Camping Checklist: 5 Items You Won’t Want to be Without

There are certain things you just shouldn’t leave home without. That goes double for camping. You should always make sure you have everything you need before you leave – planning is half the battle when preparing to embark on your next camping adventure. Here’s a few must-haves to get you started.

camping checklist1. Cooking

A lot of people consider themselves masters of the earth when it comes to cooking outdoors. Most don’t realise that cooking over an open fire is rather more challenging that it appears on the surface and burning your dinner can mean going hungry. Portable grills, like a Ziegler & Brown for example, are an excellent alternative – they’re light, sturdy, can be set up anywhere you like and are far easier to manage. Speak to a specialist stockist like BBQs Galore for more information.

2. Cooling

Before you can do any cooking, you’ll need a way to safely transport your food. Cooler boxes are a great, portable way to accomplish this. They hold cold in for long periods of time and keep food from spoiling over the course of the trip, allowing you to better ration your meals. Throw a few freezer bricks in to maintain the temperature and you’re ready to roll.

3. Seating

You’ll need somewhere comfortable to sit if there’s nothing especially comfortable nearby. Arranging a few folding chairs allows you to travel light and keep as much space available in your vehicle as possible. Like other items on this list, they’re light and portable, which makes them the perfect way to add a little extra comfort to your tranquil surrounds.

4. Healing

Build or buy yourself a first aid kid. If space is at a premium, you can always take an old prescription bottle and fill it with a few of the essentials, but it is always advisable to have a full-size, fully stocked first aid kit in case of emergencies. You don’t want to be caught injured in the wilderness, far from help, especially if you plan to be camping alone. Safety should be your number one priority.

5. Lighting

Being able to see what you’re doing is also extremely important. It gets dark out there very quickly and you can’t very well leave your car running all night. You’ll run out of fuel or possibly even drain your battery, leaving you stranded. Solar lights and LED lighting are dreams come true for campers. They don’t consume much power (solar lights don’t consume anything at all, they just need to be left in the sun during the day) and they’ll run long into the night before growing dim. Anything that will keep you from stumbling over your equipment in the dark will be a blessing.

Camping is all about contingency. Planning ahead and making sure you will have everything you need to deal with any given situation is paramount. There will always be something you didn’t count on occur out there, but at least you can deal with the small stuff first and make your adventure as comfortable as possible. What are your camping essentials? What won’t you leave home without? Leave your comments below!