How To Deal With Too Much Stuff While Camping?

Campers have a headache determining what is really necessary for their trip. Finally, they decide to carry everything for the sake of lack of stuff.

However, packing too much is never a good idea. You will suffer from the heaviness, making your camping experience less enjoyable.

So, what is the deal with too much stuff while camping? How to pack things properly? This article will share some tips to lighten your backpack.

If you want your camping more desirable, scroll down to discover! 

Signs That You Are Carrying Too Much Stuff 

You want to pack everything you may need without realizing that your backpack is getting too big. Here are some signs warning that you are carrying too much stuff.

You need to adjust immediately:

• Your backpack has a limited capacity. You always try to fill your backpacking trip, no matter how long it is.
• You need to sit down if you want to put the pack on.
• When you stand up, not only do you unknowingly sigh and grimace, but everyone else in the area sighs and winces as well.
• The top of the pack should be over your head once filled.
• Other campers look at your pack and laugh.
• People on horseback usually make way for you, whether they are riding uphill or downhill. Mountain cyclists also do you that favor.
• When you unload your pack after completing a hike, you’ll see some items that you don’t even use or have a look at.
• When you’re out on the path, you’re constantly searching through your backpack for stuff that you know is inside but can’t recall where they are.
• You feel anxious about not being adequately equipped. You always overcompensate by carrying goods that are inappropriate and unneeded for the situation.
• During your hiking, you frequently find yourself bending too far forward. This sign implies that your backpack is too heavy and resting too low on the back.

Over time, this position can lead to hunched shoulders, neck pain from continually bending your head up to see clearly, and spinal area discomfort.

• You’re more obsessed with how uneasy you’re feeling than with the attractiveness of your surroundings.

Reasons Why You Take Too Much Stuff

Nobody wants to carry tons of stuff on their back. However, some reasons are asking you to do so. 

Lack of experience

Experienced campers know what is necessary for their trip. On the other hand, newbies seem to worry that they don’t have enough stuff to use.

As a result, they try to pack all the things they often have in hand for daily use. 

Family trip

Preparing a camping trip for a whole family is a headache. Since you have to take care of others, you need to bring more.

There are big differences in stuff for children and the elderly. If you camp with both, you should buy an L-sized backpack first.

Wrong checklist

Another mistake for beginners is that they have the wrong checklist. You are preparing so hard for your camp, but unfortunately, they aren’t necessary. 

Camp duration

The longer your journey, the more fuel, water, and food you’ll need to bring, which will increase the volume of your bag. Even on multi-day trips, you’ll like your rucksack to be around 20% of your entire body weight. 

To account for all the extra stuff, you’ll have to be particularly careful about the equipment and clothes you’re bringing.

Weather 

If you’re going camping in the winter, you will need heavier and warmer clothes and equipment than if you’re going hiking in the summertime.

Personal requirement 

Some individuals prefer comfort at a campsite and are willing to endure the added weight of bringing in extra clothes and a large, comfortable sleeping cushion.

Others are willing to sleep on a light pad and use the same clothing for days at a time.

List Of Essential Camping Gears You Should Take 

A checklist is essential for every camp plan. If you are a beginner, the list even helps you prepare for what may happen during your trip. 

Don’t know what to include in your bag? The list below will help.

For campsite

Some necessary items for camping:

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Camping pillow
• Flashlights

If you plan to camp in the wild, you may need to prepare extra stuff for an ideal trip, such as:

• Camp chairs and table
• Hammock
• Firewood
• Camp rug

For power tools

It would be a nightmare if something broke down and you couldn’t fix it. Even if you are not a mechanic, some power tools below may offer you a temporary repair:

• Duct tape
• Pad repair kit
• Axe or saw (to cut wood)
• Hammer
• Extension cord

For kitchen

Some campsites offer drinking water. If not, you can bring your own or prepare some methods for treating water if the site has a source. 

Aside from the water, there are some things you need to cook your food:

• Lighter/ matches/ firestarter
• Pan
• Pot
• Knife
• Bowls/ plates
• Cups
• Food 

For clothing and footwear

The clothing and footwear you want to pack will depend on the weather and your preference. Remember to choose the clothes that are moisture-wicking, lightweight, and quick-drying. Here are our recommendations:

• Shoes/ boots
• Underwear
• Shorts/ pants
• Shirts
• Socks
• Sleepwear
• Hat 
• Jacket 

For health and hygiene

Health and hygiene are crucial for your camping experience. Make sure you have packed these things:

• Toilet paper
• Medications
• First-aid kit
• Towel
• Hand sanitizer
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent

For personal items

Don’t forget these items no matter where you go:

• Money
• Phone
• ID

What Should You Not Bring To Camp?

Unnecessary things are the ones that make your bag excessively heavy, not the necessary things. So what should campers not bring to camp?

Overabundance of bedding

You won’t have to worry about packing a bunch of extra blankets and duvets if you invest in good sleeping bags. An excellent sleep bag can save you a lot of space for bringing extra clothes to feel warm at night.

If your child isn’t mature enough to rest in a suitable sleeping bag, utilize a standard baby sleeping bag rather than bringing a baby duvet.

Bulky electronics

Electronics are convenient, but taking a DVD player, iPad, or laptop will be stressful.

Moreover, because your children are outside all day, adventuring and releasing energy, they will be grateful to have a break at night.

You can bring your phones with you so that your children can watch their favorite shows. Your children may have their headphones, which they may carry in their own bag if they so choose.

Too many towels

Towels occupy a lot of space, particularly if you like to use plush cotton bath towels.

While microfiber towels are a common choice, we recommend against using them since they come from plastic and can leak microplastics into the water when washed.

Bamboo towels are a fantastic option that pack almost as tiny as microfiber towels. These bath towels are light, absorbent, fast-drying, and fold up as tiny as a compact book. They come in various colors and help save even more room in your luggage.

How To Pack Lighter When You Go Camping?

Finding solutions to lighten your backpack is an essential aspect of pre-hike preparation. As you wear the pack over greater distances, minimizing the burden enables you to go faster and prevents tiredness.

You can watch this video for some packing ideas for camping.

Here are some tips for packing lighter when you go camping:

Upgrade your equipment

The outdoor equipment business has progressed all-in on weight loss in recent years. The lightweight rucksack, tent, and duvet you bought years ago are undoubtedly heavy by contemporary standards.

Everything has become more compact, from the boots to the stove and even the water bottles. 

Replacing all of that equipment can be expensive. However, gradually improving your equipment will pay off in terms of shedding weights from your pack.

Reduce the size of your wardrobe

Beginner campers frequently make the mistake of carrying too many clothes. Remember that you won’t need clean outfits every day. You’re still on the route, and you’ll be able to reuse most clothing.

You can purchase a layering model that supports a set of base layers. This tip will allow you to get a lot of performance and various things, thereby cutting the number of clothes you’ll need to bring. 

Share the load

If you’re camping with your partners, make sure everyone gets an equal amount of the shared equipment and supplies. These shared items include water and food and the different components of your cooking tool and the tent. 

This approach, instead of having one or two individuals bringing far too much stuff, everybody contributes a little burden to their bags. ‘Partnership’ is the word of the game, and it rewards all parties involved.

Don’t bring the tent poles

A high proportion of tents forego standard tent poles and instead allow campers to use their hiking poles. 

The idea is that you might save load in your pack by employing hiking poles on the path. You can utilize the poles to create your tent once you’re done hiking and need to settle. 

When trying to lose weight, things that can serve a dual job are always a smart choice.

Repackage your food and consumables

Put your snacks and food in ziplock bags instead of their original container, which is frequently bulky and heavy. This method makes it easier to pack these things and keeps them tidy. 

You can also pack your sunscreen or hand sanitizer in reusable bottles that are lightweight.

A camp doesn’t require you to bring a lot of these things. You just need no more than one or two ounces of them. As a result, taking the whole container is a waste of weight and space. 

The bottom line

Camping is all about fun, not stress. If too much stuff while camping makes you worried, you need to solve the problems immediately.

The ultimate rule is to choose the necessary things only. If possible, buy products that are lightweight and foldable to save weight and space.

Hopefully, you will have a nice trip without worrying about your luggage!