Water filter and uv light water sanitizer

Fire starters -- they are also called firestarter cubes or firelighters. Basically small fuel cubes (they look either like wax cubes or chipboard cubes) that burn a while so you can feed small twigs into them when you start your fire.

PP has a good list! I wouldn't bother with a portable toilet for the night (I use a tree) or special tools for marshmallows (I use a stick).

I also don't ever use a tarp under my tent. I have a tent with a bathtub floor, and it doesn't let in water. I've camped in _wet_ conditions, where we've had to trench* our site, and it doesn't let in water. But if you have a tarp under your tent, what happens is if it rains, water pools under your tent, and it doesn't drain or dry out. So my advice is to get a tent that doesn't need a tarp underneath.

*If you don't know what this is, basically it's when there is so much rain that you have to dig a little moat around your tent so that the water flows away from the tent. Happens if you have a site that has a natural direction of rain flow through it -- usually you are just redirecting a puddle. I can vouch that this can be done with a children's toy beach shovel, in a rainstorm. But it's not really something you want to do if you are a newbie camper.

Since that trip, our gear list has also included a quality metal trowel for digging. Also works for catholes in the back country.

If you are going to a place with a lot of bugs, get a screen tent to put the picnic table into. It also provides a place to get out of the rain.

We finally splurged on one of those kitchen camp tables to hold the stove and it is amazing.

Little gas fire pit (lots of burn bans).

Tablecloth for the picnic table and clips to hold it on. I didn’t use to care but have had a series of really splintery tables lately.

Headlamps for everyone for outside and also reading in sleeping bag.

I got an 8 person tent on clearance at Target one year for less than $30. It has a screened porch. I love that thing- you can take your shoes off in the porch when it is muddy.

Emo hammocks with tree straps are great.

Anonymous wrote:I bought a couple of Redcamp wood burning camp stoves that fold flat. Can't wait to try them.

Ordered a "camp bellows" which is basically a telescoping tube to blow at the fire without being right next to it. I'm surprised I'd never heard of or thought of this before.

These, not the round ones:

Hammock!!!!

I bought a couple of Redcamp wood burning camp stoves that fold flat. Can't wait to try them.

Ordered a "camp bellows" which is basically a telescoping tube to blow at the fire without being right next to it. I'm surprised I'd never heard of or thought of this before.

What type of fire starter?

My list depends on where I am camping and whether I have to carry my own gear. But, if you're asking, you're probably looking more at car camping than backpacking and carrying your gear to a primitive camping site 14 miles from your car.

Anyway, here goes:

tent (designed for at a minimum 2 more people than you plan to sleep)
tarp for under the tent
air mattresses and pump to blow them up
bedding (we prefer sheets and quilts and pillows, but some like sleeping bags)
a mat for outside the tent door to keep from tracking debris inside
portable toilet for those middle of the night bathroom needs

hammocks
chairs
canopy
lantern
games (we play lots of Uno and that's all we usually take)
flashlights
table cloth
cookware (to include a french press coffee pot)
eating ware (either disposable or not )
water carrier
dishpan, sponge and dish detergent
long forks to roast marshmallows
lighter
aluminum foil
trash bags
clothes line
paper towels and paper napkins
tooth brushes and toothpaste
soap
hygiene supplies
flip flops for shared showers
towels
we have an iron jiffy pop holder that we always take
sunscreen
bug spray
camp stove
cork screw and bottle opener

clothes

food and condiments
snacks - my kids eat so much when we camp

Whatever toys that you want to keep your kids entertained

If you want music, something to play it on

We have a big box of things we always need (cookware, foil, air pump, plates, cups, salt and pepper, toothpaste, etc.). When we get home, I replenish all of the stuff that we used up so that it's easy to pack each time we go.


Have fun. We love camping.

Anonymous wrote:Check out this thread: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/888737.page

Thank you very much! Definitely a thread worth reading. I'm looking for lists of camping gear, though, rather than advice. (Well, I guess advice about the gear, or reasons why they're on the list.)

Check out this thread: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/888737.page

Camping is new to me, but I’m totally hooked! Being a novice, I’ll share what I found most useful for our car camping trips:

A tent big enough for your family and their stuff. If the tent says it’s for four ppl, that really means two ppl and stuff. So size up. We’re a family of four and we found an 8 person tent to be the perfect size.

A tarp for under the tent.

Sleeping pads. I like the self inflating that are part air mattresses and part foam.

Sleeping bags are absolutely necessary if it’s cold. Not as much if it’s hot.

Camp chairs for sitting around.

A camp stove. We like our Coleman two burner.

Big jug of water.

Lots of flashlights, head lamps, lantern for inside the tent at night.

Clothesline

French press and kettle for morning coffee

I like to put a large canopy over the picnic table to help keep all of our kitchen stuff dry from rain or nighttime dew, but this certainly isn’t necessary.

Please list your camping gear, must-haves and wish list items alike. Interested in hearing from all types of campers, from bushcraft to minimalist backpackers to car glampers. TIA.