Many would argue that taking a generator camping is cheating or that it defeats the purpose. I agree with that to some extent, you won’t catch me camping with one in the summertime. Winter is a slightly different story however.
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The sounds of nature can be undoubtedly beautiful, but every once in awhile it’s nice to break it up and crank some tunes. For this, you will need a great speaker.
The UE Boom speaker is hands down my favorite choice when it comes to portable speakers. Whenever our camping kitchen is set up there is at least one UE hanging from the canopy. Whoever still has some battery left on their phone usually decides the music. Or the chef for the night. I love returning to the camp from a day on the river, hearing the music in the distance then the laughter and conversations of my group as I get closer. It’s like a home away from home and having a portable speaker can really keep a positive atmosphere alive during a long trip.
If you have ever seen “127 Hours” you know just how important carrying a knife can be for your survival. Having said that, it is very doubtful that you will need to remove your hand to free yourself from a fallen boulder. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a good knife for other reasons.
There are plenty of activities that you can do while spending time out in the mountains on a camping trip. A great, inexpensive way to enjoy nature is to go for a hike. One thing that I like to do while I’m camping in a large group is take some time for myself and go on a short hike. Whether I follow a trail, climb to the top of the nearest hill, or just go upstream, it’s always best to have the correct footwear. I have a pair of Merrell hiking shoes that I picked up a few years back and they are great. Merrells are a great breathable lightweight hiking shoe and are very comfortable.
If you want to hike to your camping destination, you’ll need a hiking bag that can fit everything you want to bring. It’s a good idea to get a bag that is durable yet lightweight at the same time so you can get the maximum use out of it. I was due for a new hiking backpack recently so I decided to go with Osprey’s Atmos AG 65 backpack and I love it!
Cot, Air Pad, or Both?
Anytime you go camping a good night sleep is definitely something you will want to have. It all starts with what you are sleeping on. Unless you are totally fine with sleeping on the ground you’ll want to invest in other sleeping options: cot or air pad (or maybe both). You will want to go with something that is lightweight yet comfortable at the same time. Especially if you plan to also use it for backpacking.
A dutch oven is a great way to bring more of an at-home feel to your cooking over a campfire. Typically camping dutch ovens are made of cast iron, which is really heavy as far as hiking gear goes. GSI Outdoors makes a great lightweight dutch oven.
If you are hiking to a remote camping location your kitchen probably won’t be your top priority. Camping close to your vehicle gives you the upper hand when it comes to your camping kitchen.
I have put together a list of 10 basic camping kitchen items that are a must have to make your experience in the kitchen great every time. Some of the best meals that I have had in my life have come out of the camping kitchen so I always feel like setting it all up is worth it.
One thing that will come in handy while you are camping is a dry bag.
If you plan on bringing items that are easily damaged by water (phone, car keys, wallet, etc.), a dry bag is the ideal way to keep your valuables safe while you are camping. I use my TRUE Dry Bag every time I go out, even if it’s just for the day. I always like to have my phone around in case I want to take a quick picture. Before I bought my dry bag I always had a tough time with making the correct judgment call and leaving my phone in a safe place. After replacing two phones I finally came to my senses and got a dry bag.
Your cooler is an important part of your gear, if you plan on bringing food that is. Unless I’m backpacking, I always bring my YETI Tundra cooler camping.
One of my favorite trips that I do is an annual rafting trip that we go on where everyone in the crew makes the maximum effort to make an appearance, last year over 30 people showed up. There are tents spread all around, rafts lining the river, and a full kitchen area. I was once able to walk around the kitchen are and easily identify who’s cooler is whose by the various colors and models, but nowadays it is much more organized and almost like flipping through the YETI catalog. I have noticed that over the past couple of years some of my rafting buddies have been replacing their older, worn out gear and upgrading to the best they can get their hands on (mostly trying to outdo each other).