Camping Checklist

Choose a size that fits your sleeping group and gear. Check the poles, zippers and complete setup at home if the tent is unfamiliar.

Match the footprint to the tent floor, and tuck exposed edges underneath so rainwater cannot pool between the footprint and tent.

Check the sleeve fits your tent poles. Bring it when you are relying on a tent for shelter.

Useful at exposed campsites. Check that your pitch has room and bring suitable anchors for wind.

Choose the bag for the expected overnight low and its comfort rating, not just the daytime forecast or an extreme-temperature label.

A liner can help keep a bag clean and add some warmth, but it will not replace a sleeping bag suited to the overnight temperature.

Ground insulation matters as much as cushioning. Compare the pad's R-value with the temperatures you expect at night.

Use this to reduce the volume of a sleeping bag during travel. Avoid leaving the bag compressed for long-term storage between trips.

Inflate and test it for leaks beforehand, and make sure it fits the tent. Many ordinary air mattresses need extra insulation on cold ground.

Confirm that the patch and adhesive work with your pad material, and check the kit before relying on it away from camp.

Check the valve adapter and whether the pump needs batteries, charging or a vehicle power outlet.

Measure the available tent floor space. An elevated cot can still need an insulating pad on cold nights.

Check stakes and guylines suit the tent and ground conditions.

Pack the rainfly and its attachments. Check waterproofing before departure.

Choose bedding and a suitable sleep system for each child and the overnight temperature.

If you will carry gear to your pitch, try the pack fully loaded and adjust its fit. A large backpack may be unnecessary at a drive-in campsite.

Check the carrier's size and weight limits, adjust the straps and try it with the child before a longer walk.

Check the tool is suitable for your trip. A compact multi-tool may cover basic camp repairs.

Useful on uneven or steep trails. Adjust the length and test the locking sections before setting off.

Charge or test the light before leaving and keep it accessible for arrivals after dark, not buried in a packed bag.

Choose battery, rechargeable or fuel-powered lighting based on your site and the supplies you'll actually have. Check brightness and runtime.

Pack fuel only if your lantern needs it. Confirm the exact fuel type and the lantern manufacturer's transport and storage instructions.

Check the exact battery type and number required; don't assume the lantern uses the same batteries as your headlamp.

Download an offline map or bring a suitable paper map where reception may be weak. Mark the campsite, access road and route back.

Useful when a group may split up without phone signal. Test the radios together and remember that terrain can shorten their range.

Load the route and map data before departure, then check batteries or charging. Don't assume reception provides downloadable maps.

Pack a compass and suitable map if your route requires navigation. Know how to use them.

Inspect seams and valves for leaks. Pack the matching pump and repair kit, and check that the craft suits the planned water conditions.

Choose a properly fitting personal flotation device designed for the water activity, and check its straps and condition before use.

If kayaking is part of the trip, check paddles, suitable flotation devices, transport straps and waterproof storage for essentials.

Download or print the reservation, check-in details and any access instructions before leaving.

Charge the power bank and download essential maps and reservation details for offline use.

Choose tape suited to the tent or pad material. Use it for temporary repairs until a proper patch can be applied.

Protect dry layers, bedding and electronics from rain and water.

Bring spare batteries if your light does not use a rechargeable power source.

Check the stove and compatible fuel before leaving. Use only outdoors and according to the manufacturer’s instructions, never inside a tent.

Use a windscreen only where compatible with the stove, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Confirm the fuel type and connector match your stove, then estimate supply based on the meals you plan to cook.

Use containers intended for the fuel and stove system. Check seals and keep fuel separate from food and drinking-water bottles.

Optional. Check the site’s current fire restrictions and permitted cooking arrangements before packing.

Optional. Check the site’s current fire restrictions and permitted cooking arrangements before packing.

Optional. Check the site’s current fire restrictions and permitted cooking arrangements before packing.

Bring a pan only if the menu needs one. For simple one-pot meals or boiling water, it is often unnecessary bulk.

Choose pot capacity for the number of people and meals, and check that the pot sits securely on your stove.

If cookware lacks insulated handles, check that the grabber fits its rim before you need to lift a hot pot.

Suitable for some shared camp meals but heavy to transport. Check whether your campsite allows the heat source you intend to use.

Choose leakproof sizes for your meals. Store perishables correctly and follow any campsite-specific food and wildlife-storage instructions.

Bring enough bags for rubbish and food scraps, especially if bins are unavailable. Plan to carry out what you bring in.

Check the filter is suitable for the available water source and that it works before the trip.

Use only if needed for your water source, following the product directions.

Pre-chill foods that need refrigeration and make sure ice or cooling packs will keep them cold for the journey and campsite stay.

Consider how many hours or days cooling must last and whether replacement ice is available. Keep meltwater away from unpackaged food.

Check the group's drinking-water capacity and where safe refills are available. A reusable bottle is only useful if it can be refilled.

Use only where the campground allows washing and wastewater disposal; biodegradable does not mean suitable for release into streams or lakes.

Useful when the water point is some distance from your pitch. Test for leaks and use a container marked safe for drinking water if applicable.

Helpful at sites without a wash basin. Plan how you will collect and dispose of wastewater rather than tipping it near your tent.

Optional. Reusable cloths can reduce the amount of waste you carry out.

Optional: keep washing water separate from drinking water and follow campground disposal rules.

Decide the menu before packing equipment. A simple meal plan can eliminate extra pans, ingredients and food that will spoil.

Protect them from cracking and store them as required for how they were purchased and handled. Consider a simpler breakfast if refrigeration is limited.

Only take perishables if you can keep them safely chilled throughout transport and storage.

Shelf-stable milk may simplify transport before opening; follow the package's refrigeration instructions once opened.

Use this when safe refills are unavailable or uncertain. Estimate drinking and cooking needs for the group before deciding how much to carry.

Plan storage around the type of cheese and expected temperatures. Perishable varieties need reliable cooling.

Chocolate can melt quickly in a sunny tent or car. Pack it in a cool spot or choose a more heat-tolerant snack.

Count breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks for the number of people and nights. Add food and quantities to your saved list.

Bring familiar, suitable snacks and plan their storage.

Wear new boots on shorter walks before the trip. Fit and comfort matter more than buying heavy boots for an easy campsite stay.

Take a dry spare pair for wet hikes or overnight stays. Damp socks can increase rubbing and discomfort.

Pack a dry base layer if nights will be cold, even when daytime temperatures are mild.

A fleece works as an insulating middle layer on cool evenings, but needs a protective outer layer in rain or strong wind.

Check that your jacket is waterproof if prolonged rain is likely; a lightweight windbreaker may not keep you dry.

Useful for prolonged rain, wet vegetation or exposed walks. They may be unnecessary on a short fair-weather campsite visit.

Choose secure footwear with grip for shared showers or wet areas. Loose slides may not suit uneven ground.

Pack for the overnight temperature, not only the daytime forecast.

Check what the toilets provide. At remote sites, follow local instructions for carrying out or disposing of used paper.

Plan enough for regular outdoor reapplication, including after swimming or heavy sweating as indicated on the label.

Check which insects are common at your destination and use a suitable repellent according to its directions.

Handy when a wash station is far away. Bring soap and water for washing when hands are visibly dirty or before handling food.

Replace used or expired supplies before leaving. See the [First Aid Kit Checklist](/first-aid-kit-checklist) for a more complete inventory.

Pack the required supply with some allowance for travel delays, and follow any heat or moisture storage instructions.

Keep necessary instructions accessible; follow professional advice and storage requirements.

Pack child-care supplies and a sealable bag for waste if needed.

Charge batteries and check memory-card space before leaving. Protect equipment from rain, dust and overnight moisture.

Check whether hammock use is permitted and bring straps that protect tree bark. A hammock does not automatically replace warm overnight bedding.