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Whether you love planning logistics and packing for a camping trip or tend to leave it to the last minute, it’s important to make sure you have all of the essentials. At CleverHiker, we love for all things planning so we put together this checklist to help make packing easy and stress-free.
While this gear list may look intimidating at first, you don’t need every single item here, and you’ll probably find that you already have a lot of these items around your house.
Start by gathering the important basics like your shelter and sleep system first, then expand from there.
If you’re on a tight budget, consider renting or borrowing big-ticket items to get you started. Your camping supplies will upgrade and evolve as you go on more trips and grow to love camping.
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(Change margins to ‘narrow’ when printing)
(when water, toilets, & electricity aren’t available)
It’s really easy to keep your camping gear organized by using clear plastic bins with lids. You can see what’s inside each one at a glance and slide them easily in and out of the car. The bins also keep your items contained and protected from dust and critters in camp. And, as an added benefit, your stuff will always be stored in one place at home – ready to go for your next adventure. All you’ll have to do next time you want to head out is quickly go through the bins with your checklist, add clothing, restock consumables, and you’re good to go.
The camp kitchen and your food system will vary greatly depending on how much or little you want to cook on your camping trip. Some people prefer to bring mostly cold or prepared foods, while others enjoy whipping up gourmet meals at their campsite.
Deciding whether you’d prefer not to cook, to cook on a stove, use a grill, or over a fire will help you figure out what to pack and what kind of food to shop for. We usually prefer to prep and combine some ingredients at home, then do some simple cooking on a stove in camp. Taking the time to make a meal plan before your trip will make your role as camp chef much easier and more fun.
Check out our Easy Camping Recipes That Taste Gourmet post for meal ideas. We also have a ton of other food-related resources that work for both camping and backpacking.
A quality cooler will have thick insulation to help keep it cold for a long time. But even the best cooler will lose its cool after a day or two on hot summer trips.
Use these tips to help your cooler perform to its max potential, keeping food safe and drinks ice-cold, the way we like ‘em:
If you’re in the market for a new cooler, check out our list of the Best Coolers.
It’s a good practice to keep your campsite clean and free of litter to keep birds, rodents, bears, and other wildlife from getting a taste for human food. It really doesn’t take much to follow Leave No Trace protocol and it improves the way you experience your campsite too.
We try to separate garbage from recyclables whenever we can. Dispose of garbage in campground receptacles when you leave your site unattended or store foods items and garbage in your car. In bear country, it’s a good idea to keep your food in a bear locker, store it in your car, or properly hang a food bag like the Ursack.
You can’t be prepared for absolutely everything, but you should have what you need to take care of minor cuts, scrapes, sunburn, bug bites, upset stomachs, and headaches. Check out our Best First-Aid Kits list to find the best one for you and your camping needs.
We understand how tough it is to find trustworthy gear advice, and that’s one of the main reasons we built CleverHiker. We live for outdoor adventure, and we take these guides very seriously.
If you like to carry a lot of gear or snacks then these are the shorts for you. With six pockets, they are a classic pair for hiking.
We tested these shorts in the Colorado Rockies and they are some of our favorites based on their comfort, versatility, and features.
This pair checks a lot of the boxes when it comes to great hiking shorts. They are comfortable, stretchy, lightweight, and dry quickly.
This affordable pair is a trimmed-down take on a classic utilitarian cargo, which is why they make our list of the best hiking shorts.
These are an excellent choice for the price-conscious hiker looking for a lightweight pant. We are impressed with their performance and their value.
This model is the image of the classic hiking pant: versatile, durable, and loaded with features. We tested them in heavy Alaskan rain and on long sunny hikes and we love using one pair of pants for both outings.
These pants are a super lightweight and packable pair sure to please anyone who’s after a quick-drying and breathable option.
Tested in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains, these pants deliver a lightweight and highly mobile pant that excels in a variety of conditions.
After extensive testing in the alpine of Alaska’s Talkeetna Range, these pants are one of our top scorers in our lineup.
These jogger-style pants are extremely lightweight and breathable and are a great fit for warmer weather and higher-output activities.
These pants are loaded with features, including cinch hems, a built-in belt, and all-zippered pockets, making them fit for big adventures where durability and weather resistance are paramount.
This tent is a dream for hikers who prioritize weight savings but don’t want to give up livability. The attention to detail is evident in the high-quality construction and plentiful interior pockets.
