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If you truly want to enjoy your camping experience you need the right camping gear. You can’t go out for the weekend or even a week with just the clothes on your back and no supplies.

The key to choosing the correct camping gear is to know what conditions you will encounter on your camping trip. How long you will be camping also influences what camping gear you should carry.

Thankfully we live in a day and age where camping gear manufacturers are constantly coming up with better equipment, whether it’s lighter backpacks, bigger tents that are lighter, or tents that have power hook ups, you can pretty much find what you are looking for the type of camping you are going to do. I want to break down some gear that I have found useful and hopefully will make your next camping adventure even more fun!

Consider about which gear is essential based on your personal circumstances and surroundings. You will have many choices of gear from which to select that are both practical and functional even if you are on a tight budget.

These are just a few of the essential items that you should consider carrying. Make sure you make your own list of items to bring and cross them off before heading out. It’s no fun to go camping and not have camping gear you may really need.

Startup Camping Gear and Equipment Costs

A. Shelter - Tent for shelter - $55.00 for a single person up to $300.00 . For a four person or larger depending on design and quality.

B. Sleeping - Sleeping bag, camping cots and pad $25.00 - $100.00 per person the price is dependent on the quality, type and whether each person uses all three items or a single sleeping bag.

C. First Aid Items- A good first aid kit is mandatory, plus aspirin or other pain relief medicine

D. Lighting - Flashlights or Lantern - you need at a minimum one good flashlight per person - $10.00 - $25.00 each, Lantern - $30.00 - $60.00 is optional. You have the choice of propane, white gas, or dual fuel gas. They each have good and bad points. If you are in a campground that supplies electricity carry a light or lights you can plug in instead of a lantern.

E. Food Preparation - Cooler - $10.00 - $30.00
Cooking - Camp stoves - $20.00 single burner butane camping stove, up to $60.00 for multi burner
Sterno Stove and sterno - $10.00 I don’t care for sterno it doesn’t get hot enough for me. But it’s simple and inexpensive and better than nothing. Even a small camp stove is far easier to use than a can of sterno or a wood fire.
Cook over a campfire - free except for wood, makes a mess of your pots and pans
Food Storage - $10.00 (I use a large plastic storage container with a lid 23“ long and 18“ wide 16“ tall)
Cardboard box - for storage of pots and pans $free
Cooking pots and pans - outdoor enameled cook set is a good place to start, it’s inexpensive has most needed pots and pans, cups, coffee pot $20.00 - $50.00
Knives - I carry a cheapo stainless knife set that comes in it’s on plastic carry case. It has 5 big sharp kitchen knives. $10.00 - $15.00 at a dollar store
Eating Utensils - Knife, fork and spoon for each person $1.00 per set tops
Water - Containers for cooking cleaning and drinking.

F. Campfire Building - If you intend to make to consider carrying- Winter clothing, raincoats or ponchos, or other type of weather resistant clothing is always important to have along if you will be away from shelter. $0.00 -

H. Personal Care Items - bring along your toothbrush, towel and soap if you intend to bathe and have the facilities.

I. Miscellaneous Seasonal items, Insect repellent for summer. Extra blankets etc. for winter.

J. Chairs - There are a lot of different types of camping and lawn chairs you can consider carrying. You may already have something. $0.00 - $30.00 per chair.

Filed under: Recreation and Sports on April 21st, 2009