Steve and Sarah's BIG Camping List

Steve and Sarah’s Big (but simple) Family Camping List

This list looks really long (and it is), but I wanted to make this a comprehensive list that would cause me to at least make a thoughtful decision about what not to bring on a family camping trip. If I decide not to bring, say, the car battery charger, I want to have done so because I thoughtfully eliminated it from my list—not because I forgot. So, this list contains some of the obvious things (like the all-important can opener), but also more debatable items like a hammock or walkie-talkies—so that whoever uses it can pare the list down thoughtfully and hopefully never have to say, “Stink!  I should have thought of bringing sidewalk chalk” and so forth.  Sidewalk chalk, after all, is on the list.  So, expect a big list and expect to be able to pare it down as you wish--but hopefully this will help you relax a little knowing you have a pretty comprehensive list. 

Also, don’t rush out to Target and buy, say, a dish rack:  Most of these things can be bought at resale or thrift shops. In fact, one tip for making camping less onerous is to visit the ReStore or Salvation Army or Goodwill and pick up cheap seconds of things like dishes and silverware and then story those in a big bin just for camping. 

Note also:  This list does not include food or the good old ice cooler. That's a topic for a different blog.

General Equipment: 

 (** denotes things that may or may not be necessary)

____  Tent (set up and inspect all parts and seam seal a few days in advance of the trip—make sure you have the rain fly! I may also have my kids practice sleep in the tent when I set it up for inspection).

____ Tent tarp (Two inches shorter than tent on all sides)

____ Ax (sharpened)

____ Waterproof Matches

____Match strike pad

____ Tinder (Dryer lint is great!)

____ ** Fire grill (tripod or otherwise)

____  ** Roasting sticks (for marshmallows, tofu hot dogs, and so forth)

____  Old long oven mitt (for shifting the fire—get one that covers forearm as well as hand if possible).

____ First Aid Kit (See medicine for complete list)

____ Screw driver (flat and Phillips head)

_____  Hammer (Unless Ax will double as one)

_____  Adjustable Wrench

General Equipment, Continued

____  ** Special tools for equipment (Allen wrenches, etc., Socket wrench for my topper—what about various patch kits and repair kits for things like bikes or kayaks—think if anything you have requires a special tool)

____ All purpose knife

____ Duct tape

____  Rope (Long enough for good clothes line)

____ ** Tire patch kit if bikes

_____  ** Air pump

____  ** Car battery charger, multipurpose (sometimes these serve as pumps, car chargers, cellphone chargers, etc).

____  Headlamps and/or personal flashlights (Headlamps absolutely ROCK for camping because of the handsfree nature)

____ 360 visibility lamp (for walking to places at night—so the ubiquitous kids riding bikes at night don’t hit you on the way to the bathroom)

_____ ** In tent plug-in lamp if an electric site.

____  **  Plug in small fan for electric sites.

_____  **Extra table (good for the cooking area—frees up picnic table space).

___ _ Hiking Backpack (to hold snacks and water bottles when hiking).

_____ **Child carrying backpack (great if you have a toddler—necessary if you have a baby)

___ Water Bottles for everyone.

____ ** Kiddie corral for toddler play area 

___  ** Pac-N-Play (can also work as above)

___ ** Extra ground cloth for child play area.

_____  ** Kiddie corral

____ ** Camera

____ ** Cell phone

____  ** Cell phone charger

____  ** Air compressor if filling air beds.

____ All chargers for all equipment.

General Equipment, Continued

____ ** Wagon—(great for pulling water back to camp site—Seriously consider this. A lot of camping is spent hauling water back to camp).

____  5 – gallon water buckets (I suggest two).

____ ** Bikes for everyone.

____  ** Scooters for kids (great to help them keep up with older ones on walks)

____  Camping Stove

____ Fuel for stove or other items

_____  ** Adobe wrap

_____  ** Extra ground cloth for kids’ play area.

_____ Campfire chairs for everyone. 

_____  **  Walkie Talkies (I no longer bring these – they just gobble batteries!)

_____ ** Hammock (I LOVE having one of these—if only my kids would share!)

_____  Small whisk broom 

_____  Dust pan

_____  ** Gas Lamp for all camp (these are by far brighter and better than electric)

_____  ** Spare mantels for gas lamp.

_____  ** Gas for lamp.

_____  ** Large umbrella or other beach sun shelter (I love the sport umbrellas)

_____  ** Beach Towels 

_____ Keys—extras in case you lose them

____ All ID’s and Credit Cards

_____ Credit card information in case these are lost or stolen.

____ Insurance cards.

Sleeping Equipment

_____  Sleeping pads for everyone.  (I prefer these over the big blow-up air mattresses for a number of reasons).

_____  ** If preferred, blow up mattresses.

______ ** Compressor for blow up mattresses (check batteries if needed).

_____  Blankets, sleeping bags for all.

_____  Pillows for all.

____  ** Pac N’ Play for baby/toddler

_____  Warm Pajamas.

_____ ** Warm socks

_____  ** Warm caps and socks if cold weather camping.

_____  *** Sheets and bedding if desired. 

_____  ***  If electric site, sturdy plug in lamp

_____  ** Extension Chord (if electric site).

_____  ** Electric fan if hot weather and electric site camping.

Equipment for a Baby, Toddler or Young Child:

_____  ** Floaties or water vests (Vests are GREAT for kids, but are not full proof!  Watch your kids in the water if they don’t swim well yet!).

_____  Child friendly toys.

_____ Extra  Tarp for play area.

_____ ** Kiddie Corral for play area.

_____  Pac N’ Play

_____  ** Sit up Seat (Bubby)

_____ **  Little toilet. (Camp toilets can be scary for little guy—well, shucks, for everyone).

_____  Eating seat with tray that can be attached to picnic table. (Don’t even THINK about not bringing this if you have a toddler in the wandering stage or a baby)

_____  Diapers

____ Wipes

____ Diaper covers (If you use reusable diapers--you saints)

_____ Diaper Rash Cream.

_____ Baby back pack 

_____ Adobe wrap

_____ Special Sun lotion

____  Special Repellent

____  Winter body sleeper if cold camping (better than a sleeping bag!)

_____  Rain gear

General Clothes for Kids:

_____  Long, sturdy pants (Unless it’s hot, pants are best to keep bites down—long pants and a little spray around ankles are a good deterrent against ticks—Ticks are especially a problem in long grass—but generally I find they don’t reside on paths or very short grass or playground or campsites with well-worn ground—I rarely spray myself or kids and only once did we have them)

_____  Socks

_____ Shorts (probably fine—unless you are going into grass)

_____  Bathing Suit

_____  Swim Shirt (So much easier than lotion)

_____  Keens or other sturdy waterproof sandals.

_____ ** Aqua Socks (unless keens will do)

_____  Tennis shoes or hiking boots.

_____  Underwear.

_____  T-Shirts

_____  Warm Pajamas

_____  ** Warm hat (if cold camping)

_____  Sun hat

_____  ** Wool sweater

_____  Hooded sweatshirt.

_____  Sun glasses.

_____  Rain gear

_____  Wind breaker

_____  Floaties or life vests.

_____  Bike Helmet

_____ ** backpack (Let them carry their gear when hiking--also you could use at a limiter to their toys, etc.  "Bring what you can fit in your backpack")

_____ Glasses, etc.

General Clothes for Adult:

Ok, Steve talking here:  I generally find I can get by with very few changes of clothing—as long as I have clean and dry and warm clothes to sleep in at night, long NON-COTTON underwear, and a wool sweater.  So, on my next four day trip, I will probably only pack one change of clothes—and just keep my sleeping clothes dry and clean. I really like a wool sweater for camping for warmth, because it stays warm even in the misty cold).

_____  ** Bike Helmet

_____ Sun hat

_____ Warm Hat (if sleeping below 50 at night)

_____ Sunglasses

_____ Glasses

_____ Contacts

_____ Contact cases

_____ Contact Solution

______ T-shirts

_____ Sweatshirt (I try not to make this cotton--which is useless when wet or even damp)

______  Wool Sweater

______ Wind breaker

_____ Rain gear (parka and pants – can be used as wind breaker)

_____ Belt

_____  Jeans

____ Shorts

_____ Socks (including wool and cotton)

_____  Underwear

 

_____  Keens or Chacos or other waterproof sports sandals.

______ ** Aqua Socks

_____ Hiking boots

_____ Swim Suit

_____ Swim Shirt

______ Swim goggles

_____ Warm pajamas

_____  Bras

______  Shower Sandals (cheapies for those delightful camp showers!)

Toiletries

_____  Large bag (like a gardening bag) or bucket with tool skirt—something with lots of pockets so that kit is easily portable.

_____  ** Extra bag or bucket if you have boys and girls.

_____  Tooth paste

_____  Tooth brushes for all.

_____  Kid’s Tooth Paste

_____ Dental Floss

_____  Bar Soap 

_____ Bar Soap holder

_____  Shampoo

_____  ** Conditioner

_____  ** Comb

_____  Brush

_____ ** Special soaps (acne, face cleanser)

_____ Face/Skin Creams

_____ ** Lotions

_____  Metal Tweezers

_____ Face towel

_____  Towels for showers.

_____ Shower footwear (really cheap flip flops are nice in the—shall we say—lived in feeling you get at State Park shower facilities)

_____ Make Up

_____ Tampons

_____ Extra roll toilet paper

_____ Feminine Hygiene Pads

_____ Contacts

_____ Contacts Case

_____  Contacts Cleaner

_____  Glasses

_____ Pony tail holders

_____  ** Tangle Spray (If your daughter is named Lucy! ;>)

Medicine

_____  Bug repellent

_____ Special Kid’s repellent.

_____  Sunscreen

_____ Special Sunscreen for kids or babies

_____ Antacid 

_____  Athlete’s foot cream

_____ Ibuprofen

_____  Tylenol 

_____  Kid’s Tylenol/Ibuprofen

_____  Metal Tweezers and Pin (for splinters)

_____  Magnifying glass (for splinters)

_____  Antiseptic (Hydrogen Peroxide) 

_____  Alcohol pads

_____ Small, medium, large Band-Aids

_____  Anti-diarrhea  

_____  Finger splint

_____ Sunburn Aloe Vera

_____  Eye dowser

_____  Anti itch cream

_____  Cotton balls

_____ First aid tape

_____  ** First-aid book (Or invite your friend who is a PA! :>)

_____  Tissues

_____  Baby wipes

_____ Diaper rash cream

_____ Thermometer

_____  Baby thermometer

_____  Bee sting stuff

_____  Vitamins

_____ ** Birth control (for you married-without-kids-yet, otherwise forget it!)

_____ Feminine Hygiene 

_____ Prescription medications

Toys N’ Stuff

_____ Sand toys (even if not going to the beach, the campsite playground may have sand).

_____  5 toys for each child (let them pick these out—thinks like one Barbie, one batman, and so forth)

_____  Books! FOR GROWN UPS AND KIDS!

_____  Activity books

_____ A new puzzle (new for YOU—just go to goodwill)

_____  Coloring books

_____  Crayons

_____ Identification books (flowers, trees, bugs, birds, and so forth)

_____  Riddle/Joke Books

_____  Board games for each aged person—including grown ups!

_____  Crafts like sewing or beads or rainbow loom (limit the amount of these!) that can be done when rainy or on car trip over.

_____  Sidewalk Chalk

_____ Nature exploration things like butterfly net, etc. 

_____  Squirt guns

_____ Bubbles

_____  An all purpose ball

_____  Chess set

_____  ** Scooters

_____  ** Bikes

_____ Helmets

_____ ** Bean bag toss types of games.

_____  ** Ice cream maker (shaker)

_____ ** Sled for sand dunes.

Cooking Equipment

A great idea is to visit Goodwill and buy inexpensive seconds to store just for camping. 

_____  Frying Pan

_____  Big pot with lid

_____ Smaller Pot with Lid

_____  ** Tea kettle

_____ Big pot holder (oven mitt would work great!)

_____ Grill top (or grate) for campfire cooking (unless you are SURE they have one!)

_____ ** Dutch oven (great for easy cobblers)

_____  ** Round Casserole dish for Dutch oven 

_____ ** Spacers for Dutch oven

_____ Gas stove

_____ Gas FOR Stove

_____ Matches

_____  Big Serving/Cooking Spoon

_____ Big knife

_____ ** Little paring knife

_____  LONG metal Tongs

____ Long metal spatula

____ Can opener

_____ Silverware for everyone (easy to get secondhand!)

_____ Plates for everyone (Hey, do Mother Nature a favor and buy some reusable second-hand ones at the Restore, etc)

_____ Cold cups for everyone

_____ Warm Cups for everyone

_____ Bowls for everyone.

_____  Hot cups for everyone

_____ Table Cloth (A must!)

_____ Clips for table cloth

_____  Vinegar/Water 50/50 mix in spray bottle for cleaning)

_____ Dish rack (a must!)

_____ Two plastic bins for washing

_____ Dish soap (Ivory is biodegradable)

_____ One or two dishrags

_____ A dishtowel

_____ ** Grater

_____ Aluminum foil

_____  Plastic ziplock bags. (Or, better yet, reusable pouches for things like bringing sandwiches and snacks on picnics)

_____ Garbage bags

_____ ** pop-up garbage can

_____ Marshmallow/Hot dog sticks

_____ ** Drainer if cooking pasta

_____ 5 – Gallon water jugs (I like two)

_____  Paper towels ( a must)

_____  Baby seat for meals 

_____  Special sippy cups, silverwear, and other special utensils for babys/toddlers.

_____ ** Small cooler for lunch picnics.

_____ ** Small water jug for picnics

_____ water bottles for everyone

_____ Water purifier stuff if camping out there!

_____ Small Cutting Board

Tips for Cooking:  Have something hot for breakfast even if just tea and oatmeal.

Prep ahead of time:  Cut veggies and store in Tupperware

Cut meats and marinade in double-bagged ziplocs

Mix ingredients for meals as much as possible

Try to make meals as easy as possible for the camping trip by prepping at home.

Plan one night of eating out and/or one easy night of hot dogs or freeze-dried food so you get a break!

Other Items I didn’t think of :

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