Whether you’re camping in your yard or going to the mountains, being prepared is essential for everyone to enjoy the trip, the stars, and all of nature’s offerings. Read through the advice below to gain some inspiration about how to prepare for your next camping trip. You will be thankful for this information.
Find where you will camp before sunset. When night falls, making food, finding wood, and pitching your tent can be very difficult. That is particularly true if you aren’t used to the blackness of the wilderness. Avoid these circumstances by finding the right shelter while it is still light.
Remember, wet wood won’t burn right, so nature may not always provide the wood you need. Therefore, take some wood with you on your camping trip and store it in a location where it can remain dry.
Never forget to see what the weather will be like in the area you will be camping at, prior to leaving. There are lots of excellent websites that you can use for a weather forecast and they can give you an idea of what to expect. When you know what the weather will be like, you can bring the proper gear and clothes.
When choosing a tent, pick one that has plenty of room for you and all of your camping companions. This ensures the most comfortable sleeping arrangement and allows you to move about without disturbing others.
Carry a bandana or handkerchief with you. Not only can it keep the hair out of your eyes, it can also be a sack to carry things, a towel to dry your hands or a potholder to grab your coffee pot from the fire. Make this multi-use item a standard addition to your camping supplies.
Preparation could mean the difference between a good camping experience and a dreaded one. Be sure you’re always prepared before you go camping. Do your research and understand the local conditions and wildlife, as well as climate concerns. This is the best way to keep yourself safe and enjoy your trip.
Try using dryer lint to help you start your campfire. A month before your camping trip, begin collecting the lint from your dryer’s lint filter. Keep a used grocery bag on your laundry room door to collect the lint. Doing this means you can just snag your kindling on the way out the door the morning your trip starts.
Before camping, check out your medical insurance to affirm that it is intact. When you travel to camp, you may need to have this updated or add an additional policy. If you are going to a foreign country, this is especially critical. Be ready for any eventuality.
You should bring a small, luxurious item along with you to help keep your mood up. Regardless of how authentic you want your experience to be, this can help. This can be something simple like fresh coffee or a favorite candy. A small luxury that reminds you of home can be uplifting.
Do a “jungle breakfast” if you are bringing kids. Tie fruit, juice boxes, and small boxes of cereal to trees. When the kids awake, you can tell them to “hunt” for breakfast. The kids will love it.
Take oranges with you as a way to snack in a healthy, convenient way–and as a mosquito repellent that is organic. After you’ve enjoyed the orange, keep all the peels. If the mosquitoes are swarming, rub the peels over your body to keep them at bay.
Pack a bandanna or handkerchief. That small piece of cloth could become a potholder, a bag, a blotter or a towel. Because there are so many versatile uses for them, bringing one or two on each camping trip is a good idea.
Duct tape is the cure-all for many mishaps in camping. Such tape can quickly fix holes in tents, leaking inflatables and worn soles on shoes. It can also be used to seal mosquito netting.
Camping Pillows
Camping is about being one with nature and living off the basics, but it is important to go prepared. Blankets are essential, in addition to a sleeping bag, to maximize comfort. Blankets make good padding and can help you stay warm if it’s colder than you expect at night.
Before camping, get some camping pillows. Since standard pillows can pick up a lot of humidity, debris or even creepy-crawlers, leave them safely at home. The moisture in the air can also cause mildew. Camping pillows do not have these problems.
Make it a point to properly prepare your flashlight when you pack for your trip. It can be really easy to inadvertently press the “on” switch on your flashlight when jostling through a bag of camping equipment. You can prevent your batteries from losing power by storing them backwards in your flashlight. Your batteries will remain fully charged until you turn them around the right direction, and you won’t be able to accidentally turn the flashlight on.
Bring sufficient amounts of the right kinds of foods. Depending upon how long your trip will last, you should have plenty of food that won’t spoil over the course of your trip. A run-in with food poisoning can quickly put an end to a fun trip. Make sure your food is prepared the right way to avoid the risk of spoilage.
It’s a great idea to bring along beef jerky or trail mix when you go camping. When the sun sets and you get too exhausted to cook that night’s meal, you can cheat once or twice and eat some of those tasty, filling snacks you’ve now decided to pack. They stay fresh for a while, so you do not have to worry about them going bad if you do not use them up right away.
If a pet accompanies you to the campground, do not just let him or her run free. Many folks are scared of dogs. Take others into consideration when you camp if you bring a dog. Also, dogs have the potential to wreck your campsite, or that of someone else, if they are allowed to run loose.
Seal the seams on your tent when you’re putting it up. Tubes of sealer are readily available at the sporting good shop. By doing this, you will prevent wayward animals or rain from making it inside.
Duct tape is an imperative item to bring with you on your camping trip into the wilderness. Its multipurpose properties aren’t only useful at home, they can be used in the wild too. It is perfect for fixing an air mattress. It can also fix up a tarp, sleeping bag, or even the tent. When walking for a long time, it can also help avoid blisters. You can also use it to bandage injuries.
Always bring toilet paper when you are packing for your camping trip. If you go camping at a location with no toilets, you will have to use the bathroom in the woods. Avoid using leaves to wipe, as you may not be able to recognize poisonous plants such as poison ivy.
When you go camping, you live on basics, but you need to be prepared too. Though a sleeping bag is great, extra blankets can also be useful. This is useful for nights where the temperature gets too cold or as extra padding when sleeping on hard ground.
Use the appropriate sleeping bag for the current season. For example, summertime camping calls for a lightweight bag that helps you stay cool. This is a good piece of knowledge to follow because you don’t want to feel uncomfortable sleeping.
Make sure you bring the right things when you go camping. Your whole trip could be ruined if you forget a couple of things. It is best to create a list a few weeks before your trip and to use it while packing. Some must have items include a tent, sleeping bags, a couple of tarps, food and water, a knife and fire starting supplies.
It’s a common mistake to set up your campsite near the restrooms. They do this in the belief that it will be very convenient, but quickly learn the truth. Bathrooms are a source of light, and they are also high traffic areas. As a result, camper privacy and enjoyment can be seriously impacted.
Before heading out to go camping, compile a checklist of items that you plan to bring. This is an important step if you are traveling a distance to get to your camp site. Pack in advance to avoid the stresses of packing before your trip.
Plan activities to make the trip exciting from beginning to end. There is so much more to camping than just roasting marshmallows. Consider the ages and abilities of everyone involved while thinking of activities. Don’t forget activities for children of different ages.
Sleeping Bag
A used shower curtain can double as a cheap tarp to place on the ground before you set up your tent. It can also be used for a washing area or cooking area base since you can control the run-off. So, instead of tossing your shower curtain into the garbage, just clean it and use it for the next camping trip.
Make sure you choose a sleeping bag that is appropriate for where you will be camping. Lighter bags are great for summer while heavy ones work well in fall and winter. You want a sleeping bag that is close to your body and helps you retain your body heat if you plan to sleep in a tent.
Empty the lint out of your dryer vent and bring it along on a camping trip. Lint from your dryer is a great campfire starter. Lint creates a much hotter fire than sticks do. Just a bit of lint and a tiny spark can be all you need to get started.
An orange peel can help to avoid insect bites. If you neglected to pack mosquito spray, fear not. Use the insides of an orange peel, rubbed gently on any exposed skin. This can help for many hours.
Don’t forget to bring tablets to purify water. Use these for emergency situations where you either run out of water, or do not have to time or means to clean the water otherwise. Try the tablets at home first so you know how to use it and what to expect. It would be bad to grow dehydrated along the way, simply because you found the water unpleasant to drink.
Now you know that camping can be truly enjoyed. The tips in this article can make a trip fun even for those who are not very outdoorsy. Take the initiative and bask in the glories of the natural world.
Check out your old cookbooks before you go out on your camping trip. Camping staples like hot dogs and hamburgers can get old. You can add variety to it. Your recipe books probably contain some very simple recipes that you can recreate outdoors. Do not forget to bring along your favorite seasonings and spices.
