How to Pack for Your First Camping Trip

You've decided to break up the monotony of your life and go camping. Good for you! Spending time outdoors can be a great deal of fun, as long as you are well prepared. As a first time camper, you've done your research and bought all the camping equipment you will need - from a brand new tent that sleeps your whole family to a first aid kit that you hope not to have to use. Now that you have everything you need, you just have one question. How the heck do you pack it all?

Much like you created a shopping list for your new camping gear, you need to prepare a packing list. Your packing list should contain all items that you are bringing with you on the camping trip. This includes not only your gear, but clothes, food and water supply, items for daily activities, etc.

You should make sure to do the following things before you begin packing:

· Test out all of your camping equipment, including your tent, your camp stove, and any items that, if not functioning properly, could cause a serious problem on your trip.

· Plan your meals. When it comes to food, improvising should not be an option. Make a list of all the meals you will eat while you are on your trip. This will help you make sure that you have enough food for your whole trip.

· Water is essential. Do not make assumptions about the availability of water supply at your destination. Bring water bottles, or bladders, and make sure that your equipment includes purification tablets.

Designate an area in your home where you will create a pile of all items necessary for your trip; in other words, all the items you included on your packing list should be placed together in one spot. This is your first step to packing for your camping trip.

Once all of your items are in a pile, take the time to review your list and assure that you didn't miss anything. It is best to do this over a few days, so that you do not feel rushed and risk not bringing items that are essential for your trip. If possible, have someone else double check your list and assure everything checks out.

After taking the inventory of your camping gear and all other items, begin packing your back pack. The backpack that you will have with you at all times should include the following items:

- first aid kit

- change of clothes

- several food items, like energy bars

- smaller water supply

These items should be located toward the top of your pack, as you will need easy access to them in case of an unplanned event. The remainder of your clothing, food items, and other necessities should be packed toward the bottom of your existing, or in an alternate bag. There is no best practice for the number of packs you should have with you - this will depend on the weather, your destination, planned activities, length of trip, etc. However, use your best judgment, and make sure that you have all items necessary for your trip. Do not leave necessities behind because you don't want to pack one extra bag.

Once your bags are packed, and your gear is ready, make sure that you review your packing list one final time and confirm that all items are good to go. Avoid the "less is more" mentality, and make sure to bring everything that you need to avoid getting caught in an event you are not prepared to handle. And most importantly, enjoy your first camping trip.