Wild camping is all about enjoying the great outdoors in the purest way possible. Here are 10 tips you need to know before your first wild camping adventure.
Wild camping lets you connect with nature in a raw and untamed environment. It’s about experiencing the great outdoors without all the comforts of home and experiencing true freedom in nature.
Needless to say, there’s a lot that can make or break your wild camping experience. This means you’ll need to be fully prepared.
If you’re new to wild camping, then be sure to follow these ten guidelines before you head out into the wilderness.
What is Wild Camping?
Wild camping is the practice of camping in wilderness areas or other undeveloped lands without the amenities or development of formal campsites. This often involves camping in remote or backcountry locations and being self-sufficient in terms of supplies and equipment.
Wild camping is also sometimes called backcountry camping or dispersed camping.
10 Wild Camping Tips for Beginners
Before you head off into the great outdoors, armed with nothing but a tent and sleeping bag, make sure you know what you’re doing! Here are our ten best wild camping tips for beginners.
1. Know the Local Laws
First things first, you need to know the local wild camping laws of the area.
In some areas, wild camping is perfectly legal, or even considered a human right. In other places, it’s “tolerated” for respectful campers. There are also plenty of areas where wild camping is a big no-no.
Where you decide to pitch your tent is up to you. Although, we strongly advise only choosing places where wild camping is considered acceptable.
Research the area you plan to camp in to ensure that wild camping is allowed and to familiarize yourself with any regulations or guidelines. Know where you can pitch your tent, where you can’t, and what best practices are followed in the area.
If you’re not sure, always try to ask a local for advice. Many farmers and landowners will be more than happy for you to camp on their land, as long as you’re respectful.
The last thing you want is to be woken up in the early hours of the morning by a disgruntled farmer, chasing you off their property.
2. Leave Nothing Behind
Always practice Leave No Trace principles to minimize your impact on the environment.
Wild camping is all about respecting nature and the great outdoors. When you leave, nobody should know you were ever there.
Leave all plants, trees, and bushes as they are. If you can light a fire, do it in a properly contained area – never burn grass, bushes, moss, or scorch rocks. In fact, it’s generally best to use a camping stove to avoid this issue.
Needless to say, take all your waste home with you! And make sure you practice proper hygiene to keep yourself and the wilderness clean.
Of course, don’t forget to bring a trash bag. Leave nothing but your footprints.
3. Pack Light
The whole point of wild camping is to go back to your roots, escape to nature, and enjoy the beauty of true simplicity. So, don’t overcomplicate things with loads of gear.
Pack only what you need and keep it simple. Trust us, it will make your life a lot easier – especially if you have a long hike to your campsite.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come prepared! Bring spare batteries if you need them, plenty of food and water, a good first aid kit, and any other important gear you need. Just try not to overdo it.
The more experience you have with wild camping, the better you will get at packing. And as soon as you nail down a truly minimal wild camping setup, you’ll enjoy your experience a whole lot more.
4. Bring Everything You Need
In the spirit of leaving no trace, it’s important to bring everything you need. You know the old boy scout motto of always being prepared? Yup, that’s always important when out in the wilderness.
While we just emphasized the importance of packing light, you also need to think of every scenario that, could happen while you’re wild camping.
Bring enough food and water to last for the duration of your trip. Bring a trowel for when nature calls. Bring everything you need so that you don’t end up cutting down trees or damaging the earth around you. Some common items people might forget include:
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- A well-stocked first-aid kit
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- An emergency blanket for cold
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- Enough fuel for your stove (or bring your own firewood)
Being well-prepared means you’ll avoid dangerous situations, camp more comfortably, and enjoy your time in the outdoors more.
5. Know Your Skills and Be Prepared
Make sure you know what you’re getting into when you go wild camping. If this is your first time, it’s probably best not to attempt a crazy wild camping trip at the summit of a snowy mountain. Start easy, figure out what you’re capable of, and plan trips that match your abilities.
Research the weather and plan for all kinds of conditions. Bring waterproof clothing, warm sleeping gear, sun protection, and don’t forget the bug spray!
Make sure you have some form of navigation available. If you use your phone for this, ensure you have a charged-up power bank to help you stay connected when you’re out in the wilderness.
Be aware of your environment and ensure you know about the landscape you’re heading into. There could be poisonous plants, dangerous snakes or insects, or even bears roaming around your campsite.
Having all of this around you is the true beauty of wild camping! However, you need to know what to do and how to respond to these potentially dangerous situations.
Oh, and always make sure someone knows where you are when you head out.
6. Respect the Locals
When you’re out in nature, one of the most important rules is to respect the surrounding wildlife.
Remember, when you’re wild camping, you’re staying in the homes of all kinds of other creatures. Birds, insects, lizards, snakes, and all kinds of animals could be around you.
Respect them.
Appreciate animals from a distance. Don’t feed them. Don’t disturb them. Leave them be, and they should show you the same respect.
7. Test Your Gear
If you’ve never gone wild camping before then this is seriously important.
Always test your gear before a trip to make sure everything is working fine and that you know how it all works. The last thing you want is to open up your tent bag, only to find half your tent is missing.
Check your torch for batteries. Check your gas supplies. Make sure you know how everything sets up and that nothing is faulty.
8. Choose the Right Spot
OK, so there’s a lot that goes into choosing the right wild camping spot.
If you’re camping in an area where wild camping is totally legal (like a national park), then feel free to pitch your tent anywhere! Well, almost anywhere.
If you’re “stealth camping”, you’ll have to be a bit more strategic and find a private, hidden location. That’s a whole different topic.
Always choose a flat, dry area to camp that offers enough drainage in case of rain. Trust us, you don’t want your campsite to turn into a muddy swamp during the night.
Try to camp away from the road, and never disturb someone’s view if you camp close to a house.
Of course, your goal for wild camping should be to get out and escape the hustle and bustle of the world. So, of course, you’ll probably want to find a secluded spot with beautiful views. Just make sure the space you choose is practical.
9. Choose the Right Tent
Your wild camping experience is heavily reliant on your tent.
There are a couple of factors to consider when choosing the right tent:
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- How warm, waterproof, and weather resistant the tent is
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- How easy it is to set up the tent
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- How small the tent packs up
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- How many people the tent can fit
Make sure you consider these factors when planning your wild camping experience so that you have suitable accommodation.
Sure, you can just use a divvy bag to help you enjoy an easier setup and sleep more connected with nature. However, this is not suitable for wet or rainy conditions.
Taking the time to find a great, practical tent will totally transform your wild camping experience.
10. Don’t Wait Until Dark! Know the Importance of a Good Torch
A lot of wild camping guides might tell you to wait till after dark to set up your stuff. This is to avoid attracting attention and to remain a secret. Sure, this can be a good idea.
However, you seriously do not want to be caught in total darkness without anything set up. Pitching a tent in the dark is no fun. Trust us.
This is where the power of a great headlamp comes in. Your headlamp is your best friend when you’re camping, no matter where you go.
From cooking to setting up your gear or going to the “toilet” at night, you’ll need a practical headlamp. If you’ve ever tried to pitch a tent, read, cook, or do anything else in the dark, you’ll understand just how important this is.
Summary
There’s a lot to consider when wild camping, and the more you do it the more you will learn. However, these ten tips are essential for keeping in mind wherever you decide to set up camp.
Above everything, appreciate nature and show respect to the environment wherever you go. Oh, and enjoy the feeling of pure, outdoor freedom.
Happy camping!