(Editors note: In a break from the norm, we’re going to have a camping backpacking post. Jamie convinced me it was a great topic and since he is a fellow Bostonian, I couldn’t say no!)
As all experienced travelers know by now, trip planning is almost as exciting as going on the trip itself. Not only do you get to educate yourself on the place itself but you start to imagine yourself there already. By the time you’re scheduled to depart you’ve already got a sense of the destination right down to the sounds, smells and tastes. Now, all you have to do is cross your fingers that the trip actually meets all of these expectations.
In addition to reading up on your destination, you need to start picking up the necessary supplies that you’ll need for the journey. Here are five travel necessities, great for whether you are disappearing for a two month long trek across Europe or a trip into the mountains.
The Backpack: Choosing the right backpacking is important! The backpack needs to be the right size for your person and it needs to be at least semi-waterproof in case you find yourself caught in the elements. Your backpack also needs to have the appropriate amount of storage space which is totally dependent on the length of your trip.
The Tent: A tent may or may not be necessary for your trip. Some people prefer to sleep under the open stars, wrapped up snug as a bug in a sleeping bag but this could turn out to be miserable if it rains. If your tent is serving as your back up plan, go small and simple. Small one person tents are light weight and easy to set up. Set it before you go to bed just in case it starts raining in the middle of the night. If you are traveling in a group, you may want to opt for a bigger tent. These tents can be cumbersome and heavy so you might want to have different people carry it during the day to balance things out fairly.
Food: It’s always good to bring food. We all get hungry when we walk a lot everyday. While the amount of food you bring is totally dependent on the length of your trip, it’s always smart to overshoot a little bit just in case the unexpected occurs. Canned food is a reliable option for a hiking trip. Dried fruits, nuts, and jerky provide you something healthy and nutritious to snack on. These sorts of snacks are great ways to stave off hunger in between meals.
The Sleeping Bag: When it comes to picking a sleeping back, there are two main things that you need to consider – size and temperature. As for the size, you’re going to want to choose a sleeping bag that you can actually carry. Most sleeping bags come with some sort of a stuffer sack that allows you get the sleeping bag into its smallest, most compact size. When it comes to temperature, be mindful of what the temperature is going to be where you are traveling. Generally, the warmer your sleeping back is, the bigger it is. Just be mindful of how much space you have to work with and what sort of weather you’ll be dealing with.
The Sleeping Pad: Anyone who camps regularly knows that sleeping with a pad underneath the sleeping bag makes all the difference in the world. Sleeping pads come in inflatable varieties or foam styles. Sleeping pads serve as a mattress substitution, providing the traveler with much needed comfort, as the natural ground can’t always be trusted to provide you with a flat, soft campground. Generally speaking the inflatable style comes in a more compact size but proves to be a hassle when you have to continually blow it up manually each evening.
Things not included in this list aren’t necessarily things you don’t need. Things like extra clothes, a compass, toiletries, and flashlights are all givens. The aforementioned items are bigger ticket items that require more thought when preparing for a camping trip. You can’t just throw some food into a backpack, you need to stop and think about how much food you’re going to need and what type of food you need to bring. The more prepared you are before a trip, the more fun you’ll have and the safer you’ll be.
Jamie Sward is a travel expert with a BA in Journalism from Indiana University, Jamie loves to write about, lighting, travel and home decor. He currently resides in Boston, MA. He, sadly, has no website.
Excellent information thanks, prepare and enjoy is they way to go
wow!thanks a lot!because of this i can list all the must have during a camping trip!thanks!hope you will post some more!