Appetite From Hell

The ultimate lesson for camping is to accept that you WILL be uncomfortable, but going into the experience knowing that lets you be smart while packing! Creating your own comfort with as little as possible actually adds another layer of fun to the experience! Level of comfort is what will make a camping trip amazing or absolutely terrible above anything else (even bad weather, in my opinion). Here is a basic packing list for anybody who is going on their first camping trip, needs a little help packing, or maybe needs to condense bringing too many things!

A pretty basic packing list…

Please, please, please look up the weather before packing! I have seen people be incredibly uncomfortable over the years because they didn’t have an extra layer or the right layers to begin with!

• Hiking backpack
• Undergarments
• Comfortable socks
• Shirts
• Pajamas
• Shoes
• Shorts and/or pants
• Comfortable jacket
• Rain coat
• Hat for sun protection
• Sunglasses
• Bandana
• Swimsuit, if needed
• Scarf, if needed
• Warm hat, if needed
• Gloves, if needed
• Heavy winter coat, if needed
• Tent
• Padding for sleeping bag for comfort
• Sleeping bag
• Pillow
• Extra blanket
• Compass
• First aid kit for backpack
• Extra bandaids
• Pen and paper, just in case
• Headlamp
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Towel
• Soap
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Lotion
• Deodorant
• Toilet paper
• Feminine hygiene products
• Shovel and bags or portable toilet depending on what bathroom situation will be like
• Decent size water bottle
• Phone and necessary chargers
• A book to read, or some kind of entertainment that isn’t my phone

When it comes to quantity of certain things to bring, such as shirts/socks/underwear, take the number of days you will be camping for, and add an extra pair or two if you can spare the space. It’s always better to have an extra pair of clean socks at your disposal when needed rather than having to re-use a dirty pair because the last set got wet or something silly like that.

Food

This is definitely NOT the healthiest grocery list! Just a very basic starting point for somebody to give an example if you needed to pack for a day/night of camping and having breakfast the next day before heading out without breaking the bank. If you can make a fire, you can make hot dogs, s’mores, and scrambled eggs at the very very least.

• Cooler
• Hot dogs or brats
• Hot dog buns
• Canned veggies
• Canned beans
• Eggs
• Bacon
• Cheese
• Graham crackers
• Chocolate
• Marshmellows
• Chips
• Cookies
• Beverages of choice
• Several gallons of water if possible for drinking, cooking, washing, etc.

If you have a grill at your disposal or camping stove at your disposal, even more options open up! Being able to boil water will open the most doors for cooking and food opportunities!

Tips for packing

• Layers are your best friend when packing clothes! Seriously!!!!!!
• When it comes to hygiene items, I never bring full size containers. If it didn’t come in a travel size container, I would highly recommend putting it in a travel sized container!
• Look up the weather when planning your trip and before leaving. Forecasts change all the time, and unexpected, unaccounted for conditions do have the potential to ruin a trip. Knowing your environment will also help you know what potential weather conditions to look out for!
• Know where you are going. Do some research to find out if you need to reserve campsites ahead of time, or if you need any passes for your location! Having those things with you or at least accounted for is also a part of packing and preparing.
• When in doubt, pack it anyway if you can afford the space!
• Know what your hygiene and water situation will be like ahead of time, and packing appropriately for that. Many places have outhouses at campsites, some have bathrooms and showers if you’re lucky! If you are dispersed camping then you are for either digging a hole for yourself in the woods or picking up your own poop to dispose somewhere else (mostly around desert areas). In those situations, there are portable toilets you can buy, some places even do checks to make sure you have a portable toilet at your campsite.
• The type of camping you are doing will definitely impact what you are bringing for shelter. If you are in a cabin for your entire trip, then there’s no need to worry about bringing a tent. If you’re going to be in your tent for several weeks, definitely make sure to bring any accessories you may need, good padding for yourself underneath the sleeping bag, extra stakes, etc.
• If this isn’t your first time camping, a shelter outside of your tent is really nice to have. Our instant canopy has saved us from some pretty bad heat, and from a lot of rain over the years! It’s definitely worth having on your journey!
• If bugs are going to be a problem, investing in some kind of mosquito net for either yourself or your shelter is definitely worth it! Bug spray just isn’t enough sometimes…
• If you are bringing furry friends, don’t forget to pack for them! I have a basic list for dogs going camping written out here if you need it! https://thewandererscooperative.wordpress.com/2021/06/16/camping-packing-list-for-dogs/