As seasoned campers, we know the important items to bring with us to help ensure that we have an enjoyable camping experience. The best thing about camping is that as long as you have the essentials, camping is not much different than being at home, except that you are outdoors.
When packing keep it simple, shelter, heat, food, and maybe some entertainment are top concerns. The basic necessities for life are a dry shelter, a warm bed, and good nutrition; This applies at home or away from home.
A good tent is required for shelter. There are three types of tents. The A-frame tents that have been around the longest and can accommodate one or two people comfortably; however, this tent is the least popular with campers. The cabana-style tent, which may be the largest of the tents, is ideal for families who want that extra space or private rooms. Some of these tents come with an outdoor screen room or outdoor canopy. The most popular tent is the dome tent. Easy to assemble and disassemble, some even have color-coded posts. These tents are excellent for shedding water and can withstand high winds. The only downside to this tent is that the dome shape gives less headroom to the sides.
A good sleeping bag is necessary for the heat of the night. However, they are not padded enough to sleep directly on the floor. This is where a good mat will come in handy. The sleeping pad will also prevent the floor from draining your body heat while you sleep. The best sleeping pads are self-inflating foam-filled pads, or many campers prefer the air mattress.
At dinner time, the last essential for comfort and one of the most important, as this is an element that we cannot do without. Cooking outdoors can be a disaster or it can be a very rewarding experience. For the most part, one can do this very simple on a one or two day camping trip. Sandwiches are the easiest thing to make, there’s not much that can go wrong with this. However, sandwiches can age quite quickly. A good idea is to always include children in meal planning.
A good camping stove or camping grill will be needed to prepare food. A two-burner stove or a stove with a burner and grill would be ideal. It may be best to eat with some paper plates and plastic utensils. Most campgrounds have a grill or grill combination that will work great for most kitchens. However, charcoal can be more expensive than other fuels.
Some entertainment will be needed to help keep both children and adults busy. The entertainment options are practically limitless. The type of entertainment will vary from camper to camper; however, keep it simple, easy to pack, and takes up little space.
Remember, the pleasure of camping is enjoying the great outdoors and experiencing what nature has to offer. In addition, camping allows families to form closer bonds and create memories that will last a lifetime.
