Essential Camping Gear List for First-Time Campers - A Beginner's Guide.
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Did you ever camp in your backyard as a kid? Camping is a little like that but a little more primitive. If a rainstorm comes in, there is no house to run into. There is no electricity, stove, or refrigerator—just you, your friends, family, and nature. We love to camp and have learned much about what works and doesn’t through our experiences. We were once beginners, too. This guide is designed to help you confidently prepare for sleeping and living outdoors, ensuring you have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable camping experience.
Camping for Beginners Table of Contents:
Here’s a quick list of the essentials.
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Blanket
Cooler
Cooking Stove
Lighting
Bear Spray/Bug Spray
Folding out table/Chairs
Firestarter/Firewood
Toiletries
1. Tent
The tent is undoubtedly the cornerstone of camping gear, providing shelter and privacy in the heart of nature. Choosing the right tent isn't just about size or brand; it's about finding a balance between comfort, durability, and ease of setup. Here's what you need to consider:
Our tent: The Kelty Tallboy 6
Size: Opt for a tent that offers more space than the number of people using it.
Weather Resistance: Look for tents labeled "3-season," which are designed to withstand everything from summer heat to spring showers and breezes.
Ease of Setup: As a beginner, you'll want a straightforward tent to assemble and disassemble. Instant tents or those with color-coded poles can simplify the setup process, making your camping experience smoother.
We use the Kelty Tallboy 6 for our camping adventures. We love this tent. It has gotten us through camping in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and many State Parks. We highly recommend Kelty tents. You may read our blog for further assistance on tents: We Love to Camp: Our Best Tents for Summer Camping in 2024.
2. Sleeping Bag
A good sleeping bag is more than bedding; it's your assurance of a warm, comfortable night's sleep under the stars. When choosing a sleeping bag, consider the following to ensure you pick the best fit for your camping adventures:
Temperature Rating: Look for a sleeping bag rated for temperatures a bit lower than you anticipate encountering.
Shape and Fit: Mummy-shaped bags are designed to fit snugly around your body, providing excellent warmth. Rectangular bags offer more room to move but might not be as warm.
Selecting the right sleeping bag can turn a chilly night into a cozy, star-filled experience. For further assistance on sleeping bags, read our blog: What are the Best Sleeping Bags for Summer Camping in 2024?
3. Sleeping Pad
Camping supplies have come a long way over the years. Sleeping pads are one of those. A quality sleeping pad provides comfort away from the hard ground. When selecting a sleeping pad, keep these factors in mind:
Type: Air pads offer comfort and are lightweight, ideal for backpacking. Self-inflating pads provide a balance between comfort and convenience. Foam pads are durable and budget-friendly but bulkier.
Thickness and Size: Thicker pads tend to be more comfortable. Ensure the pad fits your body length and width for optimal comfort.
Portability: Consider how the pad packs down for transport, mainly if space is limited or you'll be backpacking.
Pro tip: Last year, we used a self-inflating pad, which was super comfortable. However, we were not able to get it back into its bag. Although it worked great for sleeping, it did not work great for packing, so we returned it.
4. Blanket
Blankets are great for camping, no matter the season. We use Rumpl blankets. No other brand for a camping blanket is as good as Rumpl. They have a pattern for every member of your family or you. I love the National Park options.
5. Cooler
A cooler keeps your food fresh and drinks cold, which is important for convenience and safety during camping. Here’s a quick guide:
Insulation: Choose a cooler with strong insulation to maintain ice for days, ideal for extended or hot-weather trips.
Size: Match the cooler size to your group and trip duration. Larger coolers offer more storage but are heavier.
Portability: For hiking, consider a backpack cooler. Car campers might prefer a more significant, heavy-duty model.
We love our cooler from Rovr. Rovr hits on all three of the bullets above. We highly recommend Rovr coolers. It also acts as an excellent canvas for your travel stickers. :)
6. Folding Chair
Chairs add essential comfort to your campsite, giving you a place to sit, eat, and gather around the campfire. Some things to consider with chairs are weight, ease of transport, and comfort. It also doesn’t hurt to have a spot for beverages. We recommend the Kelty Lowdown Chair. These work well for us. They fold down easily, making them easy to pack up.
7. Cooking Stove or Fire Pit Cooking Tools
Preparing meals outdoors can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of camping, whether simmering a stew on a stove or grilling over an open fire. Here's how to decide between a portable cooking stove and traditional fire cooking tools:
Cooking Stove: Stoves are ideal for convenience, control, and efficiency. They are perfect for quick meals, boiling water, and cooking where open fires are prohibited. They range from lightweight canister stoves for backpacking to larger liquid fuel stoves for gourmet camp cooking. REI has an excellent selection of camp stoves.
Fire Cooking Tools: For those who prefer the traditional campfire experience, investing in fire cooking tools such as a grill grate, tripod, or Dutch oven can enhance your culinary options. Cooking over a fire requires more time and patience but offers a unique flavor and the irreplaceable ambiance of a campfire. Barebones has an excellent selection of tools for over-the-fire cooking.
Whether you choose a modern cooking stove for convenience or embrace the Wild West way of cooking over a campfire, having the right tools will ensure you enjoy delicious meals amidst nature’s splendor.
Sidebar: Cooking Stove vs. Cooking Over the Fire
When planning your meals outdoors, you have two primary options: using a cooking stove or over a campfire. Each has its benefits and considerations:
Cooking Stove: Offers convenience, control, and reliability. It's ideal for quick meals, boiling water, and when fire restrictions are in place. Stoves are essential for leave-no-trace camping, as they minimize environmental impact.
Pros: Quick setup, precise heat control, usable during fire bans.
Cons: Requires fuel and equipment, less authentic camping experience.
Cooking Over the Fire: Provides a classic camping experience, allowing for grilling, roasting, and even baking with the right tools. It requires more skill and preparation but can be incredibly rewarding.
Pros: Authentic experience, no need for fuel canisters, versatile cooking options.
Cons: Dependent on weather and fire regulations, requires more time and skill.
Choosing Your Cooking Method: A cooking stove might be the safest and most convenient option for beginners. However, learning to cook over a campfire can enhance your camping experience and provide a satisfying sense of self-sufficiency.
8. Lighting
Proper lighting is crucial for safety, convenience, and enjoyment during camping trips. It extends your activities beyond the sunset, allowing for cooking, reading, or relaxing at your campsite. Here’s what to consider:
Black Diamond Moji Lantern is great for camping. We use it.
Headlamps: A must-have for hands-free operation, headlamps are ideal for cooking in the dark, nighttime walks, reading in your tent, and even going to the bathroom at 1 am.
Lanterns are great for illuminating a larger area like your campsite or a tent. When it gets the sun goes down in nature, it is dark.
Flashlights: Useful for focused lighting when you need to explore further from camp or in emergencies.
Choosing the right lighting mix is important so you don’t get stuck in the dark. We love the line-up from Black Diamond. You can get all your lights from headlamps to small lights for your tent.
9. Bear Spray/Bug Spray
Y’all, bears are no joke if you are in bear country. Protecting yourself against wildlife and insects is not just about comfort—it's about safety. Here's a look at why bear spray and bug spray are essentials for your camping gear:
Bear Spray: Bear spray is a must-have in a bear country. It provides peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy your adventure with less worry. We used Counter Assault Bear Deterrent Spray from REI.
Bug Spray: Bugs are bugs. Insect repellents keep mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests at bay. We recommend Ben's 100 Max Formula Insect Repellent - 95 Percent DEET.
Pro Tip 1: Keep bear spray readily on your belt or the outside of your pack.
Pro Tip 2: Practice using bear spray to ensure you're prepared. However, ensure your camping neighbors are not in line with the spray. At our campsite in Yellowstone, one of the teenagers in our group decided to do a test spray in the direction of our camping neighbors. We heard the agony of the spray going into their campsite.
10. Firestarter/Firewood
A campfire is the heart of many camping experiences, providing warmth, light, and a way to cook food. Properly starting and maintaining a fire requires suitable materials and knowledge. Here’s how to ensure you’re prepared:
Firestarter: Various fire starters, including waterproof matches, lighters, and magnesium fire starters, are designed to ignite quickly and withstand wind and rain.
Firewood: If possible, purchase firewood near your camping site to prevent the spread of invasive insects and diseases.
Safety and Preparation: Always check fire regulations in your camping area before starting a fire. Use designated fire pits or rings, and remove any flammable materials from the area.
You can’t camp without having a campfire. A campfire provides warmth and a means to cook, creating a focal point for socializing and relaxing under the stars. With the proper preparation and respect for nature, you can enjoy the timeless tradition of campfires safely and responsibly.
11. Toiletries and Basic First Aid
Maintaining personal hygiene and being prepared for minor injuries are crucial aspects of a comfortable and safe camping experience. Here’s a guide to packing toiletries and essential first-aid items:
Hygiene Essentials: Pack biodegradable soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and quick-dry towel for your basic hygiene needs. For environmental reasons, ensure any outdoor soap is safe for natural water sources. Include hand sanitizer for quick hand cleaning, especially before meals.
Toilet Paper: If you don’t camp at a campground with flush toilets, bring a roll of toilet paper and a small shovel or trowel if you'll be camping in an area without restroom facilities.
Sun Protection
Insect Repellent: No joke.
Basic First Aid Kit: A small, basic first aid kit should include adhesive bandages of various sizes, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, gauze pads, adhesive tape, tweezers, and pain relievers.
We recommend the Cascade First Aid The Sawyer First Aid Kit from REI. It has all the essentials, including what you need to cut fishing hooks out of kids' ears. See the Pro tip below.
All of the above are kind of no brainers. Pack these essentials in an accessible, waterproof bag or container to keep them dry and organized.
Pro tip: Expect the unexpected. When we were camping once, the kids were fishing and one got a fish hook snagged in their ear. We did not have anything to cut the hook out with. One canoe trip across the river to snagging a friendly local got him to a doctor in town that removed it.
Where to Camp?
There are a lot of great places to camp. National Parks are great to State Parks. It is alway good to check out the campgrounds amenities. Bathrooms with running water always come in handy. For first time campers, we suggest not going full on backcountry but to find one that has a bathroom, potable water and other campers around you.
There are sites like Hipcamp that give you access to camgrounds that can be filtered out easily for what you want. We have not used Hipcamp but they are a highly rated resource.
Camping is a Great Way to Spend Time With Family and Friends.
Camping offers an escape from the everyday hustle and allows you to connect with nature, your loved ones, or time for yourself. With the right gear and preparation, anyone can camp. Remember, it's not just about where you go or what you bring; it's about the experiences you share and the memories you create together.
Elk outside of our tent at Bridge Bay Campground in Yellowstone.
If you have any questions about our camping experiences, please don't hesitate to let us know. We are happy to answer questions or help.
