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Camping season is almost upon us!
The best way to make camping the most fun is to be prepared. It can get some getting used to roughing it a little more than your own home, so being prepared and having the essentials will make the experience that much better.
Packing for camping can sometimes be stressful, especially when you are going somewhere that’s not going to have stores nearby to pick up last minute items.
Here I give you my checklists for camping to ensure you don’t forget anything!
I’ve broken down these lists into stocking up your trailer or tent, as well as a shopping list for items that are disposable and need to be repurchased occasionally!
Being prepared is the key step for feeling comfortable in your weekend home. I’m here to help ya out a little!
Start Up Camping Checklist | Tent
We tented for years before getting a trailer, so we came up with a pretty good system. Having the essential items stored in bins creates a seamless process when you’re rushing out the door with excitement.
This is a list of the basics, so don’t forget to pack all your personal essentials that you would normally pack for yourself on a trip! I’ve got a great packing checklist for travel that could be a great start!
Tenting Tips:
Store your tent in a rubbermaid bin as opposed to the bag it came in.
We all know that once you open up that bad boy, it’s going to be near impossible to stuff it back into that bag afterwards.
We found it much easier to store our tent in a bin, like this one, which was also big enough to hold an extra tarp in case of rain, as well as our campstove.
It then could also double as a table which was great for prepping food or drinks!
Get an air mattress with a built in pump.
No more realizing you forgot the pump and having to sleep on the hard ground! Air mattresses with a built in pump are so much easier and so convenient.
Invest in a good air mattress and take care of it and it should last you.
Also if your car does not have regular plug-ins, make sure to grab an inverter to be able to use your car to pump it up!
I repeat: bins, bins, bins.
Bins are your lifesavers when it comes to tenting. One big one for your tent, a medium one for the items on that list, and a small one for your smaller items that need to be more accessible (bug spray, bottle opener, etc.)
Come up with a system that works for you so that you don’t have your hands full of a bunch of items.
Start Up Camping Checklist | Trailer
All of these items are great to stock into your trailer upon your first trip. That way they are always there and you never have to worry about bringing them again!
We’re fortunate enough to have power where we store our trailer, so we’re able to keep our fridge on and keep the main condiments in there. If you can’t keep your fridge on while it’s being stored, make sure to empty out the items that need to be refrigerated (and then bring them back each time!)
Shopping Camping Checklist
Some items you’ll tend to run out of. So this checklist is perfect for those disposable items you go through to make sure you restock!
Camping is my absolute favourite way to spend my weekends in the summer. Though I’m all for roughing it in a tent, there are lots of things I can’t live without while camping. I still wanna feel clean and comfortable, y’know?
We recently started camping in a trailer, so though we’ve left our tenting days behind, it’s always good to be prepared with all the essentials.
I always refer back to lists when I’m prepping our trips and it really puts my mind at ease knowing I’m so prepared.
Meal prepping before each trip is also a great way to make sure you have all the food items you need. These are some of my faves!
What are some of your camping essentials?!
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