Going on a trip is the best way to relax, get new emotions, and “reboot” yourself from a routine. Staying in nature with beautiful landscapes and fresh air far away from noisy cities for a couple of days may give you both mental and physical restoration to improve the quality of your life and provide you with the strength to meet any challenges, as it is an important thing to give yourself a rest from time to time.
However, there are plenty of things that you need to take into account to ensure your camping trip would be nice, smooth, and safe. As the more you know, the better camping experience you would get.
Get a suitable tent
Camping is not only about summer, there are a lot of people who are going on trips in spring, fall, or winter. Thus, you need to ensure you have a reliable and quality tent for various weather conditions and times of the year. For example, people usually use one tent for a group of 2-5, so, to avoid different risks, it is worth getting a protected and spacious all-season tent such as a four person car camping tent that is a great option in most cases, as it is something like a well-balanced standard. In such a tent there are enough sleeping and gear areas for two or three people, moreover, a group of five can also use a 4-person tent if needed when it comes to camping for a few days with plenty of outdoor activities.
Take the first aid kit
During camping, you are usually away from big cities and hospitals, so it is a necessary thing to take the first aid kit with you to minimize various risks you may face while staying in nature. Medications you should pay attention to include antihistamines (for allergies), painkillers, disinfectants, and hemostatic drugs, as well as bandages and plasters. These are basic things you need to ensure you have in your first aid kit to help yourself or anyone else from your group before they can get medical assistance.
What foods to buy
When you are going on camping it is not the best idea to take a lot of perishable food. Instead of these, it is worth taking canned food, cereals, potatoes, pasta, or cookies and crackers. Also, instant noodles can be useful during a trip, as these don’t require special preparation for cooking.
Besides food, take big bottles of water with you, which can be used for drinking, cooking, or washing and personal care before you prepare your camp and find another source of water.
Do not forget warm clothes
Having warm clothes when you are on a trip in winter or fall is an obvious thing, however, you should also take some of these even in summer, or during warm spring days, as there can be different weather conditions and cold nights, as well as you may face an unexpectable weather change. Thus, do not forget to take hoodies, long sleeves, pants, and an additional pair of boots, to ensure you have enough dry things in case your ones become soaked.
Find a safe place
It is recommended to do some research about the location you are going to stay in before a trip. You can check reviews from people that have already visited that place, or make everything on your own. The key thing to know about selecting a place for a future camp is that it is always better if your place would be on a hill, which helps you to eliminate the risk of flooding. Also, do not set your tent near lone trees, as there is always a risk that lightning can strike during a thunderstorm.
Do not stay next to roads and power lines
Car camping is one of the most popular options, so at first, it may seem convenient to stay not far away from a highway due to its easy access by vehicle. However, noise from passing by cars can significantly spoil all camping, as instead of nature sounds you would hear well-known city noises. Thus, find the best location where it would be comfortable for a human first.
Also, do not set your camp close to power lines, as it may lead to some dangerous situations, especially during heavy winds and thunderstorms. The recommended distance between the tent and voltage lines is at least 100 meters (330 ft).
Set your cooking space
Once you set your camp, it is worth preparing a space where you are going to cook. To minimize any possible risks related to fire, ensure that a bonfire is at least 5 meters (15 ft) away from the tent. Also, it is recommended to use stones to divide a bonfire from the surroundings. In the case it is raining, make sure you have a tarp or any other thing that can be used as a roof to prevent a bonfire from dying out.
Leave location clean
Caring about nature is a key rule every camper should follow. When we are looking for the best location to set a tent, we always try to find a clean and nice area, that’s why it is important to ensure that the place you have stayed will remain as beautiful as it was before. Thus, check if you don’t leave any littering there, which will make things better for both people who will take that location once you move, and if you would go to the same area next time as well.
These are some basic tips you should pay attention to when preparing for camping. Also, we have detailed camping for newbies guide that can be very useful for those who are going on a trip for the first time.
