The best thing you can do before going camping is to be prepared for everything. Before you head out on your next camping trip, below you can familiarize yourself with the necessary equipment and how to use it properly.
Essential Items
If your campground needs some light, you can use headlamps, flashlights, lanterns, and even outside lighting such as torches and LED tube lights. You do not want to be caught in the wilderness without any light. Ensuring you get firewood in bundles, a water dispenser, matches, a lighter, a fire starter, and ice will also come in handy.
A portable charger, often called a power bank, is an indispensable item if you frequently find yourself needing to recharge your phone or other electronic devices while on the go. Remember to have extra batteries if you plan on using any battery-powered tools, such as a flashlight or a lamp. You may need to buy a Wi-Fi extension or anything similar if the signal strength is weak where you are.
You do not want to forget some of the most important things. You should bring towels, washcloths, shampoo, shower shoes, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a contact lens case.
It is important to keep your campground clean
Maintaining a tidy campsite requires a commitment to tidying up after each meal and before you head out. You do not want to attract any unwanted animals by not tidying up. Trash can liners, paper towels, a sponge, and wipes are good to have on hand.
Things to bring that are not top of mind
Bring your money, ID, keys, lip balm, and any required permits or licenses on your camping or hiking vacation. Also, do not forget to bring your parking pass if the camping ground requires it. You do not want to get a ticket for not having one.
Keeping Safe While Camping
Be ready for anything by packing fire extinguishers, first aid kits, water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Having a local field guide is important even if you know your way around. You never know when you might get turned around and lost
What you should bring to cook with
You should bring utensils, plates, and a coffee percolator if you cannot live without your coffee. You should also bring cooking equipment like pots, pans, tongs, spatulas, a grill grate for fireplace cooking, roasting forks, and so on. Be sure that all camping cookware you carry is safe for use over an open flame or in whatever other way you intend to prepare food.
Sleeping in the Wilderness
Campers should pack a variety of bedding options, including quilts, sleeping bags, pads, blankets, an inflatable mattress, and cots. Trying out a new pillow now might not be the most excellent idea because your body will need time to adjust to its new sleeping environment. Many first-time campers report better sleep after employing sleep aids like white noise machines or eye masks.
Depending on whether you anticipate wet or dry weather and how cold it could get at night, you will want to bring a sleeping bag accordingly. There are sleeping bags explicitly made for warm summer nights and others that can handle a mild winter. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations when shopping for a sleeping bag for a winter camping trip. Always bring more blankets than you think you will need when camping in the cold.
Our friendly staff at Outside Walla Walla is ready to ensure your first camping experience is one to remember. We can help with any questions you may have.
