A Must-Read for Camping Beginners: A Practical Guide to Resisting Gear Acquisition Syndrome, Just Pack These

1. 'Comfortable Sleep' is More Important Than the Tent

Don't buy a 1,000,000 KRW living shell tent from the start. As someone who has been camping over 10 times, I can tell you that beginners often end up hating camping because they get exhausted just setting up the tent. It is wiser to start with a pop-up tent or a simple dome tent that is easy to assemble.

• Self-inflating mat is a must: If you feel the ground, your condition the next day will be zero. Don't just lay down a thin foil mat; prepare a self-inflating mat (jachung-maeteu) with a thickness of at least 5cm.
• Sleeping bags by season: Even in spring and autumn, nights are much colder than you think. Bringing a microfiber blanket from home is the most economical and comfortable way. Don't go buying expensive winter sleeping bags just to look cool.
• Pillow: Instead of regular pillows that take up space, bring a camping air pillow or a compression pillow to save trunk space.

2. Kitchen: Focus on 'What You Already Have at Home'

When you go to a campsite, everyone uses pretty wooden tableware, right? That is just luggage for a beginner. At first, put the pots, frying pans, and tongs you use at home into a Daiso living box.

• Don't be tempted by cookset (kopel) sets: If you buy a set from the start, you'll end up with pots you don't even use. One pot for ramen and one pan for grilling meat is enough.
• Multi-purpose scissors: In camping, you'll use scissors 80% more often than knives. A single pair of sharp kitchen scissors is all you need.
• Dishwashing bag: It is a hassle if the campsite's sink is far from your site. A foldable dishwashing bag cuts the number of trips back and forth in half.

3. Lanterns and Electricity: Otherwise, You'll Eat in the Dark

Camping nights are much darker than you think. Give up the idea of surviving with your smartphone flashlight.

• Main lantern: You need one bright LED lantern to illuminate the entire site. Rechargeable products are cheaper to maintain than battery-powered ones.
• Mood lighting (string lights): This is optional, but it is very useful for finding your site at night.
• Extension cord (reel line): The distance from the campsite's power distribution board to your site can be quite far. You need at least 10m, preferably a 20m reel line, to avoid panic. Choose a product with waterproof functionality.

4. First Camping: Follow These Rules

Don't just buy gear blindly; try a 'day trip (picnic)' at a nearby campsite first.

• First campsite near home: Choose a place within a 1-hour drive. You need to be able to pack up immediately if you break your tent while setting it up or if it rains.
• Dinner menu is meal kits: Cooking while camping is also work. Grilling meat at the campsite is the truth, so use pre-prepped meal kits or meat from a local butcher to achieve maximum flavor with minimum labor.
• Trash bags: The campsite will provide designated trash bags, but pack 3~4 extra plastic bags. They are absolutely useful for separating wet clothes or trash.

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