When me and my husband first started camping we did not know what to bring!!! But we always made it work and every year we went camping we learned how to perfect our camping trip essentials!
Here are my TOP 5 Camping Tips for First-Time Campers!!
#1 If you don’t have camping gear you should consider RENTING it!
Good camping gear and can be a little pricey, and if you’re a first-time camper you might not want to spend all that money on gear you may not even like! Check out…
www.REI.com It’s my favorite outdoor store! Why?
They are considered a cooperative, that means if you buy into their membership, you become a member of the cooperative and you receive dividends (aka cash) for qualifying purchases! The best part….it’s a life time membership that you pay for only once!
- They have gently-used gear for reduced price
- If you are a member you get a discount on rental gear
They are rental gear service that delivers the gear to you! for a certain price per day, some of the used items are available to buy for lower than retail price, they also rent kitchen sets!
#2 Bring foods that are simple to cook!
Some of our staples are rice, quinoa, salad, pasta, instant ramen, chicken, shrimp, tortillas, soup. Sometimes I like to prep the night before a camping trip and chop up some veggies so that when we get to camp we just have to throw everything together.
#3 Don’t forget Lighting!
Flashlights, Headlights, Lanterns are all good to have to get around the campsite, walk to the bathroom, and for inside the tent. I always like to check my lights the day before we leave, to make sure everything is working, and replace any batteries.
#4 For Clothes, pack layers!
We do mostly summer and fall camping and it is always nice to bring layers for the temperature changes. In the morning and night it can be a little cooler than the afternoon.
For example for a weekend camping trip in the Fall I’ll bring
-1 sweater, 1 pair of sweatpants
-2 pairs of leggings, 1 pair of shorts
-Pajamas
-I would also recommend investing some $$ for a Merino wool for camping/hiking, its temperature regulating material!
#5 My last and most important tip would be to just relax and have fun!
Things might not always go as planned, maybe it’ll rain one day, maybe you forgot to pack something, but that’s ok! Make the best of it! The outdoors is such a great place to ground yourself, to just be, to relax, and to destress.
So just breathe, be still, and go with the flow, the trip will be so much more fun and spontaneous!
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