What are some things that you can take camping that will instantly let everyone know you're a "pro"?
Some new friends of mine and I are going camping, and I really want to impress them. However, if you cannot tell, I have no idea what I am doing. What can I bring that will make me seem more "legit", as the kids say these days? I have like a tent and I think all the basics, but are there extra fancy items that are niche enough to really fake competency?
Answers ( 3 )
I've just got to say, from the perspective of a longtime camper, the less you have, the more you're bound to look more adept at camping. I know, we have to have all the tools. But we would go camping with the essentials, a sleeping bag, tent, knife, matches/lighter, a couple camping pots, plates and utensils, towel, unscented soap or camp soap (and do not dump into rivers or streams), flashlight/batteries, can opener/utility knife, compass/GPS, toilet paper, rain gear, extra pair socks, another extra pair socks, first aid kit, plastic bags. And of course canteen and water/filtration/water purifying tablets. And always bring a length of rope. And think about a chair. The more you try and look fancy, the more amateur you look.
GPS would be smart to have, so would a cell phone.
A satellite phone if you're going out far, which I believe you can also rent rather than purchase
A headlamp would be cool to bring - hands-free is a great benefit
A personal water filter
There's a really cool lantern, a LuminAID - a light that's solar-powered, rechargeable, and collapses for packing - and can charge phones
If I were going to get anything cool, it would be the LuminAID, I think it's a brilliant idea. https://luminaid.com/
You know, it's kind of easy to tell you're a newbie at this, because "going camping" is a fairly wide-open idea: Are you using a trailer or fifth wheel? Tents? How big? What is your terrain? Are you in a campground with toilets- maybe even showers- or are you parking on the side of a lonely road and hiking until you say "This looks like a good spot!" Is there a water source? Are you in an area with bears and mountain lions? Is there cell service?
I'm going to guess you're using tents, sleeping bags/mats/cots, possibly in a State park or on Federal land, in a "known" camping spot, for no longer than a three day weekend. So, other than your tent, sleeping supplies, food and utensils, in no particular order you will want to have:
A solar power source to recharge batteries Like these: https://www.amazon.com/slp/battery-source-for-camping/cowrvqp7z35o4uy It's that or carry batteries
If this camping area is primitive and has no toilet facilities, you may want to bring a fold-able shovel/trenching tool, and you definitely want toilet paper
Fire-starters. Like these https://www.amazon.com/fireplace-matches/b?ie=UTF8&node=2204647011 If you are in a State or on Federal land, you are likely restrained from gathering firewood without a permit- check on this before you go- Rangers take a dim view of people out in the wilderness who have no clue what the laws and regulations are. If you cannot collect firewood, you'll have to bring it along- it can get heavy if you're hiking a ways. Oh, and bring a hatchet for kindling.
You gotta have a flashlight. If you are not in an improved campground, you have no idea how solidly black dark it gets out there at night. There's a reason the human animal kept a fire going all night: It is freaking dark without it. Eventually, we invented flashlights. Get one small enough to carry around easily, but powerful enough to see what you need to see. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=flashlights&rh=n%3A2204647011&ref=nb_sb_noss
I lot of folks here would not consider heading into the mountains even for a day hike without a firearm. I'm of two minds on it: You likely won't need it, and if you are not very familiar and practiced, it isn't a weapon of survival so much as a false sense of security. Would you even be able to hit a marauding bear in a spot that doesn't just piss it off? Are you good enough with it to know when to pull it, and when to keep it safely tucked away? So, this one's up to you- a firearm you, yourself, are not good with will probably not impress your peers on a camping trip.
A good First Aid kit. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=first+aid+kit&rh=n%3A2204647011&dc&ref=a9_sc_1 It doesn't matter how many bits there are, as long as they are bits you might use during an emergency. Consider what you need in the way out there wilds, and make sure you have a kit which provides that. And, add wetones/paper-wipes, ibuprofen, immodium and extra cold packs.
Otherwise, well you're camping. How other campers will view is by what you contribute to their experience- which may not be what you bring. Do you have a good camera for getting pics so everyone can have an album afterwards? Can you sing? Play the guitar or harmonica? Did you remember some Hershey Bars, marshmallows and graham crackers for s'mores? Above all: Will you willingly, wonderfully, share? That- everyone sharing what is needed- is what makes the most successful and memorable camping trip.
I understand your desire to impress your new friends but faking competence on a camping trip is not the way to go. I grew up close to nature on a farm with animals, a river, and wilderness--all of which could be dangerous if you didn't know what you were doing. Though that is somewhat different from camping, lacking skills when it comes to things like swimming, responding to large animals, or putting out fires could cost lives--your own and others'. You might want to impress your friends by knowing more about camping than they ever realized a newby could.
Research the campgrounds, the camping project. Some good research questions might be: What is the condition of the place where we are camping? What supplies will I need? How much of everything do I need to last the duration?
I got the tips for those questions from the other answers in this thread.
When you feel confident about the information you have dug up but realize you are still missing important data, approach your friends. Tell them this is your first camping trip and you're not sure about [name your concern].
Watch their faces as you tell them. As a farm girl, I know how impressed we'd be if a person from the city knew anything worth knowing on the farm. We just knew how ignorant city people were despite all their education.
But with your intelligent questions you will not only get the information you need, you will also prove that you are:
They will be duly impressed. And everyone will be safe.