Summer is for Outdoors: What You Need to Camp Well

Camping comes in all forms.  Tents, trailers, glamping.  Whatever your preference, there is a way for you to enjoy getting away from in all.

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We are tent campers.  We enjoy the simplicity as well as the nights in a tent.  There's something to be said for sleeping (mostly) outside.  Add in a night rain (that isn't a severe storm) and the outdoors lure you to sleep after a long day of living your best life outside.

We've done several trips this year.  Having the right equipment is essential to enjoy the experience.  Whether you are in a trailer or in a tent, there are always things that make the stay easier and enjoyable.  For the purpose of this post, and because we don't have a trailer, we're giving our recommendations for tent camping!

Top Five Essential Items

1) Tent

This seems slightly obvious.  However, a tent can make or break your camping experience.  The size and quality of your tent matters.  While we prefer a small tent that easy to set up and pack, some people prefer tents that you can stand in, or provide extra room inside for a rainy day.  Some things to consider:

• The "number of people" in tent sizing refers to how many people can lay side by side.  So a two person tent can be quite cozy, but a three person tent for two people gives you just enough extra room for clothes.  
• Scotch guard your tent before you go.  Tent fabric has to be protected and if you skip this step, you'll have a very damp experience.

2) Air Mattress

Ok, not exactly essential, but definitely something that makes it much more enjoyable.  Sleeping on the ground can be hard on the body.  If you choose to sleep on an air mattress, the essential part is A BUILT IN PUMP.  Gone are the days of getting to camping and finding out you don't have the air pump or the batteries.  It's a game changer.

3) Sleeping Bag

Again, not necessarily essential, but critical for enjoyment.  You can take your own bedding, but it ends up being bulky and cumbersome to pack.  Finding a good sleeping bag can make the experience that much better.  We purchased a double sleeping bag and it has definitely surprised us.  It is lightweight, but it must have some type of material that reflects heat back in.  Even on a chilly night, we ended up being comfortable.

Really, that's all you need to actually camp.  You can figure out food as you go.

4.  Food Storage

If you do cook and bring your own food, storage is a must.  Depending on where you stay, you may need more secure equipment.  Please remember to put all of your food away at night, or you'll end up with animals!

In areas with less food aggressive animals, a food locker tent does the trick.  You can also buy 5 gallon tub.  Both work great.

For places with hungry friends, you'll want some type of locked case.  Bear proof is difficult, so sometimes just locking food in your car, in a tub, will be enough.  YETI roto-coolers are bear proof.  (Look it up!  They tested it on a grizzley for an hour!)

5) Cooking Gear

Having the right cooking gear wraps up the top five.  A grill over the fire and the right pan set allows you to cook everything you need for the weekend.

The other stuff....

The list doesn't end there.  A great camping chair, tumbler cup, a hatchet, solar charging blocks all make the list of things we recommend on our camping page.  To see more items that we use, check it out!

Camping Recommendations