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The 15 packing essentials for your first camping trip (For beginners!)

HelenaBadPlaceToBe

Updated: Nov 18, 2024

Congratulations – you've declared to the world that you're going on your first camping trip. Now what?


While a camping trip can – and should – be an exciting and rejuvenating experience, it's important to come prepared. Two words: toilet paper. Here are some other essential items to pack for the perfect camping trip:

  1. Tent: A good tent is essential for any camping trip. Make sure to choose the best tent you can – one that is appropriate for the number of people you'll be camping with, as well as the type of weather you'll be facing.

  2. Sleeping bag: A warm and comfortable sleeping bag is key to a good night's sleep while camping. Consider the temperature rating of the sleeping bag and choose one that is a good fit for the expected weather conditions.

  3. Sleeping pad: A sleeping pad provides extra insulation and cushioning, making it more comfortable to sleep on the ground. It can also help to keep you warm by preventing heat loss to the ground.

  4. Camp stove: A camp stove is a convenient way to cook meals while camping – if you think you'll be starting a fire rubbing bits of wood together. It's harder than you can imagine, and also illegal in some parts. There are many different types of camping stove available, ranging from simple one-burner stoves to more complex multi-burner systems. Choose one that meets your cooking needs and fuel preferences.

  5. Cooler: A cooler is essential for keeping food and drinks cold, especially on a piping-hot day. Choose one with enough capacity to hold all of your perishable items (and a nice bottle of fizz/couple of beers/can or twelve of Coke for the kids), and be sure to pack plenty of ice to keep everything chilled.

  6. First aid kit: Accidents can happen while camping, so take all that emergency medical stuff from your drawer with you. Pack at least a basic first aid kit with items such as band-aids, gauze, and over-the-counter pain medications.

  7. Headlamp or flashlight: A headlamp or flashlight is essential for navigating in the dark – and boy, it can get dark. Pro-tip: make sure to pack a backup light source in case your primary one fails.

  8. Water bottles: Staying hydrated is important while camping, especially in hot weather. Pack enough water bottles (and water, if you're not sure of access to a faucet) to last the duration of your trip.

  9. Sun protection: Pack sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays. Sunburn in a tent a long way from home is hell.

  10. Insect repellent: Mosquitoes and other insects can be a real nuisance while camping. Pack insect repellent to keep them at bay. Your Zzzzzzzs will thank you.

  11. Multi-purpose tool: A multi-purpose tool, such as a Swiss Army knife, can come in handy for a variety of tasks while camping. Also looks good when talking to other campers.

  12. Personal hygiene items: Don't forget to pack personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, and soap. We mentioned toilet paper, right?

  13. Warm layers: Even if the weather is warm during the day, temperatures can drop significantly at night. Pack a few warm layers, such as a fleece jacket or a down vest, to stay comfortable in the evening. If you're going to be near your car, throw an extra bunch of blankets in, too. Just in case.

  14. Cooking utensils: Pack a few basic cooking utensils such as pots, pans, and utensils to prepare meals on your camp stove. Stirring beans with your fingers sucks.

  15. Trash bags: Pack a few trash bags to keep your campsite clean and to properly dispose of any waste. It's the least you can do.

Finally, don't forget to also bring along any personal items and any additional gear you might need for activities such as hiking or fishing.


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Best Tent Blog was created over a beer one night when three friends were talking about what, exactly, they so loved about the great outdoors.

 

Mitch, our founder, put down his drink to explain that his own particular fascination with camping tents stemmed from a trip he'd had when he was just 10 years old on a rough strip of grass not far from his best friend's house. In the middle of town.

 

It was the least glamorous introduction to camping that anyone could imagine – five pre-pubescent guys wedged into a three-person tent with just enough floor space to accommodate them and their (limited) camping gear.

Camping tents were fairly unwieldy back then, and Mitch remembers the hellish struggle of trying to haul the fart-infested sack of canvas back to his friend's house.

Other tents of the lightweight variety were for more serious campers, he quickly realised, upon buying a camping magazine from the local news guy a few days later.

"That magazine introduced me to a world of backpacking tents, car camping tents, tent poles, four season tents and a whole lot more," Mitch says. "The ads at the back were full of exciting-looking products that made me want them for no other reason than they looked cool. I was hooked."


 

Fast forward a few years, and Mitch was camping on a small island with his girlfriend when he noticed that she'd inadvertently hitched a pair of boxer shorts out of his backpack and was swinging them around the tent on a pole like an all-conquering flag-waver.

Then there was the time at a sold-out summer rock festival where he attempted to leap over a friend's two person camping tent and fell face-first over a guy rope, hurtling headlong into the tent body.

 

The fact is, we all have stories like this (OK, not exactly like this). Whether you're a serious backpacker who has hiked the Appalachian trail or an occasional weekend camper – tents will have somehow wormed their way into your affection. And your drinking stories.

 

You'll maybe have discussed the intricacies of interior space with a guy in a camping store; exchanged your views on fair weather camping and multi-room family camping tents; you'll have wondered if you could convert the family Nissan for a weekend of car camping.

 

This is the tent-lover's life. And once you're in – you're in.

 

 

As well as wanting to give people an idea about the best tents for their needs – based on reviews from experts and the most-respected websites, such as outsideonline – we wanted to encapsulate that love of camping that affects so many of us.

 

In our blogs, you'll find information about the:

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And more. Whether you're looking for the best tent blog, the best camping blog, the best outdoors blog or – more likely – a two minute distraction from your day job, we've hopefully got you covered.

We have information about what is the best camping tent in different scenarios, the best budget tent, the best overall camping tent and you'll find blogs about fishing, hiking trails, weather resistance and sleeping bags too.

Whether you have one tent and are looking to acquire more, or you already have a six person tent, a backpacking tent and a brace of dome tents for visitors, we hope you'll find something here that keeps you entertained, informed – and fuels your love of the great outdoors.

Here's to you, here's to us – here's to another night under the stars.

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