Every once in a while, it is great to go camping so that you can sleep under the stars and bask in the beauty of nature. It is perfect for people who would like to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Or perhaps you are someone who enjoys the hunting game for food or sport.
Whatever the reason may be, it is important to bring all the necessary equipment to ensure a fun and safe camping trip. Read on for a list of things you would not want to forget.
Parachute cord
This durable and lightweight nylon rope is also known as paracord. It was first used in the suspension lines of parachutes, hence the name. It is now commonly used as an all-purpose utility cord.
It would be helpful to have paracord when you go camping because it has a lot of uses. You could use it to hang your food stash up in a tree to keep it out of reach of bears and other wildlife creatures that may be interested in your food. You could also use parachute cord to set up traps like a snare noose.
In case of injuries, paracord can also be used to keep a tourniquet and a splint in place. A paracord bracelet or a piece of strap cord can be used in a tourniquet to stem the blood flow to a wound to prevent severe bleeding. As for the splint, you could use a branch or rigid bark strips from the wild as materials to make an improvised splint. But you will also need something to hold it together. If you have paracord with you, you can use it to tie the splinting materials to the limb that needs support.
Navigational Tools
If you plan to travel to multiple locations, you are going to need tools that will help you find your way around. Aside from bringing a portable GPS device, it would also be useful to bring a map and a compass together with a pen or pencil. It is good to have a map and a compass as a backup in case you find it hard to get a signal in remote camping spots.
Take flashlights or headlamps and additional batteries with you as well. These will come in handy when it gets dark at the campsite or if you are still out hiking by nightfall. If members of your party plan to explore different places all at once, it would be great to have two-way radios to help you stay connected with the rest of the group. Having two-way radios will also make it easier to call for help in case of an emergency.
Shelter and sleeping equipment
Bring a tent with you. Make sure that you have brought all the poles and stakes with you as well. A mallet will also be useful for securing the stakes in the ground. Having a shelter is necessary when the rain starts to fall. Also, you will also have a place to sleep in for the night.
A sleeping bag together with a sleeping pad or a lightweight air mattress will help you sleep comfortably in the nighttime. Bring a couple of blankets as well in case it gets extremely cold at night.
Fire starting materials
A roaring campfire is essential for cooking food, keeping you warm at night, and keeping animals at bay. For this, you will need lots of firewood, but it is something you can get once you have arrived at the campsite.
Next, you will need tools to get the fire going. One way to do this is to start a fire with sticks, but this could take a while, especially if you do not have much experience. Fortunately, there are other options. A pack of matches will be incredibly useful. As an alternative, you can also use flint to start a fire.
Now that you know what to bring to your camping trip, go ahead and start packing. You might want to make a list so that you can tick off the objects that have already been packed. This is an excellent way to make sure that you are good to go.
