Wild Camping Essentials

Wild Camping Essentials – WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO

If you’ve always dreamt of sleeping under the stars, taking in the natural sights, going on an adventure, or setting up your tent in the wilderness, wild camping is the perfect activity. Whether you’re doing a multi-day hike, wild camping allows you to pitch your tent anywhere (legally, of course) and be one with nature.

So, if you want to get into wild camping, below are the essentials you’ll need to do so.

What Is Wild Camping?

If you’re wondering what wild camping is, it’s the same as camping, but just outside a recognised campsite or caravan site. What makes Wild Camping what it is, is by pitching your tent up anywhere else. Such as mountains, woods, or by the beach. It is worth remembering that most land is privately owned in the UK, so you may need to get permission from landowners before pitching a tent. The exceptions to this are Dartmoor and Scotland, where local laws allow wild camping.

When it comes to packing up, make sure to leave the place as you found it, that’s the beauty of wild camping, making it appear as though you weren’t even there in the first place.

You can see Wild Camping Tips here

Here is our list of wild camping essentials for those who are new or those who wish to check they’ve got all the gear.

Backpack

Before you get started, you’ll need a trusty backpack or rucksack to go camping with. You’ll need one with a lot of capacity, just because of the things you’ll need to pack in it. One to consider is the Regatta Survivor III, which has an 85L capacity with side zips, a hip belt, chest harness, and pole holders. When choosing a backpack or rucksack, make sure to try them on, as they’ll need to be comfortable on your shoulders and your back.

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Tent

When choosing a tent, not only do you need something lightweight and durable, but also small to keep yourself hidden. Consider something like the Wild Country Tents Zephyros Compact 2 Tent, which is weatherproof and weighs 1.7kg fitting two people inside. A good option is something under 2.5 kilograms. The one I use at the moment is a red Berghaus tent, does the trick but is not very well camouflaged.

Refillable/ Purification Device

Having a refillable purification device can help you avoid carrying numerous bottles with you on your travels, especially if it’s refillable, like the LifeStraw Go Water Filter. It allows you to fill up at a river, stream, or even a puddle; sipping through the filter, you’ll have fresh water. Make sure to pitch your tent nearly by a water source so you can fill up before embarking again.

Bivvy Sack

Especially when you’re unsure of what weather you’ll be sleeping in, investing in one allows you to give extra protection from the damp. You can either slip the bivvy sack over the top of your sleeping bag or place it on the floor of the tent if it’s a particularly wet night.

Sleeping Bag

A good sleeping bag will be essential to making sure you get a good night’s sleep. When choosing your sleeping bag, look at the temperature or comfort limit. A good option is the Mountain Hardwear Lamina Sleeping Bag, which is lightweight, weighing less than 2kg, and a comfort level of 4 degrees.

Head Torch

Whether you need to relieve yourself or set up camp as the sun is setting, investing in a good head torch will prove essential. When choosing a head torch, keep it light and battery-powered, especially for longer treks. For brightness, look for one which emits over 200+ lumens, which will cut through the pitch-black night, such as the Black Diamond Storm 400.

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Outdoor Stove

For food and drinking, you will need to invest in an outdoor stove. Having a practical stove that is resistant to weather will take you far. Finding one that collapses into itself and is a low weight, such as the MSR Windburner, which even has is insulated to avoid burning your hands. A good alternative is Jetboil

Foldaway Cup and Bowls

Lifesaving for both weight and packability, foldaway cups and bowls will be your best friend when you’re wild camping. Sea to Summit offers a great selection of lightweight spoons, forks, bowls, cups, and even pans.

Food

It may seem obvious, but if you’re packing your bag using this list, we didn’t want to miss it off. Items such as instant noodles or soups will be lightweight, as well as crackers, granola bars and chilled sausage rolls. All of these won’t add too much to your backpack and last within the elements. You can also look at some great Dehydrated foods such as Summit to eat

Camping Mat

When wild camping, you’ll be sleeping on top of the elements, and unlike your mattress at home, the ground won’t be comfortable. Purchasing a camping mat will help you get a restful night’s sleep as well as provide warmth. One such as the Therm-a-Rest ProLite Sleeping Mat, which is both super lightweight and has a layer of thermal foam.

Insect repellent

So you don’t end up being bitten more than you cover from walking, packing an insect repellent will make your travel, camping and exploring more enjoyable. Consider something along the lines of the Smidge Insect Repellent, which repels mosquitos, horse flies, midges, and much more, making you not taste nice if they decide to get close.

Trowel

In addition to all of the above, make sure to take a trowel with you so you can relieve yourself out in the wild so you can bury or remove your toilet waste.

Extra Things To Pack When Wild Camping

While the list below isn’t made up of essentials to wild camping, they are things to consider:

Battery pack for your phone.
Map of the local area.
Gloves, hat and thermal socks (for the colder nights)
First aid kit.
Toiletries bag.
Walking poles (especially if the trip is a challenging hike).

Wild camping is a beautiful way to connect with the environment, yourself and unwind. Packing the above essentials will guarantee you have a safe time with the elements. Is there anything you think we’ve missed off from this list? Drop it below and let us know.