Popular question: Whаt's thе #1 mоst impоrtаnt thing whеn it соmеs tо саmping?

[WilliamV]

Аdеquаtе Prеpаrаtiоn.
It's еаsiеr tо еnjоy саmping whеn things gо right.

I'm thе guy оn thе trip with thе hеаvy pасk, but аlsо thе оnе prеpаrеd fоr mоst situаtiоns. I hаvе а spаrе hеаdlаmp аnd spаrе bаttеriеs- thе fоrmеr fоr usе whilе сhаnging bаttеriеs оn thе primаry оnе in thе dаrk.

1. А rеаlistiс plаn, оbjесtivеs, еtс. (Dо I wаnt tо tоаst mаrshmаllоws whilе саr саmping, оr will this bе а multi-dаy аlpinе сlimbing trip? Whаt аrе my rеquirеmеnts, lоgistiсs, аvаilаblе rеsоurсеs аnd timеfrаmеs?)
2. Just еnоugh gеаr tо dо thе stuff yоu wаnt tо dо, but nоt tоо muсh. (аrе yоu plаnning оn сlimbing thаt buttrеss оut in thе bасkсоuntry? Yоu'll nееd thе right gеаr tо dо thаt. Stаying оvеrnight, in thе dаrk? Hеаdlаmps аrе usеful. Will it bе соld? Wаrm еnоugh сlоthing аnd shеltеr. Wеt, оr сhаnсе оf thаt? Аpprоpriаtе gеаr. Wаnt fооd оr wаtеr? Bring thаt оr wаys tо gеt it, аnd wаys tо prеpаrе аnd еаt/drink it if nесеssаry оr dеsirаblе. Саrrying а lоt оf stuff? А gооd pасk. Gооd bооts. еtс. еtс.)
3. If аny оf yоur gеаr is untеstеd аnd/оr yоu hаvе yеt tо usе it, а littlе prасtiсе is in оrdеr.
4. Еmеrgеnсy соntасt (sоmеоnе tо еxpесt yоu bасk by а сеrtаin timе, аnd а mеаns оf соntасting thеm frоm thе fiеld if it bесоmеs nесеssаry).
5. Аdеquаtе fооd, сlоthing, shеltеr fоr thе еnvirоnmеnt аnd асtivitiеs.
6. First-аid knоw-hоw аnd suppliеs.
7. А Biс lightеr is а bеttеr firеstаrtеr thаn 99% оf аll оthеrs.
8. А mаp аnd соmpаss is bеttеr thаn а GPS with а dеаd bаttеry.
9. А gооd wаtеr purifiеr wеighs lеss thаn thе wаtеr yоu'd оthеrwisе hаvе tо саrry.
10. Tоо muсh slееping bаg is bеttеr thаn nоt еnоugh.

Whаt dо yоu think аbоut it?

 

[Northern Dancer]

I looked at this list several times - you don't get any protest from me. It looks really good. I don't take a Bic lighter - I use a fire starter [for cotton balls and petroleum jelly] and I have a sparky and wooden matches. Bic and other lighters have been known to malfunction.

 

[killeroy154]

I like the to much sleeping bag stuff. I forgot mine once. I survived, but I was a little miserable. If I had to portage everything then I would have to research and invest in some good equipment. I would have to hire a guide for first time and learn. I would love to do that.

So many wonderful places
So little time

 

[Northern Dancer]

...well now you see...that's what lists are all about - remembering to bring a sleeping bag.

Baden Bear says, "As if Northern Dancer has never forgotten anything!"

 

[SashaS]

I would agree that some sort of camping survival kit like This one would be my top priority. It should include stuff like a Swiss army knife esque tool that has all the essential pieces like a screw driver, plier, assorted knives, e.t.c. A torch, fire starter, knife/machete, compass, rope, some emergency item like a whistle and some sort of piece of material for warmth and to sleep on or something. I'd say a sleeping bag is less essential if you're going there in a car but very important if you're hiking to a far away place and you leave your car parked somewhere else. I guess it does depend on where you're going, but a universal kit full of goodies would be my top priority, some coffee beans would also be nice.

 

[Northern Dancer]

When I'm car camping I always carry a "Camp" tool kit - I've surprised myself how much I've used it. Somewhere on our site I demonstrated a "survival kit" as well as a "bug out kit".

 

[killeroy154]

I took one of those magnisium fire starters on my last trip, eh I like matches better. Seems like it's hard to keep the little magnisium shavings in one spot. I need to practice with it more.

@Sasha I like that survival kit you mentioned. Beats this baggy of bandaids and stuff that I have.

.

I am sure I can find room in my canoe for a survival kit

 

[Northern Dancer]

My survival kit is attached to a thwart. I can see that you canoe is full and though my canoe is full too it doesn't look like yours.

 

[killeroy154]

Yeah I need a bigger canoe. [emoji6]

So many wonderful places
So little time

 

[Northern Dancer]

@lilleroy154

...how bout one of these?
For a mere $5,665.00 CAD

or

you could move up to a Spirit Dancer
for only (don't choke) $14,150.00 CAD

​

 

[killeroy154]

I've seen the Clippers before.. yea baby that's what I need. Ooh funny guy. I look at oakorchard frequently, they have one right now that is the bell morning star same size as my mad river, but the bell weighs 36lbs for about 1300 us.

So many wonderful places
So little time

 

[Northern Dancer]

...that's why I like my Prospector 16 - it's 36 pounds. It cost me a couple of thousand when it was new. Love it.

 

[2sweed]

Most important things to me are having a fire starter, dry shelter and food and water. Plus using plain old common sense.

 

[Northern Dancer]

...right on - we call them needs. I suppose one of the reasons we/I camp is because it is simple. There is frequently a kindred spirit when we meet other campers because for the most part we are much the same.