Camping Essentials

Ah, camping! There’s nothing quite like the smell of the ocean, the sound of a crackling campfire, and the taste of a delicious meal cooked outdoors. But for many, the thought of packing and preparing meals for a camping trip can feel daunting. How can you make sure you have everything you need without overpacking or forgetting the essentials?

We have built our camping kit up overtime, with some trial and error. We have learnt to save a little longer and to go for quality items. But, most importantly, don’t let the ‘stuff’ hold you back from the adventures. The most important thing is to get outdoors. You will figure out after each trip exactly what works for you and your family. This article will give you some ideas, and insight into how we make our weekend getaways comfy. 

These are our family’s camping essentials that help us to pack smart, plan our meals, and enjoy stress-free cooking while camping. 

I’m going to run you through all of our camping gear. Everything from our cooking equipment to our shelter and sleeping essentials.

A cast iron pan is perfect for open fires as it retains its heat well. A stainless steel frying pan combined with a stainless steel pot (with lid) is excellent for gas top cooking and will not only retain heat well (cooking food more quickly and evenly) but is also lightweight and easy to store. A camping kettle is also great for those early morning warm drinks. 

One coloured chopping board for raw meat and another lightweight wooden chopping board for everything else.

I take along a wooden spoon, tongs, serving spoon, chef’s knife with protective cover, a bench scraper and a pair of kitchen scissors with a protective cover.

I like to take a select few spices in a portable spice jar set, salt and pepper mills and olive oil and vinegar pourers in an easily accessible bamboo caddy.

I’ve got a set of smashproof, high quality melamine plates, bowls, and serving platters, a set of good quality cutlery, mugs as well as unbreakable stemless wine glasses. 

Are for marinating meat and storing leftovers. I use Stasher bags.

I have a set of containers that I use for the pantry as well as larger tubs which I use in the fridge to help find what I need. 

Having a portable table gives you a designated food prep area, making cooking more organized and convenient. Comfortable seating is a must for meal times. Choose chairs that are foldable and easy to transport.

We have got lighting in our camper (more on this below), however, a good light source like a lantern or headlamp is essential for cooking and eating in low light conditions.

Aside from dish soap, I use reusable washing up pads and a bamboo dish scrub brush. 

Tea towels are an essential during food preparation and microfibre cloths are great for keeping surfaces clean.

A collapsible bin is a great option, it can be stored away while occupying very little space. We store our trash bags in the bin itself. A zip is great to protect the trash from wildlife. 

We recently moved from a tent (this very one) to a Cub Campers Drifter. Below are our tried and tested sleeping essentials that we used in our tent as well as what we now use in our camper trailer. 

Choose a tent that suits your needs in terms of size, weather resistance, and ease of setup. For families, a larger tent with multiple rooms can provide added comfort.

Opt for sleeping bags that are rated for the lowest temperature you expect to encounter. A good air mattress adds comfort, keeps you off the ground and packs up nicely.

We’ve got a set of pillows, quilts, sheets and mattress protectors (a must!) that permanently stay in our camper trailer.

We have an eco-friendly, small, self-composting toilet that is perfect for wherever we need to go.

A tarp placed under your tent provides extra protection against moisture and sharp objects. It also helps to extend the life of your tent and makes pack up much cleaner.

Ensure you have durable tent stakes and a mallet for securing your tent. Extra stakes can come in handy in case some are lost or damaged. The kids love knocking them in too!

A portable gazebo or sunshade offers relief from the sun and additional shelter for cooking or lounging, this was essential for us prior to moving to a camper trailer (which has its own spacious awning). 

This is the equipment and the tips and tricks that help us tackle our camping trips with confidence. Packing smart and prepping meals ahead of time ensures a stress-free and enjoyable camping experience.

Share your own tips and favorite camping recipes in the comments below and don’t miss out on my upcoming camping videos where I’ll be diving into delicious camp recipes!