Prepping for a trip to the great outdoors? You may be asking yourself, what on earth should I pack? Luckily here’s our essential camping checklist.
This may sound like an opening for a camping for dummies checklist, but picking the correct tent and sleeping gear is almost as important as remembering to put it on your camping packing list in the first place. Whilst working out what is a luxury and what is not when looking for a tent and sleeping gear, you need to ask yourself a few questions:
The type of experience you want from a tent can play a massive part when deciding what to bring camping. It’s widely believed that 60cm is the minimum size of tent you need per person. However, while some people only see their tent as a sleeping pod, others see it as their home, a place where they can spend a large part of their trip, especially those who are taking their family camping.
So, whether it’s a tent that is a dome or a tunnel, has its own separate bedrooms, living room space or even just the number of doors, making these decisions early to get this right will save time, effort and maybe even money when going camping.
Along with the size of your tent, if you are bringing your children camping, you’ll need to decide whether they will be in the same tent as you or their own private lodgings. This could depend on their age and how keen they are on learning about building and living in their tent.
When it comes to adding comfort items to your camping checklist, it will vary depending not only on the size of your tent, but also on the way you get to the campsite. If you’ve got a convertible or travelling by train, overloading yourself with items that aren’t camping must-haves may make your experience a tricky one.
First of all, make sure you have a sleeping bag that you find comfortable, both size and temperature wise. What you then add to your setup completely depends on what you need to sleep, but the usual is a sleeping mat or an inflatable mattress, and a suitable camping pillow. Some even bring earplugs for an easier night's sleep.
There is also the matter of campsite comfort. While many make gazebos and portable showers part of their list, when it comes to camping essentials, all you really need is camping chairs and a lantern. It’s also wise, in terms of staying in the know about your campsite, to bring along a camping guide book.
Setting up a tent, unfurling your sleeping bag and creating your own mini campsite is usually the easy part. But then when you want to make a quick getaway at the end of the trip and still be respectful to the ‘leave no trace’ camping ethic, choosing items that are easy to pack away is a very smart move. Depending on the size of your travelling party, you want to choose tents and sleeping gear that is as easy to set up as it is to take down. That may mean opting for a pop up tent if there's just one or two of you, or opting for an inflatable tent if there are five of you.
• Moisture-wicking underwear
• Moisture-wicking T-shirts
• Long-sleeve shirts
• Quick-drying trousers
• Lightweight fleece or jacket
• Boots
• Socks (synthetic or wool)
• Sleepwear
• Rainwear
• Long underwear
• Warm insulated jacket
• Gloves or mittens
• Warm hat
• Sun hat
• Swimsuits
• Water sandals
When setting up a temporary home in the great outdoors, one of the most important things to remember when camping is to prepare for the worst, both for human injury, camping wear and tear, and also the right sanitary equipment. As with tents and sleeping arrangements, you want items on your camping packing list that are essential, and also economical sizewise.
Here are some questions to consider about your camping essentials.
There is always the possibility that borrowed tents and camping essentials might be worn out or even damaged. It’s smart to double-check everything before you leave, whether that be inspecting any tent damage in the garden or making sure any first aid items aren’t out of date. If any of your gear is already damaged, try to fix it before you leave, and if it is still causing you problems, look to replace it with gear that won’t fall apart when you’re out in the wild. However, most camping equipment has a good shelf life and may need some maintenance or repair.
Similarly to many types of travelling, you want to keep your products small, essential and preferably recyclable. Remember that use of tap or water sources will be irregular or minimal, so choose items that don’t need a ton of water.
If you aren’t a hundred per cent sure how to use any of the items below or are certain that no one in your camping party has first aid training, it is worth finding a training course local to you. The skills you learn there could end up being very helpful and also serve you well in other non-camping situations.
• Headlamps or flashlights (with extra batteries)
• Multi-tool
• Duct tape
• Cordage
• Tent-pole repair sleeve
• Pad/mattress repair kit
• Toilet paper
• Hand sanitiser
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Quick-dry towel
• Menstrual products
• Prescription medication
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Sun hat
• Insect repellent
• Lip balm
• Irrigating syringe
• Medical gloves
• Tweezers
• Antibiotic ointment
• Hydrogel pads
• Bandages and gauze
• Athletic tape
• Medication (depending on who you are going with)
Part of the joy of camping is being away from everything. This usually includes supermarkets, restaurants and also places reachable for delivery. That means that whilst living amongst nature, any warm meals will have to be cooked, and all cooking equipment will need to be on your camping packing list. It may well be worth checking ahead about whether the area you are intending to camp has a fire pit.
In terms of packing, the most important two things to do is to check all your cooking equipment out before you leave, and making sure you have the correct cooking apparatus for your intended meals. To check that your equipment works, test the quality, how long it takes to function and how much it is capable of cooking at one time.
It’s best to avoid any fancy foods when making your camping checklist. Over complicating the cooking can mean carrying more equipment than necessary. Make sure certain food is pre-made and packed in Tupperware boxes, as they will keep for longer. As long as you are bringing along a cooler box, ideal foods for camping include eggs, cheese, beef, chicken, milk, bread, butter, noodles and carrots.
• Stove and fuel
• Matches/lighter/firestarter
• Firewood or coals
• Cook pots and pans
• Eating and cooking utensils
• Plates and bowls
• Tupperware
• Cups
• Cooling box
• Ice
• Water bottles
• Biodegradable soap
• Pot scrubber
• Trash bags
• Credit card and/or cash
• ID
• Cellphone
• Campsite reservation confirmation
Of course when thinking about how to pack for family camping, all the above applies. However, this may well be the first time your little ones have ever been camping, so they may need more home comforts than usual. While you’ll be planning on having them connect with nature during the day, there will be time in the evenings where keeping them entertained may involve a little bit more than just naming trees and staring into the stars.
• Bubbles
• Glow sticks
• Favourite games, colouring books & crayons
• Deck of cards
• Books for bedtime
• Camera
• Binoculars
• Kids fishing rod (don't forget your license) and bait
Now that you know everything you need to take with you, fill the gaps with the Decathlon camping range below. Make sure you have the perfect tent, plenty of sleeping bags and camping cooking equipment and picnicware to make meals a delight!
