What To Bring For Camping: The Ultimate Checklist

Camping is fun, but you need to bring a lot of things with you so you have everything you need. You need camping gear, clothing items, cooking gear, and more. Most people camp in remote locations, so if they forget something they have to do without it.

I’ve created a camping checklist so you remember everything you need to bring with you and to make your life easier when you decide to go out camping. The list is based on my previous trips and what I brought with me, but also from consulting with others.

Tent and Shelter

The bare basics of camping are being out in the woods in some sort of shelter. People use many different types of shelters, and tent camping is one of the most common options. You’ll need different tent-related items to make sure you have a shelter that also keeps you safe and warm.

Cooking and eating

Camping trips can vary in length, but they’re a least one night. While you can survive on food that doesn’t require cooking, having some basic cookware items can make your food much better. Plus, outdoor cooking is actually one of the fun parts of camping.

There are many items you can bring for outdoor cooking, depending on your preferences.  I typically try to be minimalist and only bring items I’m going to use, but some people prefer to have the option to make different meals.

Besides the outdoor kitchen items, you’ll need to bring food with you. You should mainly stick with non-perishable foods that won’t go bad while you’re out, but you can also bring foods that need to be kept cold if you bring a cooler with you.

If you want to make sure your food stays cold, I write another article about keeping your food cold while camping. Some of these tips are especially useful if you’re camping for multiple days!

Clothing

You should consider what clothes to bring before going on the trip, based on the expected weather. If you’re camping in relatively hot weather, you generally don’t need to bring a lot of warm layers as you would for cold weather – except for some warm clothes for the evening. If the weather forecast is cold, bring a lot of clothes you keep yourself warm.

Here is what I’ve listed clothing for both hot and cold weather – but you should only bring what you need.

Health and hygiene

To keep yourself healthy and clean, there are a few items you should remember to bring with you on the trip.

Accessories

There are different accessories and items that can make your camping trip easier and more comfortable.

Personal items

There are some items you should always have on you. I’ve listed the most important ones, so you don’t forget anything.

Safety and emergencies

While you should stay safe and avoid situations where trouble can happen, emergencies can happen, and having the necessary items to take care of them and keep yourself safe is always important.

Activities and entertainment

While not strictly necessary, having some leisure items with you can make your camping trip much more enjoyable. Of course, people go out camping to enjoy nature and relax, but having some fun activities to do with your companions can make the trip even more fun.

Final thoughts

In this post, we’ve detailed what items you need for camping. Of course, some of the items in the list might not be applicable to your specific situation or preferences, so use this list as an inspiration, and so you don’t forget anything you might need.

I generally recommend being as minimalist as possible, while still not feeling limited or uncomfortable. Many campers fear they’ll miss some items, but you can always be creative and solve problems if any arise. Have fun camping!