Camping consists of many different adventures, including long trips across the wilderness with barely a backpack, to luxury tree houses on a cliff. People have many different ideas when it comes to camping. Whether it is only an overnight stay immersed in nature or a weekend trip, the type of camping you choose depends on your personal choices.
Camping is great for outdoor enthusiasts who want to get away from the chaos of the city towards a more peaceful and serene environment. Camping trips also make for great bonding experiences for families and give people a chance to interact with nature in a unique way.
There are many different types of camping you can choose from for your next trip. Here are some of the most common ones that you should take the time to explore.
Adventure Camping
Adventure camping is for advanced campers who have no issue dealing with different challenges of the wilderness. There are two main aspects to traveling: day and night. During the day, campers hike or travel across an area of their choosing.
They can go into state parks and pick hiking trails that they prefer for the trip. You can explore new areas and enjoy what nature has to offer. During the night, campers will set up their camp and rest. They can set up a fire to cook food or plan the trip for the next day. The main idea is to completely immerse into nature for a true adventure.
Many adventure luxury trips may include adventure parks. They have multiple obstacles that campers can take on for their pleasure. For example, The Wildman Adventure Resort offers campers the chance to explore nature in a unique way through the 60 feet high Alpine Tower rope course.
Dry Camping
Dry camping is also known as wild camping or boondocking. It is a unique and fun way of using your recreational vehicle. Basically, it means that you pull your RV, caravan, or camper off the highway and stay for free in different locations.
However, it means that you won’t have access to certain amenities and water while you are camping. This is because you don’t have a proper hookup on the road. In short, you have to use whatever resources you find on the site of your choosing. For a dry camping trip, you just need to access the place where you want to go and adjust to the available resources.
Many people love to stop near a national park or forest land for free. This is perfect for birdwatchers who love to carry binoculars and bird books for some bird watching on the road. Many farmers also allow travelers to park on their land since their presence may provide a little extra security. This is very common, especially if the campers are willing to pay for electricity or water.
Backpacking
Backpacking is one of the more extreme forms of camping which requires roughing it. It is an independent way of traveling since you are free from the limitations of camping sites. You will probably be traveling through different types of ecosystems, which is why you should be able to adapt to anything.
For backpacking camping, the most important gear is actually your shoes. The biggest chunk of your time in the wilderness will be spent hiking, which is why you will need supportive and comfortable shoes. Backpacking campers need to carry enough supplies to last them through the trip because they won’t find any supply stores in the wilderness. Backpackers use different techniques like foraging and filtering water to survive as well.
They have to carry everything on their back since carrying extra supplies in your hands can get annoying after a while. They may choose simple camps like tenting or mountain huts. In other countries, dry camping is also known as hill walking, tramping, trekking, and bushwalking.
Ultra-Light Backpacking
Ultra-light backpacking is when a backpacker eliminates weight or luggage as much as possible. They have to only carry what is necessary for them to survive in the wild. Many campers also believe that everything you carry must also have at least 3 functions so that it is worth the weight.
Although there are no strict rules for traveling, ultra-light backpackers often insist that the pack should be between 12 to 28 pounds. The base weight consists of food, water, and fuel, which can vary according to the style and duration of the journey ahead.
The philosophy behind this type of camping is to reconnect with nature and experience life without luxuries.
Bicycle Camping
Bicycle camping continues to become more popular for many different reasons. People often love the idea of traveling on a cycle while others simply find this mode of transport really convenient. It allows you the ability to enter remote areas and campsites, which means you can go where you like.
The biggest benefit of bicycle camping is that it liberates the camper from fuel consumption. It is an eco-friendly and economical way to travel. It is even healthier to travel on cycles than any other way and can even be quite fast. It increases the usual physical environment for campers who won’t be restricted by motorways and paved roads for their cars. This increases the mobility of the cyclist.
Glamping
Glamping camping is a luxurious form of camping where the individuals don’t have to sacrifice any comforts. The term is deriving from glamour camping. It is gaining popularity fast since it allows outdoor enthusiasts the chance to truly immerse themselves in the wilderness. If you aren’t worried about restless sleep, bugs, stale food, and stinky hair, then you may just end up enjoying and exploring the world around you even more.
With glamping, campers don’t have to pitch tents, build fires or unroll thin sleeping bags. There are many different options for glamping in the most beautiful spaces, such as yachts, tree houses, villas, cabins, safari tents, pods, airstreams, and many others.
Canoe Camping
Canoe camping has become really popular and is known in many regions as canoe tripping, canoe touring, or expedition canoeing. This type of camping is more prevalent in North America. Canoe campers, similarly to backpackers, have to carry enough with them to last throughout the trip.
Canoeists are able to transport heavier loads than backpackers or kayakers. This means that they can spend more time in the wild and fare more easily in similar conditions since they have more resources.
This is especially the case with food because most gear remains the same no matter how many days you go for, but food supplies increase with every additional day in the wild. Even though most canoe campers mostly travel on water, portaging by foot can be necessary sometimes between water bodies or dangerous obstacles like waterfalls or rapids.
Obstacles may cause injuries or loss of resources like food or gear. High water levels after storms can also make river travel harder. Winds and thunderstorms can also create large waves that can be really hard to maneuver through. Canoe campers usually take into account whether delays and factor them into the trip schedule.
Experienced canoeists will definitely feel comfortable paddling straight through bodies of water, but most stay within a few hundred meters of the shore in case. A normal fully-loaded canoe can draw 12 to 16 cm, which means you can approach the shore safely. The close proximity isn’t disturbing due to its inherent quietness, which allows the camper to surround themselves with aquatic sounds and near-shore wildlife. Many people also like to go fishing while canoe camping for food and peacefulness.
Canoe camping uses up a lower level of exertion and produces less sound in the wilderness. Canoe campers can also easily shift to portaging when required, which, when mixed with their maneuverability on the water, allows them to go to places that are otherwise really hard to access. The versatility of canoe camping has made it possible for campers to see some sites that no other type of camping allows access to. This can be a really fun adventure for many people.
Many canoeists will require specialized canoe packs for their gear, which can make it easier to load the canoe and portage. The items also need to be kept in waterproof bags to keep them dry in case the canoe capsizes, or it rains.
Overlanding
Overlanding camping is an independent adventure through which you can access remote destinations and explore them at your leisure. The journey is the biggest part of the adventure. Such campers use mechanized capable transport like trucks and jeeps.
The nights are spent camping in simple camps. The journey usually lasts for a long period of time, even months and years. Many campers even use this type of camping to go across international boundaries.
RV Camping
Camping in recreation vehicles (RVs) is also a pretty popular trend. It allows campers to enjoy exciting outdoor destinations and the scenic beauty of nature. RVs are now equipped with almost everything you may need, including entertainment and bedding. They are built with kitchenettes and working toilets, so it is easier for campers to focus on exploring the wilderness instead of surviving.
All you have to do is choose a good camping site in national parks, forests, meadows, farms, beaches or any other place you prefer. It will allow you to go camping to even far off areas with no issue.
Traditional Tent Camping
Tent camping is one of the most common and basic kinds of camping. All you need to do is head off into the countryside and pitch a tent. You can sleep there for one or more nights, as you prefer. You can stay on campsites or venture into the wilderness or beaches.
This is a really good option for families who have kids. It allows the children to experience and learn about nature, as well as how to respect it. It also allows the family to bond together and learns to share work. Even the smallest children can be assigned responsibilities so that it is more fun for everyone involved.
Choosing where to pitch the tent is also important since it can have a huge impact on your comfort while sleeping. The tent should be pitched on flat ground without any debris, rocks, or roots. You should also take into consideration where the water will go if it ends up raining. You should try to avoid areas where water will start collecting in a puddle. It can become hazardous in heavy rainfall to pitch tents in gullies.
One of the best pleasures of tent camping is the whole process of preparing food in the fresh air. Surrounded by nature, cooking on an open fire can make the food taste even better. However, you should be careful to dispose of the food and waste properly since the smell can attract animals. It is also important not to leave any trash in the wilderness.
Survivalist Camping
Survivalist camping is the most extreme form of camping that only experienced and advanced campers should attempt to partake in. The philosophy of this sort of camping is to be self-sufficient for a certain period of time and return alive.
There are two main types of survivalist camping: base camping and walk out. Base camping is when campers walk into a remote and isolated spot where they make camp. They have to survive on the resources they find in the area before returning home. Campers get food from the forest through trapping or fishing, as well as foraging for edible plants, berries, and nuts. Avoiding dangerous, large animals is also important since they can pose a threat.
Walkout survival camping is when a participant is dropped into the wild and has to walk back into civilization. This is a really challenging type of camping since the camper has to find a new source of water and food every single day.
Campers need really great survival and camping skills to do this sort of camping. Some attend courses on how to survive before attempting it for real. You will need to learn how to hunt for food in the wild, find water, make shelters, and do emergency medical treatments. Advanced campers do such camping to put their skills to the test and know that there is a level of danger with this sort of camping.
People should do proper planning and novices should never attempt this. You will also need the proper gear for such type of camping which many amateurs don’t have.
Reenactment Camping
Reenactment camping is certainly the most unique of all types. It utilizes methods and equipment used in a specific historic era. For example, campers may attempt to replicate conditions and technologies during the Wild West, Medieval Times, and the American Civil War.
Reenactment campers sometimes organize these events around the world in various places. The camping is also a great bonding and learning opportunity. It is a really great way to immerse into a period of history to understand it to its core.
Winter Camping
Winter camping is a great opportunity to explore and enjoy the beauty and peacefulness that pristine winter wonderlands can provide. During winter camping, you don’t have to deal with irritating bugs and crowds. You can enjoy mountain climbing and gorgeous snowy sunsets.
With proper planning, you can also do some other activities like backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding. The untouched snow can be a really amazing memorable experience for you as a camper. The most important thing that you have to focus on is to find a way to stay warm during the trip.
Work Camping
Campers sometimes have to blend work and camping. Many travelers who live through freelance work while exploring the wilderness may have to utilize this sort of camping. Individuals seeking work in fields related to camping are compensated by certain services on the campsites such as water, electricity, Wi-Fi, and sewer hookups.
At the end of the day, there are many different types of camping. It all depends on your individual taste and preference as to which you choose to go on. If you are planning a trip camping, make sure that you are fully prepared with all the essentials that you may need during the trip. This will ensure that you have a fun time no matter which type of camping you are going for. Remember to respect the land. Happy camping!