The Essentials Camping Checklist
Camping is a great way to get away from the noise, reset the mind, and get back in touch with mother nature and her wonderful healing powers that help destress and give you all the happy hormones you need.
Part of the joy of camping is being minimalistic, and not needing all the things that surround us in our everyday life. So, what is it exactly that we need?
Let’s be real, there isn’t a perfect checklist that can suit everyone, there is a just a perfect one for you! You might NEED to bring along marshmallows for the fire, while others NEED a book or a guitar. So, we are going to cover the basic camping essentials for you here, and you get to decide on the extras.
Scouts Camping Checklist
According to Scout Life every packing list starts with the 10 scout basic outdoor essentials. It’s a pretty good starting place, so let’s grind down, dissect these and then build on this!
✅ Water: Think about how much water you will need. Drinking, cooking and personal hygiene.
✅ Sunscreen: An essential in our books. Even on cloudy days sun screen is a must!
✅ Extra clothing: You never know what the weather is going to be like, a sudden downpour can leave you needing an extra pair of dry clothes, so check the weather and pack appropriately.
✅ First-aid kit: Just have the basics on hand. You don’t want to end up cutting your trip short due to an injury you could have self-treated. At the same time, when it’s something a bit more serious, don’t delay and rather get the right help!
✅ Flashlight: A headlamp or lightweight flashlight is perfect. Make sure you have fresh batteries and maybe pack spare if you are having a longer camping trip.
✅ Trail Food: Make sure to pack those energy bars and trail mix for those long walks you will be taking while exploring what mother nature has to offer.
✅ Rain Gear: Don’t let the weather dampen your trip. Be prepared and enjoy the magical beauty of watching a storm pass through.
✅ Map & Compass: So, this is for people that plan to really explore the surrounds and all it has to offer. Make sure you sharpened your route-finding skills before hitting the trail.
✅ Matches and fire starters: Handy when needing to start a fire in a camping area that allows fires but make sure you know how to build one safely! Check out Gov.uk’s Fire Safety for Outdoors
✅ Pocketknife or multitool: It’s just amazing how handy these are when out on an adventure. A must have!
Intrepid Explorer Essentials List
The days of scouts and wild camping are behind us here at The Intrepid Explorer. Instead, we now head out in our faithful Rosie with our 2 dogs and explore nature while sleeping in a slightly more luxurious setting.
Our Rosie gives us everything we need, and has our basics like sleeping gear, cutlery etc covered. So that got us thinking… what are the basics or the essentials that are needed for any camping trip you go on, whether you are sleeping in a tent, caravan or cabin?
Food Clothes Toiletries
Food and clothes are something that needs to be worked out according to what type of camping trip you are taking. Do you only have a backpack, or can you fill your trunk?
From a toiletries point of view this is where we realised that whether you have a backpack or a suitcase EVERYONE hates the amounts of bottles you have to take, never mind how much they weigh.
Soap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, sunscreen & insect repellent. That is 6 bottles right there! Now you look for travel size bottles to de-canter all this into, and it just turns out to be a hassle and a mess.
What if we said we have 3 products that can take the place of these 6 bottles AND they already come in travel size?
Three essential, convenient & functional toiletries
🧴 Hair & Body wash – wash from tip to toe with moisturising essential oils! Replaces soap, shampoo, conditioner and moisturises your skin.
🦟 Moisturising cream Insect repellent – Cream moisturiser & insect repellent in one
☀ Cream sunscreen – 50SPF to protect you from the sun while also keeping your skin hydrated
Wait, there are more benefits! What? Is that even possible… Yes!
🧪 Concentrated formula – You get to use less and save money
🍃 Eco-friendly – Good for the planet and good for you
♻ Curb-recyclable packaging – Good for the planet
Camping toiletry checklist done and dusted
That is it! All your toiletry essentials sorted in 3 practical and lightweight products. Time for nature and magical sunsets!
Quick summary of our camping essentials: Place to sleep Food Clothes Essential Toiletries
What falls under each of these categories… well that’s up to your fine-tuning skills! But remember, less is more, and try choose products that are good for the planet and good for you!
Check out our camping checklist for some inspiration: Intrepid Explorer Checklist