The 5 Different Types Of Camping [Which One Best Defines You?]
Have you ever considered going on a camping trip? Well, if you haven’t, camping is one of the best ways to bond with your family and friends. Getting away from the usual bustle and hustle of city life, and just connecting with the ambiance and beautiful sceneries of nature.
Once upon a time, camping trips were associated with being in the wild and subjecting one’s self to very inconveniencing situations. But nowadays, it is beyond that as there are different types of camping available. So, there’s no need for you to feel obligated before embarking on a camping trip.
Now, you may be wondering what type of camping best defined you; that’s what this article seeks to answer. We will be listing the different kinds of camping and why each of them is perfect for a particular situation. You can be sure to connect with one or more of them, and invariably find the camping that you should embrace.
Are you ready to check them out so you can begin to plan your next camping trip already? Let’s dive right in.
1) Tent Camping
Tent Camping is the most renowned type of camping available, as it dates back to the early 1900s after motorcycles and automobiles became popular.
American families then realized that tent camping presented an affordable way to travel, enjoy vacations, and visit prominent locations that are many miles away from their homes.
Now, it isn’t uncommon to see thousands of families and corporate individuals pack their camping utilities during summer, national holidays or school vacations, and head off to a prominent site to better get acquainted with one another.
Usually, after arriving at the chosen destination, they locate a designated camping area—this can be a campsite, by the beach, in the woods, etc. Then they begin to set up sleeping tents, and kitchen shelters.
They can spend days or even weeks relaxing, enjoying nature, hunting, eating great campfire meals, and engaging in recreational activities. It’s also common for kids to make new friends with other campers, and most importantly, learn about the relationship we have with plants, animals, and our environment.
It’s especially important to settle in a place where you can comfortably set up tents, as this can have an overall impact on your camping experience. Pitching your tent on a level ground that’s void of rocks or roots is a good idea, as it will help ease your sleep at nights. A camping heater is also important if the night gets too cold for you.
More so, it’s crucial that you avoid spots where water gathers in because if it rains, it may become very unpleasant for your camping experience. Moreover, proper disposal of waste and food leftovers is super important to avoid attracting animals to the camping area.
Tent camping doesn’t usually spell the best of comforts, it demands your having to forego some necessities, but the effects of the inconveniences are hardly ever felt because you get to bond with people and foster team building.
2) Backpacking / Hiking
Backpacking/ Hiking is an outdoor recreation activity that involves having to carry your gear on your back. The load would usually consist of all your necessities, which can include: food, water, bedding, shelter, clothing, and cooking grill.
Backpacking and hiking can take from a single day to several weeks, and night rests usually may or may not involve camping outside.
In North America, hikers are known to put up tents because mountain huts and simple shelters that characterize the European continent are scarce.
South Africa backpackers use simple huts at nights. In New Zealand, hikers are known to pitch in overnight shelters, and the activity is referred to as tramping.
On the French system of long-distance trails, backpackers stay in simple hostels; while in Britain, backpackers employ all types of accommodation including camping; the activity is often referred to as Hill walking, but it’s also used to describe a day walk. Trekking/ Bushwalking are the terms used to describe backpacking in most countries.
Backpacking camps are rare, but the perk of backpacking is that you don’t have to follow a laid down path. You can tread your trail, which can be full of uncertainties. The truly adventurous side is that you can walk into a remote terrain, and be on your own with Mother Nature.
Unlike tent camping in which you can transport your gear with a car or boat, with backpacking, you don’t have a permanent dwelling place, so you have to be conscious of this as you pack up utilities for your camping experience. Too much load can invariably slow you down, and impact on your walk.
3) Survivalist Camping
Survivalist camping is reserved primarily for very qualified and experienced campers.
Often, it seeks to measure how well a camper can survive extreme conditions over a particular period.
Survivalist camping is divided into two, and they are Base camp and Walkout. The Base Camp and Walk Out camping are very popular with reality shows, in which they assign tasks to participants alongside their very extreme living conditions, and begin to evict them as days go by when they falter in given duties; until a winner emerges. If you are looking to get prepared for this kind of training, check out this list of the best survival schools.
Base camp survivalist camping demands that the campers choose an isolated location to pitch their tent, and then begin to live off what’s available within and around the camp.
So, it’s not uncommon to see campers going to hunt for game, fetch water to drink and wash clothes, set traps for games, go fishing, climb trees to pluck fruits such as nuts, berries, and other edible plants. The conditions are usually very extreme; in a bid to stretch the campers to their breaking point.
In the Walk out Survival camping, a participant is left in a solitary place and expected to find his/her way back to civilization. This situation is often very daunting and risky, as with every day that passes, the participant has to create a fresh means of survival.
More so, the probability of being exposed to danger or wild animals is typically high. That’s why expertise and experience in living in the wild is a necessary criterion to participate in this kind of camping.
4) Kayak Camping
Kayak camping often involves a mixture of kayaking, long-distance travel, and camping.
Unlike backpacking where backpackers get to transport their necessities on their back, kayak campers have the luxury of being conveyed by a kayak while sight-seeing and camping for days on end.
This kind of camping is predominant in North America.
Since the camping kayak can convey more load than the backpacker, it’s not surprising that campers travel further and more comfortably than backpacking. Usually, to pass through hazardous obstacles or between water bodies, portaging by foot becomes necessary. But the most journeys for campers are made by traveling on water.
Kayak camping is way more convenient than backpacking in that campers can get to carry more gear and food aided by their kayaks. Traveling longer distances and reaching places that are not accessible to hikers on foot typically defines kayak camping.
Defining what you seek to achieve with your kayak camping is especially paramount before embarking on it. Are your camping plans geared towards fishing, hunting wildlife, admiring beautiful sceneries or is it a retreat?
Even though this type of camping is adventurous, it comes with its fair share of risks. The water tides are unpredictable, and the weather can suddenly act up. So, having an experienced kayaker and an idea of the weather forecast before traveling wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
This kind of camping is best recommended for more than two people so that in cases of mishaps on the water, you can be sure to have hands on deck. Families choosing this option of camping to bond and relax should take the necessary precautions. Whatever the case, kayak camping is one way to truly enjoy the tranquility and bliss that the beauty of nature spells.
5) RV and Van Camping
Among all the different types of camping, this kind has its perks definitely and most suitable for older people.
Some people would argue that this isn’t a form of camping at all since you are camping inside your car, as opposed to having an authentic experience with nature.
With RV and Van Camping, you get to enjoy the mobility of your car while exploring favorite sites, without the rigors of conveying loads. You can pitch a tent in your car once night falls, and have all your utilities in your vehicle.
It’s a fantastic experience; only that there are restrictions to where your car can indeed drive you. As such, this kind of camping limits the camper to specific places; unlike the boat camping and backpacking that gives campers the leverage of exploring beautiful deep waters sceneries and thick forests.
The comfort in this kind of camping is exceptionally high. So, if you are one who hates inconveniences and wants all sort of comfort, you may consider this kind of camping. You can drive to restaurants and buy yourself fast foods and stuff up in your car’s fridge, use clean restrooms, and possibly refill your provisions from time to time.
In reality, you aren’t missing so much of your everyday life, except that you are not in your domain. Again, for lovers of comfort, this is the way to go. Who says camping has to be rigorous? Imagine the security you get to enjoy being shielded from wild beasts, raging weather, and scorching heat during the day.
The thought that you could still have a cold or warm shower after your day walks cannot be anymore beckoning. This camping is super cool and completely free of stress.
Why do you need camping?
Considering all the different types of camping, not trying any of them would be doing yourself a great disservice. Every camping type available presents a unique opportunity to build team relationships, foster family bonds, embrace nature, explore new grounds, and possibly build networks.
Camping should be a very vital aspect of your life as an individual due to all the advantages that are open to exploring. If you seek adventure, then you should think of planning your next camping by picking any of the options available. Those who take time out to camp are always full of exciting stories, as it ultimately adds spice to life.
What is the best way to pass the time, and create memoirs with friends and loved ones that will linger for life, other than to take pictures and shoot videos that promise to keep you laughing weeks after you return home from camp?
The key is to make sure every single moment spent is invested wisely in doing things that genuinely foster bonding and long-time memoirs.
Undoubtedly, staying away from the noisy environment that greets the city life, the pollution and traffic from time-to-time are healthy for your overall well-being. The ambiance, tranquility, and beautiful sceneries of nature have a way of cooling your nerves and releasing you from the cares and worries that characterizes your often-busy schedule.
The result is no doubt a healthier, wealthier life.
Conclusion
Different types of camping are available so you can choose the kind that will suit you best. Exploring all the advantages that camping offers should be one of the goals you work towards this next summer. You can be confident that the kids would love the experience and you would feel happier for taking the initiative.
If you still have not decide on which camping will be best for you after reading this article, then perhaps you should settle with the RV/Van camping since it provides the most comfort, and places the least inconveniences on you.
After getting used to this experience, you would have gained more confidence to try out other different types of camping mentioned here, as they are much more adventurous and spell more fun.
Camping involves taking some risks and creating a memorable experience. It encourages to get out of your comfort zone and live your life to the fullest. We can’t wait to hear how your experience went.
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