Even the most seasoned campers have a story or two about the time they forget some of the most basic camping items.
It’s almost like we put so much focus on the “non-everyday” items and completely take for granted that the “everyday” items belong on the camping checklist too. When packing the car, you’ll most-likely pack the tent and mattresses straight away but a fitted sheet can easily become an after thought.
Unfortunately it is the every day items that make the most noticeable impact. The moment you realise that they didn’t make the camping list, your whole camping trip feels worse off. That may sound dramatic, but just wait till it happens to you. I can guarantee you won’t be making that mistake twice .
Learn from my mistakes!
This blog is purely about you guys getting to learn from my mistakes. Over the years I have forgotten each of these items at least once so now they’ve made same my new checklist: Don’t forget these items! Fortunately now that I have my camping business I was able to take all my past mistakes and make a fool proof camping checklist so that my customers never have to miss out on anything.
If you’re interested in seeing the services that we provide at Kickback Camping, click here!
Pillows
If you cherish a good night sleep as much as I do, then please do not forget your pillows
Having to use a makeshift pillow out of rolled up towels, or by packing a bag full of clothes just doesn’t hack it. Trust me, those beautiful camping mornings will be much harder to appreciate with a kinked neck.
Cleaning agents
Unfortunately with camping there is no room service. You have to clean up after yourself if you’re going to enjoy your camping experience.
You’re basically living in a small outdoor home and which means mess can build up quickly. If you’re the type to unpack your bag all over the floor, or leave your empty beer bottles all over the table; you’re going to run out of space real quick!
Another important cleaning area is the kitchen as you’ll only have a limited amount of dishes compared to what you’d use at home. This means the turnover of cookware, plates, bowls, cups and cutlery is quite high. Therefore, to ensure you have clean dinnerware for your delicious camp feasts, you’re definitely going to need your basic cleaning products.
I recommend your cleaning checklist include:
- Detergent
- Deep bucket for washing
- Dish cloth or sponge
- Spray & wipe
- Paper towel
- Tea towels
- A dust pan & broom
We know the importance of keeping a clean campsite at Kickback Camping which is why all of our campsite packages are equiped with the same cleaning products listed above. See here!
Toilet paper
This is definitely an easy one to forget or not even think is necessary, but any camper should tell you that TP is your best friend when travelling.
No, it’s not just for use when going to the toilet, it serves as more of a multi-purpose item that will make your life a lot easier!
I can’t tell you the number of times it has come in handy. For example:
- The sudden on-set of hay fever;
- The big fingerprint on your sun glasses
- The fog on your windscreen
- The dipstick when you’re checking your car’s oil
- The quick wipe up for that accidental car drink spill
- And of course, the public toilet that has no paper!
Even though most campgrounds have toilets these days, unfortunately you’ll come across a few that aren’t restocked with TP as often as they should. For this reason and the reasons listed above, toilet paper is a must for your camping checklist.
My advice is to always leave at least one roll in your car at all times. Honestly, you’ll never know when it’ll come in handy!
Speakers
I believe music is great while camping. It provides comforting and enjoyable sounds in the background while you’re tuning out from the rest of the world.
If you’re like me and love having music around you at all times, then go ahead and add speakers to your list.
Remember: A lot of the time when camping you won’t have service, so make sure you create an offline music playlist for something to listen too.
Drinking water
This is a highly important thing to have on your checklist, especially for all of you who are new to camping. Not all campgrounds have drinking water!
I can’t believe the amount of times I used to arrive at campgrounds without drinking water; even when I knew that campground had no drinkable water on site to begin with. *Insert face-palm emoji*.
It’s like I always had this “she’ll be right” mentality, “I’ll find some on the way”.
Nope.
Wrong.
Learn from my mistakes!
It’s almost like packing for a holiday in a cold climate when you live in the hot and humid tropics. You know you’re going to need a jumper but you’ll probably forget to bring enough warm jumpers because you’re currently packing in 39oC heat; and the thought of warm clothing right now is just making you feel hotter!
So I guess with that analogy, it can be hard to place importance on packing drinking water because while you’re packing the “important equipment”, you’re surrounded by multiple sources of drinking water. You take it for granted. It’s not till you head out of town that you see all those sources of drinking water evaporate and you become real thirsty!
Again, this is a lesson all campers learn but for health reasons we don’t want to see any of you get caught travelling without drinking water. So before you set off, take the time to fill some bottles and large containers with the drinking water you have at home. It will prevent potential dehydration down the track.
Specific Toiletries
When it comes to camping, many of us tend to pack a little lighter when it comes to toiletries.
Whether that be no make up because you’re out in the bush, no razors and face creams because you don’t have a bathroom/mirror, or no bulky shower products because your campground has no showers. Whichever way, camping generally makes you pack your toiletries a little different to other holidays. However, please do not forget the small items that you can’t seem to live without.
For me that item is lip balm. I don’t know what it is about camping, maybe it’s the cool nights or cool mornings but when I go to bed I need my lip balm. Unfortunately for me, I’m in a routne of leaving it in my bedside table drawer so that I never have to go without it at night. But when I pack my toiletries for camping, I’m in the bathroom pulling out products from there and completely forget about what’s in my bedside drawer. So yes, I forgot it once, but never again!
When you’re packing your toiletries, take into consideration what amenities your campground has, the climate you’ll be in and what items you tend to rely on daily.
Chargers and battery packs
In this day and age, we rely on so much technology that yes it’s more common than not that campers will have solar, batteries and generators powering their campsites
If you are someone who cannot go camping without electronic devices. Then add chargers, cables, batteries and power sources to the top of you camping checklist! Because if you forget it, you may not find another outlet for charging.
When thinking about powering your campsite, if you’re not sure what to bring, ask yourself the below questions:
- Is my campground a powered or unpowered site? If you have a powered campground, it generally means you have access to a double outdoor power point.
- If my campground is powered, how far away is the power point? Will I need large extension cords? Will I need an outdoor power board?
- If my campground is unpowered, how will I get power? Do I have a generator with fuel? Does my campground allow generators? Do I have a solar panel or blanket? Do I have a large battery (preferably in a battery box) to charge 12v appliances and devices?
Here at Kickback Camping, we understand the need for powe in our campsites which is why we provide custom power packs to suit your camping needs. Solar, batteries, generators, no worries! We can provide all the electrical and power sources you need.
Click here to see how we can get you camping without having to lift a finger!
Fire wood
If you’re planning on having plenty of fires at your next camping trip. It should go without saying, bring more firewood!
My best advice is to plan your firewood before you set off and don’t rely on buying bags of wood at the servo. If you plan it earlier, you’ll find that there are far cheaper outlets for purchasing the firewood you need. Plus, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got enough to last the amount of nights you intend on camping.
Another thing to remember is that not all campgrounds (especially national parks) will allow fires. However! There’s a loophole! If you have a cooker such as an OzPig – another great Aussie invention; you can use it at fire restricted campgrounds as long as you’re using manufactured fuels to heat it. This includes briquettes or fire beads but no firewood!
Click here to see more about what campfire rules are in place at our national parks.
Rubbish bags
Another item that can be fairly scarce at a campground or sometimes non-existent, is the rubbish bin!
Travelling through Australia, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to campgrounds. We have our choice of paid holiday parks, stunning national parks and free community campgrounds. Even our farmers will let you camp on some of their land. However unfortunately, many sites are continuing to be shut down and closed to the public.
Why you ask?
Because too many people think they are above everyone else and their landscape and do not dispose of their rubbish!
They assume there’ll always be someone else to pick it up for them, or they assume that once they leave the campground, the rubbish is not their problem.
It is selfish, disgusting behaviour and is infuriating many campers out there who do the right thing but are forced to watch as many beloved campgrounds around them close down.
The best way to combat the rubbish when there is no rubbish bin at your campground is to bring your own rubbish bags. That way you can leave your campsite clean and tidy for the next traveller and you’ll be doing your part in looking after the environment. Just store your rubbish in the back of the car or trailer until you can find an appropriate place to dispose of it.
Tent pegs
First rule of tent pegs: Throw out those weak and thin pegs you get with your new tent and replace them with thicker and stronger steel pegs.
How tent manufacturers insist on supplying you with poor quality pegs even with their highest quality tents, is beyond me!
Second rule of tent pegs: Buy extra pegs! Tent pegs, like clothing pegs, will disappear on you and the last place you want to be caught out is setting up your tent in the wind.
I always keep a spare tool box full of my different tent pegs, but you can purchase heavy duty tent peg bags as well. Whatever you choose to store your pegs in, just don’t forget to pack it in the car! They can truly be the difference between your tent staying grounded and upright, as opposed to caving in or flying away.
Remmber: Do your research on your campground. Different terrains require different pegs and you want to ensure you have the right ones to keep your campsite secure. Pegs that do wonders in rocky terrains, are not going to do any justice in soft sand, and vice versa.
Tools: Rake, Shovel, Screw driver, claw hammer and mallet
These items will act as your camping must-haves. They can help you in many situations and I can guarantee you’ll be using the majority of these items on every camping trip.
Rakes are a largely underrated item when camping but one I would never leave without. When camping, you can’t expect a manicured section of grass to lay your tent on. Sometimes you’ll get rough dirt, sharp rocks, branches and other items that can cause damage to your equipment. For this reason, it’s beneficial to bring a rake so that you can smooth out your campground site before setting up your tent.
Another reason to bring a rake, is for potential snakes and other critters that could cause harm. If you have a campground that has a lot of leaf-litter – a perfect hiding spot for some snakes and critters – I recommend raking it clear to avoid any surprises.
Shovels are great for digging holes for the toilet, digging around a bogged tyre or shoveling sand/dirt into weight bags for your campsite.
The hammer, mallet and screw driver are all used for the installation of your camping equipment and the pack-down. I’ve definitely had screws pop out of gazebos in the past and for that reason I never leave without a screw driver.
At the end of the day, having a basic tool box can really help you while exploring the outdoors. When there’s no shops or anything around you, sometimes you have to learn to make quick fixes.
Without a took box full of handy items, how are you meant to embrace your inner Mcguyver?
For all those younger generations that don’t understand the Mcguyver reference, he was a secret agent in a tv show. He had an incredible ability for utilising mundane materials around him to create unorthodox solutions getting him out of very sticky situations.
Maps
Last but not least, don’t forget the map!
I know we no longer live in the days of refidexes and most of us have GPS technology in our cars. However, you have to be prepared to find your way when there’s no service to start-up your GPS.
It happens more often than not when travelling out of town that your GPS can freeze or stop due to the lack of service in the area. For your safety, prepare early. Take screenshots of the GPS and navigation instructions on your phone (before you leave) and keep a map in the car; just in case you need to refer to it.