Camping Must Haves (+Camping Checklist PDF)
Whether this is your first time camping or you’re a weekend warrior, this list of camping essentials is inclusive for everyone.
Below you’ll find everything from essential sleeping gear to fun campsite must haves. I’m sure there even will be a few new finds that will catch your eye for all you seasoned campers!
— RV campers: check out Must-Have Camper Gear
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Camping Checklist
Must Have Camping Gear
This list includes big items like tents and smaller camping essentials like a wireless fan and solar lights that can really elevate your camping trip!
1) Camping Tent
Unless you plan on car camping, you need a tent.
You can narrow down the wide range of selection by determining how many people will be sleeping in your tent.
I recommend going with the 4 or 6 person tent by Coleman. They have the best quality for the price.
If you also plan to use your tent for backpacking, the REI Half Dome 2+ tent is incredible. It’s lightweight and spacious for 2 people, 2 large packs, and a large dog.
2) Cozy Sleeping Bag
Having a good sleeping bag will make such a difference in your quality of sleep.
The most important thing when buying a sleeping bag is to make sure it is rated for the coldest temperature you plan to camp at.
The one listed here is rated to keep you warm down to 32°F. It also comes with a pillow and an inside pocket to store your phone or other bedtime essentials.
I still recommend grabbing an extra blanket or two from home in case it gets colder than you think.
3) Sleeping Pad
After many sleepless nights, I’m here to tell you most air mattresses are not made for camping terrain.
I’ve only had a good night's sleep with the Hikenture self-inflating mattress and it is incredible! You can see it’s even long enough for my husband at 6’5” tall.
Tip - inflate this mattress to only 75% for max comfort.
Hikenture Mattress: Buy on Amazon
4) Camping Pillow
I am quite the pillow snob so I usually just bring my pillow from home and put an older pillowcase on it that I don’t mind getting dirty.
But if you want a specific pillow just for camping then I recommend the medium Wise Owl pillow.
5) Waterproof Camping Blanket
It always gets colder than you may think at night and having extra blankets is a must for us!
This camping blanket is so versatile in that it is waterproof, windproof, and big enough for both of us to wrap up in.
We can use it as a dog bed or a picnic blanket if the ground is wet since one side is waterproof.
It compacts down nicely so that we can keep it in the car for emergencies or impromptu needs.
6) Wireless Camping Fan
This device, my friends, is a game-changer!
I strongly suggest bringing a 3-speed small, rechargeable fan with you.
This fan can be recharged by a USB plug and it lasts for 8 hours. It also has 3 different speed settings, can easily be clipped anywhere, and rotates to get you that perfect placement.
Read next — 10 Free Campsites with jaw-dropping views!
7) First Aid Kit
Always better to be safe than sorry. This small First Aid Kit doesn’t take up much room but has 163 essential items.
You’ll find things like bandages, scissors, a flashlight, multi-tool, sting relief, alcohol pads, and an emergency blanket.
8) Camping Chair
You’re definitely going to want a good camping chair for nights around the fire.
If you have the space and hate the hassle of folding up your chair into a bag then I recommend splurging on the GCI Outdoors Rocker Chair.
GCI Folding Rocker Chair: Buy on Amazon Compact Camping Chair: Buy on Amazon
9) Hammock
If you want to make the most out of camping then consider investing in a camping hammock!
Hammocks are great for taking naps, resting by the water, or reading while hanging amongst the trees.
Not to mention, some people say sleeping in a hammock is the best night's sleep they get when camping.
Hammock: Buy on Amazon
10) Luci Solar String Lights
Strictly to promote the best campsite vibe, a fun addition is solar camping string lights.
Luci’s compact 18 feet of string lights are popular amongst car campers.
They have a built-in 2000mAH lithium battery and last up to 20 hours on a single charge by the sun (they also can be charged by USB). The lights have 3 different brightness settings too.
I love how they roll up very compactly into the solar panel to easily store away and the string never gets tangled.
11) Lantern and Headlamp
I recommend having both a headlamp and a lantern. A headlamp is great for evening hikes or walks.
The lantern is nice to have when you need more light than the small headlamp or to have right by the door in case you need to walk outside to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Headlamp: Buy on Amazon
Lantern: Buy on Amazon
12) Axe or Hatchet
We’ve had this multi-tool camping axe for several years and still love it.
It’s great for chopping wood and the handle has detachable extensions to compact when needed.
The axe also has a compass, knife, flint, whistle, and glass break all right inside the handle. It’s a must-have for camping!
13) Starter Logs & Lighter
If you want a simple and much quicker way to start a fire then I recommend bringing a few starter logs.
They are really small and get the fire going instantly and no one is judging when you get a fire going in seconds!
14) Bug Spray & Citronella Candles
When hiking, I always use my homemade, DEET-free mosquito repellent by mixing 70% water and 30% lemon-eucalyptus essential oil in a 2oz spray bottle. This DIY mix has worked impressively well for us.
If you don’t want to do a homemade mix, Sawyer spray is also incredible and DEET-free.
For the campsite, we swear by Murphy’s natural incense sticks.
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil: Buy on Amazon
Murphy’s Incense Sticks: Buy on Amazon
Related: Best Dog Camping Gear
15) Portawipes
When you have to go a few days without a shower or just went on a sweaty hike, these portawipes are a game-changer!
Just add a tablespoon of water to this quarter-size compact tablet and it instantly unfolds to a 9.5 inch wipe.
Bonus - these wipes are also biodegradable!
16) Pop Up Shower/Toilet Tent
These pop up tents have been popping up all over campsites and now I know why!
They pack down very small for travel but expand enough so you can easily stand in there to take a shower, change clothes, or take care of business inside (see toilet below).
I really like those with the removable floor tarp so you can dry it out quickly after a shower.
This one also has a pocket to store small items, a hook to hang a lantern, and a clothesline to hang wet clothes or a towel.
17) Portable Camping Toilet
You may not ever need it, but if you do, you’re going to be very happy you had this small foldable toilet in the trunk waiting and ready.
I brought this on our 3 week car camping trip and it was a game changer when were camping on BLM land where there aren’t toilets.
No more finding a random place to hide and pee.
It is also great if you don’t want to walk too far to the campground bathroom in the middle of the night.
The pop-up privacy tent is a great place to put this toilet. I recommend grabbing a bag of kitty litter to soak up the urine and deter any smell.
18) Insulated Camping Cooler
Any cooler you have already is a great cooler to use. You may need more ice throughout your trip if you aren’t using a double-insulated cooler, but they are expensive and not necessary.
Because we camp so much we did invest in an RTIC 45-quart cooler. We can keep enough ice frozen for 2-3 days straight so we don’t have to repurchase ice for a long weekend trip.
I also love the cooler basket to keep sandwiches and fruits from getting wet when the ice melts.
RTIC 45-quart cooler: Buy on Amazon
Cooler Basket: Buy on Amazon
19) Collapsible Water Jug
We use a collapsible water jug to fill up once we get to camp so we don’t have to keep making as many trips to the water spigot.
I really like that this one is collapsible so it doesn’t take up much space in the car when not in use.
20) Camping Stove & Fuel
If you want a compact yet efficient camp stove then I suggest a gas camping stove.
It is so much quicker than cooking your food over the campfire and fewer people are hangry.
Don’t forget the butane as well!
Single Burner Stove: Buy on Amazon
Double Burner Stove: Buy on Amazon
21) BBQ Mesh Grill Bags
You know how the campfire grates or group grills are either too gross or too big to cook anything smaller on….
These mesh bags are great for throwing all your veggies or even meat inside without causing a mess.
The food cooks just as perfectly as it would without the bag and they are reusable too!
22) Camping Pans & Pots
The easiest thing to do is bring a pan and pot from home that you don’t mind getting a little beat up or dirty.
Because we camp so much we decided to buy separate pans for camping so we weren’t constantly moving them back and forth.
Another camp favorite is having a cast-iron skillet for making amazing meals like a breakfast casserole, peach cobbler, or sloppy joes over the campfire.
Cast-iron Skillet: Buy on Amazon
Read next — 5 Easy Camping Breakfast Meals
23) Collapsible Kitchen Sink
This very compact kitchen sink is a game-changer. The 10L sink can pack in quite a few dishes and makes it a lot easier to clean dishes.
We love this for backpacking trips as well since it collapses down very small and is super lightweight.
It’s very important you are using biodegradable soap anytime you plan to pour dish water directly into nature.
Collapsible Sink: Buy on Amazon
24) Camping Table
Most campsites come with a picnic table, but it never seems to be in the right spot so we like to bring one if not both of these collapsible tables that can serve as a place to cook, play games, or just hold whatever extra stuff we may bring.
Multi-use Camp Table: Buy on Amazon
Solid Surface Table: Buy at Walmart
25) Coffee Set
One of the most amazing things about camping is waking up to drink your coffee while surrounded by the sounds and beauty of nature.
At home, I use an espresso machine, but when we’re camping I don’t have the power source to do so, and so that calls for the French Press or pour-over set to come out.
Both are easy and tasty ways to make coffee in the morning. I’ve tried both sets from Stanley and love using them, even the coffee mug is one of my favorites!
Lightweight French Press: Buy on Amazon
Pour Over Coffee & Mug: Buy on Amazon
Quick Dry Towels
You’re going to want a few quick-dry towels for around the kitchen in case it rains, and especially if you’re camping by the water.
These quick-dry towels come in multiple sizes from a dishrag to beach towel size.
2 pack: Buy on Amazon
Portable Power Station
We are digital nomads so when we do car camping trips, we still need power for our laptops, cameras, etc.
After hours of research, we think Bluetti is the most reputable brand with the most affordable 300W Portable Power Station. It’s also the fastest to recharge, 30 min from 0 to 80%.
The 300W is great for a weekend camping and charging cell phones to laptops for 2-3 people. If you have more to charge, I’d recommend their 716Wh battery.
Bluetti 268wH: Buy on Amazon (on sale)
140W Solar Panel: Buy on Amazon
DAMA Inflatable SUP
An inflatable SUP has been a game-changer when we are camping by the lake. Because this stand-up paddle board is inflatable, we can easily fit it in our backseat to take camping with us.
It comes with a backpack-style carry case and has a pump that doesn’t require electricity.
I researched thoroughly to decide which inflatable SUP with the best for the money and after 2 years of use, I think this one by DAMA is incredible for under $300!
Sony Waterproof Speaker
Good music is always playing in the background while we are camping and even hiking. My husband is a music junkie so he prefers Bose or Sony when it comes to music devices.
I suggest the Sony wireless and waterproof speaker because the sound quality is incredible for how compact and lightweight it is.
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