What to bring camping for beginners

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.

Don’t be intimidated; going camping is simple, almost unbelievably cheap and a lot of fun. Here’s a basic guide for first timers with everything you need to know.

The checklist below is aimed at those looking to take on a group camping holiday. You can take this list as a starting point and work out what gear is relevant to your particular trip.

Tent Checklist

For stripped back wild camping, this list will be much shorter to save space and weight when carrying. If you’re driving to a campsite, it’s a good idea to pack whichever items are relevant to you.

Tent – always choose a larger berth than the number of people camping, this gives you extra space for luggage.
Tent Accessories – these can include tent porch, tent carpet and tent footprint (depending on the tent you own)
Spare Tent Pegs – nothing worse than bent tent pegs
Mallet – ideal for knocking tent pegs into the ground.
Lantern
Duct Tape – you’d be surprised what can be fixed with tape
Brush
Electric Hook up – adds electric to your tent, for the mod cons.

Sleeping Checklist

The sleeping checklist is applicable to most forms of camping, the gear may change but the items remain the same. Lightweight options are better for backpackers, while family campers may wish to indulge in a little more luxury with airbeds and camp beds.

Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Mat/Airbed – whether roll mat or double airbed, this can add comfort and extra insulation during the night.
Camp bed – a camp bed gets you off of the ground, and feeling like home.
Pillow
Extra clothing – the temperature does drop at night, layer up and you can remove layers as you get warmer during the night.
Ear plugs – other campers can be loud; whether after you’ve gone to bed, or before you want to wake up.

Campsite Checklist

Your camp can be whatever you want to make it, and with so many furniture choices and other add-ons to think about, you can truly create a home away from home. Or, you can just take the necessary items like bin bags to make sure you can leave your camp space as clear as possible. Leave no trace!

Furniture – camping chairs and tables can go a long way to creating a great social area outside the tent or in the living area.
Portable Toilet – ideal for the middle of the night, or with young children.
Windbreak – good for campsite privacy, and of course keeping the wind away.
Torch/ Headtorch – much needed for finding the loo during the night!
Bin Bags – leave nothing behind
String/Cord – can be used for binding, or an onsite washing line.

Camping Kitchen Checklist

Depending on your type of camping, could alter how this list may look for you. Wild campers will want a lightweight stove, and perhaps a single pan to cook with and eat from, while festival goers may have to follow strict rules over what fuel they can cook with at the festival site. Family and group campers may look to take substantially more as they aim to create meals while out camping, and with that comes all the accessories needed.

Water container – ideal for drinking water, or trips to the onsite tap.
Stove and/or BBQ
Gas/Charcoal – depending on your choice of cooking appliance.
Pots/Pans
Low Wattage Appliances – to work with your electric hook up, for extra luxury
Kettle
Cooking utensils
Tableware – plates, bowls, cups etc
Cutlery
Basin – even if not used to wash the dishes, it will certainly help for carrying dirty dishes to the campsite wash area.
Tin Opener – all the food and no way to open it is never good.
Bottle Opener
Coolbox/Coolbag
Matches/Lighter
Wet Wipes

Health and Safety Checklist

You know your own health requirements; taking more personal medication than needed for the time period is of the utmost importance. Outside of this, standard first aid kits, sun cream and other essentials should also be part of your camping kit.

Personal medications (plus extra)
First Aid Kit
Sun Cream
Anti-bacterial handwash
Insect Repellent
Extra Batteries
Pocket Knife
Toilet Roll

Now it’s your turn..

This checklist is a guide for you to build from for your own camping trip; use it to help but your own camping checklist.