sleeping bag
propane stove
propane lantern
cooler(s)
collapsible water container
small folding table
canvas chairs
vinyl tarps
compact BBQ grill
hatchet
pots/pans/utensils (you’d be surprised how many 1st-timers forget these)
For my money, these are the essentials I would never camp without. I like propane because it’s clean, interchangeable and readily available. The tarps are to put on the ground under your tent, and if necessary over it too. If you can stay dry during an all-day downpour, you will be a happy camper. I use two coolers, one for food, one for beverages, and never the twain shall meet. One block of ice will keep a cooler of food cold for the better part of a week if not longer, because you only open it three or four times a day.
Here are some optionals that I always take:
flip-top clear plastic storage crates (for food, kitchen utensils and everything else)
thin nylon line (lashing tarps, clotheslines, a million other things)
clothes pins
bug repellent
gallon ziploc bags
tall kitchen garbage bags
roll of paper towels
sun block
multi-spice dispenser (one container has all your seasonings)
cheap coarse vinyl floor mat (put one of these outside the tent and keep most grit out)
whisk broom
This may seem like a lot of stuff, but most of it should all fit into three plastic crates. Easy to pack, access and stay organized. Get the crates at LowesDepot or Walmart.
Happy camping!
