Camping Gear I've Accumulated As A Beginner Camper
I’m what you would call an ultra-beginner camper. With only a couple of trips under my belt, I’ve already fallen in love with camping and have a growing list of dream campsites I can't wait to visit.
One thing I wasn't prepared for? Figuring out what gear I actually needed. I spent countless hours watching YouTube videos, reading blog posts, and asking all of my experienced camper friends what was worth buying for my first trip. What I quickly learned is that camping looks different for everyone. Some people keep things as minimal as possible to really be one with nature, while others recreate an entire studio apartment and glamp to their heart's content.
This isn't a list of the "best" camping gear. It's simply the gear I've accumulated as a beginner camper, what has worked well for me, and what I'd happily bring on every trip.
NatureHike 4 Person Pop Up Tent
As a beginner camper, the idea of wrangling a bunch of tent poles was a little intimidating, so we opted for a super beginner-friendly pop-up tent from Naturehike. Even though I mostly camp with my husband, we chose the four-person size so we'd have plenty of room for our dog and all of our gear.
Shop Here → Amazon
REI Siesta Double Sleeping bag
Sleep is something I prioritize in my day to day, so we waited for this plush REI double sleeping bag to go on sale and it’s been completely worth it. My favorite part of this sleeping bag is the ability to regulate my temperature by using the hood on colder nights or unzipping the foot box on warmer nights.
Shop Here → REI
KLYMIT Double Inflatable Sleeping pad
I honestly underestimated how much of a difference a sleeping pad would make. Besides adding comfort, it also provides insulation from the cold ground, which made sleeping so much more enjoyable.
Shop Here → Amazon
All-Purpose Tarp
Our tent didn’t come with a matching footprint, so we opted for placing a standard all-purpose tarp underneath. This kept us nice and dry on our first night camping in the rain. It also comes in handy for other things, like covering gear during bad weather or protecting the back of your car from muddy camp equipment.
Shop Here → REI
Coleman Cascade Camping Stove
Cooking is my favorite thing to do at camp, and this Coleman double burner gets the job done perfectly for us. I pair this with standard fuel that I grab at my local hardware store, but some campsites will even have them for sale if you need extra.
Shop Here → Amazon
Quechua Stainless Steel Nonstick Camping Cookset
There are a lot of cooking supplies that can accumulate and take up a ton of space in your trunk. So when looking for a cookware set, I opted for an option that had essentially everything I needed, in the most compact package possible. This Decathlon set is an MVP in our camping gear collection, including everything from a pot, pan, utensils, cups, plates, and even a cutting board/trivet.
Shop Here → Decathlon
RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light Cooler
We had a pretty hard time deciding on what cooler was right for us, and ultimately landed on this RTIC 32 QT. So far, we haven’t had any issues with it and it has been the perfect size without feeling overly bulky.
Shop Here → RTIC
Set of 2 Collapsible Wash Bin
There are a bunch of fancy options for a wash bin. But for my least favorite task to do at camp, this collapsible set of 2 basins works just fine. It stores flat at the bottom of our gear tote and has been surprisingly useful beyond dishes. We've used it as a prep station, an organizing bin, and even a makeshift cutting board.
Shop Here → Amazon
Husky Heavy Duty Plastic Storage Tote
These totes are our preferred way to store, pack, organize, and transport most of our camping gear. It also helps keep us from overpacking. - if it doesn’t fit in the totes then we probably won’t bring it to camp. We also have a few of these in different sizes around the house, storing anything from household tools to sports equipment.
Shop Here → Home Depot
Cansky Portable Chairs
The chairs we bring to camp are not the lightest or smallest, but we love that they lean back for star gazing and are extremely comfortable and sturdy. They also work perfectly for the beach since their feet don’t sink into the sand.
Shop Here → Amazon
EAL34R Reachargeable Lantern
We have a couple of these rechargeable lanterns that we keep either at the perimeter of our campsite, or by our dining area. It even doubles as a power bank, so we can charge our phones overnight.
Shop Here → Home Depot
Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp
As soon as the sun sets, we love putting our headlamp on for walking the dog at night or walking to the bathroom. I especially love that it has a dimmer and tilts downward so we don't accidentally shine bright lights into other campers' campsites.
Shop Here → REI
Beanie & Campfire Jacket
What’s a night at camp without a campfire! But the worse part of a campfire is that smoky smell that just permeates through anything you’re wearing. Having a designated campfire jacket and beanie keeps the smoky smell from taking over the rest of your clothes.
Clean pajamas
On a similar note, I personally sleep much better when I have a set of clean pajamas on. Most of the time, I’m not showering at camp. But getting out of my sweaty or smokey clothes can make a huge difference.
Water wipes
When there’s less access to running water, water wipes come in so handy. If I’m feeling a bit gross at the end of the day, I use it to wipe down my body before bed. They’re also great for wiping down my camp stove between meals.
Lighter
I mean, do I even need to explain? I could not start a fire to save my life.
First aid kit
Hopefully you never need to touch this. But having a first aid kit around is never a bad idea. If anything, it gives you peace of mind as you go on your adventures! Don’t forget to include any prescriptions you may need, and anything to fight any allergic reactions you may unexpectedly encounter.
Trash bags
A major rule of camping is to pack out what you pack in. It’s super important that we keep these beautiful places clean and if possible, better than we found them. And if not just for respecting your camp site, packing up your trash and disposing of them properly also keeps the rodent friends away from disturbing your peaceful adventure.
Paper towels
I always bring a roll of paper towels with me because you just never know when you need it. I find myself reaching for this especially when I’m cleaning up after a meal, but they’ve also come in handy for drying a wet tent after a rainy night.
Ziplock bags
These are so multipurpose, and come in handy for collecting loose gear, leftover food, or even sealing up smelly trash. I’ve never regretted bringing a handful of these with me to camp.
If you're shopping for your first camping trip, don't feel like you need the most expensive gear. I bought most of these items over time and waited for sales whenever I could. Don't be afraid to borrow gear from friends or family, either.
No matter how you gather your gear, don't let not having everything stop you from getting outside. These are simply the items that have made camping feel a little more comfortable and approachable for a beginner like me.
If you're curious how my very first camping trip went, you can read about it here → Touching Grass: My First Camping Trip
