A lot of people worry about getting started for camping. It’s a novel idea to them, and they sometimes don’t know what the essentials are, and they’re not sure whether or not they’ll like it. Sometimes people might go out camping once or twice and then decide they would rather stay home where it’s comfortable and safe instead of roughing it out in the woods.
If you decide to take up backpacking, it’s important to do research first. I’m not talking about buying books; you should go camping with someone who has experience. If that can’t happen, read as much as you can on the subject. This article is created to provide a basic camping checklist for people walking in the bush or mountains to reach their camping place. So here you go; this first part deals with the backpacking and camping checklist.
Beginner’s Backpacking and Camping Checklist:
1) Boots:
Proper footwear is an important part of your camping checklist. It’s always a clever idea to wear well broken-in boots. A new pair of boots will rub the feet until blisters form, and it can be excruciating at times, even if you’re used to boots. Try the boots out first on some short walks, because if you’re not used to wearing boots, it can be uncomfortable.
2) Camping backpack:
I suppose the first thing to do is decide what size camping backpack you need, or at least how much it will hold. You must consider everything you think you might need if the weather changes and so on. The average camping backpack can carry about 65-75 liters maximum without being too uncomfortable for the hiker. The mistake most beginners make is buying a bigger backpack than they need.
3) Sleeping bag:
The sleeping bag you decide to take with you should keep you warm at night even if it drops down to around freezing. In addition, it’s a good idea to take a bit of extra padding with you because it adds comfort and keeps you warmer.
4) Sleeping mat:
I don’t think sleeping on the ground is very comfortable, but if you have been used to laying your sleeping bag down on the ground for years, then it’ll be okay. However, there are some advantages to taking a sleeping mat with you. First, it makes the camping checklist easier because if your bedding is on the ground, your feet are only an inch away from nasty critters crawling around. The other advantage is that a sleeping mat will add a layer between you and the ground, so you will not feel the ground humidity as much while you are laying down.
5) Tent:
This depends very much on how many people are going camping with you. The tent should be big enough for everyone in the group, but it doesn’t mean that everyone has to be able to lie down simultaneously. If there are two of you, then a two or three person tent is okay, but if you have four people sharing a tent, it gets uncomfortable quickly. You can take a tent one size bigger with you if you want, but always remember that you have to carry it in your backpack while you are walking, so, you have to consider the extra size and weight.
For advice refer to: The Best Family Camping Tent Reviews And Buying Guide.!
6) Stove:
This is essential unless you’re planning on not having anything hot to eat during the trip because that can become pretty boring after a while! There are various kinds of stoves for different circumstances. Some are designed for indoor use; some are easy to carry because they are lightweight, and others are more suitable for outdoor cooking. Take one according to your needs.
7) Cookware:
It’s usually a clever idea to bring two pots with you because if two of you are there, each one takes turns cooking, especially if you have three pans. The rest of the camping checklist depends on how many people share the equipment.
8) Cutlery/Knives:
You need at least four knives or forks between two people if you want to eat properly during the trip. A pocketknife is perfect for most circumstances, but sometimes it might not carry all of what you need, so bringing a proper knife might be a good idea. I personally prefer taking two knives with me, one for eating and one for the rough work.
9) Water bottles:
I think one of the most obvious camping checklist items is drinking water. It’s essential to carry enough water supplies for drinking and cooking purposes. If you’re going hiking or walking in an area without drinking water available, take as much as possible, especially during summertime when the heat intensifies. But there are also natural streams in lots of areas, so water don’t have to be carried from home if you have enough supply along the way or nearby your camp site.
10) First Aid Kit:
I don’t think you can go camping without taking a first aid kit with you. It’s not only for the sake of any injury either, because it also includes medicine and more. I would take some painkillers with me if there were headaches or muscle pains after walking too much or hurting yourself.
11) Clothes:
Everyone has different ideas about what to wear when they’re going camping. However, the most important thing is to make sure that whatever you choose to wear is comfortable and practical. There are specific full-body camouflage suits for hunters if that’s something in which you are interested. Some examples included in the camping checklist below pertain to clothing and other items, such as boots and socks.
12) Cooking utensils:
Some cooking equipment used for camping isn’t necessary, but it might be useful and make your life easier. I like taking a metal spoon and fork with me because they’re not as flimsy and breakable as plastic ones, and they are also more environment friendly. If you plan to eat outdoors, carrying knives and forks is fairly obvious. But other cooking equipment should be considered, such as a can opener, coffee mugs or teacups.
13) Flashlight:
It’s good to take a flashlight with you, so you don’t get lost at night if nobody wants to sleep yet. The flashlight also makes it easier to find the toilet or whatever else at night, which makes it an important camping checklist item.
14) Inflatable chairs/seats:
It’s always nice to take something comfortable with you that can be used indoors or outdoors. It might not seem essential, but I would recommend taking some inflatable seats with you because they’re light and easy to carry and set up wherever you want them.
15) Lantern:
It’s a good idea to take a lantern if you want to see inside the tent at nighttime. I would recommend something small and easy to carry around because it’s not going to be of any use if you can’t move it from place to place as you want to.
16) Lighters:
Lighters are essential for lighting fires, especially when it is cold or wet during the trip. If there is a lighter on your camping checklist, don’t forget matches. Even if you have a lighter, it might not work in wet conditions, so it’s best to be prepared.(I strongly suggest waterproof matches).
17) Bug spray:
I really began to appreciate bug spray when I started going camping. It’s useful during the night if you want to chill outside without being eaten alive by mosquitos. It also helps during the daytime. So, you don’t get any bites from other insects as well, such as spiders and ants.
18) Speaker/headphones:
Music is great, so it’s always good to take a speaker with you when it comes to music in general. The quality isn’t necessarily the best, but it’s better than nothing. It can also be done via phone and headphones.
19) Soap/Shower gel:
If there is a creek, a river, or a pond nearby, then bring a soap bar or shower gel with you. It’s important to stay clean , but don’t forget your towel.(I strongly suggest unscented soap, as mosquitos love scent)
20) Dish cleaning equipment:
It’s good to have a small brush to scrub off any excess food from your plate during and after dinner. Of course, it’s not going to be very useful, but it’s nice to have when you need it. Also, bring a small bottle of dish soap with you too.
21) Duct tape:
Duct tape can fix shoes if they get ripped or worn out. It is also very helpful when fixing a tent with broken poles or a tear in the fabric. Just make sure it’s duct tape and not some other type of strong sticky tape because you might mistakenly think it’s useful, but it won’t do anything good for your camping trip.
Additional Resources
If you are looking for more tutorials, walkthroughs and troubleshooting about camping and enjoying the outdoors, here are some additional posts to check out:
Conclusion
This camping checklist is by no means definitive, but it may give you an idea of what items are useful to take with you when you go away on a trip. The best thing to do is get packing, put all the necessary things together in one space and make sure that everything fits into your backpack or bag for easy transportation. It’s always good to be prepared because nobody wants to get stranded or lost deep in the wilderness without food or water. Have fun.!