If you’re planning to take a break over the weekends and unwind in a great area closer to nature, camping is your best choice. A great camping experience I think depends on three things. Good company, good weather and how good is the camping equipment that you bring with you. If you are a camping newbie, camping close to your home for the first few times will help you figure out what are the things you can no live without and which ones are just dead weight. It will also help you build your confidence and gain some experience and extra knowledge on how to survive the wilderness.
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Essential Camping Gears To Take On Your Next Adventure
Yes, the basics are the same as always. You need a good tent and a good sleeping bag that is right for the temperature in the place you are going. But this is also 2021 and a few things have changed since camping became popular. Having a detailed checklist of your camping items can speed up your packing and makes sure that you don’t forget things at home. The list however needs an update every now and then. Modern technology can greatly improve your comfort and safety while camping. Whether you’re going for a day trip, a three-day hike, or a week camping, things that you take with you will make or break your camping experience (and don’t forget to check the weather:)! ).
Whether you are just starting out and looking for what camping gear to buy or if you just want to add a few things to the list you already have, here are 10 camping gear essentials for modern day campers.
Power source
These days gadgets are everywhere. Some are really useful, some a bit less so, but all of them need power to function. So having a reliable power source when you are in the middle of nowhere is vital if you want to charge your phone, camera, laptop, lights, walkie talkies, radio etc… You can either go with solar panels or with a generator. A 50 amp generator is a good option, especially if you will be staying for a longer period of time and with a larger group of people. This way you won’t have to worry about being left in the dark. Solar panels a simple and even more a much lighter solution so they are better if you are traveling light and only need power for yourself. They are also obviously sustainable and more cost-efficient. On the other hand solar panels are pretty fickle and conditions for using them are not always optimal. A portable generator is a much more failproof and reliable solution that is gaining popularity with outdoor explorers.
Flashlights
Headlights and flashlights are essential piece of camping equipment. When you are relying only on the light from the sun days are cut short and you will be searching for things in dark tent all the time. So make sure that you have enough light sources to illuminate your tent and it’s surroundings when you are walking around at night. There are plenty of portable LED flashlights and headlights to choose from. I would say that bring at least one headlamp per person, then a really strong flashlight for easier exploration and orientation at night and a camping lamp to put inside your tent.
Cooler or portable fridge
A cooler or portable camping fridge can take your camping experience to the next level. This equipment can keep your food and drinks cold making sure your food doesn’t go bad. This way the variety of food that you can bring your camping trip is multiplied. It will help extend the life of your favorite desserts, salads, meats or even frozen goods. And who doesn’t like a cold beer after a long day in nature. Due to it’s weight a portable fridge is of course not for everyone.
Coffee maker
Coffee aficionados cannot survive and function properly without a piping hot java early in the morning. Now you can enjoy your espresso, latte, or freshly brewed coffee close to nature with a portable coffee maker. Most portable coffee makers are multifunctional and easy to use. Prepare the boiling water, your favorite capsule or beans, and savor the moment. Or you can go old school with an aluminum stovetop coffee maker for your propane camping stove.
Water filter
When you are on a camping adventure for a longer time, especially out in the wilderness away from the civilization water is one of the main problems you need to solve. It’s heavy to carry around and you need quite a lot of it for drinking, cooking, cleaning etc… So a handy water filter can be your best ally to survive the wilderness. It will keep you hydrated after long hours of hiking in a remote area when the water supply you carry runs out.
Bug zapper
One of the setbacks of outdoor adventure is getting close to bugs and all types of unwanted creepy crawlers. If you want to keep a good distance with bugs, mosquitos, and the likes, don’t forget to take along with you a bug zapper. A more romantic option is to bring citronella candles, but these are not as reliable.
A survival kit and multitool
Expect the unexpected when you are outdoors and taking with you multitool and survival kit will ensure you’ll stay safe in the wilderness.
Camping pillow
There’s no better way to relax on an unfamiliar terrain than with a cozy and soft camping pillow. It really makes a difference if your pillow is really good and cozy.
Additional tent
Depending on the size of your tent and the amount of gear you carry with you, an extra tent might be a good idea. You can use it to quickly store your camping equipment in a case of a sudden downpour, or maybe you need to store your sport equipment like mountain bikes, paddle boards and so on. You can also use it to change clothes or to keep the food away from where you are sleeping due to ants, bugs and even bears. Although, for bears it’s recommended to tie your food high up in the tree.
What To Get Someone Who Loves Camping?
In case someone loves camping there are plenty of things that you can give as a gift. Just make sure you know what kind of camping is he into. Camping gear for hikers that go into the wilderness and travel around is way different from camping gear for people that set up their camp in camp grounds and go there by car. So here are a couple of camping gift ideas.
Camping Gift Ideas
- Vacuum bottle
- Handy campfire
- Lightweight camping backpack
- Waterproof backpack
- Compressible camping pillow
- Portable camping chair
- Credit card-size multitool
- Mini blanket
- Bluetooth speaker
- Flashlight
Conclusion
The mentioned camping essentials will help make your camping trip memorable and fun, whether you’re a newcomer or an advanced camper.