The K.I.S.S. Camping Approach
WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPING GEAR, THE K.I.S.S. METHOD IS TRIED AND TRUE.
Living in our modern world, it’s easy to get coaxed into the appeal of technology. After all, technology is designed to make our lives easier, more comfortable, and more efficient. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. to notice that. For example, let’s quickly take a look at cutting firewood while camping. If you want to cut some firewood and are up on the newest technology, you’ll probably have a quiet and efficient electric chainsaw and maybe even a portable firewood splitter. Using these tools, you can cut and split an evening’s worth of firewood without breaking a sweat. Perfect, right? Well, yes in some ways, but not in others.
Imagine you want to camp for an extended period of time. You can still do it with modern equipment, but now things become a little more difficult. You’ll now have to figure out ways to charge your electric saw. Maybe solar panels or maybe a small generator. You’ll also have to deal with moving and packing the portable splitter. Not a huge deal, but an extra nuisance for sure. However, it still may not sound too bad. Then you realize that you have to camp next to the vehicle. You can’t go off-the-beaten path with all of that stuff. In a very real sense, depending too much on certain technology will tie you down and decrease the number of places you can go. This isn’t what most people think, and I doubt it is what anybody wants. Part of the great part of camping is enjoying all of those hard-to-reach places.
Now, imagine you decided to take a simple folding saw and an axe instead. Sure, using either of them is more work, but they have some advantages. First, both are much easier to transport than their modern counterparts. Also, you are the power. This might sound unappealing, but as long as you are there, you can cut wood. This powerplant also recharges with food and water, which is great because you are already bringing that as well. Using these options also opens up the places you can go and still get the job done. Just throw them on your horse and ride.
Many people have heard of this method of keeping things simple as the K.I.S.S. method; Keep It Super Simple. While technology is great for the reasons already stated, there are two major benefits to the K.I.S.S. method for camping. It increases the reliability of your gear and it increases the freedom you have to travel. Here’s how.
K.I.S.S. camping honors Murphy’s Law that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. In order to avoid this, think about taking items that are dang-near bulletproof. Knives are a good example. Personally, I like a solid fixed-blade knife. On one hand, folding knives are handy and replaceable blades can make sharpening a breeze. On the other hand, fixed-blade knives are simple. As long as you have the ability to sharpen it (skill), it will last forever without problems. Another example is navigation. To keep things simple, knowing how to read a map (skill) is better than letting a GPS guide you around. Don’t get me wrong, a GPS is a great tool. However, they do run out of batteries. Maps obviously do not. If you know how to use one you can travel extensively without worrying about battery life or other technical difficulties. I understand that maps don’t record your mileage or steps for the day. How did people ever live without that information?
K.I.S.S. camping also increases your freedom of movement because it should decrease the overall amount of gear you need. K.I.S.S. camping uses gear that is multi-functional. Don’t take a truckload of items that are perfectly designed for a specific job. Instead, take a few tools that can do multiple jobs with average effectiveness. One example of a good multi-purpose tool is a tarp. In my experience, I’ve used tarps for shelters, rain slickers, ground cloths, packs, shade canopies, and horse pack covers. They may not make the best shelters, but they will dang sure keep the wind off you. They may not make the best rain slicker, but they will keep you dry. The big benefit is that for less than a pound of weight, you get an item that has many practical applications.
I understand that we get attached to our stuff. I don’t understand why, but I do understand that we do get attached. My wife and I recently purged the house of accumulated stuff that amounted to several dumpsters full. In my wife’s words, “I just want to shake the house out.” Some of the things were difficult to throw away. As we worked, it was strange to realize just how much our stuff weighs us down. It’s crazy, but eliminating all our unnecessary junk was a great feeling. I believe you can apply this to your camping life as well. Leave all the gadgets and gizmos at home, and you’ll feel so much better about going.
K.I.S.S. camping forces you to build your own skills and knowledge. There are pros and cons to this. It isn’t easy, and there are no shortcuts. However, skills and knowledge are two things people can never take away from you. Also, they don’t run out of batteries and they will always be there when you need them. The thing is, you’ll never develop these things if you never put yourself in situations where you have to. It reminds me of exercise in lots of ways. We all know exercise is good for us in the short and long term. However, there are so few people that are willing to actually exert the effort and make themselves uncomfortable that although very many people understand the benefit, very few people actually receive it. The people who do are the people who are voluntarily and willingly accept the struggle. In some ways, this approach to camping is the same. At first, you’ll be uncomfortable and disorganized. Over time, however, you’ll actually end up developing yourself.
People have lots of different reasons for going camping. Some people read this and maybe liked the idea of having less, moving more, and they probably really like the idea of freedom. Others read it and thought, “Why would I do that?” For some people, the K.I.S.S. method may sound like it turns camping into work rather than relaxation. Personally, I don’t fault people in either camp. However, in my own life, I know plenty of people who put off a camping trip simply because packing was too much work. If this is you, you might be denying yourself the pleasure of camping because you are in the habit of bringing too much stuff. K.I.S.S. camping only encourages you to simplify your gear, not go without. In the end, it’s about bringing enough of the right gear that allows you to do necessary jobs in an efficient way, while not sacrificing your ability to get out and enjoy the places you want to enjoy.