You’ve planned weeks in advance, you’ve checked your list twice, and you’ve got everything packed. It isn’t until you’re at the campsite that you realize you’ve forgotten something you never even considered.
These kinds of oversights can cause a disruption in your restful camping trip, as well as potentially creating unplanned stops to the nearest store. Blain’s Farm & Fleet wants to ensure your camping trip goes as smoothly as possible, so we put together a list of commonly forgotten items that will certainly come in handy once you reach your camping destination.
Don’t forget these items:
Water
This may seem like an obvious item to bring, but it’s one that’s commonly overlooked. Aside from drinking purposes, water is required for various tasks while camping including cooking, cleaning, brewing tea or coffee, and keeping up with personal cleanliness. Without the ability to do these tasks, your camping trip can become much more difficult and far less relaxing, which is why it’s important to come prepared with a large stock of clean water. You can buy pre-filled water jugs or use a water cooler to bring water from home.
Snacks
Camping may be all about cooking your favorite meals over the fire, but in the event of a rainstorm or being away from your campsite doing your favorite outdoor activity, it’s important to pack a variety of protein-filled snacks. Trail-mixes, granola bars, jerky, dried or dehydrated fruits, and sandwich ingredients are all good snack choices to bring along on your camping trip to serve as alternative food sources when cooking over a fire isn’t available.
Repair kits
When you’re experiencing the great outdoors, the last thing you want is to wake up in the middle of the night with a flat air mattress or to arrive at the beach only to find your inner tube has deflated. It’s always handy to have a repair kit on hand to make quick, easy repairs.
Wash Basin
This may not be an item that you’d think to bring when you plan on “roughing it” in the outdoors but trust us, you’ll be thankful you brought it. A wash basin provides a convenient place to clean dishes while reducing water usage, which, if you’re at a campsite with no running water, you’ll want to conserve as much water as you can. Water basins also work nicely as a hand-washing station.
Hatchet or knife
Since firewood is usually at the top of most campers’ item list, it’s easy to assume you won’t need tools like a hatchet or a knife, but they are items that are highly recommended. Hatchets and knives come in handy when foraging for kindling and other fire-starter materials as well as for opening food packaging, protection from wild animals. Plus, you can even attempt to enhance your whittling skills around the fire. Make sure to always bring a cover for your knife or hatchet for safety purposes as well as to keep your blades clean.
First Aid Kit
Even if you aren’t camping out in the wilderness, accidents can still happen. Regardless if you’re camping in a campground or out in the woods, you should always have a first-aid kit on hand. First-aid kits should contain all the essential items you’ll need to treat any potential accident you may encounter on your trip from minor cuts and scrapes to bug bites and poison ivy. You can buy pre-made first-aid kits or create your own if you want a more personalized kit.