Camping can be an individual or a group experience with friends and family. It involves walking, hiking, and basic survival skills like selecting the correct camping gear, cooking, building a fire, pitching a tent, or even as simple as selecting your campsite.
Other considerations include bringing portable solar panels or portable generators. Gone are the days when communing with nature means starting a campfire for lighting, building a bare tent, and taking a dip in the pond or river.
Each individual who goes on a camping trip has different needs based on the things they prefer or cannot live without. Some bring things for the comfort, some for the pleasure, and others for the security they provide.
No matter what the reason is, camping gear is designed to make your camping experience more enjoyable, easier, and worry-free. Aside from bare essentials like a tent, clothes, water and socks, other necessities are now easily accessible online.
Australia is big, and each camping destination has its own weather and terrain. This means that the camping gear you used in Queensland might not be the appropriate one for the Northern Territory. The same is true if you are camping in different seasons.
Some camping gear may not be appropriate for rainy weather and possible flooding, and some tents may be too hot for summer camping. Here are some ways to maximise the use of your camping gear and how you can take your camping experience to the next level.
1. Ensure it is safe and private
A great tent is not just a cover at night or a place to lay your tired body after a long day. A tent is your protection from the harsh weather and it would serve as your temporary home outdoors. If you want to bond with your family, you may get a family camping tent and have card games or sing songs together inside. Have a solar-powered lamp, portable solar panels or portable generators ready for light and electric fans.
If you want more adventure and you do not want to carry a lot of things especially if you are hiking, you can choose a hammock and tie it on a tree. Look for a hammock that can accommodate your size, has rain cover option, and has many suspension types.
Tree tents are also available. If you are looking for a full package, you may get a camping swag that comes with a pillow, a mattress, floor mats, mesh doors, and a tent. The Deluxe King Camping Swag, which is available in OutbaxCamping, combines the benefits of a sleeping bag, a tent, and a mattress. It is waterproof, comfortable, and spacious.
2. Keep your things dry
When outside, you never know when the next downpour will take place, so it is safe to keep your things inside a plastic bag when you are hiking or camping. Phones, wallets, cards, cameras, and other devices should always be wrapped even when they are inside your bag.
A better way of doing it is to buy a dry bag. Dry bags are usually used when you go to the beach or a river where you expect to get wet. It could also be used when camping because they are lightweight but can carry a lot of things.
3. Turn night into day
Sometimes you might feel that the day is not enough to do all the exciting things you have planned for the trip. You might want to play cards with your family or you might want to spend more time swapping jokes with your friends. A campfire is usually the go-to light, but it is not enough to light every corner of the campsite. A campfire also sterilises the soil and there is danger the fire may spread to other areas.
Portable solar panels can easily be connected to LED lamps, which makes you no longer worry about stumbling on a log on your way to the toilet. You can also charge your gadgets and even connect other electronics like a music player or an electric fan. Improve your solar panels' efficiency with these tips. Portable generators are another option. Generators use petroleum, so you will have to carry gas or diesel with you. Generators are recommended when it is cloudy and you will not be able to use your portable solar panels efficiently. If you just need to charge your gadgets and you do not wish to carry solar panels with you, you may bring a power bank and a solar lamp instead. A 20000 mAH power bank can charge your phone up to seven times.
4. Keep your coffee and food hot
You would not expect a gourmet meal when you are in the wilderness, but a hot meal is definitely better than a cold one. Heat could make any frozen or canned food better. If you want to roast marshmallows, you may also use your camp stove or you may just eat it on its own.
Other options include the solar oven where you can heat your food under the sun and a solar tumbler that keeps your coffee hot. Portable coffee makers are now available as well, so you can still bring your ground beans for that extra jolt.
5. Have a great sleep
Nothing is better than sleeping well after a day full of activities. Most people would usually think that a sleeping bag is the most portable and most convenient camping gear for sleeping. Nowadays, depending on where you are going, which determines the terrain and the temperature, other options are available for sleeping. These include hammocks, cots, and air mattresses.
Instead of using the traditional sleeping bag, treat your sore body to a bed-like mattress, such as the Bestway Portable Air Bed that inflates on its own in a few minutes. This would make you feel like you are sleeping on your own bed where you will no longer feel the hard ground, the twigs, and rocks under your back. Two people can also share this bed and you will not roll off because of its ribbed design. It costs only $69 and is very easy to fold and pack. Whether you prefer a sleeping bag or an air mattress is entirely up to you. If you do not like sleeping without a pillow, you may look for a sleeping mattress that has a built-in pillow like the Bestway Single Inflatable Air Mattress. You may also look for inflatable pillows that will let you have a good night's sleep.
6. Shower the dirt away
A hot shower at the end of the day to take the grime and dirt away would make you feel clean. Instead of bringing a pail and a dipper or a big water container that will only give you cold water, you can fill a solar heated portable shower with water in the morning, hang it on a tree and use it for your shower in the evening.
A portable shower can be filled with up to 40 litres of water. For your privacy, you could also bring a portable pop-up privacy tent to serve as your change room, an outdoor shower, and a toilet shelter.
7. Go stargazing
One of the best places to gaze at the sky in amazement is when you are in the wilderness. You will surely appreciate the tranquility of the moment because you are away from the city lights and noise. Bring out your sleeping mattress for comfort and a telescope to see the stars better.
8. Use your camping gear in different ways
A multi-tool is a camper's best friend because it can replace all the things in your toolbox. Instead of bringing a knife, a saw, pliers, a can opener, and a screwdriver separately, you can just bring a handy multi-tool. You never know when you would need a pair of pliers or a bottle opener in the wild.
When planning your next adventure, you don't need all the latest gadgets and gear to make your camping worthwhile. Here are a few tips to remember before embarking on your journey to get the best out of your camping experience.
9. Decide on your destination
Knowing the location and expected weather of your campsite will ensure that you have the best gear possible. Before packing your bags, ensure that you have gathered data about the place. You may read blogs of previous campers and try to gain insight on what to expect. If you are bringing your family with you, it is also important to note that some destinations are not kid-friendly. Once a destination is decided, it is easy to select the correct camping gear needed. Your destination will also be a factor if you could bring portable solar panels or portable generators because some campsites do not allow generators.
10. Prepare a checklist
A camping checklist is very important because it eliminates last-minute checks. This should match the destination and your intended activities. When you have a checklist, you can easily identify if something is missing and if something was already packed or not. A checklist should be specific and detailed. Noteworthy to add to your checklist are toiletries, a first aid kit, sunscreen, clothes, cookware, and camping gear.
11. Learn the camping basics
For first-time campers and for those with new camping gear, it is important to test your gear first. You may try pitching a tent in your own yard or even inside your living room. It is also good to time yourself, so you could anticipate how long you need before the sun goes down when you are in camp.
If you are planning to build a fire or cook onsite, it is important to know how to kindle a fire and how to safely put it out. Cooking in your own kitchen is different from cooking in an open fire where the wind might be blowing. This will also help you identify things that you will need for these activities. If you do not want to use an open fire, you may bring a cooking stove. As cooking stoves use gas and alcohol, you also have to learn how to use them safely.
12. Create a meal plan
A meal plan shows a detailed list of what you will prepare once you are at camp. A meal plan beforehand will allow you to stock up on your supplies and ensure that you have enough for your trip. This is especially important if you will be hiking where less is more. Small snacks like biscuits and chocolates are a good remedy for sudden hunger pangs.
Having a meal plan also allows you to prepare for cookware. If you will be camping longer, you may choose to attach portable solar panels to the roof of your car or RV for a mini-fridge. You will have more meat options if you have access to power.
13. Plan your routes
Lay out a plan on how the trip will go. Will you travel by car to your destination or will you need to walk half of the way? Plan out your starting and end point and use GPS if needed.
If unfamiliar with the routes, check them ahead of time and identify landmarks that you can use as jump-off points. Plan out areas where you will be camping and the trails that you will follow. It is also best to leave a copy of your routes to someone so they know where you are going in case of emergency.
14. Have a back-up plan
If things do not go your way, such as when the weather is bad or your intended destination is full, you should have a back-up plan so that your whole trip will not be for nothing. Choose an alternative that will have similar conditions as your first destination. Your camping gear can make your camping experience better if you bring the correct ones for your destination. Outbax offers a wide selection of camping gear including portable solar panels and portable generators that will surely meet your individual needs. All our camping products are one click away so go browse our website now.
