Are you planning a camping trip for the summer? Heading out on an adventure in nature is a great way to take advantage of the warm weather. However, there is certainly some essential gear that you need for a successful and fun-filled excursion. Lucky you, we’ve rounded up our top picks to make packing a little easier!
Here are the top essentials that you need for your next camping trip.
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It feels like every summer goes by faster and faster. It’s nearly impossible to get through all your *potential* weekend plans by the time it’s August. If you haven’t gotten out of the city yet, now is finally your chance to get outside and explore the wilderness. We’ve already provided you with our top picks for glamping and camping, as well as camping on a budget. Now, we’ve got you covered with all the essentials you need for a high-end camping experience:
1. Agave Lip Balm by Bite Beauty
There’s a reason this lip balm is so popular as it provides ultimate hydration and recovery that quickly repairs and restores lips. For dry summer days, it’s definitely a necessity.
Price: $20.00
2. Hydrating SPF 30 Protection by Consonant Skincare
The Perfect Sunscreen is unlike other 100% natural sunscreens as it is a smooth, non-greasy formula that leaves no white residue and is also completely waterproof. Keep your skin protected at all times while you’re swimming, tanning, canoeing or kayaking.
Price: $45.00
3. Baking Soda Cleansing Micellar Water by Bioré
When you don’t have easy access to a sink but need your skin to feel bright, refreshed oil-free, this is the perfect solution. It also removes makeup easily without all the aggressive scrubbing usually needed.
Price: $9.99/300mL
4. Natural Glow® Instant Sun by Jergens
This Sunless Tanning Mousse works with individual skin tones to mimic the colour results you would get from the natural sun, with no orange hues! The airy mousse allows for flawless, even application that dries in just 60 seconds and continues to develop over four hours. Find it available in Light Bronze and Deep Bronze to keep your tan game going strong or get a glamorous glow.
Price: $13.99/180 mL
5. Air Dry Waves Styling Foam by JOHN FRIEDA
The newest product innovation from John Frieda is the Frizz Ease Dream Curls Air Dry Waves Styling Foam. This lightweight, non-sticky foam enhances waves for tousled styles as hair air dries. The perfect product when you need your hair to look fab but can’t use your blow dryer.
Price: $12.99/150mL
6. Dry Shampoo By OGX
The OGX dry shampoos are perfect for glamping and keep hair fresh even without a shower. The OGX Refresh & Restore + Coconut Miracle Oil Dry Shampoo is a great option to revive strands while absorbing oil. This dry shampoo will keep hair looking fresh and give it some extra volume while in the woods.
Price: $10.99
7. Velvet Scrunchies by Kitsch
Make that pony look adorable with these 90’s styled scrunchies that are comfortable to wear all day and evening.
Price: $15.77
8. On The Spot Kit by The Laundress
A travel-sized fabric care kit that comes with four liquid stain removal packs and stain removal bar soap, as well as spray-on solutions that remove wrinkles, eliminate static, and deodorize clothing. Vinyl pack included.
Price: $44.68
9. Cashmere Eye Mask by White + Warren
This fancy eye mask is made from knit cashmere and lined in silk crepe for the perfect night sleep wherever you are.
Price: $118.26
10. Women’s Sugar Zeffers by AllBirds
The well-known footwear brand launched their own pair of flip-flops and they’re engineered with SweetFoam™ which makes them extremely light. The sole is derived from renewable sugarcane and is the world’s first carbon-negative EVA, a component that is one of the most widely used in the footwear industry.
Price: $50.00
11. Novel Weekender by Herschel Supply Co.
The ideal duffel for a weekend away and features plenty of storage including a convenient shoe pocket. It can squeeze perfectly into any space and is a great bag to bring for any short getaway.
Price: $111.69
12. Outside Inside Backpack Bocce By MEC
This bocce set is lightweight and compact enough to slip into your backpack or luggage and obviously a great addition to a camping or cottage weekend.
Price: $19.00
13. Go Clean Laundry Bag by Flight 001
A convenient laundry bag in resilient nylon to keep all your clothes organized. One load of laundry will fit into the drawstring bag, which folds into a small zip pouch after use.
Price: $28.91
14. Kanken Backpack by Fjallraven
A sturdy backpack is always key for a camping adventure – It’s easy to hold during hikes and keeps everything nicely protected.
Price: $105.12
15. GSI Mini Espresso Set (1 Cup) By MEC
Minimal effort espresso gives you maximum incentive to crawl out of the tent for hot coffee on chilly mornings.
Price: $51.00
16. Camp Chef Artisan Outdoor Pizza Oven by MEC
Make restaurant-style pizza with this outdoor camping-style oven with a ceramic stone base. It’s the ultimate luxury item you need to make the most delicious meals.
Price: $120.00
17. Homestead Twin 40/4 By The North Face
The ultimate in base camp comfort, this 40-degree synthetic insulated bag is sized to match a standard twin mattress. The best part is you can zip two together and create a king-size bag!
Price: $199.99
18. Homestead Shelter by The North Face
…because what is camping without the tent?! Create the best camp base with this sturdy, weather-resistant social hub.
Price: $389.99
Featured Image: Instagram/@rebeccamoroney
What are other luxury camping essentials we missed from this list? Let us know in the comments!
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We’re lucky enough to have such incredible beauty right in our backyard. Camping is one of the best ways to spend a weekend to transport yourself surrounded by gorgeous nature during our short summers. We’ve got some tips and tricks to have a wonderful experience camping, without having to spend all your hard earned cash.
1. Rent Equipment or Borrow From a Friend
Unless you’re totally and completely dedicated to camping, it’s silly to go out and spend a ton of money on gear. It can get really expensive to buy all new equipment but that doesn’t mean you should go buy the cheapest items you can find. It might ruin your camping experience – it’s just not worth it.
Lots of people also sell their equipment once they’ve moved on to something new so check out websites like Kijiji or eBay. It’s a great way to get high-quality gear for cheap.
Another option is borrowing gear from someone you know as most people are willing to part with their camping gear for a weekend.
2. Find Your Own Campsite
There are a ton of places you can go camping without having to pay a cent. Tons of people have cottages or cabins right near spots that are picturesque and perfect for camping. Tucked away, these places are a bit more difficult to find but if you peruse through blogs like BackRoadMapBooks.com, or ask around, I’m sure you can find the ideal spot you’re looking for. Set up your tent up right by the water in Bruce Peninsula National Park and experience the pure magic.
If you have no luck with that, check out this website for other free camping alternatives. They won’t be as well maintained or convenient to get to as an established site, but an adventure is always fun!
3. Prepare Your Food Beforehand
It’s really easy to spend a lot of money stopping at on-routes or buying pre-made sandwiches. If you prepare your own food beforehand, it’ll help you save a whole lot of money. Here’s a list of meal prep ideas:
Breakfast:
- Instant Coffee Packets & Tea Bags
- Bagels
- Eggs
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
Lunch:
- Pita or Wraps for sandwiches
- Fruit
- Soups
Dinner:
- Hot Dogs
- Pasta
- Instant Mac & Cheese
- Chilli
Snacks:
- Homemade Granola Bars
- Pretzels/Chips
- Nuts
- Fruit – Watermelon & Grapes (Cut Beforehand)
- Raisins
Dessert:
- Cookies
- S’mores Ingredients
- Muffins
4. Spend No Money With These Activities
There are so many fun things to do while you’re camping that cost you absolutely nothing!
- Most campsites are near hiking trails, and hiking costs nothing at all
- If your campsite is near a body of water, you can go for a swim, take a trip out on the water with a canoe, or go fishing
- Mountain biking is a great way to see the area
- You can always bring board games, frisbees, or playing cards
It’s up to you how you spend your time but it should all be about enjoying time with friends, relaxing and exploring the great outdoors. Make sure to bring foods that will be easy to pack, minimize trash and cleanup, and most importantly, satisfy your hunger.
The summer is quickly passing us by so get out there and explore what our beautiful country has to offer.
Featured Image: Instagram/ @zachbaranowski
What are some other tips for budget-friendly camping? Let us know in the comments.
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