Packing Tips for Summer Camping Trips

Many people assume there are only two options when it comes to packing for a camping trip: spend hours organizing all of your items, or toss everything together quickly and hope you didn’t forget anything. Packing for this year’s summer camping trip doesn’t have to be a daunting or haphazard task. Read on for a list of smart packing tips for your outdoor vacation.

                                                                          

Clothing

Make sure to pack the appropriate clothing for your planned activities. Rain hats and coats, hiking shoes, sun hats, sturdy jeans, and other types of clothing are basic essentials. Pack your clothes in an airtight vacuum storage bag for protection against moisture and bugs, and for ease of transport. The bags hold a surprisingly large amount of clothing, and once sealed with a vacuum sealer, they become dense and compact, giving you room to pack other essentials efficiently.

Toiletries

Just because you’re roughing it doesn’t mean you have to forgo all hygiene! Remember to pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, towels, sunscreen, bug spray, medications, and other essential items. Soaps and toothpastes with fragrance or flavor should be sealed tightly in a container or vacuum pouch to prevent attraction from bears and other creatures. This is especially important if you are hiking into the back country.  The bears can not smell through the vacuum sealed packages. 

Food & Cooking

If you’re planning on cooking your own food, it’s handy to have your meals planned out ahead of time so you can make sure to bring and prepare the correct amount of food and don’t run out. Dishes like pasta with tomato sauce, Dutch oven meat loaf, and various soups are easy, delicious meals that can serve multiple people. Keep perishable items in a large cooler, and keep canned goods in a cardboard or plastic bin. To minimize mess, prepare some items ahead of time and freeze them. They’ll keep other items in your cooler cold, defrost as the camping trip progresses, and you’ll have ready-to-use food.  Frozen, vacuum packed pre-made meals such chili can be ice blocks then quickly turned into dinner. Placed the frozen vacuum package directly into boiling water to reheat. 

                                                                          

Textured Bags   http://vacupack.com/roll-bags-pouches

Flat Commercial Pouches   http://vacupack.com/bag-flat-commercial

Vacuum sealed individual portions of dehydrated foods are great for back- packing.  Boil a small pot of water and add the dehydrated meats, veggies and quick cooking pasta from your home vacuum packed meals. Save money with home made vacuum packaged meals cost about $1.00 verses the prepackaged back-packing meals run from $6.00 to $12.00 each. 

  See our top quality USDA meats to make your own dehydrated meals.  

  Dehydrated Meats   http://vacupack.com/more-vacuum-seal-equipment/bulk-foods

Utensils & Other Miscellany

Scissors, knives, spoons, forks, tongs, spatulas, can openers, colanders, bowls, plates, pots, and pans are all important items to remember on your camping trip. Other useful staples include vacuum-sealable storage bags for their high holding capacity and durability (even if you don’t have a vacuum sealer), kitchen baggies, paper towels, a wash tub, charcoal or a propane tank (plus matches or a lighter), and a first aid kit.  Vacuum pack 

Camping Gear

When you think of camping, you may picture a tent, sleeping bags, and chairs around a fire pit. These, the most basic items you can bring with you, are sometimes bulky and inconvenient to pack. Sleeping bags can be compressed in vacuum bags, as can blankets, towels, and even food. Don’t forget a mallet or hammer to anchor your tent.

Have a great camping trip this summer, and be prepared and save money with these helpful items!  

Words By Melissa wordsbymelissa.com