9 Camping Essentials For The Best Overnight Experience

Camping is an incredible way to spend time fully immersed in nature. Whether you’re going for a weekend trip or taking an overnight hike, it’s important to know what items are essential to bring along to ensure not only your safety but your comfort as well! Nothing can ruin an amazing camping experience more than not having the proper gear along with you.  

Also be sure to look for our free checklists included at the end of this article!

1. Tent

A great tent is essential to staying comfortable overnight. You’ll definitely want to choose the right tent depending on how many people will be on your trip. Whether you’re by yourself or with others, you’ll want to have space to move around and stretch out. 

It’s also important to consider when you’ll be camping. Tents come equipped for 3 or 4-seasons, meaning before you get one, know the type of conditions you’ll be camping in. 

Before setting out on your trip, definitely do a practice run setting up your tent. Figure out how big the ground sheet for underneath the tent should be to make sure it fits properly. 

“If you plan on camping in cold weather seasons, it’ll be important to go with a 3-season or winter sleeping bag.”

2. Sleeping Bag

Choosing a sleeping bag again depends on the conditions you’ll be camping in. For those fair-weather trips, you’ll likely only need a summer bag to take along. But if you plan on camping in cold weather seasons, it’ll be important to go with a 3-season or winter sleeping bag. 

You can also choose the size and shape of your bag. For most general camping trips, a rectangular-shaped bag is the best choice, as it allows you room to stretch and move around. A mummy bag is a great option for those sleeping in conditions where warmth and light weight is important. 

Some additional features you can look for would be things like a sleeping bag shell to protect from water and moisture, a hood to add additional warmth, and even additional zippers to control ventilation. 

3. Lighting 

A lot of times, your campsite won’t have any artificial illumination, so bringing your own light source will be a tremendous help after the sun goes down. One of the best lighting options to have is a headlamp. This allows you to illuminate your surroundings while staying hands free to perform other tasks around camp.

A lantern is also a great option for ambient lighting around the campsite. They can be set on a table or hung in a tent as an additional hands free option to utilize and come in a variety of options including LED powered, fuel-burning or candle. These different lanterns types can be used depending on the conditions in which you camp. 

4. Stove

One of the best parts about camping is cooking outside! A classic two-burner propane stove is a great option for any casual camping trip as they are affordable and efficient. You can do multiple tasks such as cooking breakfast and boiling water all at the same time.

For those camping out on the trail, a portable bottletop stove is a great option to carry along. They’re small and lightweight while providing enough heat to easily cook your food. Most models usually come with a run time of a few hours which should be plenty to prepare a few meals while their portability makes them easy clean up and pack away.

5. Toiletries

These are a must for any camping situation. Whether you’re staying at an established camp spot or bushwhacking through the backwoods, having along essential toiletries will make the trip a much more pleasant experience. 

Items to bring along would include things like biodegradable toilet paper, toothbrush and paste, and soaps. While the more popular campgrounds likely have bathroom facilities, they can sometimes run out of supplies. 

For remote camping, it’s important to know what you can and can’t leave behind. Toilet paper for example, can be buried after it’s used but wet wipes cannot (even if they say they’re biodegradable). Looking out for chemicals present in products is also important in determining whether they need to be packed out when you leave. 

“A great foldable chair will save you from a long, uncomfortable evening around the campfire.”

6. Camping Chairs

Sure, you can survive without a comfy chair to sit on during your camping trip–but sitting on the ground or a log can sometimes get very unpleasant! A great foldable chair will save you from a long, uncomfortable evening around the campfire.  

There are many options when it comes to camping chairs. You can go with a classic quad chair for a fun weekend camping trip with the family or friends. Or, if you plan on camping during a backpacking trip, there are small, lightweight options you can choose from. 

7. Camping Utensils 

Utensils can often be an overlooked item, but if you’ve ever gone on a camping trip without them, you know how essential they are! No matter what type of trip you’re taking, be it a weekend at the campground or a trek through the backcountry, utensils can alway come in handy.

There are many options to choose from to cater your needs to the trip. For a regular camping trip, you can bring along all the essentials like cups, bowls, forks, spoons and so on. On those long backpacking trips where lightweight is important, you can take along utensil kits that are compact and easy to stow away. 

8. Fire Starter

While it’s important to know how to start a fire with just sticks, the quality of your camping trip will be hampered if you spend hours trying to get things started. A little assistance in the form of a fire starter block or flint and steel striker will get the fire roaring in no time. 

“An airtight container helps protect your meals from other critters in the area by trapping the food scent inside the container.”

9. Airtight Containers

Whenever you take food with you on a camping trip, you are no longer the only thing that wants to eat it. An airtight container helps protect your meals from other critters in the area by trapping the food scent inside the container. 

Being sure not to leave food out will protect it and you from any curious wildlife roaming around the campsite. Always respect the wild animals and understand they will go for any unprotected food that is left out.  

10. Camping T-Shirt (Bonus)

While this may not be the most essential item, how great would it be to show off your love of camping and exploring than with a great shirt! You can show off your love of hiking, camping or traveling with The Wanderer Supply Co.’s range of awesome t-shirts.    

Conclusion

So the next time the great outdoors are calling, you can camp safely and happily with these essential items! Be sure to download our free interactive and printable checklists to be certain you have everything you need for your overnight experience.