Camping is a great experience and can be done minimally but having the right camping gear can make or break a weekend adventure. I’ve compiled a list of camping gear that I think every beginner camper who wants to be over-prepared needs.
I created a handy dandy Google Sheet for planning my gear list. As I purchased or rounded up items I bolded them on the list and as I had them packed and ready I crossed them out. This helped me stay organized before heading out on my first overland camping trip and I didn’t forget a single important thing.
If you plan to make camping a regular part of your life I highly recommend getting some plastic storage bins to organize your items in so that you don’t have to pack and unpack them every time you head out on an outdoor adventure.
I organized my list by category which really helped. Some things you may not need when first getting started but they are great to keep in mind and accumulate over time as you get more experienced or start going out more.
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Functional Items
This list of camping gear includes items you need for warmth, safety, convenience, and cleaning primarily. Propane heaters and cooking burners are your best friend when camping and are quite affordable. It’s also important to keep in mind convenience items like tables, chairs, tools, saws, and shovels. While you can definitely get by without them it’s a great idea to have them. Small items like towels, lighters, and trash bags often get overlooked but are important to have.
Keep in mind that some of these items are seasonal. You may not need heaters for summer camping but in that case, maybe you want a battery-powered fan of some sort. During fall and winter months in certain areas, you may not need insect spray but during other times of the year or in certain areas it will be an absolute must.
- Large propane tank
- Small propane tank
- Bottle-top camping stove
- Propane tank top heater
- Lantern (solar, battery, or propane)
- Folding shovel
- Folding table
- Folding saw
- Headlamp
- First aid kit
- Insect spray
- Small tool kit
- Hand warmers
- Trash bags
- Fire wood
- Flashlight
- Water jug
- Lighter
- Towels
- Cooler
- Chairs
Electronics
This list should be short because you are camping and should focus on enjoying the outdoors but having a battery pack for charging mobile and photography devices is a great idea. I really like the HALO but there are some great solar battery packs as well. You can start small with your pocket-sized one if you aren’t ready to splurge on a big one.
- Heavy-duty battery pack
- Car charger
- Camera
- Drone
Cooking
This list is long but it is necessary. You can get by without many of these things but for the most comfortable experience, I like to have all of this. You can definitely get by with a roasting stick, some hot dogs, and a fire pit if you must but I love preparing true meals sometimes when camping, and morning coffee is a must for me.
- Propane stove
- Roasting sticks
- Cooking utensils
- Cast iron skillets
- Eating utensils
- Cooking spray
- Coffee mugs
- Tupperware
- Seasonings
- Plastic storage bags
- Coffee pot or kettle
- Small cooking pot
- Paper towels
- Dishtowel
- Dish rag
- Hot pad
- Tin foil
- Plates
- Bowls
- Cups
Hygiene
Not much needs said about this list. Items included here will help you and your items stay clean while out camping. Remember to keep the environment in mind if you will need to use the great outdoors as a bathroom.
- Antibacterial wipes
- Environmentally friendly wet wipes
- Environmentally friendly soap
- Plastic gloves
- Toilet paper
- Life straws
Entertainment
I encourage you to spend as much time as possible exploring your area when camping. You can hike, fish and bird watch to pass the time and get away from camp. If you want something to do in the tent consider a speaker for music or podcasts and card or board games if you have someone to play with.
- Bluetooth speaker
- Card/board games
- Fishing poles
- Hiking poles
- Binoculars
- Tackle
Sleeping
Not much needs said here. How much you pack here will depend on where you’re sleeping and the time of year. Remember that there are different sleeping bags for different temperatures and this is something you will want to pay attention to.
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Extra blankets
- Pillow
This post may contain affiliate links, including links to products on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Mae Today!
Takeaways
The more you camp the more you’ll understand about your camping gear needs and you’ll likely get a system and storage system down that works for you. As you become more experienced and become more willing to invest in your gear you can swap things out or add more to your growing camping gear collections.
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