What to Prepare for Camping and What to Bring

Going camping still starts with preparation, and then you choose the right items to bring based on your own circumstances. First, you need to bring some essentials, and then you can bring some things you need yourself. Basically, you’re all set to go.

Preliminary Preparations

1. Check the weather before planning your trip

Taking Guangdong as an example, the best time for camping in Guangdong is from mid-March to the end of June, July to September is not only rainy season but also scorching hot.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, October is also suitable.

The temperature difference between day and night is also a factor to consider. It is very possible that it will be 30 degrees Celsius at noon and 18 degrees Celsius at night.

2. Choose a campsite based on the actual situation

a. The destination should not be too far away or too rugged.

Because you have to consider that you will be carrying a lot of things, and the tent and car will be set up together, avoid long-distance carrying.

b. It’s best to choose a place with water and trees nearby.

After all, camping always involves hammocks, and trees can solve this problem and also provide shade.

c. Choose a place with mugwort.

Mugwort can be cut and burned with fire for a good mosquito repellent effect. Many people brought mosquito coils but didn’t use them. Where there is mugwort, there are fewer mosquitoes.

d. Try not to choose riverbeds/beaches as soon as possible.

Avoid unsafe situations in case of rapid currents or tides.

3. Game props

It is best to prepare some games when traveling with children. For example, some kites, frisbees, and sets for picking stones, etc. These toys have interactive properties.

What Equipment Is Needed

Basic equipment: tent, sleeping bag, moisture-proof mat, awning, and camp light.

The above are relatively common.

The awning is to guarantee the activities needed before sunset. It will be very sunny outside during the day.

Some tents come with an awning, but I recommend a separate awning that can accommodate 4 or more people at the same time.

You can cook and play under the awning. It’s like a living room and an open kitchen.

The function of a tent is actually a bed. When buying a tent, be sure to choose one with ventilation windows.

Comfort equipment: outdoor chairs, camping cot/inflatable bed, outdoor small trolley.

Thermos/cooler, water tank, wind ropes, flags, hammer, Bluetooth speaker, fire pit, charcoal.

Outdoor kitchen peripherals: gas stove, pot, kettle, coffee pot, easy-to-use enamel tableware.

Tent

1. Solid color retro tents are more in tune with nature.

2. It has to be waterproof to block the morning and evening dew and rain.

3. The storage size is small, can be lifted with one hand.

4. The construction difficulty is low, one person can complete the construction.

5. Choose the size and style according to the number of people.

6. If you want to make a fire, you need to consider fire resistance.

Style selection

1. Teepee Tent

The pointed teepee tent is the most commonly used and the most stylish glamping tent, it folds into the size of a folding chair, one person can set it up in half an hour, the operation is very simple, 12㎡ tent can sleep 4-6 people, suitable for a family of four to travel.

The poles of the teepee tent are in the middle, there is a special splicing round table, sitting together will have a very good atmosphere.

2. Square Tent

This kind of square tent has poles on both sides, so the space utilization rate is high, a family of three or a young couple can choose the smallest size tent, which is completely enough.

There are also screened windows on both sides, so it won’t be too stuffy in summer.

3. Large luxury tent

This should be considered the top-of-the-line luxury home in nature, with doors at the front and back, a transparent layout, suitable for watching the sea and the lake, easily accommodating 8 people inside.

If you add an inner tent inside the tent, it will become a standard one-bedroom apartment.

4. Fire Tent

In autumn and winter camping, it will be a fire outside at night, and even a small stove can be set up in the tent, in order to ensure that your tent is not burned out by sparks, a fire tent is the best choice.

This fire tent has 50% fire-resistant material, this time Jiazhi and her friends had a late-night chat here.

What to bring

Sleeping bag

1. Choose a suitable temperature rating according to the season. Generally, choose -20℃ in winter, -5℃ in spring and autumn is enough.

2. Down is better than cotton, it is warmer, lighter and has a smaller storage size.

It must be emphasized that you must not buy cheap goods, because the temperature rating of domestic brands is seriously falsified, and you hope you will never experience the feeling of shivering.

Sleeping Pad

It is recommended to choose an inflatable sleeping pad for glamping, because it has a small storage size and is easy to carry.

Many sleeping bags are self-inflating, they can reach the thickness of a Simmons mattress after being inflated, they are moisture-proof and more comfortable.

But inflatable pads have a fatal flaw: once they leak air, they cannot be used. Another option is foam pads, which are not afraid of damage, but because they cannot be compressed, they are slightly larger.

Heater

Because you can’t plug in outdoors, you can choose a kerosene heater, which can burn continuously for 15 hours, and it is also noiseless and does not disturb people’s sleep.

Bedding, carpets, etc.

These are not essential, but they can immediately give you the comfort of staying in a good hotel. You can freely match the soft furnishings according to your own preferences, making your home more cozy.

Pillows, incense, mirrors, and everything you are used to keeping in the bedroom can be moved here!

Other Preparations

Awning

Although the role of the awning is to shade and shelter from rain, because the construction method is very diverse, it has become the most interesting and challenging piece of equipment in camping.

Table and chairs

Because the tents and awnings are relatively low, so light foldable low tables are more recommended, but Jiazhi found that some neighbors use storage boxes as low tables, which are also very practical and beautiful!

Lighting

The lights that can be used in glamping are roughly divided into three types: kerosene gas lamps, LED pendant lamps, and string lights.

Tips:

Kerosene gas lamp: long burning time, good wind resistance, adjustable brightness, suitable for outdoor lighting or creating an atmosphere.

LED pendant lamp: rechargeable, high brightness, easy to carry, can be used both indoors and outdoors.

String lights: decorative lights to enliven the atmosphere, hang on the edge of the tent and awning, the night effect is very dreamy.

Cookware and tableware

If you want to have a “wild” camping experience, you can bring a barbecue rack and a bonfire pit to cook your own food. This time the campers were frying steaks and stewing chicken soup, which were all the most original flavors.

A gas cylinder and a small pot are enough for simple boiling water and instant noodles.

Considering the portability of transportation, tableware is mostly made of aluminum, enamel or wood, these materials are also more environmentally friendly and durable, and they will leave marks of time over time, which are the kind of materials that look better the more you use them.