VIDEO
Our packing list for camping has evolved over the years, but it always involves bedding for a good night's sleep, kitchen gear to cook our food, clothing for the weather and the type of activities we're doing, games to entertain ourselves while camping, and safety and first aid supplies.
We keep our packing list pretty minimal so we can fit it all into our Honda Pilot SUV tiny camper, while still having room to sleep inside the vehicle and cook in our kitchen off the back. Here's our list:
Shelter and sleeping
Self-inflating mattress and a memory foam topper
Fitted and flat sheet and a warm duvet
Pillows
Window screens for our back windows
Window covers for all our other windows
LED light strips
Sleeping platform
Food, cooking, and kitchen supplies
Tailgate tent, tent pegs, extra rope, and a mallet
Water jugs with potable water (about 2 gallons/day works for us)
Dry food, including spices, coffee, and tea
Cooler with ice and food that needs to be chilled
Camp stove and fuel, along with a wind guard
Several lighters and fire starters
Small table
Pots and pans
Spatulas and cooking spoons
Ov Glove and trivet
Sharp knife and cutting board
Plates, bowls, and cutlery
Water bottles and insulated mugs
Dish sponge and dish soap
Garbage bags
Dish cloths
A table cloth
Campfire, games, and entertainment
Lighter and other ways of starting a fire
Firewood
Chairs
Deck of cards
Cribbage board
Trivia games
E-books
Tablet for watching a tv
Pencil puzzles and crossword books
Floatation mattress and a pump
Bocce ball
Speakers and a way to play music
Beach blanket
Clothing and toiletries
All sorts of clothing including warm clothes, waterproof clothes, hiking clothes, and bathing suits, depending on the time of year
Shoes: we typically bring a pair of flip flops, a pair of lake shoes, and a pair of trail runners. If we’re going in the winter, we also bring boots
PJs and cozy clothes
Bath towel, face cloth, face soap, body soap, and a razor
Typical toiletries like toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, brush, hair ties, deodorant, medication, toilet paper, and chap stick
Sun protection including a hat, sun screen, and sun glasses
Bug protection like bug spray and longer clothing
Tools and emergency supplies
First-aid kit
Bear spray
Extra food and water
Flashlights and headlamps with spare batteries
Phone and electronics chargers and battery packs, with the appropriate USB or charging cables for each
A tire inflator and emergency car repair tools
A saw
A mallet
A hatchet
Miscellaneous items
Wallets with ID
Cash and credit cards
Cell phones
Extra set of car keys
For links to purchase the products, check out our products page.