7 things you should never camp without applies to ANY camping or overlanding trip you take. A lot of you guys know that my favorite way of camping is actually hoping in my Sprinter Van and hitting a trail. It is four wheel drive and built with all the amenities. It is actually capable of getting me almost anywhere I want to go, and doing it with a degree of comfort that can’t be matched. BUT, at heart I’m a simplistic, minimalist, jeep guy that loves finding the places where most never go. I have spent decades of my life exploring and adventuring in that stripped down, bare boned version of overlanding and love it. There is something so timeless about that way of exploration. Something so pure. It is an entirely different type of camping than the Sprinter Van, as you can imagine. There isn’t the luxury of running water, full time refrigeration, a warm shower, and the ability to control my climate without adding or pealing off layers. I’d say I love both ways equally, for different reasons though.
I share that stuff to get to this. Here are the top 5 items I pack in my jeep for my primitive explorations.
- Water. Simply put without water you die. I will always have enough water for my trip and then some as well as a water filtration device. I like the LifeStraw Peak Series Straw because of the ease of use.
- Food. Hand in Hand with water comes food. I try and keep things simple and at least semi healthy. I plan meals and take what I need. I will always have a few energy meals with me from Peak Refuel, and if I’m solo I will often just use their meals for everything. By the way, their granola meals for breakfast, and their chicken fettuccine for dinner is the way to go. They even have some good deserts to end an awesome day on the trails with. I should mention that when I speak of food that also includes whatever I need to carry that food properly.
- Shelter. Back to the basics of tent camping! Well sort of. I picked up the new Overlandish BaseCamp Solo. This shelter (tent) is amazing. Easily the best tent for ease of setting up and breaking down as well as usable living space. There is a bigger option in the BaseCamp for you folks with a kid or two, but that one is too big for my use. The BaesCamp Solo is a great size to throw into the Jeep, and still have plenty of room for my wife, our dog Pete, and myself to comfortably camp in for as long as we need to. (Winter months I include the buddy heater).
- Recovery Gear. When you as an off-roader hear the term recovery gear you think winching, tow straps, etc etc. Recovery gear however is a slightly wider lane than just getting off the trail. So, for my trail recovery I use the Factor55 vehicle recovery kit called, Sawtooth. This is their largest kit that comes with everything you’ll need to get yourself UN-stuck when things go bad on the trail. I also keep a few extra Factor55 products in my kit as extras. The other half of my recovery gear includes an Pro Eagle Off Road Jack and some basic tools. I do recommend buying or building your tool kit out vehicle specific. It streamlines the stuff you carry a bit.
- Self Defense. The further away for civilization you get, the more you need to rely on yourself. Self Defense is not just people, but a lot of wild animals that can potentially ruin your day are out there too. Most scare off easily enough, but you need to be responsible and stay prepared for the worst case scenario. In almost every case, bear spray is the way to go. If you are carrying a firearm make sure it is legal, you are trained and experienced with using it. I carry both every time.
- First Aid. A good first aid kit is MANDATORY. You can buy them or make one. Just make sure it’s more than some cute little forest animal band aides. Have a tourniquet and know how to use it. Have burn treatment, things to treat sprains and breaks, some aspirin, Ibuprofen, don’t forget a good pair of scissors, anything you can that covers the basics and things more specific to the outdoors will make a great kit.
- Emergency Communication. Being able to reach out when everything goes bad is rare, but if it does happen. You most definitely do not want to be the one without a way to get help if it does. Cell signals are not reliable, so please don’t think of that as a real thing. Satellite phones are a great option, but sometimes can be expensive. What I recommend is the Garmin InReach. It is a real satellite based communication system that is very reliable and affordable. It’s a system of texting that allows you to keep people at home updated on where you are as well as reach out for help if needed.
The items here are all easily to find. I linked to the basics to get you started, but I want to take a moment to expand on the shelter category. Tents is a lane in the outdoor industry that has a type and price point for everyone. From cheap to expensive you can find what you want. The BaseCamp by Overlandish however is something a bit different. It is easily the best tent I’ve ever owned and can’t recommend it enough for those of you looking for a tent that changes the experience at some level entirely. Check out the video above to learn more.
Rob Spencer