One of the things holding many potential campers back from their future experience in the great outdoors, is the idea of what to bring camping. Knowing what to bring on a camping trip is important, as it allows you to be prepared without bringing too many items. Keep reading for advice on what to bring on a camping trip.
When you are camping, a necessity for your gear is a survival knife. This is the most important part of your camping gear. Buy a high quality survival knife, not just the cheapest you can find, your life may depend on it. These knives are all very similar; they have a long blade serrated on one side and a hollow handle. Inside the handle you can carry fishing line, hooks, a compass, and matches as a small survival kit.
Bring a large trash bag for dirtied laundry, and keep it in a central location, suitable for everyone in your party. Let them pack their clothing individually, as this makes it much easier to find than if you pile it all in a community storage box or bag. Toss in a dryer sheet to any bag you want smelling fresh.
If you are interested in camping, and you are new to the activity, then you should never start out alone. It can be quite dangerous if you don't know what you are doing, so it is important to bring along an experienced friend to help you learn the ropes.
When planning for your camping trip, don't forget to pack the sunscreen. Just because you are not on the beach doesn't mean that you don't need protection from the sun's burning rays. A sport sunscreen can be a smart choice if you will be doing strenuous physical activities during your trip.
When collecting wood for a campfire, focus on three different sizes: the finger-size wood, that will catch fire right away, the arm-size wood that will keep it going, and the leg-size wood that will allow you to keep the fire going for a long time. Getting different sizes of wood helps you to start the fire and keep it going.
Even if you're not going a long distance away on your camping trip, or even if you're going into familiar territory, always stay in touch with friends, family or neighbors. Tell someone where your trip will be, and how long you'll be gone. And if you can, check in regularly using a mobile phone.
When you go camping, be sure to wear closed-toe shoes. Walking in wooded areas, you can come across almost anything; not to mention things can fall on your feet. You may also want to take a hike. So the next time you go out camping, make sure to wear shoes that can go everywhere you want to go.
Make sure you observe the campground rules and regulations. One of the biggest concerns is trash and also noisiness within a campsite. People often think that people can't hear them, but noise travels far in a campsite. It is extremely difficult to have any privacy, especially when people are supposed to be observing quiet hours.
If you are going camping, be sure to have a first aid kit. This kit must include the basics for the event of an emergency. For example, if you will be camping in a Southern state you should certainly carry anti-venom for the local wildlife that you may encounter.
Make sure you have a first aid kit with you. As an alternative, you could pack some supplies in a plastic bag. While hopefully your trip will be free of injuries, you never know. It is best to be prepared so that you can handle anything that happens in the best way possible.
If your children are with you, establish a daily routine early on. This will help them adjust to their new surroundings and have a good time. Try to stick to a certain bedtime and eat your meals at about the same time each day. Your kids will be happier, and you will be as well.
If you have more than three people camping with you, take along more than one tent. You are going to want to have some privacy at one time or canvas tent wall another. The additional tent will make it possible to get some "me" time while at the camp site. It also gives you additional storage to keep animals out of your supplies.
Your list of camping supplies should include several flashlights with extra batteries and lanterns. There are going to be moments when you must clearly see certain items when it gets dark. Without a flashlight, you could easily stumble and fall or be surprised by local wildlife. You may want to get each child a flashlight of his or her own if you're taking kids on your camping trip.
It's important to clean the campsite you used when it's time to leave. You'll need some trash bags to clean up everything. Dispose of any left over food as well as your trash. The only thing you want left are your footprints when you are gone.
When you're finished camping and ready to go home, you should pick up after yourself. Keeping nature clean and preserved can allow future campers to enjoy it too. Before you leave, clean up any messes, you've made at your site and try your best to leave nature as you originally found it.
Your survival kit should include waterproof matches. They should always be kept in a container where air cannot enter. If you do not have waterproof matches, you can quickly convert regular matches by dipping them in either nail polish or paraffin wax. You can use an old 35mm film canister to store them. A medicine bottle also works as a viable storage container.
Leave your camping spot as clean as, or cleaner than you found it. It is important to show respect to the land and to others by cleaning up your camping area. If it was a mess when you got there, you can do a good deed and make it cleaner.
You are now armed with the information you need to plan a successful trip. You should have figured it out that you need to do equal amounts of planning no matter how long the trip is. Make use of your research and start planning for your camping trip today.
