When you get an itch to venture outside, camping allows you to reconnect with nature. You can travel out to a location mostly untouched by human hands and appreciate wildlife and vegetation there that you wouldn’t normally see. However, to venture outside of the realm of houses and hotels, you’re going to have to pack the right supplies. Here are some important camping trip essentials you should bring with you.
Before you think of anything else, you should take care of your basic needs. Water and some provisions of food are thus essential for camping. When you are in the middle of a long hike or you set up your tent far from any grocery store, food and water will carry you through your days and nights. You may even choose to get a water filter or purification tablets so you can make water from nearby streams or ponds drinkable.
The next necessity you should bring is a shelter. In most cases, this means a tent and a sleeping bag. When you lay down to rest at night, the tent will help to keep insects and maybe even animals from disturbing you. The sleeping bag and tent will work together to keep you warm and comfortable as well.
You never know when an accident may occur throughout of a camping trip. Having a first aid kit of some sort may save you in dire moments when you sustain a major injury. It can also come in handy when you get small scrapes while you are walking.
A multipurpose knife made for outdoor use is another highly beneficial item to have. You can utilize it for all kinds of tasks including cutting through rope, wood, or even a catch of fish. Make sure to get one that is sturdy enough to survive rough handling; a regular pocketknife is probably not going to be adequate for everything.
When you’re traveling away from the convenience of roads, items to help you navigate correctly are vital to prevent you from getting lost. Bring along a compass and a map of the area you are camping in. Nowadays, you can also get a GPS that you can use instead of a map. Armed with your navigational tools, even if you start to lose your bearings, you can refer to them to correct your direction.
Campfires provide you with warmth and light as the sun sets, and you can also use them to cook food. For this reason, you should have a fire starter with you so that you don’t have to depend on nearby materials on the ground (which you can’t always reliably find). It’s also a good idea to bring some dry kindling in an enclosed container for the same reason.
Weather is often fickle, and it can quickly change from sunshine to a downpour and back again without your anticipation. To stay dry and avoid succumbing to hypothermia in colder temperatures, you should bring the proper clothing. Pack a breathable rain jacket and layers that you can put on or take off as the temperatures fall and rise. If you are camping in a warmer climate, consider wearing a hat to cover your head and neck against sunburn. The right boots will also get you through the rough terrain and possible wetness unscathed. AltaiGear supplies some of the best military–grade boots available on the market that are perfect in a camping context. Our SuperFabric material makes them breathable yet waterproof, and the soles come treaded with Vibram rubber for maximum traction.
