Camping Essentials Checklist

Preparation is the key to a successful camping trip. When we first started camping, we would constantly discover that we’d forgotten certain things, or that there were things we wound up having to go out and buy. Here are a few of the essential items you need to have when you go camping:

A Tent

Select a tent that is most suitable for your family size. The tent provides protection from weather and insects. It should be simple to rig up and dismantle. Choose a tent that has the particular features you want, such as a screened-in porch or air vents to keep the tent from becoming stuffy.

Air Mattresses

An air mattress provides you with some padding underneath you while you sleep, so that you aren’t stuck on the hard, cold ground. While a sleeping bag offers some padding, an air mattress provides much more in the way of comfort. Make sure you remember to pack the pump for the air mattress as well, or you’ll likely spend your first night blowing up your air mattress.

Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags come in a number of varieties. Depending on when you intend to camp, you might want to use a heavy sleeping back to keep you warmer at night. You can often zip two sleeping bags together if you want to have a larger sleeping bag big enough for two people to sleep in.

Lighting

You’ll want to make sure and bring plenty of flashlights and extra batteries so that you can see once the sun goes down. You can also us an oil, propane, or battery powered lantern to help you see at night.

Campfire Materials

Make sure you’ve got a lighter, dry matches, fire starters and access to firewood. Make sure to check your state and local regulations, though, as moving firewood can sometimes cause the migration of harmful insects such as the Emerald Ash Borer.

Cooking Tools

A set of used pots and pans and some grill tools means that you don’t have to have hot dogs for every meal. In addition, you might consider using plastic plates and silverware, and bringing a tub to wash the dishes in.

Personal protection

Finally, you need protection from the elements. Bring sunscreen and insect repellant to ward off sunburn and mosquito bites.