It used to be that camping was for roughing it out. Remember those old Wild West movies where cowboys spend nights out in the open with just blankets for protection, and a campfire for light, for cooking and for warding off bears and snakes. Times have changed and camping is now considered an outdoor recreational activity that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of gender and age.
You can choose what kind of “camping” you would like to experience. There’s the high tech kind of camping involving an RV, short for recreational vehicle. This type of campers arrive in their own RV equipped with electricity, bathroom, air-conditioned bedrooms and even a collapsible patio. Then there’s the survivalist kind of camping where a camper is equipped with little more than his boots and maybe a jungle knife. Now there’s the happy camper who “camps” in permanent camping facilities or camp grounds. Most camping entails some sort of hiking, canoeing, swimming, fishing, or biking. Whatever activity is included, it is best to pack light without sacrificing comfort.
High Tech and Lightweight Tent
If you are the RV type of camper, you need not worry about packing light and using lightweight materials and utensils. However, if you are the backpacking kind of camper, you seriously have to pack light and probably buy all those lightweight materials for ease in movement. A serious backpacker or trekker need to take the right supplies and utensils to make for a successful camping.
The weight of your backpack should be just right for your height, weight and strength. The recommended that your backpack be not more than 2 kilos, your 2-person tent no more than 2.5 kilos, your sleeping bag about 1 kilo, and other supplies like food and rain gear should be no more than the combined weight of 2.5 kilos. The total overall weigh might be too much or too little for some. The ideal is to carry the right equipment and supplies that you can bear. If you carry in your person a cooking pan that weighs 500 grams, then that’s just too heavy in proportion to the total ideal weight that you are supposed to carry.
Lightweight Pots and Pans
This is why it’s important to use light weight materials for your camping needs. Camping materials and supplies are a different kind of breed – as they come in waterproof, fire-retardant, and uber light materials. Carrying a light load would basically make you a “happy camper” as you can lug up and about without your stuff bogging you down. Remember thought that carrying a lighter load should not mean sacrificing essentials. It is carrying lighter and smaller equipments.
The available camping gear in the market today is unbelievable. There are categories for cooking gear, sleeping gear, survival gear, entertainment gear, mosquito gear, repair products, first-aid and emergency gear and many more. The most important thing to consider before you set off for camp is to make a list of all the things you would need for the duration of your camping trip. After that, buy the things you need and have fun camping.
