CAMPING CHECKLIST
Camping checklist. If you’re like most of us, whenever you rush to get ready for that camping trip, you always end up forgetting “something”. So here’s a handy checklist to help out. Although it is not a complete list of items that you might want to bring on your trip, it does list the most common camping items. You can print this list and use it to prepare for your next trip!!
| Before you go | |
| Gather your travel guides and maps for the road | |
| Reserve your campsite ahead of time | |
| Ensure your vehicle is “ready” for the trip | |
| Cancel your newspaper delivery | |
| Install on/off timers on a few lamps in your house | |
| Shut down your water heater (just in case….) | |
| Ensure all windows and doors are locked | |
| Activate your home alarm | |
| Leave a key to your home to a trustworthy neighbor | |
| Arrange for someone to cut your lawn (if necessary) | |
| Arrange for someone to empty your mailbox periodically | |
Clothing | |
| A hat, a baseball cap or a sun hat | |
| A pair of long underwear (“Thinsulates” are great) | |
| Swimwear | |
| Shorts and long pants | |
| Rain gear – a poncho or a rain parka with pants | |
| A windbreaker | |
| Footwear (sneakers, sandals, rain or hiking boots..) | |
| A pair of thick wool socks | |
| Sunglasses (with UVA/UVB protection) | |
| A sewing repair kit | |
Health related items | |
| A first aid kit (band-aids, antiseptic ointment, gauze, aspirin etc..) | |
| Medication (prescribed or otherwise) | |
| Water purification tablets (just in case….) | |
| A pair of spare prescription glasses | |
| Toothpaste and toothbrushes | |
| Hairbrush, combs | |
| An unbreakable (plastic) mirror | |
| Soap, shampoo and bath towels | |
| Insect repellant | |
| Sun screen (waterproof if you’re planning to go swimming), lip gloss | |
| Toilet paper | |
| Camping items | |
| Your tent (don’t forget the stakes and poles) | |
| A tube of “seam sealer” for your tent (stick, spray or liquid) | |
| An emergency “repair kit” for your tent (patches, glue, needle, thread ….) | |
| Your sleeping bags and/or warm blankets | |
| A sleeping mat (foam or air-filled .don’t forget the air pump) | |
| Pillows for everybody | |
| A folding table (very convenient) | |
| A tarp (for your cooking area or to install over/under the tent if necessary) | |
| A battery/solar/dymano powered lamp (remember that using a propane lantern inside a tent can be extremely dangerous) | |
| A lantern for outdoor use (don’t forget to bring spare mantles and the propane canister) | |
| A cooler / ice box | |
| A cooking stove (and fuel) or a small BBQ | |
| Cooking pots, a frying pan, a kettle, a few mugs and some utensils | |
| A plastic egg container | |
| A plastic butter container | |
| A dish pan | |
| A can opener and a corkscrew | |
| A plastic tablecloth | |
| A laundry bag (garbage bags also work fine) | |
| Insulated food containers | |
| Aluminum foil (especially if you’re planning to cook on a open fire) | |
| Hot dog sticks | |
| A large water carrier (2-5 gallon) | |
| A water bottle / canteen | |
| Plastic bags! Small and large… they’re always handy! | |
| Rope – at least 100 feet (nylon being the most resistant to weather) | |
| Tape (electrical and/or duct tape work best) | |
| An small (folding) shovel | |
| An axe or a hatchet | |
| A small broom | |
| A knife (swiss army knives are always useful) | |
| Matches and/or a lighter (waterproof if possible) | |
| Candles | |
| A flashlight or two (always have a few spare bulbs around) | |
| Batteries | |
| Miscellaneous items | |
| Your passports (only if necessary) | |
| Your camera ….with USB cable & extra media cards (or films if non-digital) | |
| A radio (battery operated / solar / dymano) | |
| A walkies-talkie set | |
| Umbrellas | |
| Binoculars | |
| Fishing permits | |
| A good book | |
| Board games (chess, cribbage..) | |
| A deck of cards | |
| A folding chair or two (or a hammock to pamper yourself) |