10 Important Essentials to Have When Camping in the Wilderness

There are many things you may need to do while camping out in the wilderness and so you should always go prepared by taking along the right tools as well as gears with you. Bush camping can be fun; however, if you don’t bring along the essential items that can help you while you are out in the great outdoors then chances are your rough country trip will not be an exciting one. Here are some essential items that you should always take along with you when hitting the road and spending time in the wild.

Tent

One of the basic essentials to take along with you for wilderness camping is a tent. There are various reasons why you need a tent with you on your trip. Some of the things that you need the company of a dependable tent for are shelter against the wind, rain and burning sun, privacy from other campers in the area, to separate you from animals living in the wild as well as provide a storing place for you so you can keep your stuff in one place. Additionally, tents are easy to install and to uninstall as well. If you are going camping, make sure to carry the right size tent with you. If you are camping alone, a small tent will do just fine; however, if camping with your family bring along a medium sized tent or a larger one to accommodate everyone.

Sleeping bag

Bring along a sleeping bag that fits nicely into your tent. Not only can you sleep in your bed-bag under your tent’s canopy, but you will be able to rest in it outside in the sun or under the stars when it gets dark. Without a sleeping bag you might have to put up with experiencing much discomfort during the night, which means that you will be twisting and turning during most of your sleeping hours. A sleeping bag is the ideal companion to have out in the wild because it not only gives you a good night’s rest, but it keeps your body feeling warm throughout the night, especially during the cold period. In addition, a sleeping bag provides some protection from crawling insects that seem to be most bothersome when it gets dark.

A good supply of water

Water is life and so you should not leave home and head out into the great outdoors without having a good supply of it in your possession. Although there might be rivers and streams on the trail or near to your campsite, still you need clean drinking water to cool your thirst every now and again. In fact, drinking from the river can cause more harm to you than good because in most cases river water is contaminated. Having enough clean water in your possession will keep you from getting dehydrated in the bushes. Therefore, having good drinking water on your trip is crucial to your health as you enjoy nature at its best.

Fire

While in the wild, you need fire to help prepare your meals. Your firepower can be a box of matches or a handy cigarette lighter. If you are camping out in the rainy season, you should make sure to bring along a few dry twigs or sticks to catch your fire with. Apart from cooking purpose, some other benefits of having firepower on your camping trip are that the heat from the fire provides warmth to your body, especially during a cold or windy night, gives you enough light so you can see in the darkness and it provides security against troublesome creatures such as snakes as well as other animals that are living in the wild.

Extra food

Food is an essential survival commodity that you can’t afford to leave behind when you go camping. In fact, apart from water, food is the other most important item to have with you as you continued to explore the great outdoors. While you may be able to survive the outdoors without the aid of a tent, firepower, extra clothes and so on, without enough food to sustain your body you can die from starvation while in the backwoods. Some essential food items to bring along with you are vegetables, fruits, nuts, cereals, rice, eggs, beans, tuna, crackers, powdered milk, bread, pasta, soups, sugar and peanut butter. For hot beverages you should choose hot chocolate, tea and coffee. Therefore, make sure to carry more than the necessary needed supply of food so you will not starve on your camping trip when next you decide to start your engine and head on out into the wilderness.

Hunting knife

A good hunting knife is another essential commodity to have in your possession when tackling the great outdoors. Your hunting knife should consist of a tall blade that can handle any type of food cleaning chores such as fish gutting and is flexible enough to deal with big or small workloads. The blade should be strong enough to cut through tough-skin meat kinds without bending or breaking easily. Your hunting knife can assist you in various ways on the trail such as skinning and gutting your trapped food animals as well as dicing potatoes, mincing garlic, slicing tomatoes, cutting ropes, tightening or losing screws and even removing a splinter from your thumb when necessary.

First aid kit

A handy first aid kit is a necessary item in almost every situation. For one you might pick up an injury on the trail and there is no one in sight to assist you. Having a first aid kit with you can solve the problem of you being in an uncomfortable circumstance or worst bleeding to death. Some items that your first aid kit should contain are various sizes and shapes plasters, sterile eye dressings, sterile gauze dressings, crepe rolled and triangular bandages, disposable sterile gloves, tweeters, paracetamol or ibufropen painkillers, cough medicine, antiseptic cream, distilled water for wound cleaning, scissors, and eye wash cleanser. Having your first aid box with you as you spend time in the wild, will assist you greatly in the event of an unplanned injury occurring.

Flashlight

There is no doubt that you will definitely need the use of a flashlight when you are staying out in the open wilderness region. Well for one thing, you need a flashlight to keep you company at your campsite so you can see what is going on around you after it gets dark. In fact, some critters like snakes, squirrels and even some larger animals like a deer or moose tend to visit campsites just after dark. Having a flashlight to illuminate the unwanted visitors will help remove any fear you might experience in the dark due to scuttling noises made by their movements. Additionally, the bright light shone on them can help drive them away as well. Furthermore, you need a flashlight to get you back to camp in the event that you are unable to navigate your way in the darkness after going for a long walk. When you go camping, as a thumbs-up rule always remember to bring extra batteries along with you so you don’t go stumbling around in the dark.

Extra clothes

Depending on how long you intend to spend in the wilderness, carrying extra clothes to change off into is a must. In fact, wearing the same unwashed clothes everyday can impact your health in negative ways such as giving you skin rashes, make you smelly and even breaking down your immune system. Wearing clean clothes on the other hand can benefit you in a number of ways such as to make you feel comfortable, especially around other people, prevent rashes from breaking out on your body, decrease the chances of you picking up an infection, especially in the groan or pubic area and plus gives you the power to maintain high self-confidence. Practicing proper hygiene should not just be limited to city life, but to wilderness living as well.

Map and compass for navigation

The wild is usually a vast place and if you should get lost when you are out camping you might find it difficult getting back to civilization. A map and/or compass can give you the guidance you need to put you back on the right path. It’s easy to carry around a map in your pocket and if you should get lost you can always take it out and follow the information it offers as well as learn about the environment that you are into. A compass will help you to navigate the unknown easier and aids you in getting an accurate reading of your surroundings. Having a map and compass on your outdoor adventure will keep you from getting lost and staying out of touch with civilization.

As you start making your camping preparations, make sure to include the essentials mentioned above in this article. Although camping in the great outdoors can be fun, you should still take along the right gears that will keep you safe and make your outdoor experience a fun-filled one. You will have plenty to talk about with your friends and many memories to share with your loved ones when you return home.

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