Outdoor Vacations - Camping Essentials

A camping holiday can be fun for the entire family. They provide an opportunity to commune with nature and have quality bonding time with the family. Planning and preparation is key to ensuring you have what you need for your outdoor vacation. Bringing too little with you may leave you with not enough of the camping essentials while bringing too much may make it impossible to carry everything on your back.

If you'll need your own shelter then choose a tent that is an adequate size and is easy to assemble. Look for a sturdy tent made of waterproof material. The more elaborate, the more assembly time and effort is usually required. Consider purchasing a self-assembling tent that has a collapsible frame all in one unit. It will save time putting up and taking down.

"Roughing it" doesn't mean you have to sleep on the bare ground. Purchase an inflatable mattress and a comfortable sleeping bag. If you're hiking with your gear then buy a lightweight yet well insulated sleeping bag and a sleeping mat to sleep on. If you'll be sleeping in cold weather then spend the money to get a well insulated sleeping bag; it will be well worth the investment.

Camping doesn't mean you also have to eat cold, pre-packaged food. Bring a cooking stove and some basic cooking utensils. Bring just enough to get by especially if you'll be hiking with your gear.

Make sure you take a first aid kit that contains the necessities. You'll need various sized bandages and antibacterial cream or spray. Ibuprofen is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory so it's a beneficial to stock your kit with a bottle. Also bring some anti-histamine; not only is it good for treating allergies but also as an itch reliever.

Insect repellent is important as well as sun block. Bring some basic tools such as scissors and a Swiss Amy knife. Bring a flashlight which comes in handy for walks at night and when looking for something in your tent. Cleansing towelettes are useful for cleaning soiled hands and small scrapes.

Most campsites have a water supply but if you prefer purified water then you'll need to bring in your own. Bottled water also comes in handy for cleaning first aid cuts and scrapes.

Don't over pack especially if you'll be hiking with your camping gear. Give yourself plenty of time to pack and plan and bring only the essentials.