As someone that goes camping often…
-Bring TONS of clothes. At least a lot more than you would going just anywhere. Lots could happen. You could get soaked multiple times having to strip off and get dry stuff on. You could get cold as fuck at night.
-My next point.. Prepare for cold nights. This means (lots of clothes) including hat, gloves, nice socks, hooded comfy sweatshirt. Pick baggy comfortable clothes obviously.
-Can’t have too many flashlights. A quality headlamp is a good purchase.
-Bring defense against predators. Some may say the chances are high, but they are high enough. When say a bear walks up on you and curiosity is trumping his fear instincts, you’ll be glad you have that gun or bear mace. Keep your head on a swivel in big cat country, especially at night when you need to go piss. When my wife needs to go I’ll watch her back by scanning the woods with a headlamp, pistol in hand.
-Lots of food, preferably less sweet. You’ll eat a lot more than normal, at least we do. We think it’s due to all the energy expended.
-If you’re in a buggy area, a mosquito head net is a life saver. Bugs are bad but they are so much worse if they can get at all the holes on your head, primarily my ears I hate bugs flying for them.
-Eat lots of garlic, onion and stinky herbs. Avoid sweet foods and things like bananas. What we eat will effect how tasty we are to bugs.
-Quality boots. This is huge. If you want to go explore rugged areas you’ll need them.
-GC