Packing for a camping trip isn’t easy, especially if you’re not an experienced adventurer. Newbie campers often overpack while simultaneously leaving more useful items at home.
As a lifelong city dweller, my lack of knowhow has been exposed on trips with my camping-savvy family in the US. It turns out that House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski and a medium-sized Bluetooth speaker aren’t must-haves on a four-day wilderness hike. Who knew? An extra water bottle would have been a better use of that space, something I learned through a series of hardships.
For guidance on this topic, I asked experienced campers – including parents with young kids, festival-goers, outdoor guides and lone wild campers – for their must-pack items. Whether you’re taking a £20 tent to a muddy field, glamping in a yurt or going fully off-grid, this list is sure to feature an item you’ll be thankful you threw in the bag.
For a comprehensive list of essentials, you should always consider the particulars of your upcoming trip. For more help on getting started, I recommend practical checklists from organisations such as the Ordnance Survey and the Camping and Caravanning Club.
Camping essentials
Hammock
Northcore Kick Back hammock
£34.95 at SurfSurfSurf
This hammock is great. If you’re camping in, or near, a woodland, you can quickly set it up between a couple of trees to read a book, listen to the birds or take a nap. Dave, north-west London
Hennessy Expedition zip hammock
£139.95 at Hennessy
My hammock is ultra-light compared with a conventional tent; it can be fully zipped open, or closed and covered by the accompanying tarp. It comes with webbing straps to prevent any damage to trees. While my hammock is snug – and not the cheapest option – it’s a really novel, comfortable and fun shelter to take on overnight adventures or multi-day expeditions, and an excellent choice when camping in wooded areas. Joe, Cambridgeshire
Head torch
The Filter’s top pick for camping: Black Diamond Storm 500R
£54.95 at WildBounds
£65 at Cotswold Outdoor
The Filter’s top pick overall: Petzl Swift RL
£84.99 at Decathlon
A head torch is a non-negotiable. Its usefulness compared with its weight and cost is unmatched. After dark, it’s much harder to do basic tasks such as pitching up, prepping a fire or nipping out of the tent in the middle of the night for a loo break. Get one. Adam, East Sussex
Everbeam H6 Pro headlamp
£16.99 at Amazon
There are two main reasons I love this compact little Everbeam torch. First, it’s rechargeable via USB, so easy to keep topped up, either at home or on the go using a battery pack. Second, it has an adjustable angle, so no more tilting your head back and forth; just change the angle of the lamp while it’s on your head! Also, it comes with a great carry case, protecting it from damage when you just chuck it in your bag. It has two white brightness settings and a red light for when you need a low-light option. Dave, north-west London
Tent
The Filter’s top pick: MSR Hubba Hubba NX
£476 at Cotswold Outdoors
£476 at Snow and Rock
I do like a minimal tent. I’m only using it for sleep after all, so I don’t need fancy extras. And I like the feeling of being fully enclosed. A small tent is all a single camper needs, and it provides more shelter than one of those military-style bivi bags, which I’m not a fan of. Michael, Shropshire
Coleman Darwin 2 Plus
£89.99 at Mountain Warehouse
£82.52 at Amazon
I love this Coleman tent’s extended porch cover. You can leave your pack and shoes outside your tent, so you get less muck inside. This leaves plenty of room indoors for a couple of people, plus a medium-sized dog. The canopy keeps your stuff dry if it rains in the night. Saskia, west London
For more, read our guide to the best tents for camping
Camping chair
The Filter’s favourite chair for two: Kelty Loveseat
£130 at Mountain Warehouse
£130 at Ellis Brigham
My partner and I have enjoyed using this double-camping chair from Kelty for years. It’s sturdier and higher quality than the typical camping chairs you may be used to, and it’s comfortable enough for one person to curl up on and have a nap. Kelty also makes an Essential single version of this chair, as well as a Deluxe Lounge one, and all are available in the same smart colour schemes. Luke, Watford
For more, read our guide to the best camping chairs
Bluetooth speaker
Anker Soundcore Boom 3i
£99.99 at Soundcore
£99.99 at Amazon
This Bluetooth speaker is more than just waterproof: it floats, it’s saltwater resistant, and it can even self-right itself in choppy waters. The Boom 3i packs a hell of a punch too, with powerful bass and a 50W/96dB speaker. The RGB lights add to the fun, bringing a party atmosphere to your pitch, but you can always turn them off if you find them tacky. Remember to always adhere to your campsite’s noise rules and regulations: if there’s a designated quiet time, respect it – or else incur the wrath of every other family sharing the site. Tom, north-west London
Cool box
The Filter’s top pick: Coleman Pro
£129.99 at Amazon
Coleman 15l Performance cool box
£35 at Argos
My mates all said it was a waste of space to bring a massive cooler on a two-night camping trip. But who was laughing at the end of the day … when I was the only one with drinkable beer? Coolers aren’t even expensive, and when you factor in the savings from not having to drive out of camp to the nearest petrol station to pick up a few cold cans, it’s more than worth the initial spend. William, South Yorkshire
For more, read our guide to the best cool boxes
Mini stove
The Filter’s top pick: MSR Switch
£115 at LD Mountain Centre
£114.75 at Amazon
Jetboil MightyMo
£75 at Blacks
Jetboil MicroMo
£134.95 at WildBounds
A Jetboil is essential for us whenever we go camping. It doesn’t matter if it’s a family outing or a week-long wilderness trek – the Jetboil is the first thing we pack. It’s lightweight and can bring water to the boil faster than any other camping stove we’ve tried. I’m always grateful to have it when I’m prepping dehydrated meals at the end of a long day’s hike. Don’t forget to bring a spare fuel canister. Tommy, Wisconsin, US
For more, read our guide to the best camping stoves
Lantern
Blue Mountain Starlight 150L lantern
£12 at Cotswold Outdoor
£12 at Snow and Rock
It’s a small thing, but the few pounds I spent on this little lantern were more than worth it. So useful after dark when you need to look for something in your tent, or get up during the night. It also adds a cosy vibe to your haven in the wilderness. Saskia, west London
Foam wash
Nilaqua no-rinse body wash, 500ml
£6.99 at Victoria Health
£6.99 at Boots
Clean Life no-rinse foaming body wash, 237ml
£4.66 at iHerb
£9.99 at Amazon
The best recommendation I ever got for camping was to get a no-rinse foam wash. It’s mainly used by carers, and it cleans you up without water, so it’s worth its weight in gold when you can’t shower. It was a life-saver for my pits at El Dorado festival last year. Mel, south London
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Sleeping bag
Snugpak The Sleeping Bag WGTE
£42.69 at Amazon
For UK camping, from spring right through to early autumn, you don’t need anything too hardcore. The Sleeping Bag by Snugpak is exceptionally snug and comfortable in a wide range of temperatures. Officially, it is rated suitable in climates from -7C. At less than £50, it’s a great buy. Luke, Watford
Sleeping mat pump bag
Exped Schnozzel pump bag
£26.96 at Alpine Trek
The Exped pump bag is my must-have if you want to pack light, since it makes getting ready for bed way easier. First off, it lets you inflate your sleeping mat quickly – and without moisture getting into the mat. Then, it doubles as a waterproof sack to keep your phone (and spare underwear) dry. Molly, Minnesota, US
Sleeping mat
Kelty Cosmic Si Mummy sleeping pad
£56 at Decathlon
£69 at Mountain Warehouse
Maybe you don’t want to bother with inflating your sleeping mat at all, in which case I can recommend the Cosmic Si Mummy. To get this mat ready, all you need to do is lay it out flat, unscrew the valve and … actually, that’s it. Come back later, tighten up the valve and go to sleep. In my experience, it takes about 30 to 40 minutes to fully inflate, but if you’re in a rush, you can still inflate it manually. It’s comfy to lie on and easy to pack down too. Tom, north-west London
For more, read our guide to the best camping mattresses and sleeping mats
Power bank
The Filter’s top pick: Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-port 20k
£79.99 at Argos
£79.99 at Amazon
Juice Eco Max+ 24,000mAh portable power bank
£34.99 at Argos
I got this power bank before a long weekend of climbing and camping in Suffolk. It kept three phones charged up enough for the three-day trip, which is all you can ask for. There are more expensive ones that will charge your phone faster, but I wanted one that specifically charged up to three devices at once and had a large capacity. This one does the job perfectly. Tom, north-west London
For more, read our guide to the best power banks
Jump starter
Halfords Advanced 2l jump starter power bank
£60.99 at Halfords
Halfords 6-in-1 jump starter power pack
£99.99 at Halfords
You may never actually need it, but trust me – I’m speaking from experience – you don’t want to be stuck in the middle of an empty campsite in the New Forest with a dead car battery, in the rain and sleet. One of those things that’s better to have and not need than the other way around. Tom, north-west London
Collapsible cooking pot
Sea to Summit collapsible X-pot 4l
£79.99 at Sub Zero
Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight collapsible 2.2l pouring pot
£62.95 at Outdoor Action
£90 at Cotswold Outdoor
Sea to Summit makes practical cooking pots with silicone sides that pack down flat for easy transport. The lid can be used like a sieve to pour out excess liquid when cooking pasta, plus these pots double up well as basins to do your washing-up in. Luke, Watford
All-purpose soap
Lifeventure all-purpose biodegradable soap
From £4.99 at Lifeventure
£4.99 at Amazon
An all-purpose soap is good for cleaning your body, doing the washing-up or anything that needs a quick de-griming. Once, I didn’t wash at a festival, and my friends refused to stay in the same tent as me (although now that I think about it, that was kind of a bonus). Alba, Norfolk
Hiking boots
The Filter’s top pick for women: Lowa Renegade Evo GTX
£219.95 at Cotswold Outdoor
The Filter’s top pick for men: La Sportiva TX5
From £210.99 at Amazon
Danner Women’s Trail 2650 Campo
£110 at Naked Ape
Danner Men’s Trail 2650 Mid GTX
£200 at Ellis Brigham
I have a pair of Danner boots that I always wear when I go hiking or camping. My whole family loves Danner. They’re the most reliable shoes for hiking as far as I’m concerned, with a snug fit that makes you feel more balanced as you make your way through the forests and hills. They also come in lots of colours. Gwyneth, south-west London
For more, read our guide to the best hiking boots for men and women
Coffee maker
GSI Mini espresso set 1 cup
£41.20 at Rock + Run
You can’t start a day without a decent cup of coffee in your system. Little coffee makers such as these are awesome for camping because they’re easy to clean and pack away when you’re done. The promise of a proper espresso from one of these is the only thing that gets me out of my tent in the morning. Matteo, north London
Card game
Flip 7
£9.95 at Zatu Games
£13.99 at Waterstones
If you go camping with your family, you should buy the game Flip 7. It’s our new favourite filler game. It’s easy to play, you can teach it in a couple of minutes, but you can play it for hours! It’s just fine for three players, but it can go up to 12 or more. It’s also cheap. You don’t even need to look into it, just buy it. Trust me, you’re going to love it. It’s the greatest card game of all time. It says it right on the box. Clayton, Wisconsin, US
Don’t bother with …
Those little bug zappers that you can hang in your tent or place on a table. When bugs are thick enough to be an issue, it can’t get all of them. You’ll inevitably end up with some mosquito bites anyway. Stick to using good old-fashioned bug spray, and don’t leave your tent unzipped if there are lots of critters about! Saskia, west London
The “overnight” bug spray that you fully saturate your clothes in, only for the effects to wear off in less than a day. The bad smell sticks around for longer! Bill, South Dakota, US
Oversized, multi-room tents are just a waste of space and money. Why do you need to walk around fully upright in your tent? You won’t be spending that long in there anyway. Matteo, north London