Camping Gear You Should Own
If you’ve camped for any length of time you know that the camping gear you bring with you can make or break a camp out. The problem is when you go camping space is limited. You can’t bring everything and the kitchen sink. Unless you camp with an RV then bring whatever you want. For the rest of us, space is usually limited.
So the camping gear supply industry has a gadget for everything. You can literally spend thousands on the newest a greatest camping gear, that will save you time, and space, while weighing next to nothing. You can buy titanium sporks that weight only a few ounces. There are portable showers and whole kitchens with ovens specifically for camping. But what do you really need and how much so you really have to spend? These are just a few of the great camping gear you need to own.
Charcoal Chimney
If you’ve ever spent any length of time trying to get charcoal lit you know how much fun it can be. Especially when you’re using charcoal for your Dutch Oven. With a charcoal chimney, all you have to do is pour your charcoal in the top, put paper underneath and light it. Within 10 minutes you have charcoal ready for cooking with. You don’t have to worry about the big flames or smell of lighter fluid. There are no hot spots where only a few coals are lit and the others are cold. Everything ready in just a few minutes.
Dutch Oven Lid Holder and Lifter
Over the years people have used just about everything to lift the lid off a Dutch Oven. Gloves work but they get bulky. Pliers are pretty common but they can get hot if you don’t have a big pair. What you really need is a Dutch Oven lid lifting tool. These work great and secure the lid so you don’t drop it.
Once you have the lid off your next problem is where to put it. Setting it in the dirt is a sure-fire way to get dirt in your food. Flipping it over means you’ll lose your coals. What you want is a lid stand. These allow you to set your lid down without getting it dirty. Keep your coals on the lid, and use both hands for whatever you’re doing in the Dutch Oven.
Chainmail Scrubbers
Most of the time all you have to do is wipe your cast iron off with a paper towel. The problem is when you get really dirty. Paper towels just won’t cut it. This is where the chainmail scrubber comes in handy. They work as good as steel wool, without the worry of leaving steel fibers on your cast iron. The best part is they are fully reusable. A bit of hot water and they clean right up.
Hammock and Straps
Hammocks are one of the most relaxing things to take a nap in or just read a book in. If you camp to relax you know having a hammock is great. The problem with hammocks has always been finding two trees the right distance for your hammock. Unless you were good with knot tying then it was having ropes and knowing how to tie the ropes so they didn’t come loose. Unless you brought a hammock stand which took up lots of space.
Nowadays you can buy simple straps that go around trees and give lots of options to hang your hammock. They have multiple loops to clip a parachute hammock to. These straps give you options of finding two trees that are spaced anywhere from 12’ to 20’ apart. With these distances setting up your hammock is easy. Giving you a great place to take a relaxing nap or just chill and enjoy a beautiful day.
Tarps
Many people take a tarp with them camping. This is almost always put under the tent to keep your tent floor dry. However, having a couple of spare tarps is a good idea. You can always put one over the top of your tent as a great rain fly. They work great for keeping your firewood dry, supplies dry and shielded from the sun. In a pinch, you can even make a tent out of them. Always have an extra tarp when camping.
Hammer and Steel Stakes
If you tent camp long enough eventually you will bend or lose the tent stakes that came with your tens. Many people go out a replace them with plastic stakes. These work great if you only use in soft ground, during warm weather, and replace them every year or so. Otherwise, they will break. Of course always at the worst times. So the best thing you can do is buy heavy-duty metal tent stakes. They will give you peace of mind your tent isn’t going anywhere.
The next best thing to having heavy-duty tent stakes is a hammer to go with them. A simple claw hammer will not only let you drive them into the hard ground but the claw will let you pull them out.
Lanterns
Flashlights are great, but when you want a light to work by at night you really need a lantern. The old school gas lanterns are great and everyone should have one. The problem with these is they shouldn’t be used in your tent. They take a while to light when you need light now. Worst is dealing with broken mantles when you need light. Battery-powered lanterns take care of all these problems and take up less space when packing for a trip.
Cot
Sleeping on the ground is fine when you’re young. The older you get the less it’s comfortable. No one wants to wake up after a night of sleeping outdoors with a sore back. This is where a cot comes in real handy. You could use an air mattress but they get leaks and deflate. So having even a cheap army-style cot helps you get a better night’s sleep than sleeping on hard ground.
Small Rake and broom
Almost no one thinks of bringing a rake or broom camping. Why would you it’s nature? However, think about racking up the leaves and twigs from under tent so you don’t run the risk of sleeping in something funny, or ripping your tarp or tent bottom.
Having a small broom is very handy for keeping the inside of your tent clean. Not everyone takes their shoes off every single time they enter a tent. Thus tents can get a bit of dirt into them. Having a broom makes it really easy to clean this up.
Battery Powered Fan
You can only do so much to keep cool in the summer. So when tent camping having a battery fan is almost a must. No matter how many screens your tent has it seems you can never get enough breeze through the tent to cool you off. At least not and still have some privacy. Thus having a small fan is a must.
Conclusion
While there are plenty of other inexpensive items that will make camping enjoyable these were a few I’ve found to be worth every penny. It’s amazing how a few simple luxuries can make camping so much easier than you are willing to pay up to $40 for this camping gear.
