Camping can be a fun, adventurous, and relaxing way to get out into nature – but only if you’re prepared with the right items and gear. You don’t want to find yourself in the middle of the woods or up in the mountains without the necessary tools or emergency equipment.
Below, we have listed ten must-have items for your next camping trip. Continue reading if you love camping and want to know how to prepare yourself best next time you head out into the wilderness for the night.
1. Camping Hammock
While sleeping inside your cozy little tent is fantastic, a camping hammock allows you to have a more authentic experience sleeping beneath the stars. These hammocks can quickly and easily be set up, allowing you to rest while also enjoying the beautiful view and fresh air that brought you out camping in the first place.
2. Rain Gear
Even if you check the weather forecast before leaving for your camping trip, Mother Nature can be unpredictable. You never know when you might get caught in the rain, so it’s best to prepare yourself by bringing rain gear. Tarps, waterproof tents and sleeping bags, rain jackets, and more can keep you dry and comfortable no matter what the weather throws your way.
3. Water and Food
It’s always a good idea to bring more water and food along than you think you might need on your camping trip. You don’t want to be stranded out in the woods without a way to fuel and hydrate yourself, especially if you have to stay longer than you anticipated. This also just ensures that the trip is more comfortable and that you can do more.
4. First-Aid Kit
Accidents can happen when you least expect them, mostly out in nature when you’re hiking, swimming, fishing, climbing mountains, and more during a camping trip. While you hope for the best, it’s a good idea to prepare for the worst by bringing along a first-aid kit in case of emergencies.
5. Tent
Of course, most campers are going to want to bring along a tent. This allows a dry, bug-free, comfortable environment to sleep and hang out when you’re out in nature. Even if you plan on sleeping in a hammock or directly under the stars at night, having a tent with you just in case is an excellent way to prepare for unexpected rain, harsh winds, swarms of bugs, or more factors you hadn’t anticipated before leaving.
6. Multi-Tool
There is hardly a better way to prepare yourself for any unexpected situation than with a multi-tool. These useful pieces of gear often contain tools you don’t even think you’ll need that end up coming in handy once you’re out on your camping trip. With knives, can openers, screwdrivers, mini saws, scissors, toothpicks, and much more included in these tools, you’ll feel prepared for any situation.
7. Proper Wardrobe
Before leaving home for your camping trip, you will want to put some thought and planning into the outfits you bring along. Check the weather to see if you’ll be hot or cold, and don’t forget it often gets cold at night despite the daytime heat. Consider the possibility of rain and what activities you need to dress for, such as hiking, climbing, swimming, or just resting comfortably by a campfire.
8. GPS or Simple Map
Even in an area you’ve been before, don’t underestimate the possibility of getting lost or losing your way out. Bringing a GOS or a simple map is a great way to have some peace of mind that you’re not going to be wandering around the woods trying to find your way back home. Even if you don’t think you’re going to need it, it’s best to be prepared for a situation where you get turned around unexpectedly.
9. Space Blanket
Space blankets are great for a camping trip because they take up very little room and are incredibly lightweight. You will hardly even know it’s there until you need it. These blankets keep body heat in, even in lower temperatures and emergencies. They are good to have in situations where the weather gets a little more extreme than you had initially planned for.
10. Headlamp or Lantern
You may think that a campfire is all the light you’re going to need at night, but it’s still a good idea to bring along a headlamp or a lantern. You may find yourself needing to set up some camping gear or repair something late at night, and these tools will help you see as you do it. They are also great when the weather or wind makes building a fire impossible.