35 Beginner Camping Mistakes to Avoid

A compilation of mistakes to avoid and handy tips for Camping & Wilderness Survival! May your journeys into the wild be blessed

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Outdoor skills for Camping, Hiking, Bushcraft & Wilderness Survival

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CAMPING GEAR I USE & RECOMMEND (Amazon Store)

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Thanks for watching!

[Qigate]

"The forest has eyes everywhere.. . you won't get away with it". Best line!! Glad your posting again, sir!

[kristofferkoczko]

Great beginners guide!
I would add:
1. Sleeping bag ratings are tested on dummies with a base layer on.
2. Eat before sleep
3. Check batteries in lamps ( recommend headlamps)
4. Tell someone you are in regular contact with what your plans are an when you plan to be back in case of emergency
5. Have a waterproof bag with spare clothes and essential gear

Thanks for the video Alfie

[joanies]

Went on a backpacking trip with a friend who left her insulating pad in the car because she brought frozen food making her pack too heavy. After hiking 5 miles up in the mountains, we gathered wood, built a fire, ate our meal, had a shot or two of schnapps, and went to sleep. It was an open lean-to setup with mesh bunks above ground. I stayed awake until the flames went down.

My friend didn't change her socks, so they were damp. She didn't have her insulation pad, and her sleeping bag was not enough to keep her warm. The alcohol lowered her body temperature, too. Heat exits the body from our heads and our feet... I don't believe she had a hat on her head. She woke up in a panic, shaking uncontrollably, in the beginnings of hypothermia!

I got the fire stoked back up while she got her pack down from the tree, so she could put on her thinsulate rain gear. She had to go pee, so she took her flashlight and went far enough behind the trees, the light of the campfire was blocked by the lean-to. I could hear her calling my name in a panic, watching her walk back and forth on a ridge, clueless where she was in the dark. I guided her back to camp.

With the fire going, wearing her thinsulate, she was able to warm up enough to stop the shaking and ward off full blown hypothermia. Five miles up the mountain on a pitch black night, a tricky trail in parts... and we didn't have cell phones back then... it was damn scary! After that event, I took a Wilderness Basics Training and vowed to never backpack with anyone who did not have similar training. It's just too risky to hike with unaware people.

[danbev]

Good vid! I’ve seen lots of these mistakes. One note: when setting up your tent make SURE your ground cloth does NOT stick out! If the ground cloth sticks out from under the tent floor, rain falls on the ground cloth & migrates under your tent between the tent floor & ground cloth, creating a very cold puddle under you. Tuck in your ground cloth!

[BoredOut]

Alfie is love, Alfie is life. Be like Alfie.

[iChefTheImpossible]

I always bring extra socks. Clean dry socks are always nice in the morning

[autoscanremaps]

I can't believe it, another tremendous sermon from the forest God. Alfie you are responsible for me getting into bushcraft, which then gave me the confidence to go wild camping in the mountains. Can't thank you enough, you literally changed my life.

[-The-fire-guy]

While hiking the king's trail in northern Sweden, I set up camp along a river. The following morning, while enjoying my morning tea, I spotted a herd of reindeer on the other side of the river, so I stayed very still as not to disturb them. They stopped right across the river from my tent, and then one entered the water. Then another. Then they ALL STARTED RUNNING ACROSS THE RIVER TOWARDS MY TENT!

I had set up camp right by a natural river crossing spot! Thankfully I was able to make enough of a ruckus to make them go around, a stomped tent would've put a rather large damper on my mood. I still wonder what would have happened if I had set my alarm for an hour later...

Bit of a unique experience, but do keep animal trails in mind when setting up camp, lest you be awakened by a hoof on your sternum.

[davidcann]

Identify as a tortoise 🤣 I heard a story while on a course, a guy with lots of expensive gear set up his bivvy over a mouse hole, woke up terrified as it had eaten it's way through to escape, toilet paper wasn't enough to save him. So always check your not setting up camp on someone else's house.

[GildaLee]

Was listening and logging in to Amazon to buy that emergency blanket I've been meaning to get, when I just had to pause and marvel at the line at 12:15, "Think of yourself as a temporarily homeless person who identifies as a tortoise, and you will have the correct mindset."

Alfie Zen. 💮🙏

[puddleduck]

You brighten many a persons day with your videos!!! So glad you are back.

[edwardfletcher]

My heart warms, Alfie is making videos again, all is well with the World 🌎 👍

[dpurssord]

He's the David Attenborough of camping! That video is absolutely brilliant. Inspiring with humour thrown in. After years of wild camping, can say you've covered the main parts. Well done that man!

[WhereisQBook]

He always returns when we need him most!

[kacywatkins]

Omg I love your videos!!!! As SOON as this popped up I clicked!! I didn't realize you'd posted in the last couple of months!! Welcome back! You're amazing!

[JarocoOutdoors]

I'm in the wood as of watching this, I'd happily use my precious phone battery charge to watch Alfie, any day

[carmellawinecroft]

So many things mentioned that I never would have even thought about! Brilliant survivalist, that is why you are a king❤

[danjohnson]

"Your mission is to get from point A to point B, dry. because you're carrying all the toilet paper. We want you dry." Best line ever!

[terryfallert]

Cant get enough of alfies videos, i have his exact backpack and gear, very happy

[IronFreee]

I often take a large and solid trash bag, especially for one day hikes. It can be used for sitting on something dry when it rained, as a liner inside your backpack to protect your stuff from long or torrential rain. It can even be used as some shelter if you cut it and use it as a tarp or cover.
You can wear it by cutting holes for your head and harms.
You could even carry water in it if you are lost in some hot, dry area...