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CartHere'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.
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.
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.
Picking the Perfect Sleeping Bag
Getting a good night’s sleep on your camping trip is easy when you have the right sleeping bag. Sleeping bags come in all shapes and sizes, some designed especially for children. You’ll want to know the size of each person to make sure they will fit into their sleeping bag. The bigger the sleeping bag the less warmth will be kept in, so be sure to get one that fits just right. Let’s look at some of the deciding factors when choosing the right sleeping bag.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Selecting an Air Mattress or Cot for A Cozy Sleep
Not everyone uses an air mattress or cot under their sleeping bag, but if you do it’s a real game changer. An air mattress or cot will make outdoor sleeping and camping much more comfortable. Just remember if you have an air mattress, you’ll need an air pump to inflate it. Cots keep you off the ground, delivering both comfort and height, but are often pricier.
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 JugsWater 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.
Coolers
If you have any fresh food, you’ll need to keep it cool. Coolers are a camping essential, and there are lots of choices, depending on your needs.
Foam coolers are more disposable and less costly but won’t last long. They are best for one camping trip or as additional cold storage when you already have a more durable cooler.
Plastic coolers are the most popular and come in lots of shapes and sizes. Some have handy options like cupholders and wheels to make getting your food to the campsite or the beach easier.
Another option is affordable cooler bags. Often shaped like tote bags, they don’t hold as much, but have straps, making them very portable.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
