What primitive camping skills do you need to succeed on your next trip? Primitive camping differs significantly from hopping in an RV and heading to a designated campground with water facilities and a stable power supply. Building a fire, navigation skills, and a good understanding of local flora and fauna are musts when considering a trip in the wild with no external safety net to fall back on. As for primitive camping gear, a tent, sleeping bag, first aid kit, and a supply of fresh water and food can do you no wrong. But when you’re out there in complete isolation, other skills and bits of gear become that much more useful and necessary. We invite you to read on to find out more about what primitive camping entails.
Table of Contents
- Primitive Camping – Definition
- Primitive Camping Gear – Essentials to Bring Along
- Necessary Camping Skills: How to Succeed on Your Next Trip
- The Takeaway
Primitive Camping – Definition
In essence, primitive camping involves braving the remotest reaches of the great outdoors with just your own supplies. No plumbing, power, or infinite water supply, and no one else around to keep you company (aside from any other adventure-hungry thrill seekers accompanying you). In other words, primitive camping is camping in its purest form – raw, unspoiled, and without anything to accommodate your stay available ahead of time.
With this in mind, primitive camping involves having to overcome a significantly tougher, more challenging situation than, say, RV camping at an established campground. Therefore, it’s recommended that you not only bring along essential equipment but also possess additional survival skills. Without either of these and a sufficient degree of planning and foresight, you may inadvertently find yourself in jeopardy, without the ability to easily reach out for and obtain help.
Primitive Camping Gear – Essentials to Bring Along
Having discussed the severity of what such an outing involves, let’s discuss the must-have camping gear. Not counting the backpack, as it’s obviously required to carry all of these, it’s recommended not to head out into the wild without the following:
- Tent – preferably a durable and robust one that you know how to set up and disassemble easily. In addition, it should be well-suited to accommodate you in the climate and environment you’ll be heading to.
- Sleeping bag and pad – naturally a no-brainer, doesn’t require further explanation.
- A supply of food – the type and amount of nourishment will largely depend on your needs. Freeze-dried meals are a reliable and widely available staple to keep you fed, and they don’t require any extra equipment, just boiling water. This makes them an excellent choice if you want to hike a long way on foot and need to pack ultra-light.
- Water – another self-explanatory item that you can’t ignore. Simply put, you do not want to find yourself running low on water in the middle of nowhere. Around a gallon of water a day to stay hydrated and clean throughout your trip is absolutely paramount.
Of course, these are designed to meet only the most basic needs. If you want to go further and bring some more advanced gear, here are some options to consider:
- Lightweight camping stove – as explained above, packing cooking gear means having to carry around extra weight. The ability to prepare a warm meal to keep yourself sated cannot be underappreciated.
- Water filtration device – you can never be too safe regarding your water supply. Keeping something to filter water from natural sources you come across could make a massive difference, especially if you find yourself in any kind of emergency.
- Multi-tool – a versatile multi-tool is a great item to keep handy for innumerable scenarios.
Necessary Camping Skills: How to Succeed on Your Next Trip
Going primitive camping means encountering challenges and obstacles that wouldn’t normally occur in other circumstances. To avoid placing yourself in an unfavorable and potentially dangerous situation, make sure you’re equipped with the right set of camping skills:
- Starting a fire – though it constitutes a useful skill just to have in general, it becomes extremely important in the wild when you have to fend for yourself.
- Wildlife awareness – identifying habitats and keeping yourself safe at all times ranks among the most vital primitive camping skills.
- Navigation skills – a sharp sense of direction and knowing how to use a map are crucial to avoid losing your way, particularly the way back to your campsite.
- Basic first aid – any injury, minor or otherwise, requires proper treatment when emergency services are not as easily accessible.
The Takeaway
Primitive camping may be akin to going back to basics, but preparing and surviving in such conditions is anything but. With proper foresight and preparation, however, there isn’t a more compelling way to connect with nature at a deeply pristine and true level, making it a truly rewarding experience.
Read more: How to Assemble a First Aid Kit