Camping Essentials That Will Make Your Trip a Great One
Camping is a great way to spend a weekend or vacation in the great outdoors, enjoying nature with your family and friends. It’s good for our body and mind to take some time off and relax surrounded by greenery and breathing the fresh air. But spending a weekend in nature can be an amazing adventure or a real nightmare. Usually, good or bad experiences are based on one factor: what we packed (or didn’t pack) for our trip.
Depending on your level of camping experience, the campsite you’ll be using and who you’re going with – will greatly determine what you need. For instance, some people may say that finding the best hiking sleeping bag is necessary, while others might think that a tarp is a must. Once you start going on camping vacations, you’ll have your own list of “essentials”, but for now – check our must-haves for a nature outing!
A Lightweight Tent
After a long day(s) of hiking, checking out your surroundings, what you’ll need is good quality, waterproof, comfortable place to sleep. As you’ve already guessed, a good tent is the top essential item for camping. It’s your “home away from home” and a shield that protects you and your gear from high winds as well. To choose the best one, you’ll need to balance between maximum durability and sleeping size, whilst minimizing weight and pack size. Investing in a good-quality lightweight tent to keep you warm and dry might bring you great value for money. Lightweight tents are perfect protection from rough weather and rough terrains.
Lightweight tents come in many different designs, and you need to consider its size, material and shape. For the tent to be lightweight and easy to transport, manufactures usually cut on tent size. However, you can still choose from one, two or three-person tents which often prove to offer enough room. A tent which weight less then 1.8 kg per person is considered lightweight.
In case you’re sharing a tent, you should calculate the weight per person. As a general rule, you should know that a two-person tent generally fits only one person, a three-person tent will fit two people etc. If you go on a camping trip with your child, for instance, you might fit in a two-person tent. But, if you’re a tall person – it might be a challenge. That’s why you might need to check the tent weight per square meter and get a better idea of how much floor space is there. Not surprisingly though – the lightest tent is also the priciest.
Other features worth considering are the number of poles and type of material it’s made from. Tents come with different pole designs, single-pole being one of the preferable options when it comes to saving on weight. Likewise, tents made from materials like nylon and polyester are durable, designed to make your camping experience more enjoyable.
A Practical Multitool
A multitool is another necessity when it comes to camping essentials. It can be your greatest friend in many situations that can arise when spending time in nature. Multi-tools for camping must have a few essential functions that not all multi-tools will have. Besides the usual foldout knife and bottle and can opener, you should get a sturdy multi tool with a number of features like a pair of scissors, pliers, a sharp awl or a flat screwdriver as they dramatically improve its functionality.
This handy tool easily slips into your pocket so that you can use it at any time. There are many different scenarios when you’ll actually need it. Each of multi-tool parts has tons of uses when it comes to food preparations, cutting things like tent ropes and bandages or opening something (be it simple task as opening a back of a lantern to put in batteries). A good pair of pliers can help you grab a hot pot off the fire (in case you left your mitts at home) and help you fix any gear malfunction you might have during your trip. Ideally, some multi-tools come with pliers that have replaceable wire cutting blades.
The purpose of this life-saving tool goes much beyond satisfying only the camping needs. Even if you’re well prepared, there could be a storm or an accident which means you’ll have to fend yourself. A good quality multi-tool often includes tools like ferrocerium rod to help you start a fire or a whistle to draw attention to the rescue crew. Because it needs to do its job whenever you need it to – having full confidence that your tool won’t break down or disappoint you when you try to fix something is greatly important. With the right care, some high-quality corrosion-resistant stainless steel multi-tools can last a lifetime.
Portable Lights
Depending on the time of year you’re camping, and the time you return to camp, lighting becomes a vital part of your camping experience. You’ll need a lantern around your camp for many reasons, so make sure you bring one. There are different lanterns you could use, but due to the many benefits of rechargeable flashlight, they’re some of the most recommended choices.
A Portable Stove
If you plan on cooking your own meals while camping, you’ll need a portable stove. Small, light, single burner options are ideal for single person use and short trips. The fuel source is worth considering: propane (flammable gas) is easier to transport, but it can stop working in freezing temperatures. Liquid fuel is another option which can speed up cooking time but is more expensive and heavier to carry. Whichever choice you make, it’s wise to go for standard options so that you can refill it easier during your travels.