Camping is great fun with the family – what isn’t great fun though is when you get to your campsite after a few hours driving and realise you forgot to pack the mallet to get the tent pegs into the ground! Here’s our handy camping checklist which you can use to ensure you have all the key items before setting off for your camping trip.
If you’re relatively new to camping or haven’t been for a while it’s sometimes hard to decide on what essential items you will actually need. More often than not you’ll end up taking way too much equipment which makes for an uncomfortable drive but also takes you forever to pack up. We’ve split this list into essential and non-essential items.
Essential Items
Obviously some of these items you can choose to leave out – but we consider them essential as they’re either designed to keep you safer and warm, or to keep you sane! (frisbee anyone?)
Setting up your Camp
- Tent – Inner and Outer
- Tent Footprint (if your tent requires one)
- Tent Pegs
- Camping Mallet
Camping Furniture
- Camping Chairs
- Folding Table
Clothing for Camping
- Shoes / boots / Wellingtons
- Shower shoes / flip flops
- Trousers / skirt
- Shorts
- T-shirts
- Jumpers
- Socks / Underwear
- Sun hat
- Pyjamas
- Rain gear
- Swimming kit
Personal Items
- Towels
- Hair & Body Gel / Shampoo etc
- Toothbrush / Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Comb / Brush
- Razor
- Sunscreen
- Toilet paper
- Personal medications
- First aid kit
Trip Planning and Organisation
- Maps / Directions
- Reservation details
- Notepad / Pen
Sleeping at Camp
- Sleeping Bags
- Airbed / self-inflating sleeping mat / campbed
- Repair kit for bed
- Pillows / Infaltable Pillow
- Spare blanket
Cooking at Camp
- Water carrier
- Stove and fuel (Gas and BBQ)
- Matches / lighter
- Plates / bowls
- Cutlery
- Paper towels
- Bin bags
- Washing up liquid
- Cooking oil / Spray Oil
- Pots and frying pan(s)
- Cooking utensils e.g. kitchen knife, wooden spoon
- Scissors
- Tin opener
- Bottle opener
- Mugs / Cups
- Salad/Mixing bowl
- Cool box
- Washing up bowl
- Tea towels
- Scourers / Sponge
- Food for the first day / night
- Hot chocolate / Tea Bags / Coffee / Sugar / Milk
Electrical / Entertainment
- Headtorch / Torch
- Mobile Phone
- Electric Hook up Cable
- Extension Socket / Splitter
- Batteries / Chargers / Power Bank
- Radio
- Cards / Frisbee
Non-Essential Items
- Tent Carpet / Rug
- Windbreak
- Tent Awning
- Doormat for tent entrance
- Dust pan / Brush
- Camera
- Books / Magazines
- Cards / Games / Toys
- Frisbee / Ball
- Guidebooks / Maps
- Compass / GPS
- Bikes / HelmetsPocket knife / Multi-tool
- Insect repellent / Candles
- Extra batteries
- Water filters/purification
- Daysack
- Washing powder
- Clothes Pegs
- Collapsible clothes drying rack
- Clothes line
- Fire extinguisher/Blanket
- Gaffer tape
- Hot water bottle
- Ear Plugs
- Storage Unit
- Kitchen Tent
- Salad/Mixing bowl
- Kitchen foil / Cling film
- Vegetable peeler
- Ziplock bags
- Containers for food storage
- Cutting board
- Oven glove
- Seasonings / spices
- Details of nearest Doctors or A&ESmall shovel
- Safety pins
- Sunglasses
- Hammock
- Tissues
- Binoculars
- Water bottle
- Umbrella
- Hand/baby wipes
- Pocket sewing kit