When you go camping, there really aren’t a lot of essential items you need to take with you (which is part of the beauty of it), but there are a few. And while some people will say certain items are essential and others aren’t, I think one item you’ll find on just about everyone’s list is the trusty old flashlight.

Whether your flashlight is battery powered, powered by shaking, uses lcd or incandescent bulbs, few would disagree how often a flashlight comes in handy when you’re camping.

While we pretty much all know that campsites tend to get dark at night (unless its summer in Alaska), a flashlight is helpful for more than just helping you find the bathroom in the dark.

If you’re rummaging through you’re supplies looking for something, shining a little light on the situation can make your task much easier.

So what kind of flashlight should you get? Well, some people will say you should get a rugged one that’s waterproof. Others will say you should get one that doesn’t require batteries so that no matter where you are, it’ll always work. There’s certainly not bad, and if you’re going to be able to carry limited supplies and no extra batteries then it might be a worthwhile investment.

Personally, I like a flashlight that’ll fit in my pocket since carrying around a big is rarely convenient, and you really never know when you’re going to find yourself needing a little extra light. I usually carry either a pocket maglite or my new favorite LCD flashlight that’s slightly bigger, but still fits easily in my pocket and provides a whole lot of light. And the cool thing about an LCD flashlight is that the batteries last for a very long time and the LCDs take close to forever to burn out.

So next time you go camping don’t forget to bring your flashlight unless you’re like a cat and can see in the dark.

When you’re out camping without a refrigerator, it’s still important to be able to keep your perishable items cold unless you’re planning on living off of trail mix, beef jerky, and smores your entire trip (which is an option, just not one most prefer while camping).

And while many campers do have small refrigerators, tents certainly do no, so you’ll need to take a cooler, and if you’re going to be out camping for several days then a good cooler is critical to keep your food cold.

1) Get The Best Rated Cooler You Can

My first piece of advice for keeping your food (or beer) cold is to get a cooler with the most insulation you can so it can keep your food cold for several days. One example would be the Coleman Ultimate Xtreme coolers which can keep ice frozen for six days in 90 degree weather.

2) Use Large Chunks Of Ice

Next, remember that large chunks of ice are going to last longer than small ice cubes. While small ice cubes are better at cooling off your food and beverages more quickly, using big blocks of ice lasts longer since there is less surface area in a large chunk of ice. In practical terms, what I usually do is take a gallon jug or two (ones that stored water are preferable to ones used for milk or orange juice) and stick them in the freezer for a few days before my trip is planned. They will last for a long time in a cooler even during hot weather.

3) Start Your Food And Beverages Cold

The last piece of advice I have for you is to make sure everything you put in your cooler is already cold. That means don’t fill up your cooler with a couple cases of warm beer unless you want to be out of ice before you even get to the campsite.

Follow these few tips and you should have no problems keeping everything cold on your next camping trip, but if you do run out of ice, nearly all campgrounds sell ice and will be able to hook you up with a bag or two so you can enjoy a nice frosty beverage while sitting around the campfire.

Nothing can ruin a camping trip faster than getting eaten alive by a swarm of hungry mosquitoes. However, not everyone is a fan of dousing themselves with huge doses of chemicals just to keep themselves and their campsite mosquito free. Fortunately, you can make a natural mosquito repellent that works just as well as the chemical laden stuff and as a bonus you won’t have the awful “bug spray” smell afterwards.

Here’s the recipe to make your own insect repellent (you may have to visit your local health food store or a few of them to get these ingredients, btw).

4 drops lavender
4 drops eucalyptus
4 drops of rosemary
4 drops of tea tree essential oils
1 teaspoon of witch hazel
4 teaspoons of water

Simply shake up the mixture in a bottle and apply directly to your skin.

If you want a spray version then put in the same mixture of oils (the first four ingredients) and put 2 teaspoons of witch hazel in 8 ounces of water and shake it all up in a spray bottle. And again, spray on to your skin.

So next time you’re out camping and don’t want to make yourself a mosquito buffet, give this mixture a try to keep those annoying little critters at bay.

And if you have any other tips for keeping mosquitoes away while camping, be sure to post them in the comments, I’d love to hear from you.