How To Pack For Your First Camping Trip

So you’ve gone hiking, and you didn’t hate it. In fact, you kinda sorta fell in love with the great outdoors (it’s easy, don’t be afraid to fall hard). Now, you want to go camping. Pinterest will lead you to believe that you must either buy a ton of stuff or haul a ton of stuff with you. Not so.

First, let’s talk about equipment. Your essential sleeping equipment – a tent, sleeping bag(s), and sleeping pad(s) can most likely be rented for REI at very low cost, especially if you’re a member. Quick aside: If you’re not a member what are you doing with your life?! Find out why you need to be an REI member and other ways to save on gear here. To find out what you can rent from your local REI, go here and find your state.

If you don’t have an REI in your state - don’t worry you still have options! Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) has stores in the Northeastern United States as well as the Mid-Atlantic region. They have phenomenal customer service and offer gear rentals in their stores.

If you don’t have an REI or a EMS nearby, you can still rent online. Yes, mail-order camping gear! Lower Gear is based out of Arizona, but will ship your gear to you wherever you may be. Obviously, this requires a bit more planning since you need to have time to get your items shipped to you.

No matter where you end up renting, do not go without the three essentials: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Sleeping without a pad doesn't make you a hardass, it just makes you incredibly cold and uncomfortable.  

In Your Duffle Bag

If you’re going camping in the mountains, never underestimate how cold it can get at night. I made this mistake my first trip – no hat, only pants I brought were yoga pants, etc. As with hiking, layers are key. If you have some good base layer clothing (i.e. Under Armour layers or something similar), definitely throw those in your duffle bag. Other overnight sleepwear essentials include a heavier pair of socks, a warm beanie, and long underwear to wear under whatever pants you happen to be wearing to sleep in.

In the event that you aren’t camping in the mountains, or if you’ve checked the weather and it will still be blisteringly hot all night, then ignore everything I just said and just sleep in your underwear. Perhaps bring a battery-operated personal misting fan...aww yeah I'm talkin' 'bout Squeeze Breeze.

These bad boys are the reason I made it through summer camp as a child.
One night last summer when the LOW was 90 degrees, I was wishing I still had mine.

If you’re unsure of which direction the weather will go in overnight, err on the side of caution and pack a bag of warm layers. You can always leave them in the car, and you’ll be sorry if you don’t have them and end up wanting them.

Once you’re ready to sit around the campfire, comfy clothes are all you need. For daytime activities, bring some clothes to hike in so you can fully enjoy your surroundings. Not sure what to wear hiking? Find out here. You probably won’t be showering, so make sure to bring a change of underwear as well as a few pairs of socks. Unless you have Darn Tough socks – they’re so awesome you can wear them a few days in a row without them getting smelly or uncomfortable.

Toiletries

Toothbrush and toothpaste (bring a jug of water if you are camping at a site with no running water). Just mouthwash if you want to be really lazy (no one will judge you…camping hygiene is different than real world hygiene).

…And that’s about it. Ladies, notice I did not mention any make-up bags or any of the other thirty million things Pinterest will tell you are “essential yet low-maintenance” to bring. If you’re that worried about how you’re going to look in pictures, you’re doing it wrong. Don’t be that girl. Believe me, you look great anyways. At most, chuck some BB cream and face wipes into your bag.

A weekend of no make-up is a liberating experience that I recommend for everyone. 

Campsite Essentials

First and foremost – a flashlight. You can graduate to a headlamp if you decide camping is fun. Headlamps allow you to be hands free, but you’ll be fine with flashlights. Learn more about campground lighting options here. Make sure everyone in your group has one, that the flashlights have fresh batteries, and bring extra batteries with you just in case. On that note, bring extra batteries for whatever you are bringing that is battery operated (for cell phones, make sure to pack a car charger).

Chairs. If you’re a sports fan, a soccer mom, or tailgating college student, you probably already have some sort of camper chair. If not, they’re pretty cheap on Amazon and at Walmart. Cupholders are always nice to have since I’m assuming you’ll be having a few drinks around the campfire.

You can find firewood on the campground most likely, either at the campground host’s site, the ranger station, or camp store. If not, any gas station or grocery store within a 50 mile radius will do. Do not bring wood from home. It can damage the ecosystem, and you definitely don’t want to be that guy. One large bundle is enough for two people to have a decent s’mores and beer sesh for one night, but if you plan on having the fire going for several hours, it never hurts to grab two.

What else should be on your list?

-S’mores supplies. Duh.

-Beer. Also duh. Unless you don't drink, and that's totally cool too.

-Actually essential: bug spray and anti-itch cream, in case the former doesn't work.

-Sunblock

-Water – don’t bother with bottled water, just get a gallon jug of it. That should be enough for two people on an overnight trip.

-Ice and a cooler – any size (from the big blue ones to a large lunch box), depending on how big your party is.

-Kindling – cheat and use these ultra-cheap wooden skewers.

-Easy fire starter 

-Lighter – the larger variety like this one. 

-Skewer for marshmallows and hot dogs – cheap and worth it, even if you decide you hate camping and never use it again (unlikely!). 

-Pillows

-Extra blankets

-A roll of paper towels – s’mores get sticky!

-Garbage bags –  if you went to the store to pick up any food on the way, just use the grocery bags!
-Cash money - to pay for firewood if you plan on buying it at the campsite. Spoiler alert: there are no ATMs when you're out in the woods!

Dinner – Keep It Simple, Stupid.

I plan on trying out one of REI’s free camping cooking classes later this summer, but I still whole-heartedly believe in keeping it simple for dinner. Make it easy on yourself and get hot dogs, buns, and your choice of condiments. It’s impossible to botch making hot dogs and camping is the perfect excuse to eat like a ten-year-old.

Feel free to bring whatever entertainment you deem necessary. For me, hiking and a campfire is usually all I need. I’ll also bring a book or a Kindle (make sure you have a reading light, unless you have a new Kindle Paperwhite!) for bedtime; other suggestions are a deck of cards, something to play catch with, etc. This does not mean bring your iPad, laptop, etc. Again, if you bring those, you’re doing it wrong. This is your time to unplug!

There are plenty of fancy gadgets and gear that you can buy and bring with you, but remember to KISS for your first camping trip. There’s plenty of time to spend all your money on things at REI, so follow my lead and stick to the basics for your first outing – and don’t forget to have a blast! Learn how to pick out your first campsite here.