What are the best camping accessories?

Everything you need to know about camping accessories

If you’re a camping newbie, then knowing what camping accessories you need for your first trip is essential to your overall enjoyment and safety. There’s no need to spend oodles of money on the best camping equipment, however, because some of the most enjoyable camping trips are often off the cuff with only limited equipment. So let’s take a look at how to prepare and what to bring on a camping trip. 

How to prepare for a camping trip

Whilst you always need the essential camping accessories for your trip, the best way to prepare is to think ahead and anticipate what may happen and then come up with solutions. For example, it’s a good idea to plan for bad weather, even if it’s in the middle of summer. You just never know what can happen! This is as relevant in summer as in winter (because it can get much colder than you anticipated in winter and much hotter in summer) or in a season with heavy rainfalls. No one wants to get washed out of bed in the middle of the night!

Your best approach is to write a list of everything you might need, from the most essential to the basic to the optional. This way you’ll know what to bring camping, whether it includes the most effective outdoor supplies suggested by friends or it’s something you just can’t live without, for example an espresso machine!

What is the best month to go camping?

To help you make a list of your camping needs, it’s a good idea to ask the question – what’s the best month to go camping? Knowing this information will help you decide what camping accessories and emergency and/or weatherproof gear you might need on your trip. Of course, it also depends on where you want to go in Australia, so here’s a few tips for deciding your location, depending on the date of your trip and the requirement for good camping weather.

• Tasmania and Victoria are great between October and April.
• Subtropical areas are generally fine all year round.
• Tropical areas are hot in summer but avoid the rainy season from November to March.
• Central Australia is best avoided between November to March due to excessive heat.

What is the importance of camping essentials?

What’s the importance of camping essentials? Well, they can get you out of a few sticky situations, as well as some scary ones as well. It’s a sure bet that you want an enjoyable trip, so instead of just throwing a sleeping bag in the back of your Ute, knowing what to bring camping with you can make it a memorable trip for all the right reasons.

What do we need for camping?

A frequent question asked by camping newbies is what do we need for camping? That’s because many people know what to pack for a holiday in a motel, but they don’t know what things to pack for camping. So maybe a better question to ask is what do I need for camping? That’s because, if you don’t have what you need for a safe and comfortable camping trip, you’re going to be miserable. So whilst there are important things to pack for a holiday in a motel these can be very different to the things to take camping.  

Vital camping accessories

Let’s start with the camping accessories that are vital to your health and safety on your trip. These essential camping accessories include fresh water, food, survival kit, maps and a tracking device. For the fresh water you’ll need jerry cans and for the food you’ll need an esky or 12V fridge. The survival kit should consist of a first-aid kit, radio, head lamp, 3 days of non-perishable food and fresh water, and a sleeping bag or blanket. 

Next, you should always take maps of the immediate area and a tracking device, personal locator beacon or a GPS tracker in case of a dire emergency. These are the best camping tools you can take with you on your trip, whether you’re a newbie or not. 

• Water.
• Food.
• Survival Kit.
• Maps & tracking device.

Basic equipment for camping

Some of the basic equipment for camping includes a tent, sleeping bag, cook set, camp clothes, head lamp and lights, and eating utensils. Unless you have a good idea of the type of tent and sleeping bag you prefer, for your first trip it’s a good idea to borrow from friends or buy the cheapest you can find. This way, you know what worked and what didn’t work and can upgrade for your next trip. You can also set up a small camp kitchen for less than $100 with just one pot and a single burner or portable stove run on butane. Then there’s clothes that you don’t mind getting wet, dirty or ripped (just sayin’), a torch and LED lights.

• Tent and sleeping Bag.
• Stove and eating utensils.
• Camp clothing.
• Torch and LED lights.

Optional things to take camping

None of the following camping accessories are necessary, they are only optional, although many people might say they are essential! It all comes down to your budget and comfort level. So some of the optional things to get for camping, regardless of your location or time of year include a camping chair and table, hammock, trekking pole, cooler (fridge or esky), camp grill, and solar power. Some of these are not cheap, so you might work your way down this list and even add more items as you become an experienced camper. In fact, some people consider that the best things for camping are an espresso machine and microwave! 

• Camping chair and table. 
• Hammock.
• Trekking pole.
• Cooler.
• Camp grill.
• Solar power.

Things to avoid when camping

Now that we’ve covered the basic camping gear and the must have camping accessories, it’s time to look at the things you shouldn’t do. There’s certain safety measures and camping etiquette that you need to know, particularly when booked into a camping ground. These include the following:

• Not leaving campfires unattended.
• Not setting up your tent in the dark.
• Not forgetting your first aid kit and other vial camping accessories.
• Don’t pack for a month when you’re away for a weekend.
• Don’t store food incorrectly and let it spoil.
• Don’t forget to make a list.
• Don’t ignore the campground rules.
• Don’t leave garbage around your camping spot.
• Don’t forget duct tape, sun protection and bug protection.

If you need help selecting the right camping accessories for your next trip, don’t hesitate to call us on 1300 210 549 or send us an email enquiry. Have a great trip!