Camping could be one of the most fun things to do once in a while or whenever you need a break from your hectic routine. Not only does camping make you feel fresh, but it also helps to align your thoughts and helps you be more focused and energized when you return to daily life.
Overall, camping is an experience worth enjoying. Walking around the pine trees, snow, hiking, climbing mountains, or enjoying the view by a stream, it’s all so overwhelming. However, one needs to be well prepared when going camping.
In this camping guide, we’ve included 10 essential items you must have while camping.
Checklist of 10 Essential Camping Items
Let’s not waste any time and get going towards our expert camping checklist.
1. Tent
1. TentFirst things first. A tent or any type of shelter is extremely necessary. We cannot stress it enough because we know just how important it really is.
A tent will save you from types of external danger and give you a safe place to relax. Based on your camping tour, you have to decide on both the portability and size of the tent you are willing to carry.
For a single person, a small and lightweight tent will do the job. However, if you are a family traveling by car and want to camp out for a while, taking a larger tent won’t be a problem.
Here are some tips when choosing a camping tent:
- Consider The Weight: The roomier the tent, the heavier it typically is. So, for a two-person tent, choose one that’s four pounds or less to make backpacking less heavy.
- Check The Floor Size: The floor area indicates the camping tent size. If you need additional room for store gear inside, pick a camping tent with a minimum of 20 square feet per person. For backpackers and bike campers, they need a camping tent offering 15 square feet per person.
- Look at The Doors: Two doors minimize nighttime jostling but can add extra weight to the camping tent.
- Choose A Wall Design: Unlike double-wall tents featuring a rain-fly and the main section, single-wall tents are lighter allow more condensation. Hence, you need to choose a single-wall tent with good venting.
- Don’t Forget The Stakes: Don’t forget the tent pegs for strong winds to safeguard yourself and your camp companions against harsh weather conditions. Stakes or pegs are made from different materials and are built in many ways to withstand a vast range of environments. When choosing tent stakes, you need to consider the material, shape, length, weight, and price. The best features of durable tent pegs include a large head, sharp end, and solid hook for easy penetration in the rocky ground without going too deep.
2. Portable Sleeping Bag
A sleeping bag is a must-have. It doesn’t matter where you camp out. You need a sleeping bag to cover yourself and stay cozy throughout the night. A sleeping bag not only protects you from the weather, but it also protects you from any insects. Moreover, it also gives you a cozy sleep.
3. Pocket Knife
The third camping item on our list is a pocket knife because it really is an important camping item. You need a pocket knife both for survival and also for getting different things done.
For instance, besides survival, a pocket knife can help you.
- Cut ropes
- Cut tree branches
- Slice a layer of cheese
- Open a can
- Cut a fish
- Tighten a screw and much more
A pocket knife has multiple uses, and for this reason, we recommend it to everyone who wishes to go camping. You may also need a high-quality pocket knife sharpener to maintain your pocket knife.
4. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is another camping essential. Even though camping sites are mostly safe, you still need to take your precautions.
If nothing, you may experience blisters from walking or tiny cuts and scrapes for which you need to have the necessary items. But that certainly does not mean you should not carry the emergency items.
Keep bandages, antiseptics, gauze, scissors, soap, CPR mouth barrier, and other emergency essentials along with you,
5. Water Filter
A water filter is like a holy grail when camping. Because camping is mostly done through course paths where you won’t experience filtered water, you will need to take water from lakes, ponds, or streams.
Having a portable water filter will filter out that water and prevent you from catching any diseases that come with drinking unfiltered water.
Do you know how to test spring water?
6. Food Supplies/Utensils
Let’s be real, no human can live without food, and it’s obvious that you’ll be carrying food along as you camp.
However, what we recommend is that you take light and convenient food with you. It should also be the food items that make you feel fuller throughout the day.
Try to take protein bars, cookies, canned food, or other dry items while camping. However, if you want to carry cold foods then you should choose a heavy-duty cooler preferably a bear-proof cooler.
7. Toiletries
Not many people may agree, but we think having toilet paper is better than using barks or leaves for cleaning purposes.
Make a list of your essential toiletries to carry with you. At least, if you lack space, we recommend you take toilet paper because it will save you from a lot of inconvenience as you camp.
8. Flashlight
A torch or a flashlight is something you need to have on your camping list. It is because continuous light can save you from a lot of problems. It is also a basic survival tool that you must have.
Even though you may have a fire, but when there’s nothing else, it is the torch or a flashlight in the night that really helps. You may also take a kerosene lantern if you don’t have any power source.
Even though you are not likely to experience any hurdles, no one likes walking on trails without light or waking up in the middle of the night to use the restroom with no light.
9. Fire Starters
Camping and NO fire? C’mon, this is something impossible! Camping is no camping without any fire.
But lighting up the fire takes quite some muscle, and to save yourself from extra hurdles, you ought to have fire starters. They will make the job easy for you.
People like to carry fire starters like
- Waterproof matches
- Cigarette lighter
- Magnesium fire start
- Flint and steel etc.
Even though these are great options, we recommend you always take small items that help light a bigger fire. These can be small tree barks, some pieces of old newspaper, rough paper, etc.
10. Survival Gear
Survival gear should always be present with you as you enjoy your time camping.
To be true, no one wants to be stuck in a situation where things take a wrong turn, and they have to survive, yet thousands of people do every year.
This is why it is essential to carry survival gear with you. Some of the items this may include are
- Compass
- Map
- Radio
- Whistle
- Bear Horn
- Bear Spray
- Survival multitool
- Signal rescue mirror
- Paracord
These are only some of the things which will help you survive in extreme situations. If you are going to a risky place to camp, we strongly recommend you take a well-maintained survival kit with you.
We hope you found our guide on camping items informative and worth the read. This travel checklist will surely help you pack up better for your next camping adventure.
Let us know what you guys think in the comments bar below!