Here's How to Pack for Your Next Camping Trip

Let’s get you packed and ready to set up camp. We’ll show you how to pick the best camping equipment for your next outdoor adventure. Let’s start with camping essentials to help you enjoy a cozy sleep and your morning coffee in the great outdoors. Having the right camping equipment will make your camping trip safer and more enjoyable.

Let’s Begin with Camping Equipment Essentials

An annual summer camping trip can be a big part of growing up in Canada. To make sure you have a fun vacation, you’ll need to have all the camping essentials covered.

Choose the Best Tent for Your Needs

Having the right camping tent makes getting a good rest possible. Here are some things you should ask yourself before selecting your tent.

How many people are sleeping in the tent? This will help you pick what size of tent you need.
Do you have any tall family members? If the answer is yes, make sure the tent length accommodates their size.
Do you need extra space in your tent for pets or for storing camping equipment?
Do you camp all year round or just in the warmer months? This will help you decide whether you need a 3 or 4 season tent. A 3-Season tent is the most popular and provides great shelter for family camping trips.
Are you staying in one place or moving from spot to spot? If you’re hiking, you’ll want a tent that is small and portable.

Let’s discuss some of the features you should know about before picking your camping tent.

Camping Tent Windows, Doors, and Screens

The more doors and windows, the bulkier the camping tent will be to stow, but you’ll also have more views and exits. Some people like their tents small and cozy, while others prefer more space. Screens are essential to help keep the bugs out.

Storage and Organization

Today you can find great features that help keep your tent organized. You’ll find pockets for toting personal items or flashlights. They even have camping supplies like clothing organizers or closets so that everything has a place.

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Ease of Setup

Most campers have at least one funny story about how long it took them to set up the tent. Thankfully, camping equipment today is designed with easy setup in mind. Look for tents that mention easy and quick setup and take down. A helpful tip is to try to get to your campsite well before sunset, so you have enough light to get things set up before darkness falls.

Warmth Ratings

Sleeping bags often come in one of three warmth ratings, Summer, 3-Season, and Winter. Most brands follow their own rating system, so when buying a sleeping bag, make sure you check for one that will match the temperatures that you will be sleeping in. The most versatile warmth rating is 3-Season.

Rectangular Sleeping Bags

Rectangular sleeping bags are the most popular and affordable. They roll up quickly but can be somewhat bulky. They give you lots of space to move or wriggle around but won’t keep you as warm as a more tapered sleeping bag. They zip up or can be unzipped and used as a blanket.

Mummy Sleeping Bags

Mummy sleeping bags keep you wrapped up nice and warm. These sleeping bags are designed to fit snugly around your body, so they won’t let you move around as much, but they will keep you warm. They often have hoods you can snuggle into and roll up into a small and compact easy-to-tote bag.

Double Sleeping Bags

A double sleeping bag can make for a more for a romantic camping experience. It will comfortably fit two adults in one sleeping bag.

Compact and Lightweight Sleeping Bags

If you’re planning on camping while you hike, then you’ll want to find a compact sleeping bag. These bags are ideal for backpackers and are lightweight and extremely portable.

Barrel Shaped Sleeping Bags

Barrel sleeping bags are perfect for campers who want more warmth than the rectangular sleeping bag, but more wiggle room than the mummy sleeping bag. The shoulder and foot areas are tapered to keep more warmth in and help you stay cozy.

Finding the Right Water Jug and Cooler for Your Camping Trip

Staying hydrated and well fed is key for any camping trip, which is why it’s so important to pack the right camping water jugs and coolers. Here are some factors you’ll want to consider when choosing your water jugs and cooler:

Size, portability, and durability are all factors you should consider for both your water jug and cooler.
You’ll want to understand how much water you’ll need to keep all your campers hydrated and how much space you’ll need to keep food cold.
The length of your trip and how close you will be to clean water is also important to know.

Water Jugs

Water jugs make camping meals and clean up easier. They come in lots of different shapes and sizes. Collapsible water jugs allow you to take up less space when packing up, while larger plastic or stainless-steel jugs are more durable.

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Create a Home Away from Home with the Right Camping Furniture

Camping furniture is a great way to make your camping trip more comfortable. You’ll want to find camp furniture that is lightweight, easy to stow away and has multiple functions. Let’s look at the most popular options.

Larger Back Camping Chairs

These camping chairs are a good option if you want to be able to sit back and relax, they fold up but still give you back support. This style is the most popular and comes in both adult and kid’s sizes.

Backpack Camping Chairs

These camping chairs are built into a backpack. This is ideal for backpack trips or hikes where you might want to rest or sit for a meal on the go.

Cooler Camping Chairs

The cooler camping chair gives you the option of sitting and having a place to keep your drinks cool. These are the best option when you are hitting the beach.

Camping Chair Loveseats

The camping chair loveseat gives you the option to seat two people in one chair and take up less space.

Camping Chairs with Canopies

If you’re spending the day at the beach or just want to avoid the sun, a camping chair with a canopy will keep you in the shade.

Camping Tables

Many campsites come with a picnic table but not all do, and often you’ll need a bit more space for meal prep or games. Let’s look at the most common camping tables.

Camping dining tables will fold down to be stowed away but provide a firm surface for eating or other fun activities. They come in many sizes to accommodate your group.
Camping cooking tables will often have a spot for your stove or allow you to store cooking equipment easily. They also provide cooking work surfaces for preparing camping meals.
Camping utility tables are often smaller in size and are a great addition to create more surface space during your camping trip. These are helpful for having a cup of coffee or even cleaning off fish after a fishing trip.

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Light up Your Night with the Ideal Camping Lantern

Camping lanterns are an absolute essential on your camping checklist. There is a huge amount of choice when deciding how to light up your campsite. Here are some of the options you can look at for your next camping trip:

Electric Lanterns
LED Lanterns
Battery Powered or Rechargeable Lanterns
Solar Powered Lantern
Fuel Lanterns · Butane Lanterns
Propane Lantern
Gas Lanterns
Kerosene Lanterns

The most popular lights tend to be battery operated or gas-powered lights. If you are trying to decide which is the best for your camping trip, then it will depend on a few things. You’ll want to find out about brightness, size, portability, weight, fuel type, and the run time of the light. New modern lanterns allow for you to adjust the amount of light and you can even find rechargeable lanterns so you can make eco-friendly choices.

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Dinner’s On! Finding the Right Tools for a Fun Camping Cookout

Camping meals are a big part of outdoor summer camping fun. Selecting the best camping equipment for the job helps things go smoothly. Let’s look at the camping equipment you will want to prepare yummy camping meals.

Camping Stoves

The most common camping stoves are propane and wood or charcoal grills. Both tend to have one or two burners and can accommodate making almost any type of meal. For backpackers or people trying to pack light, canister backpack stoves or fuel stoves are a great option. If you love cooking on an open fire, make sure to also include a camping grill and roasting sticks.

Camping Cutlery

You’ll want to keep things light and durable when picking your camping cutlery. Most cutlery is sold in sets and you can even pick different colours so everyone can identify their own. From plastic to metal, there are many options to add to your camping checklist.

Camping Dishware

When it comes to dishware, it’s best to keep things simple. You’ll want a plate, a bowl, a thermal mug, and cup to keep all your bases covered. Some hardcore campers just use one piece of camping dishware for everything. Camping dishware is often sold in sets or you can buy individual pieces. Most camping dishes are made from metal or plastic but are lightweight and easy to pack away.

Camping Cookware

The final piece of the puzzle to create great camping food is to get a few camping pots or pans for cooking. You can buy a pot set to take away the guess work or buy individual pots that suit your cooking needs. Many camping cookware sets have a nesting design, so they take up less space. It’s also handy to bring along a frying pan.

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A Few Other Things to Consider for the Best Camping Trip Ever

When you’re finalizing the details of your camping trip, make sure to include some additional items that will really perk up your camping trip. This could include items like a drying line, portable shower or waterproof matches. Check out the camping accessories page to make sure you’ve got everything covered.

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Camping trips can be some of the best family memories you have. They combine the fresh outdoors with fun activities, sunshine, and relaxing with friends and family. To create a camping trip to remember check out our full camping checklist here.

Outdoor Cooking Summer

Here's How to Pack for Your Next Camping Trip

Let’s Begin with Camping Equipment Essentials

Create a Home Away from Home with the Right Camping Furniture

Dinner’s On! Finding the Right Tools for a Fun Camping Cookout

A Few Other Things to Consider for the Best Camping Trip Ever

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