Common Camping Mistakes and Must Have Items
Camping is all about planning! Disconnecting from technology and enjoying the great outdoors is an excellent activity for any group of family. Of course, everyone will have their tips and tricks and methods of how they prepare! Still, there are a lot of things to think about. It requires that you rely on yourself to survive and enjoy your time in nature, but camping like all things can be learned, and going in prepared will only be better for you. Not everyone has a lot of experience, and in this article, we will go through some of the most common mistakes that campers usually experience on their first trips.
Tent Size and Setting it up
If you are going for a more extended trip, we suggest setting up your tent in the daylight before the trip and checking how much space there. A 4 person tent is recommended for two people, as you will need space for your items and camping gear. Be sure to know how to set up your tent correctly, as there is nothing worse than arriving at the site after a hike and not being able to set up your tent correctly! Check it out beforehand!
Seating and Tables
Bring enough chairs for everybody! Get yourself the most comfortable chair for camping that you can, because you will be happier because of it!
Sitting around the fire and enjoying the view will be the main activity. A table can also be essential to keep everything in one spot and also not to keep food or essential items on the ground!
Bring Enough Thrash Bags
Camping can get messy! If you plan on staying longer, you will generate a lot of trash, so have enough bags around and try to keep your ground clear!
Be ready for all Weather Conditions
Depending on when you plan your trip, you need to think about how to protect yourself from the elements. An extra tarp over your tent may save you and prove super useful in heavy rainfall! The tarp can also give shade, be it that you connect it over two trees or between two cars, it will prove helpful at some point!
Water and Food
If you don’t have a water source nearby, you need to bring a lot of it! You will need water for everything and more! Washing, rinsing off, cooling, and cooking, water is essential! The same goes for food; you need more than you think at first! Hiking can be exhausting, and you may be more hungry than usual! There are a lot of backpacking meals that are easy to make, but also bring enough snacks and food items that will give you an energy boost.
Bring Fun Things to Do
Bring things that you can occupy yourself and your camping buddies. Cards, board games, a Frisbee, or a book are great things to have around. Maybe it could rain, or it could get too hot! It’s good to have fun things to do and not to be stuck with a group of bored people!
For the end, some general items that you always need to include are:
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Sunscreen
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Utensils
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Washcloths and toiletries
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Enough toilet paper for everybody!
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Wet wipes
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A hat
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A multi-tool or a pocket knife, bring more than one as they can break or get easily lost!
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Enough beer for everybody!
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Multiple matches and lighters for starting fires