5 Must-Have Essentials for Your Next Camping Trip

Camping has been here for hundreds of years. And as new research indicates, it seems like camping will stay one of America’s favorite past time. According to the recent American Camper Report, the average camper in the United States goes on five camping trips every year. If you’re not an experienced outdoorsman, you may discover that packing for a camping trip is actually a lot trickier than you might have originally thought. The basics are easy – tent and sleeping bags – but before you know, you have a fully loaded car with more items than you actually need. Also, you have to keep in mind that when camping, you must carry out whatever you carried in. so with that in mind, let’s talk about some of the camping essentials you need for your next trip. So before you pack your favorite books, snacks and camping gear, check out a couple of things you simply cannot leave without.

Five Camping Essentials: 1. Warm Clothes

If you’ve ever went camping during the summer, then you’re probably aware that no matter how warm it may be during the day, when the sun goes down, it is a completely different story. And that’s why you need to pack some extra clothing to stay warm during the night. What’s more, you need to know that Mother Nature can be tricky – the rain often comes without any warning. When you’re miles away from your home, having some warm clothes will certainly make a difference. And just a friendly reminder: never leave your camping spot without and additional pair of socks.

2. First Aid Kit

In most cases, it doesn’t take more than a wrong step to get injured – especially when you’re in the great outdoors. Trails are often slippery during the autumn and winter, and branches are always sharp. That’s why you need to have a first aid kit at hand at all times. When it comes to first aid kits, you have two options – one is to simply purchase a kit from your local store or order one from the Internet; the other is to go to the pharmacy, buy some medical supplies and make a kit of your own. The second option is more recommendable if you’re allergic to certain things and if you require specific medications.

3. Flashlight

Here we have an essential most people tend to forget – a flashlight. It can come in handy if you’re going on a long hike in an unfamiliar territory. But even if you don’t plan on hiking, it will also come in handy around your camping site during the night. Just make sure to buy some decent batteries, and you’ll see that a flashlight can save the day in certain situations. So whether you get lost on a hike during the night, simply misplace a couple of items around your campsite or have to relieve yourself during the sunset a strong source of light will help you.

4. Mess Kit

When it comes to cooking, it’s easy to get carried away. Most people tend to pack too much food or bring too much cookware and waste valuable space in their bags. However, all you need are two things – a simple food kit with your favorite food items and a mess kit to prepare your meals. If you don’t know what a mess kit is, here is a quick explanation – it’s a kit with all of cooking essentials (pot, pan, Spork, etc.) that can be put together sort of like a small jigsaw puzzle and save you valuable space inside of your backpack.

5. Ground Mat

Nobody goes camping without a tent. That’s just common sense. But if you forget to bring a ground mat, you’ll see just how sleeping on the ground really is. And if it rains, you’ll probably wake up to a pool rain underneath your back. Therefore, a ground mat will keep you and your gear completely dry, no matter the weather. And don’t worry, these things are lightweight and they can be easily rolled into a tent, so you won’t even notice it’s in your backpack.

Final Thoughts

Preparation is essential if you want to have a great outdoor adventure and having the necessary gear and supplies will definitely make difference in your overall experience. In this case, it’s great to have a small checklist to help you with the organization. While the list may vary according to the type of activities you have in mind, the items we listed above should definitely be a part of every camping checklist, no matter where are you going or where are you going.

Give us some feedback! Tell us what you think about our little checklist by leaving a comment in the section bellow and sharing your thoughts with us and our readers.

By Robert Foster

Robert Foster is a 30-year-old fitness instructor, nature survivalist and a part-time blogger for http://prosurvivalist.com/. He spends most of his free time outdoors and if you can’t find him for a couple of days, he’s probably somewhere on a biking, cycling or a hiking holiday again.

The post 5 Must-Have Essentials for Your Next Camping Trip appeared first on American Preppers Network.

American Preppers Network Blog: www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.com Forum: www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net