Five Important (and Often Forgotten) Essentials for Every Camping Trip

Some camping essentials, like a headlamp or a water bottle, are obvious. But there’s a long list of items that often get overlooked until it’s too late – and it can happen to both beginner and seasoned campers.

Whether you’re headed for cold weather camping, a luxurious car camping trip (glamping) or a minimalist thru-hiking adventure, be sure to check out these surprising essential items:

First Aid Kit

Bringing a first aid kit might seem obvious, but because you don’t need it until you need it, it’s easily forgotten. A well-stocked kit can seem bulky, but it’s worth every ounce. If you’re camping with others, only one person needs to carry the full kit.

If anyone in your group has allergies, make sure to bring an EpiPen — and double-check its expiration date. The first aid kit is the most important part of your emergency kit, which should include a rescue blanket (space blanket), whistle, paracord (more on that below), and a small mirror for signaling rescuers. Other useful extras are spare fire starters, water purification tablets, and spare batteries.

Paracord

A super-strong nylon cord (like a parachute cord or climbing Prusik cord) is a camping staple that can be used as a clothesline or to extend tent guylines. In an emergency, it swiftly transforms into a tourniquet, or it can hold together a splint. Paracord is lightweight, compact, and incredibly versatile.

Duct Tape

Duct tape can fix just about anything: torn tent canvas, broken tent poles, a ripped jacket … the list goes on. For car camping, bring the whole roll. For a more minimalist backpacking setup, try the matchstick hack: wrap a section of duct tape around a matchstick, then unwind it as needed. (Duct tape sticks to itself but can be easily separated, if you don’t glue together two sticky sides.)

Baby Wipes

Available at any supermarket or pharmacy, moist baby wipes are a camping lifesaver, especially when you don’t have access to running water. Unlike specialized wipes for your hands or face, a simple pack of baby wipes can handle it all — cleaning up, freshening up, and more. Always opt for biodegradable, flushable ones without any chemical additives.

Trash Bag

Leave no trace and always bring a sturdy trash bag for your garbage. If you’re camping in areas without toilets, consider also carrying wag bags (human waste disposal bags) or a lightweight shovel. A camping trowel, which can be foldable and lightweight, is used to dig catholes where human waste can decompose without posing danger to the environment. This mode of disposal is accepted in most hiking and dispersed camping areas, but it’s not permitted in deserts and arid zones, or alpine zones above the treeline. 

Remember to always check the regulations before heading into a new area. They’ll tell you not only about the toilet facilities (or lack thereof), but also any other crucial information such as potable water access, making a fire, or leaving the trails, etc.

Peeing Container

This one’s often overlooked but super handy, especially for those who don’t sleep through the night without going to the bathroom. For cold weather camping, you often don’t want to leave the warmth of your shelter at night, so a sealable container — like a wide-neck bottle or a sturdy Tupperware — lets you go without stepping outside. A simple comfort that makes a big difference!