Camping question

[Catrin]

I am preparing to tent camp for 2 nights at a women's mtn bike clinic, and I've never actually tent camped as an adult, only once in my life close to 40 years ago :eek:

I've been told to just bring the minimum, I've friends going who are packing everything they can think of and if I forget something I can lean on them...but I would like not to have to do that overly much. I also have to keep my expenses to a bare mininum. I've also no idea what I am doing :rolleyes:

I have a tent/sleeping bag/air mattress taken care of. Friends who are loaning the tent are helping me to put it up.

I have a cooler for ice, water, beer to share, fruit, munchies/nutrition for hiking/biking.

Meeting friends for breakfast Saturday, just need to take care of food for Friday eve/Saturday lunch - all other meals will be taken care of at clinic (my session isn't until Sunday).

There is a bath house close to the campground, and while I probably don't NEED to take water, I am taken three bottles (125 ounces each). First aid kit as well :o and will also pick up a folding chair.

Any obvious omissions from this list? Probably silly not to have a rain poncho but I am going to be brave and not buy one :)

[TsPoet]

NO, but there are things I would delete.
Air mattress? A real one, or a camping one? I've known lots of people who use them on bike tours (when someone else is carrying the gear), but I wouldn't bother.
A cooler? for what, do you really need that? Again, car camping or ease, sure, but if you will be moving around I wouldn't bother with it.
Just me, simple is better.
My mom always gets mad at me for bringing a tent!

[GLC1968]

bug repellent
a small flashlight (in case you have to pee in the middle of the night)
a mid-weight fleece jacket (good for warmth and makes a good pillow)
lantern or headlamp (something that will provide light hands-free)


I am assuming that you are driving to the site where you will camp, correct? If so, then a cooler is a good idea - otherwise, that's too much to carry! If you have a cooler, I'd probably just do pre-made salad or wraps or something for the missing meals because they are easy and don't need much preparation.

[Sky King]

Your Ipod or other music source with headphones incase it is a noisy camp and you can't sleep, we never bike tour without them. I also am a fan of tylenol PM :)

[tulip]

towel, bug spray, flip-flops, soap (you can use regular soap on your hair in a pinch).

pillow. I cannot sleep without a pillow.

Enjoy the sounds of night and don't forget to look at the stars.

[indysteel]

Two words: bug spray.

You're otherwise covered. I usually bring some earplugs and some flip flops for the bathhouse. DH and I will have just about anything else you could need. We do not camp particularly light. :(

[OakLeaf]

Spare towel to wipe the dew/rain off your bike saddle in the morning.

Bring a raincoat for when you're not riding. If you don't have a raincoat you're willing to camp in, even a garbage bag will help. When you're camping, once you or your things get wet, you will not dry off until you come home... Make sure you have something watertight for your stuff (garbage bag or storage-sized ziploc) in case your friend's tent leaks.

+1 on bug spray.

[Catrin]

bug repellent
a small flashlight (in case you have to pee in the middle of the night)
a mid-weight fleece jacket (good for warmth and makes a good pillow)
lantern or headlamp (something that will provide light hands-free)


I am assuming that you are driving to the site where you will camp, correct? If so, then a cooler is a good idea - otherwise, that's too much to carry! If you have a cooler, I'd probably just do pre-made salad or wraps or something for the missing meals because they are easy and don't need much preparation.

This sounds good - the clinic is at a state park and we are all camping together there - 3-4 campgrounds full of mountain bikers :) Yeah, I am a wimp, but I need that air mattress so I know I can sleep. I doubt my old bones and joints want to start sleeping on the hard ground now :o The cooler is for food and to have cold beer/ice for the Camelbak.

Flashlight is good, hadn't thought of that. nor the flip-flops! There WILL be a late night trip to pee, especially if I drink beer ;)

I keep see-sawing on the foldable chair, but I don't want to count on there being a free picnic table...

Thanks for all of the tips, I KNEW there were things I hadn't thought of. Thank you!

[indysteel]

This sounds good - the clinic is at a state park and we are all camping together there - 3-4 campgrounds full of mountain bikers :) Yeah, I am a wimp, but I need that air mattress so I know I can sleep. I doubt my old bones and joints want to start sleeping on the hard ground now :o The cooler is for food and to have cold beer/ice for the Camelbak.

Flashlight is good, hadn't thought of that. nor the flip-flops! There WILL be a late night trip to pee, especially if I drink beer ;)

I keep see-sawing on the foldable chair, but I don't want to count on there being a free picnic table...

Thanks for all of the tips, I KNEW there were things I hadn't thought of. Thank you!

Definitely yes on the chair. At some point, you're going to want to sit by your tent or someone else's and relax.

[lph]

Yup, a double, or is it triple, on bug repellent, earbuds and light source.

Also, I have no idea what kind of climate or elevation you're in, but camping and spending the entire day outdoors is a lot colder than being able to go indoors in the evening, so bring enough clothes. On climbing camping trips, even in midsummer, we often pack thick socks, a warm hat and a down jacket.

I remember driving around on holiday trying to find a new climbing spot, and realizing we were there when we spotted people wearing down jackets at the local pizzeria, amongst all the locals in shorts :D

[Koronin]

Only time I've tent camped in my adult life is/was for the NASCAR races in Bristol, TN. (We now have a hotel booked for the past couple of years...a monsoon rainstorm one year and snow the next made me look for a hotel). We always packed coolers for drinks and food as we cooked at the campsite for breakfast and either lunch or dinner (lunch for Aug night race, dinner for spring day race). Several bins for all the cooking supplies, one chair each, plus a folding table, sleeping bags and cots. With cots that gives you more space in the tent and you also have a place to sit down. And a battery operated radio. Oh and yes we ended up the last two years bringing a generator with us as well.
Definitely will need a flashlight and bug spray. For the spring race we brought heaters and for the Aug race we always brought fans.

[PamNY]

All the above suggestions are good.

Are you cooking? Building a fire? If so, will you collect or buy wood? You might want a saw or hatchet. I use firestarters (either homemade or purchased).

You'll need something sturdy for food storage -- can your food supplies go into a car overnight to be safe from insects and wildlife? If you are storing food in a cooler with melting ice, be sure it's securely packaged so it doesn't get waterlogged.

I never bother with chairs; I cut a piece from an old closed-cell foam sleeping mat and sit on that.

Remember that if it rains EVERYTHING gets wet. I take extra garbage bags, several big Ziploc type bags and no cotton clothing.

I second the suggestion of a hands-free light source (headlight). Good investment if you ever live through a power outage, too.

[indysteel]

My hip and SI joint appreciate a chair...but to each their own!

Since there is a threat of rain and you don't know how well the tent will work, I'd leave what I could in the car both overnight and during the day on Saturday. The low is supposed to be 59, so I'd bring a pair of pants and a long sleeve top or jacket, along with some socks.

I always get pretty sticky camping and being basically outsie 24/7 so I bring a few change of clothes. A sun hat of some kind is helpful, too.

[PamNY]

I forgot one thing -- you need some kind of hands-free light in your tent. A headlight will do the job, or a small convertible flashlight.

If you are using a regular flashlight, bring a hook to hang it inside the tent which will probably have loops for that purpose.

[Brandi]

Headlamp headlamp headlamp! forget flash light that is what a headlamp is for. And some kind of pad to sleep on a must a total must! Would not camp without one. Did once and it hurt! and one thing I did not see mentioned and beanie for at night. a wool one. even in the summer it can get chilly. Make a list of all you want to bring and check it off. It does help you are going with people you can borrow from. a list is good. I camp allllll the time top 2 items are important to me!

[laura*]

Any obvious omissions from this list?

Can opener.

Lots of stuff that doesn't need cooking comes in cans. These days you can almost always grab a free plastic spoon or fork at the grocery store, but you'd have to buy a can opener.

[Kathi]

Don't know which campgrounds you'll be in but typically cyclist return from their rides and everyone wants to shower at the same time. That equals cold water. 1 trick is to find another camp ground in the park that doesn't have cyclists, nice warm water. Or, shower late or early.

Hopefully, they'll have shower trucks which will provide plenty of hot water.

If you're camped by the pool plan on cold water.

[Trek-chick]

Here is a good checklist I found....I always look online for these because I like to cross things off lists:p

http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/checklists.htm

[pll]

Get one of the old Swiss Army mountain bike knives:

http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Swiss-Army-Large-Mountain-Bike-23-tool-Knife/3361369/product.html

(never leave home without a cork screw ;)).


Can opener.

Lots of stuff that doesn't need cooking comes in cans. These days you can almost always grab a free plastic spoon or fork at the grocery store, but you'd have to buy a can opener.

PS: actually in stock through Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Wenger-16948-Evolution-Biker-Swiss/dp/B000NC2BKW)! About to get one myself.

[Desert Tortoise]

Definitely prepare as much of your food ahead of time as possible. For example, if you are making sandwhiches, do the bread, mustard or mayo, meat together. Cut up vegetables ahead and put in a separate container. If you assemble too early, the sandwhich gets soggy. Also, can't make sandwhiches too far ahead of time, no more than a day or so.

But things like vegetables and fruit, wash and cut up ahead of time if possible. Try to use hardier fruits/vegetables and not too soft or mushy. It gets messy and for the weekend, it's worth it. Remember, you will not have the convenience of a sink, stovetop, countertops, etc to cook and clean up. This is the time I do make use of plastic bags and disposable stuff. Especially if I don't know for certain that I will have good access, time and energy to wash stuff.

Have fun!

dt

[SmartCamper]

That's a pretty good checklist but here's a newer one that also can some essential camping skills along with it. https://www.smartcamper.eco/camping-checklist-camping-essentials-list/

[Allevi]

If you are thinking of a long trip, then you need to think about how you will prepare food. If you have enough space in the car, you can take a generator Wen (https://www.propaneva.com/best-portable-generator/#product_1), which will be a source of electricity for you, and you can cook, charge phones, and more. It is better to look for a camp site in advance so that there are no difficulties.