Outdoor Vacations 101: Backpacking Camp Holidays
Essential Outdoor Gear for On-The-Trail Camping Vacations
Oct 8, 2009
Backpacking camp holidays combine the fun of trekking with the joy of camping - and make for great family adventure vacations or camping holidays with a group of friends. Key to the success of a backpacking camp, where all equipment is carried in expedition backpacks, is knowing what gear to take and what to leave behind. Since every additional item adds a few pounds to the total weight carried, it is important to prioritize without compromising on the essentials.
Personal Gear: Choosing the Right Backpack for a Camp Holiday
On long-haul camping vacations, the backpack becomes practically an extension of the body. Selecting the right backpack therefore is critical to comfort on a backpacking camp - take the time to undergo a pack fitting and ensure the feel and fit are comfortable. Packs come in several models: for heavy loads and long hauls, an external frame pack is a sturdy choice. Check that the capacity of the pack is suitable for the load that will need to be carried.
Other important personal gear for a long trekking camp would be shoes or boots, headgear, eye protection, a daypack, water bottle and a first-aid kit, similar to the requirements for a hiking trip.
Sleeping Gear: Resting Right on a Backpacking Vacation
Rest and refreshing sleep are extremely important on a backpacking camp where one is on the move day after day, as insufficient or improper sleep can lead fatigue and costly mistakes on the trail. Proper sleeping gear would include a sleeping bag, a sleeping mat and an air pillow. The kind of sleeping bag required would depend on expected temperatures at the camping site: colder climates and higher altitudes will require thicker bags. It is always recommended that sleeping bags are used with a liner. A sleeping mat placed under the sleeping bag acts like a mini-mattress, cushioning the body and the sleeping bag from small pebbles and rough patches on the ground under the tent. An inflatable air pillow is optional, but is highly recommended for people who are used to sleeping with a pillow.
Camping Gear: Camping Tents and Cooking Gear for a Backpacking Camp Holiday
The most important thing on a camping vacation is shelter for the night - a camping tent. Backpacking camping tents are compact and lightweight, and are available in single, double and family sizes. Choose a simple tent that is easy to carry, rather than the fancier large camping tents more suited for vehicle-based camping holidays.
If there are several able adults to distribute the load, it might be desirable to carry a shelter for the camp kitchen, in case cooking needs to be done in bad weather conditions.
Essential cooking gear would include a camp stove (firewood sounds great, but is neither eco-friendly or easy), cooking fuel, and if required, camp utensils. Also required would be containers for carrying water from a nearby water source and storing at the campsite.
A backpacking camp holiday can be immense fun and is a great way for a family to bond and grow together. It’s an enjoyable adventure family vacation option, especially since easy or moderately difficult trails can be chosen for beginning adventurers. Just make sure that essentials are carried - and get set for a great camping vacation!
Related Reading
If you enjoyed reading this, you might also like to read about how to pack an expedition backpack, and about selecting a camping tent.
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