The exciting prospect of the first car camping trip of the year often means scrambling for stuff all weekend. Forgotten or missed items, from paper towels to propane, can eat into valuable camping fun time. Rushed trips to convenience stores to purchase overpriced articles are all too common, even for experienced campers. The keys lie in planning and packing for anything. Building a solid system at the start of the camping season will pay off in more beach or trail time all year.
A few necessities can be inexpensive and easily replaced, but there are some items which should be carefully considered and purchased for construction, durability, and warranty. Heat and shelter are a must on any outdoor adventure, so the equipment that must perform when called upon should be at the top of the quality list.
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- Tent (with a waterproof fly and groundsheet, warrantied by the manufacturer)
- Camp Stove (portable using propane or white gas, which is less costly and cleaner to transport)
- Sleeping Bags (Fill materials and sturdy zippers are important)
- Sleeping Pads (Inflatable thermal pads are pricey but warmer and less bulky than foam.)
- Flashlights or Headlamps (LED bulbs are state-of-the-art for brightness and long life.)
- Coffee Percolator (A good stainless steel one can double as a kettle.)
- Cast Iron Flat Grill (for cooking anything over a fire)
- Water Jug - (A plastic 5 gallon with a spigot, for cooking, dishes, teeth brushing, dog bowl etc).
- Utensils - (All Washable - for eating and cooking; cutlery, flipper, cups, bowls and plates)
- A Swiss Army Knife for everyone (great gifts with unlimited uses)
- Cutting Board (small, washable acrylic)
- Large Bowl for doing dishes (Use soapy towelettes instead of liquid detergent.)
- Paper Products (Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Aluminum Foil)
- Rope (50 feet of cuttable strong nylon cord can be used for tarps and clothelines)
- Axe, Hatchet, Tree Saw
- Matches (a good supply in a waterproof container)
- First Aid Kit (in a waterproof container, include sunscreen and bug repellant)
- Tarpaulin - Woven Nylon (8 feet square is a versatile size)
- Cloth Goods - Towels, dishtowels, rags, oven mitts, garden gloves
- The Cooler - The Coleman website offers great advice for size and type of cooler.
The smaller items on the list can be combined into stackable, clear storage boxes, organized according to simultaneous uses like dinnertime or cleanup. Keep the stove and fuel in a separate sealed box. Clean and check the supplies and gear and repack the boxes at the end of every trip. Restock before the next outing. A roof box can add storage space for specific items such as rain gear, fishing rods, boots, and other wet things that shouldn't mix with dry gear.
Try to pack the car in the same order, and place every item in the same spot every time, which can be harder than it sounds. Dividing up tasks according to everyone's strengths smooths out the packing and unpacking process and speeds things up. Sort and pack out all garbage before retiring for the night, or upon departing for home, to discourage foraging animals and leave a clean site. Many campgrounds recycle empties and other materials, and sorting recyclables as they are used takes little extra time.
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