You can take 5 things camping, what do you take.......

[BURKMI19]

Okay, for fun here is the situation: You are going camping for 7 days and can take 5 things with you, what do you take?

We will make a few assumptions: A) Tent and sleeping bag are included, B) Temperature will be moderate (65-75 degrees), C) It could rain, D) You are in the middle of a forest miles from anything, E) You can only bring things which you could reasonably use or carry yourselfLet's have some fun, I'm truly interested in what people think. Here is what I would choose: Machete, Torch lighter, Container of oats, gallon of water, bag of apples

 

[ZAP]

1 gallon of water

Torch lighter(fire is good)

Water filter

Cooking pot

Machete

 

I suppose you could switch out the cooking pot for a dry food source but I am assuming there is a seven day limit on this thing. Ought to be able to kill at least one thing a day to survive if you needed to.

[MooJersey]

Water Filter (sawyer)

Pot to cook

Lighter

Knife / blade

Small .22 type hand gun (to hunt squirrels / birds)

 

[gsrjc]

First aid kit

lighter

Big Swiss Army knife that has tons of accessories

Pot

emergency gourmet food kit https://www.emergencykits.com/emergency-food/short-term-gourmet-meals/gourmet-meal-kit-84-servings/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2PL4jK-T6AIV0uDICh0tGQcNEAQYASABEgL-ufD_BwE

 

 

[Qqq123xx]

Myself

Tiffany

Daisy

Bambi

Heather

[puttnforthe8]

Da*m*n it....really was hoping Tiffany would go with me!

 

Knife, Water, firestarter of some sort, bourbon, rifle

[bladehunter]

Enough money for 7 night hotel suite.

 

 

seriously though. Did this as a teenager. 8 of us hiked 3 miles into the state park , around a huge reservoir lake , and out of complete contact with the world. Packed in everything you can think of. Then. As we are almost to the designation ( a point on the lake ) the worse thunderstorm and later tornado I’ve ever heard of hits. We finally bunker down in a pile and cover ourselves with unfolded tents and ride it out. 3 hours later it quits. This was not on the weather forecast.

 

we went the rest of the way to the point and attempted to make camp. As im trying to make a fire a pontoon pulls up. Two old guys fishing. And this idea hits me. I said “ excuse me sir ..... would you give us a ride back to the landing for $100 “?

he looks and laughs and says “ nope. But I’ll do it for nothing ... get your junk together and come on”. I had not discussed this with anyone. But I had enough.

I turn around to tell them and half already have their stuff up and headed my way ... lol. That’s the last time I ever wanted to go camping.

[Golfingfanatic]

golf glove

blade 3 iron (you can use the fir/pine cones as balls),

bucket hat

water

some food

 

Gonna grind on my swing all week.

 

[Steele47]

5 rolls of Toilet Paper.

[dan360]

multitool

1st aid kit

fire kit (tinder, matches, vacuum packed)

single wall titanium wide mouth water bottle, approx 1 qt/liter, with screw down lid.

jar of peanut butter

 

 

[Guest]

It would be water filtrer, strove for cooking, knife, lanterns and food.

[SBH9458]

First aid kit
Leatherman (which includes fire starting provision)

Spool of 550 cord

Canteen cup

Water filtration

 

 

 

 

[dashanks]

On 3/10/2020 at 2:32 PM, BURKMI19 said:

Okay, for fun here is the situation: You are going camping for 7 days and can take 5 things with you, what do you take?

We will make a few assumptions: A) Tent and sleeping bag are included, B) Temperature will be moderate (65-75 degrees), C) It could rain, D) You are in the middle of a forest miles from anything, E) You can only bring things which you could reasonably use or carry yourselfLet's have some fun, I'm truly interested in what people think. Here is what I would choose: Machete, Torch lighter, Container of oats, gallon of water, bag of apples

 

Would each bottle of single-malt count as a separate thing?

[Soloman1]

On 3/13/2020 at 2:10 PM, bladehunter said:

Enough money for 7 night hotel suite.

 

Camping is when room service is late.

[smashdn]

On 3/10/2020 at 1:32 PM, BURKMI19 said:

Okay, for fun here is the situation: You are going camping for 7 days and can take 5 things with you, what do you take?

We will make a few assumptions: A) Tent and sleeping bag are included, B) Temperature will be moderate (65-75 degrees), C) It could rain, D) You are in the middle of a forest miles from anything, E) You can only bring things which you could reasonably use or carry yourselfLet's have some fun, I'm truly interested in what people think. Here is what I would choose: Machete, Torch lighter, Container of oats, gallon of water, bag of apples

 

I have one of those small Gerber hatchets with a knife in the handle, so that.

Paracord or some sort of rope (which is currently wrapped around the sheath of the above mentioned hatchet)

Fire starting (Could be a lighter but I want a back up as well, ferro rod or the like.  Two is one and one is none.)

Some sort of water purifying (iodine tablets or a hiker type filter)

Water container of some sort (collapsible "platypus" or nalgene)

 

---

 

So practically, I do some back country camping and kayamping where I get into this scenario pretty often.  You are forced to pack light or you will be lugging it on your pack or you just run out of room in a kayak.  I take the above but also some sort of freeze dry food like a mountain house or backpackers pantry type stuff, I have a Brunton raptor (discontinued ) compressed fuel backpacking stove, a canister of fuel, and a one person cook set.  The stove and fuel nest inside the cook set.  

 

I don't tent camp, I have a camping hammock I use instead.  In the eastern US it works pretty well as you have plenty of trees or other object to tie off to.  I currently use a sleeping bag and 3/4 length down underquilt for insulation.  A tarp of different sizes based upon time of year, likelihood of encountering blowing rain and how stealthy I want to be.  

 

I also usually have a small headlamp and some extra batteries.

 

If you go with other people you can start to afford to take luxuries that you can't going solo as you can share gear.  For instance, no need for multiple cooking sets and stoves or multiple water filters.  When kayaking weight isn't as big of an issue as is bulk.  I have actually taken an iron skillet and seared steaks over a camp fire while kayamping.

 

There is a saying that goes something along the lines, the more knowledge you have in your head the less you must pack on your back.  Kephart roamed the Smokies with a knife on his hip.  Muir walked untold miles supposedly with "a crust of bread affixed to his belt."

 

Nessmuk and Horace Kephart are good places to start if you desire to read more.  Granted, you will need to filter some of their writings with a modern lens.  Frankly, it should be far easier for us than they given what we have at our disposal.

Edited October 12, 2023 by smashdn