No hotel, no soft bed, but waking up to birdsong, surrounded by nature and with stars overhead. Who could resist such an unforgettable experience as camping undoubtedly is. There's a rule about camping trips: no matter how it turns out, you'll always have something to remember. Whether you bring home beautiful memories or ones you'd rather forget.
Just like any vacation, you need to prepare adequately for a camping trip as well. Especially when camping, you must not overlook many things, and it's good to make a list so you don't forget anything. However, there are situations when, in the rush of stress and travel excitement, you may forget many things or underestimate certain important matters. Everyone makes mistakes, so read about the 4 most common mistakes you wouldn't want to experience while camping, and certainly wouldn't want to repeat.
1. You bring insufficiently warm clothing
There is no bad weather, only an inappropriately dressed hiker. That's why sufficiently warm clothingbelongs in the basic gear for camping. Even if the weather forecast promises beautiful sunshine and warmth. Cold mornings, evenings, and especially nights can catch you off guard. When an unexpected storm arrives, it also gets unpleasantly cold, not to mention the rain, which can soak you to the bone. In nature, you need to plan for the worst-case scenario, which means you need to expect that it will be very cold. It's easy to take off a jacket or long pants, just as it is to rely on a short T-shirt and shorts during cold days. There's nothing worse than when it's very cold outside and you don't have enough warm clothing to keep warm.
A great helper for camping is thermal underwear. This type of clothing will make your life easier while camping. It effectively absorbs and wicks sweat away from the body and maintains body temperature. It dries quickly and is breathable. It ensures maximum protection, and you'll feel as comfortable as in cotton. A cold night won't catch you by surprise, because you can even sleep in thermal underwear.
2. You have an unsuitable tent
Either way, the tent is the most important part of any camping trip. When choosing one, you need to pay attention to many things. Consider above all the number of people who will sleep in the tent. The manufacturer states the maximum number of people for the tent and calculates it based on average height. Therefore when choosing the tent size, take your body proportions into account. Believe us, there's nothing worse than being squeezed into a tent like sardines, which you definitely wouldn't want to experience on your camping trip.
When choosing a tent for camping, especially for a longer period than just one night, also take unfavorable weather into account. That's why a tent with a vestibulecomes in handy, where you can cook or store shoes and other items that would otherwise dirty your sleeping area.
Not even in your worst nightmare would you want to wake up one beautiful night submerged in water up to your ears. That's why another important criterion for choosing a camping tent is the water column. The higher the water column, the higher the tent's „water resistance“.
3. An ultra-modern tent you don't know how to set up
You've bought a modern and quality tent for your camping trip, congratulations on that. But during the rush before the camping trip, you somehow forgot to try it out and set it up at home in peace. You tell yourself, well, I'm skilled enough to be able to set up any tent. However, it can happen that you arrive at the campsite late at night or during a storm, and then the problem is at hand.
On top of that, add nervousness or stress, and you have trouble setting up the tent. Believe usit's easier to try setting up the tent calmly at home in the yard during sunny weather, where nothing is rushing you and you have enough time. The same applies to other camping equipment. Another option, especially for those less skilled, are self-erecting tents, which you can set up in a few seconds.
4. Underestimating the sleeping pad
Everyone planning to go camping knows they need a sleeping bag. But it's a mistaken belief that with a quality sleeping bag, a sleeping pad isn't needed. Wrong! Without a sleeping pad, even the highest quality sleeping bag can't sufficiently insulate against the cold. A sleeping pad insulates you from the cold ground, which is great during cold nights, but it also cushions and supports your body so you can sleep well. There's nothing like good, undisturbed sleep.
Every bump and unevenness on the ground would, without a sleeping pad press firmly into your back, and without it you wouldn't sleep properly. The new generation of inflatable sleeping pads is incredible and can rival the comfort of the mattress you have at home. Whether your sleeping pad is one type or another, don't make the big mistake of heading out camping without one.
A few closing words
There are many mistakes a person makes out of ignorance or forgetfulness. Believe us, it's best to learn from others' mistakes rather than your own. That's why we've prepared for you another part of the article about mistakes you never want to repeat while camping, so you can avoid them.
