15 Must Have Camping Gear (The Ultimate Checklist)

Camping is an exciting activity for guys who enjoy outdoor activities. In this country, most campers take advantage of the summer season since it’s the best to busk and travel long miles in the wilderness, mountain climbing, or just deciding to set a campsite a few meters from your home.

Going camping is a wonderful adventure when you want sometime alone in the jungle or gather around friends, family and colleagues to spend time together. This way you share memorable experiences, bond, and catch up and build on team spirit the people you love and treasure.

As you plan for this escapade, bear in mind what activities you set out for the entire period. This will provide you with a sense of what gear and tools you need in place. Nothing ruins a camping trip like forgetting important gear that you must have.

To avoid this, have in place a comprehensive pre camping checklist with all your essentials. You can do this in advance preferably a week or 3 days to your trip start to pack up your bags to avoid last-minute rush that will cause anxiety.

MUST HAVE CAMPING GEAR

Enjoying a comfortable camping time is one of the priorities in your list, with the gear below you should be certain to achieve your goal. Here are the necessary things for camping. The gear is categorized into three parts as below:

• Sleeping gear
• Eating gear
• Survival gear

We have compiled a list of 15 must have camping gear from the three categories. These are best camping essentials.

i. Camping Tent

ii.  Tent Footprint

iii. Sleeping Bag and Pad

iv. Stove

v. Fuel

vi. Lighters or Matchbox

vii. Utensils

Viii. Clean Water

ix. Emergency Blanket

x. Headlamp and Lantern

xiii. Extra Clothing

xi. First Aid Kit

xii. Camping chairs and Foldable tables

xiii. Extra Clothing

xiv. Power Banks or Solar Panels Chargers

1. SLEEPING GEAR

i. Camping Tent

You need a high quality tent either mounted on a vehicle (rooftop tent) or pitched on the ground at the right spot to get a peaceful sleep at night. There are various types of tents available based on your priorities.

The things to look for when choosing a camping tent is the size to accommodate you, your partner and gear. You should also consider the material, for the right season and coziness. A good and durable tent can be pricey but fits the purpose.

Here are the recommendable camping tents. If you will be walking from one destination to another, a tent that is relatively small and light to carry around would be ideal. Be mindful to choose a tent that allows ventilation and is effective in keeping away wind and cold. Just in case it gets wet or windy, always have a rain fly, tent poles and stakes for protection in case the rain decides to ruin your stay.

ii. Tent Footprint

Also known as a camping tent footprint. It’s placed on the ground before pitching the tent to prevent the actual tent from any wear and tear. It helps also in levelling your camp ideal ground in case it is bumpy.

You are assured of a comfortable sleep with this pad because no moisture will penetrate the tent. The pad needs to be light to carry and slightly bigger than the tent to cover the ground well.

iii. Sleeping Bag and Pad

Another equipment you can’t do without is the sleeping bag which is like a Kangaroo’s pouch. You place it in the bag liner, throw it on the floor and spread your warm sheets on top. With all this done, your night is ready to go.

The bag liners come in different materials depending on the weight. Silk or synthetic blend material is the best since its lightweight. If you are camping on a low budget or want to cut costs, you can sew your liners using cotton sheets.

EATING GEAR

iv. Stove

If you plan to make food, you need a stove which is portable enough to bring on a gateway. There are various stoves that campers like. For example, a two-burner Coleman propane stove is light and good for car camping if you are cooking for few people. Consider acquiring a stove that heats up quickly and easy to save time.

v. Fuel

Without fuel, you won’t be able to dine to a scrumptious meal. If your camping destination is miles away, always have fuel in canisters (e.g propane tanks that don’t expire quickly) and find a suitable way of transportation to avoid any accidents from occurring. Keep in mind any form of fuel is flammable. Another alternative is to research on the nearby fuel stations where you can make a purchase on your as you head towards your destination.

Vi. Lighters or Matchbox 

Lighters are very small items that can be easily forgotten at home if not included in your pre-camping checklist. The recommended matches to carry along are the waterproof and refillable ones. They work so well and are durable.

There is a traditional way that my grandmother showed me how they used to light firewood. This is a method that was used many years back when lighter and matches had not been invented. They would take two dried sticks and rub against each other very fast until sparks of fire come out. In case you forget your matches, you can try this but it’s a headache.

Alternatively, we compiled this detailed guide on how to cook without fire. The methods covered there can come in handy when you don’t have a source of fire.

Vii. Utensils

Pans, cooking pots, plates and cups are essential for camping. You don’t have to buy new ones but can reuse the ones you have at your home. Plastics (cups and plates) and metallic (cooking pots) are ideal for such events. This will save you a lot of breakages which normally happens with glassware.

Choose utensils that are easy to clean and are non-stick. You should also not forget to bring forks, knives, and spoons. Most camping boxes also have cutlery, plates and glasses set fitted in them. A camping box will save you the baggage of carrying so many items piece by piece.

Viii. Clean Water

Water is a requirement for washing your utensils, bathing and drinking to stay hydrated. Most campsites have running water or a pump where you can fetch from. As you select your site, keep in mind this factor to reduce the hustle of carrying water to your destination. Where there is the availability of running water, a water filtration system comes handy for purification.

SURVIVAL GEAR

ix. Emergency blanket

Sometime it gets freezing cold at night in any outdoor activities. Sometimes the temperatures are almost too cold to camp. Insulated blankets and covers warm you up for a cozy night. The blanket shouldn’t weigh your backpack just in case you will be moving quite often.

x. Headlamp and Lantern

Camping and hiking headlamps function as flashlights to help you navigate through the night and your night vision to facilitate movements. Charge your headlamp in advance and carry extra batteries for an emergency.

It is also highly recommended to carry a good rechargeable camping lantern like this especially for use at the camp site or inside the tent. These are not only cool camping gear but also very useful.

xi. First Aid Kit

First aid kit is essential for any sought of plan activity. Your kit should be replenished with at least the following items.

• Different sizes of bandages
• Antiseptic ointment
• Sterile wipes for cleaning wounds
• Pain medicine
• Tweezers
• Small scissors
• Safety pins
• Hand sanitizer
• Moleskin for blisters
• A piece of rubber or latex to use as a tourniquet
• An EpiPen if anyone in your group has a known allergy

You can always add up to your stock depending on the type of trip you’ve planned.

xii. Camping chairs and Foldable tables

Instead of sitting on picnic mats, you can bring along collapsible camping tables and chairs to enhance your comfort. These can be used to eat or play games on. You can also just pull up the chairs around a bonfire at the end of the day as you chill. This is one of the best camping gear for families.

xiii. Extra Clothing

Other than the clothes you are wearing; you need to change clothes for the time you will be camping. Avoid packing white clothing as they are likely to be dirty quickly. Colored and dull clothes would be ideal. If you have no enough clean water to wash your clothes frequently, recycling them would be a good idea.

xiv. Power Banks or Solar Panels Chargers

They are a necessity to ensure your phones do not switch off and you can still be reachable in case of any emergencies. Solar panels are dependable for areas with no electricity. You might need to use a camera to capture different moments, a power bank will seek you out by charging the batteries.

Closing Remarks

The above is our detailed camping gear list for beginners, intermediates, and experts a like. They are the ultimate must have camping gear which one should consider taking on their next adventure. Preparation is key for good camping. You also need to be alert of any eventualities just in case anything goes wrong.

Have your camp list necessities in place and always remember to refine them according to your set activities and trip. We will send a printable camping checklist for anyone interested; shoot us an email.  Always pack your necessities days before your next camping or overlanding adventure. This to avoid the last-minute rush.