Camping Equipment Guide

Equipment Directory
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Air mattress - We bought the Coleman queensize mattress with a flocked surface, and slept like babies. Just don't forget the air pump!
Air pump - Coleman battery-operated model runs on four "D" batteries and will either inflate or deflate a queensize mattress in about two minutes.
Aluminum Foil - Use this for making packet meals. For instance, just wrap up some sliced potatoes, onions, salt & pepper, and a little butter, seal the ends well, and lay it on the grill. Yummy!

Batteries - Be sure you have backup batteries of every size that you use, and that they're fresh.

Camp Knife - Any version of a Swiss Army Knife is worth its weight in gold.
Camp Stool - This is a little folding stool with a canvas seat that's easy to pick up and move around. Put a backgammon board over it and you have a great little table.
Can Opener - Indispensible item, get one with a good-sized crank. No electric openers, please!
Canopy - This is a large tarp that's erected over the picnic table for shelter from sun and rain. Ours came with poles for each corner and one for the center, and the corners are staked down to keep it stable in the wind.
Chairs - Take a few comfortable lawn chairs with you for relaxing around the camp. They'll get dirty so don't spend a fortune on the fancy ones.
Cleaning sponge - Buy one that is a sponge on one side and a scrubber on the other to make washing those dishes easier.
Clothesline - Tie a piece of thin rope between a couple of trees, and drape your wet towels and swimsuits over it for drying.
Clothespins - Not just for drying clothes. These come in handy for lots of things when you need a spring clip to hold something in place.
Coffee Pot - Get the percolator variety with the glass bulb on top, like on the Maxwell House commercial. If you were born after 1970, practice using it at home before you go.
Comforter - We use an old tattered comforter on the floor of the tent, under the sleeping bags, for extra insulation.
Corkscrew - If you're planning to have that bottle of cabernet beside the campfire, don't forget this item. Pocket knives are NOT a very good substitute.
Cutting Board - Get a very small one, just enough to give you some clean food preparation surface. Who knows what that squirrel may have left on the picnic table?

Dishpan - Use a little Rubbermaid basin for washing dishes or taking sponge baths. You'll be amazed at how many other uses you'll find for it.
Dishtowels - For drying dishes (duh!)
Dishwashing Liquid - Buy a little squirt bottle and fill it with just enough for your trip.

Firewood - Hardwood is best, make sure it's dry. Most established campgrounds do not allow you to cut firewood from the surrounding woods, but they usually sell it at the host's site for around $4-5 per bundle. Be sure to check with the campground host during times of high wildfire danger to make sure any type of fire is even allowed.
First Aid Kit - Make sure it's well-stocked, and that any ointments are fresh. A snake bite kit is also a good thing to have in your first aid kit, especially in the Southwest.
Flashlight - Have one for each camper. Make sure the batteries are fresh before you leave, and carry extras. It gets dark out there!

Gazebo - This is a luxury item that we've only used once, but it was worth its weight in gold. It's a six-sided shelter that's screened on all sides, with a sturdy roof but no floor. The one time we used it was when we were camping with other people, and it rained for a couple of days. We were able to sit in the gazebo, nice and dry, while we cooked and ate, played cards and enjoyed the scenery. Otherwise, we would have all been cooped up in our separate tents. This is not something we'll use very often, but if you're camping with a group, it's a great investment.
Grill - We take our own charcoal grill just in case the one at the campground isn't usable. Ours is a small, but heavy, grill that can sit on a table, a rock, the ground, or wherever.
Groundsheet - This is a sturdy tarp that's placed on the ground under the tent. It should be no larger than the "footprint" of the tent so that it doesn't gather rainwater. The groundsheet helps protect the floor of your tent from stones, sticks, and general wear and tear.

Hatchet - Needed for splitting wood for the campfire. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO USE THIS PROPERLY, AND DON'T ALLOW THE KIDS TO PLAY WITH IT!
Hiking Sticks - Make your own, or buy some quality "trekking poles". They are not only useful for taking walking trips around your campsite, but they also come in handy if you happen to meet a snake or need an extra tent support.
Huggies - Those little foam soda can holders, also known as "coozies", are really good at keeping that beer cold when the temps warm up.

Ice Chest - We actually use several of varying sizes. Igloo and Coleman make really good ones. Freeze meat before packing to make it last longer, and make sure the clasp is secure. Note: Raccoons are good at opening ice chests, so pile firewood on the top at night.
Insect Repellant - I prefer the lotion type, such as Off's Aloe lotion, because you can put it on your face and neck without getting it in your eyes. The spray is good for legs and arms. Don't forget to spray your socks, because mosquitoes can bite right through them. And be sure to check often for ticks.

Knives - You'll need sharp knives for preparing food, and possibly for cutting those steaks you grill.

Lantern

Mallet - A good rubber-headed mallet makes driving those stakes a lot easier. Much better than using a standard hammer.
Mantles - These are the little cloth-looking bags that are used in a propane lantern, that actually collect the propane gas and glow with light. Once they're lit for the first time, they are very fragile, so always carry extras.
Marshmallow Forks - Make your own out of coat hangers, or buy the pre-made variety. Essential for making s'mores.
Matches - Make sure you get the "strike anywhere" kind, and not the "strike on box" kind. Take them out of the paper box and put them in a waterproof container. We use an old pill bottle.
Measuring Cup - If you're going to be cooking anything that requires some degree of precision, pack a plastic measuring cup.
Milk Jug - Plastic bottle with a secure screw-on top. We buy canned evaporated milk, reconstitute it as needed, and keep the jug in the ice chest. We use milk for cereal and cooking, and it tastes just fine.
Mugs - We have a couple of plastic coffee mugs from places like Circle K and Taco Cabana, that have a nice lid on them to keep the coffee warm on those cold mornings.

Pans - Don't carry your good cookware, just get a couple of small pans with lids. They'll probably get sooty, eventually, from cooking over fire.
Paper Bags - We always take several brown paper bags and use them for everything from covering the table for food preparation to helping start the fire.
Paper Towels - You know what you need them for, just don't forget them.
Pillows - If you're really attached to your regular pillow, bring it with you--a good night's sleep is important. Otherwise, you can buy small camping pillows, or you can just roll up a sweater or a jacket to use as a pillow. It may come down to how much room you have in your car!
Plasticware - We don't use disposable plates, cups, or utensils, except on rare occasions. Instead, we invested in some good quality plastic plates, bowls, cups, and eating utensils. Sure, you have to wash them, but communing with nature means helping to save the trees. Of course, then there's the petroleum products used in the plastic....you just can't win!
Poncho - Rain doesn't have to spoil a camping trip, as long as you're prepared. With a good poncho, you can still take a nice stroll, get your cooking done, or get your tent erected.
Porta-potty - Another luxury item that we use on almost every trip. We bought a small porta-potty that's 14½"W X 16½"D X 12"H. It fits unobtrusively in the corner of our large tent, and it's a godsend on cold rainy nights (or even warm, dry nights) when you really need to "go" and the bathroom is at the other end of the campground. The potty chemicals eliminate any odor for up to 4 days, depending on the temperature. We only use the potty for liquid waste. This is especially handy for female campers, as most men are just as happy to use a tree.
Pot Holders - Have a couple of these (oven mitts are good, too) on hand to handle the cooking, and to help around the campfire. Marshmallow forks can get kind of hot over the campfire, so keep that oven mitt handy.
Potty Chemicals - Obviously, these are for the porta-potty (above).
Propane - Needed for the stove and/or lantern. Depending on the type of equipment you're using, propane comes in either disposable canisters or in a 1-gallon can. Make sure you have enough to last for your trip.

Rainfly - This is a tarp that is spread over the top of the tent in the event of inclimate weather. Most smaller tents come with a matching rainfly included, and for a larger tent, you can just use a tarp spread over the tent and staked down on the corners and the center of each side. The rainfly should allow the tent windows to remain open for ventilation while protecting the seams from potential leaks.
Reading Lantern
Rope - Have several thicknesses of rope on hand to use for clotheslines, staking down a canopy or rainfly, tying up your rowdy kids (just joking!)

Shower (a.k.a Sun Shower) - This is a great little invention. It's a vinyl bag that holds several gallons of water. Just fill it up and lay it out in a sunny spot, and in a couple of hours the water is warm enough for showering. The bag has a tab on one end to use for hanging it from a tree limb or the corner of a ramada, and the other end of the bag has a hose with an adjustable nozzle. Just hang up the bag, get under it, open the nozzle and have a great warm shower!
Shower Sandals - Take a good pair of thongs with you, especially if you'll be using the campground's shower facilities. They're also handy to keep beside the tent door if you need to make a nightime exit.
Shower Stall - If you like a little more privacy when you shower, try this shower stall. It's a vinyl enclosure with an inflatable frame that hangs from a tree branch or other sturdy structure. The entrance snaps shut, so you can hang your sun shower inside and shower in complete privacy. Just make sure that all your rope knots are really tight when you hang it up (speaking from experience!)
Skillet - Your basic cooking utensil. Use a cheap one, because it will probably get sooty after several trips.
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pads - Use these under your sleeping bag for a little more cushion between you and the ground. We have two kinds, one that's self-inflating when you unroll it, and another that is simply a thin foam pad that rolls up for backpacking. I usually use both at the same time.
Spatula - Useful for flipping those burgers on the grill
Spoon - Take a couple of large spoons for use in cooking and serving food.
Stake Puller - This is a special tool designed to help pull tent stakes out of the ground. Works great if the ground isn't too hard. If you're in a pinch, use a short length of rope and tie a short stick on each end to use as handles. Loop the rope under the hook on the stake and use the stick-handles to grip the rope while pulling up on the stake.
Stakes - These come in both the metal and plastic variety. It's good to have enough of each to stake your tent, because you never know how hard the ground is going to be when you go to a new campsite. Plastic stakes work best in softer ground, and they're usually cheaper. But in some of the harder ground around the mountains, you definitely need metal stakes.
Starter Logs - These are handy to have when you're trying to get a campfire going. They're a lot easier to use than pine cones and twigs, although those are also good if they're nice and dry.
Stove
Sunscreen - Even if you're camping in a shady spot, you're going to be outside a lot, so make sure you have a good sunscreen on hand. Off makes a suncreen that has insect repellant built-in, works great!

Tent
Tent Flashlight - This is our special flashlight that also converts to a small lantern by just pulling out on the end of it. It's small and light, so we hang it from the roof of the tent when we're getting ready for bed, and then it's handy if we need a flashlight to go out after dark.
Toaster - Great little gadget sits over your propane stove burner and toasts four slices of bread, bagels, or English Muffins. Only $1.99 at Wal-Mart!
Toilet Paper - Even if your campground has flush toilets available, you're never assured that there's going to be paper in the stalls, especially on busy holiday weekends. Always take your own, it's probably softer anyway!
T.P. Lighter - Used only in semi-primitive conditions. If you have to "go" in the woods, don't leave your toilet paper just lying there. Burn it if you can (but watch for local fire restrictions!) We use a little Bic lighter, but most of the time it's used for starting the campfire instead. It's one of those multi-use tools!
Toilet Shovel - Solid waste should be buried or carried out. Whenever possible, I choose the "buried" method, hence the need for the shovel. A garden trowel works great for this.
Towel Doormat - Place an old towel just inside the door of your tent to collect dirt and leaves from your boots. This will keep the inside of your tent cleaner and will help protect your tent floor from wear and tear. Also, it's a good idea to remove your shoes when you're inside the tent.
Trash Bags - Only the rudest of campers don't pick up after themselves. Take enough trash bags to contain all your waste. If you're in an area inhabited by bears, be sure to hang the trashbag high off the ground and a good distance from your tent at night. Better still, if you're in an established campground, place your bag in the special bear-proof receptacles at night. Leave your campsite spotlessly clean when you pull out--the next camper will appreciate it.

Umbrella - An easily-overlooked item, but comes in very handy when you're having to break camp in the rain.

Water Container - Get the 5-gallon collapsible container and keep it filled at your campsite so you're not constantly running back and forth to the community faucet. This is NOT for drinking water.
Whisk Broom - Use to sweep the inside of your tent, and also to sweep off the picnic table at your campsite.

Ziploc bags - Useful for so many things, from holding your toothbrush and soap, to packing out your "solid waste".