Is camping a hobby?
Or is it considered something else?
And if so, is it beginner-friendly? Is it cheap?
Here’s the truth: it’s totally a hobby. It fits the bill perfectly.
Let’s dig a little deeper into this topic and learn about camping as a hobby and 10 reasons why it might be the best hobby you’ll ever try in your life.
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Is Camping A Hobby?
Yes, camping is definitely a hobby. In fact, camping perfectly fits the dictionary definition of what a “hobby” is. According to the dictionary definition, a hobby is: “An activity or interest pursued or relaxation and not as a main occupation”.
To dig a little deeper into what a hobby is, it’s typically something someone spends as much free time doing as they can dedicate to it. A hobby typically also teaches you skills that you slowly develop over time and experience.
And camping fits that bill perfectly. People who love camping will take every opportunity that they can get to get out and camp.
Additionally, camping requires skill building over time. Campers learn about various types of equipment such as tents, sleeping bags and cooking supplies, as well as how to navigate difficult terrain with maps and compasses.
With each new adventure under their belt they become better prepared for future trips while further solidifying their passion for the outdoors. All these aspects make camping not just enjoyable but also educational – two elements which are integral parts of any hobby!
Therefore, based on all the evidence provided above it’s safe to say that camping definitely qualifies as an enjoyable pastime – otherwise known as a hobby.
10 Reasons Why Camping Is A Great Hobby
Camping is good for you… like really good for you. And there’s science to back it up! Many studies have been done on the positive effects of camping on the human psyche and body.
1. Camping Reduces Stress – Says Science
A study by Science Direct found that spending time outdoors actually reduces stress and other negative emotions caused by the regular stressors of every day life.
An article on Stress.org explains how spending time outdoors doing things like hiking or camping is actually an effective way to manage the stress in our lives.
Over time, chronic stress can have negative physical health effects, so learning how to manage it is essential for every human on this planet. While there are medications that can help, nature is free and all around us.
In a nutshell, spending time camping can literally have a positive effect on both your mental and physical health.
2. Camping in Forests Can Reduce Blood Pressure
Spending time in forests or woods, also known as “forest bathing”, has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure, lower heart rates, and reduce the stress hormone cortisol.
Going off of the previous section about camping reducing stress, it’s also been proven to have physical effects on the body – such as lowering blood pressure.
Even if you don’t struggle with high blood pressure, getting out in nature will do your body good!
3. Connecting With Nature Boosts the Spirit
Camping is a great way to immerse yourself in nature and take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
It eliminates the need for you to plan out a complicated itinerary or pay for expensive accommodations; all you need is your tent, some camping supplies, and an adventurous spirit. One of the best reasons why camping is such an enjoyable hobby is that it gives you the chance to connect with nature.
You can enjoy activities such as fishing or hiking while taking in the beauty of your surroundings. Watching a sunset or sunrise while surrounded by nature can be quite calming and therapeutic.
When camping, you have the opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural habitat, something that many people would otherwise never experience.
Moreover, just being outdoors has numerous health benefits such as improving your sleep quality and overall mood.
In fact, a report from MentalHealth.org says:
“Research shows that people who are more connected with nature are usually happier in life and more likely to report feeling their lives are worthwhile”.
4. Unplugging From Technology Has Many Benefits
Unplugging from technology – aka a “digital detox” – has a ton of health benefits. Although not every camping excursion requires you to travel out of cell signal or turn off your devices, you’ll have a better experience if you do!
There have been several studies done on the negative effects that our digital devices can have on our mental health and mood. An article by Medical News Today references multiple studies that suggest over-using technology contributes to lower self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and physical problems too.
Camping provides the opportunity to get away from our screens and devices and simply enjoy the outdoors. And for many of us this is an unfamiliar sensation.
We’re so used to being plugged in all day that it can be difficult to break away from it. Camping offers us a chance to take a much-needed break from technology and reconnect with nature.
We should take advantage of those times when we can truly disconnect and immerse ourselves into nature during camping trips; it’s an invaluable experience that helps bring balance into our lives.
5. A Camping Hobby Helps You Learn New Skills
Camping requires skills and not a single person is born with them. You learn by doing! Whether your goal is to master the art of pitching a tent, honing your fire-building abilities, or learning how to navigate with a compass, you learn and develop these skills with every trip out.
If you want to try camping but are unsure of where to start or feel like you don’t have the skills, don’t worry. No one knows this stuff when they first start out. The best way to learn is through actually doing it.
All you need to know at first is how to set up your tent and operate your camp stove… Unless you bring a bunch of sandwiches, in which case – you’re great!
Here are a few skills you’ll develop through camping:
- Putting up and taking down a tent correctly.
- Cooking meals outdoors.
- Cleaning dishes and personal hygiene outdoors.
- Building and maintaining a campfire.
- Identifying poisonous plants like poison ivy, oak, and sumac.
- Storing your camping gear effectively.
- How to use camping gear correctly.
And so much more. Learning how to do these things takes patience and practice, but it’s certainly worth it when you’re out in the wild!
6. A Camping Hobby Builds Self Confidence
Going outdoors, pushing ourselves to try something new, and having a successful experience all contribute to a sense of accomplishment. This bolsters our sense of self-esteem and self confidence.
Every camping trip provides us with the opportunity to test out our skills in the wild. Doing this gives us an understanding of what we’re capable of and encourages us to take on other tasks with more assurance.
We might also find ourselves in situations where we have no choice but to rely on our own strength and ability. Taking risks, learning from mistakes and problem solving helps us develop confidence in our own judgment – a valuable asset for any situation life throws at us!
There’s nothing like the confidence-boost that comes from learning a new skill. And I don’t know about you, but camping definitely makes me feel pretty cool.
I am the only person in my entire family who enjoys camping and knows how to do it well, but that wasn’t always the case. I had to start at square one and work up to what I know now… and that feels pretty awesome!
7. Experiencing New Things
Camping is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and explore the great outdoors. From seeing wildlife in person to witnessing breathtaking sunsets, there’s no shortage of new experiences that camping can provide.
Most people are stuck in their day-to-day routines. It looks different for everyone, but it involves much of the same things. Wake up, get dressed, go to work, come home, zone out to Netflix, go to bed, repeat.
Without prioritizing new experiences, your life can get pretty bland and boring. Depression and anxiety often result from a lack of variety in your life… And camping can help change that.
Even if you can’t take a camping trip in some far off scenic location, even pitching a tent in your backyard shakes up the humdrum and makes new memories.
8. Camping is Cost Effective
Camping can be cost effective – but this does come with a caveat!
All you need for a successful camping trip is a tent, some bedding, and food or a way to prepare food. While these things will require a bit of investment up front, after you have the supplies, you don’t need to pay for much.
A night at a campground can cost anywhere from $0 to $25 per night – which is really cheap compared to hotels. Cooking food at your campsite is a lot cheaper than restaurants, and the activities you’ll do nearby are almost always free or low cost.
However, camping can be expensive – but only if you want it to be. If you’re a gear enthusiast who wants the latest and greatest brand-name camping gear, it can get pricy.
But hey, most hobbyists are happy and enthusiastic to spend money on their passions.
9. Camping Helps You Appreciate The Little Things
When you’re camping and disconnected from technology, it’ll feel a little weird at first. It might feel like you’re forgetting something – and that’s because we are all trained by our devices and things like email and social media to always be looking for a notification. Our brains are like “What’s next? What’s new?”
But camping is a way to get away from all of that. Once you get over the uncomfortable feeling of not looking at your phone every 5 minutes, you’ll start appreciating the little things in life.
Moments that are fleeting like the changes of light and color in a sunrise or sunset, the songs the birds sing as morning breaks, a close-up encounter with a deer or elk… These are all incredibly special little moments.
And it’s okay if it feels kind of boring at first – there’s no shame in that! Purposefully rewiring your brain is worth it physically and mentally, but it might feel weird at first.
10. Quality Time With Family and Friends
Let me ask you something.
When’s the last time you hung out with your friends without your phones? Loud music? Netflix? TikTok?
When’s the last time you hung out with your family and truly connected with them without external distractions?
Camping is a great way to fully experience the people and relationships in our lives in a way that we wouldn’t normally get a chance to otherwise.
This can help you build deeper bonds and stronger relationships and get to know your friends more.
Laughing around a campfire and playing silly camp games is a great way to bond with friends and/or family while camping.
Are There Any Downsides To Camping As A Hobby?
So now you know all the great – and scientifically backed – benefits to camping as a hobby. But are there any downsides?
One of the primary downsides to start a camping hobby is cost. If you don’t have any gear, it will cost a little bit to get started. However, you can get the necessities for camping for less than $70 that would include a tent, cooler, and camp chairs.
If you’re just starting out and don’t know if you’ll like it, I recommend getting the cheapest tent and camp chair you can find. Pre-make sandwiches at home and bring snacks like chips and drinks to avoid needing to buy a cooking stove. If you find out you love camping, you can always buy more gear and upgrade later on.
There is also the factor of the physical demand of camping. Car camping allows you to park right at your campsite, so you won’t have to haul your gear very far. But there is still the physical aspect of setting up and tearing down your tent.
Is Camping Beginner Friendly?
Yes, camping is pretty beginner friendly. The hardest part about the first camping trip is figuring out how to make your tent fit back in the bag when you’re done! Setting up the tent is pretty straightforward, and tents come with instructions.
Many campgrounds have lots of amenities and luxuries for campers, too. You can find campgrounds that have on-site stores that sell food and stuff you might need, some campgrounds even have restaurants.
You can also find campsites that have electrical hookups so you can plug in things like an air conditioner, space heater, fan, or charge your electronics.
All in all, though, a camping hobby is generally beginner friendly to get started. It can get more advanced and in-depth once you build the basic skills, but it’s great for beginners!
You don’t need to know much to sleep outside!
Related: When is Camping Season? When Is The Best Time to Go Camping?
How Do I Start A Camping Hobby?
I always tell anyone who is interested in trying camping to start with the minimum amount of gear possible. Get a cheap tent, cooler, and chairs – that way you’re not out a ton of money if you don’t like it.
For your first camping trip, I recommend finding a well-known campground near your location and plan a 1-night trip. State parks are a great place for a first camping trip.
You will need:
- A tent – you can buy one for as low as $29, like this tent from Walmart.
- Bedding – you can bring bedding from home to save money.
- Food & drinks – Sandwich stuff, chips, and hot dogs for the campfire is always a great idea to save money and for newbies.
- A cooler (optional). You can get this 28 qt cooler for $22 from Walmart.
- Camp chairs – you can get these basic camp chairs for $8-$10 at Walmart.
- Flashlights and/or headlamps – here’s a great camping lantern and flashlight set for $11 at Walmart.
Then, call or go online and book a campsite at the campground of your choice. Spend a night in the great outdoors, maybe take a hike at your campground, and see how you like it!
Or, for a more mild setting, try camping out in your backyard! Camping in your backyard is somewhat similar to camping in the wild, but you have your own toilet and bed just yards away if you need to go inside.
FAQ About Camping as a Hobby
Is Camping Safe?
For the most part, camping is safe. While there are risks associated with camping, with proper knowledge and preparation you can keep yourself safe and aware. The main risks of camping include insect bites, rashes from plants, encounters with local wildlife, sunburn and dehydration.
To mitigate these risks, familiarize yourself with your local area. Learn what kind of bugs to look out for and use bug spray when camping. Mosquitoes can spread disease and cause a lot of itching.
Be sure to bring sunscreen along and drink plenty of water, even in cooler months. Learn to identify potentially poisonous plants in your area and learn what type of wildlife lives in your region.
Typically, wildlife will leave you alone, especially at a busy campground. But raccoons can and will break into your cooler or sacks of food if you leave them out overnight! Preparation is key.
Is Camping a Cheap Hobby?
Camping can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. It can cost between $70-$500 to get started, depending on what gear you want. After you have your gear, it’s a very cheap hobby indeed!
Once you have your gear, all you have to pay for is gas, food, firewood, and your campsite. Campsites can cost anywhere from $0 to $25 per night or more, depending on location and amenities.
Wrapping Up: Is Camping a Hobby?
Yes – camping is a hobby and a really great one!
Not only is camping downright fun and enjoyable for most people who try it, it has been scientifically proven to have positive effects on your physical and mental health.
If you’re looking for a hobby that will be enjoyable, have positive impacts on your health and happiness, and teach you new, valuable skills… Camping can’t be beat.