Essential Camping Gear

What camping gear is essential for making it through your trip – A deep dive into everything you will need to survive the wilderness.

What camping gear is essential for making it through your trip.

So you’re going camping. Welcome to the brotherhood of outdoorsmen that reaches to the inner depths of our human instinct. Generations of being coddled by technology have left many people incapable of surviving for an extended period of time without the general amenities found in everyday life. After reading this article, you will have the basic knowledge required for surviving a camping trip.

Shelter:

You’re not going to last long in the wilderness without some form of protection from the elements. Cold nights, rain and even unexpected frosts or snow showers (depending on the season in which you are camping) can put an abrupt end to your camping expedition if you aren’t prepared. If you aren’t bedding down in a structure of some sort (ie a cabin) then a tent is your first and most common choice.

When selecting a tent for camping, be forewarned that you can go as cheap or and expensive as you are willing to go. It’s important to remember that your camping tent is not your vacation home. There really is no need to upgrade to the deluxe model with the built-in cup holders and the lumbar support inflatable chairs. Camping is about reconnecting with our survival instincts.

The first thing you need to consider when purchasing a form of shelter for camping is the duration of your wilderness expedition. How long do you plan to be living in the tent? If you’re researching this purchase then chances are you aren’t looking to set up a popup tent in your back yard for a child’s slumber party. If that is your desire then, by all means, seek out the cheapest, easiest to assemble tent that you can find. If you’re just spending the night in the back yard with the kids then, worst-case scenario, you can always go inside if things get too intense. However, if you are looking to spend several days in the wilderness then you might want to invest in something slightly sturdier.

When you go to purchase a tent you need to be looking for a model that is structurally sound, that will hold up and protect you through moderately intense conditions. Additionally, you’ll have to take into account the number of people you’ll have with you on your camping expedition. If you are camping alone then there are a variety of tent models for a single person that you can choose from. However, if you will be accompanied by another person or a group of people then you will need to look at models that will accommodate your group. An important thing to remember is that the number of people a tent is said to accommodate is often a greatly overstated to reflect the most strained conditions. Meaning, if you’re looking to purchase a tent that is reported to shelter two adults, you should know that those to people will be virtually sleeping on top of one another in the tent. There will be little to no extra room for added comfort and in some cases, the space in question might be insufficient to house the occupants camping gear. We recommend “over-shooting” the occupancy capacity for a tent you intend to purchase. This means that if you and one other friend intend to spend a weekend in the woods, it would be wise to look into tents that comfortably sleep three or four adults rather than go “bare minimum” and try to squeeze into a two-person tent. However, always remember that opting for larger equipment means that you will have to lug this larger tent around to your campsite. If you truly want to minimize load without sacrificing comfort, it might be worth having everyone in your camping crew purchase their own single individual tent.

Always read the reviews for the model of the tent you are interested in. This will help you determine if the tent has any structural flaws. Look for common complaints among buyers such as leaks, easily torn material, drafts that allow breezes through, etc. Also, research the degree of difficulty for the assembly of your tent. Do buyers commonly report difficulties assembling the ten? Preferably, you should seek out a tent that you can roll out on a flat patch of ground, slide some support poles through the structural sleeves, and erect upward as you secure the corners to the ground. Quick and simple. You should be looking for a tent that a single individual can assemble on their own. If a tent requires four individuals to assemble, this Taj Mahal has no business on your campsite and should be avoided. To learn everything you need to know about purchasing a tent, check out our article on the topic (Here).

Fire:

Once you’ve erected your shelter for your woodland stint, the next thing you’ll need is a source of fire. While camping in the woods, or desert, or in any location for that matter, fire is essential to your survival. It is both your source of heat and a means for cooking your food.

The easiest way to handle your fire needs while camping is to pack some sort of igniting device before embarking on your trip. Matches will work but they are fragile by nature. They are susceptible to moisture, which can render them useless. Additionally, a consistent breeze can make it difficult to maintain a flame long enough to light your kindling. You might go through several matches before you successfully start your fire.

A lighter is your best friend when packing for your camping trip. Specifically, a disposable butane lighter with a long metal wand and a trigger igniter will make your life a lot easier when it comes time to build your fire. These lighters are resistant to a breeze and they aren’t rendered completely useless if exposed to a little bit of moisture. Granted, you should still try to keep these dry at all cost. Seal your lighter in a plastic ziplock bag to protect it from the elements as you camp. You can pick one of these lighters up at any convenient store, hardware store or even your local gas station.

Blade:

Anyone hoping to make it through a night of camping will need a sharp, reliable knife. Depending on the degree to which you are “roughing it,” you will have to consider what type of knife to bring. This could range from a simple pocket knife to something more substantial like a hunting knife or possibly even a machete. Will you be relying on caught fish as your source of food during your camping trip? You might even need a fillet knife for cleaning your fish.

The more versatile your knife, the more equipped you’ll be during your camping trip. Your knife will be both a utility and a source of protection. We aren’t suggesting that you pick a fight with any woodland creatures. However, if you are confronted by some sort of threat, a larger, more substantial knife will be in your favor.

Your knife will also be a vital tool during your camping excursion. Depending on its durability, your camping knife can serve as a hammer to secure the stakes of your tent. It can serve as a screwdriver if need be. Your knife can be used to clear foliage and brush as your travel through the woods or carve out your campsite.

Sleeping Bag:

Your sleeping bag is another item that can be as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it. However, it’s an item that is worth investing in to get good quality. This is going to be your last line of defense from the elements. Even if you are anticipating comfortable or even hot temperatures throughout your trip, always invest in a sleeping bag with a low temperature/comfort rating. This is an indicator of the lowest temperature that the sleeping back can maintain your body temperature. Generally, higher quality sleeping bags will be rated somewhere around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if your upcoming camping trip might be warm and sunny the whole way through, your future camping trips might not be so comfortable and you’ll be glad you have the warmer sleeping bag.

Additionally, your sleeping bag is another piece of camping gear that adds weight to your overall traveling load. Be sure to consider this when selecting your bag. Try to find something that has a good comfort rating, that is lightweight in comparison to other sleeping bags (the lighter the weight, the better) and that is reasonably priced. Be forewarned, you can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $350 for a decent sleeping bag.

Light (flashlight):

Needless to say, if you’re going camping, at some point it’s going to get dark. Another essential item for your camping trip is a reliable flashlight. There are various options when choosing a source of illumination. There are traditional bulbs. There are LED flashlights. There are even lantern-style lights that can give you that “old-timey feel.” When selecting a flashlight, look for something that is relatively light in weight but preferably a flashlight that produces a long, bright beam. Check the lumens produced by the light (these will be listed on the flashlight or the packaging to determine the effectiveness of the light before you purchase it. A source of bright light can be a lifesaver if you are forced to move around at night. Also, if you are ever lost in the darkness, a bright beam from your flashlight can help rescue crews find you more quickly.

Regardless of the model of flashlight you select, always switch the batteries out with fresh, new batteries prior to embarking on your camping trip. In case of an emergency, you will need all the battery life possible. The last thing you want in your flashlight are batteries that have already been depleted by 50%.

As a backup to your primary camping flashlight, it is wise to invest in a kinetic energy flashlight. This is a flashlight with a turn crank or some other mechanism built in that can power the light by physical force rather than batteries. Some kinetic energy flashlights have an internal mechanism that allows you to charge the light by shaking the flashlight back and forth rapidly.

Kinetic energy flashlights aren’t as bright as some battery-powered flashlights and their overall charge from the stored kinetic energy is often short-lived. However, it is important to have one of these nearby in case of any problems with your primary flashlight.

Clean water:

Camping can be physically exhausting. Even if when you don’t realize it, your body is working overtime to keep you moving as you navigate through your time in the wilderness. For this reason, it is important to stay hydrated while camping. Fortunately, many family campsites have running water nearby to supply to campers. However, if you are truly going out on your own for an extended period of time, you must absolutely pack enough water to keep you hydrated throughout your camping expedition. Additionally, you must remember to drink the water regularly. Once dehydration sets in, you begin down a slippery slope that can leave you physically hindered in a situation that necessitates optimal physical performance.

You might be thinking that your camping trip won’t be nearly as physically demanding as we have suggested. Bear in mind that the sun and the humidity in the atmosphere can sap the fluids from your body. Even a day sitting leisurely by a stream can leave you vastly dehydrated. Always bring water and remember to drink it.

If you are going to be camping for an extended period of time (more than a few days) and you won’t have access to a running source of clean water, there are portable water filters that can allow you to purify water from a stream on the spot. Pack one of these portable devices to allow you an extra option for drinking water while camping in the wilderness.

Map/compass:

You’d be surprised how many people pull up next to a location, get out of their vehicle and just start walking until they find a campsite that just “feels right.” You need to understand that it is very easy for even the most experienced camper to get disoriented while hiking through the woods or desert. The bitter truth of the world is that electronic devices and GPS units can fail. They can run out of power, they can lose their signal and if you are relying on your own sense of direction to get you back to your vehicle, you may be in for a rude awakening.

For these reasons, you need to keep an old fashioned, paper map and a compass in your camping pack. Furthermore, you need to know how to use these items! A map and compass are useless if you don’t know how to use them to find your way home. There are plenty of online resources and YouTube videos that can give you a basic understanding of how to use a compass and map.

Boots:

One final essential item for your camping trip and, quite possibly one that is the most overlooked is your footwear. Camping isn’t the type of activity where you can stroll around in your tennis shoes. When you’re going to be out in the wilderness for an extended period of time, you need to take care of our feet. This means choosing footwear that will provide ankle support. Footwear that will provide comfort to your overall foot. Footwear that will keep your feet dry. For this reason, we recommend taking a good pair of hiking boots with you for your camping trip.

Hiking boots are designed for performance on the uneven, wet, unreliable terrain that you will likely encounter while traveling to and from your campsite or searching for food. If you aren’t properly supporting your feet, you run the risk of an injury that could render you unable to return to your vehicle. You could be stranded for a long time if you are injured and incapable of walking. Always invest in proper footwear when camping.

So that’s it. Certainly, you can add on any number of other items or luxuries from home. This is merely a list of essential items that need to be on everyone’s list of essential items for their camping trip. These are the items that you will need to survive. Whenever you plan to go camping, you need to remember that preparation is key. Its always better to be over prepared when living in the wilderness for even the shortest period of time.