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Camping gear: What to buy?

Being prepared is of utmost importance when venturing in the great outdoors. If you want a fun adventure and not a real adventure make sure you have everything you need to cover all possibilities. Your camping gear will vary according to the type of camping and activities you have in mind, where you are going, the time of year and the length of the trip.

 

 

Shelter items:

  • Tent
  • Ground tarp
  • Axe or saw
  • Mats, sheets, sleeping bag
  • Repair kits

Cooking

  • Water containers
  • Coolers, thermos
  • Stove, matches, lighter (more than one way to start a fire)
  • Charcoal, firewood
  • Plates, bowls, cups
  • Aluminum foil
  • Paper towels and trash bags
  • Dish soap, soap
  • Cooking oil
  • Containers for food
  • Pots and frying pans and other cook ustensils (spoons, forks, knives)
  • Potato peeler
  • Condiments, salt, sugar, seasonings

Clothing

  • Boots for hiking and shoes for around the camp
  • Pants, belt, shorts, t-shirts, socks and more socks, hat, bandana, jacket, underwear
  • Sleep clothes
  • Rain gear
  • Swim suit and towels
  • A big laundry bag
  • Flip flops, tooth brush, tooth paste
  • Deodorant, comb
  • Razor, toilet paper
  • Personal medications

Other stuff

  • Sunscreen and bug repellant
  • GPS and a compass. Don’t go without a compass. If the GPS gets broken, what then?
  • batteries
  • Whistle, small signaling mirror and a map
  • Water purification tablets
  • Fixed blade tactical knives
  • Sunglasses (a must for summer and winter hiking)
  • First aid kit
  • Duct tape
  • Disc golf discs to practise your favorite hobby
  • Notepad and pen
  • Work gloves
  • Small sewing kit
  • Scissors
  • Watch
  • Rope, paracord
  • Camera, binoculars, Wood carving tools or any other hobby you may have

Don’t go without a First Aid Kit. Make sure you know how to use everything in your first aid kit. Carry them in a waterproof container – a zip bag for example. Inspect your first aid kit before going on your camping trip. Include a bee sting kit and a snake bite kit in your kit and don’t go hiking without a sunburn lotion.

Gearing Up With Headlamps and Summer Camping Gear

Now that the weather in the Northern Hemisphere is turning warming, my thoughts are turning to all the fun I’m planning to have out in the mountains and on the trails as I head out and do some real hiking and climbing. This year will be a bit different as I think my oldest boy, who is nearly four, is about the right age to start learning about hiking and camping. He is really stoked about the idea, but before we both head out I’m going to have to do a bit of shopping. I’ve already sorted myself out with a new pair of hiking boots. And after my beloved Petzl headlamp went exploring on its own (I think my boy had something to do with that) I’ve had to do some shopping and have bought myself a new LED lamp. This time, despite my long love for Petzl gear, I thought I would try a change and I bought a Mammut Lucido headlamp. It has a few quirks that set it apart from the ones that I have used in the past. But I’m actually really quite satisfied with it and am really impressed by its quality. The Swiss just do things right the first time when they make something.

Gearing up my little boy is going to be a bit tougher. Just because he is only four doesn’t mean that he doesn’t need to stay warm and dry and have good walking shoes. But it is a different matter buying a really good jacket or getting decent boots for oneself when I know that they will last me many years and give good service. But whatever I get him won’t fit in just a couple of months. At least he has a little brother so whatever I get will be used twice. So far that has worked fine with winter gear. Where we live in Germany the winters can get quite extreme, so we spent good money on getting them both good outdoor winter gear, but it is too warm and insulated for summer wear. So I need to really think hard and shop around to find some cheap kids outdoor gear.