What to Pack on Your Camping Trip

Planning a camping adventure can be a lot of fun. Where will you go? I the area you want to visit open? Are there hiking trails nearby? Will you go fishing? What isn’t so fun is planning and packing all of the gear you’ll need for every person on every day of your trip. Luckily, we have some tips to simplify your checklist.

Start with Your Camping Trip

What kind of camping will you be doing? Some of the more popular types of camping include car or truck camping (just going to a spot in the family car, setting up camp, and enjoying a weekend away), trailer camping, canoe or boat camping, pack-horse or ATV trips, and backpacking.

The type of camping you are doing can directly influence what you bring on your trip. For example, if you’re staying in a camper, you won’t need to bring cooking gear or a tent. Car or truck camping? You’ll likely have the option to bring anything and everything with you.

Start with the Food

According to the Complete Book of Camping and the Outdoors from 1957, every camping trip begins and ends with the proper food. The authors of that decades-old guide suggest the following (per day) for a family of four:

• Cooking Oil
• Butter
• Flour
• Powdered Garlic
• 1 Pound Rice or Potatoes
• 4 Cans of Fruit
• .5 Pounds of Bacon
• 3 Cans Evaporated Milk
• Tea and/or Coffee
• 1.5 Pounds Chopped Beef
• 2 Each (Onions, Carrots, Green Peppers)
• 1 Can Green Beans
• Biscuit Mix
• 4 Pounds Beef Short Ribs (braised in a pressure cooker)
• ½ Loaf Bread
• 1.8 ounces Egg Noodles

They also suggest bringing a jar of jam, bread crumbs, sugar, as well as spices (salt, pepper, parsley flakes, oregano, and thyme).

That’s a tall list for each day’s supply of food, which can really weight down your backpack if you’re hiking into your destination. To help trim the weight and make cooking easier than ever, Coastal carries Mountain House^® freeze-dried meals in pouches and cans.

Mountain House^® can replace nearly everything in the above list. It’s the perfect camping companion, with meals the cover everything from breakfast and entrees to desserts, sides and full meals.

To prepare a Mountain House meal, just tear open the pouch, remove the oxygen absorber, add your hot water, stir and enjoy. You can even eat right out of the pouch, cutting down on dishes and cleanup.

Packing the Right Gear

Taking what you need for survival as well as comfort and fun will help you enjoy your camping trip instead of fretting over what you forgot to pack. Here’s a quick list of items you should consider for your next trip into America’s national wonders.

Shelter

• Tent
• Sleeping Bags and Pads
• Tarp for Food Prep Area

Comfort

• Camping Chairs
• Rain Gear
• Bug Spray
• Firewood and Matches (or a lighter)
• First Aid Kit (with ibuprofen)
• Blankets

Toiletries

• Toilet Paper
• Toothbrushes and Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Baby Wipes
• Towel

Clothing

• Hiking Boots
• Extra Socks
• Swimsuit
• Enough Pants and Shirts to Last Several Days
• Belt
• Hat

Kitchen Gear

• Aluminum Foil
• 1 Pot and Pan
• Camp Stove
• Utensils
• Cups and Dishes
• Tub for Washing Dishes (and dish soap)
• Paper Towels
• Garbage Bags
• Cooler (with a frozen jug of water to keep it cold)

Coastal Has Your Camping Essentials

That includes camping stoves, mugs, plates, tarps, coolers, tools, fishing gear, camping toilets, hiking boots, jackets, hats, shirts, pants, shorts, and socks, hatchets, shovels, as well as Mountain House^® freeze dried food. Stop by today and we’ll help you put together your entire camping list.