What is it like to travel around Russia by car? In this report, I will share my experience of independent road trips. Which car to choose? What to take on a trip? How to prepare the car? What can be done to ensure safe travel? My personal experience and advice from avid autotourists.
I like traveling very much! And every time I try to bring novelty to this business: a new style, a new format, new routes.
- I have already traveled by bike through the Sahara desert, the Mediterranean coast and the Atlantic Ocean in.
- Organized a solo trip.
- I properly rode on rented bikes on the islands of Penang and Borneo, along and.
- Hitting and flying on planes, too, be healthy!
And now it's time to try something new. I decided to buy a super passable and roomy car - UAZ "Patriot" to discover a new style of travel with it. My first car, first time driving. I trained for three months, riding around the immediate surroundings, equipped a car, bought all the necessary travel equipment - and on the first day of autumn 2016, I got behind the wheel and set off on a road several thousand kilometers long to see the Caucasus.
By car, I have traveled only in Russia so far ( read:), and my advice will primarily be useful to those who are preparing for a trip within the country. But also my recommendations on preparing a car, collecting things and safety issues will be useful for those who are planning an independent trip by car to Europe or other places abroad. Most of the tips are universal.
Why did I choose UAZ "Patriot" for traveling around Russia?
I chose a car for a long time, compared all possible options, the pros and cons of each option. As a result, I came to the conclusion that the Patriot would be the best option for me, taking into account my needs.
What pros car UAZ "Patriot" for long-distance travel across Russia?
- patency. On this car, I drove through terrible mud, drove up very steep slopes, jumped over huge cobblestones on the roads in the mountains, drove along the bed of mountain rivers. The car coped with all the difficulties. I am a fan of climbing into remote and hard-to-reach places, so the patency of the car is very important to me.
- capacity. No matter how much equipment you have, personal belongings, equipment for shooting and work, supplies of provisions and water - all this will fit perfectly in the trunk and car interior. Another bonus: two people can sleep in the cabin with the rear seats folded down (I made a simple construction of plywood in the form of a raised floor, and laid a cotton mattress on top - the bed is ready). So UAZ "Patriot" is practically a motor home.
- Repaired in any village in the most remote corners of the country. If, while traveling in Russia far from civilization (for example, in Altai or the Caucasus), a car breaks down, then it will be easy to find the necessary replacement parts and a craftsman who can fix everything (after all, only UAZs are driven there). If you are traveling around Russia in a foreign car and a breakdown happens in some wilderness, then you will have a hard time.
But, of course, there are minuses:
- High consumption of gasoline: about 13 l / 100 km on the highway, off-road it can be all 40-50.
- Shaking, noisy, vibrating. On long trips on the Patriot, when you drive about 1000 km a day, it is exhausting. But what can you do? This is the Russian auto industry! This is UAZ! We'll have to be patient.
- Over 120 km / h you will not go, no matter how hard you try. More precisely, even after 100-110 km / h it already becomes extremely uncomfortable - the engine roars, the car sausages.
Also, the UAZ "Patriot" is quite suitable for trips to the CIS countries, but it's better to travel around Europe by another car - otherwise you will have to drag a trailer of parts and spare parts.
Preparing for a long road trip
I’ll make a reservation right away, I don’t give advice on preparing and equipping a car for large-scale and long trips to the utter wilderness, to the taiga, to the mountains, hundreds of kilometers from the nearest settlement. Such extreme expeditions will require training of a completely different level, as well as confident knowledge in mechanics, the ability to diagnose and fix breakdowns. I don't have those skills, and most people, I suppose, don't either. Therefore, my lists and tips are intended exclusively for autotourists who want to go on vacation in their car, and not recover to conquer the virgin expanses of taiga, tundra or inaccessible plateaus and mountain passes.
On a note. To travel by car, it is not necessary to have personal transport or drive it from home. You can rent a car at the location where you are going. You can find a car of the right brand and class at the best price on the convenient Skyscanner Car Hire service, which compares the offers of all the most popular car rental companies. Especially convenient if you are planning a trip to Europe, Asia or America.
What to do before leaving?
So, what should be done before you go on an independent road trip in Russia or abroad?
- Pass the technical inspection, change oil, filters, worn parts - in general, check everything and bring the car to the best condition.
- equip, equip car with everything you need. If you are going to drive off-road, it is worth putting fuel tank guards, tie rod guards and transfer cases. Equip a bed if you plan to spend the night in the car. Organize the storage of things (there are a lot of them on a big trip - you need to put everything correctly).
- Think over nutrition and stock up on food and water. It is always better to have something edible for a snack on the way, as well as a reserve for a rainy day (more precisely, a few days).
- Think over the route and places of overnight stays. Calculate how far you will travel per day, and, based on this, decide where you will spend the night so as not to end up in an open field at night. It's a matter of security and peace of mind.
- Find out about work cellular communication and availability Internet access along the route of travel and at the destination.
What to take on a trip by car?
Listed below are all the things that I take with me on long and long road trips. Based on my list, make your own, including the things that you will need on the trip. Print it out and use it at your collection so you don't forget anything.
Mandatory set of a motorist. , fire extinguisher, compressor, jack, tool kit, spare tire, cable, starting wires. I also have: a shovel, rubber boots, an axe, a saw, boards for a jack, rags, funnels, a washer, antifreeze, brake fluid, gloves, a canister with a supply of water, ropes, luggage rubber bands with hooks, a set of fuses, clamps.
Electronics. Inverter (voltage converter to 220 volts). A very important thing when traveling! It makes it possible to charge equipment and connect any not too powerful electrical appliances. Grab spare fuses for it. Also very useful: navigator, DVR, radar detector, phones with GPS, and maps (OSM, Yandex, Google). Other electronics: laptop, camera, player, usb-speakers (they are convenient to watch movies in the evenings, listen to music in a hotel room). SIM cards of different (best) operators.
Hiking life. Wet wipes, paper napkins, a raincoat, sleeping bags, a tent, tourist rugs, sheets, pillows, pillowcases, towels, a blanket, garbage bags, camping folding chairs, a folding table (think how much you need it, as it takes up a lot of space), a thermal bag , toilet paper, soap, shampoo, personal care products, matches, lighters, flashlight and batteries, fumigators and insect sprays, alcohol or chlorhexidine for disinfection.
Cooking and eating. Gas burner and cylinders, pots, frying pan, cutlery, mugs, thermos, containers, corkscrew, can opener, knives, small camp kettle or boiler, geyser coffee maker or Turk, cutting board, washing sponges, detergent, barbecue, skewers.
Nutrition. Everyone himself forms his own stocks of edibles, I will list only the main ones. Salt, sugar, tea, coffee, sunflower oil, nuts and muesli for a snack on the way. What can you eat while traveling? Suitable products, in my opinion: cereals, pasta, canned meat, vegetables and fish, couscous (highly recommend), bread or crackers. A decent supply of drinking water is a must!
Cash different denominations, especially small ones (50, 100). Far from major cities, you can’t pay with a card, and you can’t always find an ATM (for example, once in Morocco, in a tiny, completely non-tourist village in the Sahara desert, we found ourselves without cash in local currency, we had to look for those who wanted to exchange). Traveling alone in Russia by car, there is always a chance to break down, and then you will need to resort to someone's help - cash will come in handy.
Cloth. Going on a long trip by car, think over this question carefully. Choose clothes and shoes based on the route and season. If you spend the night in a tent or car, take care of the presence of warm clothes (for example, in the Caucasus in September-October we were very cold at night). Thermal underwear and fleece clothing will never be superfluous. Choose the best shoes different types: something light (flip flops, sandals), waterproof (boots, boots), casual shoes for the city or nature. I can recommend the Asics trail running shoes - they are great shoes! In these wonderful sneakers, we walked in the mountains over 20 km a day with a climb of more than a kilometer, and at -20 ° C we did not freeze, and at + 30 ° C our legs did not boil in them, and drive for 15 hours a day. comfortable day in them.
Other: books, sunglasses, adhesive tape, pins, sewing needles and threads, cotton pads, glue, umbrella, hammock.
Travel safety
Safety tips from experienced auto travelers to keep in mind:
- Think about the safety of the overnight stay. It's better to sleep in the car. All valuables should also be inside. Do not fold the driver's seat and leave it free to be able to quickly get behind the wheel and drive away. The nose of the car should not rest against an obstacle (tree, ravine, pond, etc.).
- Keep self-defense equipment handy. For example, pepper spray. Experienced travelers recommend having a powerful flashlight or searchlight on hand (to blind the enemy). In the face of the aggressor, you can also Fire some household spray (for example, WD-40, glass cleaner, etc.).
- Inform your loved ones about where you are, stopping for the night, as well as during the journey.
- Find out and write phone numbers tow trucks and service centers for your car in the regions through which you will pass.
- Keep track of fuel. Fill up a full tank ahead of time. Ideally, carry a canister of gasoline.
- Good to have satellite phone.
- A few points in favor of your safety will be given by the fact that you have press documents Or at least badges. It’s good if you have the opportunity to create a special page on the Internet that will tell about your trip and create the appearance that you are a member of a major travel project and the whole country knows about you. You can also decorate the car with stickers about your participation in the expedition. These measures will give you special status and make law enforcement more soft and fair in dealing with you (the likelihood of raids and rudeness will decrease).
Safety issues that should always be considered by any traveler (not just a motorist):
- Money. Anticipate ALL possible financial difficulties and find ways to solve them. It is worth having several cards of different banks, storing them in different places (the same applies to cash). Have a reserve - the amount for unforeseen expenses.
- Documentation. Scan or take a photo of your documents, save them on a flash drive and keep them with you.
The list of things on the road and tips on safety and comfort will be gradually supplemented and adjusted as new experience accumulates. Your advice and comments will be glad! Share your experience in the comments - we will form a note for an autotraveller together.
An article about the top 10 travel cars, their features and specifications. At the end of the article - an interesting video about possible problems in a road trip.
Quite high requirements are imposed on cars for travel:
- roomy comfortable interior;
- spacious trunk;
- good technical characteristics;
- quite soft and comfortable suspension;
- profitability;
- safety and reliability;
- good speed.
Rating of the best cars for travel
There will be no specialized transport in this TOP (like American motorhomes). Of course, campers have everything for a normal life on the road, you can eat and sleep in them, but they are too expensive and not suitable for driving in the city. We will consider mainly universal cars in which you can go to work on weekdays, and on weekends (or on vacation) you can wave with your family or friends on a long journey.
The body of this car is placed on a spar frame, which is able to withstand heavy loads when driving off-road and country roads, and when transporting goods. This is exactly what you need for travel. After all, you often have to move along rural roads and carry a lot of things with you.
In an open cargo platform, you can fit a lot of very different luggage (up to one ton). It can be camping equipment, an ATV or a snowmobile. Just before that, you will have to equip the cargo compartment with a lifting lid, tarpaulin or kung so that the cargo does not get wet.
The interior of the car is spacious, it looks beautiful, the lining is wear-resistant, the plastic is of high quality. In the rear seats, even very tall passengers will feel comfortable. And when driving over potholes, no one will bang their heads against the ceiling. Legroom is also sufficient. What else do you need for a comfortable trip?
Behind the reclining backs there is a mini-trunk for various small things.
The L200 is equipped with a 2.5-liter turbodiesel (136 "horses") and an "automatic". The engine is particularly reliable. The fuel system digests domestic diesel fuel well, which is very important. Diesel fuel consumption - 7-8 l / 100km. The maneuverability of the car is also on top.
The machine is designed for people who value practicality, economy and outdoor activities.
This car has a comfortable spacious interior and a large trunk (492 liters) with additional seats for two passengers, movable and adjustable seats and plenty of pockets.
The KIA Carens chassis is great for traveling long distances, only at a calm, not sporty pace. Although the car will cope with sharp turns at high speed without problems.
A 1.7-liter turbodiesel engine with a capacity of 136 “horses” is enough for normal movement. With a quiet ride outside the city, the car consumes only 6 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km. In the city, consumption increases to 8 liters, but we are considering cars for travel, which means that we will have to move mainly along the highway.
Kia has "hidden pockets" that are sure to come in handy on hikes if you don't want to take a lot of things with you. These pockets are located behind the backs of the front seats in the floor under the floor mats.
Salon Carens is very comfortable, and passengers will not be cramped. Therefore, many family people who love to travel buy this car.
If someone does not know, then room in English means “room”, and the design of the Skoda Roomster strictly corresponds to its name. This is a small house on wheels, which will be comfortable for passengers and you can arrange a lot of things for travel.
Roomster is divided into three peculiar "rooms" - the front seats for the driver and his fellow traveler, the middle purely passenger "room", and the rear compartment for things.
The rear passenger seats are located slightly higher than the front ones, which will allow passengers to admire the local scenery. The high body allows you to comfortably accommodate not only people with different heights, but also load overall things that will come in handy when traveling (a bicycle, a baby carriage, and so on). If you need to take a lot of overall things on a hike, then this will not be a problem for the owner of the Roomster. A special system for transforming passenger seats will allow you to arrange the interior space for any needs. Thus, the luggage compartment from 530 liters can easily increase to 1780 liters. In this case, the carrying capacity of the car will be 525 kg.
On this car you can travel with your whole big family, as well as carry a lot of things.
Only the French could create an art object from a family minibus. According to the manufacturers, this car is designed for young families who love to travel.
With the advent of a child, young people have to give up sports cars. But why change them to something boring? C4 Picasso combines beautiful design with convenience and comfort. On this car, you can take children to kindergarten or go on a trip with your family.
The car has a strong body and is considered the safest in its class. The comfort of the cabin is also at a high level. All passengers will be comfortable, and panoramic half-roof glass will allow you to enjoy the trip. It will be most convenient for the “co-pilot”, since the front passenger seat is equipped with a footrest and a pneumomassage of the lower back. This is a great solution for long distance travel. You can recline like in a sun lounger and enjoy the surrounding views!
But the passengers of the second row will not be deprived either. Separate adjustable chairs will accommodate three adults of different sizes without any problems. They will be able to use folding tables with bookends, adjustable ventilation deflectors, sockets and sun shades.
In a word, a trip in this car can be compared with a flight in business class.
True, only children will fit on the last row. If you go on a trip without children, you can fold the third row and increase the luggage compartment (up to 2181 liters).
Grand C4 Picasso is equipped with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 150 hp. Consumption - up to 7 liters.
This seven-seater car is perfect for family or company trips.
The original interior allows you to fold the center seat of the second row, which will open the passage to the rear row of seats. If the side seats are occupied by child car seats, this is very convenient. Sliding rear doors complement the Grand C-MAX's silhouette and allow easy access to the rear of the car.
The tailgate can be opened using the button on the key - this is convenient when your hands are very busy.
If passengers forget to fasten their seat belts, the system will remind you of this with a sound signal, taking care of their safety.
The turbocharged gasoline engine is economical and environmentally friendly, so travel will not be too burdensome for your wallet.
This is a compact van from the French automaker, which is perfect for traveling.
Scenic looks elegant and dynamic. The owner of this car is provided with a comfortable and active ride. When driving off-road, passengers will not shake. Thanks to the successful combination of comfort and stiffness of the suspension, the car behaves quite predictably on the track, almost without swaying even at high speeds.
Renault Scenic II is an ideal family and corporate car at the same time. In such a car it will be convenient to go on a trip, meet business partners or transport some kind of cargo. In a word, this is a wonderful option for friendly companies and large families.
This all-terrain wagon looks courageous and brutal. Ground clearance is 213 mm, so this car is not afraid of snow, mud or sand.
The car is equipped with an innovative horizontally opposed engine (2.5 liters and 175 "horses"), working in conjunction with a continuously variable variator.
On such a car, you can safely go hiking without fear of off-road. Outback is not afraid of the most severe tests.
Convenient roof rails make it easy to place a boat or other bulky cargo.
In the Outback, the rear seats can be reclined, allowing you to travel in comfort. There is plenty of legroom and headroom. All seats are heated. If you fold the backs of the rear sofa, you get a flat two-meter platform, which will allow you to sleep peacefully.
The trunk is huge (560 l), but if you expand the seats, you get even more (1801 l), which will allow you to take everything you need on a trip.
Fuel consumption - about 7 liters.
The three leaders of our rating were the models of the Volkswagen concern. And not in vain! These cars are perfect for traveling.
The Touran is a roomy and practical five-door compact MPV equipped with side hinged doors. The interior of the car is decorated with restraint, German rationality is felt. The finish is high quality and durable. Many different pockets, niches and glove compartments. The backs of the front seats have comfortable reclining tables.
The functional interior transformation system allows you to solve any problems. The trunk is voluminous (695 liters), and if you fold the backs, you get 1990 liters. This is more than enough to transport bulky items.
You can buy Touran with a diesel or gasoline engine. The diesel version is particularly economical (up to 6 l / 100 km), so travel will not be very costly.
This is a very popular touring van in Europe. If you attach an additional DoubleBack compartment to it, you will get a motorhome on wheels.
From the rear of the car, a special design is put forward, driven by electricity. The whole process of "unpacking" takes 45 seconds. This device almost doubles the interior space of the van. Thus, a small kitchen, a bed and a closet will fit inside your car. The roof of the car lifts up, which allows passengers to stand inside. In this case, the front seats can be rotated 180 degrees. towards the motorhome.
This car is ideal for travel lovers. The T5 Doubleback costs $87,000, which is more expensive than a regular van but cheaper than a small new motorhome.
This is a great car for family travel. It is equipped with beds, lockers, a side table, a stove. There is also a socket (220 V) and a water tank. Near the stove there is a refrigerator and a washstand.
The front seats can be turned to the table to comfortably eat with the whole family. The rear seat folds out into a single bed. Under the rear seats is a retractable compartment. There is a small table in the side door and two armchairs in the back door.
To shelter from the rain, you can pull up an awning. The roof can be lifted up, which will allow you to freely walk around the cabin while standing. There is air conditioning, a built-in telephone, a multimedia system, built-in curtains, you can listen to the radio, watch videos. In fact, this is a mobile home that allows you to travel to different cities and countries without any worries.
At the same time, the car is quite economical. Consumption - 8 l / 100 km. There is an on-board computer with a large display, a navigation system that informs about traffic jams.
Multivan California costs about 70 thousand euros. The price is high, but after all, everything is provided in the car for comfortable travel. That is why this car has become the leader of our TOP.
Summing up
All of the above cars are suitable for traveling. When choosing, you should take into account your financial capabilities and wishes. Whatever car you choose, a comfortable long-distance trip is guaranteed.
Problems of car travel - in the video:
9 days, 6 people, incl. 3 children (2y, 2y and 2y 9m), August 2004,
Our idea to go with children to Karelia cannot be called unexpected, because. all the parents who participated in this event already had some hiking experience and were able to sufficiently taste the atmosphere of tourist life, which is very difficult to forget. Another thing is our children (Grisha and Misha - 2 years old and Masha 2 years 9 months old) - at this age they most likely simply did not understand what a hike was and why they were in the forest.
It is still too early to go on a hiking trip with such children, and at that time we did not dare to take children on a water trip.
An alternative was found - we decided to go by car to Karelia.
Place, where to go, was chosen somewhat adventurously. Once upon a time I was rafting on the Suna River and I liked camping on its banks. Having taken a 2-kilometer map of Karelia, we found a country road that departs from the highway towards the village of Lindozero and a branch of the logging road leading from it to the shore of the Suna and decided that we would go there.
Beginning of August- the most suitable time for a children's hike in Karelia, mosquitoes and midges are already less than at the beginning of summer, it is warm, there is usually little rain at this time. Later, by the end of August - beginning of September, there may already be frosts at night. Our company consisted of 6 adults and 3 children (3 families): Andrey and Natasha with Grisha and Ilya and Irina with Misha traveled by car, and Dima, Yulia and Masha were supposed to meet already in Karelia (they were traveling by train) and take to the parking lot. We took two bicycles and a kayak with us.
We left Moscow along the Leningradskoye highway, agreed that everyone would drive at their own pace in cars, we would periodically contact by phone to agree where we would stop for lunch and spend the night together.
We stopped for the night, having passed Veliky Novgorod, on the banks of the Volkhov River. The next day, turning from the Leningrad highway to Kirishi, we reached the St. Petersburg-Murmansk highway and along it, past Petrozavodsk, we reached the area where we were to live for a week. The country road to the village of Lindozero turned out to be badly broken, but still it was better than the forest road, which we turned onto to get to the shore of the Suna.
Cars we had the domestic auto industry, "nine" and "eleventh", both were equipped with devices for raising the car body. If this had not been done, then we would have had to polish the Karelian stones with the bottom of the car (although we could not do without it at all).
On the bank of the river, they found the only small clearing, which, apparently, is periodically visited by local fishermen. The clearing was surrounded by dense forest.
The next morning I went to the village of Girvas, where I met our friends who had come from Petrozavodsk by minibus.
We stayed on Suna for 3 days. We went for mushrooms, picked berries (of which there were not many), fished (although we were not fishermen, we managed to catch a pike), rode bicycles (it turned out to be very interesting to ride along the old logging roads) and swam. The weather was warm and sunny, but the water in the river was still cool. The bottom of the river is very rocky and in order to swim, one had to carefully go to the place where the water reached the chest and then swim a little against the current (so as not to be carried away from the camp). For children, water was poured into a small inflatable pool, and they splashed there with pleasure.
For three days, we got a little tired of parking on the river bank, and we decided to move the camp to the shore of a small lake Myuros, we found this place during cycling trips. Not far away, on the shore of another Cheranga lake, there was another parking lot, but, unfortunately, it was busy.
Lake Myuros is peaty and shallow, but in front of our camp there was a small sandy beach. True, we managed to swim only on the first day, because. Then the weather turned bad, it got colder, and it began to rain.
In between rains, we rode the children in a kayak on the lake. Although the lake is not large, its shores are very picturesque.
No fish were caught on the lake, but we did not show much zeal in catching them. After 3 days we went home.
They said goodbye to Dima, Yulia and Masha in Girvas, put them in a minibus to Petrozavodsk and drove off in the same direction.
On the way we stopped at the Kivach waterfall, admired it and photographed it. Bought various souvenirs made by local craftsmen.
They decided to go to Moscow via Yaroslavl, and as a result, the way back turned out to be about 150 km shorter. However, part of the way (about 40 km) had to shake on the dirt road.
All the children returned home satisfied and with a lot of impressions. Grishka later recalled for a long time how we lived on the banks of the river, fished, picked berries, and there was a dark forest around.
Traveling by car with a small child was not as difficult as we thought before. Grishka almost all the time sat quietly in his armchair, looked out the window, slept or sang songs with us. Sometimes we stopped for a few minutes to "stretch the bones" - this time was enough to pick up half a mug of berries, which Grishka then devoured with pleasure in the car. There were no problems with the place of lunch and overnight stay. It was enough to drive away from the main highway and settlements (on the way through Yaroslavl it is much easier) into the forest. We had a gas burner and a supply of drinking water with us (at the rate of 5 liters per day), so the arrangement of the camp was reduced only to setting up a tent.
Comfortable sleep will help ensure sleeping bags and polyurethane foam mats , which will remove the irregularities on the ground and will serve as an additional heat insulator.
To make a fire, take hatchet and matches .
And in order not to make a fire every time you want to drink tea, you can take burner: gas or running on liquid fuel, such as gasoline.
Be sure to take lamp or flashlight for lighting.
Such indispensable attributes of tourists as compass and map , you will need it if you are only going on a hike over a long distance.
Can't go on a trip without mosquito repellent and other insects. Now they produce repellents that can be used for children from the age of one. But if you are afraid to use purchased funds, you can use folk recipes : mosquitoes are repelled by the smell of cloves (cologne, perfume, oil) and vanillin (you can simply dilute it in water and pour it into a spray bottle).
We go on a camping trip with an overnight stay - choose a tent wisely!
on a hike, this is your home, so its choice must be approached very carefully.
Let's start with the tent . One of its most important characteristics is water resistance. Modern awnings are made mainly of polyester or nylon. I advise you to choose polyester . It is more resistant to mechanical damage and ultraviolet, in addition, when wet, it stretches less, which means it will keep its shape better.
The frame of the tent should be light, flexible and durable. . All these requirements are perfectly met by aluminum supports. The tent itself is better to choose from nylon . It is breathable and dries quickly, which is very important, since the air we exhale contains a lot of moisture, and condensation forms on the walls from the temperature difference between the outside and inside the tent.
Please note that the assembled tent “sits” well on the frame, and the awning completely covers it and does not sag.
An important point is the presence of a headset : pockets for things, fastenings for a lantern, hinges, hanging shelves. There must be a mosquito net at the entrance. Check the serviceability and reliability of the zippers or the tube.
Don't rush to buy the first tent you see, you may need to visit several stores before you choose the right one. But I tell you it's worth it a good tent will serve you and your family for many years .
What utensils are useful on a hike?
The list of the most necessary utensils in the campaign itself is small. Is it a kettle or pot for cooking food, container for making tea or coffee and standard personal lunch set for each participant of the campaign - KLMN (Mug, Spoon, Bowl, Knife).
You can also take frying pan - it was very useful to us.
It is important that the dishes meet the following requirements:
- compactness , because even an extra centimeter in a backpack will be very useful;
- Ease , extra weight to drag on yourself is completely useless;
- Strength because you will be cooking on an open fire, and the plates and mugs need to be unbreakable and keep their shape.
The ideal option would be stainless steel cookware , but since this is a rather expensive pleasure, a budget aluminum option is quite suitable.
Very useful on a hike thermo mug , which keeps the temperature, and a couple of large bowls are also useful, in which it is convenient to cook a salad for everyone or wash vegetables and fruits.
What foods should be taken on a camping trip?
Food on a hike should be satisfying, stored for a long time, be compact, light and easy to move.
All products can be conditionally divided into three groups: long-term storage, perishable and drinks.
Long shelf life products - these are cereals, pasta, instant soups, canned fish and meat, condensed milk, chocolate, biscuits, spices, sugar, salt and butter.
perishable - bread, sausage, cheese, bacon, vegetables, nuts and dried fruits.
Basic drinks It's tea and coffee.
Cereals and pasta in order to avoid dampness, it is better to put in plastic containers or just bottles.
Drinking water is very important . If there is a source nearby, this is very good, but if not, you will have to carry it with you too.
Even if your baby is already eating from the common table, take some prepared baby food (meat, fruit purees, instant porridge) to provide some independence from the common boiler, as children may want to eat and drink at inopportune times.
Features of making a fire on a camping trip - what can be cooked on fire?
For me personally, making a fire is a whole science. There are a huge number of types of fires alone. I mastered two - "hut" and "well".
"Hut" in my opinion, the easiest is when firewood is placed in a house, and kindling is placed under them.
From the name itself "well" the principle of stacking firewood is already clear - one log square on another.
Choose only dry firewood for a fire, otherwise you will get only a cloud of smoke instead of heat.
Becomes a lifesaver porridge cooked in diluted condensed milk . During cooking, do not forget to salt it to get a balanced taste. Gourmets can add raisins or candied fruits to it.
From canned meat can cook delicious soups , only it is better to add canned food last, having previously boiled potatoes, cereals and roots.
As a second course, the leader is potatoes with stew .
For dinner, a great option can be pasta with cheese and herb sauce .
What to take for children on a hike - games and entertainment for big and small
Of course, children on a hike can not do without. The best outdoor toys include: soap bubbles, whistle, LED flashlights, children's camera, binoculars.
Grab sand set if there is sand near the parking lot.
And of course sports toys : ball, badminton cymbals. For the little ones, you can grab a favorite toy to make it easier to adapt to a new environment.
Medical and personal care products
The standard first aid kit includes : remedies for insect bites, remedy for burns, medicines for the treatment of wounds and abrasions (iodine, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, bandage, plaster), gastrointestinal remedies (smecta, activated charcoal), painkillers and antipyretics.
Be sure to bring sunscreen or lotion and sunscreen.
Can't go on a trip without personal hygiene products : toilet paper, soap, wet wipes, toothbrush and paste, comb, hygienic lipstick.
Other useful items for the hike
In addition to all of the above, here is what else was very useful to us:
- Garbage bags.
- Sponge and dishwashing detergent .
- Towels two or three large ones and several small ones.
- Very handy turned out to be an inflatable basin which took almost no space. It was possible to wash and bathe the child in it.
- As it turned out, on a trip with a child, one of the most important items turned out to be a pot. . It is almost impossible for children of a certain age to do without it. You can take a simple round pot or purchase a special folding travel or inflatable one.
- portable radio , despite the fact that almost all phones have built-in radios, it is better to save battery power, because it may not be possible to recharge for a very long time.
- Seats (we had inflatable ones) so as not to sit on the ground.
- barbecue lovers it is worth taking at least a skewers, and a brazier can be built from improvised means.
- If the parking lot is next to a body of water , be sure to take a fishing rod.
- Just in case it is worth taking a needle and thread, scissors, adhesive tape and a rope.
Before leaving, go through the list again and make sure nothing is forgotten.
If everything is ready, I congratulate you and wish you safe and sound.
How to prepare for a road trip
You can dig up a whole book about what can be useful to a car traveler. But we tried to reduce it to a dozen purely practical tips. They will be especially useful if you are going on a real voyage several hundred or thousands of kilometers long, and not just to the country.
Diagnostics
A week before the trip, you need to carefully check the "steel horse" for "professional suitability". Due to elementary problems that could be fixed at the service station in twenty to thirty minutes (and for a very moderate amount), you can get stuck in the middle of nowhere for a long time, waiting for a tow truck.
So a full diagnosis will definitely not be superfluous. If there is any doubt about the reliability of the battery, it is better to replace it. In general, no questions about the technical condition of the car should arise. And a week before the proposed trip is needed so that there is time to identify missed unexpected problems and eliminate them.
Warehouse in the trunk
Firstly, if the purpose of the journey is the wilds of the forest, a shovel is needed. Common, but irreplaceable thing. It is so versatile that it can be needed at any time. It is a pity that many weekend travelers forget about it.
With the help of a shovel, you can dig a fire, bury the remaining debris, dig a hole for water, and so on. And in general, it is not known in what mud baths your car can get stuck. In a word, take it as a rule: if you are going on a trip, take a shovel.
The choice of a particular tool is not critical. But it is better to stay away from extremes. A children's scoop, like a professional shovel, will most likely be out of place. But the standard "tourist" with a folding bayonet and a size of 50-70 cm is what you need.
Secondly, throw a stapler somewhere in the salon. Joke? No, it can be indispensable in the case of repairing perforated tents, awnings, covers and other fabric products.
Third, rope, adhesive tape and plastic wrap. Of course, they may or may not be useful. But who knows what awaits you? Film is especially useful. She can and should cover the "steel horse" while standing in the forest. After all, nature does not like guests, therefore it takes revenge in the form of incomprehensible pieces falling from trees, bird “shelling” and bugs that stain everything and everything. All these "gifts" have the ability to eat into the paint and wash poorly.
You can also cover the interior with a film, especially if it is light. Resin, herbs, berries, juice, insects will definitely try to leave a stain on the chairs. Moreover, even dry cleaning is not always able to cope with them.
Fourth, be sure to take an ax and a lantern. Why these things are needed, I think no one needs to explain.
It is better to take care of filling the first-aid kit in advance, and not at the last moment. Because in a hurry, you can easily forget something. Various cold pills, painkillers and your "personal" medicines should be "registered" in the medicine cabinet in advance.
If instead of a full-size spare wheel in the car there is a stowaway, it is better to replace it with a normal, full-fledged spare wheel.
And, of course, the financial question. As you know, there is no such thing as too much money. But it is not advisable to take too large sums with you. This is where the “golden mean” rule comes into play. You can protect yourself with a stash. But it is better to forget about it before the occurrence of really necessary and unforeseen expenses.
food question
When traveling by car, the food issue can be solved in two ways. First: pack four backpacks, five bags, and a few baskets of food with you. True, under this "warehouse" you need to allocate either a whole trunk or a trailer. The second is not to bother your head and use the services of roadside eateries or cafes. Each method is both good and bad in its own way.
Those who decide not to trust the roadside service will have to puzzle over the safety of the products. The best assistant is, of course, a car refrigerator. Well, or at least a thermal bag. 12 V is enough for the refrigerator, you just need to remember that in 2-3 days of constant work it will easily “land” the battery.
It's easier with a thermos. In order for it to retain its properties longer, it must be put in the freezer before leaving for a couple of hours. And when packing food, do not forget to put cooling elements. Regular ice will do.
The main disadvantage of eateries is that no one will ever know what dumplings or some kind of soup were made from. And does the lawyer wash his hands before the "creative process" ... It is better to believe in the best.
Sadly, the service on our roads is very remotely reminiscent of European. Anyone who has traveled at least once in Germany, France or any other Western European country is unlikely to trust the stomach to the “cafeshantans” along our roads. And it’s understandable why: lunch can lead to a lot of trouble, ranging from banal heartburn to serious food poisoning. Moreover, such a meal can be unreasonably expensive.
True, there is one way to at least partially protect yourself from trouble. If a “flock” of trucks gathered at the diner, this can serve as an indicator of the quality of the “tavern”. Truckers know where to eat - and tasty, and inexpensive, and not get poisoned.
