9 Inspiring Ways to Break Out of Your Camping Routine

If you're looking for a bit more privacy and don't like the campground scene, you can find a "primitive" camping site that usually requires you to find some free public lands. These are just like the name; they don't offer much in the way of "amenities" and typically are just a space that may have been used by campers in the past but rarely include a table or firepit. They're a great option if you're looking for some peace and quiet, but they're not always the easiest to get to.

Tent camping, no matter what kind of site you choose, is an excellent option for those with families as you're usually stationed in one spot and get to set up a basecamp for your adventures. Tent camping also can be a bit of a luxury since most of the time you don't have to walk very far from your car to your campsite, allowing you to bring some of the more luxurious camping items that would be too heavy to carry too far.

2. Backpacking

Quite the opposite of tent camping, backpacking means everything you want/need to camp with is somehow strapped to your back with a unique backpack. Finding a campsite involves spending the day walking/hiking to a predetermined spot and then pitching your tent or hammock. While not for everyone, backpacking comes with a sense of autonomy and self-sufficiency, which can be very gratifying.

Backpacking also requires a much higher level of planning before you head out into nature. You not only need to make sure that you have all the equipment you need, but you'll also need to research the trail that you are choosing to travel on. The equipment is usually the lighter versions of the equipment you might use for tent camping since you're responsible for hauling it in and out. Knowing the distance, elevation gain, and type of terrain is critical to know before you head out so you can understand what to expect.

3. Ultralight Backpacking

Ultralight backpacking is meant to push the limits of what you might want to bring backpacking. While regular backpacking means you have to cut down on weight and items, ultralight backpacking cuts it down even further. Ultralight backpackers eliminate weight as much as possible, only carrying what is necessary. To cut down on weight, a lot of the time, the items that are used have multiple purposes, such as a pot also being used as a bowl or coffee cup. While there is no "set weight" that you have to be at to be coined an "ultralight backpacker," most ultralighters are carrying anywhere from 12 to 28 pounds, usually including the hiking gear that they wear.

Like regular backpacking, this type of camping isn't for the light-hearted. It requires hard work, research, and a positive attitude to haul yourself through the mountains to your next campsite. Make sure to do your research before you head out.

4. Survivalist Camping

Increasing in difficulty and knowledge needed, survivalist camping is the most extreme type of camping and should only be attempted by experienced and competent campers. This type of camping aims to be entirely self-sufficient for a certain amount of time, and to, of course, return alive!

There are two different types of survivalist camping; "base camp" and "walk out." Base camp survival camping means that the camper is walking to an isolated spot where they create a camp and survive on what they can find or make. This usually means the camper is foraging berries and edible plants as well as fishing or trapping.

Walk out camping means that the camper is dropped at a particular place in the wilderness, and the goal is to "walk out" back to civilization. This is the more difficult of the two because the participant needs to find new food and water sources every day.

Due to the high level of experience and knowledge you need to participate in survivalist camping, there are courses available you can take to make sure you're the most prepared you can be.

5. Canoe Camping

If the idea of going into nature and finding a new campsite each night excites you, but you don't feel like hiking from point to point, you might want to look into canoe camping! Like backpacking, you have to bring everything with you that you need for the duration of the trip, but this way you have to paddle with it instead of hauling it on your back. Just like you would plan what trail you're hiking and where you're stopping at night, canoe camping also requires the same level of planning and environmental awareness. Just because you're not carrying your gear on your back, doesn't mean the work it takes to get from point to point isn't difficult. Canoeing takes not only upper body strength but also a level of core stability to make sure you can keep the boat, gear, and other paddlers afloat. Canoe camping is the perfect way to explore areas that you wouldn't usually get to hike to but experiencing the same level of self-sufficiency that backpacking allows. If you're wanting to try it out but feel like you don't know where to start, look for canoe guided trips near you!

6. Bikepacking

Sticking with the theme of "carrying everything you need", bikepacking is no different. Instead of carrying a backpack while you ride a bike, though, there are special bike add-ons and equipment that allow all of your gear to be strapped to your bike. Bikepacking is just another way to test your physical strength while being able to see parts of nature that your feet or boat might not have allowed you to.

7. Overlanding

Becoming more and more popular, overlanding is a type of adventure where the journey is the primary goal, not the destination. Typically done by highly capable off-roading vehicles, campers travel down rough and challenging roads for miles and miles. A mix of off-roading and camping; it brings you down roads that some vehicles can't even access and to destinations that very few can get to. Like other forms of camping mentioned earlier, it means that your survival relies on the items and gear you decide to bring along, usually stranded on some dirt road with no services within miles. Another excellent option for those who are looking to get away from the world!

8. Glamping

While there are many types of camping that the success highly relies on the camper's knowledge, research, and skills, there are thankfully a few types of camping that require more relaxation than anything. Glamping is a type of camping that allows outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy nature still, but with a lot more luxury. With glamping, you're not pitching tents or even unrolling sleeping bags; sometimes even the fire is built for you!

Many glamping trips are booked similar to how hotels or vacation houses are booked and require reservations. Locations can involve villas, yachts, pods, teepees, tree houses, or even old-timey cabins.

 RV and Van Camping

Along the same glamorous lines, RV and Van camping allow you to enjoy the outdoors all day and then come home to a temperature controlled comfy home on wheels. An RV or Van can happen with almost everything you have at home, even a TV and a full kitchen! Unlike most of the other camping types that we listed above, with RV camping, you rarely need to cut down on some of your favorite toys or equipment, not worrying too much about weight since your car is doing the hard work. One of the biggest positives of RV camping is freedom to travel far and wide without having to worry about what bed you're sleeping in each night, all you need to confirm is where to park your RV! This is another excellent option for families who may not do well in tents, or prefer to have more home comforts after they go exploring all day!

Are any of these styles of camping new to you? Let us know which is your favorite or what you want to try next!