What to bring?

What to bring depends entirely on what you plan to do, where you plan to do it, and what you and your camping buddy already has. Rather than rattle off an extremely long and boring list, I'll just direct you to my favorite sites for newbies and my list of must haves,

REI Ten Essentials: REI is an outdoor store with a grate reputation for customer service and customer education. Their Ten Essentials list is considered one of the best guides by many outdoor enthusiasts.

Real Simple Camping Checklist: If you like organization or are craving an easy way to check off your items, this site might just be for you. Real Simple is a magazine that gears itself toward helping people put a little more calm and order into their hectic lives. However, some of these items may be best left at home, like the axe. Use your best judgement and ask REI if your not sure.

Backpacking 101 Gear Lists: Pick the list that matches your specific type of trip to see what is recommended. Choices range from day hiking, swamp, mountain, desert, snow, and paddling.

Check out this article from Today's Parents for kid friendly ideas.

And check out my How Much post for a few more links and tips as well.

KL's Essentials & Tips:

The items I forget and regret the most: a hat and rain jacket

1. First Aid Kit & Whistle
These items fall under my EMERGENCY category. Have you ever been lost in the woods? I have, while I was in a large group and a short distance from a house and even received directions from kind people, being turned around and uncertain is NOT a good feeling. Take a whistle. It will help people find you. If you have conditions like migraines, asthma, seizures, or diabetes don't forget your meds or supplies, even on the shortest of walks. 

2. Shelter

Remember this handy rule of thumb for survival

3 minutes without air

3 hours without shelter (think heatstroke and hypothermia conditions, sneaky life threatening illnesses that happen when you least expect)

3 days without water

3 weeks without food

Take an emergency blanket at the very least.

3. Water

I recommend Smart Water bottles. They don't crumple as easily as the eco-friendly brands so they keep their shape for multiple refills. They also fit a lot of the camping market's specialty products.

4. Food

Make sure to take some salty snacks and protein (nut, cheese, jerky, etc.) options.

5. Sleeping Gear

Inflatable mattresses, like the kind you use when your brother comes to visit and sleeps on the floor, are supper comfortable, but heavy and cold (very cold!). I use them when car camping but place a cheap ensolite pad between you and it. Easy to buy from you local Walmart or camping store.

6. Light

Take a head lamp or small flashlight. Double check that the batteries work. The first mistake that most new hikers and campers make is predicting how long it will take to get somewhere. Hiking out in the dark is not always recommended, but sometimes necessary. Walking to the bathroom at night is also necessary. Just saying, bring a light

7. Extra Clothing

Even if you just leave it in the car on a day hike, take this precaution. You would be surprised how little you'll use it until the one trip you fall into the mud and your friend says "Let's go to Cracker Barrel after the hike!"

8: Hair Brush/Hair Tie and Finger Nail Clippers

This is my personal extravagance, and if you have long hair I definitely recommend a brush and extra hair tie. Definitely.

9: Camping Entertainment

A must have if you have kids or plan to spend your whole day relaxing in your hammock or tent. My go to favorites are books, journals, cameras, and games. Size and type just depend on who I'm going with and what style of camping I'm doing.

10: A Map and an Exit Strategy

Plan for an emergency. I remember being sick as a dog on more than one trip. Whether you need to know where the nearest drug store is or the quickest route out of a primitive hike-in-site, these are definite must haves.