The best stress-free and easy camping and glamping trick is to get yourself the most comprehensive camping list and gear checklist to use when packing for your road trip. But no one knows you, your family or your style of camping better than you do so we’ve pulled our knowledge together, and that of our readers, to come up with the best ultimate camping checklist that’s gonna blow your socks off. All you have to do is cross off those things that don’t apply to you and you’ll never forget another camping or glamping essential again.
The best camping checklist has been made to cover everything you might need to camp in a tent, camper van or caravan. It even has a section specifically about glamping accessories, gear and tips. So if you’re not interested in taking just the basics or packing light, and you want to discover camping in a more luxurious and deluxe way then this is the list for you.
We’ve tried to include everything for every campsite situation, but if you feel we’ve missed something or have totally ignored what you find important on your own list then please get in touch either via the comments section at the end or simply say hello. We’d love to hear from you and share your knowledge and experience with our readers, especially if you’re partial to a bit of glamping.
Tent, Campervan And Caravan
- Folding pick/shovel
- Set of jumper cables
- Tent pegs
- Heavy canvass or plastic ground tarpaulin
- 3 Lb short hammer
- A full can of fuel and funnel
- Tow chain or rope
- Road Hazard sign & high visibility jacket
- Toolbox
- Spray oil such as WD40
- Spirit level or spirit level app on your iPhone & levelling chocks
- Gaffer tape & superglue
- Copies of important documents including insurance, breakdown recovery, driving license, MOT, vehicle manual
- Maps & Sat Nav
- Toilet & environmentally gentle chemicals
- Give your vehicle the once over: check cables, tyre pressure, cooking gas levels, oil levels, water levels, brake fluid, washer levels, battery levels, etc.
- If you have a tent or awning make sure you check it before you leave to make sure the pegs, ropes, groundsheet, etc, are still packed and the damp, rust or moths haven’t attacked it since you last used it. If you are considering a trip during the colder months then you will need special winter tents.
For The Kitchen
- Large flexible plastic tubs with handles make great storage & carrying containers when travelling and setting up camp
- Picnic hamper & blanket with waterproof backing
- Cooking stove, barbecue or way of cooking on an open fire
- Washing up liquid, bowl, cloths & small scrubbing brush
- Dustpan & brush
- Bin bags
- Tea towels & hand towels
- Drinking water container
- Coffee pot
- Dutch Oven, tripod and chain
- Large pan with lid
- Kettle with a whistle
- Cups, cutlery & plates
- Vegetable peeler, tin opener, sharp knife, wooden spoon & bottle opener (cork & lid)
- Chopping board
- Tinfoil
- Cool Box & Ice Packs
- Favourite drinks (including tea, coffee, dried milk or long-life milk & sugar)
- Chocolate & other energy food
- Basil & coriander plants in pots to nurture & eat while on your trip
- Store cupboard contents to include: Bottle of wine, cooking oil, cereal of choice (muesli & porridge are great energy foods), eggs, tomato puree, chorizo, already mixed herbs & spices of choice, bay leaves, salt & pepper, sugar, golden & maple syrup, sauces of choice, vinegar, garlic, onions, stock cubes, parmesan (stores well when on the road) red & green pesto, pickle, sweetcorn, baked beans, tinned tuna, snacks, sweet biscuits, crackers, peanut butter & jam, nuts & dried fruit, pasta & rice
- Tortilla wraps, flatbread pittas & fajitas are a great substitute for bread which lasts longer if they’re kept in a container
- Enough ingredients for your first meal when you’ve set up camp if they’re not already included above
- Folding table & chairs
Sleeping
- Roll Mat, roll mattress, self-inflating mattress or airbed & pump
- Pillow
- Hot water bottles
- Duvet or sleeping bag
- Silk sleeping bag liner
- Blankets
- CO2 & Fire Alarm Monitor
- Portable AC like the zero breeze (review)
Male And Female Clothing
- Pyjamas or nightdress
- Long trousers
- Shorts
- Skirts
- Dresses
- T-shirts
- Shirts
- Long-sleeve T-shirts
- Undies & socks
- Swimming Costume & sarong
- Waterproof and windproof jacket & trousers
- Long-sleeved fleece
Clothing For Cold Climates
- Thermal leggings & long-sleeved shirt
- Down jacket
- Fleece hat
- Pair of gloves
Foot Wear
- Lightweight walking boots
- Wellington boots
- Walking sandals
- Lightweight trainers
- Flip flops
Bathroom
- Toilet roll
- Washbag with pockets and hanger
- Glasses & contact lenses
- Quick-drying towel
- Small mirror
- Hand sanitiser
- Wet wipes or flannels
- Contraceptives
- Nail clippers & Scissors
- Tweezers
- Razor
- Toothbrush, paste, floss & mouthwash
- Comb & travel hairbrush
- Sun cream
- Lip balm with SPF
- Creams, shampoo, conditioner & body soap
Gadgets
- Torch
- Charging wires & adapters
- Solar Power charger
- Mobile phone
- laptop computer
- Digital camera
- Portable DVD player & DVDs
- Digital Camcorder
- iPod & headphones
- Small travel speakers to plug into your iPod
- Small external hard drive
- Additional SD cards for cameras
- iPad, iPhone & camping Apps (see our 20+ recommendations)
First Aid
- It’s useful to make a large and small kit for both your everyday bag and your base camp
- Assorted-sized waterproof plasters
- Re-hydration sachets: helping you recover from food poisoning or hangover
- Paracetamol tablets
- Imodium tablets
- Hand sanitising gel
- Alcohol wipes
- Surgical tape
- Bandage
- Mosquito repellent
- After bite cream for mosquito bites
- Antihistamine cream and tablets for bad reactions to bites
- Antiseptic cream
- Arnica cream
- Burn spray
- Tiger balm or muscle rub
- Personal vitamins & medicine
Useful Bits And Pieces
- Firewood or small axe
- Multi-tool, Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman
- Lighter, matches and firelighters
- String
- Sun Cap
- Bandanna
- Earplugs
- Sunglasses
- Suncream
- Sunshade tent or umbrella
- Rain shelter or umbrella
- Windbreak
- Small waterproof bag for swimming
- Day bag backpack
- Headlamps & torches for everyone to have as their own. This helps reassure kids at night.
- Lightweight thermos & water bottle
- Washing line in a rewind case, pegs & clothes wash
- Pen, journal or notebook
- Guide books & maps
- A novel, reading material, iPad or Kindle
Games And Activities
- Bikes
- Fishing gear
- Surfing kit
- Wet suits & snorkel gear
- Kite
- Musical instruments such as guitar & ukuleles
- Outdoor games like Frisbee, cricket, rounders, football, swingball, Boules, etc.
- Pack of cards
- Travel games such as scrabble, chess, checkers, dominoes, snakes & ladders, & backgammon
- Colouring books & pens
- Puzzle books
- Scrapbook & glue for collecting flowers, grass, feathers, and sketches of what you find on your trip
- Small treasure hunt prizes & paper & pens to draw the map
- Buckets & spades
Glamping Accessories
The glamping list is endless if you don’t need to pack light, with the only limit being your imagination! First of all, familiarise yourself with exactly what glamping is and what it means.
These are our two biggest tips for making a deluxe home from home in your luxury camping or glamping site:
Tip 1. Don’t take an ordinary tent, caravan or RV, instead think about a bell tent, yurt, tipi, vintage caravan or camper van.
Tip 2. Think about the interior of your tent, camper van or caravan and kit it out with more than just the essentials. Think about everything that will make your camping experience luxurious and glamorously comfortable. However, don’t dash out to buy all new gear for your glamping trip. Vintage accessories do just as well so your local charity shop, thrift shop or eBay browse could allow you to grab a few bargains.
Take a look at our DIY glamping tips for more thrifty ideas.
- Glamping essentials
- Rugs: wool, rag, reindeer or sheep hide rugs
- Lights: Lanterns, chandeliers, Tea lights, fairy lights, solar party lights & sun jar solar lights
- Bunting
- Cushions
- Crochet blankets
- Cocktail mixer kit and glasses
- Comfort throws
- Deckchair
- Firepit
- Boot slippers
- Cake stand
- Teapot, cosy & china teacups, etc, etc, etc!
If you want to get your hands on a copy of this camping list and print it off to use for your next trip, simply sign up for our regular updates, get your free copy and never leave home without your camping essentials again.
So do you think we’ve got our ultimate glamping and camping checklist right or have we forgotten anything? Let us know in the comments section below and we’ll add it to the list.
Sarah – Founder of Inspired Camping
