Camping involves spending some time with nature and enjoying the scenery. However, whether or not you enjoy your camping trip depends on how well you prepare. Preparing entails getting ready all the essential camping tools you'd need while outdoors.
So, what are these essential camping tools? Well, not to worry, in this essential camping beginners' guide, we'd highlight 10 essential camping tools and their functions to ensure you enjoy your camping trips to the fullest as a first-timer.
1. Camping Tent
Regardless of the type of camping trip you are embarking on, a camping tent or other emergency shelter is an essential tool. Weather in the wild is sometimes unpredictable as there could be sunshine in one minute and a rainstorm in the next. Direct exposure to rainstorms and other unfavorable weather conditions could result in health challenges like hypothermia.
A camping tent protects you from environmental and weather factors such as rainfall and high winds. It keeps you dry in the rain and offers shade under intense sunlight.
When packing your camp tent, you should include its poles, stakes, and rain fly. Also, do not forget the cordage for optimal safety.
2. Camping Kitchen
Food is necessary, making camping cooking tools important since you have to eat. Essential cooking tools for camping include a portable camp stove, cutlery, and a dishwasher to do the dishes. If you are looking for an ideal dishwasher for camping? Consider the HAVA Countertop dishwasher with its large capacity. Being one of Amazon's best sellers in 2021, this dishwasher is of high quality.
It has 5 wash cycle options and a dry mode for all your washing needs. HAVA countertop dishwasher features a built-in tank, which allows you to store water while reducing water consumption by 75%. It also features a 360 degrees cleaning system, ensuring no dirt or grease remains after you do the dishes.
3. Pocket Knife
The pocket knife is a multipurpose camping tool for the outdoors. This is because several simple tasks become a million times more difficult without this tool. For instance, you need to sharpen a stick, slice cheese, cut sausage, sharpen a stick, skin a small animal, or cut a fishing line. You can also easily trim a rope or deal with tangled vines with a sharp pocket knife at your beck and call.
4. Axe
Since the pocket knife can't handle all types of cutting, an axe is equally important. For instance, you'd need an axe to cut through the wood when you want to build a campfire or clear away a bush when setting up your tent or during a hike. When buying an axe, do ensure you go for quality ones that would not break or rust easily.
5. Flashlight
A campfire is all good, but it has a very short range, as it illuminates about six feet in all directions. So, what if you want to visit the latrine at night or find something within your tent? That's why you need a flashlight. Ensure you bring at least two light sources, such as flashlights, headlamps, or lanterns. Also, ensure you bring along extra batteries or charging devices
6. Handheld Emergency Generator
While camping often serves as a period to reconnect with nature, it does not stop many campers from bringing their smartphones and gadgets. While we recommend experiencing nature with your phone turned off, there are some situations where they do come in handy. For instance, you need your phone to communicate properly during an emergency. Also, phones and other smart gadgets with GPS often come in handy during a hike or while exploring unknown regions.
Smartphone batteries do not last forever, often lasting between 4-12 hours, depending on usage. To ensure you are not offline, you need a handheld emergency generator. When shopping for a handheld generator, it is important to go for feature-packed ones, as they make your camping trip easier and more enjoyable.
7. Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags help protect against exposure to extremely cold night temperatures and bug bites. This tool is very important when camping as out in nature, insects are abundant, and night temperatures are often extremely cold. A sleeping bag helps ensure you and your kids sleep comfortably, with minimal tossing and turning and zero exposure to colds and bugs. Not a fan of sleeping bags? Then consider getting an air mattress.
8. Fire Starter
Camping is not camping without the warm crackling campfire, so getting a tool that helps start one quickly is important. Fire is an important camping component as it illuminates your environment and keeps the surrounding temperatures warm. A fire starter could be a match or a lighter. Consider going with both of them to avoid getting stranded.
Asides from fire starters, also take along kindling in a waterproof container, as it is often challenging finding a dry one when you need to start a fire. You can bring strips of newspaper and dry bark for kindling as they create a fire quickly.
9. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is an essential tool to bring along during a hike, as while you might not experience life-threatening injuries, you might not be able to avoid blisters or minor injuries and cuts. These minor injuries or cuts could transform into life-threatening ones if not treated. This is why you must bring a first aid kit containing bandages and antiseptics. Other important first aid kits include scissors, soap, adhesive, gauze, an emergency whistle, and a mouth barrier or CPR. Also, do not forget to bring insect repellants and sunscreen. Although these are not part of first aid items, they are important.
10. Map and Compass
Camping or hiking in remote areas without a map, compass, or GPS device is bad. Changes in the sun's position and light directions might make already-trodden landmarks feel unfamiliar, disorienting campers. This is especially true when camping in a forested region and is why many campers wander the woods for days before finding their way back to camp or being rescued. So, bring along a map, GPS device, or compass to ensure you never get lost while camping. Also, maps often contain landmarks and fun places you might want to visit, so always bring them along.
In most cases, your campsite determines the type of tools you'd need, but there are basic essential camping accessories you need to bring along for all camping. Camping should be an enjoyable experience, and bringing along all essential tools in this list is the first step in the right direction. Our tool list considers basic human needs such as protection, safety, and shelter.
