It’s late, but you’ve finally made it. After finishing work, loading the car, getting the kids into their seats, and driving for hours, you’ve arrived at the campsite. Needless to say, you’re ready for a relaxing weekend of fishing, walking, toasting marshmallows around a campfire, and spending quality time with your family.
But wait…where’s the tent? And the sleeping bags? And, come to think of it, who packed the cooler full of food?
If this unfortunate situation sounds all too familiar or you’re desperate to avoid it on your upcoming trip, having a camping checklist at your disposal should make a difference!
In this post, we’re going through all the camping essentials you should take on a trip to the great outdoors. Let’s dive in.
Camping Essentials: The Basics
No matter where you’re going or what type of trip it is, whether you’re going with friends or family, there are certain items you’ll always need on a camping checklist. Here’s a selection of the main camping basics to take along:
1. Tent
Top Choice: Coleman 4-Person Dome Tent
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Pros: Affordable, 1-year limited warranty, dark-room technology, simple setup
- Cons: Unsuitable for seriously wet or windy weather
2. Tent Stakes and Mallet
Top Choice: Prime 1 Galvanized Steel Tent Stakes with Rubber Mallet
- Rating: 4.7/5
- Pros: Heavy-duty, non-rusting stakes with a sharp point
- Cons: Rubber mallet is less durable when hammering stakes into hard ground
3. Tarp
Top Choice: Amazon Basics Waterproof Camping Tarp
- Rating: 4.7/5
- Pros: Rip-stop design, reinforced corners/edges, and multi-purpose design
- Cons: Waterproofing might fail over time
4. Camping Pillows
Top Choice: Klymit Drift Camping Pillow
- Rating: 4.7/5
- Pros: Memory foam adds comfort, reversible shell, expands to full-size pillow
- Cons: Costly versus other models
5. Sleeping Bags
Top Choice: Teton Sports Celsius 0 Degree Sleeping Bag
- Rating: 4.7/5
- Pros: Ideal for cold weather, roomy, compression sack included, anti-snag zipper
- Cons: Quite bulky and heavy
6. Sleeping Pads or Inflatable Mattresses (Plus Pump)
Top Choice: Powerlix Sleeping Pad
- Rating: 4.2/5
- Pros: Best-selling inflatable sleeping pad, super small and lightweight, waterproof
- Cons: Some past customers note durability issues
7. Blankets
Top Choice: Arcturus Military Wool Blanket
- Rating: 4.7/5
- Pros: Super soft and warm, fire-retardant, natural materials, machine washable
- Cons: It may smell like chemicals out of the packet
8. Hot Water Bottle
Top Choice: Samply 2L Hot Water Bottle with Cover
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Pros: Budget-friendly, durable, transparent to see the water level, 1-year warranty
- Cons: Unlikely to keep water hot throughout the night
9. Earplugs and Eye Mask
Top Choice: Wonderfoam Contoured Sleep Mask and Earplugs
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Pros: Cheap, memory foam mask for comfort, adjustable clasp
- Cons: Memory foam can feel hot on your face when it’s warm
10. Headlamp
Top Choice: Energizer LED Headlamp (2-Pack)
- Rating: 4.4/5
- Pros: Lightweight, batteries included, IPX4 water resistance, very affordable
- Cons: Basic headlamp; quality matches the price!
11. Lantern
Top Choice: MPOWERD Luci Solar Inflatable Light
- Rating: 4.8/5
- Pros: Highly popular, great reviews, super lightweight, no batteries required
- Cons: A few reports of durability issues
12. All-Weather Matches or a Lighter
Top Choice: UCO Stormproof Match Kit
- Rating: 4.7/5
- Pros: Waterproof and floating case, extended match length
- Cons: Expensive versus ordinary matches
13. Campfire Supplies
– Top Choice: Eco-Stix Fatwood Fire Starters
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Pros: 100% pure, natural, and sustainable; hand-chopped from damaged trees
- Cons: Some sticks will have more resin than others
14. Cooler with Ice
Top Choice: Yeti Tundra 35 Cooler
- Rating: 4.8/5
- Pros: Good weight-to-capacity ratio, durable and sturdy, highly effective cooler
- Cons: Expensive
Useful Tools to Take Camping
Whether an emergency strikes or you’re struggling to open a can of beans inside your campervan, a range of gadgets and tools will make life much easier when you’re camping. Here’s what we suggest you pack, just in case you need them:
15. Mobile Phone, Charger, and Power Bank
16. Penknife/Backpacking Knife
17. Backpacking Axe and Handsaw
18. Multi-Tool
19. Duct Tape
20. Paracord
21. Trowel
22. Portable Shower
23. Portable Toilet
Key Camping Furniture to Pack
No camp’s complete without a bunch of portable, durable, and weather-proof outdoor furniture. It makes your time away more comfortable and practical. Here are a few suggestions for what to take:
24. Camping Table
25. Camping Chairs
26. Marquee/Pop-Up Pavilion
27. Hammock
Camping Clothes and Shoes
We don’t have to tell you that packing clothes and shoes is somewhat essential for your camping trip. But you might need some tips on exactly what to take. Here are some particular clothing items that are always worth having (just remember to always take the weather forecast and local climate into account, too):
28. Moisture Wicking T-Shirts
29. Mid-Layers
30. Warm Layers
31. Raincoat
32. Merino Wool Socks
33. Moisture-Wicking Underwear
34. Shorts
35. Pajamas
36. Gloves and Hat
37. Hiking/Walking Shoes
38. Flipflops or Sandals
39. Rain Boots
40. Sunglasses
41. Sunhat
42. Swimsuit
43. Mosquito Net for Your Head
Must-Have Cooking/Kitchen Utensils for Camping
You can’t beat sitting around the campfire eating a nice warming meal in the evening. Or waking up early to fry up a storm! Hence why you need certain camp cooking utensils to call upon. Here are the main ones:
44. Grill or Camping Stove
45. Grill Set
46. Coffee Maker
47. Metal Grate for Campfire Cooking
48. Dutch Oven
49. Oven Mitts
50. Campfire Kettle
51. Cutting Board
52. Shatterproof Cups, Mugs, Plates, and Bowls
53. Cutlery
54. Frying Pan
55. Spatula and Wooden Spoon
56. Sharp Knives
57. Can and Bottle Openers
58. Kitchen Scissors
59. Bear-Proof Food Vault (If Necessary)
60. Tablecloth and clips
Awesome Food Items for Camping
What food should you cook/eat on your camping trip, though? In this section, we’re running through a number of tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner options (plus some sauces and seasonings) to consider taking:
61. Salt, Pepper, and Other Seasonings
62. Cooking Oil
63. Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, and Other Condiments
64. Potatoes
65. Cans of Beans
66. Eggs
67. Pasta and Sauces
68. Dehydrated Meals
69. Sausages, Burgers, Steaks, and Other Meat
70. Sliced Cheese for Burgers
71. Beefy Jerky
72. Trail Mix
73. Energy/Protein Bars
74. Chips and Dips
75. Bread
76. Nut Butter
77. Jelly
78. Cereals and Milk
79. S’mores Kits (Chocolate, Graham Crackers, and Marshmallows)
80. Bottles of Water
81. Alcoholic Beverages
Bathroom Essentials for Camping
Staying clean on a camping trip isn’t always easy – especially when you’re in the backcountry instead of a serviced campsite. Nevertheless, having some basic toiletries will help you stay relatively clean and sweet-smelling:
82. Toothbrush
83. Toothpaste
84. Biodegradable Baby Wipes
85. Hand Soap
86. Body Soap
87. Shampoo and Conditioner
88. Deodorant
89. Hairbrush
90. Toilet Paper
91. Skincare Items
92. Hand Sanitizer
93. Razor and Shaving Cream
94. Menstrual Products
95. Towels
96. Toiletry Bag to Carry Everything
Key Cleaning Essentials for Camping
So, you’ve got what you need to keep yourselves clean. But what about the campsite and all your equipment? They’ll also need to be looked after and kept in good condition. With that goal in mind, here are some critical camp clean-up items to take:
97. Washing-Up Bowl
98. Dishcloths and Dishtowels
99. Eco-Friendly Dish Soap
100. Drying Rack for Wet Dishes
101. Trash Bags
102. Sponge for Doing Dishes
103. Disinfectant Wipes
104. Clothesline for Hanging Wet Clothes
105. Plastic Bags for Dirty Clothes
106. Dustpan and Brush
Recreational/Leisure Equipment to Take Camping
The best part of going camping is the fun activities you do on the trip. That’s why it pays to a) think about the recreational activities on offer where you’re going and b) take the equipment required to partake in them. Here are some suggestions:
107. Rifle and/or Bow for Hunting
108. Fishing Poles, Tackle, and Bait for Fishing
109. Canoes or Kayaks and Paddles (and Lifejackets)
110. Daypack for Hiking
111. Hiking Poles
112. Binoculars
113. Badminton Rackets
114. Frisbee
115. Volleyball Net and Ball
116. Playing Cards and Board Games
117. Wireless Speakers
118. Books/Kindle
119. Bikes, Scooters, and Rollerblades
120. Guitar, Harmonica, and Other Instruments to Play around the Campfire
Safety Items and Equipment for Camping
Some types of camping are more dangerous than others, and you’re unlikely to get seriously injured wherever you go – especially when you’re planning a casual family trip to a popular site. However, there’s always some potential to get hurt when you’re spending lots of time outdoors, so it pays to take some safety equipment, just in case the worst does happen:
121. Portable Fire Extinguisher
122. Water Filter or Water Treatment System
123. First-Aid Kit (Fully Stocked)
124. Painkillers
125. Water-Resistant Sunscreen (Preferably High SPF)
126. Map and Compass
127. GPS System
128. Emergency Blanket
129. Whistle
130. Bear Spray
Don’t Forget This Camping Checklist
Camping trips are hard to beat if you love spending time in nature, unplugging from the daily grind, and filling your days with fun, wholesome outdoor activities. However, they can also be a challenge to pack for. With so much to think about and plan, it’s easy to forget something important.
With any luck, this comprehensive camping checklist will stop that from happening. Keep this long list of camping essentials nearby to speed up the packing process and ensure you have everything you need.
Wondering where to go on your next camping trip? Check out these incredible beach camping destinations.
This article originally appeared on Savoteur.
Author: Danny Newman
Danny Newman is currently writing and traveling around the world to figure out exactly what he’s doing with his life. He’d love you to follow along with his journey over at What’s Danny Doing.