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Written by Daniel Walton  |  14th Apr 2026

The Camping Essentials Checklist (FREE PDF)

Blog The Camping Essentials Checklist (FREE PDF)
The Camping Essentials Checklist (FREE PDF)

Written by Daniel Walton on 14th Apr 2026

Tent setup with all the essential camping gear

We've been camping as a team for over thirteen years. Testing products, visiting campsites, and learning the hard way what happens when you forget the mallet. This checklist is everything we actually take, organised so you can work through it category by category and pack the car without the nagging feeling you've missed something.

The list covers tent camping at UK campsites. If you are campervanning, please feel free to bypass the shelter section, as you already have one.

Shelter and Sleep

Essentials

Tent (check all poles, pegs and guy lines are in the bag before you leave)
Groundsheet or footprint
Tent mallet / peg hammer
Spare pegs (you will lose at least two)
Sleeping bag -- 2-3 season for summer, 3-season for shoulder months
Sleeping mat or airbed (R-value 3+ for anything before June or after September)
Pillow (or stuff a fleece into a pillowcase)
Sleeping bag liner (adds 5-10°C of warmth on cold nights)

Worth adding

Blanko or extra blanket -- over the sleeping bag for warmth, or around camp in the evening
Tent carpet or rug for underfoot comfort
Hot water bottle
Camping Shelter with table included

"

I keep a separate bag in the garage with tent, pegs, mallet and groundsheet permanently packed together. That way I never turn up to a campsite and discover the pegs are still in the shed.

Holly -- OLPRO Team

Cooking and Eating

Essentials

Camping stove
Fuel (check levels before you leave -- running out mid-cook is miserable)
Lighter or matches (plus a backup -- always a backup)
Pots and pans (one large, one small handles most meals)
Kettle or pot for boiling water
Plates, bowls, mugs (one per person plus a spare)
Cutlery set
Sharp knife and chopping board
Coolbox and ice packs
Water container (5L or 10L collapsible)
Washing-up liquid, sponge, tea towel
Bin bags -- at least three (rubbish, recycling, wet clothes)

Worth adding

Bottle opener / corkscrew (the most forgotten item in camping, according to our customer service inbox)
Tin opener (if not on your multi-tool)
Cooking utensils -- spatula, tongs, serving spoon
Foil (for wrapping food on the fire or stove)
Coffee maker / cafetière (if mornings without coffee aren't an option)
Spice kit -- salt, pepper, oil in small containers
Camping table for food prep and eating

Clothing and Footwear

Essentials

Waterproof jacket (non-negotiable in the UK)
Fleece or insulated mid-layer
Base layers / thermals (at least one clean set for sleeping)
T-shirts / tops -- 2-3 is plenty
Trousers -- 1 walking pair, 1 spare
Warm hat and gloves (yes, even in summer -- October evenings don't care about the calendar)
Socks -- 3 pairs minimum, including warm ones for sleeping
Underwear -- 3 pairs minimum
Walking shoes or boots
Flip-flops or sandals (for the campsite and showers)

Worth adding

Waterproof trousers
Sun hat
Shorts (optimism is allowed)
Swimwear

Tools, Safety and Repairs

Essentials

Headtorch -- hands-free lighting is essential, one per person
Spare batteries
First aid kit (plasters, antiseptic, painkillers, antihistamines, tweezers)
Multi-tool or penknife
Duct tape (wrap a metre around your water bottle to save space -- fixes almost anything)
Cable ties -- a handful
Phone charger / power bank

Worth adding

Lantern or second light source for the tent / awning
Tent repair kit (if your tent came with one, throw it in the bag)
Small length of paracord or spare guy line
Mallet (if not already packed with the tent)

Personal and Hygiene

Essentials

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Soap / body wash (biodegradable if camping near water)
Deodorant
Towel -- quick-dry microfibre saves space and dries overnight
Toilet roll (even if the site has toilets -- the one time they run out will be your trip)
Sun cream (SPF 30+ minimum)
Insect repellent (essential for Scotland and anywhere near standing water)
Hand sanitiser
Any prescription medications
Contact lenses / glasses / spare pair

Worth adding

Wet wipes
Mirror
Lip balm with SPF
Dry shampoo (for longer trips)

Camp Comfort

Man sitting comfortable in a camping chair
Camping chairs -- one per person
Windbreak (makes a huge difference on exposed sites)
Picnic blanket or tarp for sitting on
Cards, board games, books
Bluetooth speaker (keep the volume respectful after 10pm)
Binoculars (surprisingly popular once people have them)
Notebook and pen (for the kids, or for you)

Camping With Kids

Essentials

Wellies -- one pair per child (mud is inevitable, not optional)
Extra clothes -- at least one full change per child per day, not per trip
Child-specific sun cream and insect repellent
Comfort items -- specific teddy, blanket, dummy -- do not forget these
Portable potty or travel toilet seat for younger children
Wet wipes in bulk (there will never be enough)

Worth adding

Glow sticks for the tent at night (stops them being scared, makes finding the zip easier)
Small rucksack each -- gives them ownership of their own kit and frees up your hands
Dedicated activity bag -- colouring, small games, a deck of cards
Extra snacks -- three times what you think, stored somewhere accessible from the car
Night light or small torch they can operate themselves
A bucket (for beaches, and for general digging -- they will dig regardless)

"

We always tell families to pack one more set of kids' clothes than they think they need. You'll use every pair. Possibly twice.

Daniel Walton -- Managing Director, OLPRO

Campervanning or Motorhome

Levelling ramps (most pitches aren't flat, and a sloped bed ruins sleep fast)
EHU hook-up cable -- check your site has electric hookup before you arrive
Water hose and adaptor (campsite connectors vary more than you'd think)
Water carrier for topping up between tap trips
Campervan or motorhome awning -- transforms your pitch into a proper living space
Gas supply check before leaving -- regulator, connections, enough bottles for the trip
Site booking confirmation and any membership cards (Caravan Club, C&CC)
Awning groundsheet and inner tent if sleeping extra people outside the van
Grey waste container if travelling to sites without full hook-up
Wheel chocks (caravan or larger motorhome)

What Not to Bring

Overpacking is as common as underpacking. Leave these behind:

 

Perfume, aftershave or scented body products. They attract wasps and midges. Stick to unscented toiletries at the campsite.

 

Glass bottles. Most campsites ban them, they're heavy, and broken glass on a campsite pitch is a nightmare. Decant into lighter storage containers.

 

Too many "just in case" clothes. You don't need seven outfits for a weekend. Two full changes of clothes plus a dedicated sleeping set covers a three-night trip.

 

Valuables you'd worry about. If losing it would ruin the trip, leave it at home. Camping should reduce stress, not create new sources of it.

 

A full-size pillow per person. Use a camping pillow, stuff a fleece into a sack, or bring one between two. Full pillows eat boot space.

Before You Leave Home

The five-minute check that saves the phone call to your neighbour:

Lock all doors and windows
Set the alarm (if you have one)
Empty or turn down the fridge
Put the bins out (if collection day falls during your trip)
Cancel any deliveries
Water the plants (or ask someone to)
Tell a friend or family member where you're going and when you'll be back
Check the weather forecast for your destination -- adjust your clothing list accordingly

FAQs

What's the most forgotten item when camping?

 
Based on what our customers tell us: a bottle opener, bin bags, and spare tent pegs. The bottle opener is consistently the thing people kick themselves about on the first evening. A multi-tool with a bottle opener solves it permanently.

What do I need for camping as a complete beginner?

 

How do I pack for camping with kids?

 

What camping gear is worth investing in?

 

Can I use this checklist for campervan or caravan trips?

 
!