10 Camping Essentials That Will Make You Want to Stay Outdoors This Summer
As the days start to get longer and the promise of a long holiday awaits, spending time in nature could just be this season’s big adventure
After strict lockdowns and being cooped up at home, families like mine are seeking more time outdoors. Camping places you right smack in the middle of nature and in doing so gives you an opportunity to teach your children to appreciate the environment around them.
We can own this summer by planning accordingly and bringing some equipment that I found extremely helpful.
See the gallery below:
Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Sunblock
Protect your skin from extensive exposure to the sun. You don’t want to regret your experience because you forgot to apply sunblock. Round up your kids and make this a habit to keep camping enjoyable even days after it’s done.
Photo Credit: Antonio Gabola Xiamora Via Unsplash
Tent With Awning
Needless to say, it’s hot out there. We did just mention that summer is right around the corner. Tents come in all shapes and sizes and it’s important to choose one that fits you and your family. For me, my wife and 4 kids, we chose the tunnel shaped Aprenaz 4.1 from Decathlon. It has a standing height living room - which is very helpful when you are setting up your things - and a bedroom that can accommodate all of us. Some tents come with an awning, but if they don’t it’s helpful to purchase one to extend your protection from the sun or rain. One thing that’s important to check is that your tent and awning have UV protection.
Photo Credit: Jar Concengco
Trolley
There are campsites that require you to setup your tent a short distance from your car. So a portable wagon like this one from Naturehike really helps lessen your trips to your car. When not in use, the kids really enjoy taking turns pulling each other on it.
Photo Credit: Jar Concengco
Outdoor Lamps
When the night falls, you will need light to cook or other activities. Outdoor lighting - preferably warm and nothing too bright - can help set the mood to enjoy an evening under the stars. Be considerate that your lights don’t spill into another camper’s area. We use low wattage solar lights to help the kids see the tent’s guylines so they won’t trip over them. Stylish lamps like this one from Claymore can be carried around or set on the table to assist you when you’re doing tasks.
Photo Credit: Jar Concengco
Portable Stove
If you aren’t going to be cooking on an open fire, the portable stove is the way to go - it’s easy, convenient and lightweight. You will need to bring a couple cans of butane to cook a meal. I’m currently all about the Kovea Cube stove with the wooden decals to match the rest of my setup. If you look closely, I’ve also added a wind deflector to keep wind from blowing out the flame.
Photo Credit: Jar Concengco
Mess Kit
One important etiquette to keep in mind while camping is to keep your waste to the bare minimum. Do away with the disposable utensils and cups and bring ones that can easily wash. Reusable mess kits are available that can be purchased that nestle neatly into each other. The mess tin can also be used as a saucepan for cooking dishes such as soups and noodles. Titanium cups are unbreakable and also lightweight which are also factors you should consider when camping.
Photo Credit: Jar Concengco
Moka Pot
If you love coffee as much as I do, I found the Moka Pot is the easiest to deal with while making coffee outdoors. You don’t have to deal with coffee filters and it tastes amazing every time.
Photo Credit: Jar Concengco
Folding Chair
A portable, folding chair is essential when you want to just relax and take in the view or gather around the bonfire. A lightweight, no fuss chair is preferable - one that you can fold flat so it can be stored easily in your car.
Photo Credit: Jar Concengco
Spice Kit
Bringing spices and oils in smaller containers is the best way to go - so you don’t need to bring your entire pantry with you or buy ones in sachets (which creates additional waste). This one from Tomshoo comes with 4 vials with cork tops to store oils and condiments, and 5 vials with screw tops for spices.
Photo Credit: Jar Concengco
Containers
When packing up all of your equipment, you need containers to carry all of your gear so they can stack neatly in the back of your car. I love the Naturehike folding storage as it can be folded away when not in use. You may also access its contents from the front and the side if you will use it as a table. Items with multiple functions lessen the amount of gear you need to bring to the campsite and make setup a whole lot easier.
Photo Credit: Jar Concengco
It feels really good to be able to explore more of our country in this way and to see more and more people appreciating our environment. Here’s to hoping you try camping soon and that this list can help make your experience a more enjoyable one.
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