by Shannon Minnis
It begins with a feeling of unease … as if you’ve forgotten something. But once you arrive at your campsite, it turns into a full-blown, head-smacking realization that you forgot your tent! If you had created a camping checklist of the most essential gear you need, this never would have happened.
Table of Contents
But don’t feel too bad about it.
You see, I’ve forgotten my share of essential gear too. I once forgot all the tent pegs. Another time, I realized (too late) that I had grabbed a backpack full of coaxial cables rather than the backpack with my niece’s diapers and a change of clothes. Guess who ended up hand-washing that dirty bum all weekend?
You get the picture.
That’s why we suggest that you use a camping checklist and double check it before you leave home. No matter where in America you camp, you’ll need these essential items. Thankfully, we’ve got some camping gear ideas that you can put on your camping checklist.
What Is Camping Gear?
Are you wondering what you should add to your camping checklist? When it comes down to it, you want gear designed for camping. That’s because the stuff they make for home life should mostly stay in your home. Camping gear, on the other hand, needs to be portable, practical, and above all, tough.
Did you ever wonder why people use tin coffee cups when they’re camping, rather than glass cups? If you’ve ever broken a bottle at a campsite and then spent the next few days gingerly trying not to cut your feet on shards of glass, you’ll understand. Your gear needs to be tough.
Let’s look a little closer at these concepts.
Portable gear
You’ve sweated enough blood when trying to pack everything into a suitcase.
Good news!
When you go camping, you can leave all that behind. That’s because when you’re camping, you only want to bring portable gear. You need things that can be folded up and carried. This is especially true if you need to hike to your campsite. You backcountry campers are already well acquainted with a camping list.
So, bring folding camping chairs and sleeping bags. Put your clothes in a backpack rather than a suitcase. You get the idea.
Tough gear
We’re talking cargo pants instead of suits. Cast iron instead of Teflon. Tin instead of glass.
That’s all the stuff that withstands any amount of time camping. Things need to stay outdoors in all weather. Animals and wind can easily knock things down. Rain is bound to happen at some point. Also, let’s face facts: People are probably going to drink. So, play it safe and keep your fragile items at home.
Practical gear
The third thing all the gear on your camping list should be is practical. After all, there’s not much point lugging your refrigerator along with you when a cooler would make more sense. Of course, that’s an extreme example. But consider things such as laptops, power tools, and dining room chairs. Believe it or not, people actually bring this stuff camping!
Instead, find practical replacements for this stuff that you feel you can’t live without. For instance, a tablet would be much more useful than a laptop, if you absolutely must have a computer with you. Want to know what’s even more practical? Leave all your electronics at home! Enjoy camping, for crying out loud!
How We Compiled Our Camping Checklist
Want to know a secret?
Okay, here it is: Even though we know quite a bit about camping, we still use the internet to find all the gear that we know you’ll need on your camping checklist.
Also, Amazon is your friend when you’re preparing for the great outdoors.
You see, we checked out what some experts say about camping and then combined that with our own expert opinion to come up with an excellent camping checklist of essential gear.
After that, we scoured customer reviews to see how each item performs in the real world. Anything with which customers were unhappy, we ditched. Finally, we were left with a camping checklist of essential gear.
Let’s dive right in.
Your Camping Checklist
Did you know that first aid kits are the most forgotten camping item in America? It’s true! Most people completely skip on the first aid kit and go right to the cooler full of beer.
Speaking of coolers full of beer, bags of ice are the second most forgotten item. That makes you wonder…
So, let’s assume for a moment that you’ve remembered your tent. Or perhaps you have a trailer. Maybe, even, you’re semi-camping in a rustic cottage. Either way, you’ve got shelter covered.
Right?
So we can keep that off the list.
Safety first
For starters, always bring a first aid kit with you when you go camping. If you forget every other item on your camping checklist, make sure you don’t forget this one.
Along with your prescription medications, you’ll need to bring along a solid first aid kit that includes everything you might need for a minor medical emergency. Consider the terrain and the isolation of your campsite when planning.
Will you need to bring along a snake bit kit? How about an EpiPen? Instead of canceling your trip to head for the nearest ER when one of your parties gets a deep cut, consider that a butterfly bandage might get the job done.
You’ll need an assortment of bandages, both stick on “Band-Aid” types as well as sterile gauze and tape for bigger boo-boos. You’ll also need something to disinfect wounds, as well. And don’t forget eyewash and emergency dental supplies, either. You don’t want a toothache to end your trip, so take along an oral analgesic for when the marshmallow goo gets stuck under a loose filling.
You can put together your own first aid kit or purchase one already collated from any online retailer. Most experienced campers will tell you that they hope they never have to use it, but they’re glad it’s there for when they do.
Grilled to perfection
There’s one essential piece of gear that can make your mornings sweeter and your evenings tastier. We’re talking about a great folding campfire grill.
With a portable folding grill, you can boil that kettle for coffee, fried eggs, and grill a steak. Just flip down the legs and place the heavy-duty cast-iron rack right over the open fire.
And if you’re handy or thrifty or both, you can also make your own portable campfire grill.
Snuggle in
Next, don’t forget to include a sleeping bag on your camping checklist. There’s nothing cozier than curling up inside a cozy sleeping bag on a chilly night.
Make sure that you purchase a sleeping bag that’s rated for the climate and weather where you’ll be camping. This is essential if you’re planning to do some cold-weather camping. And while waking up too hot from a heavy sleeping bag isn’t pleasant, at least you’ll wake up!
Check the rating on the bag. You may see one or two ratings: Comfort and Lower Limit. The comfort rating will give you an idea of the lowest outdoor temperature the bag can handle and provide comfort. The lower limit rating is usually a little lower, and this is the lowest temperature the bag can still offer comfort.
You may find comfort ratings on bags sized for women and lower limit rating bags sized for men. If you don’t even consider such things, as we don’t, either rating system is worthwhile.
Let there be…
Another essential item to include on your camping checklist is a light source. Now, you could bring your home flashlight, and it should serve you fine. But in the great outdoors it’s not practical. You want a light that has a directional beam and 360 degrees of light, all in one.
Additional light can help inexperienced campers feel more confident and comfortable at the campsite, as well. Especially when camping with young children.
Luckily, new LED technology allows for nearly as much campsite light as you’d find in the comfort of your own home for very little money. Not long ago, you’d have to drag along expensive batteries or purchase kerosene from the camp store. And investing in rechargeable LED lanterns means even more savings.
I wish they had LED headlamps when my kids were little and terrified to look for the latrines in the dark woods!
Chop chop!
Next is something that many people forget to take camping. It’s a hatchet. You see, a hatchet serves so many purposes that it’s surprising more people don’t bring one with them. You can split wood for the fire, cut rope, finely slice meat, open a beer bottle, and chase off animals.
Okay, we don’t recommend doing the last two things. That’s not to say you won’t. After all, it’s not impossible. If you’ve got the right hatchet, almost anything is possible.
Buzzzzz…
Finally, remember to include one of the most useful items on your camping checklist. We’re talking about insect repellent. Because if you’ve ever been to Michigan in the summer, you’re lucky that you didn’t get carried away by mosquitoes.
Finding an insect repellent that actually works is tough, but Consumer Reports put together a list of the highest rated formulas. The majority of the top contenders contained as much as 25 to 30 percent DEET.
If you don’t want to use DEET, the well-known consumer advocate site recommended brands that included 30 percent Eucalyptus oils.
It’s All About Fun
All in all, camping is about enjoyment. It’s about happiness and relaxation. Maybe there’s a bit of thrill there, too. In short, it’s about fun.
But forgetting essential items isn’t very fun. Which is why we’ve helped you put together a camping checklist of essential gear for your next trip. Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list. We didn’t include shelter, because you wouldn’t forget that, right?
Also, we left out air mattresses and camping chairs. Because if you’re heading to the backcountry, that’s the stuff you can do without. Otherwise, lugging it through the bush won’t be fun.
Do you have any essential gear to add to the camping checklist? Let us know in the comments!