There’s no real right or wrong way to do camping, provided that you have the essentials! Some people like to go above and beyond and turn it into “glamping”, while others prefer to keep it simple and go for the bare basics. In any case, we’ll give you a list of everything that you’ll need for a camping trip, then you can decide whether to add or subtract some of the items, depending on how brave/silly you are!
1 – A tent and a sleeping bag
So, unless you want to sleep on the dirt in the freezing cold, you’re likely going to need to invest in a decent sized tent and a sleeping bag. Oh, and not to mention some camping mats as well, so that you’re not too uncomfortable throughout the night.
2 – Cooking materials
When it comes to food, you’re going to need to bring a pot, a pan, some dishes, utensils, and of course, your fire-starting materials. Some people might want to start their own fires, but to be fair: waterproof matches or a butane lighter will be the easiest option).
3 – Energy rich ingredients
No camping trip isn’t going to be successful without the right food to keep you going! Bring items like pasta, beans, beef, peanut butter, chicken, snacks & nuts, and oatmeal. These are easy to prepare given the cooking materials on your list. If you want to take it even further, here are some camping recipes that you can try out!
4 – A knife and a length of rope
You can’t go camping without a knife and a length of rope! First of all, a utility knife will have everything that you need from a wood saw to a bottle opener, but you’ll never know when you’re going to need a length or rope. It’s better to have it and not need it! Especially if the kids are acting up.
5 – More than enough water
Pack what you think is enough water, and then pack some more! You’re going to want enough to stay hydrated, whilst having plenty left over for cleaning your dishes after eating. In addition to that, you may need some for bathing as well, unless you’re staying on camping grounds with showers installed.
6 – All of the clothing
Camping is that one trip where you can actually get away with packing more clothes than you’ll need. In some cases, you may want to wear several layers, particularly during the night as the fire starts to wane and it’s almost time for bed!
7 – A decent sized cooler
You’re going to need to keep your food fresh and there’s no better way of doing that than with a decent sized cooler. Of course, you’ll need to make sure that it seals tightly, as you wouldn’t want to attract any unwanted visitors snooping around for food!
8 – Soap and hand sanitiser
Without running water on top, you’ll want some hand sanitiser to keep your hands clean, especially after handling raw meat. In addition to that, some soap to jump into the lake with for a decent wash of a morning is going to be important as well.
Conclusion
These are the basics of course. You can add various items depending on where you’re going and how long you’re staying. For example, some fold-out seats might be nice, or a few solar powered lamps. In any case, the above should be everything that you need. You can grab most of what you need from online stores. Otherwise, you’ll be able to beg, steal and borrow the rest from friends and family!