A Quick Camping Checklist to Make Sure You Have Everything
Do you struggle trying to remember what to bring on a camping trip? Having a camping checklist will make packing for your camping trip faster, easier, and most importantly, you won’t forget the essentials. For example, extra tent stakes, personal medications.
Start your checklist with the most inherent part of a camping trip; the shelter. Wind and rain can make a very uncomfortable camping trip, if your intent is not waterproof and cannot stay upright when its windy. For example, a heavy rainstorm. Bringing an extra tarp to cover the entrance of your tent, will keep rain from entering through the flaps. Using an extra tarp under your tent protects the floor against wetness. Don’t forget a hammer or mallet, for the tent stakes.
The Rocky Mountains are a beautiful place for camping, but the weather can change in an instant. I carefully pack each piece of clothing for camping, and I’m always grateful I do so. The summer nights can be rainy and cold. One time, in August, I woke up to find it had snowed. My clothing checklist have always included a pair of hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, a hat, an extra heavy socks. You might also want to bring a sweater, swimsuit, shorts or light pants, and a bag for your dirty clothes.
In Rocky Mountains, where I camp often, the weather changes very frequently. Therefore, it is important to carefully pack the correct gear for camping. It can rain heavily and temperatures can drop below freezing during the night. One year, in August, it snowed lightly. Preparing a clothing checklist should include a hat, a water repellent jacket, extra socks, and heavy boots. A swimsuit, sweatshirt, light pants, and a bag for dirty clothes are also useful to bring.
Camping trips are fraught with danger, as well as fun, which is why a first aid kit is an essential part of every camping checklist. Make sure your first aid kit is restocked before you leave. Create another aid kit in which you place any medications, sunscreen, a lip balm, flashlights, batteries, a compass and a GPS, bug spray, a water filter, extra rope, a mini sewing kit, ipecac, an EPI pen, candles and a pen and paper. Your emergency kit should also include a fire extinguisher, an ax for chopping wood, and gloves. Other useful items are your cell phone, umbrella, and sunglasses.
Cooking items are an important part of your checklist and should include: trashbags, pans, a coffee pot, a sharp knife, aluminum, food containers, can openers, mugs, plastic utensils, a spatula, soap for dishwashing, and something to start a fire. And of course, the campfire is always better with peppermint schnapps.
Your list of cooking items should include: trashbags, fire starters, a coffee pot, pots and pans, cups, a can and bottle opener, food containers, tinfoil, a knife, dish soap, a thermos, a spatula, plastic knives and forks, and a cooler. You’ll need skewers, if you’re going to roast marshmallows or make smores. And what would roasting marshmallows be without schnapps, peppermint or peach.
While camping, you’re probably going to enjoy hiking and fishing and maybe mountain biking, so don’t forget to bring the equipment. You might also want to bring your camera and some games for the kids.
The camping checklist can be useful, but not every checklist can be comprehensive. Be sure to include incidentals when creating an itemized list.