Guides
Camping gear checklist: the complete list
The complete camping gear checklist, area by area: shelter, sleeping, cooking, furniture, hygiene, clothing, safety and documents.
5 min read
The gear you need for a camping trip falls into seven areas: shelter, sleeping, cooking, living space, hygiene, clothing and safety. The list below works through them one at a time, in the order you usually load a car. It assumes a holiday under canvas, for two people or a family; lightweight trips are covered by a much shorter bivouac list.
Go through it the evening before, not on the morning itself: half of all omissions are things that are not stored with the camping gear — chargers, medication, vehicle documents.
Shelter and pitch
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Tent | Allow one berth more than the number of sleepers |
| Flysheet and original pegs | Carry a few spares |
| Heavy-duty pegs | Essential on hard or very soft ground |
| Mallet | The most commonly forgotten item, and unfindable locally on a Sunday |
| Groundsheet | Protects the floor and makes cleaning easier afterwards |
| Tarp or awning | Doubles the usable space the moment it rains |
| Cord and guy-line tensioners | A few metres, useful for everything |
Pitch the tent once at home before leaving, especially if it was bought second-hand or has spent two years in the garage. It is the only way to discover a cracked pole or a seized zip while you can still do something about it.
Sleeping
- Sleeping bag, chosen on its comfort temperature rather than its extreme rating
- Air mattress, self-inflating mat or camp bed
- Pump or inflation bag, with the matching adapter
- Mat repair kit
- Pillow, or a pillowcase to stuff with clothing
- A spare blanket for late-season nights
The point most often missed is insulation from the ground: it is the mat, not the bag, that protects you from the cold coming from below. The trade-off between comfort and packed size is covered in our comparison of air mattress or camp bed. For the bag itself, see how to choose a sleeping bag.
Cooking
- Stove and a fresh fuel canister
- Lighter or igniter, plus matches as a backup
- Nesting pots, and a frying pan if you cook anything beyond boiled food
- Plates, bowls, cutlery, mugs
- Kitchen knife, chopping board, tin opener, bottle opener
- Folding bowl, biodegradable washing-up liquid, sponge, tea towel
- Bin bags
- Cool box and ice packs, or an electric cool box and its lead
- Water container
- Airtight boxes for leftovers and opened food
Gas quantity is easy to work out: reckon on one 230 g canister for two people and four to five days of simple cooking. Carry the next one in advance, because a canister gives no warning before it empties. Organising the cooking area is covered in how to organise a camp kitchen.
Living space
- Folding table
- Chairs or stools, one per person
- A lantern for the table, a head torch each, a small light inside the tent
- Batteries or a power bank, and the charging cables
- Extension lead if the pitch has a hook-up
- Drying rack or washing line, and pegs
A head torch each costs little and removes half the evening friction: everyone can move about without commandeering the only light in camp.
Hygiene
- Wash bag, biodegradable soap, toothbrush
- Microfibre towels, which dry far faster than cotton
- Flip-flops for the shower block
- Toilet paper, hand sanitiser
- Sun cream and aftersun
- Insect repellent
Clothing
The useful principle is not quantity but layering: a breathable layer next to the skin, a warm layer, a windproof and waterproof layer. Three adjustable thicknesses cover a far wider temperature range than two thick jumpers.
- Underwear and socks in sufficient quantity
- A fleece or a light down jacket, even in summer
- A waterproof jacket
- Long trousers, even in full heat, against sun and insects
- Closed shoes and walking shoes
- Swimwear, hat, sunglasses
- A bag for dirty laundry
August nights are cool as soon as you gain a little altitude or approach the coast. It is the most common mistake on a first trip.
Safety, health and documents
- First aid kit: plasters, dressings, antiseptic, bandage, tweezers, scissors
- Personal medication in sufficient quantity, in its original packaging
- Emergency blanket
- Whistle
- Fire blanket or extinguisher if you cook under an awning
- Identity documents, health insurance card, travel insurance details
- Vehicle documents and insurance certificate
- Campsite booking, printed or saved offline
- Paper map or downloaded offline maps
Mobile coverage is the first comfort to disappear once you leave the main roads. Download your maps and your booking before you go.
What people bring by mistake
Three categories come home untouched every time: duplicate clothing, crockery packed “just in case”, and comfort electronics. When you get back, note what you never used. That list beats any general advice, because it describes how you actually camp.
Adapting the list
This checklist is a maximum, not a minimum. A weekend for two needs a fraction of it; a week with young children exceeds it, particularly on storage and laundry. Our guide to family camping gear covers the additions, and what gear do you need for camping gives a tighter version for a first trip.
Frequently asked questions
- What gear is essential for camping?
- A tent sized for the number of people, an insulating mat, a sleeping bag chosen on its comfort temperature, a stove with fuel, a light source, a way to carry and store water, and a first aid kit. Everything else is comfort.
- How long before leaving should you get your gear ready?
- At least three days, so there is time to pitch the tent in the garden, check the stove lights and that there is gas left, and replace whatever is missing. Camping gear rarely fails during the summer: it fails the moment you get it out again.
- Do you need everything on your first trip?
- No. Rent or borrow the expensive items before buying, and keep a list of what never came out of the boot. On your second trip that list will tell you exactly what to leave at home.