• Avoid areas with dense shrubs and stagnant water. A breezy area can also help to keep away bugs and mosquitoes.
• Always keep a garbage-free campsite by disposing them off after dinner time as food debris are naturally attractive to insects. Seal garbage bag thoroughly and also store foods in tightly sealed containers.
• Avoid wearing bright colored clothing and try to keep your skin less exposed as much as you are comfortable with. Using netting around your tent is also a great barrier to keep away insects.
• Insects are normally attracted to light. Keep your light sources and lanterns away from your gathering area. Keep the lights off as you enter your tent to avoid insects from following inside.
• Avoid scented personal products such as colognes, perfumed deodorants and creams as they can be great attractions for insects. Heavy sweating has similar effect too. So, avoid much physical activities as the evening comes.
• Natural oils such as citronella, eucalyptus, rosemary, lemongrass, lavender, peppermint and vanilla are good insect repellants. You may try diluting it in almond oil and smear or rub it on your skin. Burning candles scented with the mentioned natural oils also repels most flying insects.
• Smoke from a campfire (if it is allowed on your chosen campsite) also wards off mosquitoes. So, you might as well keep it with smoke all through the night.
• Eat garlic or take garlic capsule. The garlic smell secreted in your pores will be a good natural insect repellant.
• Onions and citrus peel also keeps away biting insects. If you can tolerate the smell, rub it on your exposed skin. You may also put them in a screen bag and hang it on your tent door.
• Spray vinegar around your tent to keep away some bugs and crawling insects.

There may be other ways to lessen the nuisance of insects and bugs as you go outdoor camping but trying these natural ways can be a good way to avoid the adverse effects of chemical formulations and is an environment-friendly solution as you go on your camping escapade.

Sure you do have the camping list that was prepared using our guide about camping checklist. If your planned camping escapade is not your first, maybe you already have most of those camping gears, equipment and supplies on your checklist. But if you have never been to a camping trip, finding these gears, equipment and supplies can be time consuming.

To make the task easy, let us rationalize the difference between camping gears, equipment and supplies first. Camping gears and equipment are those basic and essential things you need to go on a camping adventure… camping tent, sleeping bags, backpacks, cooking gadgets to name some. Camping supplies refers to those items and consumables you bring along in your camping adventure such as food, medicines, toilet supplies and other miscellaneous items depending on your personal choice.

Probably by now you have the idea where to get these camping essentials. To give a clearer view, most (if not all) of the camping gears and supplies you will need are sold both offline and online.  One of the best places to avail camping gears is a sporting goods store or an outdoor-hobby-themed shop. An advantage of  looking in sports stores is that, most also offer gears for activities you can enjoy along while camping such as fishing, hiking and so on. Some sport stores also have seasonal sale which is a good time to avail of camping gears and equipment if you have longer preparation time prior to your camping vacation.

Another place you can go to avail your camping gears are the department stores around your area. The selection may not be as extensive and specialized compared to those in the sport stores but you may as well find other camping supplies you will need such as miscellaneous items and consumables. Supermarkets and groceries shops are the best places when it comes to buying food supplies, drinks and toiletries.

Buying camping gears and equipment online is also very popular nowadays. All you have to do is search for online stores and auction sites. You can also find consumer reviews about camping gears that you might be interested to buy. So, even if you are not buying online, you will have an idea on alternatives for your camping needs.

Whether you opt to buy online or scour the stores in your locality, one important thing is to be wise in buying the camping gears, equipment and supplies that you need by preparing a list and doing it ahead so you will have enough time to compare prices, read consumer reviews and exchange the product if ever there are defects.

Creating a camping checklist normally depends on what kind of camper you are, the type of adventures you plan, the destination, duration of camping and the comfort you need being outdoors. It can as well help you and the group in your packing preparation by not forgetting anything as you pack. It can be your guideline of what camping gears and miscellaneous accessories you still need to buy. A camping checklist can also be a good reference for any outdoor adventures you might plan in the future.

An outline of how you can make a personalized camping checklist includes the following guidelines:

-         Get to know who and what your camping companion needs. Solicit their basic lists if they are able to prepare it.

-         Categorize the things, gears and accessories you plan to bring.  Start with basic ones such as tent, sleeping bags, clothing, cooking items, food and water then list down the optional ones.

-         Visualize the activities you plan to do and from there list down the things needed. You can be flexible with these ones if you plan on a light camping.

-         After listing all the most important items, list down the sub-categories and accessories and conveniences in each sub-categories.

-         Keep a space before the items on the list such that you can make a visible checkmark (That’s why it is called a checklist, anyway…)

-         Make a remarks space on the side so that you can write down options and substitutes if ever.

If you don’t have much time to think and prepare a camping list, online resources are also available.  Several websites offer generalized lists which you can easily print and add your personal ideas to suit your individual needs. All you need to do is use the internet search engines to find them.

Proper preparations of things you need to bring on a camping escapade whether it be on resort-like campgrounds or in a challenging wilderness is always made easy by having a comprehensive camping checklist. Though experience is the best teacher, a comprehensive camping checklist can help make a difference in your overall outdoor enjoyment. Camping is a great outdoor experience and nothing should be stopping you to create your personal camping checklist and make your outdoor adventure truly wonderful.

Most campgrounds usually allow you to inspect a site before you make the choice. Consult a trail guide or camp guidebook for availability and specific location. Established and designated campsites are usually near important facilities you will need such as water, garbage disposal facility and toilets. These can also reduce the hassles of creating a new spot.  Choose a flat or most level surface where you can pitch a sturdy tent.  Avoid areas where there could be runoff or rocks falling if the surroundings are sloping. Keep at least 200ft distance from streams, lakes and trails.

Take into consideration the sun’s position and wind direction. Get an area with a mixture of sun and shade but can give ample shade at warmest time of the day. Choose a shady area where trees can also be a wind break but be aware of rotten branches that can pose danger. Avoid camping near a single dominant tree in a mostly open area. Such can attract lightning during bad weather. A breezy site will help lessen the nuisance of bugs and insects during the night.

Take notice of disturbances such as noise from facilities like generators and water pumps. Campsites near the entrance are oftentimes prone to foot traffic disturbances so keep this in mind as well. An experience of solitude with nature is a great relaxing experience; a scenic area can serve this purpose.

One important consideration is to always keep the minimum possible impact to the environment. Use only designated fire rings in building campfires. Use only dead branches or purchase woods at campground stores (if available) and always keep fires low and under control.

Get to know the campground regulation in advance. Camping will definitely be a wonderful and ideal adventure if we keep hold of environmental awareness and leave the campsite with less negative impact for others to enjoy.

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