Essential Camping Gear

Camping is an excellent way to get closer to nature or to enjoy an alpine environment at its best. You may go camping alone, in public campground, on state or national park property, in your backyard or in some backcountry. (For more information, read Why Should I Consider Camping?)

Your camping gear should consist of warm weather clothing for comfort and sun protection. There are some items that you really need for the coldest nights: a heavy down jacket, thermal long-john underwear and a fleece sweater with a shell layer. Warm clothing will make your sleeping time more comfortable, particularly if you opt for a ground tent or a tunnel tent. At least one flashlight is essential as well as a sleeping bag, rope and signal mirror.

A necessity when camping is a lantern or flashlight with gas fuel. The lantern must be waterproof and have a sturdy carrying handle. You should carry some emergency food bars, a first aid kit and a rain kit. A few essentials items for the outdoors such as insect repellent and sunscreen are also useful. Your tent should be adequately covered with mesh and stitched with strong tape to avoid it from getting dirty. Lighting inside the tent provides much needed light and will keep you from getting lost in the woods.

Always bring along a small portable stove or grill for cooking on while you are indoors. The fuel for the stove should be available in your camping gear. Cooking outdoors will depend mostly on the weather, so you might have to improvise a bit. You may want to take along a portable cooler to store cold beverages. You should also carry a small portable refrigerator to preserve foods that don’t freeze well.

Water is the biggest item that many campers neglect to pack. However, supplies of water and drinking water are an absolute must have. You can either bring along a water filter to purify water or you can make your own by using a water bottle, ice, and ice cubes and boiling them together to make water. Camping food such as canned food and granola bars provide enough nutrition to campers but you should still pack a good supply of healthy, fresh food like fruits and vegetables.

One thing that many people seem to forget while camping is safety. In order to have a fun and safe experience, you should make sure that you follow all of the necessary safety precautions. For instance, never go hiking alone or without having a partner. If you see wildlife such as deer or bears you should make sure that you have on a helmet and gloves. If you are unsure about where you’re going, you should pack a map and compass and be sure to follow the trail markers for safety.