Camping Without Sacrificing the Little Things

After 35 years of camping, I have given up on roughing it and prefer to keep things civilized on my camping trips. There are a lot of products on the market today that have helped me achieve that goal. If you, too, are reluctant to sacrifice the good life while camping, you might want to give some of these a try.

First, you might want to try collapsible buckets. You can find these at almost any outdoor or camping store, and the great thing about them is that when they are collapsed they take up virtually no space at all.

Expanded, the buckets are sturdy with a strong handle, hold 2-3 gallons of water and are durable enough to hold hot water as well as cold. They can be used for all kinds of things, including carrying water to the campsite, washing dishes (use one to wash and one to rinse), even holding fish.

A stainless steel super cooler is another must have item on my camping trips. Mine keeps ice frozen up to five days , even at very high temperatures. I love it, because with my super cooler along I can eat real food on my trip rather than beef jerky and canned goods. I suggest you take a smaller cooler along to hold drinks and things you'll need more often, so you can keep your super cooler cool for the entire trip.

If you are like me and can't wake up without your morning java, I suggest single serve coffee tea bags. The coffee grounds are secured inside the tea bag, so there are no messy coffee grounds to clean up. Don't let the single serving bags throw you if you prefer a whole pot, just boil water and dump several of the bags in at the same time. Let them steep, transfer to a thermos, and you are ready to go! Beware, however, not all single serve coffee is equal. Some tastes downright bad, so choose your brand with care.

Plastic milk crates are great to haul food, lanterns, propane and just about anything else you can think of. Because they have handles on all sides, they are easy to carry and they are sturdy enough to use as a stool or to stand on as well as to carry things. Although home improvement stores carry similar plastic containers, I suggest you try to find crates used by dairies for milk, as they are much sturdier. Give your local dairy a call to see if they will sell (or even give) you one or two.

Last, have something you enjoy doing available in case of bad weather. Last year I discovered the card game Apple to Apples, which I highly recommend. It is fun for any age (teenagers to old people, like me) and takes up hardly any space. I now permanently store my copy of the game with my camping gear so it is always ready for those rainy days.

There are so many great products available nowadays that it is no longer necessary to rough it when you hit the trails. Add just a few of these great items and you will feel as comfortable as though you were in your own back yard. Enjoy!