PREFACE
All of this is subjective to whoever reads it. You camp how you want and how you see fit. I’m just giving my personal experience on camping as it used to be something I did not enjoy. Now, it is my absolute favorite thing to do because there is purpose and philosophy within my camp trips. When I was a kid it sucked camping. Disposable tableware, boring food, low quality tents and no preparation for harsh weather conditions. Almost as if it made no sense to go - Why would we leave our house to do the same thing outside, but just be extremely uncomfortable? There were so many things I did not like about camping. But once I became an adult and made my own money, I wanted to spend it on things that last, and things that I connect with. I really wanted to try camping again, but this time on my terms. I often approach things head on when I dislike them so I can find out why. When I was 22 I reopened up the idea of camping and thought about all the factors that made me hate it. It seems like it came back to gear, meals, and colors. I wanted gear that would last, I wanted to cook food that was interesting, and I wanted to look at my things and feel happy - I didn’t want bright neon colors and boring shapes for any of my gear. During 2023 I researched a ton about camping to find ways I can enjoy something I disliked so much when I was younger because I had a goal to officially begin camping in 2024. Through the research I found Snow Peak. In everything I do, there’s always been a root of me connected to Japanese culture.
I studied the culture and language for 3 years in high school, but after high school I stopped learning the language and focused more on the culture itself. I’m familiar with Japan because of the stuff I do with my Miata (Roadster). All the parts I have on my car were sourced in Japan, because the creative design behind it best represents me. It took years to piece it together to give it the appearance it has now. But the main thing that always stood out to me was the purpose behind what they do as a people. Everything has meaning & everything has purpose. So finding a brand like Snow Peak, it was like a moth to a flame. I found a brand that checked off everything I wanted. The part that I admired the most was they created a system. Every problem I had with camping they solved. It makes it so you don’t want or need to use other brands and I respected that. They had colors and shapes that complimented/blended with nature rather than going against it. They used material for wearables that would last 30+ years. They made everything packable, modular, convenient, beautiful, and simple to use. When you use their products you naturally want to cook better meals, you naturally want to wear clothes that compliment the scenery around you, you naturally want to take pride in your camp setup because they took pride in designing it for you to be that way. I find myself in support of the brand because I see me through it all. Their values align with mine as far as a standard goes. I’m not turned off by the price tag either because I know what I deserve. I deserve quality, I deserve beautiful gear, I deserve what best represents me - I deserve purpose. Snow Peak has shown me another side to camping I hadn’t known before, and I’m forever grateful. What you do, and how you do it, is a reflection of who you are.
I choose to do what best represents me.
So however you want to camp, is up to you. I give my experiences on camping and reference a lot of the gear I use and it will most likely be Snow Peak. There are other fantastic brands for camp gear that I personally use and will still reference, but the majority of it is SP. So don’t think you need to go get their gear in order to go camping. I just choose them because of what the brand means to me on a personal level and how practical their gear is for camping with a small car like the Mazda Miata. In this journal I’ll be walking you through the effective steps I took in figuring out how I can go camping with (and sometimes without) my Roadster, I hope they are of use to you for your experience.
