My family is an outdoorsy family, so camping is something we do very often. Obviously, when you go camping, you want to be prepared. So today, I’m going to share with you 10 things that we feel are our family camping essentials.
Tent
First things first is a tent as it’s one of the main necessities when you go camping. Your tent is going to keep you sheltered, so it’s definitely the first thing you always need to bring with you on your camping adventure.
Bedding
Number two is bedding. I tend to go a little bit more elaborate on the bedding because adventures in the outdoors are hard. Especially if you’re not getting a good night's rest. So be sure to bring stuff that’s going to make you and your family comfortable while sleeping.
Flashlight
Flashlights are really important, and we usually bring both a lantern and headlamps. That is, unless we’re packing light, then we skip the lantern altogether. The kids really enjoy having their own headlamps, so try to make sure that everyone in your family has at least one headlamp or light so you’re not fighting over them.
Food
Food is obviously something you want to take with you on every adventure. You’re going to need to replenish your energy with good healthy food while camping. But you also want the kids to be excited, so consider bringing special treats. For us, it’s always s’mores because that’s a classic camping treat.
You may get sticky if you’re going to bring s’mores. But baby wipes are the answer to that problem, which brings me on to number five.
Toilet Paper
You’re going to need toilet paper and a bathroom plan, depending on where you’re camping. If you don't have a bathroom, it’s pack in, pack out, so be sure to think about how your family is going to approach using the bathroom. Doggy bags really aren’t a bad option. And there are also different types of groovers and styles of bathroom setups that you can Google and check out online.
For our family, we use campsites that have bathrooms and amenities. Or when we’re in the great outdoors, then we’ve got a groover. So some people use doggy bags, and others have full bucket systems, it really is up to you.
Just remember, don’t forget the toilet paper. On our recent camping trip, we forgot to bring toilet paper, and it really wasn’t very fun. Bring yourself a few rolls, as it’s one of those things you don’t think about until you’ve forgotten it.
Lighter
A lighter is one of those things you’re going to use a couple of times throughout the trip. We use ours for starting our campfire and for our camp stove, so pack yourself one or two.
A tip I’ve learned along the way is to keep your lighters in a dry bag if you’ll be camping near water or if it's likely to rain. Nothing sucks more than getting to a campsite and realizing your lighter is flooded, so bring your lighter, and keep it dry.
Baby Wipes
I know I mentioned baby wipes earlier for if you get sticky from s’mores, but you’d be surprised how often you’re using baby wipes throughout your entire camping trip. Since bathing isn’t really a thing, baby wipes help you feel like the kids are a little fresher when they go to sleep or a little fresher when they wake up in the morning. Ultimately consider bringing some baby wipes as your cleaning mechanism for you and the kids.
Chairs
After being on several camping trips without them, I’ve realized just how important chairs can be. You think you never need them, and you’ll just sit on the ground. But when you’re adventuring all day, there is something really nice about flopping into a camp chair and just being able to relax. Whether they’re big ones or little ones, one or two lightweight camping chairs are going to make a big difference to your camping adventure.
Something to keep in mind, however, is that if you only bring two, you’re going to have to share them. I only brought two on the last trip when there were three of us, and I never got to sit in a chair because the kids wanted them the whole time. So, if you have the availability to bring a chair for each person, definitely consider doing that. Otherwise, the parents don’t get to sit in the chair that much.
Melatonin
This one could be something that is controversial, but there are versions of children’s melatonin for a good night's sleep. I’ve noticed it makes a really big difference for my children when we are camping, for example. When we are camping, we either stay up really late, or it can be light out when I want the kids to go to sleep. And trust me, getting your kids to sleep when you’re out on an adventure can be challenging. So, I consider giving my kids at least one gummy melatonin before they go to bed.
The children’s versions are out there, so do some research and check it out. But it’s really helped me on my adventures to ensure my kids get a good night's sleep.
On top of melatonin for the kids, I always bring adult melatonin or Advil PM for me. I have really bad shoulders when we’re camping, and the kids are usually sleeping on them, so I wake up with a lot of pain. This is why when I’m camping, and only when I’m camping, I will take melatonin to help alleviate inflammation. And to ensure I get a good night’s rest, of course.
Drinks
Drinks can be fun, depending on what kind of drinks you want to bring. Even when it's hot out, I really appreciate a good cup of coffee or hot chocolate for the kids. If you’re going camping, just know that a warm drink after an adventure can be really nice and relaxing. It’s also a great way to wake up in the morning with a warm cup of coffee or tea.
It’s no secret that sometimes camping can be cold, so having that warm drink can really help bring you out of your sleeping mode.
Wrap Up
So yeah, those are my top 10 things for camping. It’s different for every person and every family, so think about what will make you and your family comfortable while out on a trip. If you love good coffee when camping, check out Eric Hanson's article “Best Camping Coffee Maker”.
Check out our last Top 5 post: Top 5 National Parks for Families!
Camera: GoPro Hero 10
