Esssential Camping Gear List

Camping is a great way to experience the great outdoors. Living, eating and sleeping outdoors makes for a great, fun and relaxing time. People of all ages can enjoy it and it needn’t be expensive. However, it is important to be properly prepared and unless you are keen on lightweight camping you will need to take a fair amount of gear to ensure you are comfortable and safe. With this in mind I have assembled a simple guide to make sure you don’t forget anything Let’s start with the absolute basics. Obviously you will need a tent, this will be your “home” whilst living outdoors. There are, obviously many different types and styles dependant on your preferences and, of course, budget. Your tent should, of course, come with tent poles but these can bend and break and so spares can be needed. It is also easy to forget them if you store them separately from the tent. To erect this properly and keep it safe you will also need tent pegs and a hammer or mallet. A groundsheet of tent carpet is a sensible addition if you can afford it. Once you have your “home” in place you’ll probably next want to think about cooking and eating or at least make a quick cuppa. You’ll obviously need a camping stove or perhaps Trangia to cook on or heat water. These will need fuel, of course, the former requires bottled gas and the latter methylated spirits. A Trangia is a great lightweight little stove whereas the larger camping stoves can do almost as much as your cooker at home; obviously though they are heavier and more expensive. Other necessary equipment for storing, preparing and cooking food includes matches/lighter, cool box and freezer packs, food and drink, water storage, storage boxes, cutlery and utensils (bottle opener, tin opener, scissors etc. plates, bowls, cups and glasses, pans, washing up liquid, bowl, dish cloth and tea towel. You’ll also need something to sit on whilst eating and so chairs and a table are also important items. One of the great pleasures of camping is sleeping out of doors so, of course, you need to be properly prepared to be nice and snug and warm. Needless to say it can get very cold sleeping outside and also quite damp even if it’s not raining. So as well as your air bed or sleeping mat you’ll need a sleeping bag and sleeping bag liner; the liner will be easier to wash than having to regularly wash your sleeping bag. Also don’t forget pillows. If you are using a bed it would also be something of a disaster if you left the air bed pump or plugs at home. It wouldn’t be much fun sleeping with your finger in the air bed hole to stop it deflating! As we all know the weather can be an unpredictable thing so you’ll also need to take the following clothing waterproofs, walking boots and socks, hats, warm clothing and wellingtons. Finally there is also a list of other things that can only be descried as miscellaneous i.e. ·Backpack ·Torch ·Lante ·Spare batteries ·Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrushes etc) ·Towels ·First Aid Kit ·Sun protection ·Umbrella ·Playing cards/games ·Books ·Maps of the area Hope you enjoy your camping trip

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