Outdoor Camping Disorder (OCD) is much more than simply one of those online camping stores though; it’s an entire personalized experience. We have Australia’s largest collection of outdoor products and source the best gear from both domestic and international sources.Our camping equipment is available to help you have exciting outdoor adventures while also receiving the best guidance for your excursions. Check out our camping essentials, blog, monthly deals and why not just buy a tent online now! Or even a top-grade Burke and Wills jacket or a Burke and Wills double swag? You’ll find the best quality gazebos, tents, and solar powered camping lights to suit a regular camping trip or the advanced camping tools if you’re a seasoned avid camper, as we are your one stop shop for all camping gear online. If you’re looking for one of the best online camping stores in Australia — you’ve just arrived and if you’re not already, you’ll soon be camping like a pro after buying our products. We love camping and don’t forget… camping is forever!

WHAT CAMPING MEANS?

Camping is an outdoor activity that entails being away from home for an extended period with or without a shelter, such as a tent or a recreational vehicle. Typically, people leave developed regions to spend time outdoors in more natural settings in search of enjoyable activities. Camping differs from day trips, picnics, and other similar short-term leisure activities in that it involves spending the night (or more) outside.

Who invented camping? Well, in the early twentieth century, camping as a recreational pastime became popular among the upper class. It gained appeal among different social classes throughout generations. National and state parks, wilderness regions, and commercial campgrounds are all popular destinations for campers. Most people define camping as “an outdoor activity including overnight stays in a shelter, away from home.” But keep in mind that “shelter” might refer to either a tent or a motorhome. Camping is an important feature of many youth organizations across the world, including Scouting, which uses camping to educate self-reliance as well as teamwork and this is how camping is done and enjoyed and how camping works overall.

WHAT CAMPING GEAR DO I NEED?

Camping is all about getting away from the conveniences of city life, so make sure you plan ahead of time for what you’ll need for your camping trip. There are several fundamental pieces of camping equipment that you might carry depending on the location, duration, and desired activity. Therefore, excluding food and water, if you’re asking yourself what camping equipment do I need, then here’s a must-have list ~

• Backpack

During your trip, a backpack is one of the most vital pieces of equipment if there’s also some trekking and hiking involved. It must be somewhat comfortable, waterproof and light in weight. For 1-3 nights outdoors, a weekend backpack is appropriate. A capacity of 35 and 50 litres, depending on the conditions you plan to camp in, would be recommended. More gear necessitates more space, and a weekend excursion will include bringing a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent and cooking equipment.

• Sleeping Bag

Nights in nature are typically colder, so a nice comfortable sleeping bag will assist you in having a warm and more pleasant sleep. A sleeping bag is a lightweight quilt that can be closed with a zipper, which serves as lightweight, portable bedding in situations where a person is sleeping outdoors. Its main function is to give warmth and thermal insulation using synthetic or down insulation. It also usually contains a water-resistant or water-repellent cover that protects against wind chill and light precipitation to some extent, but a sleeping bag is frequently used in addition to a tent because it serves those functions better.

• Collapsible Camping Gear

This is a great tip, especially for beginners. When looking to buy stuff online, always think “Is this collapsible?’’– because foldable, shrinkable, and collapsible camping gear makes place for more gear to bring. It can be difficult to find room on a family camping trip, so when you look around at everything that needs to fit in the car or motorhome, you may wonder how you’re going to do it, right? And on longer camping trips, the trunk in your car is like an intricate jigsaw puzzle, with every box packed neatly and every crevice filled. So, when searching any camping store online always think; collapsible camping gear.

• Torch/Flashlight

On any camping trip, a flashlight is a must-have piece of equipment – and you should have one for each member of your camping party. Another hot trip – don’t take just one torch! Having only one means it could get lost, break or not even work. Multiple torches are necessary. Don’t underestimate our reliance on our need for sight – a good quality flashlight is a crucial tool to include on your camping list. It’s critical to be able to see what’s going on and how to get yourself and others out of danger if you’re trapped in an emergency.

• Baby Wipes

Unless you stay at a campsite, its likely you won’t have access to a shower or even running water during your camping adventure, so it’s a great idea to pack a few boxes of baby wipes. They actually come in handy for so many different reasons – along the way, you’ll notice you’ll need this vital product far more than you think! Whether it’s for bathroom reasons, cleaning your cooking utensils, or wiping down clothes and shoes – after taking on one trip, you’ll never want to go camping again without them.

• Hand Sanitizer/Rubbing Alcohol

As we know since COVID-19 hand sanitizer is a convenient and light way to keep germs at bay. Whenever a doctor sees a new patient, they wash their hands with anti-bacterial solution. After using the restroom and before preparing or eating meals, hikers should do the same. Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you because soap and water aren’t always convenient or available whilst out camping. This translucent gel must include ethyl alcohol, which will destroy bacteria upon use. Better than hand sanitizer is rubbing alcohol and we recommend brands such as Band Aid or Isocol, which you can find at your local chemist.

• Tent

In order to stay relatively safe in the woods, you’ll need a tent. Which camping tent is the best? Firstly, you’ll need a durable tent that can withstand a variety of weather conditions. A camping tent is not only essential if you want to enjoy your camping to the utmost without any interruptions, but it also provides the ultimate camping experience, after all you want to feel you’re on a real outdoor adventure! Tents provide excellent protection against wind, rain, and the sun. The wind is one of the biggest enemies of campers, but if you stay inside the tent, you will be entirely protected and secure, bar a typhoon. Check out our range of Howqua Tents by Outdoor Connection which you can buy from our camping store online. The best adventures are sometimes those that lead you off the beaten path and Howqua Tents are a superb lightweight hiking tent if you’re planning a trip along the coast or into the wilderness, so buy a tent online now.

• Camping Chair/Seat/Stool

Having something to sit on is a must-have for any camping trip. Can camping chairs be used at the beach? Of course! Otherwise, you’ll get tired of having to sit on sand, grass, logs or trying to find anywhere that’s dry on a wet day. Sitting on something comfortable whilst eating, drinking, working, reading, or simply enjoying the campfire is far more convenient than sitting on the ground. Foldable chairs, or a compact stool are useful for a variety of activities too, including fishing, BBQs and picnics. All of this will be made much more comfortable with a portable chair, allowing you to sit back, relax, and destress. Which camping chair is best? Search our online shop to discover the best option for you.

• Camping Stoves/Cooking Equipment

We all love an open fire but it’s not always practical especially when the weather is too wet to even start a campfire, so a camp stove is a more reliable and speedier way to prepare food. Which camping stove should we use to cook? Firstly, cooking with a camp stove is simple to learn, as it’s like cooking with a gas burner in your kitchen with variable heat. Just adjust the gas temperature to the desired flame. Make sure you have your vital utensils to match – we recommend tongs, spatula and stirring spoon. If you want to find out which camping stove is the best, just head over to our product selections and find out!

• First Aid Kit

A first-aid kit is an essential addition to any camping trip. In your kit, include pain relievers, antiseptic solution, band aids and bandages – with appropriate scissors or knife. Being in Australia, you may want to consider a snake bite kit also, which is becoming more popular in its demand and let’s face it, it may just save your life. Unfortunately, we have plenty of snakes out there in the woods!

• Mosquito Repellent & Fly Spray

Another annoying part of nature within our great nation, is mosquitos and flies. Doesn’t matter where you go in Australia, they’re waiting for you! Make sure you have good mosi roll-on or spray and something to keep other flies and insects away. Essential shopping.

WHY CAMPING IS GOOD FOR YOU

Camping, as we all know, can give us a lot of fun and allows us to connect with our friends, loved ones and the natural world… but there’s so much more that camping can give us and once going regularly you’ll learn how camping promotes physical fitness. Did you know that spending a night under the stars has a slew of health benefits? These advantages, which range from favorable effects on physical and mental health to those specifically designed for children, ensure that there are even more reasons to camp.

Here are a few reasons why camping is good for your health and why camping etiquette is important:

• Problems are aided by camping

Camping and its associated activities might sometimes present you with difficulties, some of which not even Google can consistently solve!

These are frequently issues that are not encountered on a daily basis. For example; how to pitch a tent or deal with situations where you don’t have access to modern conveniences or are unfamiliar with your surroundings. Whatever the situation may be, there is a growing body of evidence that addressing new challenges and experiences help maintain our brains health by forcing us to think for ourselves. In fact, every time you’re out on a camping trip, you should ask yourself the question; what can camping teach us today?

• Camping is beneficial to a child’s education

Camping with kids, as previously said, can have a direct good impact on children’s development. This is especially true in the age of smart phones, tablets, and other forms of technology. Too many children spend way too much time in front of screens now, so outdoor activity can be so healthy for the mind. Camping for families introduces youngsters to a whole new world and requires them to confront new problems and challenges… and how to overcome them. Exposure to a variety of obstacles not only helps develop a child’s brain, but because camping is fun it also leads to a greater connection with each other and planet earth itself.

• Camping can assist you in getting a better night’s sleep

According to research, camping can help us reset our biological clocks and help those of us who have trouble sleeping and/or waking up in the morning. In summary, it’s a byproduct of our greater usage of artificial light in our daily lives, and camping, if given the opportunity, can help us acclimatize to the natural light-dark cycle.

The need of getting enough sleep has long been emphasized for our overall health and well-being.

• Camping boosts your vitamin D levels

There are no uncertainties with this one; if you’re going camping, you’re going to spend some time in the sun. Therefore, camping frequently entails even longer time in the sun.

The more of those sun rays you get, the more it will equal vitamin D – which offers health benefits. While there is a lot of evidence that says some advantages are still inconclusive, there appears to be consensus that it also helps with bone health. So, keep in mind to always have good sunscreen when camping, and perhaps when shopping for accessories, invest in some vitamins to help assist the strength of your bones.

• Camping helps you get more exercise

If your exercise options are limited, go on a camping trip. You will discover new surroundings and have options to try new activities like mountain biking, kayaking, hiking trails, fly fishing or long walks. Getting out camping guarantees exercise of some sort – no getting out of it, so this is how camping promotes physical fitness.

• Camping makes you feel better

That’s right, going camping can help you feel better, but if you’re wondering how camping helps mentally to an individual, it has to do with serotonin, a chemical produced by our bodies that aids in our happiness. More sunlight, more oxygen, and because camping promotes physical fitness, these are all elements that aid in the production of serotonin in the body, It will release endorphins to our brains in the same way we would receive after a gym session or sauna – when you feel refreshed and recharged.

Outdoor Camping Disorder (OCD) is committed to supporting the communities in which we live. The preservation of our national parks and Aboriginal people’s ancestral homelands is fundamental to who we are. The environment is our business, and our life so we only advocate responsible outdoor behaviour and activities, that wouldn’t harm us or nature.

We pledge to continue to supply high-quality products at reasonable prices to all Australians to enable them to have a happier, more enjoyable camping experience.