camping essentials

Popanddrop

Just sort of getting into thw whole camping thing, and just wondering what are the most essential items you will need with you so that you dont overload, I have seen some people take way to much with them, me included.

Roen

Depends on the style of camping you're planning. The gear list for extended trips into the Yukon are going to be different for camping beside the car in a site

If you can come back with the wheres and whens of what you had in mind we can get more specific as to gear lists and manufacturers

The first thing on my list no matter what kind of camping I was considering would be a Thermarest mattress, not cheap, but worth their weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. There's loads of different types so decide on the type that's suitable and go for it!

After that then it depends on where you're headed and if you'll be on foot or not.
I prefer to sleep under a tarp or hootchie in forest areas but in the mountains I bring a tent. Bear in mind you can sleep in a bivvy bag anywhere if you don't fancy carrying a tent or hootchie.
Depending on the time of year I'll bring one of three sleeping bags I have.

I suppose you could break it down as follows, in no particular order and no doubt with a hundred things missing.....

1. A means of shelter
2. A means of insulation from the earth
3. A means of keeping warm
4. A means of eating and drinking
5. A mean of ensuring safety

1. Can be anything from a 6 man, two room tent with a porch to an A-frame shelter of twigs to a sky full of stars.
2. Some form of mattress or other, be it a bed of heather or dried leaves or something man made. I prefer Thermarest, no doubt there's others just as good out there.
3. Clothing and sleeping bag to suit conditions. A fire is nice, but not essential in my opinion.
4. Food of some sort. A stove of some sort if you prefer hot food, and a means to carry and purify water.
5. I suppose nothing beats experience for a safe camping trip. Map and compass and the skills to use them well in any condition. A whistle and torch for signalling. Letting someone know proposed routes and expected times back home is essential.

I know I've probably raised more questions than I've answered but there's lots of different ways to camp out there.

Check out the Bushcraft thread on this page for a bit of inspiration and to see what styles of camping people are into.

Popanddrop

well basically what kind of gear list I am looking for is one directed at complete wilderness, no where near roads and plus I dont have a car, alot of the time would be spent by the sea/lakes due to the angling opportunities. Keep in mind that I will need to travel in the most lightweight way as possible dew to ways in reaching these locations.

Planet X

Bear Grylls , Discovery Channel.

fergalr

I am looking for is one directed at complete wilderness, no where near roads

Bear Grylls , Discovery Channel.

Or not, as the case may be...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UpSlpvb1is
although this has sort of been done to death on the internet by now..

Popanddrop

Even still if he is a phony most of his skills that he shows are unmatched to anything that is currently show on TV and may prove one day to save your life. This is off topic and could we please get bac to the point.;)

fergalr

Even still if he is a phony most of his skills that he shows are unmatched to anything that is currently show on TV and may prove one day to save your life.

Respectfully, I disagree; from my limited experience, I would not recommend using the show as a survival manual to anyone. I think it's good fun to watch sometimes, but every so often there's what appears to be ludicrous and quite dangerous advice and attitude given as survival instruction.

This is off topic and could we please get bac to the point.

Absolutely. I apologise for posting off topic on your thread, and will say no more on the subject here.

Just sort of getting into thw whole camping thing, and just wondering what are the most essential items you will need with you so that you dont overload, I have seen some people take way to much with them, me included.

Regarding your original topic, on what the most essential items are - I agree with what Roen said, can't really argue with his list (some of it seems familiar from Ray Mears' books too).


There's always a tradeoff between weight and comfort - it's maybe a bit obvious, but you actually need to carry very little if you don't mind being uncomfortable... It sounds obvious to say, but it's something I end up thinking about most times before heading out.
Shelter and food are the two big items to bring. You can usually get water most places in Ireland if you plan ahead.

For shelter, some people use bivvy bags (a poster here called Donny had some experience and advice on this on an earlier thread), but you probably also need a sleeping bag for warmth - how heavy depending on the time of the year. There's a lot to be said for synthetic fabrics rather than down in Ireland, due to the wetness.

Tents are good, and a lightweight one will maybe weigh an extra kilo and a half over a bivvy bag; not cheap though. I think it's worth the extra weight for the comfort, as it's not all that much extra weight, and makes a bit difference on a multiday trip if there's a persistent dizzle, or worse.
If you have a simple lightweight tent, and are reasonably clever and flexible about where you pitch, it you can get by in most Irish conditions from this time of year on. Unless you are forced to camp somewhere very exposed, the more heavy duty winter tents aren't usually necessary.
If it's very cold, (and depending on tent, sleeping bag, fleece etc) you'll need a sleeping mat, or some other form of ground insulation. Heather or dead dry brush works very well too, as Roen mentioned.

Cooking equipment, and portable stoves and so on will cost you another couple of kilos, and generally aren't worth it if very light weight is an goal - although, unless you are racing, or really going long distances, if you buy light kit you should be able to manage.

Obviously, as well as shelter and food, you need enough clothing to keep you warm and safe; what this will mean depends on where you're going, upland vs lowland etc. First aid kit, mobile phone, maps, compass, gps, and so on may all be necessary depending on what you are doing, size of party etc.


You asked about kit lists too - I'd recommend having a read of Hillwalking by Steve Long - it talks a lot about gear, and provides a selection of kit lists from what I remember. Its full of good practical advice, highly applicable to walking and camping outdoors in the conditions we get in Ireland and the UK.

Popanddrop

That was an extremely helpful post, will happily take more advice and tips from people aswel, is there any bushcraft coarse in under that is available to under 18`s, Im 16 and have been deeply interested in this for a long time.

cruelsetanta

Heya because your under 18 u might find it hard to get booked on a course and even at that they dont do courses here,(well not to my knowledge).

Popanddrop

thanks for that, I will chck it out anyway. Does anybody have those Ray Mears Books, if so are thay any good?

fergalr

Does anybody have those Ray Mears Books, if so are thay any good?

I have one book by Ray Mears, it's called "Bushcraft". It's big, and glossy.
I just looked for a link to it on amazon, and to be honest, out of all the ray mears books that came up, I can't tell which one I have! They are all called Bushcraft X, which is fair enough.
I remember from looking at them in Hodges figgis, much of the content seemed to be the same in each book.

It was a pretty good read - I'm not much of a bush craft practitioner, I kind of come at things from a more hillwalking/general outdoors angle, but I quite enjoyed it.

It was a good topical introduction to living outdoors, and it was interesting reading, it is structured almost like Roen's post, with a chapter on shelter, food, fire etc.
It went into moderate detail on each of the topics, and included some useful tips, but I don't think I'd consider it a detailed manual on the techniques given.
For example, on the chapter on shelters, I got the feeling it was designed to get across the idea behind each of the shelters described, rather than give a comprehensive set of instructions how to build one.

Perhaps because Ray reckons the best (only?) way to actually learn this stuff is to do a course, or just get out there and have a go? Or perhaps because there's a lot more Ray Mears fans interested in learning how things work, rather than actually going out and doing them? I don't know which, but that's the feeling I got from it.

So, I'd try get one from a local library and have a look, it'd be a good general introduction to the outdoors, with an introduction to each topic, but I wouldn't expect to be able to do the techniques described in it without a lot of practice or some instruction.



The other thing you might want to consider is whether bushcraft is what you want to be reading about - don't get me wrong, I think it's a really cool and interesting subject; however a large part of it is be aimed at being self sufficient and being able to survive in the outdoors with very little modern kit. Which is a very noble and interesting pursuit, but pretty far removed from the practice of modern camping, or the stuff people do when going for a fishing trip etc, which is what I got the impression you were asking about in your first post.

In other words, the knowledge and techniques needed to have a successful expedition outside, using modern sleeping bags, gear, lightweight tents, stoves, carrying in your own food (and carrying out your rubbish!), are very different to the knowledge required to go out there into the woods with little other than a knife, light a fire, make improvised shelters, forage for food etc.

I think it's fair to say you need a lot more knowledge and skill without the modern kit (especially if you are trying to find your all own food) which is what a lot of Ray Mears and co write about.


So, if your just interested in learning about modern camping, and being out in the wild (perhaps to facilitate a fishing trip etc), have a read of "Hillwalking" by Steve Long, or similar, consider joining a hill walking club; if you are interested more in the aspects of outdoor survival without modern gear, then have a look at Ray Mear's stuff, maybe the SAS survival guide, maybe Tom Browns stuff etc, and be prepared to go on courses or do a lot of practice.

Ah, hope this is some use, maybe you knew all this already; best of luck with it anyway, the outdoors is a great how ever you go there, and we're very lucky with what we have in Ireland. (nb: bring rainjacket :-)

IPNA

Popanddrop wrote: »

Just sort of getting into thw whole camping thing, and just wondering what are the most essential items you will need with you so that you dont overload, I have seen some people take way to much with them, me included.

Hi,
I have spent time in remote Alaska and British Columbia. You would be surprised how much stuff you really miss when you go ultra light camping. If you are thinking of doing this as a camping trip, then there are expensive light weight camping items that would be useful.

1. titanium cooking set
2. peak one stove
3. four season down sleeping bag.

Plus, you will be carrying ALL of your food. Even light weight backpacking trips can have a heavy pack. It all depends on where you are going, how long you plan to be there, and whether you will be constantly moving or a more of a basecamp option.

The other part of your question seems to be about living off the land. Yes, there are tons of books out there and one can learn quite a bit from them. Have you tried to practice some of these skills in your own back garden? It is important to have these skills BEFORE you go out into the cold, wet climate. I still spend time each week working on the bow drill fire, or working plant fibers into cordage. It is a skill that is depreciable.

I applaud your passion for being outdoors. When I was 16, my folks were hard pressed to get me indoors. There really is something about being out in nature.

As for books, I have learned quite a bit from Tom Brown's field guides and reading about his adventures living in full survival.

Hope this helps.

Popanddrop

Ya I will definetly check out some of the books mentioned above. I am trying to do without as much gear as possilbe and make do with materials and the like from my surrounding area because fishing normally demands alot of gear so that would be of priority, and if I learned some bushcraft skills then I might be able to lighten my load.