Camping Packing List
By the NanoPack team · Updated on · Checked against official sources
What to pack for camping: build the list around the Ten Essentials the National Park Service recommends for anyone heading outdoors: navigation, sun protection, extra insulation, a headlamp, first aid, fire, a knife and repair kit, extra food, extra water with a way to treat it, and emergency shelter. Then add your tent and sleep system, a stove and cooking kit, warm layers and a little camp comfort. Pack it in, pack it out: bring trash bags and leave no trace.
Camping essentials at a glance
- Tent, footprint, poles and pegs
- Sleeping bag rated for the low, and a mat
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- Stove, fuel and a lighter
- Water, plus a filter or tablets
- Warm layers, a hat and a rain jacket
- First-aid kit and a multi-tool
- Trash bags, pack it in and out
Camping rewards the prepared and punishes the forgetful, because there is no shop at 11pm in the woods and often no signal to look things up. The safe way to build the list is to start from the Ten Essentials, the survival systems the National Park Service recommends for anyone heading outdoors, then add the gear that makes a night under canvas comfortable rather than merely survivable.
The Ten Essentials
- Navigation: a map, a compass and offline phone maps
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
- Insulation: extra warm layers for a cold snap
- Illumination: a headlamp and spare batteries
- First-aid supplies
- Fire: a waterproof lighter or matches and a firestarter
- Repair kit and tools: a knife or multi-tool and duct tape
- Extra food: a spare day of no-cook food
- Extra water and a way to treat it
- Emergency shelter: a bivy, tarp or space blanket
Shelter and sleep
- Tent with poles and pegs
- A footprint or groundsheet
- Sleeping bag · rated for the overnight low, not the daytime high
- Sleeping mat or air bed · insulation from the cold ground matters as much as padding
- A camp pillow or a stuffed stuff sack
- A mallet and spare guy lines
- An extra tarp for rain or shade
Cooking and food
- Camp stove and fuel
- A lighter and waterproof matches
- Pot, pan and cooking utensils
- Plates, bowls, mugs and cutlery
- A cooler with ice and your food
- Water containers and a refill plan
- Biodegradable soap, a sponge and a quick-dry cloth
- Bin bags and resealable bags
- Coffee or tea and a way to brew it
Clothing
- Moisture-wicking base layers · avoid cotton for cold or wet trips
- A warm fleece or insulated mid-layer
- A waterproof rain jacket
- A warm hat and a sun hat
- Gloves for cold mornings
- Spare socks and underwear · more than you think you need
- Sturdy shoes or boots and camp sandals
- Dry sleepwear kept only for the tent
Tools and safety
- A first-aid kit and any medication
- A multi-tool or knife
- Duct tape and a few metres of paracord
- A trowel for cat holes · where there are no toilets
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
- Insect repellent and after-bite
- A whistle
- Bear-proof food storage · a canister or the campground locker where required
Camp comfort
- A camp chair
- A lantern or string lights
- A power bank · there is no outlet at the site
- A camp table
- A hammock
- Earplugs and an eye mask
- Playing cards or a small game
Toiletries and hygiene
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Biodegradable soap and a quick-dry towel
- Toilet paper in a dry bag
- Menstrual supplies
- Lip balm with SPF
- A small mirror
What not to pack
Items that are prohibited or pointless to bring. Some are confiscated at security.
- Cotton clothing for cold or wet trips · it stays wet and chills you; choose wool or synthetics
- Firewood brought from home · moving firewood spreads tree-killing pests, so buy it where you burn it
- Glass bottles and jars · heavy, and dangerous if they break
- Scented toiletries left in the tent · store food and anything scented away from where you sleep
- Brand-new boots · break them in at home first or expect blisters
What the campground usually provides
Developed campgrounds have these; backcountry sites have none, so check yours.
- A fire ring or grate
- A picnic table
- Potable water taps · at developed campgrounds
- Toilets, sometimes with showers
- Bear-proof food lockers · in bear country
Packing tips and mistakes to avoid
Start from the Ten Essentials
The National Park Service recommends ten systems for anyone heading outdoors: navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first aid, fire, a repair kit, extra food, extra water and emergency shelter. Pack those first and the safety of the trip is covered; everything after that is comfort.
Buy firewood where you burn it
Moving firewood even a short distance can carry invasive insects and diseases that kill forests, so many parks ban bringing your own. Buy local, certified firewood at or near the campground.
Keep food and scents away from the tent
Store food, cooking gear and toiletries in a cooler in the car, or in a bear canister or campground locker where required. A clean tent is a safe tent.
Rate the bag for the low, not the average
Overnight temperatures often drop well below the daytime forecast, especially at altitude. A bag rated a little colder than you expect, plus a mat off the cold ground, is the difference between sleeping and shivering.
The things people forget
- A headlamp and spare batteries, hands-free light changes everything
- A lighter and a dry firestarter in a waterproof bag
- Trash bags, to pack it all back out
- A power bank, because there is no outlet at the site
What travelers wish they had brought
- A warm hat for the surprisingly cold night
- A camp chair, the ground gets old fast
- Earplugs for the dawn chorus and the neighbours
- A second pair of dry socks
Frequently asked questions
What are the Ten Essentials for camping?
Navigation, sun protection, insulation (extra clothes), illumination (a headlamp), first aid, fire, a repair kit and knife, extra food, extra water with a way to treat it, and emergency shelter. It is the National Park Service framework for anyone heading outdoors.
What do you need for your first camping trip?
A tent with a footprint, a sleeping bag rated for the low and a sleeping mat, a stove and fuel, a headlamp, warm layers and a rain jacket, water and a way to treat it, a first-aid kit, and trash bags. Start from the Ten Essentials and add comfort from there.
What should you not bring camping?
Cotton clothing for cold or wet weather, firewood from home (it spreads pests, so buy it locally), glass containers, and brand-new boots you have not broken in. Keep food and scented items out of the tent.
What do most people forget to pack for camping?
A headlamp with spare batteries, a dry firestarter, a power bank, a warm hat for the night, a camp chair, and a second pair of dry socks.