It’s that time of year once again! Summa! The sun, the sand, the swimming, and if you’re the true outdoorsy type – plenty of camping! The time is NOW to start dreaming, getting inspired, and planning your summer camping trips. There are different kinds of camping.
- Car camping.
- Tent camping
- Cowboy camping…
In this post, we’re mainly going to focus on gear for tent camping, but there are plenty of items here that you could use no matter what type of camping you’re planning. If you’re road-tripping to your camp destination you might also want to check out some of the great road trip and travel apps on this list.
Tent camping must-haves
To make sure you have the most fun during your outdoor adventures, keep a checklist of all the essentials you need for your camping trip. A little preparation goes a long way toward alleviating any stressors that might arise during your campout.
The essentials
Tent (it wouldn’t exactly be tent camping without one!)
Make sure to choose a tent that is both the right size and the right material. For instance, all tents are prone to a little condensation inside in the early mornings, but if you’re likely to run into some rainy weather, be sure to choose a tent that is waterproof.
If you only have 2 people, but also have a lot of gear you want to keep with you, take that into consideration when choosing the tent size as well.
Here’s a list of expert-recommended lightweight tents to get you started.
Tarp
A tarp helps to keep your tent (and the ground around your tent) dry in rainy weather. You can get tarps in different sizes. Some just cover the tent, and others can be attached to trees or poles to cover a wider area.
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping bags are camping essentials. You can get sleeping bags that have various temperature ratings from summer to sub-zero, so choose with care or you might end up burning up during the warm summer nights.
REI has a useful guide to choosing sleeping bags here.
Sleeping pads
Not everyone wants to go through the effort of packing one more thing like a sleeping pad. It might seem like an unnecessary luxury to some, but it can make a big impact on your trip overall if it helps you sleep better. Keep in mind you may not be able to find a perfectly flat area to set up your tent and a sleeping pad can help make up for any annoying bumps.
Camping pillows
Some sleeping bags come with built-in pillows, which is nice, but if you want to go the extra step consider getting a camping pillow. Camping pillows are ideal for a trip into the great outdoors because they generally come with covers that can stand up to the elements better than your daily pillow can. Check out this guide from OutdoorGearLab to the 7 best outdoor pillows.
Here’s a video reviewing some camping pillow options:
Tent Stakes
Many times your tent will come with spikes, but if the stock spikes are those less-than-ideal plastic guys, you might want to get a set of tent spikes that will better stand the test of time. The folks over at CleverHiker.com do a really thorough review of several heavy-duty tent stakes here.
Here’s a video of how to stake a tent properly to ensure your tent stays put!
Camp Kitchen
Foldable table
Camping tables are made to be lightweight and portable. You can choose your ideal table based on things like the number of campers, how far you have to hike in, and how long you’ll be staying in one spot.
TreelineReview put together a post with some of the best foldable camp tables on the market here.
Foldable chairs
If you want to make your life a little easier, don’t rely on the hope that there will be a perfectly suitable tree stump to sit on, bring a few lightweight, foldable chairs on your outdoor adventure. Camp chairs come with a variety of features from extremely minimal to extra-useful with things like cup holders.
Camping cooler
There are many MANY coolers on the market and they’re definitely a camping must-have if you want to protect your food from the weather. It’s probably a good idea to bring a couple of coolers, depending on how far you need to hike to get to your camp spot. You can also choose between sizes and materials, such as hard or soft coolers.
Camping utensils
Unless you like the idea of using sticks for forks, it’s a good idea to invest in some good-quality camping utensils. For the eco-conscious camper, there are compostable utensils (you’ll still need to pack them out or drop them in a garbage can), and there are reusable, foldable options as well. You can even give each camper their own exclusive set of silverware with their own case.
Camp Food Prep
Camping stove
A camp stove will make your mealtimes much simpler than relying on a firepit alone. There’s nothing wrong with a good ol’ fashion firepit dinner, but give yourself the option of a gas or solar-powered camp stove.
Camp food
If you’ve never tried backpacking food pouches, it’s worth it just for the novelty. It also serves the purpose of allowing you to pack more food in less space. SwitchbackTravel did a review post of several different pouched food options here. REI also put together a very informative post about how to prep food for backpacking here.
Both those might be for a more intense camping trip than you have in mind, but they’re worth a look to get some inspiration.
Cookware
You have the stove (or the fire) now you need some pots and pans! Bringing along your standard pots and pans will probably be a pain so it makes sense to get some cookware that is specifically for camping. FreshOffTheGrid and OutdoorGearLab have both created a list of great outdoor-friendly cookware.
Cutting Board & Knives
A solid cutting board and set of sharp tools (knives, scissors, etc) are must-haves for a great camping experience. Like a lot of stuff on this list, you’re going to want to get some items that have some extra-special features that make them a better choice for a camping trip than your average cutting board. Check out the cutting board option below for some inspiration:
Camp Grill
A camp grill will let you grill over an open flame like the olden days. You can even get some cool over-the-fire coffee pots to make a warm cuppa joe in the chilly morning.
Kelty Camp Galley
Check out this list of essential camp kitchen gear from MsrGear.com for more ideas.
Keep it clean
Camp sinks/wash basins
If you’re camping for at least a couple of nights you’ll want to bring some sort of wash basin for your reusable dishes. This can be anything from a collapsible wash basin for easy packing to a real kitchen sink in your campsite. ThisNoshtalgicLife has an informative post about using camp sinks and washing and sanitizing your dishes.
Biodegradable soap
Biodegradable soaps are cleaning options that are touted as environmentally friendly. There are options to use for cleaning yourself and your dishes that fall into the “camp-friendly” category. However, as this post from SectionHike points out, there are still proper ways to dispose of “biodegradable” products. Just dumping the soapy water out is not ideal.
Body wipes
If you have limited access to water for bathing, or don’t want the hassle of a full shower each day you’re feeling a little gross during your campout, wipes are a great alternative for washing your body during a camping trip. Some wipes do profess to be biodegradable, so can be buried on-site, although just as a personal preference I’d still say pack them out in a garbage bag if you can. TheGeekyCamper has a pretty thorough review of several types of wipes that are good picks to take on a camping trip here.
Toilet paper
Good ‘ol fashion toilet paper. Don’t forget to pack enough for you trip! Keep in mind how long you’ll be camping and how many people will be there.
Camp shower
Camp showers allow you to get as close as possible to an actual shower experience while out in the wilderness. They are generally made up of a tank that can hold a decent amount of water and then a shower head. Some are gravity-fed, and others are more high-tech to help with the water pressure and heated water.
Trash can
Don’t forget to pack some sort of trash solution no matter how long or short your camp trip might be. If you’re staying somewhere for a while you can use a collapsable trash can that you line with trash bags just like a regular trash can. If you’re going to be on the move you can find trash solutions that are sealable to keep the smells and critters to a minimum.
See more solutions for a clean campsite from OtterBeeOutdoors here.
Camp Safety Must-Haves
First aid kit
First, of course, is first aid. Bring a first aid kit along on any camping or hiking adventure just in case you need one of the essentials. LittleFamilyAdventure put together a good DIY first aid kit with a downloadable checklist.
Map/Compass
It’s always going to be a good idea to get a handle on your directions when you’re wandering out into the woods. Bring a recent paper map (cheap and doesn’t require a battery!) and a compass. When you get to your campsite make sure to orient yourself with the map and compass. You could also consider a more expensive option like a GPS if you want.
Camping multi-tool
A multi-tool is sort of like a pocket knife in terms of functionality. In fact many have a knife included, but they also tend to include more features than your average pocket knife does. So for camping, if you have to choose between a pocket knife or a multi-tool as your go-to, the multi-tool is the way to go.
OutdoorGearLab did a review of the best 6 multi-tools here.
Sun protection
It’s always important to protect your skin from the UV rays of the sun, particularly when you’re camping in the summer sun. Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, etc. If you’re camping in the summer heat, be sure to keep in mind that sunscreen may sweat into your eyes, so you may want to opt for a hat to protect your forehead from the sun.
You can also find sunscreens that are less likely to bother your eyes. GabTraveling has a list of recommendations here.
Camping must-haves to be continued…
I don’t want to try to cram every possible camping gear piece into this list, but there are some other items, like clothing specifically for camping, that I would like to include in a list. To get a headstart on some outdoorsy fashion must-haves, check out this gift guide for outdoorsy women. For now, this list focuses on the essential items that you need for a camping trip. Must-haves. There are more items that I think everyone would enjoy bringing along but those will have to be in another post. If you want to keep an eye out, feel free to drop your email in the subscribe box.
Happy camping!
