Some people take a purely utilitarian approach to camping — ensuring that everything they pack serves at least one essential purpose and not taking anything optional. Others turn camping into a luxury adventure, complete with hot tents (with fireplaces) and full double beds.
Do you fall somewhere in between?
In that case, you may want to add little personal touches to make your camping experience a cozy and comfortable one without going totally overboard. This quick guide takes a look at easy and realistic ways to make it happen.
Invest in Comfortable Camping Bedding
You could get a cheap air mattress from Walmart or Target and call it a night, but if you’re aiming for a more comfortable camping experience, investing in durable, soft camping bedding is the golden ticket.
Products like the self-inflating Mondoking Therm-a-Rest, REI Co-op Camp Dreamer, or Exped MegaMat will add that soft touch you’re craving. These camping mattresses may not be cheap, but they’ll make you want to go camping more often!
You’ll need practical sleeping bags rated for the kind of weather you’re going camping in, but if cooler temperatures are on the horizon, why not bring some of your favorite cozy blankets, too? They make your tent look more homely and add a familiar touch.
Use Soft Lighting for a Whimsical Touch
Do you know those soft LED string lights that people sometimes put up in their backyards to host outdoor dinner parties in summer?
Well, they’re pretty great for when you’re camping, too — and some are even battery-powered.
String lights make every night at the campground look like a fairy tale, but you have plenty of other options, too. Cute lanterns and battery-powered candles
(which are safe to use in nature, unlike real ones) all add to the atmosphere.
Plan Some Fun Campfire Activities
Coziness is more than a feel and an aesthetic. It’s also the people you go camping with — and nothing says “Wow, this is wonderful” faster than a group of people laughing around the campfire.
Bring that guitar and sing songs together. Plan silly verbal games to play around the campfire. Tell ghost stories, or share your favorite camping memories from when you were all kids. Above all, make sure you add making s’mores to your camping bucket list because they’re practically the definition of campground coziness.
Soup-filled thermoses or warm cups of cocoa can only add to the experience. If you’re up for a little nightcap, mulled wine smells amazing and really adds a comfortable feel to your night around the campfire.
Plan Your Outdoor Seating
Plastic yard chairs or practical folding camping chairs might get the job done, but they don’t exactly scream “comfortable and cozy.” If comfort is your main priority, why not go the extra mile? Consider hanging a hammock or two — the kids will love it. Add extra padding to your chairs. Comfy seating is one of the fastest ways to ensure that your campsite feels like a wonderful temporary home.
Pack Comfortable Clothes
Many campers believe in traveling as lightly as possible. That may be necessary if you’re going backpacking, but you have a lot more leeway if you’re bringing your vehicle. While the added personal touches, like extra blankets, chairs, and lighting, may take up a lot of space, you can probably make room for some comfortable clothes, too, right?
Soft merino wool is fire-resistant, semi-waterproof, super warm, and very comfortable. If you have a sweater like that, pack it. Bring some comfy PJs to keep you cozy at night, and don’t forget about soft pairs of socks to protect your feet.
On a more basic level, only ever bring hiking boots you’ve already “broken in.” Blisters from hiking are among the number one enemies of comfortable camping!
Bring Some Personal Entertainment
You may think you’ll be busy all day while camping. You’re probably planning to go hiking, fishing, and swimming, and you think you’ll be cooking or gathering firewood much of the rest of the time.
You’re right, but make no mistake — there will be plenty of moments where you simply don’t know what to do.
You can, of course, simply enjoy the sound of the rustling leaves around you or see if you can spot any birds. However, if you fancy the idea of turning your camping trip into a relaxing haven, you can take things a step further.
Good things to bring include:
- A few good books that you haven’t read yet, but were already planning to.
- A playlist of fun or relaxing songs to listen to while you’re reading or chilling.
- A journal. This could go in several directions. You can journal your experience, or you can draw some of the things you see in nature.
- A book about meditation, yoga, or tai chi to follow along with.
- And what about good old board and card games?
In contrast to the campfire activities we mentioned earlier, these little things give you a chance to ground yourself and take time out on your own.
A Final Word
We hope you enjoyed this look at the little things that can take your camping experience to the next level. Of course, these little extras will only make your trip more comfortable and enjoyable if you’ve got the basics covered well.
Everyone who goes camping needs a good-quality tent and ground cover (a tarp or a tent footprint), a camping stove to prepare meals and the fuel to power it, a portable fire ring (or access to an established fire pit), a good first-aid kit, and a decent multi-tool. You’ll also always need a flashlight, a firestarter, and fresh water, not to mention emergency signaling devices and a way to navigate.
If you’re building your cozy camping retreat from the ground up, start with the basics and work your way up from there. No amount of soft lighting or outdoor rugs will save you from a disastrous trip if you don’t have potable water or a decent tent, after all!
