The Camping Checklist
Nobody forgets the tent. What people forget is the tin opener, the spare pegs, and a second head torch, and then spend the first evening of a good trip driving to a supermarket. This is the list that stops that. Set it for the trip you are actually taking, tick as you pack, and print it if you would rather work off paper.
Shelter and sleep
- Tent, poles, fly
- Pegs, plus a dozen spareThe ones in the bag are the first thing to fail. Spares weigh nothing and save the trip.
- Mallet and peg puller
- Guy lines, pre attached
- Footprint or groundsheetCheaper to replace than a tent floor.
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping bag linerAdds warmth and means the bag needs washing far less often.
- Sleeping matThe mat, not the bag, is what stops the ground stealing your heat. Thickness beats bag rating on cold ground.
- Pump or pump sack
- Pillow, or a dry bag stuffed with clothes
- Repair patches for mat and tent
- Extra blanket
Camp kitchen
- Stove
- Fuel, more than you thinkCold weather and wind roughly double what you burn.
- Lighter, plus matches in a bag
- Pot and pan
- Kettle
- Plates, bowls, mugs
- Cutlery
- Sharp knife and small board
- Chopping and serving spoon
- Tin opener and bottle openerThe single most forgotten item in camping.
- Cool box or fridge
- Ice packs
- Water carrier
- Water bottles
- Washing up bowl, liquid, sponge, tea towel
- Bin bagsDouble what you planned. They end up as laundry bags, wet gear bags and groundsheets.
- Food storage tubs
- Foil and cling film
- Coffee kit
Clothing
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Insulating midlayer, fleece or syntheticSynthetic keeps insulating when damp. Down does not.
- Base layers, not cottonCotton holds water against the skin and keeps pulling heat out of you. It is the classic first trip mistake.
- Walking trousers
- Spare socks, more pairs than nightsDry socks are the cheapest comfort in camping.
- Underwear
- Warm hatAn uncovered head loses real heat. A hat in the sleeping bag is worth a whole bag rating.
- Sun hat
- Gloves
- Walking boots or shoes
- Camp shoes or sandalsSomething to change into matters more than it sounds after a day in boots.
- WellingtonsA wet field turns a family trip on its head. Worth the boot space.
- Swimwear
- Something to sleep in that you have not worn all day
Light and power
- Head torch per personOne torch between four is one torch and three people standing in the dark.
- Lantern for the tent
- Spare batteries
- Power bank
- Charging cables
- Power station or leisure batterySize it on what you actually run, not on the biggest number you can afford.
- Extension lead
Safety and first aid
- First aid kit
- Personal medication, in its own bag
- Blister plastersDeal with a hot spot when you notice it, not when it is a blister.
- Antihistamine
- Painkillers
- Sun cream
- Insect repellent
- Tick removerCheap, tiny, and the wrong time to find out you do not have one is after the walk.
- Carbon monoxide alarmMandatory if any stove, heater or lantern burns fuel anywhere near the tent. Not optional, not negotiable.
- Fire extinguisher or blanket
- Phone, charged, with offline maps saved
- Paper map and compass
- Whistle
Site and tools
- Camping chairs
- Table
- Windbreak
- Tarp or gazeboSomewhere dry to stand that is not the tent changes a wet weekend completely.
- Paracord and pegs for a washing line
- Duct tape, wrapped round a bottle rather than the whole roll
- Multi tool
- Dustpan and brushFor the tent floor. Unglamorous and you will use it every day.
- Doormat
- Pitch marker or flagLarge sites look identical in the dark.
Washing and waste
- Towels, quick dry
- Wash bag and toiletries
- Toilet rollBring your own. Always.
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitiser
- Shower flip flops
- Laundry bag for wet and dirty kit
- Toilet chemicals
With children
- Their own head torchThe single best thing you can hand a child at a campsite.
- Spare clothes, then spare spare clothes
- Comfort toy
- Ear defenders for light sleepers
- Travel potty or step
- Games and cards for a wet afternoon
- Snacks within reach, not at the bottom of a crate
- Glow sticks to mark guy linesStops the tripping and keeps them entertained.
With a dog
- Lead, long line and stake
- Food, bowls and water bowl
- Dog bed or mat
- Towel for muddy legs
- Poo bags
- Tick remover and flea check
- Proof of vaccination if the site asks
Three things this list is opinionated about
The mat matters more than the bag. Cold ground pulls heat out of you far faster than cold air does, and no sleeping bag rating survives a thin mat. If you are choosing where to spend, spend there.
Cotton is the wrong fabric. It soaks up sweat and rain, holds it against your skin and keeps cooling you long after you have stopped moving. Synthetic or wool for anything worn next to the skin.
A carbon monoxide alarm is not optional. If anything burns fuel near your tent, a stove, a heater, a lantern, even one carried in to warm up before bed, you need an alarm. They cost very little and the failure mode is that people do not wake up.
Related
Working out power for a longer trip? Use the camp power draw calculator. Sizing a tent for the group? The tent floor area table shows what a rated capacity actually gives each person. Everything else sits in Camp.
Something missing that you never travel without? Tell us and we will add it.