Essential Checklist for Camping: Everything You Need

–David Noble

Camping is great fun for all the family but there are a few camping essentials that are vital to your holiday’s success – so leaving them behind isn’t an option.

If you’re not sure what to take, or you fear you might forget the things you need, it’s a good idea to draw up a list.

Why is organisation so important when camping?

Quite simply, organisation can make or break your camping trip. A complete first-aid kit is one of the top five items most forgotten – a worrying statistic, since safety is of the utmost importance, especially in the great outdoors.

In fact, a first aid kit should probably be every camper’s number one priority. If you never need to use it, you’ll be very lucky. Best-case scenario, you’ll need it minimally!

Towels are something else you must always pack. Many people make the mistake of taking one each. This isn’t ideal, especially if it rains during your trip. Well, it does happen, folks!

Other often forgotten items include bin bags, spare batteries for torches and lanterns, a spare pair of shoes in case your feet get wet (that pesky rain again!), wood for the campfire (if your campsite permits) and baby wipes to freshen up.

Beds and bedding

A good quality sleeping bag is absolutely vital, particularly if the weather is cold or damp and it will pay dividends over time. Choose a comfy memory pillow that offers mouldable support to help get a good night’s sleep.

Always take extra blankets, as the weather might change and it’s often colder overnight. Most importantly, if you’re using air beds, don’t forget to pack the pump! Alternatively, sleeping mats can provide a warm and comfortable base for your sleeping bag.

Cookware

It’s always wise to take a camping stove, such as a compact grill and cooker, so you won’t end up without hot food for days on end – and it really adds to the camping experience, in my opinion.

A portable stove is easy to ignite, waterproof when compared with an open wood fire and you can cook up some really lovely stuff. Lightweight, you can carry it in a camping backpack, so you’ll be assured of a hot meal wherever you go.

Did you know, you can take your own camp kitchen with you, in the shape of all-in-one foldable lightweight shelves, storage space and safe cooking stand? The Outdoor Revolution Milazzo Multi Camp Kitchen features an aluminium top cooker stand, two shelves, a removable windshield and a storage cupboard with zip door and two rigid shelves. Once you’ve finished using it, you can simply fold and store it away flat until next time. It even comes with its own carry bag.

If  you’re on a site where you can have an open fire, there’s no need to use matches – just make sure you put a Regatta Flint Striker in your pocket and your fire will be ignited in seconds.

Cool boxes

Don’t forget the cool box on your next camping trip. While July hasn’t been too great weather-wise, the Met Office has forecast a heatwave in August, so it’s particularly important to be prepared.

Before you set off, you can freeze plastic water filled ice blocks at home to keep the food in the cool box fresh. If you have a portable camping fridge, keep a supply of ice on hand. If not, there’s usually a local shop where you can buy bags of ice cubes that will last longer in a cool box.

Chairs

Camping chairs, and maybe even a small camping table, enable the whole party to sit together and dine. You could even enjoy a game of cards!

You can also use them at home – you can sit in them to sunbathe, or relax under a canopy, rather than lying on the ground to soak up some rays.

The tent

It goes without saying that a good quality tent should be high on your list of camping priorities, but if you’re the person who forgets their tent, maybe you need to question whether an outdoor holiday is right for you!

Other essentials for camping

It goes without saying that you’ll need a mallet to hammer home your tent pegs to firmly secure it to the ground. Some mallets have a strong rubber head with a wooden handle and a useful peg extractor on the other end.

It’s also a good idea to take a portable drying rack so you can dry towels and any other washing outdoors.

Even in sunny weather, it may be a bit breezy, so take a windbreak so you can sit comfortably outdoors without being blown away. It’s possible to take a foldable windbreak measuring around 5 metres wide and 1.4 metres tall, as it will fold flat for carrying and storage. You can also use it to mark out your territory!

While we’ve provided our thoughts on camping essentials, the only person who knows exactly what’s expected on your camping holiday is YOU.

Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun. Camping can be such an adventure!