Camping Essentials

Camping can be challenging for many people because when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, the quality of equipment doesn’t come with luxuries to cushion the experience. You realize you forgot a fork or knife? There’s nothing you can do about it. Your sleeping bag isn’t warm enough or you don’t have insect repellent? You’re just plain out of luck. So After years of trial, here are five essential camping items. My top five must-haves for camping essentials in no particular order.

Tuff boxes for organization

Organization is absolutely critical for keeping things convenient and easy to find. I have one of these for cooking stuff (fire starters, pots and pans, paper towels, etc.). One for sleeping stuff (including my tent if I’m using one), clothes and hygiene and miscellaneous stuff. Any type of organizational system is paramount. Which is why I’ve listed it as the first essential item on this camping list. Even if you just use old suitcases, use something to keep your stuff compartmentalized.

Firestarters

 A big ol’ fire is what sets camping apart from going into your front yard and laying down a blanket. But for lots of people getting a fire started isn’t easy, so here’s my solution to taking that burden out of the equation.

It’s so simple and really effective, just cut up a paper based egg carton into singles, then put dryer lint in them and melt wax over the top. The less wax the faster and hotter they’ll burn. They cost just cents to make each, and they burn for a few minutes at a decent temperature. Bring out a few of them to your next camping trip and save yourself a lot of time.

Not all sleeping bags are made alike

Sleeping bags have different temperature ratings, so you need to look up the temperature range of where it is you’re camping. But keep in mind that the sleeping bag temp range isn’t to keep you comfortable, that’s to keep you alive. If you’ve got a sleeping bag rated down to 30°, DON’T take it out where it’s going to be under 40° or so, you will freeze and not get a wink of sleep. That’s why it’s on this camping essentials list. Stay conservative on those ratings. Here are the two sleeping bags my husband and I have.

What I like about the summer sleeping bag is how small and lightweight it is. It comes with a stuff sack and it’s smaller than a football if it was smashed into a sphere. 

What I like about the winter sleeping bag is it’s rated down to 10° and I’ve taken it into about 28° weather and had to unzip part of it because it’s so warm. It’s a mummy style sleeping bag so there’s that little part that wraps around your head and you can actually drawstring it shut so there’s no exposure to the outside world. It’s large to pack in and pack out, but it sure is comfy.

Biodegradable wipes 

Whether it’s for cleaning your hands, taking a “shower”, or cleaning another part of your body, there’s nothing better than having a bunch of wet wipes around. They’re biodegradable so you can toss them or bury them a little without having to worry about the wildlife or mother earth. They’re unscented so you can use them on any part of your body without having to have a weird reaction (personal allergies excluded), and they’re large enough that whatever you need it for, you’ll only need one wipe at a time. You can also use them for wiping down your pet if you like bringing them along with you.

Best and easiest food

Although not the least expensive, there is no other type of camping food I’ve had experience with that has been as simple, quick, and tasty as mountain house camping food. Just pour some hot water in one of the packets, wait, stir, wait, and after about 10 minutes you’ve got yourself a meal that offers a lot more than just carbs. These have veggies and meats that have been freeze-dried. Then when you’re done just toss the used package in your trash bag, wipe down your spoon with a paper towel, and you’re on your way. No pots or pans or plates to wash, no waiting half an hour for the food to be ready after spending another 20 minutes getting your cooking station set up.

Save time and energy on your next camping trip, and enjoy your company. Or if you’re camping alone, be able to spend more time enjoying the beautiful views. I hope this camping essentials list helps you.