Sources & further reading
Use this directory to go deeper into the topics covered in our guides. Local rules and current official notices take priority over general advice.
National Park Service: camping basics
Used alongside: Plan your first camping trip
Animated Knots: bowline demonstration
Used alongside: Three useful knots to practise at home, Bowline: practise a fixed loop
Animated Knots: sheet bend demonstration
Used alongside: Three useful knots to practise at home, Sheet bend: join two lengths of cord
Animated Knots: outdoor knot library
Used alongside: Three useful knots to practise at home
Organic Maps: free offline maps
Used alongside: Find your way back to camp, Prepare offline maps before leaving home, Record a route without trusting the line blindly
National Park Service: trip planning
Used alongside: Find your way back to camp, Read the forecast for the place you will camp, Write a small, usable camp emergency plan
Recreation.gov: federal recreation listings
Used alongside: Choose a campsite that suits your trip
USDA: pack food safety for a camping trip
Used alongside: Keep your cooler organised and your food cold
National Park Service: campfire safety
Used alongside: A small campfire, properly finished
National Weather Service: lightning outdoors
Used alongside: Have a thunderstorm plan before you need it
National Weather Service: U.S. forecasts and warnings
Used alongside: Have a thunderstorm plan before you need it, Read the forecast for the place you will camp
CDC: making water safe
Used alongside: Know where your drinking water is coming from
U.S. Coast Guard: wearing your life jacket
Used alongside: Plan a relaxed day beside the water
REI: choosing a camping tent
Used alongside: Choosing a tent: space, weather and setup
REI: choosing a camping sleeping bag
Used alongside: Sleeping bags: warmth ratings, shape and fill
REI: sleeping pad types and R-values
Used alongside: Sleeping pads: comfort and insulation are different jobs
MSR: tent instructions and condensation
Used alongside: Condensation or a leak? Start by checking where the water is
REI: caring for a tent
Used alongside: Clean, dry and store your tent for the next trip
REI: choosing a headlamp
Used alongside: Choose a headlamp you can use in the dark
REI: layering basics
Used alongside: Build a small clothing system for changing weather
REI: choosing rainwear
Used alongside: Rainwear: the details worth trying before a wet trip
REI: choosing portable power
Used alongside: Make a realistic phone and lighting power plan
CleverHiker: outdoor gear on a budget
Used alongside: Borrow first, buy for the trip you actually take
OutdoorGearLab: testing and reviews
Used alongside: How to use a gear review without buying the wrong thing
CleverHiker: gear comparisons and tutorials
Used alongside: How to use a gear review without buying the wrong thing
REI: camping gear guides
Used alongside: How to use a gear review without buying the wrong thing
REI: choosing camping cookware
Used alongside: Plan a weekend menu around one small kitchen, Wash camp dishes without leaving a mess behind
CleverHiker: practical food and meal planning
Used alongside: Plan a weekend menu around one small kitchen
OutdoorGearLab: camping stove comparisons
Used alongside: Camp stoves: choose around the pots and meals
MSR tent instructions: fuel-burning equipment and shelter safety
Used alongside: Camp stoves: choose around the pots and meals
REI: camp coffee methods and gear
Used alongside: Coffee at camp: choose the cleanup you want
CDC: water treatment for hiking and camping
Used alongside: Filters, purifiers and boiling: know the difference
CDC: when and how to clean your hands
Used alongside: Set up a handwashing routine people will actually use
REI: outdoor hygiene and sanitation
Used alongside: Bathroom planning when facilities are basic
Leave No Trace: waste disposal
Used alongside: Bathroom planning when facilities are basic, Wash camp dishes without leaving a mess behind
Animated Knots: round turn and two half hitches
Used alongside: Round turn and two half hitches
Animated Knots: midshipman’s hitch and cord limitations
Used alongside: An adjustable guyline: the midshipman’s hitch
National Weather Service: heat safety
Used alongside: Plan a camping day around the heat
National Weather Service: heat-related illness
Used alongside: Plan a camping day around the heat
REI: the Ten Essentials
Used alongside: Write a small, usable camp emergency plan
REI: map and compass foundations
Used alongside: Prepare offline maps before leaving home, Map and compass: build the basic habits
NASA: Moon phases and their timing
Used alongside: A simple evening of stargazing
Leave No Trace: considerate outdoor behaviour
Used alongside: A simple evening of stargazing, A calm checkout: pack, inspect and leave on time
Leave No Trace: leave natural objects in place
Used alongside: Low-equipment activities for a relaxed camp day
Yost Survival Skills: cordage craft background
Used alongside: Try cordage twisting as a tabletop camp craft
Leave No Trace: the original seven principles
Used alongside: Make a lighter-impact camping routine
Leave No Trace: respect wildlife
Used alongside: Store food for the wildlife where you are camping