Going Camping This Spring? We’ve Made Your Packing List for You!

If you’re camping with the family (or just a big group that’s happy to sleep under the same polyester roof), we suggest the Coleman Montana 6-Person Tent. It’s a bit heavy so it isn’t the greatest choice if you’ve got a long hike ahead of you, but if you’re not planning to stray far from your campsite, it’s a great option. For a lightweight backpacking tent, try the Stoic Madrone 2-Person Tent.

For a good night’s sleep (or, as good as you can get while sleeping on the ground) the StoicGroundwork Single Sleeping Bag is absolutely the best bang for your buck. You’ll obviously need to upgrade to something a bit more heavy-duty if you’re planning on winter camping or if you’re going to be at a high altitude, but this one is great for spring, summer, and fall.

A sleeping pad is one of the most important things to remember when you’re packing, or you might as well be sleeping on the bare ground. The Stoic Clutch Air Mat is super lightweight and inflatable, so it takes up minimal space in your bag for maximum comfort.

There’s a reason why campers have gone crazy for The Crazy Creek since 1987. It’s lightweight, portable, comfortable, comes in a ton of colors, and is so much fun to rock back and forth on the ground in. Just make sure one of your buddies doesn’t sneak up behind you and unclip the straps because you’ll wind up lying in the ground! 

Hiking boots can be a huge investment, and one you might not be willing to make if you’re not planning to climb Everest anytime soon. That’s why we recommend The Columbia Newton Ridge Hiking Shoe. They’re incredibly reasonably priced, super comfortable, require very little breaking in, and are perfect for the beginner to intermediate hiker.

If you’re going to be the one lugging the tent, the cookware, and all of the food, you’re going to need a backpack that can handle the load. The TETON Sports Hiker 3700 is as intense as the name suggests — it’s light, thickly padded for comfort, has a rain cover, and all of the space you could ever want. If you’re just planning on day hikes rather than true backpacking and need something a little less heavy duty but plenty of room, we recommend lululemon’s 21-liter Front Clip Backpack. It has a sternum strap for extra support, loops galore for clipping gear onto, and zippered interior pockets to keep you organized on the trail and on your commute.

If you’re going to be doing an intense hike, a CamelBak reservoir (which is basically just a big plastic bag full of water that you put into your backpack and drink from through a straw) is your best bet. For the less intense camper, Welly’s 28 oz. Traveler is a product we’d recommend time and time again. It’s a little bit heavy, but it can hold plenty of water and will keep it cold (or hot) for as long as you need. 

You never think you’ll need a first aid kit…until you need a first aid kit. This is another essential packing item we highly recommend you add to your list. Adventure Medical Kits’ Ultralight & Watertight Medical Kit is specifically designed for hikers and campers and — as you might have guessed — is both lightweight and waterproof. It has bandages galore, plus some pain relievers, tweezers, and wound-care supplies.

For the casual camper, you need someplace to put your hotdogs, your s’mores materials, and maybe even a few beers. The Igloo BMX is much more reasonably priced than its Yeti counterpart, and it comes in three different sizes to accommodate small and large groups on long or short trips.

When the campfire’s gone out, you don’t want to be left in total darkness — especially if you want to tell ghost stories in your tent, or more importantly, if you’re taking a trip to the bathroom! That’s where a headlamp comes in handy. We like this simple one from Black Diamond, which covers your basic needs and is inexpensive enough to buy a couple for your trip.

The MSR PocketRocket 2 Stove is so tiny you’ll forget you’re even carrying it…until it’s time for dinner. That’s when you’ll be thankful you brought this little guy, who can boil a liter of water in just three and a half minutes.

The GSI Outdoors Halulite MicroDualist Cook Set sort of reminds us of Mary Poppins’ bag — weighing in at just over a pound, this little sack contains a .4-liter pot with locking handle, a nylon strainer lid, two 14 fl. oz. bowls, two 14 fl. oz. insulated mugs, 2 sip through lids, and 2 telescoping “foons” — otherwise known as sporks.

If you’re going to be taking a long hike to your campsite or will be cooking there, a water filter is a must. The 1-gallon Sawyer Gravity Water Filter is a favorite among hikers and campers alike because you can easily fill it up anywhere for clean, drinkable water.

Once you’ve finished eating, it’s time to clean up. The biggest rule of camping is “carry in, carry out,” and harsh dish cleaners can be awful for the environment. The biggest rule of camping is “carry in, carry out,” and harsh dish cleaners can be awful for the environment. Sea to Summit makes an awesome biodegradable all-purpose cleaner…and we mean all-purpose! From your dishes to your hair, this highly concentrated soap does it all and comes with a handy pot scrubber.

Don’t let your vacation turn into a nightmare by forgetting sunscreen. Finding the right sunscreen for your skin is super important, and we love Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion. Just make sure you get the right level of SPF for your skin!

Like ants at a picnic, mosquitos at a camping trip can be a real bummer, so make sure to place some quality bug spray before you head out. Kinfield’s Golden Hour bug spray is a bestseller for a reason: It’s DEET-free but super effective, and it smells great to boot.

If you’re useless with a compass and addicted to your Instagram, you might want to think about bringing a portable charger with you on your trip. The GoalZero Nomad 5 + Flip 12 Solar Kit is a great solution for all of you tech-addicted hikers and campers out there. You can use the small solar panel to charge your phone directly or to charge the included portable charger, so you don’t have to worry about limited power supplies while on trail.

Fine, we chose tentree’s Sasquatch Classic T-Shirt primarily for the impeccable camping vibes the canoeing, fishing, and sipping sasquatch brings to any outfit, but it really is a great shirt for spending time outside this summer. It’s made of a blend of durable recycled polyester, organic cotton, and breathable TENCEL, which results in a lightweight and comfortable T-shirt ideal for hot afternoons.