What to Bring

On This Folio Navigation

Water

Water is the most important survival demand, and a rule of thumb is to drink 2 liters of h2o a day or more, peculiarly if you are in very hot climates. If yous're staying in a frontcountry campground, filling up a water jug is one of the first things to take care of when you arrive. You need h2o to drink, cook, and clean. In the backcountry, selecting a camping spot near a water source is important.

  • A collapsible water jug takes upwards less space, but you sacrifice a chip of durability.
  • A difficult-sided jug can be more durable but takes up more infinite.
  • Bring refillable water bottles for personal use.
  • If you lot're bringing a libation and carrying weight isn't an consequence (frontcountry camping ground or backcountry camping ground in a boat or raft), freezing a few gallons of h2o in a plastic container tin aid keep your things cold for a bit. Then merely let information technology melt if you lot need more drinking or cooking water.
  • If you lot are in the backcountry, y'all volition need to filter or purify the water y'all drink and prepare nutrient with. Bring a h2o filter, water purification tablets, or eddy your water.
A jug of water and four water bottles sit on a picnic table
Water is essential for life.

NPS Photograph / Mackenzie Reed

Food

Food grooming and cleanup is part of the rhythm of life. Meal planning is of import when you're camping, you'll want to make certain you brought enough because it may be a long way to the grocery store, especially in the backcountry! You lot'll also want to brand certain the foods yous brought are light enough to acquit, if you're hiking, and piece of cake to prepare. And so what are some ideas of what to bring?

  • Focus on dry foods similar rice and pasta. You lot'll save space and weight, plus yous don't have to worry nearly keeping them common cold. This as well helps to reduce odor when cooking, which is an of import consideration in bear country.
  • Food storage is of import. Yous don't want that essential ingredient to roll under a car seat while you're rummaging through your things, so staying organized and keeping everything contained will help you out a lot. What'south more than, keeping things make clean will prevent animals from getting into your food. If yous're frontcountry camping, you might want to bring a cooler to shop refrigerated items, and you'll also want to have a container for the rest of your food to go along things organized. Backcountry campers may need to utilize a waterproof pocketbook to hang their food. If you're staying in bear country, you lot may need to brand employ of a food storage locker in the campground. Check with your park for specific food storage policies.
  • Pack foods that come in packages you lot can flatten, such as plastic bags or boxes, rather than jars and cans. That will save weight and space.
Crumpets cooking in a cast iron skillet
The type of camping you select volition oftentimes determine what nutrient you bring with y'all.

NPS Photograph / David Restivo

Shelter and Bedding

Camping involves setting upwardly a home away from your domicile. You volition need shelter and bedding to balance your head.

  • Tent - Tents come up in many sizes and shapes. Dome tents are pop considering they offer the almost interior infinite with the least corporeality of material, which saves weight if you're backpacking. If you're purchasing or renting a tent, keep in mind that a two person tent ways there is room for two people to sleep inside, not ii people and all their gear or pets. Simply in lodge to save in space and carrying weight, information technology'southward usually wise not to bring more tent than you need.
  • Hammocks - Some campers prefer to sleep in a covered waterproof hammock. This saves weight and space, but yous may exist out of luck hanging it if there are no copse effectually. Besides, many parks practice not allow you to tie ropes to trees. Delight cheque park regulations before bringing a hammock.
  • Sleeping pad - Before you unroll your sleeping bag, y'all'll want to lay down a basis pad to provide some cushion under your trunk, just, more than importantly, to keep moisture from accumulating beneath your trunk. This will rob your torso of heat and yous'll be cold. Foam pads are the nearly inexpensive solution, only they're bulky and not terribly cushioned. Air mattresses tin can exist more comfortable but ordinarily require an air compressor to inflate. Pads that are a hybrid foam and air offer the best of both worlds.
  • Sleeping bag - Southleeping bags come up in various shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and materials. Employ a sleeping bag that fits your personal comfort needs, size, and that matches the temperature and weather conditions for your location and time of year. An alternative to a sleeping bag is to use 2-3 blankets.
  • Pillows - They are a beefy luxury item, even if you're auto camping ground. To save space, attempt bringing a pillowcase and fill it with some of your extra clothes.
  • Rain/dominicus shelter (optional) - Some machine campers similar to bring a popular-upwardly shelter or dining fly that can protect their dining surface area from lord's day and rain, and for some models with screened walls, insects. Many frontcountry campgrounds practise not allow you to tie ropes to trees, but if you tin, you lot tin can utilize a rope and tarp to create a rain shelter or wind screen.
  • Tip - Before turning in for the nighttime, change into dry apparel. Yous'll be much more comfortable!
  • Tip - If it's really cold outside, y'all might exist tempted to stick your caput into your sleeping bag to stay warm. While this might be comforting at commencement, breathing inside your sleeping purse introduces a lot of wet, which will make yous feel even colder in the long run.
A man unrolls a sleeping bag inside a tent
Y'all will need shelter and bedding for your home away from home.

NPS Photo / Kent Miller

Cooking Supplies

If you love cooking in camp, here are a few bones supplies y'all should consider bringing with you. Yous may want to be selective in the supplies you bring with you in the backcountry -- not everything volition fit in your backpack or exist light enough to carry. Many of the supplies beneath can be constitute in a backpacking version that is smaller and lighter.

  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Flipper or tongs
  • Cooking grate
  • Skillet Pot (1-2)
  • Camping stove (propane or white gas) + Fuel
  • Cups
  • Plates
  • Silverware
  • Tip - camping ground mess kits are handy; they tin can exist used for personal cooking and eating. They typically assemble into a tidy package for compact storage, and comprise a plate, skillet, small pot, and loving cup.
Colorful tableware and utensils on a picnic table
Cooking supply examples.

NPS Photo / Mackenzie Reed

Cleaning Supplies

Camping ground can exist a dirty action! You will want to keep a clean campsite, even if you are outdoors.

  • Biodegradable soap
  • Scouring pad
  • Wash basin (3 basins, 1 for soap, one for rinse, 1 for sanitizing)
  • Newspaper towels or rags (Pro tip: Microfiber rags are very absorptive and lightweight)

Personal Hygiene Products

Merely considering you're camping doesn't hateful you accept to be a caveman (unless yous want to be). Personal hygiene is of import.

  • Small-scale bar of soap
  • Washcloth and small towel
  • Toothpaste, toothbrush, floss
  • Feminine hygiene products

Last updated: May 29, 2018