xylem
I am a first time camper, yea I know it is sad but I have just purchased my coleman tent and air mattress and I was just wondering what other esential camping accessories I will need? Also, any camping tips would be most helpful! Thanks
Answer
My hubby and I just started tent camping with friends two years ago, and it took us a while to figure out everything we needed (btw, good start getting an air mattress!). Oh, and don't forget to waterproof your tent BEFORE the trip with waterproofing spray sold at sporting goods stores!
Here's my abbreviated packing list. You have some items already (obviously), but I've highlighted items you might still need to purchase:
SHELTER:
-Tent
-Tarp to Go Under Tent (should be the same size as tent base, not much bigger or you'll have to fold it under. This keeps the tent bottom dry, and you don't want rain collecting on the tarp and rolling under!)
-Air mattress
-Air mattress pump
-Sleeping Bags / Pillows
-Extra Blankets (1 per person in case of chilly weather)
-Beach Towel (for when you track mud all over your tent)
-Lantern (battery-operated) to hang in tent
-Foldable Chairs / Lawn Chairs (to sit around fire)
-Rope or Line to hang items to dry on - like wet towels
FOOD:
-Hand Axe (to chop fire wood)
-Long-reach lighters
-Fire-starting kindling twigs (buy them from camping supply stores - they're wood chips soaked in some fire-starting chemical)
-Pie Irons (to cook food in over the fire - these are ESSENTIAL!)
-Campfire Fork (to roast weiners, marshmallows on)
-Food (should include basics like eggs, bread, peanut butter, deli meats, cheese, butter, hot dogs, s'mores makings, pop, juice, tea, coffee, ketchup, mustard, brownie mix, pizza sauce, pepperoni, potatoes, oatmeal, beef stew, trail snacks, chips, popcorn, etc.)
-Campfire Cooking Pot
-LARGE Cooler with ice
-Egg Holder Storage Case (designed for camping trips)
-Plastic Utensils, Cups, Paper Plates
-Garbage Bags
-Giant Ziploc Bags (to place singed pie irons in when packing to come home)
-Sharp Knife
-Rubbermaid Tote to wash dishes in
-Dish Soap
-5-6 Dish Towels
-Campfire Glove (heatproof gloves that allow you to pick up hot logs off the fire, or hot pans)
-Mugs (for coffee & tea)
-Kettle to boil water (should be campfire safe)
-Bottled water - large quantities
-Picnic Table Cloth (campsite picnic tables are dirrrrrty!)
-Can Opener
-Travel Cutting Board
-Aluminum Foil & Ziploc Bags
-Non-Stick Cooking Spray
CLOTHING / HYGIENE / SAFETY:
-Standard clothes
-Extra socks, 1 pair extra walking shoes
-Rain coat, poncho, or garbage bags
-Bug Spray
-Sunscreen
-Usual Hygiene Products (forget shampoo if it's a short trip - you're allowed to be dirty when tent camping!)
-First Aid items (bandaids, benadryl, calamine lotion, antiseptic cream, aspirin, immodium AD, etc.)
-Hand Soap
-Towels (in case you get soaked in rain)
-Hand Sanitizer
FUN / OTHER:
-Deck of Cards / Travel Boardgame
-Camera / Extra Batteries
-Flashlights / Extra Batteries
-Fishing Pole / Tackle Box
-Lots of Cash to buy firewood near campsite - it's expensive!
-Wallet, ID, Cell Phone
Phew! It seems like a lot, but skip here and there and you'll be wishing you had these items when you're at the campsite. It's worth filling up the car with Rubbermaid Bins filled with this stuff. Oh - don't forget Rubbermaid Bins to put all this stuff in! You'll need to keep your possession and food waterproof if it rains!
Have fun!
My hubby and I just started tent camping with friends two years ago, and it took us a while to figure out everything we needed (btw, good start getting an air mattress!). Oh, and don't forget to waterproof your tent BEFORE the trip with waterproofing spray sold at sporting goods stores!
Here's my abbreviated packing list. You have some items already (obviously), but I've highlighted items you might still need to purchase:
SHELTER:
-Tent
-Tarp to Go Under Tent (should be the same size as tent base, not much bigger or you'll have to fold it under. This keeps the tent bottom dry, and you don't want rain collecting on the tarp and rolling under!)
-Air mattress
-Air mattress pump
-Sleeping Bags / Pillows
-Extra Blankets (1 per person in case of chilly weather)
-Beach Towel (for when you track mud all over your tent)
-Lantern (battery-operated) to hang in tent
-Foldable Chairs / Lawn Chairs (to sit around fire)
-Rope or Line to hang items to dry on - like wet towels
FOOD:
-Hand Axe (to chop fire wood)
-Long-reach lighters
-Fire-starting kindling twigs (buy them from camping supply stores - they're wood chips soaked in some fire-starting chemical)
-Pie Irons (to cook food in over the fire - these are ESSENTIAL!)
-Campfire Fork (to roast weiners, marshmallows on)
-Food (should include basics like eggs, bread, peanut butter, deli meats, cheese, butter, hot dogs, s'mores makings, pop, juice, tea, coffee, ketchup, mustard, brownie mix, pizza sauce, pepperoni, potatoes, oatmeal, beef stew, trail snacks, chips, popcorn, etc.)
-Campfire Cooking Pot
-LARGE Cooler with ice
-Egg Holder Storage Case (designed for camping trips)
-Plastic Utensils, Cups, Paper Plates
-Garbage Bags
-Giant Ziploc Bags (to place singed pie irons in when packing to come home)
-Sharp Knife
-Rubbermaid Tote to wash dishes in
-Dish Soap
-5-6 Dish Towels
-Campfire Glove (heatproof gloves that allow you to pick up hot logs off the fire, or hot pans)
-Mugs (for coffee & tea)
-Kettle to boil water (should be campfire safe)
-Bottled water - large quantities
-Picnic Table Cloth (campsite picnic tables are dirrrrrty!)
-Can Opener
-Travel Cutting Board
-Aluminum Foil & Ziploc Bags
-Non-Stick Cooking Spray
CLOTHING / HYGIENE / SAFETY:
-Standard clothes
-Extra socks, 1 pair extra walking shoes
-Rain coat, poncho, or garbage bags
-Bug Spray
-Sunscreen
-Usual Hygiene Products (forget shampoo if it's a short trip - you're allowed to be dirty when tent camping!)
-First Aid items (bandaids, benadryl, calamine lotion, antiseptic cream, aspirin, immodium AD, etc.)
-Hand Soap
-Towels (in case you get soaked in rain)
-Hand Sanitizer
FUN / OTHER:
-Deck of Cards / Travel Boardgame
-Camera / Extra Batteries
-Flashlights / Extra Batteries
-Fishing Pole / Tackle Box
-Lots of Cash to buy firewood near campsite - it's expensive!
-Wallet, ID, Cell Phone
Phew! It seems like a lot, but skip here and there and you'll be wishing you had these items when you're at the campsite. It's worth filling up the car with Rubbermaid Bins filled with this stuff. Oh - don't forget Rubbermaid Bins to put all this stuff in! You'll need to keep your possession and food waterproof if it rains!
Have fun!
Looking for remote and secluded camping in NE Ohio?
Jenn F
My husband and I have recently started camping. So far we have only went to campgrounds that have sites almost on top of each other. While we do like the convenience of a shower and flush toilets, we want to try something different. We are looking for a place (no more than about 2.5 hours from Youngstown) where we can pitch a tent and have no one around us. No bathrooms, no showers, no electricity. Just us and nature. The only thing we have to have is an unpolluted body of water (lake or river) near by. It doesn't have to be right next to us, but within reasonable driving distance. We have a lab that would be very upset with us if we went camping and he wasn't able to go swimming. Thanks for your help!!!
Answer
Check with the Bureau of Land Management, US. Forest Service, and your state parks department.
You should be able to find the rules about dispersed camping for your state. This is where you get away from civilization and camp deep in the wilderness, relying on what you have brought with you to survive, and away from designated camping spaces.
Typically, there are areas where you can find a random spot and pop a squat. But there are also rules on where you can and cannot camp, how far you have to be from a water source, and (depending on the time of year) whether or not you are able to have any open flames in the wilderness (due to potential fire hazards during the dry summer months).
One thing about dispersed camping is that you need to be aware of what you can encounter and come prepared.
If there are bears or other predators around, you will want to know how to reduce the likely hood of an encounter and what to do should you have one. Typically, there are recommendations for how to store food and what kinds of items (like toiletries) serve to attract an animal.
Also, for safety reasons, you may want to arm yourself (follow state laws). In dispersed camping, you are unlikely to run into or have issues with humans or animals. But having someway to protect and defend yourself would not be a bad way to go. After all, when you are out in the wild, you never know what you can run into. A shotgun loaded with slugs or .00 buckshot, a .30-.30 rifle (or higher caliber), a .357 Magnum, or a .44 Magnum are all good choices for wilderness protection.
Know first aid. In the wild, even the mildest cuts and abrasions can develop into a life-threatening thing. Bring a good sized first aid kit. Wal-mart sells an Ozark Outdoors First Aid Kit with about 200 items, fro about $15.00. It comes in an orange case. It's a worthwhile investment.
Be sure to bring an adequate amount of water or camp near a water source and bring water purifying tablets with you. You should plan for at least a gallon per person per day, plus what you need for cleaning dishes, brushing your teeth, and other water-related incidentals. If you cannot and have a water source, you can boil the water, or use the tablets to make the water safe. Water is the most important thing you have out there after your shelter.
Lastly, it is also a good idea to let any game wardens, police, and family know the general idea you intend to camp in and when you plan to return. It's called filing a flight plan and it can save your lives.
I am glad to see you expanding your horizons by trying dispersed camping. Once you find a good spot, you will never want to go to designated campgrounds again. However, remember that time of year can affect the ability to go dispersed camping. I usually disperse camp in the spring and fall, after the rains have stopped and started, so I can burn a fire. In between, I camp at designated campsites for the same reason.
Good luck and have fun!
Check with the Bureau of Land Management, US. Forest Service, and your state parks department.
You should be able to find the rules about dispersed camping for your state. This is where you get away from civilization and camp deep in the wilderness, relying on what you have brought with you to survive, and away from designated camping spaces.
Typically, there are areas where you can find a random spot and pop a squat. But there are also rules on where you can and cannot camp, how far you have to be from a water source, and (depending on the time of year) whether or not you are able to have any open flames in the wilderness (due to potential fire hazards during the dry summer months).
One thing about dispersed camping is that you need to be aware of what you can encounter and come prepared.
If there are bears or other predators around, you will want to know how to reduce the likely hood of an encounter and what to do should you have one. Typically, there are recommendations for how to store food and what kinds of items (like toiletries) serve to attract an animal.
Also, for safety reasons, you may want to arm yourself (follow state laws). In dispersed camping, you are unlikely to run into or have issues with humans or animals. But having someway to protect and defend yourself would not be a bad way to go. After all, when you are out in the wild, you never know what you can run into. A shotgun loaded with slugs or .00 buckshot, a .30-.30 rifle (or higher caliber), a .357 Magnum, or a .44 Magnum are all good choices for wilderness protection.
Know first aid. In the wild, even the mildest cuts and abrasions can develop into a life-threatening thing. Bring a good sized first aid kit. Wal-mart sells an Ozark Outdoors First Aid Kit with about 200 items, fro about $15.00. It comes in an orange case. It's a worthwhile investment.
Be sure to bring an adequate amount of water or camp near a water source and bring water purifying tablets with you. You should plan for at least a gallon per person per day, plus what you need for cleaning dishes, brushing your teeth, and other water-related incidentals. If you cannot and have a water source, you can boil the water, or use the tablets to make the water safe. Water is the most important thing you have out there after your shelter.
Lastly, it is also a good idea to let any game wardens, police, and family know the general idea you intend to camp in and when you plan to return. It's called filing a flight plan and it can save your lives.
I am glad to see you expanding your horizons by trying dispersed camping. Once you find a good spot, you will never want to go to designated campgrounds again. However, remember that time of year can affect the ability to go dispersed camping. I usually disperse camp in the spring and fall, after the rains have stopped and started, so I can burn a fire. In between, I camp at designated campsites for the same reason.
Good luck and have fun!
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