Camping is one of the best experiences you can offer your kids. Sleeping under the stars and cooking on a camp stove is a real adventure. But there’s no doubt about it; it’s also hard work. Making sure you don’t forget anything takes some thought.
To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together a checklist of essentials, wherever in the world you’re heading off. We’re assuming you won’t forget to pack the tent, and instead, we’re focusing on easy-to-forget items.
Mallet And Peg Extractor
A mallet is indispensable for pounding in tent pegs. If the ground is hard, it makes life a little easier, and we’re all in favor of that. And at the end of the vacation when you’re taking down the tent, a peg extractor will be your friend. If you’re fed up of struggling with dirty, slippery tent pegs, a peg extractor will do the job. They only cost a few dollars, and so it’s worth having a couple in your camping kit.
Change Of Clothing/Clothes Line
This might sound obvious but taking enough clothes is really important. The thing about camping is that it is affected by the weather. If you get wet out of doors, it’s difficult to get dry again. And you can’t always dry your clothes unless the campsite has a dryer for occupants. A makeshift clothes line is an option if there’s somewhere you can attach it to or a clothes drying rack. It’s best to err on the side of packing too much and take some spares.
The right kind of clothes is also important. Camping trips are usually accompanied by a lot of walking. Making sure everyone has the right walking boots will save a lot of grumbling; as is wearing them in before the trip. Choosing the right fleece jacket and waterproofs will also save some misery during inclement weather. These are the things you don’t really notice until they’re missing.
Tent Repair Kit
Despite our best efforts, accidents can happen, and tents can become damaged. A tent repair kit will provide you with everything you need to make quick, temporary repairs. It will usually include weatherproof adhesive and patches for the canvas and mesh screen. Nylon thread and a spare cord are also useful. Hopefully, you won’t have to use the kit.
Extra Bedding
As well as the sleeping beds and sleeping rolls, it’s a good idea to take extra bedding. Extra pillows and blankets will provide some comfort. And not everyone likes sleeping in a sleeping bag. If you provide extra bedding, they will have a choice.
Chairs
This is something that many people forget. When camping, we often sit on the ground but this can be uncomfortable when trying to eat. A few foldable chairs will make all the difference. They can be folded away when not in use.
Lantern
Most people remember their flashlight, but few take a lantern. You will be thankful for this if you’re eating in the dark or wanting to read at night. Remember to take spare batteries for your flashlight and lantern.
This is not a comprehensive list by any means. But it includes those items that people either don’t consider or often forget. What are your go-to camping items?
MyCamperFriend.com says
Gr8 ideas. Thanks for sharing. Yep – prep and the right equipment is everything when it comes to camping! Took me years to perfect our checklist and I recently put that on my site to help other fellow campers. Stop by if you like. Camp more, worry less. 🙂
Dana says
Thank you!! I will definitely check out your site and your checklist 🙂