Camping Checklist
Preparation is essential for any outdoor adventure. Having the necessary supplies and equipment can make a difference in your overall enjoyment and experience. Checklists are a great tool to help with your organization. Your camping list will vary according to the type of camping and activities you have planned, the places you are going, the time of year and the length of your trip. Add or remove items to suit your individual needs. Please email us with any other items that you would include in your camping checklist.
By popular request, we’re now offering a printer friendly camping checklist!
Shelter
__Tent
__Ground cloth/tarp
__Extra stakes
__Shade tarp/poles/rope/stakes
__Axe or hammer
__Mat for tent entrance
__Dust pan/brush
Bedding
__Sleeping bag
__Sheets/blankets
__Pillow
__Air mattress/sleeping pad/cot/tarp
__Air pump
__Repair kit for air mattress
__Utility bags for storage
Cooking
__Large water jug & water bucket
__Coolers/ice
__Thermos
__Stove with fuel/propane
__Matches/lighter
__Charcoal/firewood/buddy burner
__Dutch oven/tin can stove/box oven/etc
__Campfire grill/BBQ grill
__Fire starters/newspaper
__Tablecloth/thumb tacks/clips
__Plates & bowls/paper plates & bowls
__Silverware/plastic silverware
__Measuring cups
__Heavy-duty aluminum foil
__Paper towels
__Trash bags
__Dish soap
__Clothes pins
__Cooking oil/Pam spray
__Containers for food storage
__Potholders/oven mitts
__Pots and frying pans with lids
__Soap for outside of pots and pans
__Cook utensils-spatula, knife, spoon
__Tongs
__Skewers/grill forks
__Can opener/bottle opener
__Folding table
__Dutch oven
__Pie irons
__Mugs/paper cups
__Mixing bowl
__Cutting board
__Ziplock bags
__Napkins
__Dish pan
__Dish rags/towels
__Scrub pad/brillo
__Seasonings/sugar/condiments
__Potato peeler
Clothes
__Shoes/boots
__Jeans/pant/belt
__Shorts
__T-shirts
__Socks/extra socks
__Hat
__Bandana
__Sweatshirt/jacket
__Underwear
__Sleep clothes
__Rain gear
__Swim suit/towel
__Laundry bag
Personal
__Shower shoes/flip flops
__Towels/washcloth
__Soap in plastic case/shampoo
__Tooth brush/tooth paste
__Deodorant
__Comb/brush
__Razor
__Feminine products
__Toilet paper
__Shower bag or 5 gallon bucket
__Camping shower/shower pump
__Other personal items
__Personal medications – take extra
Miscellaneous
__Sunscreen/chapstick
__Lantern with fuel/mantles
__Extra batteries/bulbs
__Compass/GPS
__Bug repellant/candles
__Whistle
__Water filters/purification/treatment
__Camera/battery/film/video (see photo jigsaw puzzles)
__Books/magazines (a Kindle would be better)
__Candles
__Maps/directions
__Misc. tools
__Backpack/fanny pack
__Fishing gear/license/bait
__Radio
__Musical instruments/song books
__Camp chairs
__Sunglasses
__Hammock
__First aid kit
__Tissues
__Saw/axe
__Park map/guidebooks/trail maps
__Lantern pole or hanger
__Collapsible drying rack
__Popcorn
__Marshmallows, Graham crackers, Hershey bars (Smores)
__Flashlight/batteries
__Pocket knife
__Plastic grocery bags
__Binoculars
__Rope/clothes line
__Canteen/water bottle/coffee pot
__Bungi cords/straps
__Cards/games/toys/golf
__Duct tape/electrical tape
__Notepad/pen
__Reservations info./confirmation
__Cell phone/charger & 2-way radios/walkie talkies
__Small shovel
__Safety pins
__Money/ID/credit card/quarters
__Bikes/helmets
__Travel alarm clock
__Work gloves
__Umbrella
__Hand wipes
__Drinks/snacks
__Small sewing kit
__Fire extinguisher
__Hot chocolate/tea bags/coffee
__Scissors
__Watch
Tell someone of your plans – give details of where you are going and when you expect to return, give directions and possible alternative roads that you may take, provide cell phone numbers, vehicle description and license plate numbers, hand-held radio channel and codes that you will use, and provide local authority phone numbers (State Police, Game & Fish Commission, Sheriff Dept, etc.) for the county or area that you will be in.
Basic First Aid Kit
__Personal medications
__Roll bandages
__Adhesive tape
__Antiseptic wipes
__Sterile gauze pads
__Cotton swabs
__Tweezers
__Safety pins
__Scissors
__Bee sting kit
__Sinus medications
__Tissues
__Bug repellant
__Sunscreen
__Notepad/pen
__Sterile compresses
__Splinting materials
__Personal information/contact person
__Feminine products
__Ipecac
__Razor blades
__Plastic bags
__Small bottle of water
__Blanket
__Other personal needs
__Small mirror
__Triangular bandages
__Misc. Band Aides/bandages
__Anti-acids (Tums, Rolaides)
__Antibiotic cream
__Aspirin/Ibuprofen/Tylenol/Naproxin
__Hydrogen Peroxide
__Ace bandages
__Sunburn lotion
__Burn ointment
__Snake bit kit
__Eye drops
__Poison ivy cream/cleansers
__Heat/cold packs
__Small flashlight
__Latex gloves
__Antibacterial soap
__Thermometer
__Coins for emergency phone calls
__Antibiotic soap
__Butterfly bandages
__Twine
__Mole skin for blisters
__Road flares
__First aid manual
__Nail clippers
Additional First Aid Tips
- Take a First Aid class and a CPR class – keep current on this information
- Keep supplies in a well marked, durable, waterproof container
- Keep the contents organized
- Know how to use everything in your first aid kit
- Inspect content often, re-supply as needed
- Keep readily available at all times
Great list but there are a lot of items that you could take that have many uses, for example toilet paper can be used for the toilet, wet them and they are a wet wipe, use them to dry up after you clean utensils, use it to start a fire, simple first aid for small wounds, tissues….. A multi-tool like a leatherman would cover the can opener/bottle opener, basic tool kit, knife for food prep if you so wish.
On the flip side I go camping with my bicycle so I need to watch my load, items with multiple uses are a winner
thanks so much. this helped a lot. its crazy how many things i almost forgot
Take what you need but Most important thing is to bring all your crap back with you. Leave No Trace…..I don’t want to look at a pile of used items in the woods. There is no garbage pick up in the woods. Take it home, Please!
Fantastic list of things you “MAY NEED”……If you are going in Bear territory you may want to consider unscented lotion/sunscreen/deodorant…..Just a tip….unless getting knawed on by a bear is on your bucket list…Ha ha
Really! All you need is:
Tent(will already have stakes)
Sleeping bag
First aid kit(just buy one from a local store, not grocery)
Hotdogs (or whatever you prefer)
Some condiments( like ketchup)
Marshmallows
Grahmcrackers
Chocolate
Other snacks( load up with granola bars)
Fire wood!
Lighter
Lantern/flashlights
Car(for getting there!)
Extra clothes(bathing suit, shorts, t-shirts, pants, pjs, e.t.c)
Anything you need like a toothbrush or deodorant
Fishing pole if you want to try fishing
Anything else you want
One last thing, DON’T BRING AN ELECTRONIC! It takes the fun out of spending time with you friends and family.
Love,
Zebrakitty
this list is great has lots of things that is useful and has helped me loads thanks and plus there are a lot of things on here I almost forgot so thanks for the help xx
it’s a good list thankz
Just saying you don’t need all that stuff… too much for me.
ilove it!!!
You’ve got ALLOT of stuff on this list
Here’s a good list Jeremy Allen. I can’t wait to go camping next week.
As a former scout master im gonna tell you that you really do not need all of this stuff listed. If you’re gonna go in to the woods you need to learn what you really will need not all the crap above. A Basic First Aid Kit will have everything you need, so all you should have put was Frist Aid Kit. “learn whats in a Frist Aid Kit” You should do though Additional First Aid Tips,
Shelter, tents will already have their stakes “again learn your equipment!”
Backpacks, a good backpack will run you about 80 – 160 dollars, make sure you know how it works if you dont ask the salesmen. It should be from the base of your neck to the tail bone. and pack the heavy stuff “like a sleeping bag or tent at the bottom.” you should be able to carry about half your body weight, so if you weight 130 backs you should carry 70 pounds.”
Bedding
A sleeping bag “cool or cold weather”
A sheet for warm nights.
A sleeping mat
Change of clothes.
pillows? “your joking right?…. use your backpack for your pillow!”
Cooking
A simple mess kit is all you need..
A duel Fuel stove “burns both liquid white gas or alcohol”
Are you can use a small fire but keep it small a Dekota fire works great for cooking.
A spair fork, knife, spoon “for the cooking”
Water “this is for drinking and cooking with.”
Food
freeze dried foods like MRE’s “meals ready to eat” works great here because they have their own warmer. Canned foods also work well
keep your food in a cooler if you have meats or cheeses or even milk. But keep it small your not gonna eat a feast while camping so keep it light. “this will make your camping trip alot more enjoyable if you dont eat alot.”
Clothing
This will depend on when you plan on camping. You should make sure you understand that you will need winter clothes for winter and summer clothes for summer. So dress with the weather.
Personal
Now this is a joke you dont need this, Shower shoes/flip flops, Towels/washcloth, Soap in plastic case/shampoo, Comb/brush, Razor, Feminine products, Shower bag or 5 gallon bucket, Camping shower/shower pump, Other personal items is all the shit you dont need. extra baggage is all it is.
True personal items you will need.
Personal medications, “take extra if you are gonna be camping for a while this means for more then just the weekend.”
Tooth brush and tooth paste
Deodorant
Toilet paper
Tools
Sunscreen/chapstick
Lantern with fuel/mantles
Extra batteries/bulbs
Compass “learn to read one”
Bug repellant
Candle “can be used to start a fire with”
Water filters/purification/treatment
Maps
Multi tool
Sunglasses
Hammock “unless you have a tent”
First aid kit
Tissues “can be used to start fires”
Saw/axe
Park map/guidebooks/trail maps “if camping in a park”
Lantern pole or hanger
Flashlight/batteries
Pocket knife
Plastic grocery bags “for picking up others trash”
Rope
Canteen/water bottle
Bungi cords/straps
Cards
Notepad/pen “to document your trip”
Small shovel
Safety pins
Work gloves
Hand wipes
Fire extinguisher “if your not near water.”
Scissors “Frist aid kit has it.”
Trip
Enjoy your trip.
There are way too many unnecessary things on this list. This may be ok for park-and-camp situations, but for actual camping where you have to access your sites by canoeing, hiking, etc… carrying this much equipment would be awful. Remember to embrace the dirt, leave ALL unessential electronics at home, and leave no trace.
don’t forget inhailers
what the hell? who can carry all this on their back?Last time i checked i was not an oxen! pillows? well, at least if i get knawed on by a bear , ill be confortable!
Who ever made this took a lot of time and thought. Thank you.
That sure was a lot of stuff… I like minimalistic camping
Camp near water, and bring your Lifestraw(no need to bring water with you) Basic shelter/tarp and first aid kit. Great list though! (and bring a multi-tool!)
This is really helpful
Although, as some of the other commenters on this page have pointed out, many of the items on the list above are not necessities, it still provides a great checklist nonetheless.
Even if some of them are not necessities, having them on the list is important as they may still be needed by certain campers or at least be items that someone would like to take a long, but would not otherwise think of, if it hadn’t been on a checklist in the first place…
So thank you, for this great list!
A couple of items that you could possibly add are…
*Swedish Firesteel – It can light a fire in almost any weather conditions and can be used for emergency signals.
*A Pocket Chainsaw – Very useful for cutting down branches or sticks and it doesn’t take up much space.
*Campfire Popcorn Cooker – More for fun, but I absolutely love popcorn so being able to cook some around the campfire is a big plus!
*And Reusable (Exothermic Crystallization) Hand Warmers – If you’re camping in cold conditions these are great to have. Simply click the coin inside and it heats up to provide some great warmth just like a hot water bottle (bar the water). Then to reset it just boil in water for 5 minutes and it’s ready to use again.
Once again, thanks for a great list. And I love your website by the way.
Cheers,
Rob
This article is very helpful especially for those people who love to go out on an adventure and have a camp like me. This reminds me of the camp/outdoor essentials to bring everytime I join a camp with the organizations I’m in to like Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Red Cross, etc.
Camping is so fun, and awesome.. Can’t wait to be able to go this year.. I hope… Its a exciting experience, and nature ain’t bad either..