First Time Camping Essentials

There are plenty of lists on the internet which show you what to take and what you will need the first time you go camping. I read a lot of them, but nearly all of them seemed to miss the most basic stuff.

They were too busy focusing on gadgets for chopping wood or the best way to carry around dirty clothes etc.

I needed, (and am now creating) a list of the most basic essentials you should need when going camping…at a regular campsite.

If wild or remote camping there may well be some additional items you need which we can save for a later list.

• Tent

This may seem pretty straight forward, but is probably one of if not the most important piece of equipment you will take camping with you.

A few tips…buy a tent for more people than will be going camping if you want space. Just because a tent says 2 people, don’t be mistaken for thinking that is generous space. Buy high quality, our first tent was returned after our second trip due to leaking and broken poles.

This is the tent we use.

Coleman Tent, Sundome, Dome Tent, 6 Person

• Stove

I deem this necessary, but there are plenty of sites which have free to use and available gas or wood-fired ovens/BBQ’s. However depending on where you go and the time of year you may find these are non existent or there is a queue to use them, therefore I find it much easier to travel with your own.

Find a review for the stove I am currently using here.

Coleman Hyperflame Fyreknight Camping Stove

• Seating

I deem good seating a necessity, but on the same note good doesn’t need to be expensive, I currently use a couple of cheap foldable outdoor chairs from K-Mart which cost $29 each. They work well, they’re comfortable the only downside is they still take up quite a bit of room in the car.

These are next on the list for me.

Oztrail Titan (200Kg Rating) Foldable Portable Picnic / Camping Chair

• Cutlery & Plates

You don’t want to arrive at the site, set up your tent then start to cook your meal to realise you left the cutlery at home. You can just take your cutlery from home to begin with, but once you start camping regularly I would invest in some camp specific cutlery, such as the ones in the link below.

Bramble Stainless Steel Cutlery Camping Set – Portable Travel Cutter, Spoons, Fork for Festivals, Hiking or Camping, Comes with a Carry Neoprene Pouch Bag with a Lightweight Bottle Opener (5 pcs)

• Sleeping Mat/Air Mattress

Now I personally prefer a sleeping mat, mainly because they take up far less space inside the tent than a large air mattress. I’ve tried many air mattress’ and they always like over a couple of days, and I don’t like the noisy electric pumps used to inflate them.

Sure a sleeping mat, may not look like it is going to be as comfortable, but buy a good one and you will not even notice you’re out of the house.

Weisshorn Double Size Self Inflating Mattress – Grey

• Sleeping Bag

To go on top of your sleeping mat, of course a sleeping bag. There is such a huge choice when it comes to sleeping bags, it mostly comes down to what time of year you will be camping and whether or not its a single or double.

Winter camping obviously you will want a thicker bag, summer camping – a thinner one. Most sleeping bags in camp stores have a convenient temperature rating, however if you’re just getting started and your not sure I would buy a summer sleeping bag, and if you go in the winter just take a couple extra blankets.

KingCamp Widened Comfort Waterproof Sleeping Bag 3 Season

• Head Torch

Finally a head torch, lanterns are nice, but as this is an essential list just to encourage you to get out and camp. Cheap head torches are the way to go. They can be bought from pretty much any store relatively cheaply for a half decent one. However if you do follow the links attached to these posts and buy we earn a small commision which helps us to keep creating content.

Try to find a head torch which has 2 straps, one that goes around the circumference of your head and another which goes straight over the top, these tend to stay on better.

HFAN LED Headlamp Headlight, Super Bright 3 Modes 800 Lumens Adjustable Zoomable Waterproof Headlamp for Camping, Riding, Running, Night Walking, Fishing, Hunting,Reading,Car Repairing,DIY Works ect

You are better off with battery powered units, rather than rechargeable, because you can guarantee the torch will go flat whilst your out and you won’t be able to recharge it, whereas with a battery powered one you can just chuck a few AAA’s into your camp gear.