Has anyone ever told you that less was more? Well, they weren't just giving you some cryptic, sensei type advice, they may have been right. We are going to talk about just how much less is more. There is a strategy of camping which involves eliminating and reducing your amount of gear instead of increasing your gear and believing that bigger is always best. This discipline is called minimalist camping. Based on the principle that the more gear you bring with you, the less you are surrounded in your new environment, the minimalist seeks to fully understand and love the wilderness. By decreasing the amount needed for such an endeavor, the minimalist seeks to better acquaint themselves with nature. This idea was written about by the likes of John Muir, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.

Okay, so the less you take, the more you get to know your surroundings. But how exactly does one manage to bring less? What can you stand to leave home? Is there a special technique I can use to limit my gear? Absolutely. Here is a collection of tips and techniques:

Leave the tent behind. If it is going to be a nice night, go without your tent. Almost nothing is better than a clear night sleeping under the stars. By leaving the tent behind, it will not only lighten your load, but it could make you fall in love with the beautiful nighttime sky.

Don't bring any electronics. I assure you a day without the phone and iPod won't hurt you. It just might make you appreciate the beautiful sounds of nature.

Just bring a spoon. You absolutely don't need a full set of silverwear.

Find multiple uses for items. For example, your water bottle can be your mug and your bowl. You don't need three things, only one.

Learn how to find food. Finding your food instead of bringing it can be a perfect way to learn more about nature and a good way to respect your surroundings.

Camp without a sleeping pad. Pile up some leaves or find a nice grassy spot. Instead of taking your pad with you, let the ground be your pad.

Wear the same clothes. You can stay in your same clothing for your entire trip. You do not need the full wardrobe, especially if you wear high quality clothing like The North Face Clothing.

Do not bring camp shoes. Bringing extra shoes doesn't make much sense if you are attempting to camp with the least amount of gear possible. A better option is to get a pair of lightweight trail runners, such as Salomon Footwear, that will be comfortable all day.

Leave those inhibitions at home also. One of the most important skills for minimalist campers is to remember you only should take what you seriously need. Do not be afraid to leave some items out. It might be the best thing you could do. Remember that camping is not about what you take into the wilderness, but about the memories you take out of nature.