Daily routines may start taking a toll on your mental and emotional health. Especially with the pandemic, staying inside with four walls enclosing you all day may feel a bit suffocating.
So you finally decide, it’s time for a break. Fresh air, lots of space, phone switched off and sleeping under the stars. What would be better than a camping trip? Start packing basic camping equipment. Tents, sleeping bags, clothes, and so on. Below is a list of some useful things you can take with you that you might not have thought of.
Prepare for Medical Emergencies
Spending time in the wilderness may be cool and calming. But every wild experience comes with its risks. Make sure to pack a First-Aid Kit. Pack your medications, antiseptic, gauze, and some bandages. Aspirin or Ibuprofen is a must. You never know when you’ll wake up with a horrible headache. You may also need tweezers, scissors, and nail clippers. A small knife might also come in handy.
Biodegradable Liquid Dish Soap
For an enjoyable trip, you’ll want to make sure that all your dishes and the equipment you carry in your backpack are clean. Rinsing them with just water won’t do the trick. Soap will make it much easier and cleaner. But we have to make sure that the soap we use doesn’t hurt the environment and the animals living at our camping sites. In this situation, finding a biodegradable dish soap is going to be a win-win for both you and the environment.
Bear Bag for Food Storage
Animals in the wild (especially bears) will smell your food from miles. They’ll wait for you to sleep and leave your food unattended. If your car is nearby, then you can store your food and leftovers there. But if you’re way far in the wild, then a Bear Bag would be useful. It’s basically a bag made from bear-proof fabric that you’ll hang up in a tall tree away from all the sniffers.
A Power Source
When camping, you come through beautiful views and places. So you might want to carry your camera or phone to capture those views for memories. These gadgets won’t stay charged for long without a power source. And what better power source in the wild is there than the sun? You can pack Portable Solar Panels to help you store and use solar power for charging. It’s easy, lightweight and it’s portable. So why not?
Collapsible Bucket
A collapsible bucket will be useful if you want to wash your dishes or carry some firewood or water from a river to your camp. It’s very compact so it won’t take up any space when packing.
Bug Repellants
When you think of camping, you may catch yourself thinking about the wind blowing on your face with fresh air, nights around the campfire while gazing into the countless stars. But there’s also the reality of bugs and blood-sucking insects that will ruin your calm. Therefore, packing a bug repellant is a must if you want to enjoy a bug-free trip. Most bug sprays contain DEET as the main ingredient. If this ingredient comes into contact with your tent, it will lose its rain-proof ability. That’s why spraying your tent is a big no. Instead, use a bug repellent with a strong scent in and around your camp.
A Light Source
It’s nighttime, the bonfire is out And you need to do something in the dark so you use your phone flashlight. That might be useful sometimes but not in the long run. Your phone’s battery will drain and recharging in the wild is not that easy. Therefore, finding a spare light source is important. Consider carrying a Lantern and preferably one that is solar-powered.
Water Filter System
When camping in campsites, there may be sources of fresh drinking water available. But in the wild, camping close to a water source is vital. The camping trip usually involves lots of walking or hiking. Even if you have a car, most of the equipment you need will be packed on your back. Nobody wants to be carrying around gallons of water. It’s exhausting. Having a water filtration system is hence important. You can either use a microfilter, for purifying water from natural sources or a water bottle with a filter built into the straw. This will make your camping trip much easier.
It’s important that you give priority to yourself, your family, and your loved ones to spend quality time. This is why camping is such a wonderful idea. So go ahead, break the routine and go for that camping trip of your dreams. Use the list above to help you with packing your things. But don’t forget the basic stuff too. Have a wonderful trip!