While camping is a rather simple pastime for millions of people around the world, one of the key secrets to having a great trip is to know enough ahead of time to be skilled at it. Just knowing a little bit of information about camping can help your camping trip go off without a hitch.
Those big, colorful plastic storage bins make excellent places to store and organize all of your camping gear. While at home, keep it in a closet or the garage and right before you leave for your camping trip, pop it in the trunk. It should keep everything air-tight, dry and easily accessible.
Look up activities to engage in prior to getting to your destination. This will allow you to check for any deals that may be offered. Also, it will help you be more prepared when you actually get to your destination. You can find trails that may be appropriate for everyone in your family or restaurants that you would enjoy.
Choose a tent large enough for everyone that is going to sleep in it. This will give you the room necessary for a comfortable camping trip.
Make sure your medical insurance is up-to-date. Sometimes going into a different state means that you will need to have an additional policy. This is more crucial if you go camping in another country. It always pays to be prepared for anything!
One thing that many people forget to pack on a camping trip, and which quickly turns the trip into a nightmare is bug spray. This simple repellent will save you both annoyance and can protect your health as many types of bugs can do a great deal of damage to you quickly.
Pack extra flashlights and batteries. It can get quite dark at night, away from all the city lights. A light source is very important. Bring a few spare flashlights just in case. Make sure that you pack extra batteries as well. A light source is something you do not want to find yourself without.
On your next fishing trip, go fishing. Fishing is a great way to enjoy yourself while you’re out in nature, but it also helps you pack more lightly because you catch your food on the trip instead of having to bring it with you. Learn to de-bone a fish before leaving home and you’ll have easy fish dinners on your camping trip.
Avoid severe weather when going camping, and pay attention to forecasts. It is horrible trying to pitch a tent in the rain, and not much fun sitting in a tent during a rainstorm. It is equally as disturbing approaching a muddy campsite and trying to make a weekend out of it.
When you are packing your clothing for a camping trip, remember that it is best to dress in layers. This way, you can add or remove clothing to make you more comfortable. Take along a rain coat that you can put on top of every other layer to keep you dry if it rains.
Duct tape is an interesting item to be included in your inventory while camping. It is versatile at camp, just like at home. You could seal an air leak in your mattress. It can also fix up a tarp, sleeping bag, or even the tent. You can even put some under your feet before long hikes so that you don’t get blisters. It can also be used in lieu of bandages.
Some of the best food options to bring camping with you are things that come in cans. While this may not be the tastiest, it is great for two reasons. It is very convenient and easy to prepare, but more importantly; wildlife will be unable to smell the food inside of the cans.
It is perfectly normal to set a budget for your overall camping trip. Sit down and make a plan of what you must spend on your entire trip. Make sure you factor in the campground costs, gasoline prices as well as food and any other materials you will need to purchase. This will ensure that you don’t spend more than you have on your trip.
Do not leave your sleeping bag rolled up until right before it is time for you to get some sleep. Lay it out right away so that it can loft up and give you the highest level of insulation. Do the same for any sleeping pads you have brought along.
Create shelter before it gets dark out, as it can be very difficult to function when night falls. It’s hard enough to throw up a tent, but it’s even harder with the lights out. You will have to have a flashlight or create a fire. It is simply much easier to do this while the sun is still out so that you are all set whenever it gets dark.
It’s important to clean the campsite you used when it’s time to leave. You should have trash bags on hand for this purpose. Also, it’s important to take all food with you when you leave too. The only thing that should be left behind are your footprints.
Make it a habit to leave no sign of you having camped at a location. As a camper, you’re aware of how beautiful nature really is. It’s your job to help keep it that way. Take any trash with you to dispose of properly. Before you go, circle your camping ground a second time to look for any litter you may have missed.
Make sure to practice food safety whenever you go camping. Use bags that are airtight and your containers should be waterproofed. Keep your food inside insulated coolers. Cooked foods should always be kept away from raw foods so they don’t become contaminated. Use hand sanitizer and soap to keep hands, as well as preparation surfaces, clean while you are handling food. Make sure cooked foods reach the correct temperature and make sure perishable foods are kept chilled.
This article gave you enough information so that you should be adept at handling basic camping events that come your way, even if you haven’t left for your trip yet! Camping is a fun excursion for everyone in the family, and if you keep the advice here in mind, your trip will be a blast!
