Going camping is a beautiful way of escaping the day-to-day busyness of our lives. People go tent camping to disconnect from the technology and the digital world and reconnect with Mother Nature.
There are numerous benefits of camping traveling – it is cheap, it is adventurous, and it is entirely different from what most people know and experience on a daily basis. However, there is one significant disadvantage that comes with camping – the potential discomfort.
Living in a house is luxurious, especially compared to what living in a tent looks like. There are no showers, no hot water, and no soft mattress. Instead, you get cold water (if any), mosquitoes all around, and a sleeping bag.
Not many people are accustomed to such standards, and not many people want to experience them. However, not everyone knows that discovering nature’s beauty while tent camping doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing all the comfort.
Here are five tips on how to take the discomfort out of your camping experience.
Take Advantage of Your Backyard
Have you ever heard a saying that practice makes perfect? If you are new to the subject of camping and have some doubts, you can practice camping in your backyard.
Practice setting a tent well in advance, so you have no problems doing so when you go camping. It may look easy at first, but it actually is not. When you have only a couple of moments to set up a tent before the sun gets down, the task becomes even more complicated. While trying it at home, do it at least two times – once in the daylight, and once in the late evening, just to see the difference.
Sleep in a tent the night before you go camping. See how you feel about the concept when you still have access to the running hot water, a fridge full of food, and your bed to run to in case you hate the experience.
That simple test may help you determine what kind of equipment you will need, what to do, and what to avoid.
Get Comfort-Enhancing Equipment
There are several things you should take with you when going camping. They’ll help you feel more at home when sleeping in the middle of nowhere.
Sleeping Bag
There are not enough words to describe the importance of a good sleeping bag. It will provide you with comfort and warmth during long and cold nights. Due to its construction, a sleeping bag is better for camping than a blanket or some sheets.
If it is your first time vacationing that way, you can find out more about the best sleeping bag liner at outdoorwithj.com.
Portable Cooker
Chances are you eat at least one hot meal during the day. Your stomach is accustomed to such a standard, and there is no need to change it when going camping. Take a small cooker with you. Boiling water and preparing hot meals shouldn’t be an issue when it is a part of your equipment.
Most of the time, portable cookers are battery-based, so make sure you take enough batteries with you to keep the device running throughout the whole trip.
Board Games
Board games may not seem like an essential item to take with you when you go camping, but they can make or break your pastime. Yes, you can spend endless hours outdoors, simply enjoying nature’s closeness, but what if it rains?
Water
Unless you are absolutely sure that there is some water source on the campsite or nearby, take more water bottles with you. You will need it for proper hydration, meal preparations, washing, and more.
Comfortable Old Clothes
A campsite is not a catwalk. You will only enjoy your camping experience if you wear comfortable clothes. Loose T-shirts, trainers, sports pants, and a hoodie are only some of the essential things you should pack when heading to the camping.
Make sure the clothes you take are not brand new so that you don’t have to regret anything when it turns out you need to throw them away after your trip. As most campings are forest-based, it is most probable that it will be challenging to keep everything clean and tidy.
Mosquito Repellent
Mosquito repellent is a life-saver if you will be based somewhere near the water. Choose the all-mosquito-type repellent, and make sure it is strong enough to last at least a couple of hours.
To keep the insects away from the tent, you can spray the outer parts of it with a mosquito repellent as well. There are also special candles that will drive these irritating insects away from you.
Conclusion
Going camping is fun, but it may get uncomfortable. To make the experience pleasurable and worry-free, prepare a checklist with all the necessary equipment well in advance.
Things you should consider necessary and worth taking include comfortable clothes, mosquito repellent, potable water, a small cooker, and a sleeping bag, but these are only some basic examples. The complete list will depend on your lifestyle, destination, and individual preferences, so make sure to consider it all.
Photo by Dominika Roseclay from Pexels