Camping isn’t hard at all – A quick start guide for beginners

After diving headfirst into the camping lifestyle, my family and friends gradually joined in too. One day, while chatting with my sister about my blog, she actually asked me to write a “Camping for Beginners Guide.” I had always focused on documenting my camping life on my blog, but never thought about how to organize everything into a beginner’s resource. But for my sister, I went all out – drawing on my 34 nights of camping experience, I wrote this guide word by word.

Angela: Frost, your “Camping for Beginners Guide” is ready. This is a small personal sharing for those who want to try camping for the first time but don’t know where to start. I hope veteran campers can offer some advice too – after all, I’m still a rookie myself.

Follow the steps below to see how we recommend beginners get started with camping.

The number of campers or whether there are children or elderly in your group will slightly alter the way you camp. It will also affect the size and type of tent you choose to buy or rent.

1. 1. Tent: There’s no such thing as the perfect tent – only one that closely matches your actual needs and situation. When choosing a tent, if the label says it’s suitable for 4 people, we suggest it’s best for 2; if it says 6 people, then around 4 is more comfortable. Otherwise, you won’t be able to turn over at night, and you’ll wake up sore. For your first camping trip, you could borrow a tent from friends or rent from a gear rental shop. Once you’ve tried it out, you can figure out what you really need before buying.

2. Ground Cloth: Lay this on the grass before setting up your tent. It protects the bottom of the tent from dirt and damage, and also blocks moisture and cold from the ground. The ground cloth should be smaller than the tent so that rainwater doesn’t pool and seep through.

3. Ground Mat (Moisture-proof Pad): This goes inside the tent between your body and the ground. It acts as insulation to reduce heat transfer, preventing ground moisture and cold from seeping through and affecting your sleep. Aluminum foil mats are most commonly used, but many also use waterproof mats or even play mats. Some people have even used cardboard boxes.

4. Sleeping Mat: This goes on top of the moisture-proof pad. Adding a sleeping mat helps create a more home-like comfort level at campsites. In winter, it provides extra warmth – especially important for those who value sleep quality when camping on rocky ground. There are many types of sleeping mats available. They should be thick enough to ensure comfort (personally, I think at least 10 cm thick is ideal). For beginners, you might want to try using a thick quilt from home first.10 centimeters or more).

5. Tarp (Canopy): Can be set up above your sleeping tent for effective shade and rain protection. It can also be used alone on open ground as a space for cooking or for kids to play.

First, let’s clarify – when you first start camping, the tent is your main priority. Whether to buy a cooking tent is optional. You could share one with friends or find a campsite that offers a cooking area. On nice days, you can just set up a table and chairs outside the tent to cook. Still, here’s a general intro to common camping gear:

1. Cooking Tent (Lounge Tent): A typical cooking tent is around 300x300 cm. Some come as one-piece units (including sidewalls), others require you to buy sidewalls separately. The cooking tent can serve as a rest area, cooking space, or play area. In winter, you can lower the sidewalls, light a heater, and stay warm and sheltered. In summer, roll up the sidewalls and leave the mesh for ventilation and mosquito protection. If you have a tarp, it can also serve this function.

2. Tables and Chairs: Egg-shaped folding tables are popular these days – they’re adjustable in height and easy to store. Most households already own chairs, but look for ones that fold compactly, otherwise they’ll take up too much trunk space. A table makes meal prep and dining much more pleasant. But camping with a stone as your table and the ground as your seat has its own charm. Some thoughtful campsites even provide tables and chairs, saving you from bringing too much gear your first time out.

3. Mesh Food Storage Basket: Mainly used to hold cooking utensils and tableware, keeping bugs and flies out.

4. Cooking Equipment: A portable gas stove or high-altitude gas stove, a soup pot, a small frying pan, and bowls and chopsticks are enough to cook up a meal outdoors. Or, if you’d rather not carry lots of cookware, pick up some frozen food from the shops and heat it up at the campsite – also a great idea.

5. Dish Drying Rack: Often overlooked but very important for campsite cooking – without it, you’ll end up packing dirty greasy dishes back home.

1. Sleeping bags, blankets:Sleeping bags come in summer and winter versions. If you only opt for a summer one, just add a small blanket inside during cold weather—it still keeps you warm effectively. Generally, bringing a sleeping bag takes up less space when traveling, but some camping enthusiasts prefer to bring their own quilts. At first, Angela’s family also used to carry a quilt (which can be vacuum-packed), but as they accumulated more gear, they switched to more space-saving sleeping bags!

2. RV Bucket (Moonlight Treasure Box):Both I and my friends usually get two—one for kitchen utensils and one for small tools. The advantage of an RV bucket is that besides storage, it can also double as a chair, a bathing bucket, and more. Almost every camping household has one.

3. Tent stakes and ropes:These are almost always included with your tent purchase, but our family always chooses to buy extra stakes and ropes. Sometimes they come in handy depending on the campsite conditions. The extra ropes can even serve as temporary clotheslines!

4. Lighting tools:Light strips, camping lanterns, hanging LED lights, flashlights, etc., are all essential lighting tools for camping. Without them, you’ll be cooking, eating, and sleeping in the dark at night. When you’re just starting out with camping, having a simple lighting tool is enough to make evenings outdoors feel safer—others can be added gradually.

1. Basic Clothing:Dress comfortably and casually. Since temperatures fluctuate greatly between morning and evening outdoors, it’s recommended to dress in layers (like onions)—don’t catch a cold (literally!) and bring an unwanted “gift” home from your camping trip.

2. Bathing Essentials:Use small plastic bottles to portion out toiletries and label them (you can also use differently colored containers for easy identification). Some campsites provide bathing supplies, which saves you the trouble of carrying them. Additionally, two-in-one bathing products that wash both hair and body are very convenient.

3. Waterproof Slippers, Sandals, or Sneakers:Camping grounds aren’t like the flat surfaces at home—you might encounter grassy areas, gravel, or slopes. Wearing sneakers makes it easier to move around without getting injured. It’s also important to bring an extra pair of waterproof slippers or sandals—they come in handy when showering, using the toilet at night, playing in water, or if it rains.

4. Basic First Aid Kit:When enjoying the outdoors, personal safety is crucial. Pack basic items like band-aids, ointment, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, cooling gel/or products for sunburn. These are especially important if you’re bringing children—don’t skip them.

1. Where to Find Campsites? How to Get Acquainted?:Camping Wo Websiteis one of the most popular websites. Alternatively, you can join various Facebook camping groups to learn about others’ camping lifestyles or refer to blogger posts for shared experiences. Doing your homework before departure helps ensure a smoother camping trip.

2. What Kind of Campsite for Family Camping?:As mentioned in the first step, first determine your camping group size and ages. For family camping, campsites with sandboxes, pools, slides, or nearby streams can make children fall in love with camping. If you can’t find one, bringing board games can also help kids enjoy the experience.

3. What Kind of Campsite for Elderly Companions?:If you’re camping with elderly family members who aren’t comfortable sleeping in tents, it’s advisable to choose campsites with guesthouses or cabins, so everyone can look after each other and elders can enjoy family time in nature with ease.

4. What Kind of Campsite for Cloud Sea, Flower Viewing, or Water Play?:Many dream of seeing beautiful cloud seas, but they mostly appear at high altitudes and depend on humidity levels. For beginners, it’s best to start with low-altitude, well-equipped campsites, then gradually move to higher altitudes to keep the passion going. Viewing flowers or autumn foliage depends on the season—only when the timing is right and blossoms are in full bloom can you enjoy those stunning views. Many campsites are located by streams, but be sure to check water safety and upstream conditions before playing in the water or fishing.

1. Camping isn’t like staying in a hotel—you must be prepared to face all kinds of terrains. For Angela, she often adopts the mindset of “when in Rome,” and with the right attitude, camping life becomes enjoyable and complaints fade.

2. For those new to camping, start with rentals or basic equipment. Through repeated camping trips and exchanging experiences with fellow campers, you’ll gradually figure out what items you truly need—avoid hoarding too much unused gear.

3. Many find packing and organizing gear before each trip tedious, but by keeping camping items separate from household ones and assigning fixed, unified storage spots, you can simplify pre-trip prep and post-trip cleanup. (Don’t mix them up!)

4. When just starting out, consider joining a few experienced campers or participating in group camping trips—it’ll help you get the hang of it faster!

That’s all—hope it was helpful to you. I wrote this article completely on a whim. I hope it offers a little guidance to those new to the camping lifestyle. Falling in love with camping, and embracing the camping life, is also about growing with your children. Even when exhausted, I try my best to write down these stories with my kids—because I know that my elementary-school-aged Junjun will read them like little stories, and my preschooler Tongtong will giggle at the photos. That’s more than enough.

Thank you all for reading and for your encouragement. I will keep going strong. I hope you who step into this beautiful world have a wonderful camping experience.

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