It’s hard to motivate yourself to get outdoors during the summer. If you break a sweat walking out your front door, why on earth would you strap a 30 lb. pack on your back and walk mile upon mile? Thank goodness fall is nearly here! It’s the perfect season for getting amongst it. Temperatures are cool, the air tastes better, and everything looks like a postcard.
So what do you do when you’re leaving work and you get the sudden urge to play outside? It might not be practical to haul your entire gear closet in the back of your vehicle, but you can carry a few packable items that will allow you to get outside on a whim.
- Hammock – Travel hammocks are great for lounging for a couple of hours or for camping over night. They are lightweight and compact so their easy to pack and easy to carry.
- Tarp – The quintessential ground cover or the perfect compliment to a hammock camping setup. String a guyline above your hammock then drape and stake the tarp down for a waterproof and heat-retaining shelter.
- Stakes & Cordage – Both useful for setting up a tarp as mentioned above or just securing things in general. Cordage always comes in handy, especially if you know your knots!
- Webbing & Carabiner – A climbing rated carabiner combined with tubular webbing can be extremely useful. Both are rated to withstand thousands of lbs. of force, which can come in handy if you’re caught in a pickle.
- Water – You need it to survive. Having at least a gallon of water in the back of your car is never a bad idea.
- Freeze Dried Meal – These meals have multiple year shelf lives, they just require a little boiling water to cook, and there are vegetarian and vegan options. A backpacking stove and a little pot won’t take up too much room.
- Thermarest – Throw it into your hammock for a little added comfort and back support, or if you’re in a Subaru fold down the seats for a comfy car-camping experience.
- Wool Blanket –If you lay this down over your tarp you have a comfortable and waterproof groundcover. Can also be used as a blanket.
- Socks – A fresh pair of socks can make everything better.
- Food Bar – A good snack that keeps well. Companies are starting to make bars that don’t taste like energy bars, so there actually some pretty tasty options out there.
- Hiking Shoes – If you want to sneak a hike in on your lunch break you’re going to need the right shoes for the job. Why not have them ready and waiting in your vehicle? Keep in mind not to leave your boots in your car on hot days. Glue can separate and lower your shoes lifespan.
- Headlamp – Darkness, the bane of human eyesight. Be prepared with a headlamp and fresh batteries.
- First Aid Kit – Cuts, scrapes, burns, and blisters, accidents happen so make sure you have the right supplies.
Categories:
Social
