To Make Much of Time's Ultimate Camping Gear & Packing List

UPDATED: 11/5/2023

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Starting way back with our first trip camping, we started a packing list to make life easy when it was time to gather our gear and head into the wild. Over the years, we have continued to update and grow the list based on supplies we find helpful. While we started out with most of our camping gear from Target, we have continued to upgrade our supplies over the years to have longer lasting, higher quality gear.

Where you’re camping matters. Most of our camping has been at national park campgrounds with nearby bathrooms and showers, a fire pit, and a picnic table. More recently, we have been off-grid camping on our own land. You can read more about that adventure here. In either case, we have not been backpacking or done true backcountry camping so our list is not a good match for those needs. We do not travel light for our camping, but we travel to have what we need for several nights.

Recognizing our readers may range from people considering camping for the first time to those who are avid campers, interested in our gear, what follows is our standard packing list, a brief description of the product use (where applicable), and information on our particular gear that we use where we have that information handy.

What goes without saying is that packing food is important, too, but the meal planning is on you!

ultimate camping gear and packing list

the basics

(in no particular order)

Tent - our tent came from Target circa 2009, and we have a large one to accommodate our dogs. And - guess what? - tent waterproofing doesn't last forever. If you have a tent that has been around the block, make sure to renew it with new waterproofing so you stay dry in errant showers. We learned this the hard way. We have since found and used this easy waterproofing from REI.

Sleeping bag(s) - after years of being chilly in our Target sleeping bags and always zipping them together, we bought a Nemo Jazz 30 Double Sleeping Bag from REI this year. It is substantially warmer, has an interior sheet for warmer nights, and takes the hassle out of zipping two bags together.
Sleeping pad - we retired our air mattress, that always got cold at night, for a Nemo Roamer Sleeping Pad - Double Sized from REI. The double sleeping bag is made to connect to the sleeping pad to prevent the sleeping bags from slipping off the pad. We found this worked really well, even when we slept on a slanted hill with dogs climbing on and off the bed all night.
Camping pillow(s) - we purchased ours a decade ago from the now-defunct Gander Mountain. They are small pillows that can be stored in small sacks. REI offers a similar style, though we can't vouch for this specific pillow.
Cooler to store your food - our first cooler was a really cheap one that didn't hold the cold air well. Our second one, finally bit the dust when the handle broke off after over a decade of use. We finally decided to join the Yeti-obsessed crowd and now have both a 75-liter one for longer trips where we're cooking for a group as well as a smaller 35-liter one for when it's just us for a night. Remember: depending on where you're camping, you likely need to stow food in a safe place at night. We use a bear box at campsites that have them for our non-perishables and return our cooler to the car at night.
Camp chairs - we upgraded to REI Xtra Chairs after several of our earlier, cheaper chairs ultimately broke. These are large and comfy, with two cup holders apiece and a separate storage pouch for a book or other items you wish to keep close.
Refillable water jugs - after years of buying several large jugs of water from the grocery store, which is good for occasional use, we decided it was time to get a reusable option and have now used our two 5-gallon Scepter Water Containers. With two adults and several large dogs, we go through a lot of water. We also purchased the spout to make accessing the water easier.
Soft-sided bag - I promise you don't want a wheeled suitcase to tote along your clothes and toiletries. This particular bag that we used, which was gifted to us by adidas, is large enough to fit enough clothes for the two of us for 4 days. They also make smaller sized versions.
Clothing layers - after the sun goes down and depending on the time of year, it's important to be prepared with multiple layers of clothes to stay warm. I recently added this light weight hooded hiking jacket to my camping wardrobe, and Dustin added this fleece hoodie. Thanks to adidas for gifting us this apparel!

the details: food and cooking

We found early on that there’s a lot we take for granted at home and if you don’t plan effectively, you’ll end up with a bottle of wine but no wine opener, just to pick an example at random :-)

Paper plates and paper bowls - while in the rest of our life, we're appalled by the use of throw-away products, there are times when lugging supplies along to do dishes is appealing. In lieu of paper products, you may wish to pack reusable camping dishware.
Plastic utensils - as above, you may have reusable options
Knife - depending on what you're cooking, you'll likely need a kitchen knife
Bottle opener, corkscrew, can opener - these are the most common kitchen basics we need
Plastic tablecloth - we have a basic red and white checker box picnic table plastic covering that is nice to put over campground picnic tables and because it is plastic, can easily be wiped down when things inevitably spill on it
Coffee percolator - if you also have to start the day with coffee, this percolator can be placed over a camp stove or camp fire and get your day started with caffeine. Just be aware that it will take the water a while to heat and is a much slower process than making coffee at home.
Camp stove - this is an alternative to cooking over the fire and can make for a more even heat. We have used this Coleman stove and cooked over the fire, depending on the trip. Make sure to bring canisters of propane for the stove.
Dutch oven - if you plan to do some actual cooking, there is no better camp-ready item than a cast iron dutch oven. This 8 quart one from REI is great for a group! Cooking with a dutch oven requires the right distance between heat and the pot so if you don't get one with feet, make sure you get a stand to place it on.
Collapsible sink - if you plan on doing dishes, this collapsible sink is a great option that takes up minimal space. We recently purchased it ourselves. Remember to bring dish soap and a sponge, too!
Skillet - remember to bring a skillet if you plan on cooking over the flames. We have this heavy duty cast iron skillet.
Panini press - for the camper who has everything, Dustin picked up a panini press for use over a campfire years ago. I can't recall where he purchased it, but there are various options available online.
Water bottles - we're partial towards Camelbak water bottles for no good reason. The important thing is to make sure you always have plenty of water with you. You can check out various water bottle options here if you happen to not be someone with an entire kitchen cabinet filled with these somehow.
Pot holders - you'll be glad you have them when you need to remove a hot pan from the fire
Marshmallow/hot dog sticks - these sticks from LL Bean were one of my first ever camping gear purchases. They're still going strong after well over a decade.

Wipes or Wet Ones - to wash your hands and clean off when a shower or sink isn't nearby

the details: miscellaneous supplies

Bandages and first aid kit - you pretty much will only need these if you don't have them handy
Trash bags - We use them for all sorts of things when camping - trash, for one, but also to hold wet towels, dirty laundry, etc.
Flashlights and extra batteries - if you're looking to have your hands free (for things like walking your pups), a headlight, like this one from REI, has been a great purchase for us.
Fire starters - if you can't find kindling or the area has recently experienced rain, you'll appreciate the helping hand. I'm not sure where we picked ours up, but here is a well-rated option on REI.
Matches - we take both short and long matches and tend to use the longer ones more often. Remember to keep matches sealed in a plastic bag to avoid moisture limiting their use.
Mallet - used to hammer in tent stakes and for other various campsite needs
Tarps - two at a minimum - one for under the tent for extra waterproofing, even for tents with built-in tarps, and another to tie up and create a dry area outside of your tent should you encounter rain. We have made many make-shift tarp cities on rainy trips over the years!
Various ropes or nylon cord - can be used to string up tarps, to hang a clothesline for wet towels, or numerous uses
Clothes pins - to hang up wet clothes on a clothesline

the details: bugs and bears, oh my!

Anti-mosquito option - we are obsessed with our Thermacell and have found it to be the first truly effective anti-mosquito option. We use it at home and take it camping. We recently added the rechargeable E55 to our previous cartridge based one.
Insect repellent - with an aversion to chemicals and sprays, I have mostly avoided using repellents, but we recently discovered and started using Permethrin. This is sprayed on shoes or clothing and allowed to dry and then can last through up to 6 washes in the laundry or 3 months. We literally have had no ticks on us when in the woods since we started using this except one time when we had just gotten past that 3 month mark. Dustin puts it on his shoes and pants, and I just spray it on my hiking boots.
Bear spray - out of an abundance of caution, we recently purchased bear spray and a holster since the bears on our land are not used to humans. Given that we have black bears, I doubt we'll ever need to use this, but it makes us feel a bit safer.

for low-key off-grid (not at a camp site but not backcountry either)

Now that we are camping on our own land, we have needed to add some additional supplies that we didn’t need when at a national park campground.

Toilet paper
Luggable loo - whatever your preference is, make sure you think through your bathroom logistics. We're currently building a shed/outhouse that will house our luggable loo, but it can also be used al fresco. Bonus points for the name. And plan for how to cart your waste out with you with the system bags (not cheap) or an alternative.

for camping at an established camp ground

Quarters for showers - typically national park showers operate with quarters. While they often have change machines nearby, they are also out of order pretty frequently.
Shower shoes - just like in other communal shower situations, remember to bring flip flops or other shower shoes
Cash for firewood - most national parks have firewood for purchase and many require that you use the wood they sell due to invasive bugs that can come in if visitors were to bring their own

What are your favorite camping must-haves? We’d love for you to comment and share your tips!

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