Checklist For Camping Trips

To start this lens off, I will talk about some of the different things that you can actually do when you are camping. The reason that I bring this up is that different kind of camping requires different kind of equipment. And usually, people don't go camping just to camp, they do it because they have some other interest or hobby that they want to do in the wild.

The number on reason for people going camping is probably fishing. Of course this is very debatable, but my personal experience tells me that this is the thing that most people do when they are in nature. Fishing is an activity that can be very relaxing and it does not require a lot more special gear that the fishing equipment itself. If you are one of the classic worm bait fishermen, you would probably like to have a camping chair to relax in while waiting for the fish to bite.

A lot of people also like to go bird watching in the woods or mountains. Some of them also like to take pictures of the birds that they see. Again a camping chair can be a very nice thing to bring, but you also need to remember your binoculars, camera and probably some camo clothes.

Hunting is an activity that is very popular, and is performed in many different ways. People who go hunting usually have a certain target for their trip. It can be deer, rabbit, small birds or even big birds. These different types of hunting all require their own gear.

There are probably thousands of other reasons to go camping and the person who is camping have to figure out the specifics of what kind of gear is required for him or herself. And as shown here, there are some thing that you need to remember to to bring for your trip to be a success. Just imagine forgetting you rifle when hunting or your fishing rod when you are planning to fish.

Just to make things very clear to people, I have decided to define what camping gear really is. Gear is often defined as things that you bring to a camping trip that is used as tools to make your stay more pleasant. Gear is usually hard goods like tents, camping furniture and so on. A different category that should not be mixed with gear is the supplies category that consist of stuff like food, drinks and other things that you consume while camping. To take an example: while brushing your teeth, the toothbrush is your gear and the toothpaste is your supplies.

A lot can be said about cooking equipment. There are so many types of portable "camping kitchens" on the market today that even the most experienced camper have problems finding what he needs. However, in the summer, just about everyone will do just fine with as little as a gas cooker and a frying pan.

You can of course light your own fire and cook the food there, but it is always nice to have a backup plan if you cannot find and dry wood in the forest or you can't find any wood at all. The modern gas cookers are so small and light that there is no problem having one in your backpack just in case.

Your "kitchen gear" for the camping trip should consist of these things then:

- Gas cooker
- Gas container
- Frying pan (and a casserole if you want)
- Matches or lighter

I know that a lot of people enjoy sleeping under the stars. I do too. However, I always bring my tent no matter what. The reason is that we never know how or when the weather will change. I would not like to be the guy who is standing in the middle of nowhere with nothing more than a big wet tree over my head. It can actually be dangerous and people have died from it.

The tent that you buy for camping should be a tent that is light and small in size when compressed. On the other hand, you should not sacrifice all of your own comfort for the size. Get a tent that you have enough space to move a bit around in. A general rule is to get a 3 person tent if you are two people, a four person if you are three, and so on. Make sure that you are comfortable in it.

I just love to sleep when I am in nature. The sound of the birds in the morning is probably my favorite sound to wake up to. My problem is that i can't sleep without something wrapped around my body. Therefore I have to bring either a sleeping bag or some kind of blanket. Remember to choose a sleeping bag that is suited for the temperature that you will camp in. It is not good to have a bag that is too cold or warm.

A mattress is also very nice to have. Personally I like the ones that are inflatable. These mattresses is soft and good to sleep on and can easily be compressed very small.

Whether you choose a GPS or a map and compass combo is really not that important. Of course a GPS is more accurate, but the map and compass have worked for centuries and will do just as well today.

Knowing where you are and where you are going is critical when you are in the wild. Each year there are thousands of rescue operations trying to find people who are lost somewhere in the mountains without a map. Some of the people are never found. You would not like to be one of these guys.

Either learn how to use a map and compass or buy a GPS. It is a cheap life insurance.

This is not a part of your gear that is critical. It is just something that you have to enjoy camping even more. Who doesn't like to sit in a good chair by a nice table when having dinner in the wild. It actually makes the trip a lot more enjoyable.

You have to consider a few things before choosing what kind of furniture you want to bring to your camping trip. If have long hike ahead of you before getting to the place you are going to camp, you can choose some of the lighter options that are called camping stools. A table can in a lot of situations be to much to carry. if you on the other hand are camping 5 minutes from the car, you can bring just about whatever you want.

Your backpack is really important. After all, it is the tool that you use to carry all the gear that you bring. It can literally dictate what kind of things you can bring.

Be sure to get a backpack that feels comfortable when it is full. The size of the pack has to be decided by the needs you have.