Camping essentials

[Jenn Lynn]

Since we have just moved to Wisconsin and are surrounded by lakes, camping, and fishing I would like to start buying the essentials for camping.
We will be camping in a tent with an almost 20 month old.
I would like your recommendations for things you have found that you could not live without. And things that are nice to have and make camping a little easier!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Spirit Feather]

I actually have a three page check list of my camping supplies! It is so great to have it. I can check off stuff as it is packed.

I have three of those big rubbermaid storage tubs that I keep the camping stuff in. When we come back from a trip my daughter or I will go through the bins with the checklist, replenish or replace as needed and then the tubs are ready for the next trip. I can be packed and ready to go in about 30 minutes.

My check list is on my other computer. I will try to post it later if anyone is interested.

 

[fklhou]

After many years of being a boy scout leader, there are a great number of toys that can make camping fun. I love putting a hammock up between a couple of trees and enjoying nature and a nap. A good camp stove is important. We have good backbacking burners and the regular coleman camp stove.

If you car camp (as opposed to backpacking) a good cot is nice. Air pads are nice but when you spend a week with the scouts at camp, you get to appreciate a cot. There are some nice electric latterns for use inside tents. My DW got me one with a remote so that I can turn the light on in my tent from the outside (toys are fun). There are some new insulated coolers out that are really efficient at keeping food cold for the entire weekend.

Have fun.

 

[disykat]

If you're camping where there are bathrooms, I've discovered a soap product I use while camping. The facial wipes that have soap in them - all you do is get them wet, use them, and toss them. Mine are Dove. I'm cheap so I cut them into quarters (they make lots of suds), hand one to each of the kids and they can wash their hands and faces with it. They can carry them to the bathroom in their pockets. I feel so much better if I know they've used soap - which isn't available in most park bathrooms.

 

[Planogirl]

The first thing that comes to mind for me is a good first-aid kit. Someone seemed to constantly have cuts, sunburns, insect bites, you name it.

Also, it's great to have plenty of comfy chairs and fold up tables. A friend always brought tons of them but he was always very comfortable. Of course, he also brought a TV and a dish...

 

[Sonya]

Don't forget citranella candles, good hiking boots, ponchos (they are the best for rain), rubbermaid containers to put everything in so it won't get wet, lots of bug spray, sun cream, and aloe vera, also duct tape, back packs, waterproof matches or a butane starter, hiking stick of you plan on doing much hiking. If you don't want to bring a cot maybe a Thermarest pad, they ARE comfortable. We put all our kitchen stuff like spices, dish soap, silverware, knives, etc. in a fishing tackle box so it's all together.
www.sierratradingpost.com is a place to find great deals on tents, thermarests, boots, etc.

 

[Buz]

Planogirl hit the nail on the head, if you are in pain or uncomfortable, camping will be miserable. There is lots of info available on the web.

http://gorp.com - Lots of destination and general information. They have a pack list link on the front page.

http://www.usscouts.org - Lots of scout related stuff, but camping, cooking and hiking information

http://www.campmor.com - Best deal I have found on equipment. They have almost everything you could ever want.

Buz

 

[jamsmom]

I am bad because I was thinking just a reservation at a Holiday Inn or someplace similar

 

[Meriweather]

I'm with you, jamsmom
A bed, indoor plumbing, maid service and air conditioning...........

 

[wdwnutze]

A piece of indoor/outdoor carpert to put right outside the tent to help keep the sand out of the tent.(No shoes allowed in the tent)!

 

[faith]

Hi Jenn Lynn. You mentioned having a 20 month old baby. Even in the summer time the nights or early mornings can be damp. An electric heater may come in handy to keep your little one well. There are many small, safe ones on the market that can be used in a tent. They have an automatic thermostat that will kick on and off at the temp you set. Just remember to read all the safety tips on the box. If you are camping at a regular park, most all have electric now. Just remember to take a long extension cord.

 

[hercamore]

My advice is to forget the tent. We bought a popup camperwhen were were first married and that was one of the best investments we've every made.

We have toured the country many, many times affordably and comfortably because of the camper.

No way, nhow tent with kids for me. I have seen too many miserable families in tents when it rains.

herc.

 

[wld]

We have a popup camper now but we camped for years in a tent with little ones and no problems. I loved my tent but DH (a non camper as a kid) always wanted a blow up mattress and it would go down in the middle of the night.......

Anyway on to suggestions. My favorite camping thing is my swinging grill. They used to cost about $20.00 and we use it all the time. Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, steak, you name it all you need is a fire.

My second favorite thing is the indoor/outdoor carpeting in front of your tent.

If you have to have the blow up mattress there are some cool ones on the market now that blow up in like 60 seconds. You don't have to buy the name brand expensive ones either. Better quality now too.

My DD's are 16 and 20 now and when we start talking favorite memories most are camping ones. Both of their earliest memories are when they were camping.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Thanks everyone! These are some great suggestions. We camped a lot as a family with a lagrge group of friends. Between all of the friends we had everything from campers and boats to 4-wheelers. It was great fun and a lot of memories.

Hercamore-A pop-up camper is not in the budget this year, but probably within the next couple of years it will be.

fklhou-that lantern sounds like a gadget my DH would love!

 

[bobcat]

We are still tent campers as my pop-up money keeps going towards WDW. LOL One thing that has many uses is duct tape. I also recomend an assortment of bungee cords. They can be used to fix a broken rain fly and we also use them to hang paper towels. Trash bags can come in handy in the rain. You can cover anything and not have to spend lots of time drying out. Extra tarps, nylon rope, small tool kit, and both plastic and metal tent stakes are also in our gear. I pack everything in rubbermaid containers - one for gear, one for food supplies. A dish pan/bucket for clean up or for when we camp in the state parks and have to carry water. For cooking I take heavy duty alluminum foil, pie irons, and iron skillet. And the most important....s'more supplies!

 

[Buz]

Originally posted by bobcat
For cooking I take heavy duty alluminum foil, pie irons, and iron skillet.

OK, what is a pie iron?

If you are carrying all this weight, get a good cast iron or aluminum dutch oven. You can roast, fry, bake, stew, braise, etc in it. I have even done pizza in a dutch. The secret to cleanup (at least for a cast iron one) is to use a tablespoon of salt and a tablespoon of oil. Rub it with a paper towel and it works like sandpaper and seasons the pan at the same time.

Buz

 

[house_of_princesses]

We don't tent, we have a travel trailer. My friends, however, always pack an extra tarp and string it up over the tent in case of rain. They also love the in/out carpet in front of the tent. One of the gals brings a whisk broom and sweeps her tent every morn. The rest of us chuckle. I think an outdoor kitchen would be great. There are many types to choose from. It's basically a fold up table that has a spot for food prep, storage and even a shelf to put a little grill. Some have a sink. I'm thinking of buying one, even with the trailer!

A good place for more info is right here, under the Camping at Fort Wilderness Thread!

 

[Baboo]

We tent camp and have 2 kids. I would recommend a dining shelter with removable sides. Ours has 2 screen sides and 2 plastic sides with windows. You can leave them off completely or put them up to keep bugs and wind out. We've even spent rainy days in ours, playing cards etc. If we're expecting really bad rain, we put a tarp over it because the seams aren't sealed on ours. It also provides good shade if you are in a really sunny spot.
We have a blow up double mattress for DH and I and the kids sleep on cots, but I'm thinking of getting blow-ups for them too.
I much prefer our new propane stove to our old naptha stove. It's so much easier to use--no pumping every time you want to use it.
I use a small covered Rubbermaid tote for doing dishes in, and I store all of our cleaning things in it. Food and some of the cooking gear go in a large one.
Buz-- a pie iron is one of those 2-piece cast aluminum things with the long handles. You put a piece of buttered bread on each side of it, and then add filling of your choice. Cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich, pie filling for dessert etc. You then hook it together and cook over the fire. The kids love using these and they work well.

 

[bananiem]

Pie irons- Make grilled cheese sandwkiches, little pizza calzones and pies for dessert! Yum!
Get good sleeping bags. We have mummy ones rated to 20 below and I still feel cold sometimes. Have mittens for Avery. We have a picture of our daughter at about 16 months of age wearing socks on her hands and eating pancakes for breakfast. Poor baby!
Get a Coleman stove. It's hard to cook over a campfire when it's pouring rain out. I like to have a screened in tent too for keeping little ones corralled sometimes and to keep flies and stuff away from food. We have an old cast iron griddle for the top of our stove so my dh makes pancakes, bacon, and eggs when we camp. It's virtually the only time we have bacon and eggs!
Have fun!

 

[bobcat]

Well you got your answer for the pie irons. Buy a good pair because they will get used a lot! Another thing I bring is an electric wok/electric skillet. I picked mine up at a garage sale for 50 cents and it works great when it's raining.