So, you’re going on your first camping trip with friends! How do you feel? Excited? Nervous? Scared of the wild world out there? You are most likely wondering what to bring on a camping trip with friends?
Going on a camping trip can be daunting at first, especially for the younger generation. We’ve gotten so used to technology aiding us in almost anything we do that going on a camping trip (which means being away from all the cool, techie things we hold dear is unimaginable.
But come to think of it – this is the best opportunity to test your survival skills. If people from centuries back survived and did just fine without electricity, appliances, and the internet, we bet you could, too!
A camping trip shouldn’t be something to be afraid of. Instead, fill yourself with excitement because it’s going to be an amazing adventure ahead. And since this is your first time, you need all the guidance and help possible to make your first trip to be a success.
For a start, we brought you 10 must-haves on a camping trip with friends. These are among the most important things you should pack to prepare yourself for what’s waiting for you out there. That is… on top of the other things, you plan to bring with you.
Get your checklist ready and don’t forget these!
10 Essentials to Bring Camping With Friends
1. Warm Clothes
Waterproof Columbia Jacket
It should be light enough so it won’t add weight to when you take a hike. It should keep you warm from the cold at night and, at the same time, be waterproof and windproof. In short, it should protect you from any weather condition.
You can find a lot of windbreakers and jackets that have heat technology that converts the moisture to heat and is also waterproof and lightweight. Our Proper Camping Attire article goes into great detail about the best camping clothes and also provides some great options.
Aside from keeping your body warm, you also need to wear warm socks inside comfortable footwear for hiking and camping. You can also put on some gloves and a hat to keep your head and hands warm.
It is important to keep yourself warm and dry during camping to prevent getting a cold. Remember, you are in the middle of nowhere. You might have some medicine for a common cold or cough but it might get worse in a few days or when you get back to the city. It’s best to prevent this first hand with your clothing.
2. Tent
Of course, you should not forget this one! Your tent will be your home when you’re camping. It protects you from all the forces outside. Be it the sun, the rain, or the many animals around you – big or small.
Bring a tent that is big enough for everyone. You can bring multiple tents if you don’t have a tent that would accommodate everyone. If you’re not sure how many people could fit inside the tent, look at its label. If it says it could fit six people, most likely it has enough room for just four – at least to be comfortable and spacious enough.
Look for sturdy tents with heavy-duty zippers, double stitching, and aluminum poles. It’s also better if your tent goes with a bigger rain-fly and a roof vent for air circulation. It’s a plus if it has no-see-um meshing to keep bugs away.
See 10 of the best tents for camping in bad weather, which is the best choice when camping with a group of friends!
3. Sleeping Bag & Sleeping Mattress
Camping is not 100% comfortable but you can make it so by bringing a sleeping bag and sleeping mattress/pad with you.
A sleeping mattress can give you an extra cushion when you sleep. Sleeping in a tent can be very uncomfortable since you’re literally sleeping on the ground. Just imagine how hard or rocky or muddy it could be. A mattress can give you enough cushion so as not to feel the ground on your back.
Add a sleeping bag to that and you’ll be comfortable enough to sleep through the night. Not only do sleeping bags add cushion, but it also warms you from the cold outside since most of them are insulated and radiate the heat back to your body.
We have a list of the best sleeping bags under $50, which is all you need when going camping with friends!
4. Food & Water (and Everything That Comes with It)
Like how we survive indoors, food and water are also a must in the outdoor. While it could be easy to say that you can fish, hunt, or harvest some things in the camping site, it is best to still bring preserved and packed food for everyone. Choose those that can be easily opened, cooked or heated, and in a lighter packaging.
While you cannot bring an entire jug with you, bring a water canteen to store water. If there’s a nearby creek, you can just gather water and boil it to make sure it is clean. You can also bring water sterilizer if you want to be safe.
Remember to bring some utensils and pots with you. All the food you brought would be nothing if you don’t bring easy-to-carry, multi-use pots or pans for camping. You can easily find one in stores near you or online.
Our list of the best ultralight cooking gear options are perfect when going on quick or long camping trips with friends.
5. Navigation Tools
Going to and from your camping site can be a bit daunting. Getting the right directions could be easy with any phone app – but that’s not an option when you’re out in the woods. Hence, you bring the old school navigation tools such as a map and a compass.
Try to acquire different maps. The city, the country, the town, and the camping site itself – all these maps can come in handy. Look for detailed maps especially those that would give you both an idea on where to get food, and an idea of which areas to avoid.
Next is to have a compass with you so you can navigate yourself around and make sure you’re following the map correctly. If you’re doubtful if you know how to read or use a compass, better get yourself acquainted with it first.
6. Preventive Care
Bring some preventive care such as insect repellent and sunscreen with you. You can never be too sure about the environment that you’ll be in.
An insect repellent is a must when you’re outdoors. There are more insects out in the woods than what you probably experience at home. You are not only up against mosquitoes and bugs; there are other possible insects you can come across with.
Aside from insects, you also have to protect yourself from UV rays. If you’re out for camping in summer, the extreme heat might cause you to have a sunburn. And even if it is cloudy or gloomy, it doesn’t mean that you’re not exposed to UV rays… because you still are. Go for a sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher and re-apply every 60-80 minutes.
7. First Aid Kit
Always bring a first aid kit during camping. You might not like the idea of getting sick or injured in the wild, but it’s better safe than sorry.
Bring some first aid for wounds, cuts, and bites. It’s also best if you know how to tend to a wound or an insect bite. You can learn from experts online or ask a nearby nurse or doctor that can help you with this. It would also be great if you can ask them what else to bring aside from cotton, swabs, alcohol, gauze bandage, and medical plaster.
Also bring your prescribed and/or over-the-counter medicine for any illness that you easily catch like cold, cough, headache, fever, and stomachache.
You can also bring some essential oils or salves that can soothe itchiness and other bites. If you have one that’s homemade and organic, the better.
8. Fire Starter
Fire is one of the most important things you should have in a camp. It cooks your food, it boils your water (and, in a way, sterilize it for drinking), it keeps you warm, and it could also be a source of light at night. But how do you get one?
Bring along with you a match, a lighter, or a magnesium flint. A match is the easiest one to bring but it could be dampened with the camp’s condition and might not be of use when it gets damp or wet. You can look for a more sturdy wooden match that is also. Or you can simply bring a lighter.
But a flint would bring a different kind of wilderness experience. If you know how to use it, go for it – or better yet, just bring a lighter.
This is the best fire starter that will last thousands of strikes, its called the überleben Zünden Fire Starter. Its handcrafted wood handle wrapped around your neck like a necklace will make you look like an experienced camper. The easy spark will have a fire going in no time!
9. Handy Multitool
However, the knife and cutter would probably be the most useful ones there. Make sure that they are sharp enough to cut through rope, twigs or barks, and even food.
You can also use the can opener and bottle opener that comes with it. It would be easier for you to open canned foods that you brought with you… or that beer in your cooler for a chill night with friends.
Other than these, you’ll never know when you’ll need some screwdrivers, pliers, and wire cutters along the way.
10. Flashlight or Headlamp
Bring a flashlight or headlamp so you are sure you have a source of light anywhere you go. A bonfire can only do so much and it’s useless when it rains and when you need light inside your tent.
Since you’re probably not getting electricity on camp, make sure all your flashlights are charged up to the fullest or at least bring some spare batteries and/or flashlights with you.
It would also be nice to bring one bright lamp that the entire group inside the tent and one for each for your individual use. Also, agree among yourselves to only use one flashlight if you go in pairs or a group.
I actually created an Ultimate Camping Lantern Guide, it has every type of camping light you could imagine. You will see regular flashlights, to underwater lights you can take swimming. See some bright options on the list!
Are you ready for your camping trip? (FREE CAMPING CHECKLIST)
Now that we provided you a list of things to bring, it’s time to pack them up and make sure your checklist is complete.
If you are putting together a camping checklist, please see our camping checklist and feel free to use it! It is 100% free and downloadable in pdf format:
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FREE CAMPING CHECKLIST
Remember that when camping, staying warm, and keeping yourself safe and healthy is very important. This does not only ensure you go back home healthy, this allows you to enjoy your camping experience to the fullest.
And while we advocate that you enjoy your camping without any gadget whatsoever, it would be nice to bring a camera or even just your phone with you. You definitely would want to capture the important moments or the beautiful view around. You can even do a time-lapse of the sunrise and/or sunset!
So pack these up and create new and exciting memories with your friends. Enjoy the moment and keep yourself warm and safe.