Camping List Essentials – Making a Camping Gear List

Camping ListCamping is supposed to be a leisure activity. The campers leave their home place or civilization and enjoy the beauty of nature while spending one or more nights outdoors typically at a campsite. However, before heading out to go camping, the campers should prepare a camping gear list. The camping list is the backbone of a successful camping trip. Preparing a complete camping list in advance will make the camping trip stress free, and generally more relaxing and pleasurable.

Camping Gear List Basics

First, the things to be listed in the camping list are the essentials and basics. This will be the tent, sleeping bag and other bedding, clothes, and a camping stove. It also includes the things needed for the camper’s health, emergency, and security while camping. You should also consider planning on bringing some things you probably *won’t* need, but are nice to have if there is room for them.  These are the first aid kit, medications, safety equipment, and miscellaneous items like a map of the area, binoculars, whistles and flashlights.

Camping Gear ListAnother basic need for a camper to properly prepare for is the food. Even if you are planning on some food provided by nature, it is still necessary for the camper to include food supplies and cooking equipment in their camping list. These are the fresh water or purified drinking water, and a food supply that includes the various raw materials that a camping group or person needs to cook. It also includes the basic extra ingredients like sugar, salt, and spices that will help make your food taste great. And, of course the cooking equipment such as grill or camping stove, and their supplies, like the fuel for the stove, charcoal or wood, which will make the camper’s cooking easier and more on demand availability.

The Camping List / Our Camping Gear List

In any case, here is a mostly complete camping list or camping gear list needed by campers that want to be prepared before heading out to go camping:

1. Clothing, Shelter and Personal Care

  • Your tent
  • Plastic sheeting for the tent base
  • Fishing poles and other fishing gear
  • A gun and ammo for safety (if possible)
  • Small axe for chopping firewood
  • A lantern or other light source
  • Roasting sticks for hot dogs or marshmallows
  • Drink cozies
  • Sleeping bags and other bedding like extra blankets and pillows
  • Tent seam sealer (just in case of leaks)
  • Folding tables and chairs (the lightweight aluminum chairs are the best choice)
  • Small shovel
  • Portable toilet
  • Toilet paper  and/or baby wipes
  • Soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Dry Towels
  • Tools like a hammer or hatchet to clobber in tent stakes
  • Backpack, day-pack, or fanny pack

2. Health and Safety of the Campers

  • First Aid Kit which must have the basic medications, roller bandages, tape, cotton swabs, and scissors.
  • Personal Medications
  • Bug Spray / Repellent
  • Sun blocking lotion
  • Sunglasses and a hat
  • A fire extinguisher
  • Safety Equipment like a compass, cell  phone, a small sharp knife, a rope, lighter, match-box, safety pins, life jacket, and hiking shoes.
  • Miscellaneous items like a map of your camping area, binoculars, whistles and flashlights which are very useful, especially when a camper is away from the group.

3. Food Supplies and Cooking Gear

  • Raw foods to be cooked by the camper
  • Fresh water or purified drinking water
  • Basic ingredients to taste the food like salt, sugar and spices
  • Camp stove, and supplies, like fuel for the stove, charcoal or wood
  • Can and bottle opener
  • Sharp knife, large spoon, large fork, ladle, forks and spoons
  • Camping meal plans
  • Pot lifter or pot holders
  • Strainer
  • Tongs
  • Thermos
  • Paper plates, plastic or paper cups
  • Paper towels and napkins
  • Trash bags
  • Large plastic boxes or buckets for food and equipment storage

4. Camping Entertainment (in case of rain)

  • Books, Magazines, or other reading interests
  • Crossword puzzles
  • Board games (checkers, chess, or cards)

Please feel free to suggest addition camping list items using our contact page if we have left out some important item.
Notice: This is not an exhaustive camping gear list. When making your camping list you should modify our camping gear list to suit your families needs.