As we all may know, outdoor gear collections can grow quickly, and as exciting as it is to add to your collection, it also starts to take up more space in your home. Some gear junkies out there are lucky enough to have the luxury of a big garage to store all their gear, but if not, then you have to get creative with what you purchase and where to put it. Whether you’re into going on weeklong camping trips or just like to do a day hike every now and again, summer adventures require some gear. If you’re just starting your outdoor gear collection and want to get the basics to go on a camping trip this summer, we have some handy organizing tips that’ll help to keep all your gear in the right places and get you out into the great outdoors on your adventure as quick as possible!
Pack your gear in plastic bins
Let’s face it-camping trips require a lot of gear! From tents, sleeping bags, all your cooking gear, and all the food, it is not always the easiest of tasks Organizing your gear and packing it in storage bins can help reduce the amount of time you spend figuring out where everything is and where you should pack it in your car. They keep your gear protected and clean when you’re not using it, and also makes it easy to grab everything and go when you’re jetting off for a short weekend getaway! Not to mention they are inexpensive and easy to find at any big box stores.
Day trip with your Segsac
We can’t help ourselves, of course we have to mention that The SegSac Compress is the ideal pack for trips that require a little less gear. This rue compression sack has four inner compartments that will keep your gear exactly how you packed it so you don’t waste any time rummaging around for those little things. And to make this pack even better, it is made with water resistant fabric, which means you can use it for land AND water excursions without worrying about your things getting wet.
Eliminate extra packaging
If you don’t NEED it, don’t bring it-simple as that! American hiking suggests removing your gear from bulky packaging that ends up taking up more space than needed . “Most hikers don’t need an entire box of noodles for their trip. You’ll probably only use a portion of what comes in the packaging. Taking items out of their bulky packages and moving them into plastic bags or containers gives you greater control over how they fit into your pack.” Next time you start to pack for a day or weekend trip, go through all of your supplies and gear to remove any unnecessary packaging, and/or downsize what you have into a smaller containers– for example, putting a box of noodles into a smaller, less bulky bag.
Pack the right amount
If you’re only going to be gone for four days, then only bring what you need for those four days. If you have medications or vitamins that you take every day, there is no need to bring the entire bottle of each thing. Invest in a day-of-the-week pill container and fill it with the amount of pills you need for each day. Don’t need to bring any daily medications or supplements?, Your pill container can come in handy to store other things like spices, Advil, and other small items.
Make a list or find one online
As cliche as making or finding a list to follow may be, lists really help and can dramatically reduce the amount of time spent preparing for a trip! Once you’ve made an initial list, you have it ready for all the future trips! And if list making isn’t your forte, but you want to try to follow someone else’s plan, there are plenty of camping gear lists online you can search out and download. Some are even editable so you can change and customize it to fit your specific needs. But make sure you do some research to find the right resources, because packing for a family camping trip is definitely NOT the same as packing for a solo day hike.
For backpacking, you can download our free packing list HERE.
Where are you planning your next outdoor camping trip or backpacking adventure? Share with us in the comments below or on our Facebook page!