Camping Gear Recommendations

Exactly what you needed to sleep comfortably varies widely, but generally warmth, cushion, and space are the key factors. The counter to those are portability and ease of packing. Experimenting with your gear will help you discover the level of comfort you are willing to sacrifice in order to make packing easier.

These items are helpful to have at camp for lots of reasons.

For some reason food just tastes better when cooked outdoors. Maybe it’s because our expectations are lower. Maybe it’s because of the activities like hiking that precede a camp meal. Simple food that’s easy to prepare and clean up is the best bet. That leaves more time for other fun activities like stargazing and chatting with friends. Make sure you know how to use your cooking equipment and give it a test before reaching the campground and it’s not a bad idea to have a simple backup meal. Mmm… PB&J.

Once the basics of food and shelter are covered you may want some items to keep you comfortable, help the group to bond, and have some fun.

"Hope for the best, plan for the worst." There's a chance you may not use some of the following items, but it's better to be prepared.

Most hygiene products can just be standard home products except you may want to bring travel size. One product that gets heavy use in camp that doesn’t at home are moist towelettes. When a shower is not an option they can be a nice relief.

Camping and hiking clothes tend to be so durable and comfortable they may make it into your everyday rotation. Great pockets, breathability, and warmth. What’s not to love? If you’re on a budget you can definitely go camping without these outdoor specific items, but you may want to invest a little over time. They make great gifts as well because they are stylish and encourage others to go enjoy the outdoors.

The following accessories are “nice to haves” around camp.

While camping is about getting away from our fast-paced, distracted, digital lives a few electronics can be fun for recording the experience so you can relive it later.

Great camp food can be delicious while still simple to make and clean up. This comes from having a well thought out meal plan. You may not want to choose exactly what you want to eat for each and every meal, but you could plan a specific number of breakfast, lunch, and dinners that you choose on any particular day based on cravings.

An necessary evil that follows you even to the outdoors. By thinking ahead you can minimize time spent cleaning. Part of meal planning should consider the amount of clean up required.

Being properly prepared for a hike allows you to focus on enjoying the what's around you. If something unfortunately happens you'll be able to manage it like a pro keep going or get home safe.

Beware of dog restrictions in camp. Search "Pets" on your campground website.

Try pet friendly campgrounds:

• Bring Fido: Dog friendly camps
• National Parks Foundation: Don’t Leave Fido at Home
• NPS.gov: Take Rover On Your Road Trip Too!

Yes, it will be challenging, but get them outdoors early and often.