It’s amazing how once February hits, the chatter of the New Year slows and the excitement for spring warmth and summer plans emerge. Unless you’re like me and consider winter a suitable camping season, camping is generally all about the warm months ahead.
Perhaps you are already securing your weekend getaways in your calendar. Much like planning your summer schedule, a successful camping trip is planned in advance.
I’d like to share helpful “can’t go wrong” tips on packing and enjoying the camping experience to the maximum potential. Part of a perfect outdoorsy getaway is about being comfortable, so take these totally affordable tips to heart whether it is your first, second, or 100th camping trip. These ideas can be applied with trips involving family, kids or even just yourself, and can be used for anything from car-friendly sites to backcountry odysseys.
Firstly, there is what I call “working in reverse” theory. I apply this self-nominated term to all areas of my life, and I find it is especially handy during camping. Essentially, do the work that you don’t exactly want to do, but are obliged to do, first and foremost.
For example, when you get to your campsite, get right to work on setting up your tent, bedding situation and cooking area. You will thank yourself immensely when evening falls and everything is in its right place. When you do the mandatory setup first, it allows you more mental relaxation and freedom to truly enjoy the site and its surrounding scenery. Isn’t that what you came here to do? There is also nothing like diving into a pre-made bed at the end of a wild night around the campfire.
On that note, you should always look up before setting up the tent in its picture-perfect location. You want to be aware of any potential “widow-makers” in the area — tree limbs that are hanging by a thread and could fall to the ground at any moment.
The silly name is serious in connotation, as it implies the loss of life of men who historically explored the wooded lands of North America, and sometimes didn’t look up before setting up their sleeping area. Countless ended up crushed or impaled, but it didn’t have to be this way. There have been many times where I have moved my tent from an ideal spot in lieu of not having a dangerous tree part fall on my quarters.
Historic settlers, traders and explorers didn’t have the luxury of wearing Crocs or flip flops in the forest. However, you certainly do. No matter what degree of camping you’re committing to, a secondary set of footwear for hanging out at the campsite is an essential, in my opinion.
Letting your feet breathe fresh air after being trapped in shoes or rubber boots all day is essential for making your feet and general being sing with happiness. Besides, when nature calls and you must leave your tent in the middle of the night, simply sliding on some light footwear makes the situation seem way less daunting.
Naturally, this leads me to the ultimate investment for camping life. I’d say that using a headlamp is an absolute game-changer.
Ranging from $30 to $300, you can accomplish all of your goals around the campsite with the lower end of the budget. Instead of relying on your phone battery, enjoy the comfort of a solid light that allows both of your hands to be free at the same time. Similarly, keeping candles located at strategic spots around the campsite not only creates a reliable waypoint to get to important areas, but it also makes for a great vibe. That is, providing there are no fire bans.
You should also consider the power of a basic tarp. The tarp is arguably the most versatile yet ordinary item to add to your camping essentials list.
It can be used as a cover from rain, which becomes a valuable object when you are cooking outside or just trying to hang out in an area besides the tent. If it is cold overnight, throwing the tarp over your entire tent will keep body heat trapped in the dome, allowing for a substantially warmer environment. You can also use the tarp to bundle and drag big loads of firewood from the bush to your site. It could even be used as a privacy wall for where people take washroom breaks.
Lastly, don’t forget to be kind to yourself. You are not at work and you have chosen to experience the great outdoors with people you care about. I can tell you that whether you are “glamping” (glamorous camping), car camping or backcountry roughing it, you should give yourself a little prize at the finish line of the experience.
It sounds basic, but I always pack my coziest socks, underwear, pants and shirt for the end of camping time. Driving home in the comfiest, driest clothes you own feels appreciably remarkable when you are cruising back into civilization.
Whether you’re planning a weekend of catching fish in the wilderness or telling stories to your kids around the fire, you won’t regret that respect for yourself when it arrives.
