13 Camping Gear Essentials (My Core Packing List)

In this video, I walk through 13 items (or categories of items) that I take on basically every tent camping trip I go on.

This list doesn't include food (which you'll obviously need) and there are several other things that you may want to bring on your own trips, that I personally consider to be optional.

I hope this will help you as a starting point for your own camping gear set-up, and if you have questions or want to share an additional item that you consider to be essential, feel free to let me know in the comments.

Hit like if something in this video resonates with you, and join me every Wednesday for new videos like this.

And here are the other videos/playlists I mentioned in the video:

[Zaku]

Having a pillow your gramma made you is unexpectedly wholesome.

[saetmusic]

TP is essential, but you also REALLY want to bring some wet wipes! Seriously! HUGE difference!

[laurabrown]

I LOVE that you camp with your Grandma Made Pillow. That absolutely made me happy. Grandmas are so awesome👍

[TheIrishBosnian]

Good man fir mentioning the first aid kit. I watched a beginners essentials video yesterday, he completely neglected that. 😂

[carmenmartinez]

I like that you cover both backpacking and car camping. I car camp, too old to backpack and not too many reviews/videos for it. A little reminder that if you use a cot you still need a pad or you’ll freeze your little tail off. Hot lips! Greatest useful little invention.

[jakipramos]

I like how simple it is, nothing fancy. Great content! 😊

[wonton_sombrero]

I enjoy car camping with my wife. Over the years we learned how to make our lives easier when camping. One thing we learned was packing everything in extra large shoe boxes. Keeps everything organized and dry. 8 gallon boxes works well for clothing and toiletries.

[jeffreybrooks]

Excellent content. Great video for beginners and excellent checklist for campers in general👍

[claraschronicles]

You are very down to earth and make great videos. I added so much to my list that I forgot, especially a spatula. I liked the video and can’t wait to go through all your playlists. Thanks a bunch from CA. 😊

[licojr]

This was so helpful for my wife and I for the first time we went camping together

[TheHyena-rubz]

Great video! Straight to the point and very helpful. Thanks

[mzmteet]

You are very down to earth and make great videos. I added so much to my list that I forgot, especially a spatula. I liked the video and can’t wait to go through all your playlists. Thanks a bunch from CA.

[BrandinskiJ]

Funny you said a sheet, literally a necessary item for me. I run hot and it’s a nice barrier to hot sleeping bags

[stephanieh]

Omg you’re so cute! The pillow made me go “awww”

[ronaldrose]

Hello 👋 my outdoors friend, thank you for sharing this informative video. Stay safe out there. 😊

[maryg]

Thank you for you videos. I found you about a week ago. I find them very helpful. And a pleasure to watch!

[edydon]

Very helpful - keep up the great work!

[ItsLavis]

Been binge watching all your videos lately, super awesome tips! I cannot stress enough how easy it is to forget a spatula! I told myself well over 20 times for my first solo trip to pack one. Well I forgot, but I remembered on the way, and I picked one up at the dollar tree. 😂

[penguinvic]

Great list, useful too. And nicely presented YT video.

I’d add a 14th. A small bag of off grid things to amuse yourself if your car breaks down or your smart phone is out of range, broken or lost etc. When travelling I have a small shoulder bag that contains a small radio, a couple of paperbacks, a couple of battery operated handheld games (from the 90s) of the intellectual type, a pocket chess / checkers set with some printed games and puzzles, a notebook and pens, etc.

You’d be surprised how many times I’ve been stranded (waiting for spare parts / floods / strikes / political unrest / even aircraft crashes * etc), in various forms of travel, and believe me, I’ve been glad I packed this stuff.

* Fortunately not any I have been flying in.

[beaulieuc]

You can also use a vacuum sealer and vacumn pack your food etc to safe space. You can also dehydrate vegetables and them pack them up