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Day Camping

Did I just say Day Camping? What in the world is that? I get asked this question often and after a lengthy and descriptive discussion it seems to be not only well understood but well embraced as well.


Growing up camping was always a gig ordeal as it is for many people. Lots of planning, shopping, preparations, coolers, supplies, and the puzzle of fitting everything in. And yet as a kid, all that was the necessary means to be able to go camping. The smell of the campfire, dirty knees, sticky smores stuck to your sweatshirt was all worth the lasting memories. And lasting memories they are, as you look at us now, with kids of our own, and were still camping.


Of course camping is different now. Different because there seems to be more options, so maybe it’s just that we're not the kid anymore and now we get to choose the locations, activities, food, and are willing to try every new camp tool or tent in an effort to simplify the experience. Some of the major game changer ways of camping now involve phones, battery inverters, roof top tents, camp kitchens, portable hot water, and not to mention the many types of vehicles that even in their off the lot form can take us far deeper and farther than most of our parents dared to go.


Truth be told no matter how and where you camp it still takes some level of planning and usually considerable effort. There are, however; ways of minimizing the preparations for each trip. I’ve always found that by preparing and keeping things stocked up over time that when we do go we have minimal packing. As I rotate between vehicle types I continue to try new ways of staying packed and organized for camping. The range of complexity has ranged from super complicated with full griddle cooking systems all the way down to a simple JetBoil. Now there are places for both spectrums and everything in between, but for the sake of the day camping discussion I want to keep it somewhere in the middle to the less complicated.


The key to a simplified method of getting out is how you store and organize your camp gear. I have tried various types of totes, systems, and storage bins, and will continue to evolve as products come to market.


With the advent of newer cooking systems, it is possible to pack a simple cooking system. Products worth mentioning would be the iKamper cooking disk system, the Tembo Tusk Skottle, or any type of home built rendition thereof. These systems allow for quick set up, easy cleanup, and fit in relatively small spaces, making them easy to use for short trips. Cooking a good outdoor meal, or if snaking on your favorite hiking energy bar suits your needs then go for it. Cooking something whether it be on a skottle, pan, pot or JetBoil tends to add to the shorter experience and leaves you with a feeling of adventure and more satisfaction at the end of the day.


Another great advent has been the proliferation of portable pressurized water storage and heating products. Some honorable mentions would be RinseKit solutions as well as Lifesaver Jerry can, WaterPORT among others. These make traveling with kids or even just a simple meal prep and clean-up much easier and enjoyable, and again are perfect solutions for quick trips.


Tents. Now let's be honest, a sleeping arrangement is not needed for a simple day trip. But I will say that a nice afternoon nap somewhere near a trickling stream or where the ocean waves lap a soft sanded beach is extremely enticing and can definitely add to the relaxing enjoyment of your short trip. I personally love keeping my roof-top tent installed year round just for this purpose, but if you don’t have a vehicle that can handle the weight, or you don’t want to incur additional costs, feel free to invest in a cheap pop up tent or hammock. Remember the key to a good day camp trip is to maximize on what it is you need most out of the trip, and most of need a nap even on good days.


So I hope this motivates you to take that spare weekend afternoon and get out of town and enjoy a little of the overland adventures close to home. Don’t complicate it, but with proper planning and stocking of your camp totes, you can quickly and efficiently get out for a quick day camp trip. Personally I limit my day camp trips to a two hour radius from my home, and luckily for me I have plenty of options to choose from between the beach and top of the Sierras.



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