7 Ethical Camping Must-Haves

7 ethical camping must-haves

     I love camping! I make it a priority to camp at least once or twice a year. My boyfriend and I have found some pretty great sites in Indiana (which I might post about soon). Camping is a great way to get away from technology, get outside, get some fresh air, and get some exercise!

      One problem I know I always face is bringing the RIGHT camping gear and equipment for each location. I have spent a long time looking for quality camping essentials that will hold up on my outdoor excursions. 

Disclaimer: All of the views and opinions in this post are solely my own and are not sponsored. This post may include affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission through links at no cost to you.

      A few months ago, I stumbled upon Coalatree Organics. They sell sustainable, ethical, and organic camping gear and attire. Their products hold up to tough weather and circumstance and are one of the greatest outdoor product companies I’ve ever used/heard of.

      Below are my top 7 camping essentials that you should bring on your next outing. It will make your life easier and more enjoyable! 

Note: I’m not going to list the obvious “tent, but spray, sunscreen, long socks, etc.” This is a list purely of resources that I didn’t think to invest in but were totally worth the cost!

1. Waterproof Backpack

      This one might not be so obvious, but trust me, it’s important! I went camping with a non waterproof bag a number of times before I actually invested in a good one. The thing is, I never had an issue with my stuff getting wet until after I got older and went on more challenging trips. I went to Costa Rica and hiked to a waterfall. Luckily, I was given a waterproof bag at the time to keep the mist and moisture of the falls out of my bag! 

       When I camped a few summers ago with my boyfriend, I didn’t bring a waterproof bag. And boy did I regret it! It rained so hard on that trip that water leaked into the tent (though it wasn’t a very good tent! Let this be a warning: get a good tent. Cheap tents will cost you your dry clothing! And a good night’s sleep!). The rain water soaked the tent but it also got into my bag and all of my clothing! I wish I had brought my waterproof bag for the trip. At least my clothing would have been spared!

2. Extra socks

      This kind of goes along with what I stated above. I can’t tell you how many times I have gone camping and didn’t bring an extra pair of socks when I should have!

      Water, dirt, spiders (yes! This happened to me!), sweat, etc, can make socks super uncomfortable to wear. It’s always good to have a backup set!

      I personally love these ethical socks from Coalatree. They’re so soft and durable and great for hiking!

3. A blanket (or two!)

       Trust me, you may think your sleeping bag is enough but it’s not! Bring blankets! They’re washable so don’t be afraid of “ruining” them. Blankets are great when cozying up to the campfire, bundling yourself up for bed, and giving to kids to stay warm during the night. They’re also great for long car rides to the campsite!

      I’ve made the mistake of bringing only my sleeping bag when I went backpacking in a state park. It was great while I hiked because I carried very little, but the nights were almost unbearable. It was really chilling and my sleeping bag wasn’t the softest!

4. Trail pants

       What’s the difference between regular pants and trail pants? Mobility. Lightweight. Functional. Full coverage. 

       Look, I’m the dumb person who wear jeans or shorts on a hike. Occasionally I’ll remember to wear yoga pants or leggings but if I’m being honest, all of those options SUCK!

       Trail pants are great because they were made for the trails. Duh. 

       They are light and don’t cling to your skin like yoga pants do. It feels so much better to hike in loose pants than in tight ones. Additionally they come with pockets and a number of soft fabrics good for every situation!

5. Hiking shoes

      This one is a given, I’ll admit. But I’m including it because there are a number of types of shoes for each excursion. Did you know that? There are shoes meant specifically for hiking, water shoes for canoeing, shoes for rock climbing or spelunking, and shoes for well, everything in between!

       I’ve made the mistake of wearing my hiking shoes through sand, into the water, into caves, when ziplining, and more. The problem is that sometimes the hiking shoes are too clunky, too big, not waterproof, or too breathable.

       Think about the activities you’re going to partake in when hiking and then choose accordingly!

6. Water bowl for your dog

This one might sound a little silly, but water bowls for you dogs are just as essential as water bottles for yourself! There are loads of places to find collapsible water bowls for your dogs that are organic and ethical to buy.

My favorite is Coalatree (of course). They have a great selection of ethical doggy bowls. Though, you can also find some pretty sweet doggy bowls on Amazon!

7. Extra clothing

This one might be super obvious and maybe a little repetitive given I mentioned “extra socks” earlier. However, I firmly believe having an extra set (and I mean ENTIRE set) of clothing on a camping trip is super important.

My boyfriend likes to argue that less is more when backpacking. In a way, he’s right. It’s so much easier to backpack when you aren’t carrying too much. Though, I’ve found that not bringing those extra shirts, or pants, or socks, or shoes, or whatever, can be detrimental to a camping trip. What do you do when you fall into some water? Slip in the mud? Step into an ant hill? You get the idea!

Bring some extra clothing and thank me later (;

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Feel free to leave a comment below and let me know of what your camping must-haves are!

You can also email me with questions or concerns you may have at info.amelia.wilson@gmail.com

Also, check out my poetry book, The Lights are on but Nobody’s Home, available now on amazon for $6.99!

Disclaimer: All of the views and opinions in this post are solely my own and are not sponsored. This post includes affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission through links at no cost to you.

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