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Camping Gear Buyer's Guide

Camping gear ranges from the inexpensive, to the expensive. Just because it is expensive though, doesn't mean it is a great value. Great value is great quality at a great price.

I have tried most of the Camping Supplies below. On each camping trip, our family buys 2 or 3 camping items. So in just a few years, we collected most of our camping gear. Don't overspend. You don't need the best of the best to start out. Work your way into family camping and your camping gear. When you do buy your camping gear, try to get quality items for your tent, sleeping bags, camping stove, and lantern. You want these to last for years, and not break during a camping trip. Many times, you can borrow what you need from a friend or neighbor until you purchase your own gear.

Camping gear is usually put on sale or clearance starting midsummer through the fall. You can easily find great deals, such as 20%+ off. This can be a good time to get a really nice, higher quality tent, however the selection is usually limited. Once early spring arrives, stores start stocking up and the new items come out and the prices go back up.

Below I have listed the most common camping equipment, some of the benefits, and how necessary they are.

Tent- Yes. See the Camping Tent buying guide for more info. Our family is so big, we bring two.
Tarps- Yes, several. Make sure one is about 1-2 feet wider/longer than the bottom of your tent. You will put it inside your tent, like a boat, and then your sleeping bags, pads, etc. on top of the tarp. The other one or two is in case the tent springs a leak, or you need to cover something from the wind/rain. Always be prepared.
Tent Pegs- Don't just use the flimsy ones that came with your tent. Get some sturdy extras. If you have a Military Surplus store nearby, get some orange or green metal Army tent pegs- they are worth it!
Rope/ Cord- Yes. They are always handy, especially if it is windy/ rainy. It doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, be willing to cut pieces off it for various uses. I bring 550 cord that I got when I was in the Army. You can buy 550 cord, but it is expensive.
Sleeping Bag- Yes. Get one that is your size. Also, check the temperature rating & make sure it is rated for the temperature for when you want to camp. Note: If you are going when it is colder, consider getting a mummy bag. They are tapered & completely envelope your head. They are worth it in cold weather! Double sleeping bags are huge and fit two. Mom and Dad might consider one of these. Sleeping bags come in the very cheap to very expensive range. Your best bet is to go to a sporting goods store to look at them
Sleeping Pad/Cot/Air Mattresses- Yes. A definite must. This is what insulates you from the cold ground and provides some comfort at night too. They range from a cheap piece of foam (which I use for my kids), to very nice thin self-inflating pad, such as a Thermarest. Cots work, but are large and bulky. They are harder to sleep on your side or tummy. Another great option is air mattresses. Many come with built-in pumps- either manual or battery operated. Check out these inflatable mattresses.
Backpack- Unless you are going backpacking, this is optional. I bring a small school sized one for day trips, or bike riding, etc.
Matches/Fire Wand- Yes. You can buy waterproof matches which is good, but we usually bring kitchen matches and put them in a Ziploc bag. I also bring a fire wand (the long cigarette lighter) to start the camping stove and lanterns with. The fire wands are easier, but always bring matches as a backup.
Fire Wood- Optional. Essential if you are going to have a campfire (and why wouldn't you?). Some campgrounds will sell pre-bundled firewood, but not always. Sometimes it's green though (green is anything that won't burn, not necessarily green in color). I prefer to bring my own. How much depends on how many nights you want one and how long you intend on having one. It generally takes more wood then people think.
Fire Starter- Optional. If you plan on having a campfire (and really, you should) then these make it easy to get the fire going. They are like small sawdust logs that are formed using a special chemically treated wax to hold them together. They come in really small sticks to larger brick size(ish). I use the brick sized. Put one of these in the middle, and then put your kindling (smaller pieces of wood) around it. Light, and viola! Campfire for a family. You can also use newspaper and blow a lot (don't laugh- I've done that- a lot!).
Small Camp Ax- Optional. If you can gather wood at your campground, then it would be good to have. Most state and national parks prohibit gathering wood.
Camp Chairs- Optional, but highly recommended. They collapse and fit into a long narrow bag. We have 2 nicer ones for my wife and I, and then 5 smaller ones for our kids.
Marshmallow Sticks- Optional, but handy for the smores. You are having smores with your campfire, aren't you? You can also do a weenie roast with them. The pre-made ones at the store are nice. They usually are made with thicker wire. You can also take coat hangers (the non-painted wire variety) and some pliers and make your own.
Lantern- Yes. We bring two, because we have a bigger family (7 of us), and in case one stops working (that's the boy scout in me). There are 3 types: Propane, gas, and battery. Take a guess as which is cheapest to use. You guessed it, gas. It is also burns the brightest. We use 2 Coleman lanterns, one of which is older than me (I'm over 36). The battery version is the easiest to use, but is the costliest and not nearly as bright as the other two. Bring spare mantels that fit your lantern. I prefer the clip on style. They are much easier to use than trying to tie those little strings.
Lantern Tripod- Optional. Mine (Coleman again) double as a campfire grill. I don't use it for that though. It is almost 6 feet tall, and is very convenient to place wherever we need the light the most. It has shock-corded metal legs which store conveniently. There are lantern holders that attach around a tree, but many campgrounds and national/state parks don't allow them. The tripod has proven very useful.
Cooking Stove- Yes. There are 2 types: propane & gas (Coleman fuel). I prefer the gas type, as it is cheaper. It is a little more work to use, as you have to pour the gas into the tank, and then pump up the tank to pressurize it before you can use it. With propane, you just screw in the tank, turn it on and light it. You can get stove that have 1 to 3 burners. The most commonly used stove for family camping is a 2 burner. I use a Coleman 2 burner stove. I also have a little Peak I Coleman one-burner stove that I use as a back-up or if we need to heat three things at once. One camping stove is enough though.
Frying Pan and Pot- Yes. Teflon coated cleans easier, but don't spend tons of money here. Cast iron is nice, holds the heat longer, but is heavy. Did I mention they are heavy? We use old pots and pans, but you can also get them cheap at the thrift store. Make sure they are not too big to fit on your camping stove. Bring lids at least for your pot(s).
Cooking Griddle- Hmmm. Optional, but very convenient There are 2 types to choose from: Cast Iron, and Aluminum. We use the aluminum one, but the cast iron is sturdier and retains heat longer. The aluminum one is Teflon coated which is nice.
Camping Mugs/Plates/Bowls- Optional. As I talk about in the Family Camping Basics section, the metal mugs transfer heat to your hand, which makes them a pain to use. With a normal sized family (what is that? 2.5 kids? Hmmm...), the camping plates are fine. All of the traditional camping plates/bowls/mugs are porcelain coated, which makes cleaning them easy. We're at the point where we use plastic cups, camping bowls, and paper plates for the convenience. We also use plastic wear. Make your camping trip easy.
Table Cloth- Optional, but highly recommended. Make sure you get a thick one that will last. Most picnic tables are highly used. Cover them with a cleanable surface. It also brings a touch of home too. Bring enough to cover all of the tables you will use. We bring a couple.
Table Cloth Holder/Clips- Optional, but they sure are handy. We used to use heavy items on the corners for years, until we camped with some friends who used the clips. Next trip to Wal-Mart solved that though. Now we prefer the clips. You can find them at Wal-Mart or Target.
Coffee/Tea Pot- Optional, but makes boiling water quicker. We don't do coffee (nasty stuff), but we do enjoy hot chocolate. You can use a normal kitchen teapot, or buy the fancier camping version that is porcelain coated. There are even percolating camping coffee pots available.
Water Jug/Container- Yes. Look for one that is around 7 gallons. It is convenient if it has a spigot (faucet) to get water out of without tipping it over and spilling gallons of water. It doesn't have to be insulated.
Ice Chest- Yes. The bigger the better, but don't get carried away. The newest ones claim they keep ice frozen for 5 days at 90°F. One of ours has a battery operated light that comes on when the lid is opened.
Citronella Candles- Optional. A few people get headaches from them. As far as their effectiveness goes, that's open for debate. Bug spray is definitely more effective. If you have small children, they may not be worth it.
Bug Spray- Yes. The spray bottle type is the most convenient.
GPS- Optional, unless you get lost when you leave your driveway. A must if you want to go geocaching.
Compass- Optional. If you are not hiking, or get lost easily, or don't know how to use one, don't worry about it. If you do know how to use it, it could be a great time to teach your children how to use a compass, and how to read a map if you have a topographical map too.
Rain Gear- Optional. I would bring a light rain jacket or poncho if there is the remotest chance of rain. Will it keep you dry? It depends on how good a jacket it is and how hard it rains. When it rains hard, not much will keep you dry except under shelter.
First Aid Kit- Yes. Buy one, or put one together. Make sure it at least has various sized Band-Aids, antiseptic, gauze, tweezers, medical tape, pain relief such as Aspirin or Tylenol, and a bee sting kit.
Clothesline- Optional. However, I recommend it. You can just bring 30 feet of cord, or get a retractable clothesline at Wal-Mart or Target. They wind up into a nifty little case and don't cost too much.
Flashlight- Yes, and several- one for everyone if possible. It is a bummer to get up in the middle of the night and not be able to find the restroom because it is too dark. Consider extra batteries too.
Sunscreen- Yes. Don't get sunburned and suffer during you vacation. Protect yourself and your children.
BBQ- Optional. We bring a small portable charcoal one, where the legs fold up to lock the lid on. An easier option is the same kind, except it uses the small propane bottle. Less mess, and less stuff to bring. I used this kind too.
Shade Canopy- Yes. We bring 2 inexpensive ones (less than $15 each). They are your source of shade during the day if it is hot, and your shelter if it rains (besides your tent). We put both of ours together over the tables. The center post is adjustable. Basically, they are just 10x10 tarps with grommets (holes with plastic rings to keep them from tearing) on the corners for the legs to fit into. They work great. There are others that are more elaborate that work too. Some even have screened sides to help keep the bugs out (or in if the kids let them inside).
Pocket Knife/ Leatherman- Yes. Otherwise know as a multipurpose tool. I use my Super Leatherman all the time when camping. It has pliers, a knife, screwdrivers, and much more. There are cheap to expensive multipurpose tools available. The more you spend, the better the quality. Other brands are Gerber, Coleman, S.O.G., and a variety of generic brands.
Toilette Paper- Yes. It is OK to squeeze the Charmin.
Duct Tape- Yes. Use it for lots of purposes.
Small Table- Optional. We have a small folding table, which is little larger than a card table. They used to be made of aluminum. Now they make them out of pressed wood, which doesn't stand up to repeated use or wet spills and rain.
Medicine- If you have prescriptions, yes. We generally don't bring any special medicine. You can bring some Pepto-Bismol, Tylenol, and some cough drops.
Cell Phone- Only for emergencies. This is to be left in the glove compartment, locked at all times. Did I mention for emergencies only? You are going to spend time together, not on the phone.
TV- No way!
DVD/VCR Player- Don't even think about it!
Camera- Yes. Start your family tradition by being able to share those memories. Build a scrapbook just of your camping trips. Your children and you will cherish it for years. Bring extra film! Think about a camcorder too.
Porta-Potty- Optional. Well, we don't bring one. We prefer the ones at the campground. The campground doesn't have them? Then we don't stay at that campground.