How to camp, whether you’re planning a journey into the backcountry (or just some car camping at a nearby state park): These eco-friendly techniques will help save money and keep Mother Nature just as you found her.

The city is scorching and everyone is restless. A long weekend approaches, and you’re ready to get out of town for some much-needed respite away from work, the phone and the Internet. It’s time for a camping trip.

Whether you really like roughing it (think 30 mile backpacking trip in the wilderness) or prefer “glamping,” camping is a great way to get some fresh air in the lungs, burn some calories, and spend some uninterrupted quality time with the ones you love.

But don’t head to Wal-Mart for disposable cups and propane tanks just yet. The best way to respect the great outdoors is to practice Leave No Trace camping:  be prepared, respect the trail and anyone you meet along it, and most importantly, leave each place you visit exactly as you found it. That means producing as little waste as possible, and taking whatever trash you do create with you when you leave.

With a little pre-planning and a few select gadgets, Leave No Trace camping is a piece of cake. Here are our favorite tips for planning an eco-friendly camping trip.

Borrow or Buy Used Gear

If you’re an infrequent camper, you might not have enough sleeping bags, water bottles, tents, or backpacks to go around. Before rushing out to buy new stuff that you’ll only use once, ask friends or family members if they have anything they’d be willing to loan. If nothing turns up, check out peer-to-peer sharing sites like Craigslist, yerdle, Freecycle, or Swap It Green to see if anyone has gear they’re willing part with, possibly in exchange for something you’re not using.

Use Reuseables

When packing cooking supplies for your camping trip, try to bring as many reuseable dishes, utensils, and storage containers as possible. To that end, avoid processed foods altogether. These “foods” are the boxed, canned, bagged, treats that are so convenient to grab, but not so healthy. And they just produce waste packaging that you’ll have to haul around for the rest of the trip (Leave No Trace, remember?). Bring washable plates, beverage containers, cutlery and napkins, reuseable bags for gathering up trash, and pack foods you’ll prepare in resealable glass or plastic containers.

Burn Clean

Campfires (when allowed, always check with the Forest Service about fire bans in your state) are often restricted to prepared sites with fire rings to prevent accidentally setting the forest ablaze. Charcoal is terrible for the environment and a pain in the butt to lug around. If you are going to invest in new camping equipment, think about a high-tech stove like the Biolite (pictured above). The Biolite campstove can cook your meals with nothing but twigs (so you don’t have to go all lumberjack on the trees) and eliminates the need for heavy, expensive, polluting petroleum gas. Best of all, it converts heat from the internal fire into power for your mobile gadgets (if you bring them along, of course).

Tread Lightly

Rugged surroundings make most people reach for the biggest hiking boot they can find, but don’t! Big, heavy boots can tear up the ground and damage plants encountered on your journey. “If you’re out on a hard trail hike, then wear your hiking boots,” recommends Post Consumers. “However, if you’re just spending time in your campsite, then soft-soled shoes are your friends. They’re also the planet’s friends.” Great options are TOMS Shoes, outdoor sandals like Chacos or Tevas, running shoes, or heck, just your bare feet!

Images: Einir Pritchard, mgspiller, fboyd, Biolite, organisciak

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The post How To Camp on a Budget with Minimal Impact (but Plenty of Comfort) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Stylish camping essentials to pack for your camping trip this summer.

Summer is essentially here, and for outdoorsy types that means one thing — camping. We’re dreaming of hitting the road in a stylish Cricket Trailer or eco-chic VW Microbus. But a nice little tent will do as well, as long as it’s pitched in a gorgeous spot with a view. One of the keys to having a grand time out in the wild is packing wisely. Here’s what we’re bringing on the road (less traveled) this summer.

1. SoCo Camping Hammock
Although it’s large enough to comfortably hold two people  (up to 450 lbs) the SoCo Hammock packs down to the size of a softball. The high strength, triple stitched, breathable, mildew-resistant parachute nylon guarantees durability, and the optional SoCo straps allow it to be hung between two trees up to 32-feet apart. SoCo also works toward empowering the poor through nonprofit partnerships and a commitment to fair wages.
$69.95, SoCo Hammocks

2. Go! Towel
Disposable wipes are handy, but most of them are not very good for the environment. Go Towels, however, are made from bamboo and are completely biodegradable. Each one weighs only a third of a gram, making them ideal to bring when you’re backcountry camping. In a pinch, they can also be used as coffee filters.
$14.95 for a pack of 10, Go! Towel

3. To-Go Ware RePEaT Utensil Set
Disposable dinnerware is just not stylish, even if you are camping. Instead, pack this bamboo utensil set, which contains a fork, knife, spoon and chopsticks and comes in a holder make from recycled PET (plastic bottles). The bamboo is heat and stain resistant, durable, easy to wash and light to carry — perfect for camping.
$12.95, To-Go Ware

4. BioLite CampStove
This portable stove cooks your meals with nothing but the twigs you collect on your journey, eliminating the need for heavy, expensive, polluting petroleum gas. It uses thermoelectric technology to convert heat to electricity that powers a fan to make the fire ultra-efficient. BioLite also uses the same technology to bring clean, safe energy to families across the developing world. The extra electricity that is generated can be used to charge small electronics like mobile phones and LED lights. It’s quick and easy to use.
$129.95, BioLite

5. Mountainsmith Juniper 50 Backpack
This carry-all pack by Mountainsmith was designed especially for women and is large enough to fit all your essentials (and some non-essentials too). Made with 450d recycled PET (each bag contains about 21 16-ounce plastic bottles) it also features a detachable daypack for shorter excursions and summit wanderings. It’s better looking than most backpacking packs and comfortable and easy to carry.
$194.99, Next Adventure

6. Everly Pomegranate Maqui Berry Drink Mix
Designed to support truly healthy hydration for active, adventurous types, Everly was recently successfully funded through Kickstarter and is starting to produce their first three flavors. Made from all natural ingredients, the low-cost, low-waste powder packets can be cleverly carried on a carabiner.
Available soon, Everly

7. Badger Anti-Bug Balm
A natural mosquito repellent is a must when you’re camping. Badger’s tried-and-true formula consists of 100 percent organic ingredients like citronella, cedar, and lemongrass essential oils, which have been used for centuries to repel insects naturally. It contains no DEET, petrolatum or other chemicals and comes in a handy tin. Best of all, it smells super nice.
$9.99, Badger

8. Capsul Case
Store cash, credit cards, business cards (you never know when you may need them, right?) in a sturdy wallet by Capsul case. Made in Canada from of highly recyclable non-toxic polypropylene, it will keep all those valuables safe, dry and in one place.
$12, Capsul

9. Falcon Enamelware TumblersThis set of sturdy tumblers are as pretty as they are practical — use them for everything from coffee to white wine. Light to carry and easy to wash, they’re perfect for camping. Buying them in different colors makes it easier for your group to keep track of which mug belongs to you. Unlike plastic cups, they make a nice clinking sound when you do a cheers.
£4.99 each, Falcon Enamelware

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