Camping in the great outdoors is an easy way to relax, enjoy nature and spend time with friends or family members. Although there are entire specialty stores packed full of gadgets, supplies and gear designed to enhance your camping experience, you can get by without most of it. Unless you are planning a trip in an extreme climate or intend to enjoy a specific recreational activity while camping, a simple packing list with basic necessities should be sufficient.
Shelter
A tent is the most basic camping shelter, although modern campers and recreational vehicles, or RVs, turn your campsite into a hotel room with wheels. Tents are made differently depending on their purpose---a tent for family camping needs to be spacious, whereas a backpacking tent needs to be compact and lightweight. When buying a tent, look for sturdy, reinforced stitching and durable waterproof material, such as nylon. A well-equipped camper or RV may house everything else on your packing list, including beds, a stove, bathroom and storage areas.
Bedding
A sleeping mat makes the hard ground much more forgiving, whereas a sleeping bag can keep you warm and comfortable in all types of weather. Sleeping bags are rated to different temperatures, and you should choose one rated to a lower temperature than you expect to experience. Regular blankets work just fine, too, so if you do not have sleeping bags, just strip your bed before you hit the road.
Storage
Plastic totes protect your gear, clothing and supplies from rain, bugs and dirt. Particularly if you are camping in bear country, you must secure your food in a special "bear box" that you suspend or store well away from your shelter. Unless you have a camper with a refrigerator, you need an insulated cooler to keep perishable items cold.
Food Preparation
Many campsites are equipped with a grill; otherwise you'll need a camp stove if you intend to cook over anything other than a campfire. Basic cooking utensils, such as a pot, skillet, dinnerware and silverware make it easy to cook and serve meals. A manual can opener is a must. Dehydrated camping food is easy to prepare and just requires water.
Tools
Every camper should have a lantern or flashlight, along with backup fuel or batteries, a hatchet for splitting wood, a mallet to set stakes for the tent, waterproof matches, a pocketknife, a rope for a clothesline or to suspend food in the trees, a first aid kit, bug spray and emergency supplies if you are camping in a remote environment.
Hygiene
Outdoor restrooms can be as basic as a hole dug in the ground or as luxurious as a fully functional bathroom inside an RV, with a self-contained portable potty somewhere in between. Depending on the facilities, you may need biodegradable soap and shampoos that will not harm the environment. Some products are even versatile enough to tackle the dinner dishes before you hit the shower, saving you room in your pack.
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