All of you must have wanted, at some point in life, to take a break from mundane routine. At times, you want to just be out of touch with all tedious works and be with yourself out in the wild, enjoying nature. Even this kind of imagination appeases to the adventurous side of you. Camping legends are always on the hunt for some good camping sites. Camping is one of the finest ways to the tension-free, stress-relieving, and enjoy refreshing nature. You take a break from the world, pack your gear, and set your base somewhere remote.
If you are about to follow other camping legends, you must follow your passion but with caution. So we are going to guide you about the basics of camping. Here you will find things that one should pay heed to and the ones one must avoid.
Page Contents
7 Dos of Camping:
Let’s be familiar with must-do things about camping.
1- The first thing, a camping legend pays heed to is picking the proper site. You are aware of the fact that while camping, the place is going to be your temporary home. So many people chose the best and already established camping sites. This will be the best pick as it will have developed essentials for camping. One may find interesting camp fellows too. But it can be more adventurous if one looks for more natural sojourns like national parks and forests. In these camping sites, you will be even closer to nature. Plus such campsites offer more exploring opportunities.
2- Going Somewhere? Enough Luggage? But more importantly, do you have the appropriate luggage. The journey, you are embarking on, requires suitable and sufficient gear. First of all, visit a store and pick the tools to mount a camp.
3- Though, you are not going on a luxury vacation but you still need to pack brief luggage. Your backpack must contain all essentials you are going to need in the wild. The must-carry list includes a sleeping bag, a few utensils, and few but appropriate clothing.
4- OK! When it comes to basic need, you must be well-prepared. You have got two options. Either you can take packaged but dehydrated foods. But have you thought about the possibility of spilling the hot water while pouring into the package. You will have to go through the trouble of igniting a fire. So why not try for a self-cooked meal.
5- This is the crucial one. Pack all the toilet paper you need. Either you can arrange and fix a pot in the wild. Or you could pick a natural dumping site.
6- Always be on your watch about the wild animals. You are in the wild so you have to be mindful of them.
7- We recommend this to be your top-notch priority. Pack emergency medical kit as anything can happen in the wild.
7 Don’ts of Camping:
1- Follow the guidelines of other camping legends on the advice to be out of touch with technology. When in the wild, try to be intimate with nature and enjoy mesmerizing beauty instead of spending all energies on social networks.
2- Do not establish your cooking area in the immediate vicinity of where you have mounted camp. This may be dangerous for you as the winds can carry the spark to the camp.
3- Do not pollute the environment. Remember that you are in the lap of serene Mother Nature, so respect it in every way possible. Do not throw away empty packages, bags, and other things around.
4- Do not forget the basic things to pack. Bottles of water, sleeping bags, and necessary utensils are among the list you are not allowed to forget. If you forget a simple thing, that would be enough to ruin the trip.
5- Do not bring any seeds into the environment that can become an invasive species later. Avoid bringing seeds or spilling them around.
6- Do not leave a fire unattended. Always be cautious of putting it out before going to sleep.
7- Respect the privacy of other fellow-campers. Do not spy or pry into their privacy.
Planning for your first campout? Here’s what you need to buy!
Camping is like staying in a basic cabin, minus the cabin itself. Apart from your tent, you will need to pack as though you will stay somewhere where you don’t have electricity, furniture, or stove/refrigerators. Some campgrounds may have running water and a community bathroom, a table, a place to park your car, and an appropriate place to pitch your tent.
Extra tip
If you have never tried camping, don’t rush into buying camping equipment—what if you don’t like camping at all? You should, instead, be wise and rent the most expensive items, such as the tent, sleeping bags, and pads. However, if you’re determined to go camping as often as possible, you will need to buy essential camping gear.
The tent
If your budget isn’t tight, you should always go with the larger tent. A 3-person tent is an excellent choice for you and your partner because it offers some extra room. Similarly, a family of four will feel comfortable in a 6-person tent. If you want to stand up in your tent effortlessly, make sure you check out the height inside the tent. A good size will also make it easy when moving around and getting dressed.
Check out tents with vestibules outside the doors because you can stow away the dirty shoes. Additionally, a tent with two doors will make it easy for you to go to the bathroom at night without climbing over your sleeping tentmates.
Extra tip
Do due diligence and learn how to select the best tent for you and your family. Also, practice pitching your tent at home. Don’t forget that you also need a suitable-sized footprint; it won’t cover the whole floor if the groundsheet is too small. On the other hand, the footprint will catch rainwater and pool underneath the tent if the footprint is too big.
The sleeping bag
When you look for a sleeping bag, start by checking out the temperature rating. A summer sleeping bag will do for your campouts if you don’t intend to go camping in the winter or late fall. However, you should stay on the safe side and get a 3-season bag. As you know, mountains have their weather and you never know when chilly weather comes. It might be overkill to buy a snug mummy bag for camping. A rectangular camping bag will offer you more room to move.
The sleeping pad
The sleeping pad acts like your mattress at home and has insulating abilities helping you to lose body heat at night. Look at the specs when comparing sleeping pads. Needless to say, a thick, long. And wide sleeping pad with a high insulation value (the r-value) will be far more comfortable than a thin, short, and narrow model. If you want to be off the ground, you should add a cot to your shopping list.
Extra tip
It might take you a while to set up the tent, bag, and pad, so do it while it’s still light.
Lighting
Pack flashlights for you and your family and headlamps to have free hands when camping. For ambient light, the lanterns are excellent options. If allowed, you can also make a campfire.
Cooler
When you camp in the summer, you should get a cooler to cool your drinks and perishable food. Pack enough ice too. New models have extra thick insulation that helps the ice last for a long time.
Stove
The traditional two-burner propane camp stove is a reliable option for most campers. It doesn’t empty your pocket and it helps you cook breakfast and a morning brew in the morning. Make sure that you also pack more than one fuel canister and a lighter. Again, fire the stove up at home, so you’re sure how to operate it when camping.
Plates, pots, cups, and sporks
If you plan to cook, you also need some tools to prepare and eat your food. Pack a scrubber, a towel, biodegradable soap, and a washtub to wash the dirty dishes. We recommend you pack your kitchen utensils in a large clear plastic recipient with a lid.
Camping chairs
You might not need camping chairs every time you go camping. However, it’s nice to have chairs when sitting at the camp picnic table. Look for mesh camp chairs because they dry and drain quickly.
Camp toiletries
Pack your prescription medications and have a first-aid kit with you too. Don’t forget about hygiene items, bandages, sunscreen, and insect repellent. The campground bathrooms may run out of supplies, so pack toilet paper, soap, and a small towel. Use a hand sanitizer as well.
Clothing, meals, location- how should you choose?
Clothing
You don’t need to be fashionable when camping, so look for functionality when selecting your clothing. Stay away from cotton because it gets heavy when wet and dries very slowly. Opt for wool and polyester/nylon fabrics instead.
Use the 3-layer principle when camping: a base layer to keep you warm, a second layer to wick moisture away from your body, and a third layer to protect you from wind and rain. Don’t forget about warm and comfortable gloves, beanies, and socks for nighttime. Make sure that you break in your shoes before camping and add a pair of a slip-on for the midnight bathroom breaks.
Meal planning
Even if you’re great at cooking, you should stick to basic and simple dishes when camping. Make a list of the ingredients you need for your meals and add canned entrees and side dishes. Pack fresh food and snacks. Kids will love it if you pack s’mores for the campout.
As for coffee and tea, you can take tea bags or instant coffee along with your teakettle or stovetop percolator.
Extra tip
Never leave the food/garbage out overnight or not correctly stored. Seal up everything in tightly closed recipients away from your camp. In bear country, get informed about local regulations—food lockers may be available due to bears in the area.
Location
The options to go camping are many and include RV parks and national parks. In some campsites, reservations might be necessary. The first-come, first-served basis is available for many campgrounds. Even if you don’t need to book months ahead, you should still check out with the campground about when it’s best to show up to get a site.
Avoid dispersed camping (with no facilities) and primitive sites (pit toilets). If you’re camping for the first time, we recommend choosing a developed campground with running water and flush toilets.
