Camping Equipment

Choosing your camping equipment (and remembering to take it) is an important part of planning your outdoor venture.

Whether you’re going to a campsite for a camping holiday, roughing it, or are preparing for a survival situation, you will want to take the right equipment.

So, what should you take? This depends on the type of trip you are planning, and how long the trip is likely to be.

The easiest way to ensure you have all the camping equipment you will need, is to break it down into categories - as I have below.

If necessary, break categories down even further. Then list each item of camping equipment under each category and sub-category.

The main categories I have listed are:

Clothing
Sleeping
Eating
Water
Fire
Light
Cutting
Navigation
Medical
Hygiene
Survival
Rucksack

You may decide some of these do not apply for the type of trip you are planning, but if you start with all possible categories then you are less likely to forget something.

So lets go through my list of camping equipment categories.

Clothing:

You must take suitable clothing. I have known several people who have painstakingly planned and checked all their camping equipment, only to forget to do the same with their clothing.

Check what the weather is likely to be and put some thought into the clothing you will need.

This should not be restrictive but well fitting, keeping you warm and dry but well ventilated.

In cold climates use layers to trap the warm air - wool is very good in the cold and wet. Cotton is very good in hot climates.

Regardless of the type of trip, you will need: -

Sleeping:

Something to sleep in, on and under. If you are planning on staying in a hotel, B&B or Youth Hostel, then this should be planned and booked. If not you will need something to sleep in ( sleeping bags ), something to sleep on ( sleeping mats or camp beds), and something to sleep under (a tent or shelter).

If Youth Hostelling, then something to sleep on and under is taken care of, but you may still want a sleeping bag or at least a sleeping bag liner.

You may wish to consider the Hennessy Hammock . This provides both something to sleep on and something to sleep under, so you will only need a sleeping bag to go with it (although in colder weather some sort of sleep mat would still be a good idea).

Eating:

Something to cook on (a stove or cooker), something to cook in (mess tins or pots/pans), and something to eat with (plates and cutlery). And, of course, you will need food as well as cooking equipment.

Water:

Something to carry water and something to drink it from. You may need to consider taking some sort of water purification system (filters and/or tablets).

Fire:

Fires provide heat, light, are a morale booster, can be used to cook and heat water, dry out wet clothing, and can be used as a signalling device. So, you should take at least one type of fire starter. Unless there is going to be a shop close by, I would recommend taking at least two types (military survival kits often contain as many as four).

Light:

Some sort of illumination – a torch, lantern, lightstick or maybe all three. Think about how easy it will be to get fuel for them (batteries, paraffin or petrol etc.). Click on the following link to read our guide to torches .

Cutting:

A good knife is also an important item of camping equipment. Some people would argue that it is the most important item. For remote regions, Ray Mears actually recommends three cutting tools – a sheath knife, a tomahawk and a folding saw.

For most campers one good knife should be enough. Click on the following link for our guide to knives .

Navigation:

At the very least you ought to have a map and compass.

Medical:

This will depend on the type of trip, but you should take at least a basic medical kit (even if only some headache tablets for the morning!).

Hygiene:

Personal hygiene is very important, so you must take some sort of wash equipment.

Survival:

Depending on the type of trip you are making, you may want to consider some survival accessories for emergencies. This may include a signal mirror , whistle, emergency blanket, emergency survival tin etc..

Rucksack or Kit Bag:

And finally, of course, you will need something to carry all your camping equipment in. Even if you are mainly travelling by motorised transport, you will probably want to take some sort of bag for those occasional afternoon walks or morning constitutionals.

When choosing your camping equipment, price will always be a significant factor, but, as a general rule, you will benefit from buying the best you can afford. It will perform better, last longer, and it is just possible that one day your life may depend on it.