When you hear the words primitive camping, what pops in your head? Do you see yourself in the wilderness living in a cave and hunting animals for food? In reality, primitive camping doesn’t entail you turning into a caveman.
People today think of camping as booking a campsite in a national park or other camping grounds. Others park at a campsite and sleep in an RV. To be clear, you can do primitive camping even if you bring a vehicle with you. In fact, you will need one to take you far away from the crowds.
Perhaps the farthest one from primitive camping is glamping, which basically means camping with glamour. While these outdoor adventures are great in their own ways, the best approach to truly enjoy nature is to go primitive camping.
Sometimes, people need to rough it out to learn new skills that may prove useful in life. Primitive camping teaches you what it’s like to live without electricity, running water, and bathrooms. In other words, it prepares you for a zombie apocalypse or any catastrophic event leading to breakdown of society.
Primitive Camping Gear: The Essentials
Shelter and Comfort
Nothing says “camping” more than a tent and a campfire. You need a tent to shelter you from the elements and keep bugs and animals away. In choosing the right tent to pack, consider how many people will be sleeping in it.
Some backpackers prefer to sleep under the stars. If you don’t want to bring a tent, at least use a sleeping bag and a tarp.
Some campers think a ground cloth is no longer necessary but there are advantages to bringing one to your primitive camping expedition. First of all, a ground cloth or even a tarpaulin will keep water or moisture from the soil away. It also protects you from rocks and other things you might step or lie down on. A ground cloth will also prevent your tent from getting ripped or damaged by pointy objects. You can avoid all these by making sure the ground is even and free of debris before you pitch your tent.
You’ll also need blankets, sheets and pillows. It gets cold at night so additional layers and a pillow will keep you warm and comfortable. Pack a thermal blanket, as well. It’ll keep you warm and its reflective surface will help attract rescuers if you get in trouble.
Fire Starters
Speaking of warmth, you should know how to build a fire. This basic survival skill will not only keep you warm, it will also help keep wild animals and mosquitoes away. Plus, you can cook food and boil water with fire.
It’s difficult to survive the wilderness without fire. Make sure you have plenty of ways to start one. Pack waterproof matches, lighter, and magnesium fire starters.
Light Sources
A campfire will also provide light at night. You may need other light sources so you won’t strain your eyes at night or when it gets dark. You’ll need a tactical flashlight and a LED lantern. Bring extra batteries.
You can create ambient light by simply wrapping a headlamp around a gallon jug with the light pointing towards the jug.
Cooking and Eating
You can do your cooking and boiling over your campfire. Before making a fire pit, make sure the area is safe and clear of debris, tree roots, grass, low-hanging branches, and anything that can catch fire.
You can also bring a portable stove to make your tasks a lot easier. However, primitive camping is all about experiencing how people lived in the old days when portable stoves weren’t invented yet. Anyway, the choice is yours.
Bring some pots and pans. Avoid the ones with rubber-coated handles, especially if you’re cooking over a fire pit. Aluminum pots are better.
Water
Water is your most valuable commodity so you need an ample supply. If it so happens that you get lost or stranded, you should find ways to stay hydrated. Ideally, you should have enough water to last during your primitive camping adventure. However, it would be impossible to carry that much when you’re backpacking.
After your supply runs out, you can drink water from a lake or any other body of water as long as you purify it first. Strain the water first before boiling it. Water purification tablets will also do the job. You can also invest on a personal water filtration system.
Other Camping Gear You Need
Cleanliness
You’ll be spending some time among nature and it’s only right that you take care of your surroundings. Whatever trash you produce, you should take them with you when you go. Use trash bags to collect your garbage. Trash bags will also come in handy in survival situations so you should pack more than a few.
The biggest challenge with primitive camping is the lack of a toilet and running water. When you have to go, choose a spot that’s around 200 yards from a water source. You also need the spot where you’ll be taking a dump to be fully exposed to the sun. Maximum sunlight is necessary to hasten decomposition.
Once you find the right spot, dig a hole about six inches deep. You’ll need a shovel or trowel for this. Bring lots of toilet paper, sanitary wipes, and a hand sanitizer. When you’re done, pack the used toilet paper and wipes in a Ziploc bag. You’re not supposed to leave them behind. Fill the hole afterwards.
Safety and Protection
Primitive camping has its risks and that includes going face-to-face with some wild animals. You’d feel safer if you have some kind of weapon to defend yourself. Remember though that you’re just a guest at the place you decided to set up camp at. The animals, meanwhile, are the natural residents. Avoid hurting them as much as possible.
A tactical knife is a nice thing to have when you’re outdoors. Aside from a knife, you can also bring a multitool to do various tasks, including defending yourself if it comes to it.
Bears are some of the animals you could possibly encounter on your primitive camping adventure. Don’t leave food, especially leftovers, just scattered around as they will attract bears. If you encounter one, use a bear spray.
Make sure you have a first aid kit with you. Whether you’re attacked by a bear or you stumble and break your ankle, you’ll have a better chance of surviving if you have a first aid kit. You should also know how to treat yourself. Enrol in a first aid class prior to your primitive camping exploit.
There you have it. Make sure you have all the essential gear listed here before you leave for your primitive camping trip. You also need to be physically and mentally prepared for such a challenge. Perhaps the most important aspect of primitive camping is to just have fun.
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