If you’re a lover of the great outdoors, and more precisely – camping, which is good for your health, you’ll already know that it’s vital you have all the right gear and equipment to ensure your trip is as enjoyable as possible – whether it’s sleeping aids, cooking equipment or just nifty little gadgets to enhance your camping experience. However, there’s also a number of checks you should carry out before setting off, which is why we’ve outlined everything you need to remember when camping.
Check Your Equipment
This may sound obvious, but it’s really important you test all your equipment before heading out on your camping trip. For example, get out in the back garden and practice putting up your tent. If you haven’t used it for a while, it will be good to refresh your memory – as you’ll want to pitch it as quickly and as smoothly as possible when you arrive. Also, make sure all parts of the tent are still there. There’s nothing worse than getting to a campsite and finding out you’re missing a couple of poles or pegs and end up having a lopsided tent that’s likely to blow away at the first sign of a gentle breeze.
Prepare Your Food
This is the one aspect of camping that often gets overlooked the most. We’re all normally too engrossed in our equipment and nifty camping gadgets that we forget to plan our meals effectively. Prep is imperative when it comes to food on a camping trip and the more you can get done at home before you leave, the better. For example, plan your meals for the duration of the trip and know exactly what you’ll be eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Be sure to take foods with as much nutritional value as possible, that doesn’t take up too much space. Nuts and seeds are a great source of nutrition and will also fill you up for longer. Also, try to take dehydrated foods that will last longer, e.g. dried fruits such as mango and pineapple are tasty treats that won’t go off and will take up next to no room in your bag.
Check out these great recipes for cooking over a open fire when camping.
Take a Waterproof Blanket
Aside from the obvious things you’ll need, such as a decent tent and a sleeping bag, a waterproof blanket is also a great addition to your camping kit. When shopping around, be sure to pick up one that can be wrapped up pretty tight and comes with its own carry bag – as we all know that space saving is imperative when packing your equipment. You’ll also want a blanket that is waterproof, don’t go for a fabric blanket that is likely to carry water if it gets wet, as this will only add weight to your load. The brilliant thing about blankets is that they have multiple uses. For example, you can use them as an extra layer of warmth and comfort on those chilly nights, or double it up as a picnic blanket when on the go.
Take a First Aid Kit
Again, this is something that often gets overlooked when people are planning a camping trip, but a first aid kit is an absolute essential. We simply can’t prepare for what nature will throw at us sometimes, so it makes sense to prepare ourselves as much as we can. Things we recommend including are…
- Plenty of plasters and gauze pads
- Insect repellent
- Anti-inflammatory medicine
- Pain killers
- Sun cream
- Hand sanitiser
- Bandages
- Sterile wipes
Research the Area
This may seem obvious, but it’s important to research where you’re going to ensure you get the most out of your trip. For example, if you’re camping somewhere in Yorkshire, you’ll want to look up all the local beauty spots and places of interest so that you can check them out whilst you’re in the area. Also, be sure to plan your day’s activities thoroughly and try to work out how long it will take you to get from one place to the next – that way, you can really get the most out of your camping adventure.
Whether you’re an experienced camper or a relative newcomer, all of the things outlined above are of equal importance. We’ve found that when it comes to camping, you can never be too prepared and it’s important not to get too complacent when it comes to your equipment and your essentials. That being said, we’re certain that if you follow our handy little tips and tricks, you’ll have a hassle free camping experience.
