Every year, one million new families in the US take up camping. It’s one of the most affordable and enjoyable types of vacation for all ages. No wonder young families love it!
But if you’re new to camping, you won’t have any of the essential camp accessories and gear you need for a successful trip. With the right gear, you will have a relaxing break in nature, learning new skills.
Without good camping gear, you risk abandoning your vacation after the first night in search of a good night’s sleep and a hot meal.
Don’t worry! Whether you prefer campsite or car camping, these are all the camping essentials you need for fun outdoor adventures.
Tent
Unless you are camping in an RV, you will need a tent. Tents keep you warm and dry and keep away the bugs. They are also somewhere safe to store your belongings when you need to hit the shower block.
Choosing the right tent for you will depend on a few factors:
- Number of people
- Climate and weather
- Carrying or packing in the car
If you are hiking and camping and need to carry your tent, it needs to be as lightweight as possible. Choose a one-person tunnel tent for this style of camping.
Or, if you are camping as a family of five with a car, choose a multi-room tent tall enough to stand up in. This will be a spacious tent and will give your family some privacy. It might be a big and heavy tent but that doesn’t matter if you are driving.
It goes without saying that if you are camping somewhere that experiences a lot of rain, then you should get a waterproof tent. Buy one with a bug net if you are camping in a hot and dry place.
Sleeping Bag
Choosing the right sleeping bag can make or break your camping trip. Hikers that are carrying their camping gear should invest in a mummy sleeping bag. These are small and lightweight, and they will stay dry if you opt for one with a waterproof cover.
But the main consideration when choosing a sleeping bag is the “season.” These are ratings that describe what climate a sleeping bag is suitable for.
Here’s a simple guide for you to follow:
- Season one – warm, summer nights
- Season two – cooler spring/summer evenings
- Season three – mild winter nights
- Season four – cold and frosty winter nights
If you’re unsure, choose a season three or four sleeping bag. You can always take layers off if you get too warm. And if you are camping in a very warm place, consider buying a silk sleeping bag liner instead.
Ground Mat
You could go camping without a ground mat, but would you want to? It’s guaranteed you’d have an uncomfortable night’s sleep. And sleeping next to the earth will make you feel colder.
There are two types of ground mats: the ones that look like yoga mats and the self-inflating ones. The yoga mat style is affordable and available in any sporting goods or camp shop. But the self-inflatable type is far better.
These camp accessories are very light and pack up smaller than you might expect. They are also more comfortable because they provide a little extra padding.
Inflatable Pillow
Why stop at a self-inflating ground mat when you can get an inflatable pillow too? Never use the pillow from your bed at home to camp with, as it could get damp and start growing mold.
Instead, opt for a self-inflatable camping pillow to rest your head on. These also pack up super small. Some sleeping bags have a hood for you to put your pillow in so it doesn’t move around during the night.
Torches and Lanterns
Torches are some of the most essential camp accessories. Many campsites don’t have street lighting and if they do, it’s often not very bright. And if you’re backwoods camping then you might be in complete darkness.
Packing a regular torch is a good start but you can do better than that. Head torches are ideal for when you need to run to the toilet block or look in your backpack after dark. Trying to use the backroom with a torch in one hand is a little tricky!
Lanterns are perfect when you are car camping and sleeping in a multi-room tent. Most tents have tassels in the center of the “ceiling” that you can tie things to.
If you tie a lantern in every room of your tent, then voilà ! You have makeshift ceiling lights.
Campfire Equipment
What’s Mickey without Minnie, what’s a hotdog without ketchup, and what’s camping without a campfire? Toasting s’mores on an open flame is an essential part of the experience.
But if you don’t go camping often, then you might not be adept at building a fire. Bring everything you might need to start a fire. This includes a firefighter, fire starters, matches, and some newspaper or notepaper.
Remember to never leave a burning fire unattended, and check your campground’s rules on fires.
Food and Water
Even if you’re staying in a campground close to a town, you’ll still need food and water for emergencies. Invest in a stainless steel reusable water bottle and it will insulate whatever beverage you decide to fill it with. That means it will keep your water cold or your coffee hot!
Car campers should bring a cooler so you can keep meats, diaries, and sodas cold. You should also bring a huge gallon jug to fill with water. This is ideal for washing plates, hands, and faces.
If you’re hiking and don’t have a lot of room, pack food with a lot of protein and calories that won’t spoil. Jerky, nuts, dried fruit, and protein bars are ideal.
First Aid and Safety Gear
These are non-negotiable, must-have camping accessories. Campsites are often far away from hospitals. And if you are backcountry camping, you may not even have cell reception to call for help.
You should always carry a first aid kit in your car anyway so this might not be a consideration if you are car camping. But if you are hiking and camping, put together a small portable kit. Here is what to put in it:
- Disinfectant wipes
- Adhesive bandages i.e. band aids
- Cloth bandages
- Gauze
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Antiseptic creams
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Pain medication e.g., ibuprofen
If you are camping in summer then you should also have sunscreen, insect repellent, and bug bite treatment. Multitools will also help you in a range of circumstances like removing a tick or cutting twigs.
Navigation and Communication Tools
In a real emergency, you will need to get help. That’s why navigation and communication tools are important camping accessories. It’s recommended that you pack the following in your camping backpack:
- Compass
- Detailed map of the local area
- Cell phone
- Portable power bank
- Safety whistle
- Torch
You will be able to communicate with the emergency services or someone in the surrounding areas with these devices.
Power Generator
You might be camping, but that doesn’t mean you need to shun all the comforts of home. You can bring a compact power generator with you if you are car camping to keep all your devices charged.
This means you can still use your smartphone to communicate with friends and family. You can charge laptops to work and tablets to watch movies after the sun goes down. If you’re interested, view more here.
Camping Stove and Utensils
Unless you want to eat jerky and nuts for your entire trip, packing a camping stove and accessories is a must! Here are some of the kitchen tools you will need to bring with your stove:
- Fuel
- Mugs
- Can opener
- Bottle opener
- Silverware
- Plates and bowls
- Pots and pans
- Kettle
- Ladle
- Slotted spoon
- Spatula
- Knives
- Chopping boards
- Seasonings
- Reusable food containers
- Kitchen towels
- Washing up tools
You can expand or narrow down this list depending on how much cooking you want to do. And how much you can carry!
Hiking Backpack
So, will you be carrying your camping accessories in your arms? Nope! You’ll need a high-quality backpack to store all your camping essentials.
It’s paramount that your backpack fits you well and is supportive. Choose a backpack with hip and chest straps to get the pressure off your back and shoulders. Top-loading backpacks are also more comfortable for hiking and camping than commuter-style backpacks.
Be wary of getting a backpack that is too large for your needs. You will be more inclined to fill it with “just in case” items. It should only weigh 10% of your body weight, otherwise it’s too heavy.
Take These Camp Accessories and Essentials on Your Outdoor Adventures
Getting the right camp accessories before your first camping trip is an investment. Because if you buy quality gear, you won’t have to replace them for a very long time! And you will get a lot of use out of these essentials because they will help you fall in love with the quintessential American camping trip.
Now that you know what camping gear you should pack, you need to plan your trip! Browse our travel articles for vacation planning tips and destination inspiration.
