Camping for Beginners
We’ve had several customers DM us and mention they purchased a Chuck Box over the winter but have never camped before and asked for some advice. Therefore, we thought it would be helpful to provide some basic camping tips for them to consider to help them become an expert by the end of the camping season. That being said, spring is perfect for starting your camping journey. The weather is mild, crowds are small, and you have the whole summer to work on your skills and setup. Here's how to go from beginner to confident camper by the end of the summer.
Spring Basics (April-May)
Start with easy location
- Choose established campgrounds with amenities (e.g., electricity, running water, restrooms, etc.) and keep the trip short, one or two nights.
- Camp within 30 - 60 minutes of home for your first trip in case you encounter any major issues, you can get home quickly.
- Before your trip, practice setting up your tent, air mattress, Chuck Box, etc. so you are familiar with everything before you get to your camp site.
- Get to your campsite early enough in the day so you can set everything up in daylight. Setting up your campsite via headlamp or car headlights is no fun!
- This has different meanings for different people but start simple and add more complexity as you become more comfortable. You do not need to become an expert overnight.
Mastering the Big Four is key
- Shelter: Be able to pitch your tent confidently, timely, and securely.
- Sleep: Invest in a quality sleeping bag (20-40°F rated), air mattress, or sleeping pad. If you don’t get decent sleep, it will make camping miserable.
- Cooking: Pre-plan simple meals. They don’t need to be Insta-post worthy, they need to be easy and practical!
- Practicality: Do not stress about the trendy and sexy camping things (e.g., cool gadgets, gourmet meals, etc.), be sure you have the basic practical items packed / figured out. These include packing all of the important small things such as headlamps, first aid kit, backup matches / fire starter, etc.).
Build Confidence (Late May-June)
Try New Challenges
- Take short backpacking trips (e.g., 2-3 miles) into more remote camp sites and stay out for 2-3 nights with only items you can carry.
- If possible, try camping in different environments (e.g., near lakes/rivers, mountains/bluffs, or desert).
Level Up Your Skills
- Work on and master campfire cooking and water management.
- Experiment with different sleeping setups (e.g., sleeping pad, hammock, etc.).
- Hopefully you never have to use these skills but learn emergency basics and first aid.
Specialize (July-August)
Advanced Skills
- Master fire management and Leave No Trace practices.
- Master emergency and wildlife preparedness.
- Start optimizing gear for weight and necessity.
Let us know if you have any other helpful tips to share!