Whether it’s your first time car camping or you’ve been at it for years, it never hurts to have a good checklist. To help you get out of the house with all of the essentials in tow, we’ve outlined everything you need including campsite and sleeping gear, camp kitchen essentials, outdoor clothing and footwear, health and hygiene products, and personal items and extras. For each category, we’ve listed necessary items—along with our top picks—as well as optional gear. Finally, for all our product recommendations in one place, see our detailed camping gear reviews. Show
Editor's note: The table above provides a brief overview of what you'll need to get outside, but our full PDF version is printable and offers a more comprehensive breakdown of the necessities and nice-to-haves. Campsite and Sleeping GearWhether you’re headed out for a quick weekend getaway or taking an extended vacation in the woods, the gear below is what we bring on every trip to create a comfortable backcountry basecamp. We've also included a handful of optional items that may or may not be worth packing depending on what amenities (if any) will be available at your campsite. And when applicable, we've included links to our gear round-ups where we break down our top picks for each category. Camping TentOur top pick: The North Face Wawona 6 ($475) Camping Sleeping BagOur top pick: REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 25 ($129) Camping MattressOur top pick: Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D ($230) Camp PillowOur top pick: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow ($45) Camping ChairOur top pick: REI Co-op Camp X ($50) |