Posted by John Hill | Posted in Camping Equipment, Tents | Posted on 16-08-2011
Want to make sure your camping trip goes great? Are you just learning how to camp? Make sure you plan to take the “essentials” when you go.
Water
Will the campsite have water you can use? It is always crucial to know before you leave. If water is not available be sure you bring plenty of it. Consider reusing old gallon milk jugs. Another great option is a Coleman expandable water carrier (5-Gallon). They work great for treating or storing large amounts of water. The nice feature of this container is that they are easy to pack out and they are also reusable. Mine is about 5 years old and still going strong. Be sure to clean them out when you get back with hot soapy water and store them with a teaspoon of lemon juice inside. For backpacking hikes where you have to pull water from streams, definitely use Katadyn Micropur MP1 Water Purification Tablets and treat your water. I used them on a 10 day trip at Philmont inCimarron, New Mexico and found them to be near odorless and tasteless.
Food
Planning meals is always important. And food storage equally so. Be sure youcan keep perishable items cold. Will Ice be available? Look into freeze dried foods for easy to make tasty meals. Just add hot water and save the time from cooking and cleanup to enjoy more hiking or relaxing. also be sure to check out some of out awesome camp cookin’ recipes.
Tentage
If you are going to be doing a lot of camping, consider buying a tent. If it is a one-time every-so-often camping trip, borrow a tent from a friend. If you decide to purchase one, check out our post on how to choose a tent. A good tent can last a long time. A bad tent can ruin your camping experience. Also, check out our post on tips to setting up your tent.
Sleeping Bag
Your sleeping bag choices will depend on the season and where you are going. it can range from a sheet off your bed, to a zero Featherlite 20 degree Ultra Light, Ultra Compact, mummy bag. Sleeping bags come in degree ratings. Choose one for your climate and season. You can increase the warmth of a bag by using a liner or a fleece. A fleece can add as much as ten degrees to your bag rating. Also, wearing additional clothes to bed can help to. It is always a good idea to change into your next days clothes before you go to be in cold weather. Just be sure they are loose fitting and that you are comfortable. Never go to bed in the socks you hiked all day in, barefoot or clean socks is the way to go.
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