Nature Reset: 8 Tips to Pack for a Camping Trip

Woman Camping
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

The most stressful part of any trip comes with the first step: planning and packing for it. And if you’re camping out, it becomes even more essential to know what you’ll need and what you can leave behind. 

The whole idea of camping is to leave the comfort and luxury behind and enjoy the countryside. But are you ready to leave all the grandeur and richness behind, and entirely put yourself into the beauty of nature and relax for once? If yes, then we suggest the basic rule of thumb for camping: pack minimally. 

You must have noticed the camping gear aisle in your local store, but trust me, you wouldn’t need more than half of that stuff. In addition, keeping unnecessary items would only lead to higher load and bulk. You should make a list of the number of supplies, food, gear, clothes, and other necessary items you’ll require. We’re here to help you with eight tips that can make your camping trip minimalistic and only take the right things to avoid the bulking issue. 

1. Try to Follow One Bag Rule

The essential camping rule is to carry one bag per person, and children under ten should share that bag with an adult or siblings. This bag would include your clothes, undergarments, bath essentials, and other individual sanitary kits you’d require. You should make sure your load is not too heavy to carry around; a tip to ensure that is to notice if you can’t hold your bag for more than 5 minutes. This is a sign that you need to remove some stuff. 

Woman Camping Opening Bag
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

2. Only Pack Essentials

You’re either going for a weekend trip or just for a few days, so pack accordingly. You certainly don’t need multiple outfits for two days into the woods. In place of that, you’d need a sleeping bag and basic hygienic necessities. And a small amount of sweat and dirt doesn’t hurt anybody; it’s most definitely a necessary part of any camping trip. Do not! And we mean it, do not overpack anything. 

3. Leave Out Fancy Gear

Camping is all about roughing it in the woods; it’s a good idea to substitute the extra fancy gear with just a comfortable option. For example, instead of a heavy and fancy tent, you can maybe take a tarp or hammock. If you want to enjoy the additional benefits, then buy the prime one suited for your needs. You can check out this article on the best camping tents for making a worthy investment.

Furthermore, what about your coffee maker? Or your griller? Or your stove? Do you need all of them for a weekend in the woods? Probably not. Yes, we agree it’s classy and gives another vibe and feel. But there’s nothing more rejuvenating than cooking with an open fire on the campgrounds. So make sure you leave out any impulsive and fancy camping gear. 

Bento
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

4. Get Organizers & Stackable Drawers

If you need to take multiple spices and other cooking essentials, get a small container. Instead of taking the entire bottle of ketchup or the whole set of spices, you can pack a small amount of each item to keep into a bag. This way, everyone can help themselves with things they’d need, and you wouldn’t have to worry about opening multiple packets. 

Similar to that, you can also get stackable drawers and fill them with any supplies like snacks, clothes, bathroom essentials, toiletries, or whatever you need. You can easily stack them at the back of your car, and they can effortlessly be slid in or out. 

To keep certain food items fresh and cool, you can also invest in a cooler rack that will ensure that the ice doesn’t melt inside your car. And you’d have fresh food on your trip. 

Another great tip is to keep a bottle filled with eggs instead of buying a whole crate and praying that it doesn’t break. You have to break every egg you’d need and store all of them into a bottle. This will save up space and also ensure there’s no mess from broken eggs. 

5. Plan Out Your Food in Advance

There’s no point in bringing all the groceries stacked in your freezer or house pantry; you wouldn’t need this much food for a two-day trip. However, it would be best if you packed some extra munchies and snacks to enjoy on your way or for the time when you get hungry in the middle of the night. But for every big meal of the day, plan your menu prior. 

Try to make a list of all the items you’d need for cooking each day. It would help if you also tried to make the menu so that you’d require the tiniest stuff, and you can cook multiple items with a single thing that you’re packing. So try to take such main ingredients which can make several dishes. 

Don’t take the entire kitchen utensils kit; you’d need a pot, maybe a pan, and some spoons and forks. It would help if you also took aluminum foil for keeping your food hot and for foil-wrapped meals. Additionally, you can always cook on an open campfire instead of needing a stove. 

Woman with First Aid Kit
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

6. Invest in a Mini Self-Care & First Aid Kit

Going basic or minimalistic doesn’t mean you have to leave behind mandatory items. One of the essential things to pack for camping includes a first aid kit, which should have at least vital medication for headaches, painkillers, antiseptics, bandaids, and so on. To be on the safe side, consider getting a first-aid certification just in case some of your fellow campers get injured.

Another kit includes self-care items like sunscreen, insect repellent creams, soaps, biodegradable toilet paper, a sewing kit, and a rope. You should pack them in a way that they could fit into just one toiletry kit. As an alternative, you can invest in a mini readymade self-care essentials kit and first-aid kits. 

7. Go Minimal with Clothing

Identical to the tips above, try to go minimal with your clothes. And for packing them, you can try the rolling method. Make a roll of each clothing item, or if they’re just lightweight jumpers or tees, you can also roll out two pieces together. And then stack them into your bag; this will minimize the space needed for packing extra clothes. If you’re anticipating bad weather, make sure you carry the essential clothes for rain. Besides, the basic rule is to pack something easily dryable and which can keep you warm.

8. Resist the Urge for Luxuries

As mentioned before, you most likely don’t need that coffee maker. You can instead enjoy the hot brewed coffee over an open campfire. Other than that, leave out any item which is specially designed as a comfort option. Avoid taking large lamps, heaters, and other such things, which will only make your camping trip turn into a hotel room stay instead. 

Camping is most definitely enjoyed without all the luxuries and just roughing out into the woods. So try to pack according to this thought. You don’t need extra items when you’re away from your home. Instead, just take essentials and let fate decide on it. Though planning and anticipating a crisis and situation is a good idea, don’t overpack stuff just for the worst possible scenario.  

Author Bio: Res Marty is an incredible hiker and camper who loves traveling to the edge of the world. He loves sharing his knowledge about the wilderness and helping people in need of advice.

Recent Updates

Jennie Maison Kitsune Featured

Jennie is Pretty in Pastels for Maison Kitsuné Ad

Spring 2024 welcomes Jennie of Blackpink as the new face of Maison Kitsuné's Baby Fox collection. In a laid-back ad ...
Neiman Marcus Spring 2024 Featured

Neiman Marcus Spring 2024 Campaign: Championing Elegance

Neiman Marcus embraces the dynamism of sports and luxury fashion in its "Quest for the Best" spring 2024 campaign, captured ...
Swarovski Spring 2024 Featured

Irina Shayk, Karlie Kloss Bring Mermaidcore to Swarovski Ad

Swarovski takes a deep dive into the mythical with its spring-summer 2024 campaign, channeling the allure of Venus and embracing ...
Oliver Peoples Khaite Spring 2024 Featured

Oliver Peoples x KHAITE Spring 2024: Crafting Chic Eyewear

The Oliver Peoples x KHAITE Spring 2024 collection promises an eyewear feast for the fashion-forward. Exemplifying an industrial chic aesthetic, ...
Nina Cosmic Featured

Nina T Gets Interstellar for Numéro Switzerland

In "Cosmic Being," photographed by Ana Abril, a futuristic fashion editorial takes place in Numéro Switzerland's premiere issue. Model Nina ...
Zara Jeans Spring Featured

Zara Jeans Spring 2024: Exploring Casual Styles

The season of renewal brings with it Zara's spring 2024 jeans collection, offering a refreshing take on denim that pays ...

Leave a Comment