A New Year has just begun and is going to open up opportunities for things we have never done before. Some of these come our way while some work out only when we go and get it! If camping hasn’t been the ways you have traveled ever, maybe this year could be the start. It is one of the most liberating ways of traveling and lets you overcome fears.
If you’ve always been fascinated about getting to remote areas or backpacking to a dream destination, this might be your chance. Seize the day my friend and you might create the most memorable time ever.
Reasons to prepare for a backpacking trip
Just the way you take out a large suitcase, pack your fancy clothes, and travel to a luxury vacation, even camping tour needs preparation. In fact, it needs you to be cautious more than how you’ve been for other trips. We admit that adventure lovers often get rigid with the smallest detailing or intricate packing, but first-timers must be a little more careful.
The most important reasons why you should have sound planning before going camping is joy and safety. You don’t want anyone in the group to fall sick or come across problematic situations when you can prevent it.
Since you are likely to travel with a group of friends, you must discuss the things you all are carrying. Sharing this guide will help all of you have a uniform checklist and then divide the items among each other.
How to backpack for camping?
At first, you need to know a little about backpacks itself. They are not your usual laptop bags or trolleys. They have internal and external frames that either have top or side loading feature. It all starts with choosing the perfect backpack and then continue to what you carry in it. Check out how to pack for the perfect camping tour:
- Choosing the perfect backpack
The perfect backpack for you is not a product that you buy thinking about how much you can load in. It has to be a product that fits your height and weight. There are different sizes of backpacks and when you’re buying them online you need to choose the correct alignment. Buying the perfect fit will not harm your back as you trek or hike up mountains. It is essential to get your kind of backpack and suit the other things accordingly.
- Packing the backpack
You need to conveniently pack your backpack so that you reach out to items as and when you need. For example, while you’re on a trail you’d want GPS, flashlight, rain gear, water, first-aid kit, and so on. It is easy to reach out to the pockets so keeping the handier things in those is smart.
All that you add in the backpack must place comfortably so that your hip doesn’t feel any pain. You can achieve this if the center of the mass isn’t too high and doesn’t cause tilting to anyone on the side. In other words, a well-distributed gear hugs tightly against the frame and doesn’t pull off balance.
- Food
Depending on where you are going and the access you will have for food, you need to plan and pack. Make sure you buy several zipper bags, organize meals by day, and know where to add to your backpack. Find out about the accessibility of food at the route you’d travel through to not over pack.
- Sleeping essentials
People usually pack sleeping gear at the end of their bag. There are sleeping bag compartments in some bags and they keep gear off the bag. It lets you have more space and compress down. If you have sleeping pads, attach it to the outside of the pack and be conscious about its existence. Make sure you don’t snag the self-inflating pad. Look for pads that come with their compression sacks for more protection.
- Clothes
First-time campers often overpack clothes and regret later. If you expect rain, you can add a few more sets of clothing and must add a raincoat. However, other than that you should go low to clothes. One pair of jeans, two-three t-shirts, and fresh inners are enough. Wearing trekking shoes are more important and also pairs of socks to maintain a good grip.
- Tent
Camping with a group helps you share pieces of large tents. Rather than carrying a small one for your own, distribute the pieces according to how many people you’d share with. If you need to carry a one-man tent, tuck it under the bottom of the pack or strap it to the side.
You can specifically buy backpacks with loops and gear tethers that allow you to clip in items to the outside. However, you can’t attach too much on the outside as it can sway you off balance.
- Sleep Essentials
From inflatable pillows to sleeping bags, you need to consider the right items that you can fit in your backpack. Sleep essentials are another thing that can be divided among the tent sharers. Since you will be traveling throughout your day, you need good sleep to refresh you for the next. Make sure these get priority and you pack the accurate sleeping essentials as you might need.
- Miscellaneous
There will be several things you will think of adding, but you need to keep it low. Things you cannot skip include toiletries, first aid, cooking essentials, minimal clothes, flashlight, backpack water purifier, and some more. List them down from most to least important to negotiate if you can leave a few out from the end.
You should also try out packing processes to check the try way to fit the backpack. The trial and error process will keep you prepared before the time you plan to move out. Always carry the checklist full of things that you took or need to take. Going prepared builds the excitements and lets you cater to the adventures and not what you missed out.
