Camping has gained popularity in the early 20th century. It is now an outdoor activity that everyone loves regardless of the age group.
I think camping is the best way to spend time in the lap of Mother Nature.
If you’ve been lately thinking of escaping from everyday’s hustle and bustle by camping on your next holiday, welcome to the club!!!
As a beginner, you’d need some essential gear before embarking on your journey. This post will help you with this step.
- Tent
If you’re an aspiring camper, a comfortable tent should be your first investment. After all, shelter is a basic need.
When buying your camping tent, I recommend going for a bigger one if your budget permits. Make quality a priority when choosing a tent.
To learn more, you can check out the best 4-person tent guide on my website.
Beginners make the mistake of starting with cheaper tents. Though it’s pocket-friendly, if it rains on your camping night, you might wake up in a pool. And worse, you might hate to go camping in the future.
Always set up your tent at home and get adapted to securing the poles. Saves a lot of time on your big day.
- Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Pad
To cozy up a little more, you should consider getting a sleeping bag.
It is basically a light-weight, insulated covering that provides a warm shell for you to sleep. Most of the sleeping bags are water-resistant, although not as resistant as a tent.
The sleeping surface of a bag is somewhat soft, but a sleeping pad is better for your back. Plus, a pad provides you extra insulation.
A sleeping pad’s primary purpose is to prevent the loss of body heat into the ground. So, choose a sleeping pad of good R-value.
- Camp Chairs
Are chairs really ‘essential’?
Am I not bringing a tent with sleeping gear already?
I hear these questions often from those who’ve never camped.
But when you’re in the campsite sitting on a chair and enjoying the view, your legs will thank you.
The right kind of camping chair should be of proper height and not hurt your back. It must be light and foldable. You should be able to pack it along with your other gear.
While we talk about packing, you might wanna check out Res Marty’s Guide and learn which backpack suits you the best.
- Cooking Equipment
Food is another basic need. Carrying pre-made meals can seem like a quick and easy solution.
What if I told you cooking while camping is more fun and easy if you have the right equipment?
Hang on. This section is going to be long.
Start by packing a butane-fuelled camping stove, a camping lighter and a portable canister of butane. Though there are other fuel options, butane wins.
Choose cookware made of cast iron. Their durability and heat retention are unmatched.
Now pack spatulas, spoons, ladles, openers, and other common utensils. Don’t forget graters, knives and scissors.
Plan your meals in advance and pack all the necessary ingredients only in required quantities.
Go for reusable containers instead of paper or plastic ones. Carry a set of bin bags for kitchen waste.
Take a washing kit because there’s nothing worse than having to clean those smelly utensils after coming home.
- Toiletries
What comes to your mind when you think of camping? Probably a tent or barbecue or cooking pots.
Several first-time campers forget toiletries and learn their lesson the hard way.
Some must-pack toiletries include face wipes, sunscreen, biodegradable soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and chapstick.
You can buy a compact toiletries case to keep your backpack mess-free. Plus, a better organization makes it easy to find everything.
- Cooler
The image of carrying around a huge box is not appealing. Worry not. Modern coolers have gotten slicker and better.
From mini strapped soft-side coolers to large hard-sided coolers that can double as a chair, you get to choose what you want based on your storage requirements.
Still wondering if it’s really necessary?
Did you know that premium coolers can keep your food and beverages fresh for over 4 days.
Though they’re marketed as camping coolers, you can buy one for this camp and use it later for your backyard party.
- Lights
It’s starting to get dark. The day goes and the night comes.
You look up to the sky. The moon and the stars look so surreal. But when you look around, you realize it’s pitch black.
So, you must carry portable sources of light like headlamps, torches, and lanterns. Fix a tent light in your shelter. Water-resistant torches and lamps will be your best pick.
Use as many sources as you can. With no other light in the surroundings, you’d need much illumination.
Throw a couple of spare batteries in your backpack’s pocket.
- First-Aid Kit
Yes, we hope for the best. But there’s no harm in preparing for the worst. Continuing your adventure while injured is not a fun idea. Even a minor cut can be extremely painful if not treated on time.
Now, you don’t have to rush to the pharmacy and collect medicines to make your first-aid kit. Many brands sell organized first-aid kits customized for camping.
However, it is good to know what must be included in the kit.
- Cotton swabs
- Bandages of various sizes and types.
- Gauze pads
- Antiseptic ointments
- Blunt-tip scissors
- Splinter tweezers
- Sanitizers and rinse solutions
- Thermometer
- Pain and inflammation medication
- Aspirin
- Glucose
- Medicine for diarrhoea
- Sunburn relief gel
- Throat lozenges
- Oral Rehydration Salts
- Eye drops
- CPR mask
- Prescription medicine
- Insect Repellent
Watching bugs and insects can be interesting but only until they don’t sting. They’re not just painful but may also cause serious illnesses.
Get a powerful repellent spray that fights against mosquitoes, ticks and mites. Avoid repellents with chemicals like OLE if you’re camping with children.
You can also try odorless creams or lotions. But you may have to reapply every hour or two.
Another convenient way is to wear insect repellent clothing that is treated with permethrin. You’ll have to take care of the exposed skin, though.
- Power Bank
Once you’ve reached your camping destination far from the city, you gotta survive without electricity. But you don’t have to give up your gadgets and electronics.
Activities like listening to music on a speaker while cooking, taking pictures with your phone, and brewing hot coffee in an electric kettle can be managed with a portable power bank.
Power stations with solar panels are much better because you don’t have to worry about recharging.
Conclusion
I hope this article solved at least a few of your doubts about camping gear. If you have any further questions, drop them in the comment box and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Author Bio:
Res Marty is a 26 year old world traveler who has a passion for hiking and camping. He currently lives in Lucerne, Switzerland. He knows the importance of high-quality, comfortable, and light hiking equipment and gives suggestions based on his experience. You can check out his blog at Resmarty.com.
