Camping is truly a great escape from your busy routine and get away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Spending some time in the great outdoors will clear your mind, and get you in touch with nature. Camping is an opportunity to experience outdoor activities, explore outdoors or just spend some quality time with your family and friends. 

When preparing, it’s important to consider the weather, activities, campsite amenities and the length of your stay. These will influence the camping gear you bring, as well as any extra preparation you may have to do. For instance, if you’re planning on hiking, you’ll need minimal, lightweight camping gear. And if you’re camping with a large group of family and friends in a secluded site, you will need to bring extra equipment to make up for the lack of amenities. 

Whether you’re a first-time camper or a seasoned survivalist, we have compiled a list of the camping gear you should not forget to bring with you to ensure a great camping trip. 

Tent

The most obvious piece of equipment you should never forget is a tent. If you’re an expert camper, chances are that you have changed a few different tents over the years. However, if it is the first time stepping out of your comfort zone, you will need to do some research on the best tent for you. As tents come in all shapes, sizes, colours and purposes, you will need to consider the type of camping you will be doing. For example, if you are travelling solo, a swag may be enough, and if you are travelling with a family, you will need a larger tent, perhaps with internal walls and plenty of space to move around in. 

Sleeping Bag

Perhaps the most important piece of equipment to allow for a comfortable rest is a sleeping bag. While sleeping under the stars sounds great, depending on the location and time of year you’re camping, it can get very cold. If you’re camping mid-winter, we recommend a sleeping bag that will be suitable in -10 degrees, for a very warm sleep. 

If you don’t have a sleeping bag, remember to pack blankets to keep you warm at night.

Toilet Paper

You won’t ever appreciate a roll of toilet paper more until you have to rough it in the great outdoors.

Depending on your level of expertise when it comes to camping, you may choose to camp in full-facility areas, with cold running water, toilets and showers.

However, if a proper bush-camping trip is your style, you will most likely be camping in the middle of nowhere, with no luxuries nearby. 

You should always carry extra rolls of toilet paper. You may be surprised for all its purposes, such as drying your hands or starting the campfire.  

Water

Any outdoor experience will require you to be well hydrated, so easy access to water is key. If you’re camping in a rough, or remote area, chances are that you won’t have access to clean water. Most maintained campsites provide clean water; however, you should always pack a few cases or tanks of water. It will be used not only for drinking, but for cooking and cleaning.

First-Aid Kit

While it’s rare that an accident will happen, being in the outdoors means you are exposed to many different forms of wildlife. It’s important to ensure that you have a first-aid kit equipped with all the essentials including band aids, bandages and antibacterial gel. 

Lighting

Unless you’re staying in a powered campsite, it can get quite dark at night. You should bring sufficient lighting that will allow you to see your surroundings once the sun sets. Although you will most likely have a campfire, you need to remember that stepping a couple of metres away from it will be pitch black, so we recommend adding a lantern and spare batteries to your camping accessories. 

Camping Chair

A camping chair is an important piece of equipment for your camping trip. Mainly because once the sun sets, you will be sitting around the campfire with family or friends, and you want to be comfortable doing so. 

From our experience, it’s always a good idea to add a couple of camping chairs to your list, in case any of your friends or family forget to bring theirs.

Tarp

If it is your first camping trip, a tarp probably won’t be a piece of equipment that will come to mind right away. Tarps are versatile and are water resistant, meaning you can use them for various things around the campsite. For example, if it rains while you are camping, you will need to set a tarp over your tent to stop the water from pouring into your tent if it is not waterproof. 

Another great way to use a tarp is as sun shade. If you don’t have a gazebo, you can create a makeshift undercover area by tying your tarp to a couple of trees. If you are camping on grass, you can lay the tarp down and use it as a large picnic blanket to sit on. 

Whatever you decide to use it for, it’s a great piece of equipment to add to your camping accessories. 

Multitool

This one is probably for the more experienced campers, but everyone can add a multitool to their camping gear. You don’t know what you will need until you are at your campsite and realise that you need a piece of equipment you didn’t pack.    

A multitool has many functions including scissors, a knife and screwdriver, and can fit easily in your pocket. 

Portable Stove

While cooking over a campfire is a tasty and fun way to prepare your dinner, bringing a portable stove is a great back-up option if it rains. A portable stove will also allow you to prepare a wider variety of foods, without the hassle of having to keep the campfire going all day. 

If it is your first-time camping and you’re choosing to rough it, it can be overwhelming. However, it is worth the hard work. You’re guaranteed to make lasting memories, enjoy lots of laughs with your friends and/or family, and get plenty of outdoor time to reconnect with nature. 

To ensure the most comfortable trip, we recommend making a list so that you don’t forget to pack the essentials. Buying your camping gear online is a great way to get ready for the weekend, and save on costs. 

As trusted camping gear specialists in Australia, we know what it takes to have a great camping trip. Shop our camping gear online here.