Have you ever wondered what sustenance you need for your outdoor camping? Read here on the essential camping checklist and tips to give you a pleasant camping experience.
Camping is an exciting and adventurous experience to look forward to for holidays, excursions, get-togethers or whatever the case may be.
A pleasant camping experience is, nevertheless, accomplished by careful planning, and preparation. Occasionally, while preparing for camping, you may experience roadblocks to packing such as deciding on what and what not to include in your travel pack. Well, don’t forget that all items of importance would definitely depend on the type of activities included on camp.
150+ outdoor camping checklist items and tips
In this article, I have prepared a list of general items that you will find quite beneficial to consider. The camping checklist is categorised into the following: personal accessories, clothing and foot wear, shelter, food and cook wares, safety kits and time-fillers and miscellaneous.
Personal accessories
Your personal accessories would include items you need on a daily basis. The duration of your stay gives you an idea of the quantity of items you deem necessary. A mental run through of your daily habits would help in ensuring that you are not missing out on any item.
A note of caution is to avoid using strong sweet smelling accessories such as body sprays when camping out in the woods, otherwise, you would unwittingly entertain bugs with their irritating bites. So, what personal accessories should you include?
- Flip-flops (or rubber slipas)
- Bathroom towel
- Bathing soap or shower gel
- Tooth brush and toothpaste
- Hair brush or comb
- Deodorant
- Roll-on
- Shaving or hair removers
- Powder
- Body lotion
- Bathing sponge
- Laundry bag
- Bathing bucket and scoop
- Sewing kit
- Shower cap (ladies)
- Sanitary towels (ladies)
- Under wears
Camping checklist for Clothing and Footwear
Obviously, clothing and footwear are a must. However, your choice would strongly depend on the type of climate and weather conditions of the region where you are camping.
Additionally, your choice would also be influenced by the type of activities to be done in camp. Whatever is your choice, always remember to pack body wears that: fit all weather conditions likely to occur, make you comfortable to move around with ease and would protect you from harsh elements out there. Find below what you need to include:
- Flat shoes
- Snickers
- Hiking boots
- Sandals
- Jeans and belt
- Night wears
- Loose T-Shirt
- Long sleeve shirt
- Sweat shirt, Hoodies or pullover
- Lumberjack coat or warm jacket
- Shorts
- Hats or caps
- Ear warmers
- Handkerchief or bandana
- Raincoat
- Rain boots
- Swim suit and towel
- Socks
- Hand gloves
- Mufflers
- Workout legging
- Swim suit
- Tank top
- Wrist watch
- Sunglasses
Camping checklist for Shelter
One of the most important aspects of preparing for camping is deciding on where to sleep. Your personal safety and comfort makes it all the more relevant. While camping out in the woods, you would need the following provisions listed below.
- Tenth cloth
- Brush and dustpan
- Hammer or axe
- Ropes
- Stakes or poles
- Mat or ground cloth
- Sleeping mat, air/foam mattress or camp bed
- Pillow and pillow cases
- Bed sheets
- Umbrella
- Air pumps
- Repair kit (for air mattress)
- Blanket
- Utility bag
Camping checklist for Food and Cookware
Food and cookware are of highest priority if you would be spending many days out in the woods. Certainly, the amount of food you need to carry would depend on the duration of your stay.
Always ensure to carry a well balance diet and avoid food that can possibly irritate your bowel system or take so much time to prepare. To be sure of what you really need, there is no harm in drawing out a daily schedule for each day to be as detailed as possible. Avoid just assuming on the surface or you might be left stranded. Check out the list below to give you an idea.
Camping checklist for Food in the Camp
- Cereals
- beef, sausage or fish
- oats
- milk
- cheese
- egg
- chocolate and cream drinks
- fruits
- vegetables
- confectionery
- Bread
- semolina or wheat floor
- light soup
- Plantain, yam or potatoes
- Seasonings
- Drinking water and non-alcoholic drinks
Camping checklist for Cookware
- Coolers/Ice
- Grill
- Water container
- Thermos or hot water flask
- Oil (palm or vegetable)
- Dish pan and pot
- Mugs
- Dish scrubs
- kitchen knife
- Zip-lock bags
- Portable cooking stove
- Foldable table and sit
- Spatula and serving spoons
- Disposable plates and spoons
- Food storage container
- Trash bag
- Paper towels
- Aluminium foil
- Fire starters and rough papers
- Charcoal and firewood
- Lighter
- Silverware plates and cups
- Tray
- Cooking fuel
Safety kits camping checklist
Where there is no doctor, hospital or emergency response team close by, your safety kits become your most treasured companion next to you. However, you can save more cost financially and health wise by performing a medical fitness check up with your doctor and get precautionary advice on protecting your health. On your own initiative, you should also equip yourself with a basic knowledge of First Aid. Additionally, if you are to take with you a fire extinguisher, you must know how to use it. Hence, what should you need with regards to your safety?
- First Aid manual
- Road flares
- Bandages
- Methylated spirit
- Personal Medication
- Pain reliever
- Antacid
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Cotton wool
- Bug repellent
- Antiseptic wipes
- Bee sting kit
- Antibiotics
- Sinus medication
- Hot balm
- Antibacterial soap
- Sunscreen cream
- Personal information (including contact person in case of emergency)
- GPS tracker
- Snake bite kit
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Health insurance document
- Twine
- Recharge card
- Phone
- Thermometer
- Latex hand gloves
- Flashlight
- Heat and cold packs
- Poison ivy cream/cleansers
- Eye drops
- Sterile gauze pads
- Iodine whistle
- Safety pins
- Money
- Fire Extinguishers
- Lamp
- Compass
- Portable shocking electric fence (ropes)
- Mosquito net
- Sealable garbage containers (to keep off preys)
- Animal spray
Time Fillers and Miscellaneous
With time, energy and money spent and for the good pleasure of camping; nobody embarks on a camp for the purpose of getting bored. How could you add to the extra fun and live? By having with you something to reflect on, create and store the pleasant memories you will enjoy afterwards? Therefore, be creative by considering adding few of the options found below.
- A motivational book
- Radio or music player
- A musical instrument
- Diary and pen
- digital camera
- Song book
- Binoculars
- Fishing gear kits
- Board games
- Poetries
- Selfie Stick
From the Same Author: 37+ List of Items To Take To NYSC Camp
Gathering your items for camping should never be too hard to get done. Remember, you are not going for an award party where you have to be flawless.
Camping affords you the opportunity to be yourself, relaxed, closely attached to nature, reflect and discover things you never knew.
So when next you are invited to camp outdoor, don’t hesitate to grab your belongings and hit the road to camp to muse over the other side of life. And as you pack, don’t fail to cross check your items here. Two heads are better than one!
So are you ready to go camping? Do you already have a camping experience? Feel free to share on this blog as your thoughts and comments would be welcome.