10 Camping Essentials

Summer is the perfect time to go exploring outdoors, since the school year is over and there is plenty of time to relax and enjoy the sun. Instead of spending the summer vacation indoors, fixated on social media and seeing how others are spending their time off, camping is a fun and adventurous activity for anyone to enjoy. Camping provides us an opportunity to appreciate nature, spend time with ourselves or loved ones, and a chance to unwind from our technology-driven lives.

However, camping can seem daunting because in order to have a fun time, one has to have the necessary items to be worry-free. So, I compiled a list of the top ten essentials one needs on a camping trip to have a relaxing and enjoyable time.

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1. Tent

Camping does not have to be an unpleasant experience. The idea of sleeping in a flimsy tent for a week can be unappealing, so it is important to have a tent with plenty of space that is sturdy enough to withstand any poor weather conditions and still provide a comfortable sleeping arrangement.

Imagine you are caught in a rainstorm and you just arrived to your campground. You want to go to bed as soon as possible, since you spent the majority of your day driving to your destination and the last thing you want to do is assemble your tent. Luckily, you have the iKamper Skycamp 2.0 Roof Top Tent that only takes one minute to set up. Whether it is raining or storming, you can easily set up this four-person tent that is attached to the roof of your car. In no time, you can put it together and sleep comfortably.

2. Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags are an essential for camping, since you want to be protected from any poor weather conditions, while still being able to sleep comfortably. The Rab Ascent Sleeping Bag is a useful item to have, since it is meant to keep you warm, even when it is 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

This sleeping bag is shaped like a mummy, providing enough room for the upper body to move, while funneling in a cone shape towards the feet to provide extra warmth and security. You might even forget you are in a sleeping bag and not in your own bed when using this product, since it is that good.

3. Cooler

When camping, eating out will most likely not be an option because camping is about being in the wild, unplugged from civilization, which involves cooking your own meals.

Therefore, you need a cooler that will keep food and drinks fresh, so you can cook and eat anything you would like even when you are not in the comfort of your own home. The Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler is the perfect option for camping, since it is large enough to store plenty of food items, while also being sturdy enough for use as counter space when cooking, grilling, or meal-prepping.

It is even bear-resistant, so if you are truly in the wild, you will be comforted knowing that you do not need to worry about your favorite food items being hunted by wild animals because the Yeti Tundra 65 protects and keeps food fresh.

4. Grill

A camping trip would be incomplete without a grill to do all the cooking on. I recommend a portable grill, so that you can cook your favorite meals at home out in the wilderness. Plus, this is useful for heating up a kettle in order to make some hot coffee, tea, or even hot chocolate whenever you please.

5. Canopy

A canopy is necessary for the outdoors, since it provides shade on a hot summer's day. The shade a canopy provides is useful because you can still enjoy the outdoors, while being protected from the sun.

6. Portable Table

A portable folding table is a must for camping because you might be on a campsite that does not have enough picnic tables, or you might want an extra table for meal-prepping, or dining.

I recommend the Lifetime Plastic Portable Folding Card Table because it is easy to assemble and it does not take up a lot of space in your car when packing other camping essentials.

7. Lanterns/Flashlights/Headlights

It can be frustrating to rely on your phone's flashlight when camping, since it uses up the battery and you have to constantly hold your phone to use it. Therefore, I recommend bringing a flashlight or even a headlight, since you can wear it as opposed to constantly holding a light. In this way, you can do anything from cooking, setting things up, or just walking around the campsite without strain.

I also suggest bringing lanterns, which can easily be hung on a canopy or tent for extra light.

8. Water Jug

It is important to stay hydrated and it can be burdensome to rely on plastic water bottles, which you have to dispose of properly. Therefore, I recommend a water container, which you can fill up with gallons of water to avoid relying on plastic water bottles. Plus, this water container will keep water nice and cool, which is perfect when camping in hot climates.

9. Reusable Water Bottle and Thermos

In addition to a water container, I recommend bringing your own reusable water bottle and thermos to not only avoid relying on one-use plastic items, but to also assure your drinks will be held at a comfortable temperature.

I recommend the Hydroflask water bottles, which are made of stainless steel. This assures that your drinks, whether it be water or coffee, remain hot or cold!

If you want to keep your reusable bottles separate for different drinks, I recommend a Byta thermos. It comes in different sizes and the coolest part about this company, is that for every purchase made, 10% is donated to the environmental defense fund!

10. Portable Shower

Although you might be camping on a site that has showers, I recommend bringing a portable shower on your camping trip because not only can you use it to take a quick shower regardless of your location, it is a useful tool for washing dishes, clothes, and other items.

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These ten camping essentials will give you everything you need for a successful camping trip. These items are useful and you will not regret bringing them because they each serve a purpose for making camping a worry-free experience.

In fact, you might think that you never even left your home with how purposeful these essentials are.