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The 6 WORST Camping Mistakes I Wish I Avoided

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Brandon

Why I’m Writing This Postcamping near the beach

So for those of you who don’t know me, I am a master at camping. However I feel that I must say it wasn’t all easy at the start. When I first started camping there was quite a few mistakes I down-right wish that I avoided from the start, because these are definitely avoidable. Enjoy!

 

Avoid These Harsh Camping Mistakes

1. Not Researching The Location I Was Camping – This mistake is huge, and a lot of people are still making this mistake. Camping is about having fun, relaxing and enjoying yourself. But that can quickly be turned around and ruined if people do not prepare themselves for the area they are camping in. Research the weather, climatic conditions and the roadways so you can be fully prepared for anything you come across. Without this knowledge, there are chances you can struggle on your camping trip.

 

2. Not Upgrading My Cheap Equipment – Most of the time beginners will purchase the cheapest equipment because they wanted to save money OR that’s all they can afford. This is perfectly fine, however this equipment is not the greatest so it is highly important that you upgrade it before it starts getting wear and tear. If you don’t upgrade before this happens, you will surely start seeing some problems.

 

3. Relying Just On The Campfire

campfire

Usually people will rely JUST on the campfire for cooking.  This is a huge mistake if you decide to rely on this and not decide to take any backup with you. The weather can change – and sometimes it can change fast. Suddenly it becomes rainy or windy. In these conditions the campfire will not be possible to cook food, and without any backup you will have to go without food. Take a backup, such as a cooking stove.

 

4. Not Checking My Equipment Before Going Camping – Another harsh mistake people will make is that they don’t check their equipment before going camping. Once they get to their camping destination they soon realize that they camping equipment is either missing or not working well. How to avoid this? ‘Double’  check ALL of your equipment before going out. It also doesn’t hurt to put a tent up for practice and to verify everything’s working fine, without anything missing. It never hurts to do practice your camping skills as this can save people from the worst troubles at the camping site.

 

5. Bringing The Whole House With Me (LOL) – A lot of people bring the whole house with them – meaning they will often bring unnecessary items with them which makes tents and things overcrowded. It is highly important that you create a list for all items that you need and only bring those items that are necessary for camping. You want to avoid being over-packed.

 

6. Arriving Too Late To The Camping Destination

night time camping

Another huge mistake I commonly made was arriving too late to the campsite. Problems arise as you find it too difficult to find a place to pitch your tent. This all takes time – to put your tent up and light up the campfire. Avoid this common mistake by arriving to your destination on time so you have enough time to find a suitable location for your tent. Which means less worry/stress and more enjoyment/relaxation for yourself!

 

A Few Things To Take Note

Just remember that camping is for reclamation and adventure, so it will not feel like home. There are some chances that nocturnal animals can cause annoyance and kids can get dirty in only a few minutes time. Some people may find it uncomfortable sleeping in close quarters to each other. However, you should also remember that you are there to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while spending good time with the family.

So it is very important that you have proper planning about the camping trip and have enough information about the camping site. Don’t forget to double-check your equipment list in order to avoid any problems that may arise while in the wilderness.

What’s the biggest mistake you made while on your camping trip? Let us know in the comment section below, I’m sure we can all relate.

10 thoughts on “The 6 WORST Camping Mistakes I Wish I Avoided”

  1. Matt says:
    August 4, 2016 at 1:57 pm

    Well it seems like you learned from your mistakes. Remember, to become an expert at something you must have ‘exper’ience! Although I have not made any of these mistakes (Since I’ve only been camping once) I will be sure to not make any of these. Really useful post – Although I bet I will make my own mistakes its all just part of the process.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      August 4, 2016 at 2:02 pm

      Hey, Matt. Thanks for the comment. There’s so much time and effort that goes into preparing and executing a camping trip. It’s best to make these mistakes earlier on and learn from them so all future trips will be much easier and more fun.

      Reply
  2. Nickolas LePage says:
    August 8, 2016 at 4:46 am

    Hey Brandon, I go camping regularly and love it just like you! These tips are spot on as I have made almost every one of those mistakes. Reading this article will make camping trips more enjoyable for many people I think!

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      August 8, 2016 at 8:22 am

      Hi Nickolas – There’s too many mistakes to make while your out on a camping trip, by helping people identify these mistakes they can avoid them before they even happen. Glad you liked it.

      Cheers,
      Brandon

      Reply
  3. Chas says:
    August 8, 2016 at 4:21 pm

    I’ve only been camping once when I was kid. My parents were not into outdoors stuff like hunting, fishing and camping so I never acquired a knack for it. I’m an indoor girl who loves anything to do with computers, but your post is very useful to those who do camp. I actually run the sporting goods department where I work. I know weird isn’t it? The girl who likes to stay inside all of the time runs sporting goods! Camping is a major season for my department and brings a lot of sales. I am working on stocking up for hunting season that is about to start in Sept. With it camping gear sales rise too.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      August 8, 2016 at 4:27 pm

      There’s a lot of people that go camping as a kid then they stop when they’re older. I think life gets a bit too busy for some people which is why they never go out exploring again. That’s good you run the sporting goods department though, at least you know a lot about camping/hiking gear, which is more than most people.

      Reply
  4. Hindy Pearson says:
    August 9, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    Hi Brandon, thanks for those tips!! I haven’t been camping in forever but a colleague of mine will be going off on an adventure soon, for the first or second time. I’m going to pass on this post so he doesn’t experience any of those avoidable pitfalls you mentioned. Perfect timing.

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      August 9, 2016 at 8:17 pm

      Uhh, that sounds like some awesome timing, that’s good you stumbled across my post then! Well you should try it sometime or at least go with your friend for a well-deserved outdoor adventure!

      Good luck,
      Brandon

      Reply
  5. Tony W says:
    August 17, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    I agree not to rely on the camp fire for cooking. I always bring my JetBoil stove when camping. I am happy you did not make the biggest camping mistake of them all. Feeding the Bears. LOL

    Reply
    1. Brandon says:
      August 17, 2016 at 12:51 pm

      Hahaha, that is a huge mistake and definitely NOT something you should do, people take note of this. Lol

      Great suggestion Tony.

      Reply

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