Camping with the family is always a great opportunity to spend time with one another, embrace the great outdoors, and bond a little. But you’ll need the proper family camping gear. If you’re well prepared, you’ll have a great time!
And because summer has finally arrived, it’s probably the time to start planning and preparing your own family camping trip. A huge part of that planning process is making sure that you’ve got everything ready to take with you and that you don’t leave anything important behind.
With that in mind, we’re going to talk today about some of the things you’ll want to take with you in order to get the most out of your camping trip this summer. So find out more below.
Table of Contents
A Hammock For Hanging Out
Let’s start with a family camping gear item that’s purely fun. A hammock is an ideal way to relax and enjoy your surroundings when you’re camping. A good hammock will give you the back support you need while also being incredibly comfortable to nap in during the day. There’s a reason why people still love them and why they’re still around after all this time. And they’re particularly good during long lazy camping trips or on days when you and your family just want to relax.
Simple Games And Activities
Having some games and activities prepared will ensure your kids don’t start to get bored when camping. It could be a few board games or lawn games or whatever you like. It’s all about making sure that during the moments when you’re not out doing exciting things, you still have some things to do that will help pass the time. It could be as simple as taking electronics and enough batteries to keep them charged. It’s entirely up to you to decide though. Your life as a parent is always easier when the kids are occupied.
Bikes For Everyone
Taking bikes with you can be a great idea when you’re going camping. They make it easier to get around and offer a new way to explore that you might not have tried before. As long as you’re able to store them on the back or roof of your car, it shouldn’t be particularly difficult to transport them. You just need a safe bike rack that’ll keep them in place for the duration of the trip. If everyone in the family has their own, you can take bike trips throughout the location where your camp is based.
A Camping Stove
It’s always a good idea to have a camping stove with you when you head off on a camping trip. It makes it possible for you to prepare all kinds of meals and means you don’t have to stick to boring foods or processed snacks that you bought with you. A stove, a coolbox, and lots of fresh items that you stored in there can be a life saver and make your trip far more enjoyable. It should serve you well for the entirety of your trip.
A Family Camping Gear Must Have – First Aid Kit
Having a first aid kit with you is usually a smart move. It means that you’ll be able to deal with any problems that arise in a safe and correct way. You don’t want to be caught out by not having basic things like plasters and other items. When you’re out and about in the wilderness with your kids, there’s always a chance that someone is going to graze a knee or get hurt in one way or another. If you have a first aid kit with you, you can be sure that you’re ready for those kinds of incidents.
Headlamps For The Nighttime
It’s a good idea to take a couple of headlamps with you that people can use to get around at night if they need to get up to use the toilet or something like that. Out in the wildness, nighttime is properly dark. There’s no ambient light in the surroundings and all you’ll have is moonlight if you don’t bring a lamp or flashlight with you. It’s a simple way of being prepared and makes life a lot easier for all of you when you’re camping in the middle of nowhere.
The Right Shoes Are Indeed Family Camping Gear
The right shoes are really important when you’re doing a lot of activity across a variety of different terrains. It’s in your best interests to make sure that you pick out the shoes that are going to offer you the support and comfort you’re looking for when walking and hiking a lot. And the same applies to your family. Blisters and injuries will be much more likely if you’re not wearing appropriate footwear for the duration of your trip, so don’t forget that.
The Right Travel Toiletries
Having the right travel toiletries with you really will make a difference when you’re traveling with the family. You want to make sure that you’re not going to end up dirty and feeling like you’re not comfortable as a result. That can happen, and it’s particularly important to stay clean when you have kids with you. Whether there are showers on the campsite you’re staying at or you’re washing under a waterfall, choosing a good shampoo, body wash, and other products to take with you is key. Keeping your skin refreshed and protected with products like Kora Organics skincare can make a big difference too.
Plenty Of Sunscreen
When you’re spending lots of time outside, you need to be wearing sunscreen, and the same applies to your whole family. And when you’re camping, you’re going to be doing outdoor activities for most of the day. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you take enough sunscreen with you to last the whole duration of your camping trip. Failing to take enough sunscreen will lead to some or all of your family struggling with sunburn and the irritation that comes with it, and that’s never a good thing.
A Plan For Repelling Mosquitos
Mosquitos can also cause problems when you’re camping, and you don’t want your kids to be complaining about itchy bites all over their bodies after the first night of camping. While there are plenty of DEET-free insect repellants, for the toughest mosquitoes, consider using DEET. Ultimately, whatever you do, it’s a good idea to include bug spray in your family camping gear; that might mean using some sort of mosquito repellent spray for the tent and sleeping area. Or you could use a light that attracts and traps mosquitos.
Snacks And Water – Essential Family Camping Gear
Having plenty of snacks and water with you will certainly matter a lot when you’re looking to keep your whole family satisfied and looked after during the camping trip. The last thing you want is to be putting yourselves at risk or having to cut the trip short because you don’t have enough water to last you throughout the trip. And remember that you’ll need more when you’re being active and when the temperature is high. Snacks will just help tide you over when you’re being more active than usual.
Gather Your Family Camping Gear And Go!
Camping with the family is always a challenge and it’s always something that you should plan for carefully. Making sure that you have everything with you to make the most of your time away will make the trip more enjoyable for everyone. So don’t leave any of the things mentioned above off your packing list.
