6/23/2019 1 Comment Camping Packing GuideI’ve gone camping at least once a year for as long as I can remember. You guys already know about my annual camping trip with my dad (look at the pictures from last year’s trip here), but I also enjoy going with my boyfriend, or with my whole family (although that hasn’t happened in a while). Point is, I love camping and over the years I’ve become somewhat of an expert at packing my bags for a weekend out in the woods. There are a lot of things that I used to bring and that I’ve discovered have absolutely no business on a camping trip (hello, flowy summer dresses). Oppositely, there are things that I’ve come to realize are necessities. Today, I’m sharing with you what I pack to go camping, and how I pack it. These essentials work for any kind of camping trip, whether you’re planning on hitting the beach everyday or going on epic adventures. Duffel bag First things first; I always use a duffel bag for suitcase. It’s small and flexible, which means it’s easy to pack in the most likely overflowing car, and it’s also easy to carry. Regular suitcases are simply too bulky, and they’d be difficult to carry on unequal ground. Also, throwing a duffel bag on my bed and shoving stuff inside makes me feel like a runaway, and I secretly bask in the feeling. Beach bag Since my duffel bag will be packed at the back of the car, most certainly under a pile of pillows and blankets, I like to bring an extra, smaller bag to use as a purse. That way, I can keep all my important items (phone, chewing gum, keys, wallet, sunglasses) together and close to me during the car ride. Once we get there, that bag can be used to store the items that I reach for the most throughout the day. I usually leave that bag at the door inside the tent, so it’s easy to access. I like to use a beach bag for many reasons. One, it’s usually pretty spacious, so you can fit a lot of stuff in. Two, it’s inexpensive so I won’t mind getting it dirty or wet. That beach bag is also what I use when I go take a shower. It’s big enough to fit my towel, toiletries and clothes, and I know my stuff won’t get wet even if the bag gets splashed. I just find it really convenient to have one multi-purpose bag. Long socks This especially applies if you’re an ankle sock wearer. During the hot summer days, ankle socks are great, but at night, when the mosquitoes come out… they become a lot less relevant. If I’m not careful, I will get eaten alive by mosquitoes, and I’m mildly allergic to their bites, so I like to be prepared. As soon as the sun goes down and the air starts to get a bit more chilly, I put on jeans and a pair of normal socks. Not only does it protect my ankles from the rapacious bugs (why do mosquitoes love ankles so much?), but it also keeps me warm while I’m relaxing around the campfire. Sometimes, I even layer up and wear long socks over my ankle socks, and I distinctly remember a time when I went as far as wearing knee high socks over normal socks, which I was already wearing over ankle socks. Point is, bring socks of different lengths because they’ll probably come in handy. Cozy long-sleeve shirt When we’re packing for a trip in the dead of summer, where we’ll be under the beating sun most of the time, we don’t necessarily think about warmer clothes. However, a long-sleeve shirt is essential to go camping. It doesn’t have to be a winter sweater, especially if you live in a warm climate, but I recommend packing at least a thin cotton long-sleeve shirt. Just like the long socks, this shirt will protect you from the tiny blood suckers while you’re around the campfire. I also like to sleep in that shirt, which is why I always make sure that it’s particularly soft. Here, the nights are usually chilly no matter what, so it’s nice to have something to cozy up in. Also, this might sound silly, but when you’re in the middle of the woods, it can be reassuring to have something that smells like home to sleep with. Just in case you suddenly hear a bear outside or your tent is being wrecked by a massive thunder storm. You might need a bit of comfort, you know? Raincoat My mom has been trying to make me understand the importance of a raincoat ever since I was a kid, but I just recently started to agree (don’t ask me why). I know they’re not necessarily the most fashionable clothing item, but they come in really handy, especially when you are camping out and don’t really have a shelter in case it rains. It’s always a possibility to either set camp or decamp under the pouring rain, and in those moments when you’re feeling particularly miserable, it’s nice to have an extra layer of protection. Raincoats usually fold up to pretty small, and you can also use them if it’s windy or cold. Plus, I don’t know about you, but wearing a windbreaker type of jacket in the middle of the woods totally makes me feel like I’m in The Hunger Games. Flip Flops Even if you’re not a flip flop wearer, these flimsy sandals are good for camping. If you’re planning on going to the beach, they’re obviously the most appropriate footwear. But even if you’re staying on your camp site, flip flops are great because you can easily slip them on and off. That means everytime you have to go inside the tent for whatever reason, you don’t have to do this ridiculous dance where you crouch at the door, remove a shoe, extend only one leg inside the tent, almost accomplish an involuntary split while you remove the other shoe, and then do the same thing again once you come out. You simply kick them off, and you dive in. They’re also great if you’re going canoeing or kayaking, because you will most likely get your feet wet. Lastly, flip flops are essential when you’re hitting the camping’s showers. You don’t want to have to touch that slimy ground with bare feet. Sunglasses If there is ever a place to wear your sunglasses, it’s while camping. Squinting in the sun all day is no good for a myriad of reasons. I make sure to bring my most inexpensive ones, a pair that I wouldn’t mind getting dirty or losing. While camping, things don’t always stay exactly in their place, and it would be a shame to misplace your nicest pair of sunglasses. Hoodie I think that’s an all-time camping staple. A hoodie is a good piece of clothing to have for so many reasons. It’s warm, it’s cozy, you can use the hood if you’re cold or want to protect your neck and your head (those vicious mosquitoes again)… I usually also use mine as a pillow during the night. My favorite thing is wearing my hoodie by the campfire and then bringing home that incredible smell. I mean, everybody does this, right? … Right? Sport bras If you’re a woman, sport bras are the way to go while camping. They’re much more comfortable and, if ever it gets super warm, you can take off your shirt and still be wearing something appropriate. They’re also great if you’re planning to do any physical activities while you’re there, like hiking, canoeing, cycling… I never even bring regular bras, I just live in sport bras and bathing suits. Beach Towel Since towels take up so much space in a bag, I like to bring only one beach towel that will double up as a bath towel. Additionally, I get a bit iffy about bringing my nice bath towels in the woods, so I prefer to bring a big beach towel that I use for all occasions. Long jeans For some reason, that’s a clothing item that I’ve forgotten a few times. Like I said earlier, you don’t always remember to pack warmer clothes. Just like the long-sleeve shirt and the long socks, a pair of jeans will keep your warm and protected (how many layers do we need to escape the mosquitoes??). I usually bring a well-worn pair, so I don’t really mind if it gets wet or dirty. Jeans are also convenient if you decide to go out of the camping grounds for a bit. Nobody likes to find themselves in the city dressed like a hermit. Braided bracelets I like to accessorize every outfit that I wear. I tend to feel naked when I’m not wearing any jewelry, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. However, I don’t want to bring jewelries on camping trips because I’m scared to lose them (a ring is so easily lost in the sand). Instead, I put on a row of braided bracelets when I leave, and I don’t take them off during the whole trip. Braided bracelets are great because they go in the water and the more worn out they are, the better they look. By not removing them, I know that I won’t lose them, and they add a little something to my look. 2 bobby-pins and 1 hair tie If you have long hair, don’t forget to bring an extra hair tie. Since I have super long hair, I also like to bring a couple bobby-pins. I find that with 2 bobby-pins and 1 hair tie, you can do pretty much anything. In the heat and the humidity, you want to make sure you have something to get your hair out of the way. That is it for the clothing essentials. Of course, you would also need basic things like outfits, underwear and bathing suits. You can also check out my beauty essentials post from last year to help you decide what beauty products you should bring. To make things easier, I created a complete packing list for camping trips, which you can find down below. I left a few blank spaces at the end so that you can add your own suitcase essentials, so feel free to print this packing checklist and make it your own. Happy camping! Much love
-TM-
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