My no-frills camping essentials packing list

Camping has been a part of my life since…forever! How I camp has changed and evolved with me as my life has done so too. Starting off in a tent with my parents and brothers as wee little young-ins, until we upgraded to a caravan when we were toddlers (huge deal). To then be back in a tent on my own as a teenager, then finding love as an adult and upgrading to a rooftop tent on our 4WD with Sparry. These days, we find ourselves back where I started, in a tent with our own wee little young-in sharing with her, the same experience that my parents did with me. Serendipitous

I know camping isn’t for everyone and I totally get WHY it isn’t. I too, as self proclaimed camp-lover can totally find it tiresome at times. The pack up, the pack down, the endless dust, hard mattresses, un-predictable weather, the mozzies…the snakes…there’s lots to hate. But if you’re willing to overcome all of that for just a few days, it can be a magical and extremely restorative experience.

I’m going to walk you through our current camping set up, something I get asked about quite frequently, and also something that I am always working to improve, and simplify! Yes, I am a stylist, and yes I can easily get carried away with nice objects and ‘things’ that are aesthetically pleasing in day to day life BUT it might surprise you to know that when it comes to camping I have a weird aversion to designer camp-ware. It kind of annoys me. I refuse to spend $60 on a Snowpeak camping mug, despite it’s simple, beautiful design. I cannot bare the thought of spending hundreds of dollars on a canvas fold out camping chair for it to be covered in dust and dents within a moments of arriving at a campsite. I mean, if these items were gifted to me, I’d be stoked about it BUT I find it hard to pull the trigger on these things myself…It goes against everything camping should be…relaxed, messy and care free! We can’t be stressing about stains on our camp chairs and dents in our camp mugs. No way, no how.

I strive for a fuss and fancy free set up that isn’t afraid to get it’s fabric dirty. Something that can sit crammed in the back of a PACKED car while we hit a 4WD track and won’t mind scuffing up against the Eski as we hit the holes. I also strive to fit everything into/onto one car, without having to bring a trailer. Less is more, especially with a toddler who WILL take up at least 45% of the space for their things alone. So the key is… keep it simple, always opt to take less.

So here you go, my essential camping kit! This is not an exhaustive packing list, or a wish list. Instead it’s the key items that I actually find most useful. (although in some cases I have suggested alternatives in places where I feel like the product I use could be better) I’d hate to lead you astray.

1. For your next birthday, ask for a good Swiss army knife. You will have this forever. One that can open a bottle of wine, a can of corn, clip your nails, cut some rope or sharpen your marshmallow stick, like this guy.

2. I received this WHISTLY bag as a gift and have been LOVING IT! It has two pouches/sections on either side, one for your cleans, one for your dirties. A great place to sort out your socks and undies! Very clever!

   

3. I don’t actually own this 20L water storage container (yet) but I will own it in time for my next camping trip. I don’t know why, but up until now I have been buying boxed water from the supermarket to get me through. But I realise now how silly that is, and expensive, and by the end of the trip the box is always soggy and busted. This seems way smarter, and cheaper!

4. Okay so I bought these double-walled insulated camping mugs recently without thinking much of them and let me tell you - I LOVE THEM! I love the ‘vibe’ of an enamel mugs, especially when they’re all battered and bruised but every time I make a cuppa in them, I feel like I either singe my mouth with the heat, or leave it sit for 20 seconds longer than I should, and have a cold cup of tea…I am very pleased with these new mugs though, not only do the keep my cuppa warm (but not too warm) for longer and you can pass a cuppa to your significant other without burning your fingertips.