Those months of camping will be upon us before we know it and it's a perfect time to begin preparing your lists and hiking gear so that when the time comes, you will be fully ready to load that truck up and go.

In order to alleviate the potential stress of cramming all of your gear into your truck, you may want to have a look at something similar to the Yakima Skybox Pro 2 as a cargo solution. By the time we get this packing list together, you will see the great thing about having everything stored on top of the car or truck in this wonderful compact rooftop carrier.

Now let's begin with the packing checklist. Of course this will change as your hobbies and likes may be different but we will assume that hiking, fishing and outdoor activities are high on your list of things that you enjoy doing while hiking in the woods.

1. Great hiking shoes or boots. This is necessary if any real hiking is likely to occur. Note that you will not want to wear a brand new pair of boots without first breaking them in at least just a little. This is vital because if you don't follow this guideline you could end up with some very sore feet, putting an end to the weekend camping excursion.

2. Clothing appropriate for the weather and trails you'll be hiking. If you think there may be rain at all, be sure to include some sturdy rain attire as climbing in these conditions while wet can get miserable pretty quickly.

3. A backpack that is size appropriate depending on how long you will be climbing at a time and if the hikes will include staying somewhere though the night. Be sure that you include food, an extra layer of clothing, minimal medical items and water to name a few items.

4. An adequate first aid kit that includes band aids, antibacterial cream, bug repellent, aspirin and any other prescriptions that you may need while away.

5. A tent if you are tent camping. Also if you are tent camping, of course you will include a sleeping bag, pillow, and items to create your campfire. These bigger items will fit very nicely on top of the car in your Yakima Skybox cargo storage unit so you need not stress about the kids fighting for room in the backseat of the truck.

6. A totally charged cell phone and maybe a good portable gps gadget if you will be hiking in low populated parts of the woods.

7. Any maps regarding the area that you will be hiking in. You might also think about bringing a compass if you want to do it the old fashioned way without today's technologically advanced gps systems.

8. Depending on your interests, bring all your fishing gear, hunting equipment, swimsuits, the blow up raft…you name it. Bring those items that will keep you, the kids and the dog happy. Hint…don't forget the dog food if you are bringing the family pet along.

Start getting your hiking checklist together that includes all of the items that are vital to you and your family. Before you know it, it will be time to pack up the kids, the truck and the Yakima Skybox 21 atop your truck and off you go. We hope that this list will get you started and that you have many happy camping adventures ahead of you.