Why You Should Bring a Knife When You Go Camping: Part One

Camping is one of the most fun times that you can have. It is a great activity to do on your own, with your family, or with your friends, and you can go camping any time of the year (yes, even during the winter.) Camping is probably the best way to get out of town and away from the stresses of the everyday world. Studies have shown that camping and many other forms of wilderness recreation actively reduce stress levels and increase creativity. If you have been wanting to work on some writing or some art, going camping might be just the shot in the arm that you need.

When you go camping you need to remember to be prepared. Unlike at home, you probably aren’t close to grocery stores, gas stations, or hospitals, so you need to make sure that you have everything you might need in less than ideal situations. Most of the time you’ll find that you have no need for the items you’ve prepared for emergencies, but the times that you do need them you’ll be very happy that you brought them. In this blog we’ll cover some of the necessary items that you’ll need to be ready for any contingency that comes up.

One of the most important items you’ll need to have with you is a high-quality knife like the one we make here at Boye Knives. We know how important it is to be prepared so we handcraft our blades to be ready when you need them. In addition to being perfect for any sailing and boating needs, our knives are also perfect for camping because they are designed to withstand the harshest environments and keep on working.

Always Bring a First Aid Kit

A first aid kit can be as simple or as complicated as you need it to be, but you should always try to tailor it to somewhere in the middle. This will leave you with enough medical supplies in case something catastrophic happens but also means you won’t lose half of your back seat to a mobile hospital unit.

Make sure that your first aid kit has the following:

  • A manual the shows you basic first aid procedures
  • Bandages
  • Gauze
  • Water purification tablets
  • Adhesive tape
  • Soap
  • Several pairs of nitrile gloves (nitrile is hypoallergenic, unlike latex)
  • A small flashlight
  • Moleskin
  • Sunscreen
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Pain relief pills
  • A small roll of duct tape

This list is by no means comprehensive, and if you feel like it is a good idea to bring something extra, bring it with. It is always better to have it and not need it than wish you had it when you could really use it.

When you travel to different places, your kit might need some different items based on the climate, so make sure you pack accordingly. For example, you’ll definitely need insect repellent if you’re camping in the Everglades in the summer, but if you’re camping in Colorado in the middle of winter bug spray is just a waste of space.

A knife should always be a part of your first aid kit, or carried directly on your person, because a good outdoor knife is useful in a multitude of ways. With a knife you can cut away clothing following an injury, prepare food for meals and snacks, gut fish, whittle, peel strips of bark off of branches to create tinder, cut twine around camp, or help you defend yourself from an animal attack.

As you can see, it is important to be ready for anything when you go camping. But don’t let this dissuade you — camping is one of the most enjoyable experiences we have as modern humans. We get to feel the sun on our faces and smell clean air. The stars shine more brightly at night and we understand what true quiet is like. The important thing to remember about any outdoor adventure is to be prepared. Make sure a quality outdoor knife is a part of your camping trips. Boye Knives makes the best blades available, so get one now.

Check back for our next entry where we will cover some more camping necessities, including ways that your Boye Knife can help you if you forget some crucial pieces of gear. We believe in providing you with great knowledge as well as fantastic blades. Check out our line of well-built knives that are perfect for camping, hiking, sailing, and everything in between.