This video covers my first few camping and day-hiking experiences. I talk about how I did them and take a look at what I go camping with.
In this video are my first few car-camping / day-hiking trips to Colorado Bend State Park (TX), Lost Maples Nature Area (TX), El Dorado Lake State Park (KS), Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park (MN), and a day-hike at Bass Lake (Ely, MN).
I found videos like this one super helpful and thought I’d add to the library.
My car camping gear list is below. I bought almost everything at REI – I became a member and stayed glued to their garage sales.
Lemme make super clear though – you can go car camping without any of this stuff. You can sleep in your car with your bedding from home, eat beans from a can and wear whatever is comfy and be totally happy.
You can. I choose not to.
I put an * next to the things I love. If there’s no astrix, the thing works and I’ll use it til it dies, but I don’t love it.
SHELTER & SLEEP SYSTEM
- *Tent (This is for just me. If I’m going with Peter, we take our 3 person tent.) – REI Co-op Passage 2
- Sleep Pad – Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout
- *Sleeping Bag – I have an old 40 degree one I bought at Target forever ago, that I love.
- Pillow – Mountain Summit Gear Camp Pillow – you could just take a real pillow… it’ll fit in your car.
- Stuff sack for random gear like utility cord and tarp and bungees
- Lantern and/or Headlamp – something to light the camp area and the inside of your tent. something to help you find your way to the bathroom at night, or if you are night hiking.
- *Camp Chair – REI Co-op Camp Compact Chair – I love this chair and I highly highly recommend taking a camp chair if you like to sit and stare or read or draw….
COOKING
- Camp Towel (to dry your tent, to dry your dishes, for spills)
- *Stove – Coleman Duel Fuel (I prefer white gas over propane)
- Cookware – GSI nForm Crossover Kitchen Kit and GSI Pinnacle Camper Cookset
- Coffee Maker – GSI Commuter Java Press (i hate this)
- Misc. – Sponge, foil, paper towel(s), dishwashing stuff (don’t wash anything in a water source), trash bag(s) – it’s best to take your trash and recycling home with you if you can.
- Cooler with all the cold yummies in it
- Pantry with all the dry yummies in it (I use a plastic file box)
DAY HIKING
- Rain Jacket – REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket
- Trekking Poles – Black Diamond Distance Z Poles
- Compass – Suunto A-10 Compass
- Day Pack – REI Co-op Flash 22 Pack
- Hiking Shoes – Altra Timp Trails
- *Hiking Socks – Darn Toughs
- Water Filtration – MSR Trailshot – not really necessary car camping, but smart if you are going on a long day hike near a water source, and don’t want to carry a ton of water.
MISC.
- Tent Repair Kit (there’s nothing duct tape won’t fix, but it’s not a good long-term solution)
- First Aid Kit (consider a snake bite kit if you hike near biters)
- Fire Starter
- If you go to a site with an electric hookup, you don’t need to worry about electronics. If not, take a block charger or you can use your car if you have a usb hookup.
The track I used was from the soundtrack to John James Audubon and the Birds of America – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4604094/
Shot on iPhone 7. Edited with Wondershare Filmora.
The music I used is by composer/musician Peter Stopschinski. https://peterstopschinski.bandcamp.com/