or a bunch of towels? Pack only necessary items that will accommodate your camping needs. Run through your bag with a thought of “What did I forget?” and if you have anything too much in your list, then leave it behind.
Now that you know what not to bring camping, it’s time to start packing! Just remember, the lighter you pack, the less you have to haul and the more comfortable your camping trip will be. And, if you ever feel stressed while packing, take a deep breath and remember that it’s all worth it when you’re watching the stars at night with your loved ones.