Camping is both an outdoor activity that is adventurous but at the same time, it involves a lot of hard work. The participants of the camping leave their habitation and make nature their temporary abode for days on end. It instills a feeling of teamwork and self-reliance among the participants of camping. It is an inexpensive form of accommodation but often involves a lot of wilderness. Camping is both physically and mentally stimulating as it removes your daily stresses. Persons who love to experience the adversity of nature and accept challenges prefer camping. But, that does not mean that camping indicates hardcore experience only. It is a way of modifying our daily lifestyle by diverting us from our mainstream of livelihood. Camping can take various forms:
- Car camping
- Family camping
- Tent camping
- Camping Checklist
The primary requirement of arranging a camping trip is to know the essentials to make campgrounds comfortable in a natural setting. Though some of the essentials remain the same, the camping checklist varies from one form of camping to another. Moreover, it depends on the duration of camping and the activities you plan to do during the camping. It helps to remove the discomforts of camping and enhances your overall enjoyment.
1) Car Camping Checklist
Car camping refers to driving your car to the campsite and sleeping in the vehicle itself. Most state parks, national parks, and private campgrounds have accommodation for car camping. Car camping sometimes referred to as base camping where you load your car with the gears required for your camping. Then you take your car to the campsite, set up a tent to sleep in it. You can keep your vehicle nearby, so that, whenever required you can get access to the essentials easily.
Essentials For Car Camping
Below is the list of camping essentials for both new and experienced campers.
Navigation Systems
Navigation systems assist you in planning your router before going out for the trip. Hence, take an Atlas, a topographical map, compass or GPS, so that you don’t get lost on while camping.
Lanterns and headlamps
Lanterns and headlamps are very much essential after the sunset. If you carry a lantern or a flashlight, then it will be easier for you to move around in the dark for an essential purpose. Use such a lantern that is powered by batteries and make enough provision for batteries.
Toiletries and Personal Care Products
Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and other toiletries as you feel is necessary for you and your family. Always carry insect repellents to protect yourself and others participants from the harmful insects.
Kitchen Essentials
It includes a stove, utensils, cutlery, dishes, and other cooking accessories as you would like to carry with you. It will reduce your effort if you carry plastic plates and cups. Carry containers for leftovers so that, you can consume it on the next day. Carry paper towels, aluminum foil, trash bags, resealable bags, and dish soap as well.
Water And Food Supplements
Make sure that you have enough provision for water with you. It’s because of the reason that you may get dehydrated due to excessive physical activities during your trip. Remember that, it’s important to keep yourself hydrated throughout your journey. Especially, if you want to engage yourself in hiking, biking, running, swimming, and related activities, then water is the basic requirement. The need for water mostly arises when you will need to strive under scorching heat. Ensure that the place where you are planning your car camping has water bodies to fetch fresh water during water shortages. For further precautions, load a water purifier on your car.
Along with the cooked foods, you require dry foods to boost up your energy. So, carry salty and easy to digest snacks that have high nutritional value.
First Aid Kit
If you are used to camping, then it’s better to prepare a first aid kid beforehand. After that, you can modify it according to trips and your medical needs. Even if it is your first time then also prepare a well-built medical kit to meet medical emergencies. Check the expiration of all items kept in your first aid box and replace them when required. Furthermore, you may carry an emergency guide to help you out in contingencies.
Prepare your first aid kit according to the duration of your outing. Consider the requirements of other members of your trip as well while preparing the kit. But, if you are a solo traveler, then you can make your medical kit according to your personal needs only. If you want to save your time, then you can visit an outdoor store that sells medical kits for solo travelers and their friends and families separately.
Sleeping Systems
Sleeping systems consist of inflated air mattresses, sleeping bags or sleeping pads, warm blankets and pillows. Always keep extra sleeping essentials for any emergency purposes. These will protect you from the cold and hard ground.
Clothing
Pack an extra layer of clothing including jackets, hats, gloves, and rain shell to withstand the sudden changes in weather. Also, carry sunglasses, sunscreen, and clothes that can protect you in hot and humid weather. If you have any plan to go for a swimming, then carry swimsuits along with you. It’s also good to carry rainwear if you are traveling to a location of torrential rains. It will be comfortable for you if you carry hiking/walking shoes, easy-on shoes or water shoes on your journey.
Emergency Products And Toolbox
A tent, tarp, bivy sack, or emergency space blanket can protect you from extreme weather conditions. Carry with yourself waterproof pack matches and fire starters such as a lighter for cooking purposes and keeping yourself warm. Though it seems silly, if possible, carry a fire extinguisher with yourself before heading out for the trip, acquaint yourself properly with the use of the emergency products.
As you are going for a car camping, it requires explicitly repairing equipment with you. Otherwise, if your car stops working in the middle of your trip, then you will be in a miserable condition. You also have to take ensure that your car has sufficient amount of diesel. So, carry a screwdriver, hammer, pliers, rubber mallet, car ramps, a floor jack, torque wrench, and other essential things. Apart from this, carry a knife, scissors, and duct tape as well.
2) Tent Camping Checklist
Type Of Tent
In case of tent camping, a tent is a primary requirement. So, you need a small tent so that it is portable for you to carry. If you have a four-season tent, then you can use it for trips throughout the year. Moreover, it has the capacity to withstand various weather conditions. It will be more advantageous if you have a four-season backpacking tent. You can choose ‘REI Arete ASL 2’ as it is the best example of such type of tents.
Lanterns and Headlamps
Lanterns and headlamps are very much essential after the sunset. Carry a torch or a flashlight, so that you can get out in the dark for if required. Carry such a torch that is powered by batteries. Hence, it is essential to have extra batteries especially, you are going for a long trip.
Sleeping Arrangements
Have a four-season backpacking sleeping bag that is light in weight and is preferable in extreme weathers as well. Hence, you can opt for Marmot Trestles 0 Degree Bag. Also, arrange a four-season sleeping pad of full length and high insulation rating. Thermarest Prolite 4 Plus is a popular sleeping pad for most of the campers. If you put on fire outside your tent, then it will keep away animals and will be able to sleep peacefully. So, arrange dry leaves and tree branches during the daylight.
Toiletries
Soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, tissues, deodorant, shampoo are the necessary toiletries for camping. But, if you can modify the essentials according to your preference. A smaller microfiber towel is a better option than a conventional towel. It’s so because a microfiber towel contains more than 200000 fibers to enhance its absorption capacity. It is cheap, environment-friendly and healthy for your skin.
Personal Stuffs
Prepare a first aid kit with band-aids, gauze pads, antiseptic solution, medications, adhesive tape, & tweezers. If you are going on an extended backcountry trip, then carry a water filter to reduce the chances of getting sick by intaking impure water. SPF 30 sunscreen can give maximum protection to your skin from UV rays. If you have a passion for writing during your leisure, then include a notepad and a pen in your camping checklist. Have a durable, water-proof, and shock-proof that can run with a spare battery. Arrange for a Baseplate or Lensatic Compass to navigate to any location with a map and landmark.
Almost all the campers prefer to carry a bandana that can serve several purposes. For instance, you can use it for bandaging minor wounds, collecting and filtering water or shielding from the sun. Keep pocket lighters and matches with you for putting on fire instantly. If you are going to a hilly area that has chances of snowfall, then add snowshoes to the camping checklist. Have a rope or twine of at least 20 feet to tie up tarps and repair other items. Keep a small emergency whistle to get help if you are in danger. You can choose wool as the warmest and most durable fibers for outdoor clothing.
Cooking Accessories And Eatables
Have a Daypack or Waist Pack if you want to carry lunch for your trip. Then, add a compact backpacking stove and sufficient fuel to cook whenever you wish. Carry such food items that are nutritious, energy booster, but light in weight. Also remember, not to carry items that will perish quickly or require refrigeration. Large water jugs, kettle or coffee pot, and cutting board are essential cooking accessories. Thermos helps restore the temperature of both hot and cold water for long hours. Take plates, bowls, forks, spoons, knives, and other accessories as you feel will meet your purpose. Note that, the steel cups are best as they can be heated up directly on a fire. Charcoal can be the next best alternative to firewood.
Tent Camping Gear Checklist – Optional Gear
Camera, binoculars, wool blanket, musical instrument, mosquito repellent, and sunglasses are the options gears for tent camping. If you want, you can carry local field guides or obtain it from the internet for your convenience.
3) Family Camping Checklist
The Basic Requirements
If you are planning a trip with your family members, then collect the area information to ensure the safety of your family. Do not forget to carry the map of the place where you are going. Confirm the reservation of the campsite before visiting that place.
Campsite Gear
Tent, poles, and stakes are the foremost requirements for setting up a camp. Then, the tent carpet or rug, tent footprints, pegs, and awing other parts of a tent. Tent footprints serve as ground cloths under camping tents to protect the bottom of your tent from wear and tear. It is beneficial if you set up the tent on a hilly or desert area. The tent pegs will help to hold your tent to the ground. Whereas, tent awnings are also useful for holding the tent to the poles. Also, make a provision for a windbreak to prevent the tent from adverse effects of winds.
If you are very much hygienic conscious, then you need a doormat for tent entrance and dustpan or brush. Make arrangements for a sleeping pad and sleeping bag for each camper. Take extra lantern fuel and batteries to protect your family from the darkness of nature. Carry self-inflated sleeping mat or a camp bed for each one of you.
Foods
If you are taking pets along with you, then carry a sufficient amount of pet supplies and food. Family camping requires more food supplements compared to other forms of camping. It’s because of the reason that you are responsible for the well being of your family. You can carry tea bags and an electric kettle to prepare tea for mental refreshment. If you wash your clothes, then you need ropes and clothes pegs for drying your clothes.
Personal Items
Take extra clothes for yourself and your family. Protective clothes is a must for your children so that they do not become sick in the mid of the trip. Soaps, handwash, washing powder, tissues, and other toiletries are important parts of personal items. Ropes, safety pins, and pocket knife are small items which you may often forget to carry with you. Take books and magazines for entertaining yourself and your family at leisure. If you are carrying any electronic devices, then don’t forget to include the respective charges in your luggage.
Other Items
Take games and toys for your little kids and camera for capturing the priceless moments with your family under the scenic beauty. You may also carry binoculars for getting a distant view. Take repair kits to recover your tent and air bed from wear and tear. Also, take an air pump for your air bed and air inflated pillows. You can take camping chairs to enjoy the fresh air with your family outside the tent. If you want, you can carry a folding table as well for having your lunch and dinner. Take a storage unit to keep the kitchen utensils and food items. Keep a saw or axes for cutting firewood and a mallet for hammering tent stakes.
Tips For Family Camping
If you are eagerly willing to have family camping, then at first fix a specific date. It because you will need to reserve the spot before it becomes full. Invite your friends and their families to join you on your trip. It will make your journey more comfortable and keep your family members both happy occupied. It’s always preferable to set up the camp before it gets dark. Make a plan for the foods you are going to eat during your trip. Besides this, know the food items that your family members would prefer to have. Then take the foods accordingly.
In A Nutshell
Camping is the best way to keep yourself away from the hustle of your daily life and creating lifelong memories. So, make your camping as unique and comfortable as possible so that it remains unforgettable forever. Your camping experience mostly rests on how are you preparing your camping checklist. Only keep in mind that you will need to make your camping essentials as portable and light as possible. So, that your journey does not become troublesome and meets the purpose of every camping participants. Thus, if you are not an experienced camper, then this article will fulfill your requirement in the best way.
