The truth is, every once in a while we all need to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city into the peaceful embrace of nature; so how do you make sure you are well prepared for your next getaway into the wild? How can you get the best camping experience? You’ve got to make a plan. Here’s how.
When you’re camping, you’re facing the elements of the wild. This means that it’s you against the weather, wildlife, and the dark. There are so many factors that could either positively or negatively affect your camping experience, so you should be prepared for anything that could be thrown your way.
It’s better to be over-prepared than underprepared!
By making sure you have enough food and water, essential camping gear to keep you warm, a flashlight for nighttime, and an emergency kit should there be an accident, you’re keeping yourself safe from factors like weather, injury, thirst, and damaged gear.
With proper camping gear like a sleeping bag, pop up tent, emergency kit, and water purifier, you’re increasing your odds of staying out of trouble and having a stress-free camping experience.
Below are 5 factors that prove the true importance of proper camping gear, and why you need to have these outdoor essentials for your best camping experience!
Water Bottle & Purifier – Basic Needs
Water is a basic need for human survival – so it’s important to make sure you have plenty of drinking water when you’re out camping!
This is probably the most important camping gear you need to have with you. A water bottle and water purifier will ensure that you never run out of water while you’re camping.
As long as your camping next to a running stream or river, you can fill up your water bottle and then purify it with a tablet or a straw in order to drink it.
You should also bring proper camping cookware to make sure you have a decent meal and aren’t only living off of emergency snacks.
Cookware that won’t get damaged in rainy weather and is easy to store in your backpack is a good way to make sure you will never go hungry and can whip up a hot, nutritious meal quickly.
Flashlight – Nighttime
Once night settles in, you’re not going to be able to see much, especially if you’re out in the wild!
It’s important to have a flashlight for your safety so you don’t trip over anything in the dark or run into any wild animals.
It can also get pretty boring at night if you’re just sitting around in complete darkness without anything to do.
You could also bring a headtorch along with your flashlight since it’s easier to wear the headtorch on your head and do things like making a campfire or putting together your tent instead of holding a flashlight in your teeth.
Sleeping Bag & Tent – Weather
You’ll need a proper sleeping bag and tent that can protect you in all sorts of weather. This is especially important if you’re camping somewhere where the weather is unpredictable and there’s a big chance of rain and thunderstorms in the area.
Pop up tents are good for a quick set up, in case you find yourself in the middle of a sudden storm and need shelter immediately.
Having a good sleeping bag will keep you warm during the coldest nights. This will prevent you from getting sick, which is important if you’re spending a long time in the backcountry. This is essential to camping and you should never go on a trip without a good sleeping bag!
Emergency Kit – Injury
Unfortunately, injuries, while you’re camping, can happen, so it’s better to be prepared with the proper gear in case it does happen.
Having a first aid emergency kit on hand with things like ibuprofen, Band-Aids, tweezers, gauze, antiseptic wipes, and antibacterial cream should cover the most basic injuries. Of course, if someone were to get hurt, you would need to cut your camping trip short. However, for minor scrapes and bruises, an emergency kit will make sure everyone is kept healthy and injuries are protected from infection.
Your emergency kit should also include things like a map, compass, safety blanket, whistle, signaling mirror, extra batteries, fishing line, duct tape, and matches.
Should you be stuck in an emergency, like getting lost without a phone signal, then having a map on hand of the area is one of the best ways to get yourself out of trouble.
This is the sort of camping gear that is essential for preparing yourself for the worst. Including a handheld emergency electricity generator is also a good idea, in case your electronics die when you’re out in the wild and you need to make an emergency call. That way, you can quickly charge your cellphone.
Tools – Broken Gear
Another thing that could happen while you’re camping is damage to your camping gear.
This could mean a rip in your tent, your tent pole snapping in half, a tear in your sleeping bag, or any number of broken or damaged gear. This is why it’s important to have proper camping gear that won’t break in the first place. However, if you have gear that’s old and more prone to breaking, then the best thing to do is to be prepared.
Having things like a Swiss Army Knife is great for a multiuse tool that can fix any number of things. You could also bring along an ax in case you need to chop wood and make a fire.
There are a number of factors to consider when you’re on a backpacking trip in the backcountry. Things like weather, injury, safety, survival needs, and broken gear are factors you have to deal with, which is why it’s important to have proper camping gear to deal with anything that could come your way.
Water purifiers will ensure you always have clean drinking water, tools will allow you to fix your gear, an emergency kit will help you in the case of an emergency, a flashlight will protect you during the nighttime, and a proper sleeping bag and tent will protect you in even the worst weather.
When you have all of these outdoor essentials, you can enjoy your backpacking camping trip without having to worry!
photo source | adobe