Even though summer is nearly over, there’s still time to go camping. And getting out in nature is actually a great idea, since studies have shown that nature makes us happier and that being among vegetation can help you live longer.
But if you’ve never gone into the wilderness before, you might need a camping packing list. That’s why we asked experts for tips and gear advice to make your first time out as fun and safe as possible.
“The pandemic and lockdowns sparked a massive spike in outdoor recreation, and more people than ever are getting outside,” says Backcountry gearhead Rob Lindsen. “It’s great to see people getting to experience so many new, fun outdoor activities, but it is important for new outdoor users to learn proper outdoor etiquette and principles, like Leave No Trace.”
Leave No Trace is an easy set of seven principles to follow when you venture into nature so you can help minimize your impact. They include planning, traveling on durable surfaces, properly disposing of waste, leaving what you find, respecting wildlife, being considerate of others and minimizing campfire impacts. “Don’t make a campfire unless you’re 110% comfortable and sure it’s safe (and legal) to do so, and never leave a fire unattended until it’s completely put out,” Lindsen says. “Too many forest fires get started by careless campers!”
Dennis A. Vásquez, bureau chief of field operations at New Mexico State Parks, says planning is key when camping. “Do some online research on the area where you are going camping,” he says. “Be aware of forecasted rain, extreme temperatures and other weather conditions. Prepare accordingly.”
Campspot ambassador Kendra Clapp Olguín, who lives in an Airstream with her partner and fellow Campspot ambassador, Tyler D. Way, says actually figuring out where you’re going to camp is one of the most important parts of planning. “Finding a campground or campsite can be a daunting process, so I always recommend that first-time campers turn to Campspot,” says Olguín. “Further, a great way to introduce yourself to camping is to go with friends who have camped before.” Other than Campspot, reservation sites such as ReserveAmerica, The Dyrt and Recreation.gov are extremely helpful when looking for a place to camp. You can search by location and browse different campgrounds with varying amenities so you can find a perfect camping experience. “It is strongly advised to make campsite reservations in advance, when that option is available,” says Vásquez. “A less popular, less crowded area might be a good introductory experience.”
When it comes to gear, you’ll need a few camping necessities like a tent and sleeping bag, but Olguín encourages new campers not to go wild buying a long list of camping items. “For your first trip, keep the camping equipment essential,” she says. “You’ll learn from experience what equipment and items work best for your style of camping.” Vásquez echoes this too. “It’s not necessary to buy the fanciest or most expensive equipment,” he says. “Start with basic, solid, modestly priced equipment. If you get hooked on camping, you can upgrade as you go along.” REI and Backcountry have brands that fit into this category with REI Co-op and Stoic, both of which have quality gear that’s typically cheaper than other big brands.
Below, we’ve followed our experts’ advice and put together a camping checklist for your next trip to the woods. We also have advice on expert-recommended hiking gear, backcountry camping and hiking boots for all your summer adventures.
Camping tents and chairs
“Our in-house brand, Stoic, makes a ton of great gear that’s an awesome value for both beginners and experienced campers alike,” says Lindsen. The Madrone 4 is a three-season tent, which means it’s built for everything but winter camping. Setup is easy, and it comes with two vestibules so you can stash your gear right outside of the tent and it’ll still be protected from the weather.
One of the hardest things to get used to when camping is the lack of space. That issue is solved with REI Co-op's massive Wonderland 4, which has a peak height of 75 inches.
This massive tent can sleep four people, but the interior tent can also be removed, leaving you with a freestanding shelter that can keep you protected from the rain and sun.
If you've got the whole family in tow and need lots of room, check out this six-person tent from Kelty. It's heavy and only has one door, but more than enough space for your friends, family and gear.
If you live in an area with a lot of rain, consider this four-person tent from trusted brand Coleman, which has full rain fly coverage and a protected vestibule to shield your gear from the weather too.
If you don't know how to set up a tent, or just don't want to deal with it, this four-person option from Caddis basically assembles itself. A six-person version is also available for $300.
“Bring a comfy camp chair; it’s a must-have for roasting s’mores by a fire, and great for napping in the sun during the day,” says Lindsen. This chair from Amazon is simple, with tons of cushioning and built-in beverage cooler pouches.
If you need a seat for two, look no further than this cozy chair that's easy to set up and the perfect way to snuggle by the fire.
This chair is Olguín’s go-to for chilling at the campsite. “Inexpensive, oversized camping chairs ... allow you to sit with your legs criss-cross comfortably,” she says.
This simple chair is great not only for the campsite, but also for the park or backyard. For just $30, there's no reason you shouldn't have one.
If you want the ultimate in luxury, check out Nemo's reclining camp chair. Half hammock and half chair, the Stargaze allows you to swing back and forth and recline so you can truly relax after a long day on the trails.
Sleeping bags, blankets and pads
A sleeping bag that keeps you warm at night is essential, so make sure to research how cold it will get. Sleeping bags have temperature ratings, but most of the time those numbers are lower-limit comfort ratings. That means if you have a 20-degree bag, it definitely doesn’t mean you’ll be snuggly and warm on a 20-degree night. In fact, you’ll probably be quite cold. This Kelty bag’s lower limit is 21 degrees and its comfort rating is 32 degrees, meaning it should keep you warm and comfy on most nights from late spring into early fall, depending on the climate.
This bag from REI Co-op is one of the best deals on a sleeping bag out there. At just $100, this 20-degree bag is cozy for any camping trip, and even light enough to take backpacking.
This synthetic bag is lightweight, ultra warm and incredibly cozy. Equipped with gills to help you regulate your temperature and a draft collar to keep your body heat inside, it's one of our favorite sleeping bags we've tried.
If you’re planning on summer camping, this cooler bag from L.L.Bean will do the trick. Plus, its flannel-lined build is more comfortable than the polyester you typically find in warmer bags.
If you’re camping with your partner and don’t want to sleep in separate bags, this double bag is the perfect solution. With two hoods equipped with pillow pockets, dual two-way zippers and an interior stash pocket, you and your camping buddy will stay cozy and snuggly all night long.
If summer camping gets too hot, you might want to consider just using a blanket instead of a full-on sleeping bag. This puffy blanket from Rumpl is perfect for warm-weather camping, or you can bring it on colder trips to bundle up when you’re relaxing around the fire at night.
Olguín loves to bring this gorgeous Pendleton wool blanket camping to keep her warm by the fire. “Wool is naturally fire-resistant, so we feel safe using these blankets around the campfire,” she says.
“Don’t skip bringing a sleeping pad either; a bad night’s sleep can quickly ruin any camping trip,” says Lindsen. This option from Therm-a-Rest is 3 inches thick to ensure comfort all night long.
Another fantastic piece of gear from REI Co-op's Trailmade collection, this affordable pad is self-inflating and 1.5 inches thick to keep you comfy on rocky terrain.
If you don't need 3 inches of padding, this thinner pad might not be as comfortable but can still do the trick. Plus, at just $65, it won't break the bank.
Sea to Summit offers stellar camping gear, and this pad is no different. With 1.5 inches of thickness and an R-value of 4.2, it's a great option for spring, summer and fall.
Backcountry's sleeping pad is fairly priced and features foam padding for added comfort, along with reinforcements along the bottom.
Camping cooking gear
“A huge part of camping is cooking, and depending on how you view it … it can be a bit of a headache planning out meals, bringing not only all of the ingredients but also the equipment to cook it. It adds up,” says Olguín. “One tip I have for first-time campers is to eat out at a local restaurant or café a few times throughout your trip so you’re not inundated with meal prep and execution.” For the days you are cooking at your site, you’ll at least need a camp stove, some gas and utensils to get by.
This timeless camp stove has cooked many a meal in the woods. With two simple burners and wind screens, most of the time, this stove is all you need on your campout.
If you want a stove that's a bit more powerful and reliable, our editors love Camp Chef's stoves. This one has two burners that put out 10,000 British thermal units (BTU) each.
If you know you'll only need one burner, check out this compact stove from Eureka. Running off of butane, this small stove packs a punch with 11,500 BTU.
If you have lots of room in your car or truck, you might want to consider bringing this stove system along on your next outing. It's reasonably priced at $140 and, since it has legs, provides a similar cooking experience to your kitchen at home.
You probably can’t bring your whole home coffee setup, but the Aeropress is a fantastic option for getting your daily caffeine fix out in the woods. Recommended by Olguín, it’s super light and packable, simple to use and easy to clean up.
A smaller and wheeled version of our favorite budget cooler, it won't keep ice for days on end, but it will do the trick for a weekend trip.
You can easily bring the pots and pans from your kitchen, but if you want to cook over the campfire or just want a more outdoorsy feel to your cooking, a cast-iron skillet is a must. This one is from the same brand as our favorite cast-iron skillet.
Camping lanterns and headlamps
Probably the most classic camping lantern out there, this propane-fueled option from Coleman gets surprisingly bright at up to 1,000 lumens. One 16.4-ounce propane cylinder will fuel this lantern on high for up to 7.5 hours, so your campsite can stay illuminated deep into the night.
This tiny, yet sturdily built, lantern can illuminate your stove while you cook and the picnic table so you can play games. At just $20, it's incredibly affordable and packs a 415-lumen output.
This lantern is cheaper and more portable than most, and it takes AAA batteries instead of propane. It’s a nifty lantern if you just need to illuminate a picnic table for cards or the inside of your tent.
After testing 14 headlamps against each other, this one stood out as the best overall. It features plenty of power and fantastic battery life that makes it perfect for the campground.
“You can get by using your phone’s light or a flashlight, but a headlamp will make your life a lot easier,” says Lindsen. “I like the Petzl Actik Core, as it can be easily charged with a Micro USB cable but also works with AAAs.”
Other camping accessories
There’s nothing like swinging among the trees in a hammock. This one from Kammok is super packable and easy to set up — just be sure to snag a suspension system so you can hang and relax in the woods.
To keep your fire going, you’ll have to add and maneuver logs over the flames, which is much easier with a pair of tongs, according to Olguín. “I don’t know why, but it took us too long to get firewood tongs,” she says. “Much safer and easier than trying to pick up logs with other logs. These fold down nice and small too.”
Starting a fire can be hard, but luckily fire starters like these from Better Wood make it a breeze. “They claim to be the easiest to use all-natural fire starter, and I would agree,” Olguín says. “I also like that they blend into the campfire, unlike other fire starters.”
If you hate packing and repacking all your camping gear every time you go on a trip, check out this rugged, storage system that's built for any adventure. With a collapsible, weatherproof design, just keep all your gear packed in this box and when you're ready to go camping, you can simply grab it and go.
You won’t have fond memories of your camping trip if you come back burnt to a crisp. Avoid sunburns with this sunscreen, which was our pick for the best sunscreen.
Nothing ruins a camping trip like dozens of bug bites, so stay protected with this bug spray, which was our pick for the best DEET bug spray.
Having a fleece or jacket is nice to have for when the temperatures dip at night. Olguín absolutely loves this pullover from Patagonia: “When I die, I’ll get buried in this for eternal comfort.”
If an unexpected rain storm passes through, you don’t want to get caught and get soaked. This lightweight jacket from Patagonia will keep you protected from even torrential downpours.