If you’re looking for a great way to disconnect from the outside world, off-grid camping might be for you. This camping style will allow you to experience what it’s like to be self-sufficient and provide for yourself. Whether it’s for a quick weekend or a longer trip, there are several pieces of gear you should make sure you have. Let’s take a look at what these items are and why you need them.
What Is Off-Grid Camping?
Off-grid camping is a traditional style of camping that requires campers to be self-sufficient. These campsites will often offer few amenities. Campers need to provide for themselves. You’ll need a plan for power, food, and water. In addition, many forget to have a plan for their trash. You should aim to “leave no trace” when boondocking.
The 10 Pieces of Gear for Boondocking Success
Whether you’re going for an overnight trip or longer, you’ll need some gear. Keep reading to find out what you need to ensure your adventure is a success.
1. Batteries
Battery-powered items can enhance your off-grid camping experience. Be sure to check all of your battery-powered gear before your trip. You don’t want to get to your campsite and discover your flashlight or other essential gear has no juice.
Carry a generous supply of backup batteries as well. You never know when you’ll forget to turn off a flashlight, fan, or other item and need to replace the batteries. Your backup batteries can be the difference between a successful trip and a frustrating one.
2. Generator/Solar Panels
While a couple of AA or AAA batteries can power a flashlight, you might need more power. Many off-grid camping enthusiasts will use a generator or solar panels to produce power. If you’re looking to camp but still want a few luxuries, these are both great options.
Generators and solar panels can keep a battery bank charged, but only a generator can run power-hog electronics like microwaves and air conditioners. In addition, solar panels require exposure to the sun.
Just because you’re camping off the grid doesn’t mean you have to go without a luxury or two. Whether it’s watching the big game, staying cool while in your RV, or any other activities, generators and solar panels can help provide the power.
3. LED Lights for Off-Grid Camping
When you’re camping off-grid, you might find yourself far away from security lights or street lamps. Upgrading flashlights and other exterior lights to LED lights is a great way to increase your campsite’s visibility and your safety while camping.
While they may cost slightly more, it’s not without reason. LED lights last longer and use less energy than incandescent or compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). LED lights are also brighter than their counterparts.
If you want to enhance your safety and visibility while camping, purchasing a few solar-powered lights to stick into the ground can help a lot.
4. Water-Saving Showerhead
After a day of adventuring, you might crave a long hot shower. However, your freshwater tank size limits how much water your RV can store. Investing in a water-saving showerhead can help you use less water while showering and not sacrifice water pressure.
Many of the popular options for water-saving showerheads use oxygen to increase the water pressure. Many RVers upgrade their showerhead as soon as they purchase an RV.
It’s important to conserve water, especially if there’s not a convenient water source nearby. Upgrading your shower head can be relatively inexpensive but save you a ton of water.
5. Low Energy Appliances
The more energy you require to run appliances, the more battery or generator power you’re going to need. Investing in low-energy appliances helps ensure your battery bank will last while you’re adventuring. If two appliances do the same job, but one uses less energy, you’ll want to select the lower energy appliance.
6. Portable Water Jugs
You can never have enough portable water jugs. These are great when there’s not a convenient water station or if you’re off-grid camping for some time. It’s often easier to take portable water jugs to the water source than to take your RV to the water source.
Many of the best boondocking sites are first-come, first-served. Tossing a few portable water jugs in the back of your vehicle to fill up is a great way to avoid the risk of losing your epic campsite.
7. Flashlights for Off-Grid Camping
You’ll likely find yourself camping off the grid in locations with few utility lights or street lamps. This lack of lighting means that night is exceptionally dark, and you won’t want to navigate without a flashlight.
Packing small but powerful flashlights is best. While large bulky spotlights are great for seeing, they’re not easy to store. Having a compact flashlight that does the job is a great addition to your camping gear.
8. A Cooler for Off-Grid Camping
Keep your food and drinks cool while you’re camping. The price of coolers can vary considerably, especially if you choose a big-name brand. Some coolers can cost several hundred dollars, but there are plenty of affordable options. Keep in mind that some big-name brands became big-name brands because they’re the best in the industry. In addition, some of the expensive coolers can keep food and ice cold for a week or more at a time.
9. Cell Phone Booster
Staying connected isn’t just for posting Instagram-worthy photos of your camping adventures. In places where cell signal is low, you’ll likely face issues getting help if there’s an emergency. A cell phone booster can help.
A cell phone booster can boost a weak signal, but it can’t create one. So if you’re camping in a remote location with no cell signal, a cell phone booster likely won’t help. However, if you’re camping in an area with a limited cell phone signal, it can enhance it enough for stable phone calls.
Just because you’re off-grid camping doesn’t mean you can’t get some work done. A cell phone booster can enhance the data signal enough to help you stay connected to emails, video conferences, and other online messaging.
10. Composting Toilet
Off-grid camping enthusiasts often have composting toilets in their RVs. These toilets make it easy to dispose of waste. Composting toilets naturally break down the waste and turn it into an excellent fertilizer for plants. Having a composting toilet can help eradicate the stresses of hunting down a dump station.
Preparing for off-grid camping is essential for a successful camping trip. However, we think this list gives you a great start to embark on an epic adventure. The more you can camp off the grid, the more you’ll develop your skills to ensure a smooth camping experience. If you enjoy off-grid camping, what are your must-have items?
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