Camping Accessories That Will Make Your Life in the Woods Easier

John Lubbock once said, “Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters and teach us more than we can ever learn from books”. Spending time outdoors can benefit us in every possible aspect, and camping is one of the best ways to do it. It’s a great health booster and an excellent opportunity to clear your mind from everyday worries and problems. Camping lets you escape the crowded city life filled with constant rushing and stress-filled days.

Camping is adventurous and exciting for everyone. Sleeping in a tent can be a fantastic experience for small children and create long-lasting memories they’ll never forget. It’s a great way to develop new skills and learn how to work as a team. Plus, family time can now be fun and filled with many different activities. You’ll learn to appreciate small things, eat excellent food and love nature even more.

A Sleeping Mat

A good night’s sleep is key to having an energised and adventure-filled day. That’s why being comfortable and warm in your sleeping bag is essential. Experienced campers know that there should be one-third of insulation above and two-thirds of insulation beneath. That is why choosing the best self inflating camping mat is crucial.

Self inflating mats, or SIM, are filled with cell foam. When you open the valve, it starts to draw air inside of it and begins to expand. If you want to adjust the hardness and comfort more after the mat is inflated, you can blow some air before closing the valve. Try it; if it’s too firm for you, you can always let some air out and make it right. The main thing is to have full-body support. If you can, minimise blowing air inside because the moisture that goes in can cause mould, and we know how bad mould can be.

The best way to store a SIM is by keeping it inflated while the valve is open. This way, the moisture will come out, and the foam will maintain its memory. You can easily store it behind the wardrobe or in the garage when you’re not using it. You can buy a self inflating camping mat at many thickness levels according to your needs, but remember that the thicker it is, the heavier it’ll be. This may influence the packing and carrying. When you want to roll up the mat, just open the valve and fold it in thirds while putting your weight on it. If you ever get a puncture, just treat it like you would a flat tire.

A Camping Shower

If taking regular showers is a must for you in your everyday life, extended camping can sometimes be an issue. Many camping sites don’t have showers, and having the wet wipes or warming up water on the camping stove won’t do the trick if you’re there for a week. But fortunately, people thought of a way to solve this problem, and the solution is a portable camping shower. They can have many looks, from water pumps to sophisticated battery-operated systems. But overall, the three main elements are a water container, showerhead and tubing.

The simplest shower you can get is a watering can. Just scoop water from the closes water source and tilt it at an angle to let it pour. Unfortunately, there won’t be any warm water, and its capacity is limited. A hot water shower, on the other hand, is much better. Usually, these showers heat on propane gas or camping solar panels. The gas ones are Lithium-ion battery operated and have a pressure pump. These batteries are easy to carry, rechargeable and recyclable, making them an eco-friendly option. Solar showers will save you money, but if there’s no sun, you won’t be able to use them. Plus, they don’t have a pump to regulate the water pressure.

A Multitool

A multitool is highly versatile and beneficial to have with you at all times, especially when you’re camping. You can fix anything, anywhere. The best camping multitools are equipped with enough tools so that you can use them for a variety of tasks. We usually prioritise features like a range of blades and frequently used tools like pliers, a wire stripper, and both flat and Phillips screwdrivers. The materials and their quality are also necessary because, for a safe camping trip, you’ll need a sturdy material to keep up with the tasks. Some of the best materials are:

• Stainless steel – heavy, rust-resistant and strong;
• Titanium – light, rust-resistant, strong, expensive;
• Aluminium – less durable, lightweight, rust-resistant.

A good design will make the multitool practical and easily accessible. Things like butterfly or non-butterfly closures, lockable blades and tools, replaceable tools, and much more will determine how functional the multitool is. A keychain multitool will always be with you because you carry your keys everywhere. Pocket multitools are bigger and heavier but still easy to store. Belt multitools can do bigger jobs.

Water Filters

Nowadays, there are many choices when it comes to water filters. Fast packers, cyclists, and ultralight backpackers are using bottle filters more and more since they’re portable, light, and allow you to drink while you’re on the go. If you have a water source nearby, this is a great option. Straw filters will enable you to drink directly from the source rather than being made to fit onto a bottle. They’re small and lightweight, but you should carry one if you have a regular water source because they don’t have any storage capacity.

As the name suggests, pump filters pump the water from the source to the bottle. Water is pumped from a source into a bottle by pump filters. They are excellent for group trips because they function well with shallow water, and you can pump as much water as you need. This way, you’ll fill all of your containers. The only downside is that they’re heavier and require manual labour. Gravity filters are easy and don’t require much effort around them. Just scoop up the water and hang the filter upside down. Gravity will do its thing and filtrate the water. One disadvantage is their price; they’re more expensive than the rest of the filters.

In Summary

Camping can be a fantastic experience you can share with your family or friends. These accessories make your life easier, so choose and use them wisely. Pick the best materials and high-quality equipment that will save you money in the long run.