Indispensable Camping Gear for Camping in the Wild
Many people feel that going to campgrounds in an RV or renting a cabin or yurt isn’t really camping. In some ways, they are right. In order to get a real taste of living self-sufficiently (and gaining a healthy dose of respect for your ancestors) you need to leave behind any thoughts of wooden walls, electricity or indoor plumbing. In order to get in touch with nature, you need as few distractions as possible, but you do need camping gear.
Sleeping Bag
This piece of camping gear is actually more important to have a good water-resistant sleeping bag than it is to have a tent. Depending on the campground and the time of year, a tent or a roof may not be necessary. Sleeping under bright starlight can almost be a hallucinatory experience better than most man-made drugs. But you can't enjoy the stars without snuggling up in a sleeping bag.
Machete
Unless you plan on using a gas stove or eating only take-out, you are going to need a machete or hatchet in order to make fire. There is debate over which bit of wood-chopping camping gear is more versatile - the machete or the hatchet. This writer votes for the machete, only because I won a sword fight with it. A drug addict attacked me with a broken stage prop pirate sword, so I won very easily.
Candles
Candles are often overlooked as essential camping gear, but they are far more versatile than the average person realizes. They not only act as sources of light, but are inexpensive and water resistant rolls of firelighter. When you are soaking and shivering, it's important to get a fire going as quickly as possible. Candles can help provide that.
Water Container
The next important piece of camping gear to pack is a water container of some sort. I prefer to have several of various sizes, but sometimes you have to make due with what you have. Did you know that a non-lubricated condom can hold up to a liter of water? Now you know. When it comes to water, you work with whatever camping gear you can get. You can live a couple of months without food, but only for a few days without water.
Dog
Granted, this is an optional piece of camping gear, but going camping with your dog is so much more meaningful. You really get to know the true meaning of "ruff"-ing it. Dogs provide companionship, an alarm system and body warmth.
