Camping for Beginners: A Complete Guide for First-Time Campers

Is it your first time camping and you’re feeling a bit nervous? That’s totally normal – camping may seem a bit intimidating for first-timers, but once you get the hang of it, if you’re an adventurer at heart, you’ll fall in love. Because I was once a first-timer myself, I put together this camping for beginners guide to help make your experience much easier and more enjoyable.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will earn a small commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Please see full disclosure for more information.

8 Benefits of Camping

Before introducing your camping for beginners guide, let’s first see why you’d want to go camping in the first place. The adventurous activity has so many benefits, so here are the top 8. 

• It’s an escape and an opportunity to disconnect from social media and the hustle and bustle of city life.
• You get to spend more time in nature, which is grounding, and it also teaches you a few life lessons through things like wildlife encounters.
• It’s a breath of fresh air, away from the big city’s pollution.
• It can be a form of physical activity as you exert effort by doing things like setting up a tent or hiking.
• You get to acquire and develop new sets of skills like setting up a tent, starting a fire, or basic survival skills.
• It’s an excellent activity for relationship building and bonding with friends and family members.
• Camping can also boost your self-confidence. 
• All of this can have a positive impact on your mental health and reduce your stress levels.

Types of Camping

There are three main (and common) types of camping; tent camping or backpacking, car camping, and glamping. This guide focuses on tent camping, the most traditional form of camping, but it’s also useful to understand the other types of well.

Tent Camping

This is the most traditional form of camping where you pack your things in a backpack and set up a tent outdoors.

Car Camping

Car camping includes going on road trips and driving to remote areas or campsites and camping there. This would normally involve cooking your own food, and either sleeping in your camper van or in a tent outside.

Glamping

Glamping is a fusion of the two words “glamorous” and “camping”, which is a modern, and luxurious, reimagination of the camping experience. In this case, you’d be sleeping on an actual bed (a comfy one too) and even have access to a bathroom with hot water. Luxury camps’ lodging options can include bubble tents, cabins, trailers, etc.

Wadi Rum © 2022 Curls en Route – All Rights Reserved.

Camping for Beginners: How to Pick a Tent

One of the most important topics to cover about camping for beginners is picking the right tent. When buying your first tent, there are a few things you need to consider to be able to pick the right one for you:

1. The size of the tent. How many people will be using the tent? Just you or more people? Would you need to store your things inside?
2. Consider the tent’s weight. The more spacious the tent, the heavier it is. So, if you need more room, would the extra weight be an issue? Will you be mostly carrying your tent in a car or would go on supported hikes, or will you backpack?
3. Make sure the tent’s rain cover has enough tie-down points and reaches the ground for more security against strong winds. 
4. Aim for tents with mesh windows and doors for better ventilation and airflow. This will also guarantee cooler air on hot weather days.
5. Consider the seasons during which you’ll most likely be camping. There are 3-season camping tents for summer, spring, and fall – these are lighter and cooler in hot weather. On the other hand, there are 4-season tents that are suitable for camping in cold winters as well – these are heavier to endure snow and strong wind, but of course, they’re more expensive. 
6. Consider the pros and cons of both pop-up tents and regular camping tents to know which one is more suitable for you. You can find a comparison below. 

Pop-up/Instant Tent V.S Regular Camping Tent Instant Tents (THE PROS)

• They’re very easy to set up and pack and don’t require much time.
• They can be as roomy as regular tents.
• They can be made of strong materials just like regular tents.

Instant Tents (THE CONS)

• They’re more expensive.
• If any parts break, they’re not easy to replace.
• They don’t condense down as easily as regular tents.
• When it’s too windy, they tend to fold a bit.

Regular Camping Tents (THE PROS)

• They’re more affordable.
• They’re sturdier against the wind.
• When packed, they’re more compact and easier to carry and store.
• Parts can be easily replaced.

Regular Camping Tents (THE CONS)

• Set up and packing take more time and effort.
• Setting up involves a higher possibility of human error.

How to Set Up a Tent

1. The first thing you need to do is find the perfect spot for your tent. Pick a spot that is flat as much as possible. You also need to consider wind direction – make sure it wouldn’t blow right into the tent.
2. Remove anything on the ground like pebbles, sticks, or pine cones – you don’t want these kinds of things under your tent. 
3. Spread your tent base in your spot.
4. Stake two opposite corners of a tightly pulled tent base, then stake the other two opposite corners as well. Make sure the stakes push completely into the soil.
5. Next, you want to start unfolding the pole segments and insert the poles into the sleeves on the outer part of the tent, which will typically cross.
6. Slowly, raise the tent by raising each of the crossed main poles at a time, fitting them onto the corner pockets.
7. Once the tent is fully elevated, secure the tent with any additional fasteners.
8. Add the rain cover on top of the tent and make sure it’s fastened to hold it in place.

Camping for Beginners: How to Pick a Campsite

If you’re an absolute beginner, it’s best to opt for camping trips that are part of a tour or supported hikes to have a guide with you. Some destinations would also include a guide anyway, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. For instance, if you’re camping in the Egyptian desert, you’ll most likely need a Bedouin guide.

On the other hand, if you’re entirely on your own, here are a few things you need to consider when picking a campsite:

• If possible, try to camp near a water source like a lake or river. 
• Aim for higher ground-level campsites.
• Opt for a flat surface area. 
• Seek a campsite with some kind of shelter nearby, like trees or mountains. 

Camping Essentials to Pack

If you’re a first-time camper, packing may be a bit overwhelming at the beginning, that’s why I put together this list of essentials to pack on your camping trip.

Clothes

• Cotton t-shirts
• Sweatpants (or any comfy pants)
• Hoodie/Fleece jacket
• Heavy Jacket
• Beanie
• Scarf

• Gloves
• Thermals
• Underwear
• Socks (for the day)
• Wool socks (for the evening)
• Hiking boots/running shoes

Camping Gear

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping mat
• Travel pillow
• Blanket
• Headlamp/torch
• Hand warmers

Toiletries

• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Sunscreen
• Hairbrush/comb
• Deodorant
• Insect repellent
• Tissue paper
• Baby wipes
• Ziplocs/trash bags

Miscellaneous

• Smartphone
• Camera
• Chargers
• Power bank
• Earphones/airpods
• Money

• Multi-tool
• Book/card games/both
• Snacks
• Meds pouch
• First-aid kit
• Duct tape (there’s nothing duct tape can’t fix!)

Camping Essentials for Women

• Sanitary products (pads/tampons/cup)
• Painkillers
• Water heating pad/hot water bottle
• Extra comfy dark pants

Camping Tips for Beginners

• Bring extra stakes just in case you lose the main ones or you need to better secure the tent. 
• If it’s way too windy, you can put rocks in the corners inside your tent. 
• Never forget your rain cover – without it, you could risk water leaking in.
• If you’re getting a tent for yourself only, it’s better to get a 2-person tent rather than a single one as it offers more room, especially if you’re tall like myself. 
• Check the weather forecast in advance to make sure the weather conditions are in your favor, and to adjust your packing list accordingly.
• Always be prepared for bad weather either way.
• Never set up your tent under a tree as it can be a hazard. 
• Before you make an investment, you can borrow camping gear from a friend first to test the waters if you’re still not sure whether camping is right for you.
• Plan your meals beforehand.
• Don’t ignore packing a sleeping mat – you don’t want to get hypothermia.
• Read about heat loss because when you have a basic understanding of it, you’ll know how to keep warm when the temperature drops. 
• Arrive and set up your tent in daylight.
• Never leave your doors unzipped – you don’t want anything creeping in behind your back. 

If you found this camping for beginners guide helpful, drop a comment and let me know! And of course, don’t forget to pin it for later and share it with your traveler friends.

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!

Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.

SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.

This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.

GET INSURED NOW – Nomad Insurance Sharing is caring!

You might also like:

• Adventure in Egypt: A Thrilling Travel Guide
• Glamping in Wadi Rum and Everything You Need to Know
• 9 Proven Tips for Hiking Beginners – First Time on Trail

Meanwhile, if you like my content and would like to see more of it, subscribe to my newsletter here.

The post Camping for Beginners: A Complete Guide for First-Time Campers appeared first on .

* This article was originally published here