I am a huge fan of camping as a way of keeping travel costs low (see my travel tip here) and as a general leisure activity with family and friends. If you have never gone camping before it can seem like a pretty daunting activity with lots of planning and equipment. In reality, camping takes little equipment unless you are engaging in long-term backpacking excursions where weight and functionality become key. For us average folks, here is a breakdown of what I think is essential camping gear.
1. Tent: Yup, this is pretty important unless you plan on sleeping in your car, an RV, or under an open sky. When shopping for a tent be warned that the number of people indicated on the package is usually not feasible if you are using a larger air matress. As a rule of thumb, assume two less people than what’s indicated. With that said, I camped in an 8-person tent and only fit 4 due to king-sized mattresses, so plan accordingly. No need for a super fancy, expensive tent. I love the Coleman brand and a really affordable.
2. Sleeping bag: Select one that has the appropriate temperature rating, and when in doubt choose a warmer sleeping bag. You can always unzip if too warm, but it majorly sucks to be shivering all night.
3. Air Mattress or sleeping pad: Two years ago I splurged on a ultra-light air mattress that is perfect for backpacking and super comfortable for sleeping. When picking what works best for you consider the weight and size of the matress and how you intend on transporting it. Also, if you don’t mind sleeping on the floor than you might be able to get away with just an inexpensive foam pad (no more than 10$). If you are looking to replicate the luxury of your home bed, than opt for a self-inflating twin air mattress.
4. Camping chair: From sporting events to campfire to lounging on the beach, you probably already have a nifty foldable chair. If not, head to Wal-Mart and you can probably score one for 5$.
5. Gas stove: Cooking over a campfire can be tricky and unpredictable, that’s why a gas stove is a nice investment. You can easily boil water and cook your meals without the hassle of managing a campfire. If you prefer you can opt for a portable BBQ instead. Just assess your needs before making the purchase. I own a 2-burner stove from Coleman and it works great and is surprisingly portable (it was packed in my suitcase on my trip to Newfoundland).
6. Cooler: Keeps all your food (or beer, I’m Canadian after all 🙂 ) nice and cold. It’s amazing how quickly a cooler fills up, so if your debating on what size to buy I highly encourage you to pick the bigger option.
7. Mess kit: Make sure you have a set of basic pots and pans in your camping kit so that you can do some cooking while you are out in the woods. I would suggest bringing real cutlery instead of plastic because they are much sturdier and won’t break trying to pick up a piece of egg. If you’re not into doing dishes than make sure to bring plenty of paper plates and cups.
8. Miscellaneous: There are certain items that I think no camper should be without. Definitely bring some bug repellent, and a head lamp for trecking out to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Speaking of bathrooms, bring a roll (or two) of toilet paper since camp bathrooms can be dingy. Lastly, make sure you have wood for those awesome campfires, just check with local regulations since you may not be allowed to bring wood from home to burn.
