Camping is simple right, pitch a tent sleep in it and done. Unfortunally, It doesn’t take long wandering the racks of your local outdoor retailer to understand this isn’t exactly the case. There are many different types of camping. Each offering unique experiences that can cater to all adventure levels. Lets find the style for you.
1 Tent camping
Tent camping is the most basic form of camping. Its what comes to most peoples minds when they think camping. Pitch a tent in any park, campground or backyard and that’s about it. Basic tent camping is by far the most accessible type for people to start with. Gear is affordable since weight isn’t a concern. All you need is a tent, sleeping pad and blankets.
2 Backpacking
Backpacking is exactly what it sounds like. Take your gear toss it in a backpack and go camping. Backpacking allows for more adventurous trips with campsites in remote locations.
Gear selection and planning starts to become more important with backpacking. You only have what you can carry so compact light gear is a must. Forgetting something can ruin a trip or become dangerous. Its always best to have a packing list and trip plan before going.
3 RV Camping
RV camping is by far the most the most luxurious form of camping. Many people wouldn’t even consider it camping and a times we question it ourselves. But in the end those drawn to RVing want adventure and to experience nature too.
RV’s and the amenities they have vary widely from small travel trailers with a kitchenet and bedroom. All the way up to motorhomes that would rival many New York apartments on square footage. Most people RV camp at designated campgrounds that have electrical hookups and other amenities. But that doesn’t mean they cant forgo that and go more remote.
RV’s are the type of camping ideal for long term trips and serving as a home base to enjoy other outdoor activities. Week long trips to the mountains or nation wide tours of the national parks
4 Bike Packing
Bike packing also known as bike touring is camping while using a bike to get from one site to the next. All your gear has to be attached to the bike in some way. Typically three to five packs are used to spread the weight around. Bike packing allows camp sites to be far from each other. Even week long trips can span hundreds of miles.
5 Car Camping
Car camping is a means to an end form of camping. You need to get somewhere, and would rather camp than pay for a room. We’ve all been there. The site is drive up and you either pitch the tent a few yards from the car or just put down the back seats and sleep in the car.
6 Overlanding
Overlanding is a type of camping that marries off-roading with car camping. Using a 4×4 allows for some remote campsites down trails or forestry roads while also not having to be concerned about weight. From sun shades and full kitchens to solar power and refrigerators it has a place in a good overlanding rig.
7 Ultralight Camping
Ultralight camping is typically a form of backpacking, providing the pack doesn’t get ditched also. Ultralight camping is all about weight or more precisely the minimizing of weight. While we all understand that excess weight will slow us down while on the trial Ultralight takes it to the next level by throwing out what many of us would consider necessity.