Taking a camping expedition is fun and a great vacation idea. Some serious preparation is required though, as a camping vacation lacking the right equipment can be a camping disaster. Although cooking over the open campfire may be tempting and romantic there may be times when it is more realistic to use a portable propane grill. As you have the portable grill you will want to have a sturdy stand for it like a folding table so you don’t have to crouch down to the ground. Seeing as we’re playing with fires here you probably want to have a fire extinguisher handy. See how one thing can lead to another.

Some Common Camping Equipment

Clearly your main priority for camping is accommodation, a tent. The range of available tents is huge these days. A good rule of thumb, if you want space and comfort is to buy a tent at least two people bigger than the number of people who are actually going to occupy it. This way you will have heaps of room for all your gear as well as sleeping space. Multi room tents are the best for families as you can have separate rooms for the kids and storage as well as having a sitting area and a dining area. There may be times when you have to stay indoors because of the weather.

Sleeping equipment is the next essential one. Certainly sleeping bags are the ideal as they take care of the bedding needed in one neat package. They come in many different styles and temperature ratings. Whilst some summer nights can be quite cool you need to try and strike a balance as you don’t want to end up being too hot at night. You may also want to consider camping cots, the lightweight foldable kind. If you decide to sleep on the ground in your sleeping bag then at least get a sleeping pad or even an air mattress to protect yourself from the ground.

As you doubtless won’t be sleeping all the time you will also want other items of camping furniture. This is where you will find a huge range available. Chairs, tables, kitchens, loungers, hammocks, picnic sets, larders, showers, the list goes on. You can have a virtual home from home out in the backwoods.

Camping lighting is clearly indispensable. No one wants to cook and eat in the dark. Lanterns that can be hung on nearby trees to illuminate the area are not only nice but indispensable for safety and deterring wild animals. A string of deck lights can be good to light up the campsite. You will find both of these types of lighting at camping equipment stores, garden shops as well as on line.

Camping gear also needs to include cookware, utensils, water bottles and dishes. These are all pretty much the standard camping requirements, there will be more but these basics will get you by when camping. Water bottles are excellent because they can be capped and prevent bugs from entering your drinks.

Camping Equipment For The Hiking It Camper

If you are serious about roughing it and exploring when you go camping, you are going to need a somewhat different set of equipment. You will be looking at a lightweight tent, possibly a combined tent cot. A sleeping bag will be essential, lightweight camp stove, dishes, utensils and pans, hunting knife, hydration packs, cooler and a flashlight. You will also want a first aid kit, compass and maps, possibly a handheld GPS. As long as you cover all the basics, you’re camping trip will be enjoyable and safe.

Personally I find the planning, selecting and shopping for all the camping equipment is nearly as much fun as the actual trip. There is just so much stuff to choose from these days it’s a major expedition sorting through it all and being spoilt for choice most of the time. Just one of the reasons that make it a good idea to search through it all on line.