The act of camping is about living in the outdoors with as little as you need. Ideally, you want to enjoy nature without leaving anything behind to mark your presence. It’s easy to think you need bulky barbecues, lawn chairs, stereos and other backyard accessories, but beyond shelter, food, lighting and a few necessities, you don’t need anything else to enjoy nature’s beauty.
Tents
Camping tents come in four types, according to the North Dakota Parks website. Dome tents are sized for individuals, couples or families. Like their name suggests, they use waterproof fabric and a tube frame to construct a dome. Geodesic tents use a similar construction to create a tetrahedral or octagonal shape using additional support poles in the frame. A-frame tents use just three poles as a basic support, overlapped by material to create a tepee-like structure. Large cabin-style tents are similar to dome tents, except they’re usually rectangular and large enough to fit entire families, supplies and even motor vehicles.
Camping Stove and Cooking Equipment
Camping stoves are single-burner cooking units powered by propane. They’re usually attached to a small propane container with a valve that lets you control the level of heat produced. They’re designed to hold a single piece of cookware, useful for heating canned foods or frying fresh-caught fish. Camping retailer REI, for example, offers more than 30 backpacking-size stoves and another 30 larger stoves. A lightweight camping saucepan with lid, dinnerware and utensils round out the basics for cooking equipment.
Lighting
Whether you build a fire or place a lantern in your camp site, you’ll need some form of visual aid after dark. Traditional battery-powered flashlights and lanterns remain common, but don’t forget to bring extra batteries and bulbs. Outdoor retailer Bass Pro Shops offers propane lanterns, hand-crank lanterns, lantern/radio combinations, remote control lanterns and gasoline-burning lanterns. If you prefer an old-fashioned campfire, AvidOutdoors.com suggests bringing a lighter or waterproof matches.
Miscellaneous Accessories
Other necessary camping accessories include sleeping bags, food, a tool kit, hygiene products such as soap and toilet paper, sunscreen, bug repellent and garbage bags. The garbage bags are essential for keeping trash and food waste from scavenging animals. Some national parks and campsites require you to bag your trash and carry it out of the park with you. You might also want to bring tape to seal the bags if you have to carry them. In terms of a tool kit, AvidOutdoors.com suggests you include an ax, multipurpose screwdriver, hammer, nails, rope and a pocket knife, all of which are handy for tent repair.
First Aid Equipment
Never take a camping trip without packing a first aid kit. The American Red Cross offers a list of essential items for any first aid kit, including compress dressings, adhesive bandages, cloth tape, antiseptic wipes, roller bandages and gauze pads. The kit should also have a few pairs of latex gloves, some aspirin, scissors, tweezers and a first-aid instruction booklet.
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