Camping Gear: Everything you should know

Camping is fun-filled when you have the right equipment and with the right people. To enjoy your camping journey, you need to have some important supplies. These supplies or pieces of equipment will help you survive the challenges of camping. Such supplies are also known as camping gear.

What is camping gear?

Camping gear are the equipment or necessities required for camping. They include tents, bags, sleeping bags, sleeping mattresses, cooking utensils, water bottles, LED lights, first aid supplies, and more. May not have a good camping experience without the essential gear. Hence, we will discuss some of the most important camping gear below.

Camping Tent

A tent is one of the most important pieces of camping gear. The shelter help campers to protect themselves against cold and other elements that keep them uncomfortable at night. It is also a place to keep essential items like bags, stoves, and more. It is almost impossible to have an enjoyable camping experience without a tent. Below are some of the most popular camping tents.

Types of camping tent

There are several types of camping tents. Your requirement greatly depends on the kind of camping journey you are about to embark on.

Tents for wild camping and hiking

• Bivy tent
• Backpacking tent
• Hammock tent

Tents for glamping and luxury camping

• Tipi
• Bell tents

Tents for festivals, families and car camping

• Inflatable
• Pop up/instant tent
• Multi-room tent

Specialist tents

• Beach tent

• Canopy
• Rooftop tents
• Suspended tents

Common tent shapes

• Cabin
• Tunnel
• Pyramid
• Dome
• Ridge/A-frame
• Geodesic

Camping Storage Bags

Camping storage bags are used to keep or store items in the camp. They come in different shapes and sizes and are made from different materials. Some materials are leather, artificial leather, textile, jeans, suede, fleece fabric, burlap fabric, and more. You need to maintain them for long-lasting usage.

Cooking Supplies

Food is very important to human existence, so it’s important to include cooking materials in your camping expedition. A stove is important for preparing a nutritious meal, but it can also be employed to warm water and other drinks to keep your temperature up in cold times. So, it’s important to get a stove that befits your type of camping journey.

The stove a car camper will employ is definitely different from the stove a backpacking camper will employ. For car camping purposes, a big dual burner propane stove will accommodate several pots and simmer, so a more complex meal can be prepared for a lot of people. However, Backpack campers employ a lightweight liquid fuel stove, integrated canister system, or a canister stove.

Canister stoves are well known to be good for cooking in modest conditions because they are easy to use, lightweight, and normally let you manage the flame and simmer.  

Other important kitchen supplies are lightweight pots, cutlery, cups, and bowls. However, you can save money by employing your home kitchen supplies. Since kitchen materials get dinged up while on a camping journey, it is better to purchase durable products that you can use anywhere.

Sleeping mattress/ Sleeping pad

Another camping gear worthy of mention is the sleeping mattress. It is an essential commodity in our homes and for camping. Every camper tries to include a sleeping mattress in their gear as much as possible. It would help if you had a sleeping mattress/ pad to comfort your body after the daily activities in camp.

Sleeping mattresses for camping come in different qualities and sizes. You will choose based on your budget and type of camping. A backpacking camper will need a lightweight mattress, while a car camper may employ a larger and thicker mattress.

LED Camping Lights

LED lights are important for all kinds of camping. It helps campers move around at night and provide lighting inside their tents. There are different LED lights for camping; the one you get depends on your choice and budget. Backpacking campers prefer lightweight, durable, and long-lasting LED lights, while car campers can manage other heavy lighting sources. You can buy a LED light that uses a battery if you stay longer and charging sources aren’t available. Irrespective of your camping type or budget, ensure you get a good lighting source before embarkation.

Water Bottle

Water is an important necessity of life. Hence, every camper must get a good water reservoir before starting a camping journey. It is important to purchase a water bottle that contains a larger quantity of water and is easy to carry around. For centuries, backpackers have replied on water bottles for drinking, filtering water, and pouring liquids while cooking in camp.  

Nowadays, you will find different types of water bottles in the market. They come in different shapes and sizes and are made from various materials, including plastic, silver, steel, glass, and rugged plastic. Most of the time, backpackers go with the plastic type because of its lightweight feature.

First aid kit and supplies

A first aid kit and supplies are important to every camper or backpacker. That is because injuries such as stings or cuts may occur during the camping journey or in camp. It is also important to include some pain relief drugs if you feel pain in camp.

The checklist below includes some of the most important supplies to include in your camping first aid kit. With this list, you will know the items to have in your first aid kit before embarking on your camping journey.

A stocked basic first aid kit includes:

• antiseptic creams and ointments
• sterile wipes and rinse solutions
• pain and anti-inflammatory medicine
• eye drops
• triple antibiotic ointment
• moleskin
• hand sanitiser
• adhesive bandages of various sizes
• butterfly bandages
• sunburn relief spray
• anti-diarrhea medicine
• antihistamine for allergic reactions
• gauze pads of different sizes or gauze roll 
• hydrocortisone cream
• tweezers, scissors, safety pins, and knife

Additional Items

• aloe vera
• sunscreen
• duct tape
• super glue
• prescription medicines
• emergency blanket
• epi-pen

Other camping gear

A lot of equipment are employed for camping but only few were discussed above. Below are some important camping gear not mentioned above.

• Aluminium roll up table
• Camp chairs
• Gazebo
• Mesh floor
• Picnic set
• Self-inflating mattress
• Shower and toilet tent

Conclusion

Camping gear is an important topic when discussing camping. A lot of materials are included in the camping gear, and we have discussed a few of the above. Always ensure to have all the necessities before embarking on your camping journey.