Hiking

Overnight Trips Made Easy — Tips and Packing List

An overnight trip is an easy way to fit some adventure into everyday life. In summer, when the weather is warm, you don't need to carry heavy clothing or a bulky sleeping bag. With fairly little gear, you can head out for a night close to home.

Overnighters aren't just for weekends. You can set off after work and spend the night outdoors, then wake up early at your campsite and go straight to work. If you've already eaten at home, all you need to bring is a few snacks and your sleeping gear.

Wherever you live, there's a good chance you'll find a place to camp surprisingly close by. You don't always need to head for a national park or a designated recreation area – you can also make use of everyman's rights. The easiest way to find wooded areas is with a topographic map, such as Karttapaikka, which works best on a computer. There are also map apps for your phone, such as Maastokartat.

Often you can set off straight from your front door, on foot or by bike. Travelling under your own steam gives you some good exercise, and getting to camp and back becomes part of the adventure.

Rocky outcrops and lake or sea shores usually make beautiful campsites. If you're lucky, you'll find a spot on high ground with a good view. Aerial imagery, such as Google Maps, can also help you pick out open areas.

You don't always need a shelter at all. If you're willing to take a chance and trust the forecast, you can sleep under the open sky with just a groundsheet under your sleeping mat. A tarp or tent is good insurance in case it rains.

Everyman's rights allow you, under certain conditions, to camp almost anywhere in the countryside. They don't apply in national parks and other nature reserves, but on other public land you can camp fairly freely. Along with these rights come responsibilities. Don't harm nature or wildlife, and follow a simple rule of thumb: leave every place as you found it. Take all your rubbish with you, don't light a fire without the landowner's permission (and never when there's a forest or grass fire warning, even with permission), and if you need the toilet, bury your waste.

Bring some treats or a good book – or simply enjoy the sounds and smells of nature.

Here's a packing list for a summer overnighter. You don't need to take everything – the less you carry, the easier it gets:

  • Backpack and/or bike bags
  • Shelter: tent, tarp or hammock
  • Sleeping mat (an inflatable one packs smaller)
  • Sleeping bag or quilt
  • Sleeping bag liner (helps keep your sleeping bag clean)
  • Pillow, or a stuff sack you can turn into one
  • Warm layers
  • Water bottle
  • Bushcraft knife, knife or multi-tool
  • Snacks
  • Toilet paper
  • Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
  • First aid kit/adder bite kit, plus plasters etc.
  • A summer state of mind

If you haven't already, get out and explore the countryside near you. You'll be surprised. In the Nordic countries we're lucky to have more than enough clean, beautiful nature for everyone.

Caj and Katja set off on an overnight trip by bike.

Watch the video here: