Every year, millions of people pack up their RV and head to a campground to spend a week in nature. Before you and your family join these vacationers, there are a few things you’re going to need to pick up. 

If you’re not taking an RV, you can’t go without tents and sleeping bags. Having a fire pit comes in handy, and you won’t be able to make food without a can opener or cookware. 

The question is, what kind of cookware do you need? Will just any tent or sleeping bag do? Check out this camping gear checklist to find out the answers to these questions and much more. 

Tent 

If you’re not going camping in an RV, you’ll need to purchase a tent or two. Most suggest going with a double-walled tent to keep moisture out. If you’re going to an area that sees a lot of rain, look for waterproof tents NZ.

Regarding size, if you’re a four-person family, you’re pretty much good to buy a four-person tent unless you’re bringing along a pet. If that’s the case, you should buy a size bigger to give Fido plenty of room to stretch out. 

Sleeping Bag 

Take a minute to see what the weather is going to be like during the week that you’ll be at the campsite. If it’s going to be fairly mild-mannered, you won’t need a thick sleeping bag. 

If it’s going to be a bit on the chilly side, you’ll have to buy something that offers more warmth. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a fancy sleeping bag, be sure to at least bring plenty of blankets. 

Portable Fire Pit 

It’s not camping until you’re roasting marshmallows. That involves building a fire with wood that you’ve found on the ground. 

If you want to take some of the work off yourself, add a portable fire pit to your list of camping essentials. You can go here to find out which one you should buy. 

Cookware 

If you’re going to be hiking a bit to get to the best campground, you may not want to pack a heavy cast iron skillet. Even so, you should buy a few pots and pans. Without them, you won’t be able to cook your meals. 

When you’re packing your cookware, don’t forget to include a can opener. You can use a knife to open your kid’s ravioli, but you’ll be at it for a while. 

Cooler

Nobody wants to have to live off of canned goods for a week, but meats will go bad. That’s where having a cooler comes in handy. 

You’ll be able to use it to store drinks, meats, and any other perishable goods you bring along with you. 

The Only Camping Gear Checklist You’ll Ever Need 

As you can see, there’s a lot that you’ll need to add to your camping gear checklist before you head out.

If you forget pots and pans, you won’t be able to cook anything. You also need a high-quality tent and a sleeping bag for those chilly nights in the great outdoors. 

For tips that will help you figure out what to cook during your trip, visit the Food section of our blog.