Camping Essentials Must-haves
Just what on earth are you supposed to take with you when camping? Take a look at some of the most essential camping must-haves right here.
Camping is an adventure sleeping under the stars and being one with nature, but one that can so easily turn into a nightmare if you fail to pack some essential items. My first ever camping trip did not go well, I had no idea what I was doing and I failed to pack so many key items. I was lucky that I had more experienced friends with me who were able to save me from an entire weekend of sleeping on the floor and having no option but to eat breakfast out of my hand.
Since that eventful weekend, I have been on more camping trips than I can remember and have refined my packing list over the years. I hate packing unnecessary items but have also learnt the importance of having the essentials with you. I am going to share with you by camping essentials so that you hopefully do not make some of the mistakes that I made as a novice camper.
Below Are My Must-Have Camping Essentials:
The basics
It goes without saying really but before you head off on your first camping adventure you are going to need a tent and a sleeping bag. Yes, it is physically possible to go camping without them but you are not going to get a very good night’s sleep. When it comes to picking the right tent you need to first consider how many people are going to be sleeping in the tent and then buy a tent for at least one if not two extra people. Having tried to unsuccessfully squash two people into a two person tent, I now never trust it to the recommended number of people. Buying a four-person tent for just two people might cost you slightly more but it means that you will actually have room to move and not find yourself rolling into each other during the night. You are likely going to be storing clothes and the basic essentials in your tent and using it as a space to get dressed, so a little extra space is always welcome.
When buying a sleep bag you again need to decide on your budget, while spending a little extra will get you a compact and higher quality bag, it might not be worth the money if these are not things you care about. The most important thing that will determine the quality of your night’s sleep, even more so than the price that you pay, is the bags temperature limits. Sleeping bags vary in terms of the temperatures they are suitable for, you don’t want to find yourself camping in minus temperatures with a bag that should not be used below 10 degrees, and equally you don’t want to be sweating in the middle of summer with a bag that is meant for much colder temperatures.
Your tent and your sleeping bag are perhaps the two most important things that you will take camping with you, so take your time when it comes to choosing which one is right for your next camping trip.
The upgraded sleeping set up
The first time that I went camping I made the terrible mistake of turning up at the campsite with just a tent and my sleeping bag, my more experienced friends found my lack of preparation extremely amusing as they set up their professional looking tents. The first night of that trip I learnt the hard way where I had gone wrong and was luckily saved the next day by a loan of my friend’s extra equipment.
Now I know better and right at the top of my camping packing list are; a pillow so that my head is not forced to spend the night on a cold hard floor, at the most uncomfortable of angles. Stay away from dedicated camping pillows, they are more expensive and normally smaller and less comfortable. Instead just take a regular pillow from home or buy yourself a cheap pillow from your local supermarket.
Secondly, I always take some form of mat camping with me, that I place under my sleeping bag for extra support, this can either be a yoga mat that you have laying around the house or an actual camping mat designed for maximum support and comfort.
Clothing
The clothes that you decide to take camping are very much going to depend on where you are camping and what you plan on doing while on your trip. If you are somewhere that can get cold of an evening comfortable layers are going to be important and ensure that you stay warm throughout the night. You might want to take hiking boots or shoes that you do not mind getting muddy, if you know that it might rain during your trip or you are planning on doing a lot of hiking.
It is rare that you will have access to a washing machine while camping and trying to wash clothes in a river is just a nightmare, therefore I always over pack when camping. You are going to get dirty while camping, surrounded by nature and spending most of your time on the ground and this means that your clothes will too, I, therefore, pack extra shorts and tops so that I always have a back-up outfit.
Two things that I always take camping with me regardless of where I am going are, flip flops and a hoodie A pair of flip flops are a live saver when using a
communal shower, or even washing in a nearby river. Flip flops are also extremely easy to slip on and off and are an easy way to avoid muddy boots making their way into your tent. A hoodie is an essential keeping you warm of an evening and also being a great go-to first thing in the morning that you can just throw on and head over for breakfast.
communal shower, or even washing in a nearby river. Flip flops are also extremely easy to slip on and off and are an easy way to avoid muddy boots making their way into your tent. A hoodie is an essential keeping you warm of an evening and also being a great go-to first thing in the morning that you can just throw on and head over for breakfast.
Cooking
I always pack a travel bowl and a cutlery set whenever I go camping, they take up very little room in my bag but mean that I can easily prepare and eat a quick meal wherever I am. I normally also take a cheap metal pan with me, this allows me to fry up some eggs and bacon in the morning and is super easy to clean up after.
Depending on the type of campsite you are staying at it might be a good idea to pack a gas stove. While more resort style sites will have an onsite kitchen when rural camping this is very unlikely. Having your own gas stove means that you are guaranteed a hot meal every evening and will save you a fortune on restaurant meals.
If you are planning on real rural camping and know that you will not be within easy reach of shops for a few days, make sure to pack all of the basic food essentials to keep you going throughout your trip. I like to stick with canned foods as they are easy to pack and are able to withstand hot climates. A box of eggs and a loaf of bread make an easy morning meal, while canned vegetables and beans are great for dinners.
Entertainment
One of my favorite times of day when camping is the evening, chilling out around your tents, ideally with a campfire dancing in the background, playing card games and chatting until the early hours of the morning. I also make sure to pack a few basic games and a deck of normal cards, this is normally enough to keep my friends and me entertained for hours at a time.
For those who prefer more high tech camping experience and plan to spend their free time watching Netflix on their tablet, make sure to pack a portable charger as power sockets will likely only be in shared areas. A portable charger also means that you can keep your phone charged throughout your trip and allow you to stay in contact with the rest of the world.
Useful Extras
I always like to pack a torch when I go camping, while I do have the inbuilt torch on my phone I do not like to be reliant on my phone having power. A torch is super useful during the evening, especially in more rural camp sites, it allows you to navigate your way around and most importantly find the toilet block at 2am. I also like to tie my torch to the inner roof of my tent of a night, this gives me a hands-free source of light and means that I can use my tent just as I would during the day.
Another must-have item is a hand sanitizer, rural camping often means not having access to running water and I like to give my hands a quick clean before preparing meals. While not an essential item, I like to pack a blanket, this is extremely useful on cold evenings when your sleeping bag just isn’t warm enough. A blanket can also be used to sit on when the ground outside your tent is a bit rough or be used to stay warm while sitting outside.
I have attached my go to camping packing list so that you are sure to have all of the essentials with you on your next trip.
Camping Essentials Packing List |
Tick
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Sleeping Bag |
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Sleeping Mat |
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Pillow |
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Tent |
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Blanket |
|
Hiking boots |
|
Flip flops |
|
Hoodie |
|
Travel knife and fork |
|
Travel bowl |
|
Metal Pan |
|
Gas stove |
|
Canned foods |
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Snacks |
|
Torch |
|
Hand sanitizer |
|
Padlock |
|
Portable charger |
|
Water bottle |
|
Card games |
Let us know in the comments below some of your must-have camping essentials.
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Sam is a writer from the UK with a strange fixation on making as many things from scratch as possible. Whether it's brewing beer or making hot sauce, Sam is determined to try and make everything, as well as writing or making videos about it as he goes.