Camping Gear Checklist: What To Take Camping.
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We love to camp. We’ve camped at Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, and many State Parks. Our experiences in camping have given us a well-rounded, curated list of camping gear that has worked for us. Below is just that—a simple camping checklist you can use to grab your gear and be all set, just like the picture below. Before loading it all up, we gather it to ensure we have not forgotten anything. It looks like a lot. But this camping checklist will make your experience in the woods delightful with the O.G. stamp of approval. This is our list.
Kelty Tallboy Tent with Rovr cooler in image.
01. Shelter:
Tent: We use the Kelty Tallboy 6 tent. Depending on the size of your group and climate, you can choose from many. You can shop Kelty or REI for your tent.
Sleeping Bag: REI and Kelty have great sleeping bag selections. We use Kelty and North Face for sleeping bags.
Sleeping Pad: Read our blog on the top sleeping pads for summer camping in 2024.
Camp Pillow: We recommend the Rumpl camp pillow, but many other options are available. Check out REI for more options.
Blanket: We love the Rumpl blankets for camping—lots of designs.
Lighting: When the sun goes out, you will need lights to walk to get ready for bed in your tent. It is dark. We use Black Diamond Lighting. We highly recommend the Orbiter or Moji Series for in-shelter lighting.
Other Shelter Options:
Mat: Great for tent entrance.
Cot: Removes you from the ground, allowing more storage space underneath the cot.
02. Kitchen:
Matches: These are handy for making a fire with wood in the campsite's fire pit. Most campsites have a fire pit. We recommend the stormproof match kit. We have had issues with the wind.
Utensils: Depending on your camping menu, you will need some essential utensils, such as knives, eating utensils, and a spatula for making morning pancakes.
Coffee: I use a kettle to warm the water, then put these packets called Kuju Coffee single-serve pour-over coffee. It is easy and good coffee. Snow Peak has an excellent Kettle for boiling water.
Dinnerware: There are many options for light and durable plates to eliminate natural trash. Sea to Summit has lovely camp dinnerware. Then, leave-no-trace wash soap, Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash Soap, is needed for clean-up.
Cooler and Ice: We love our Rovr cooler.
Trash Bags
Dish Towels
Kitchen Options:
Campfire Grill Rack
Water Jugs: Most campgrounds have potable water. If not, water jugs will come in handy.
Pro Tip: We’ve tried the foldable water jugs. We don’t recommend those.
03. Campsite:
Kelty Lowdown Chair by Snake River in Jackson, Wyoming.
Screen House: Bugs are no joke in nature. We use a screen house to put over our picnic table or your camp table. We use the Eureka NoBugZone 3-in-1 Shelter over our picnic table.
Camp Table: You don't need a camp table if you have a picnic table at your campsite.
Camp Chair: We love our Kelty chair, the Kelty Lowdown Chair. It folds up easily and stacks nicely in the trunk.
Tablecloth: There are lots of cute camp-themed tablecloths out there. If you have a picnic table, we highly recommend using one.
Headlamps: Leave your hands free with Black Diamond Head Lamps. They are a must for camping when the sun goes down.
Ax: A small ax is excellent for cutting firewood into smaller pieces.
04. Health & Hygiene:
First-Aide Kit: Bugs are no joke in nature. We use a screen house to put over our picnic table or your camp table.
Hand Sanitizer
Insect Repellant: 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.
Sunscreen
Biodegradable Wipes
05. Campsite Extras
Dry Bags: Great for keeping clothes or anything dry if you canoe or do any water activities. We use Sea to Summit.
Bear Spray: Bear spray is a must-have in a bear country. We use Counter Assault Bear Deterrent Spray from REI.
Shovel: If you are remote and without a toilet, a shovel is handy, as you must dig a hole for number two. We use the Gerber E-Tool Folding Spade.
Portable Power: Backup power is essential for phones and GoPros. We use Jackery, but we also use portable batteries that you can pack on hikes.
Hammock: Hammocks are great for relaxing and sleeping under the trees. We use ENO DoubleNest Hammock.
Camping with the right gear can make or break your trip.
Camping with the right gear can make or break your trip. Every time we camp, we add to our list. It’s like, “Oh, that would be great to have for next time.” We hope this camping checklist helps you with your camping adventures. Hipcamp is a great resource for private land camping. Kind of like AirBnB for camping. Comment below if you think we are missing anything. Happy trails, Y’all.