The Complete List of Everything You Need to Bring Camping

Camping has become a popular way to travel while enjoying the great outdoors (and who doesn't love a good campfire s'more?). Whether you're new to camping or just looking to upgrade your gear, this camping supplies checklist contains a few key product suggestions to make sure you don't forget something essential when you're a few miles out in the wilderness. Pick and choose from this list to plan your perfect camping excursion.

Campsite Essentials

Make sure your camping supplies checklist includes items that provide comfortable places to sit and sleep for everyone.

• Tent
• Extra stakes
• Sleeping bags and pillows
• Air mattress or sleeping pads
• Foldable camp chairs
• Foldable table
• Tarp
• Backpacks/bags for porting things in and out
• Small broom and dust pan
• Mat to wipe your feet outside your tent

Upgraded camping gear: Cabela's Nemo Quasar sleeping pads are water-resistant, easy to inflate and deflate, and help keep you comfy and dry—even if the ground beneath you is wet. (Bonus: They're completely made from post-consumer recycled materials.)

Camp Lighting

Light your way for a night hike (or a late-night run to the restroom) with these camping essentials.

• Lantern
• Flashlights
• Matches or a lighter (for campfire making)
• Headlamps
• Firewood (from a nearby source)
• Fire starters (kindling or a fire starter cube or packet)
• Extra batteries for the lights
• Glow sticks or necklaces

Upgraded camping gear: The Coleman Sound and Light Lantern gives you plenty of glow—and also serves as a bluetooth speaker if you want to enjoy a little music at your campsite.

Clothing for Camping

When you're choosing what to wear camping, think functional and lots of layers that you can add or subtract as the weather changes. Even in the summer, long pants and long-sleeved shirts might be preferable to help protect from sunburn, and ticks and mosquitos.

Skip cotton fabrics in favor of moisture-wicking, SPF-laden, and quick-dry options that help keep you comfortable even if you sweat or get wet. Merino wool is a great temperature regulator that you can wear for days without worrying about smelling.

• Extra underwear
• Hiking boots or shoes
• Water shoes or sandals
• Pants
• Long-sleeved shirts
• SPF-embedded clothing
• Extra socks (the thicker, the better)
• Swimsuit
• Rain coat/Warm coat
• Fleece or cozy sweater
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Gel-filled cooling neckerchief
• Personal mosquito netting
• Bandana

Upgraded camping gear: If you're a favorite snack for mosquitos, a wearable screen netting can help protect you from the bugs—without having to wear hardcore mosquito repellants 24/7.

Camping Kitchen Gear

One of the highlights of camping can be the culinary options available to you—s'mores!—but you'll probably want more than graham crackers and marshmallows to enjoy.

If you're planning to be active, it may help to pack freeze-dried meals you can easily whip up with hot water, so you don't have hangry campers waiting for the fire to be ready for cooking.

• Camp stove with fuel
• Coleman grill
• Pots and pans (cast iron is great!)
• Cooler with lots of ice
• Cutting board
• Knife
• Insulated water bottles
• Measuring
• Mountain potpie maker
• Dish pan
• Cooking spoon, spatula, and tongs
• Flatware for eating
• Plates and bowls
• Larger bowl for serving/mixing
• Mugs and collapsible cups
• Dish scrubber and towel
• Dish soap (biodegradable)
• Can/bottle opener
• Food storage containers
• Camp-friendly coffee maker
• Large jugs of water
• Trash bags
• Cooking oil
• Spices
• Bearproof food storage
• Skewers

Upgraded camping gear: If you can't start your morning without a cup of coffee, the easy-to-pack AeroPress can help you make a stellar cup—and it's small enough to pack for even the most off-the-beaten-path camping trip.

Toiletries

Keep it clean while you're camping with the right tools—just make sure any products you bring are biodegradable, so they don't harm nature (or you).

• Sunscreen
• Brush or comb
• Soap
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Lip balm (with SPF)
• Razor and shaving cream
• Baby/cleaning wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Toilet paper
• Prescription meds
• Contact lens case/solution
• Hair ties
• Quick dry towel
• Insect repellent spray/lotion
• Lip balm
• Small, shatterproof mirror

Upgraded camping gear: Beekman 1802's generously sized wipes can keep more than your face clean, and the fragrance-free version won't make you attractive to insects—or bears.

Just-in-Case Gear

You never know when something's going to go awry when you're camping, so it's great to have some basic gear for fixing things.

• Duct tape
• First aid kit (including lots of moleskins)
• Multitool
• Wood axe or saw
• Menstrual products
• Hammer
• Antiseptic wipes
• Pain relievers
• Allergy medications
• Anti-diarrheal or antacid medications
• Sunburn cream
• Water purifiers
• Safety pins
• Scissors
• Small shovel
• Snakebite kit
• Camping sewing kit
• Leather work gloves
• Solar-powered chargers
• Extra blankets
• Whistle

Upgraded camping gear: Heat-resistant leather working gloves let you chop firewood, deal with hot pots and pans, and wrangle anything else that comes your way.

Fun Camping Gear

The real fun of camping is all the activities you get to do. Pack along gear for outdoor adventures, games, and maybe a little campfire music-making.

• Frisbee or ball
• Compass and maps
• Fishing gear
• Field guide
• Binoculars
• Books or magazines
• Musical instruments
• Cards or games
• Camera
• Hiking poles
• Hammock
• Fanny pack
• Sports gear (snowshoes, kayak, etc.)

Upgraded camping gear: Just a quick roll of the dice will get you and your kids exploring in a scavenger hunt to find something that fits the bill with this fun game.

Tips for Beginner Campers

If you're first-timer campers, consider these tips to make your camping trip a big success.

• Keep it short and simple. Don't embark on a week-long backwoods adventure if you're newbies. Start off with an overnight (or two, if you're daring) in a tent or cabin and see how you like it. You might also choose a campsite close to home, so you can always head back if you realize you forgot something on your list—or you need to abort the mission due to bad weather.
• Practice makes perfect. Try an overnight in your backyard first, so you can learn how to assemble the tent and set up your campsite in a low-pressure setting.
• Leave no trace that you were there. Try to minimize your use of paper plates and other disposables, and bring trash bags to carry everything back out with you.
• Prepare for the weather. Nothing's worse than shivering or sweating your way through a camping trip. Be mindful of both daytime and nighttime temperatures—as you may find it gets chilly at night.
• Preplan your menu. Limit your use of perishables and use those first so you maximize your food safety (and don't have to worry as much about the ice in your cooler melting. Opt for shelf-stable foods like granola, and easy-to-pack fruits and veggies like apples and potatoes. And don't forget to store food away from your tent (and ideally, in a bear-safe vault), to keep animals from poking around your tent at night.
• Consider borrowing, renting, or buying used equipment for your first go-round. Not sure that you'll be a happy camper? See if you can borrow or buy preowned gear to try out before you invest.