Camping List
of SuppliesThis list of supplies for
camping is by no means comprehensive. I could have
kept going all day thinking of things, but I'm pretty sure I
have the basics covered already.
The best advice I can give is take less rather than more. After
you've been camping a few times you'll come up with your own
list which suits your personal camping style. This is different
for everybody, and will change depending on the climate and
season of the year. what facilities (if any) exist at your
chosen campground, how many people (and the ages and gender)
are going with you, how long you'll be staying there, and how
you plan on travelling to and from the camp.
If you are backpacking, then you'll probably want your pack to
weigh no more than 30 pounds (13 Kg), and that includes food
and water!
Clothing
This depends entirely on the weather, but
have several changes of socks and underwear and a couple of
shirts. I'd suggest a heavy set of shoes or boots for the day,
with a spare set of footwear for camp. Some people wear rubber sandals,
slippers or even cloth 'Kung Fu' shoes because they are light
and comfortable. (And it takes too long to lace and unlace your
boots each time you leave or enter your tent.)
- Hiking Boots, or
- Heavy (tough) Shoes
- Sandals or Slippers (to relax at camp)
- Raincoat or Foul-Weather Gear
- Warm Jacket
- Woolen Sweater or Pullover
- Hat (for shade or warmth)
- Shirts
- Underwear
- Socks
- Jeans
- Short Trousers
- Swimming Wear
Shelter (Select
One)
- Tent with built-in ground sheet
- Bivy Bag
- Tarp and Ground Sheet
- Jungle Hammock
Sleeping Gear
- Sleeping Bag (best choice), or
- Blankets (2 or even 3 wool blankets, folded and pinned
together using 6 or more special large Blanket Pins).
Between You and the
Ground (Pick One)
- Air Mattress and pump
- Folding Camp Cot (or bed or 'stretcher')
- Foam Sleeping Mat
Camp Lighting
- Lightweight pocket flashlight or L.E.D. torch
(convenient but may be low power and capacity)
- Candles or Candle Lantern (light weight, but danger of
fire)
- Coleman Pressure Lantern (very bright and efficient)
with fuel
- Battery Powered Lantern (Heavy, eats batteries and not
that bright anyhow)
Plates and 'Eating
Irons' for each person
(A knife and fork are optional if you are backpacking and
trying to save weight. You can use your pocket-knife to cut
food instead, and most chow can be eaten with a spoon.)
- Spoon
- Knife & Fork
- Plastic Mug
- Plastic Bowl and/or Plate (heavy-duty)
Cooking Utensils
(You need one as minimum to cook or heat food. Have one deep
utensil for boiling water. A shallow one for frying is
optional.)
- Nested Cook Kit or
- Army-type 'Mess Tin' or
- Army Aluminum or 'tin' mug (big enough to cook for one
person)
- Kettle (or what the British and Aussies call a 'Billy
Can')
- Frying Pan (Cast iron is heavy but good. Aluminium
burns food too easily. Get an extra-long handle if you plan
to use it on a wood fire.)
- Aluminium Foil (This allows you to bake in the coals of
a camp fire. Scouts do this kind of stunt all the
time.)
Kitchen Tools
- Can Opener
- Wooden Spoon
- Spatula (for turning eggs etc.)
- Ladle (for group or family camping)
- Cook's Knife
- Vegetable Peeler
- Matches or Gas fire-lighter (have spares)
- Plastic Bowl for Dish Washing
- Bucket or water container. (Hint: A galvanized metal
bucket can be placed next to the wood fire while cooking,
so you'll have hot water for washing up after the meal is
finished.)
Camping Stove
- Small bottled Propane gas stove, or
- Backpacker's Multi-Fuel stove (white gasoline &/or
kerosene), or
- Alcohol Stove (methylated spirits Trangia is the best make),
or
- Solid-Fuel Pocket Stove
Camp Furniture
- Folding Camp Table (needed for kitchen and eating)
- Folding Camp Chairs or stools (mainly for eating)
- Poles and Tarp (flysheet) to give shade and rain
protection to the camp eating table
Other
Essentials
Personal Toilet Kit
- Toothbrush & tooth paste (or tooth powder)
- Dental Floss
- Soap (save weight with a motel-size cake of soap)
- Sun block or suntan oil
- Small hand towel
- Toilet paper
- Feminine hygiene products (obviously not for the guys,
okay?)
First Aid Kit
- Store-bought 1st aid kit, or at the very least
- Band Aids
- Antiseptic liquid (e.g. Mercurochrome, Tincture of
Iodine, Acraflavine) or
- Antiseptic cream
- Cotton ear buds
- Aspirin or paracetemol headache/pain tablets
- Personal insect repellant
Don't forget a backpack or other containers to hold all the
camping gear. Don't forget spare fuel and batteries. And don't
ever forget the matches
or the can opener! I haven't mentioned a transistor radio so
you can check the weather and the news occasionally. I expect
you'll have a radio in your vehicle, and you know what
storm-clouds look like!
Compasses, GPS instruments, Two-Way radios etc. are not
needed for most everyday camping. Fishing and Camera gear is
another option you may wish to bring along too.
Have fun!
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