While you may think back to your days camping as a kid and remember an eye-boggling array of poles, hooks and string, a stove and a guitar, nowadays camping has become a much more lucrative and commercial business. Whereas once upon a time, you could pull up in a never ending amount of weird and wonderful places, pitch up a tent and sleep under the stars, this is now becoming more difficult as more business savvy enterprises have begun to charge people for the privilege. However, camping is still as fun and liberating as it was when you were a child.

If you’re tempted to head out on a camping adventure, there’s no need to hot foot it onto a plane and scratch that wanderlust itch overseas. There are plenty of opportunities to head off in the car with your family to experience the joys and delights of the great outdoors. Camping is relatively cheap and can arm your offspring with an appreciation for the simpler side of life. While traversing halfway across the globe is still a life-affirming experience, sometimes there’s nothing better than getting closer to nature. Take a look at this ultimate camping adventure packing checklist to inspire your road trip plans.

The Tent

While tents used to take half a day to put up and secure, there is now a huge selection of pop up style tents. These may seem gimmicky; however they are made from the finest canvas to protect against the elements, they are well constructed and take a mere ten minutes to pitch up and secure. As a family, you could choose a couple of two-man tents or go for a more family orientated experience and sleep within the same canvas topped dwelling.

A decent tent in the twenty-first century can cost you as little as $80 and can come in all shapes and sizes. Remember to ensure that the tent you choose has a hard wearing groundsheet and has adequate wind and waterproof protection.

Sleeping Bags

Although you might not be planning on sleeping out in subzero temperatures, it doesn’t hurt to account for every eventuality. Some of the best sleeping bags on the market, like those reviewed at www.militarybackpackguide.com, now try to accommodate every climate and condition that you may find yourself in. If you are planning on camping out during the height of summer, many bags now come complete with an inbuilt mosquito net and antibacterial coatings. All you need to do is spray an extra bit of Deet just for insurance purposes to ensure a bite-free restful night’s sleep.

If it gets a little chilly when you are resting your weary bones, many sleeping bags now have adequate insulation to cope with temperatures well below zero. This means you don’t have to worry about the weather and can rest safe in the knowledge that you’ll be warm enough in your sleeping quarters.

Luggage

It’s not unusual to see families heading out for a camping trip with a mind-boggling array of mess cluttering up the rear of their car. Very little is packed and instead is thrown into the back of the vehicle. Don’t be one of those families and instead keep your equipment and luggage organized. If you head to www.worldtraveler.com, you’ll clearly see the benefits of a front loading set of luggage. Unlike backpacks that are often top loading, meaning you have to rifle through an array of clothes, underwear, gadgets and books before you arrive at the power pack at the bottom of your bag, a front loading bag will open like a suitcase and allow you immediate access to any item you need to lay your hands on. This saves a lot of time, hassle and stress, especially when you little darling is desperate for their favorite toy.

Food Stuff

It pays to get the majority of your food en route. This means that you will have the freshest ingredients and grub that will have the longest best before dates until they go off and become inedible. By taking a generator and a mini fridge, you’ll be able to keep meat and fish refrigerated without running the risk of any food poisoning ruining your trip.

As for the actual cooking, you need to ensure that you bring the stoves, gas and cooking utensils required. It’s a good idea to invest in a decent pot to cook up some hearty stews, maybe a frying pan for sausages in the morning and plenty of cutlery. You don’t want to waste space and pack needless items that you know you’ll never use, but at the same time, you don’t want to be caught short. Skewers for toasting marshmallows are a must as are matches. You don’t want to be going neanderthal trying to make fire out of a couple of twigs and some dry grass.

Going camping doesn’t always have to mean ‘roughing it’. While some people wouldn’t dream of taking unnecessary luxuries, others wouldn’t make a foray into the world of camping without them. If you love a decent glass of wine with your dinner, take a bottle or two. If you love nothing better than a hot Italian espresso first thing in the morning, why not take a portable coffee maker along for the ride?

First Aid

Don’t forget to pack a basic first aid kit. At the very least you should have painkillers, antiseptic wipes, insect repellent, sun cream, gauze, bandages and band-aids. While you can’t account for every eventuality, you know that if the kids are out climbing trees, swimming in the lake or having a whale of a time exploring the forest trails, a minor accident could occur. If in doubt, get yourself to the local hospital but having a simple first aid kit should keep everyone safe from harm.

Heading out on a family road trip and embarking on a camping adventure can be huge amounts of fun. Relatively cheap and giving you plenty of quality time together, you will be able to create memories that will last a lifetime when on your foray into the world of camping.

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