Check for tears in your blankets, sleeping bags, and tent, as well. Replace them as needed. Test the batteries on your GPS and your personal alarm, if you use them.
Tents come in many different sizes. If you’re camping alone, you could get a small, single-person tent. If you’re camping with someone else, get a tent that accommodates both of you.
Internal frame packs tend to be more expensive and sit flush against your back. External frame packs are more affordable and tend to provide more ventilation. However, they are bulkier than internal frame packs. Smaller day packs that don’t hold much are usually frameless.
You’ll want to store and coil your rope correctly when you pack it to avoid tangling.
You might also want to bring a battery-powered lantern.
If you’re camping with a group, advise each person in your party to bring a foldable camping chair of their own.
You could also pack less conventional fire starters like fire paste, fire disks, and fire cubes. [12] X Research source
You can often buy firewood at big box stores or from private sellers in rural communities. Check if you’re allowed to have a fire. At many campsites you won’t be allowed to have a fire, especially during fire season. Bring a stove if you can’t have a fire.
The type of food you bring also varies significantly depending on your circumstances. If you’re camping with an RV, for instance, you’ll be able to bring foods like eggs and meat that require refrigeration until they’re cooked. If you don’t have an RV, however, you’ll probably need to rely primarily on canned goods like beans, soups, and canned veggies, so remember to bring a can opener.
You could bring either plastic utensils or washable ones.
You’ll need to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day, but the precise amount of water you’ll need to stay hydrated depends on local weather conditions and your activity level. Drink more water as the temperature and your activity level increase. If you collect water from a local waterway, boil it before drinking to kill pathogens.
You might want to bring a larger, more substantial first-aid kit that you leave in your tent at the campsite, as well as a portable one that you can stuff in your backpack before hitting the trail.
In addition to (or instead of) the whistle, you could bring along a personal alarm. Personal alarms for hiking and camping are portable devices that emit a loud sound when activated. They can be used in the same way as your whistle.
If you plan on hiking, bring some hiking boots, too. The amount of clothing you’ll need on your camping trip will depend on the length of your camping trip. Don’t over-pack. Bring only what you’ll need. Bring a separate bag for dirty clothes.
