Camping at its best is a relaxing, healthy experience in the great outdoors--but forgetting a necessary piece of camping equipment can turn the trip into a wet, buggy, cold, sunburned, hungry or downright unpleasant experience. Take the right supplies along for the trip--and don't forget the marshmallows!
Shelter and Sleep
After a day spent roaming through the outdoors, a good night's sleep is in order. This means being warm and dry, bug-free, and, suggests the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, to its geology field study students, not feeling every rock you are sleeping on. Atop MIT's camping supplies list are a tent and groundcloth, as well as a sleeping bag and a comfortable sleeping pad. For a sleeping bag, MIT recommends one filled with synthetic insulation such as Holofil or Qualofil, which are less expensive than down and can be thrown in a washing machine. For the all-important rock-quelching sleeping pad, MIT suggests an air mattress or Thermarest brand pad. The University of Minnesota concurs, including on its list of necessary winter camping supplies both a synthetic-fill sleeping bag and a closed-cell sleeping pad such as the Thermarest brand. REI, a leading purveyor of camping equipment and expedition outfitting, adds a tent-pole repair sleeve, sunshade or screen house, pillows, a pump for air mattresses, and camp furniture like chairs and a folding table, to its family or base camp equipment checklist.
Food and Fire
A long day outdoors raises some powerful appetites. REI recommends an extensive list of kitchen supplies, starting with a camp stove, matches, stove windscreen and fuel and adding a cutting board and knives, bottle opener/corkscrew, eating utensils and plates, pot grabber, coffee maker, and large collapsible water container to the list of essential supplies for base or family camping. MIT recommends adding a pocket knife and water bottles to the food kit. If cooking over a grill or wood fire, add kindling or firestarters and paper. Bring long-handled marshmallow roasting sticks unless you are going to whittle them from available twigs. Tote along plenty of clean, drinkable water as well as a water filter or water purification tablets, and remember that with outdoor activity or cold weather, most people eat more than they might on an average inactive day at home.
Personal Items
The top personal item on the REI family/base camp checklist is toilet paper. In addition to remembering all necessary prescription medications, eyeglasses, and other personal toiletries, include sunscreen, insect repellent, and lip balm among your camping supplies. Clothes for cold-weather camping should include numerous pairs of woolen or synthetic socks, as well as long underwear, wool hat and scarf, a wool shirt, wind pants and a sweater long enough to cover the hips, recommends the University of Minnesota. For summer campouts, bring plenty of T-shirts and dry socks, and include long pants even in hot weather to help avoid scratches and insect bites. MIT recommends adding sunglasses, swimsuit and towel. A good first aid kit, compass, maps, and an emergency whistle should also be carried by every camper. Bring a cell phone or radio for communication, but be aware that these items often do not work in mountainous and remote areas. For safety's sake, always let someone know where you will be traveling in remote areas and when you will be returning.
Member Comments