Just like every other human being on earth, you and I make mistakes. I’ve made a lot of them over the years when out camping, and I want you to avoid them before they happen to you.
Because it isn’t good when you make a huge mistake, especially when camping is about relaxing and having the least amount of stress as possible.
I see a lot of people making these common camping mistakes, so I’m here to provide them for you so you know exactly what NOT to do on your future camping trips.
#1 Not Cleaning Up Rubbish And Spills
Wildlife can smell food a mile away. Clean up spills and crumbs, and don’t take food into your tent, or be prepared for a furry friend during the night.
#2 Keeping Toiletries Inside The Tent
Bears and other wild creatures can smell products too – toothpaste, insect repellent, and soap. A lot of these products will entice critters. Keep it in the car, or in the same dry bag that your food is in.
#3 Not Taking An Extra Sleeping Pad
Oftentimes many people forget to bring a sleeping pad, or simply didn’t know one was required (many newbies are like that). Just bring an extra, then you can provide it to someone who doesn’t have one – otherwise you can use both if you want to.
#4 Not Being Prepared For The Chilly Nights
The warm temperatures can dip, and when they do, they dip fast. However you can combat this by having an extra fleece top or other jumper to keep you warm.
#5 Forgetting A Lot Of Important Items
You still need to wash dishes, while many people will still forget dish soap and dish towels.
A lot of times they will also forget about bringing butter or oil for the pan. A rule of thumb to follow: Don’t forget basic kitchen and toiletry items. You will automatically know what you need to bring.
#6 Arriving In The Dark
A recipe for disaster. Pitching a tent in the dark is not easy, and neither is chopping wood and getting the campfire ready.
#7 Underestimating The Weather
Don’t feel bad, most people do this. Just because the sun is shining today and suppose to be like it tomorrow as well, that doesn’t mean it WILL be like that. Be prepared and bring a raincoat and other wet weather gear – for each individual.
Rainy day activities should be packed every time too.
#8 Not Testing New Equipment
This one is a biggie. Test out that new portable BBQ grill you purchased first. Otherwise you will get to the campsite and try firing it up to feed the hungry kids, only to realize that it doesn’t work.
Test it out first, then you can send it back if it doesn’t go. This mistake is the same for tents too. I suggest you pitch your tent a few times at home so you don’t have any trouble in the wilderness.
Leave it in the backyard overnight – in the rain too – so you can see how well it performs. Of course, because not all tents are as waterproof as the manufacturers claim them to be.
Learn The Ins And Outs To Tent Buying Here
#9 Not Packing Enough Food
If something bad does happen or go wrong, you are left in a tight spot. People usually pack enough food just for the duration of the trip, however If someone twists their ankle you will probably need to stay another day.
I would recommend you bring an extra days worth of food and some extra snacks, just to be on the safe side.
#10 Forgetting A First Aid Kit
When you suddenly think you have all needed items, only to get to the campsite and realize you forgot one of the most important items. Safety precautions should be at an all-time high so you can all get home safely.
Conclusion
These are some common mistakes that I see an incredible amount of people still doing. A little research should be done in order to avoid these in the first place.
Fortunately for you I have compiled them in this article so they won’t end up happening to you.
Camping is amazing, but only when you are prepared and when everything goes as planned. Some knowledge will help you get to that all-important successful camping trip.
I hope you enjoyed this article, if you did please let me know in the comments below 🙂