Going camping can be exciting, but to make sure your trip is truly enjoyable, you need to properly prepare. The tips and advice you will learn here can provide you with some helpful hints to ensure a successful camping trip.

Learn to set up your tent prior to leaving on your trip. This will ensure that your tent is not missing pieces and that you understand how to set up your tent correctly. That can also cut down on the frustration some feel when setting a tent up for the first time.

Build yourself a survival kit; keep it with you anywhere you go while camping. A first aid kit, matches in a water tight container, a good knife, flares and tablet to purify water are some essentials to include. This survival kit may be what keeps you alive if you get lost and the items in it are indispensable in a survival situation. Your kit should not be left behind at the camp site, but should be carried with you wherever you go.

Make sure that the tent you take camping has enough space for everyone you are taking along. A bigger tent means easier movement, which can be useful when you have to urinate at night.

Dryer Lint

To start your fires at camp, use dryer lint as kindling. Collect your dryer lint about a month before you go camping. Simply use a plastic grocery sack to collect each new crop of lint. Your kindling will be easily accessible when you are leaving for your destination.

Duct tape is a handy item to pack with you on any camping trip. Just as it has myriad uses around the house, you can use it for a variety of needs in the woods, too. You may need to patch up a punctured air mattress. You could patch a hole or tear in your sleeping bag, tarp or tent. Tape also does wonders for blisters by offering an additional layer of protection. This can also be used for injuries when you do not have a regular doctor around.

If you’re taking along the kids, pack current pictures of them. If they go missing, you can show people the photo to help find them quickly. A picture should be carried anytime you are away from home, but even more importantly when camping in the woods.

You should be sure you have survival and first aid kits. Without them, you may need to finish your camping trip earlier than you would like. Also, you can prevent dire situations and help you to get a sick person some help.

Be sure to create your shelter before it gets dark. It’s hard enough to throw up a tent, but it’s even harder with the lights out. You need to make a fire or use a flashlight. It will obviously be much easier to pitch your tent if the sun hasn’t gone down yet.

Duct Tape

Always pack a roll of duct tape when you go camping. While tents are generally well-made, it is not unusual for them to tear. Duct tape can help you to sleep in peace at night, and is very inexpensive.

Food poisoning happens for campers when food is not packed properly. If your food isn’t prepacked or canned, food poisoning might be a risk. Bring ample amounts of ice along in coolers to keep perishable items cold, and drain the water from melting ice each day to prevent food from becoming wet.

Think about how you are going to get food cooked at your campsite. Before leaving, you will want to know what cooking method will be used so the proper supplies can be packed. People enjoy cooking their food over an open fire, but it can be extremely hard if you do not have the right cooking supplies.

Being prepared can make your camping trip much more enjoyable and memorable. When you use the information laid out here, you will have a more relaxing trip because it is safer, and you will know you possess the skills to handle anything.