Camping Equipment Checklist

Before you head out for your camping or hiking excursion, you had better make sure you have all the right equipment and camping accessories for your trip. Because if you don’t, chances are you won’t have access to the right resources to make up for the items you have forgotten. Here is a camping equipment checklist that you should refer to before you go on your next camping or hiking trip.

• You’re going to need to eat right? How picky an eater you are will make a difference, but just try to stick the basics and bring items such as butter, ketchup, onions, chicken, hamburger meat, and eggs. And make sure you bring plenty of water. If you plan on hiking in hot temperatures, you should bring enough water so that you can drink a gallon a day! You should also bring aluminum foil and tongs for your cooking (pans if you’re fussy).

• Make sure your camping stove works properly. This includes checking all the seal, gaskets and hoses for any cracks, faulty connections or leaks. Camping stoves can be very dangerous if you don’t maintain them well enough. This includes cleaning grease spots off to prevent flare ups.

• Make sure you have enough fuel for your camping stove, and make sure you bought the right kind. Just because the canister looks similar doesn’t make it the right one.

• Check your tent thoroughly. Even though it’s a pretty basic structure, you should never assume it’s in working order; unfold it completely before you go. You could discover holes that need stitching (or buy a brand-new one), or you may even find that it has gotten moldy and needs to be cleaned and aired out.

• Even if you’re not hiking any great distances and just need to get to the bathroom safely, you should make sure you bring a couple of flashlights; bring back-up batteries too.

• If you don’t plan on doing things the old fashioned way, spending a couple of hours rubbing sticks together, then you should bring waterproof matches and a windproof lighter. Or, you might also consider bringing a starter log to make things even easier.

• There are a lot of things for you and your family to bump and scrape yourself on. Make sure you pack a full first-aid kit to include items such as gauze, sterilization liquids, and anything you might need to address allergies in your family.