WHY WE LOVE CAMPING

Camping is one of those things that no matter how you describe it, until someone has experienced it themselves, it’s hard to communicate the feeling.  The hike where morning light is peeking through the trees that brings a feeling of tranquility, the bike ride in Yosemite valley that makes you feel absolutely free or the BBQ meal that tastes more stupendous because you are dining while surrounded by giant trees are all moments that campers understand deeply. And this feeling of well-being translates into better health. Fortunately, science has data to back up what campers have known all along.

The food really does taste better. Research shows that when we eat outdoors, our perception of sweetness and pleasure increases when we are surrounded by the sounds of nature.   According to a 2020 University of Oxford, people eating ice cream while hearing birds singing in a soundscape perceived it as creamier and sweeter whereas those eating while listening to the sounds of a noisy urban environment perceived more bitterness in the aftertaste. So yes, that campfire meal genuinely does taste better. It's not nostalgia. It's neuroscience.

Campers have always known that getting outside reduces stress, and now science agrees. Our stress hormone, cortisol, actually drops significantly when you spend time in nature. Scientists in Taiwan found that feelings of fatigue, anger, hostility, confusion and anxiety were reduced and positive mood states increased when people walked in the forest. 

To those of us who love to camp, this all seems like a no-brainer, but when scientists have measurable results we know camping is simply good medicine.

So for those of you who are a little bit curious, here is a short video of some of our camping moments that capture our love of the outdoors. 

At LITO, everything we do starts with this feeling. Our products exist because we believe your campsite should feel as good as it looks, and that every meal outdoors deserves a beautiful table, every night deserves a little magic, and every trip deserves to be memorable.

Hit play. And then go outside. 

Studies in case you’re curious:

https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:92515e70-b220-4073-a252-c54c08161d7e

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6517920/

https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/7/403