If you are hoping for an unconventional camping experience, stealth camping may be right up your alley. Essentially, it is overnight camping in an area that may not explicitly allow it. Such locations do not have any real “campsites” set up, so you must opt for covert camping. The most popular locations for stealth camping include public areas such as downtown in a city or parking lots. This is typically done in a van or RV. You can opt for wild camping, such as pitching tents in the public wilderness. While stealth camping is attractive, it is essential to be appropriately prepared. The most crucial step is having a sustainable power solution, such as a small generator, to provide you with power for all your essentials.
The Benefits of Stealth Camping
There are several reasons why people find stealth camping to be a good choice; the following are some of those:
Freedom and Flexibility
Stealth camping offers freedom and flexibility to those who do not like being tied down to a single campsite. Not only is it a fun experience, but it can also allow you to follow your own set of rules. Some campsites may operate on a first-come, first-served basis, prohibit bringing along pets, offer poor services, particularly regarding cleanliness and hygiene, and demand that you keep quiet during nights and evenings. Some might find these camping rules rigid and prefer the freedom and flexibility stealth camping provides. Set up camp whenever you like, bring your pets, and spend the night however you wish!
Cost Savings
Campsites and RV camping grounds can be costly. The average cost for a basic campsite in the UK is around £10-£30 per night [1]. As more amenities are added, you can expect the cost to rise. Not everyone can afford to pay for such camping accommodations. For them, stealth camping may prove to be the best choice. You will not have to spend much except for the items you bring, such as food, camping gear, safety equipment, toiletries, etc.
Explore The Unknown Adventure
If you are tired of going to the same campsites, with cookie-cutter facilities and bare opportunities for recreation, stealth camping will offer the perfect change of scenery. Not only is it flexible and saves money, but it also allows you to camp in new places and seek unique adventures. It further offers a unique way to experience the great outdoors!
Avoid Crowded Camping
For those who wish to explore camping opportunities but are not too keen on meeting new people, putting up with the small talk, or spending the night in overcrowded campgrounds, stealth camping is your cup of tea. Stealth camping will allow you to experience camping in peaceful solitude without the noise and bustle of nearby campers.
Prepare Sustainable Power Sources for Stealth Camping
For a truly relaxing stealth camping experience, you need to invest in a sustainable power source. A sustainable power source such as a solar power generator can do wonders in providing you with the energy supply you need during your outdoor expedition. In many ways, they outperform traditional power sources. Here is why:
The Challenge of Traditional Power Sources in Stealth Camping
1) High Noise Level
Traditional power sources, such as fuel-powered generators, burn fossil fuels to generate electricity. These generators run on engines constantly in motion to facilitate fuel burning. As a result, they tend to be quite loud. Such generators are not the best choice if you plan on going for stealth camping as they will likely attract attention and disturb the environment.
2) Environmental Pollution
Fuel-powered generators run on fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and propane. These fuels are extremely harmful to the natural environment. Their burning releases harmful pollutants that lead to air pollution, global warming, and climate change. Emissions such as carbon monoxide are also of concern, which, if inhaled, can be deadly.
3) Not Easy to Move
Traditional generators come with heavy internal moving parts that are usually bulky and heavy in size. These make them less portable and difficult to move around from one place to another. They can become a nuisance if you bring them along for stealth camping.
Advantages of Small Generators Charged with Solar Energy
Considering the disadvantages of traditional generators, campers have shifted to portable generators, particularly those that can be charged with solar energy. Here is why!
1) Portable and Easy to Use
Solar-powered small generators are much smaller and lightweight in their material design, making them the preferred choice for stealth camping. Portable solar generators come in a combination of a portable power station with solar panels. The solar panels gather sunlight, transforming it into practical electricity that is subsequently stored in the power station. Most quality solar small generators even come with accessories such as luggage pull handles or wheels at the bottom to make it easier to shift them around.
2) Quiet Operation
You will realise what you have missed once you use a solar-powered small generator. They release practically no noise at all! This is because they lack noisy engines and moving parts that are typically a part of traditional fuel-based generators. You may hear a slight noise that only comes from the inverter function, but this is low enough to be imperceptible. This makes them the ideal choice for stealth camping. You will have the portable power supply you need without the fear of attracting attention.
3) Sustainable Electricity
A solar-powered portable small generator is a sustainable source of electricity. This is because they rely on the sun’s energy to produce electricity. So long as the sun’s energy shines, you can continue to produce electricity. The sun is an endless energy source, so solar power is much more sustainable than traditional fuel-based generators. Traditional generators rely on fossil fuels, a depletable, non-renewable energy source, for energy. This makes them highly unreliable for long-term use. Furthermore, you will have to purchase fuel every time you plan a new camping trip, but you will not have to bear additional costs with a solar-based small generator.
4) Environmentally Friendly
A solar-powered small generator is also much more environmentally friendly than traditional generators. They do not produce any emissions that could potentially harm you or the environment in any way. Since they do not pollute the environment, they are considered the best choice for stealth camping, especially for eco-conscious people.
Tips for Enhancing the Stealth Camping Experience
Stealth camping will be a new experience for many of you. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your camping experience.
Make Sufficient Preparations
Effective preparation is essential for a successful stealth camping experience. To have a truly enjoyable experience, go into the nitty gritty details! There are some basic things to look out for.
- Research the area you have selected for stealth camping. Some areas of the UK have different campaign rules, so make sure you are not breaking some serious laws before you set up camp.
- Avoid packing excessively and keep it only to the most essential gear. This will allow you to set up camp easily and leave just as quickly.
- Make sure your tent is camouflaged to blend into the surroundings naturally.
- Avoid making loud noises, playing music, or moving around unnecessarily; this goes for both daytime and night.
- Avoid wearing bright colours during your trip or bringing brightly coloured gear. Try to blend into the natural environment.
Keep A Low Profile While Driving
You want to keep a low profile when you drive to your camping location, particularly if you have a bulkier RV or van. Go through areas with low foot traffic but not completely empty spaces that make you look out of place. If you are planning on stealth camping on streets, in parking lots, or near industrial areas, you want to make your van look unoccupied. Keep the curtains drawn, make minimal noise, and avoid using flashlights. You can also grab some nifty blackout curtains that will ensure no light escapes from inside the van.
Pay Attention to Camping Safety
Safety is equally important when you are on a stealth camping adventure, especially in a remote location. As such, you should be appropriately prepared. This begins with choosing a safe location. Avoid places that have chances of hazards, such as near the creek bed or over ditches where water may pool. Avoid areas close to rivers or streams; they can quickly turn into raging beasts that could wash away your campsite. Avoid camping directly under trees. Falling tree branches can seriously injure you. Avoid camping directly under cliffs; falling rocks from above can crush your tent!
Respect The Natural Environment
Try to follow the “leave no trace” practice when stealth camping. This means you should leave the natural environment as it is without causing it any damage. This includes respecting the wildlife you come across, ensuring proper waste disposal, keeping campfire impacts to a minimum, and clearing away camp just as responsibly before you leave.
Jackery’s Small Generators for Good Stealth Camping Experience
Looking for a good-quality small generator for your next stealth camping adventure? Finding the right small generator can help make your stealth camping experience go much more smoothly. We recommend opting for Jackery’s range of reliable small generators. They offer an impressive mix of solar-powered small generators in a variety of battery capacities and power outputs. Check out some of Jackery’s bestsellers below:
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro offers an expansive 1,002 Wh battery capacity with an AC output power of 1000W. This small generator of Jackery can power up most of your essential stealth camping equipment, including camp lanterns, portable electric grills, electric blankets, portable heaters, portable fans, portable coffee makers, and other handheld devices such as your smartphone and GPS navigation systems.
The small generator is super quiet, has a 10-year lifespan, and can be fully recharged in just 1.8 hours with AC wall charging and 9 hours with 2 Jackery SolarSaga 80W Solar Panels. The solar panels are further waterproof and are manufactured to withstand external elements, making them ideal for stealth camping!
Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro
The Jackery Solar Generator 1500 Pro is quite similar to the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro in the sense that it can power up all the devices listed above. However, this small generator offers a larger battery capacity, around 1512 Wh, so that you can power larger devices such as microwaves, electric ovens and portable air conditioners. Besides its power capabilities, the power generator is super smooth when operating, releasing just around 46 dB of noise. The material design of the camping power station is also shock-resistant and fire-retardant.
About Jackery
Jackery is one of the most recognised suppliers of green energy solutions around the globe, known for its extensive range of portable power stations and solar power generators. Originally founded in California in 2012, the company has several patents and accolades to its name. Jackery products may be just what you need to make your stealth camping experience a success!
References
[1] How much does it cost to camp in the UK? Available at https://www.hipcamp.com/en-GB/question/how-much-does-it-cost-to-camp-in-8j3ms20x. (Accessed on Dec. 21st, 2023)