First Time Camping Tips For Beginner Campers


If you spend more of your time in the office than the outdoors you probably don’t know much about camping. You don’t have to worry about going on your first camping trip. Luckily camping really isn’t that hard if you plan a little ahead of time. We were all beginners once, and you’re bound to make a few simple camping mistakes. Most new campers will learn a few mistakes the hard way but a little preparation goes a long way. If you follow most of these first time camping tips you should have a fun and safe camping trip.

First Time Camping Tips and Tricks

1. Get Familiar With Your Gear

The biggest piece of advice I like to tell new campers is that they should get familiar with their gear before going out into the woods. Most camping gear isn’t all that complicated, but it’s still a good idea to throw up your tent before you get out into the woods. I once brought a brand new tent out into the woods to realize the manufacturer forgot to include the poles. You don’t want to be that guy who fumbles around for hours trying to put up a tent. Make sure your lanterns and camp stoves work before going out into the woods. Also check to make sure you have the right sleeping bag for the time of year and that it’s big enough. There are too many examples for me to list which brings me to my next point.

2. Prepare a Checklist Well in Advance

It’s always a smart idea to prepare ahead and a checklist is one of the best ways to prepare. New capers often overlook a checklist but you really should make one. Your first time camping you are bound to forget something which can be added to your checklist for next time. Stay organized and make sure you don’t leave anything behind. It’s always a good idea to ask a more experienced camper for suggestions. Use the list while packing and check off each item as you go. IF you notice that you don’t use an item during your trip don’t be afraid to take it off the list. Don’t forget the suntan lotion, bug spray and something for poison ivy.

3. Choose The Right Gear

Not all camping gear is the same. It’s important to choose the right gear for your trip. If it’s the middle of summer make sure you buy a summer sleeping bag like the Coleman Warm Weather Sleeping Bag. Like wise you’ll want something like the Coleman Brazos Cold Weather Sleeping Bag in the early spring or fall. Just make sure you buy gear that matches the weather. I would also avoid buying a tent that’s way to big for your needs. That 8 person tent might look great in the store, but it will be a pain to set up on your own. Hopefully you aren’t spending a lot of time in your tent anyway.

4. Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time

You’re going to need a little more than a camping stove and fish from the stream. Unless you were raised by Davy Crockett, I would plan my meals ahead of time. Most inexperienced campers don’t put enough into meal planning. Figure out how many meals you need to make each day and how you are going to cook them. Bringing a small portable camping stove like the Coleman Classic Propane Stove is a great idea. If more than 1 or 2 people are eating a camping stove is nearly a necessity. That being said don’t rely to heavily on hot meals. Plan small quick and easy meals to supplement your main meal for the day.

5. Arrive at The Campground Early

If you want to get a good camping spot you’re going to need to arrive at a campground early. You’d be surprised how many families decide to go camping on hot sunny days or holiday weekends. You’ll have more time to get your campsite ready so you can sit back and enjoy your trip. If you arrive before everybody else you’ll have more time to learn about all the amentities the campground has to offer. Employees are a lot more helpful before the big crowds arrive.

6. Bring The Right Kind of Clothing

Even if it’s 80 and sunny all day you never know how cold it’s going to be once the sun goes down. Make sure you pack a little extra clothes so you don’t end up miserable. Remember that there’s not going to be any laundry facilities. So that shirt that got soaked in the rain is going to stay that way until it dries by the sun.(bring a clothes line) A few extra pieces of gear like a rain suit, swimming trunks, light jacket will go a long way.

7. Plan Your Trip Around The Weather

Unless your idea of a good time is sitting in a 8 foot wide tent all weekend you’re going to want to plan around the weather. A little rain can be a good thing (especially at music festivals) but three days of rain starts to get old. I little bit of planning based on the weather will save you a lot of trouble. Trying to put a tent up in the rain is never a fun experience. Plus who wants to spend all weekend with rain pounding the tent down onto you. Just do yourself a favor and if there’s more than 60% chance of rain stay home for the weekend. A rain drenched first camping trip will likely be your last.

8. For Your First Camping Trip Stay Close To Home

All first time campers will inevitably forget something and a 45 minute trip to the closest Wal-Mart may be your only option. Just make sure you bring all the necessary toiletries. Almost everything else you can likely go a few days without. Plus campers are a friendly community if you forget something don’t be afraid to ask around the other campsites for help. You might also find that camping is not your thing. Not everybody likes the idea of laying on the hard ground all night. Any number of things could go wrong and make you want to go home early. This is especially true if you have small children.

 

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