What do I need to take with me?

[Brandon]

Okay guys. As I have said in previous posts I am just getting back into camping. As of right now, I am hoping to be going camping fairly soon (going to Mark Twain National Forest in May). I am sitting here trying to put a list together of everything I absolutely need to take with me. Here is what I have so far. Anything you guys can add that I don't have would be great. The only thing I don't have on here is the basics--i.e. food and clothes.

Thanks!

Camping List:
1) Tent
2) Tarp
3) Mallet
4) Spare tent stakes
5) Sleeping pad
6) Sleeping bag
7) Extra blankets
8) Mallet
9) Knife
10) First aid kit
11) Rope
12) Flashlight
13) Extra batteries
14) Matches/lighter
15) Bug spray

[terasec]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

whats with the mallet?
if its for the stakes, use a rock.
with matches/lighter should have your firestarter, drier lint, cotton balls, etc, dipping them is a little wax helps
and dont forget your camera so we can see the pics

[tplife]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

Other than leaving one of you mallets at home, I'd recommend a Coleman, Century, or CampChef (yep, they even make a small one!) dual-burner stove with windguards on the side to shield it from the inevitable breezes. White gas is very inexpensive as a fuel, but beware the "small" model dual-burner Coleman had a top too small for a medium pot and a medium fry pan together, you'd have to go to the bigger 2-burner and for us it was wasted space, I stuck with my regular Coleman 2-burner propane. A plastic pan or bucket for a sink and some multi-purpose Camp Soap is really nice, my "pet peeve" is folks who do their dishes at the shared water faucet- makes a muddy mess and draws flies and my friends the Yellow Jackets (not a motorcycle club)!

[terasec]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

another thing,
you probably wont be spend all day at the campsite,
hiking the trails?
bring a good map of the area,
that nat forest looks like a big place to explore.
how far you will be hiking will determine additional gear, map/compass/gps,
day pack, hiking boots, etc..
for cooking, many times grills at campsites are rusted/grimy/etc..
bring a cooking surface, whether its a pan, or grills from your home bbq to put over the campsite grill, or aluminum foil
i wouldnt cook burgers and such directly on a campsite grill.

[naudan]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

Essentials: (IMO)

1. Tent
2. Sleeping Bag
3. Sleeping Pad
4. Pillow
5. Towel
6. Clothes
7. Sandles or Water Shoes
8. Fire starters (i use cotton balls dipped in wax, waterproof and DIY easy to make)
9. Knife
10. 550 paracord for rope
11. Cooking Device and Food
12. Headlamp
13. Campsuds Campsoap (To wash anything from dishes to your body)
14. Bugspray
15. Camp Chair
16. Beer

[renodesertfox]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

Brandon, post up a pic or two in the thread "What Are You Drivin" in the Photo Gallery section. That way everyone can see what you're drivin! Thanks for being a loyal Campateer!

[Bigdog57]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

Don't forget a camera to document your trip and save the memories! And a good map - it can either be a bad thing or an interesting adventure to get lost..... ;-)

[rajncajn]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

I just put together a family camping spreadsheet that I can post. It actually went through several mods and additions/subtractions over the course of about a month. My list is probably overkill if you're going by yourself, but it may also have some things on it that you might not have thought about.

[rajncajn]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

I tried attaching the spreadsheet itself, but I guess that is not allowed. So instead I'll just post my list. My intent is not to take everything on this list every time I go camping, but to have a list that I can use each time I go and never worry about forgetting anything, either when I'm prepping to go or when I'm packing to come back. What I'll do is just line through all the items that I don't plan on taking before I begin to pack. If anyone would like the actual spreadsheet with the meal planner as well then I can email it to you, Just PM me an email address. Or if there is a way to upload it that I haven't found then I'd be more than happy to. The site could even take ownership of it if they want.

ETA: I can't take complete credit for the spreadsheet either. While I did build it from scratch, I took most of the ideas from others posted online & conformed them to my needs.

Shelter
Tent
Ground Cloth / Tarp
Small Rope
Large Rope
Mallet
Floor Mats
Tent Fan
Tent Lantern
Small Table
Folding Canopy

Bedding
Air Mattress
Mattress Patch
Air Pump
Sleep Pads
Sleeping Bags
Blankets
Sheets
Pillows

Dog
Bed
Food
Treats/Bone
Bowls
Travel Bowl
Leash / Harness
Tie-off
Toy

Entertainment
Radio
Binoculars
Notepads
Pencil / Pen / Markers
Books
Games
Toss Game
Canoe
Paddles
Fishing Gear
Bird Book

First Aid
First Aid Kit, Sm / Lg
Sunscreen
Bug Repellant
Medications
Benadryl / Advil
Anti-Itch Cream
Nail Kit / Tweezers
Thermometer

Cooking
Lighters
Camp Stove
Propane
Firewood
Fire Starters
Marshmallow Sticks
Charcoal
Charcoal Starter
Grill Brush
Pots / Pans / Lids
Mixing Bowl
Measuring Cups
Cooking Utensils
Cutting Board
Kitchen Knife
Scissors
Can Opener
Storage Containers
Table Cloth / Clips
Plates / Bowls / Cups
Eating Utensils
Paper Towels
Coffee Mugs
Aluminum Foil
Food Covers
Ziploc Bags
Water Container
Water Bottles
Folding Table
Coffee Pot
Large Cooler
Small Cooler
Camp Grill

Cleanup
Tent Broom
Dustpan
Garbage Bags
Shopping Bags
Hand Sanitizer
Baby Wipes
Clorox Wipes
Dish Towels
Dish Soap
Scrub Pad
Wash Tub
Water Hose
Spray Nozzle
Rake
Personal
Bath Towels / Washcloths
Soap / Case
Shampoo / Conditioner
Shower Shoes
Tooth Brush / Toothpaste
Deodorant
Brush
Toilet Paper
Mirror
Sunglasses
Hats
Work Gloves

Gear
Mosquito Coils
Citronella Candles
Flyswatter
Camp Chairs
Hammock
Flashlights
Camera
Cell Phones
Cell Phone Chargers
Batteries
Power Cords
Camp Lanterns
Duct Tape
Bungee Cords
Clothes Pins
Saw / Machete
Multi-Tool
Shovel
Backpacks
Rain Gear
Whistles
Compass
Paracord

[tplife]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

Don't forget a camera to document your trip and save the memories! And a good map - it can either be a bad thing or an interesting adventure to get lost..... ;-)

Good grief yes, the camera should be very high on the list to capture memories! BTW, love the signature comments at the bottom...I'm forwarding it to my old boss (won the Nobel Prize in 2011 while I did his DNA sequencing) and his lab. They could probably use a good laugh on a Monday, thanks for sharing!

[renodesertfox]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

Leave the mallet at home and leave the rock where it lay. Take a claw hammer; the flattened end of the hammer to pound stakes in the ground and the claw end of the hammer to pull tent stakes out of the ground. If one tries to pull stakes, especially solid steel stakes 11" to 18" long with the tent fabric, serious damage to a tent will result. Even using hands might cause flesh to be torn so a hammer is the best bet when car camping.

You should also think about issues with your vehicle: spare tire, jack, safety flares.

A list is like the camping trip it's self: Every list is just practice till the next one visa vie every campout is just practice for the next one. Thanks for starting your list, don't worry mine covers the space of a basketball court, revisions are acceptable!

TP....everyone is entitled to their own opinion and no one should make fun of the other person if they choose to camp differently than you. Let's tone down the barbs towards one another. Enough said.

[sarahspins]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

Take a claw hammer; the flattened end of the hammer to pound stakes in the ground and the claw end of the hammer to pull tent stakes out of the ground.

I agree... we've always taken a "real" hammer with us and it makes pounding in and removing stakes very fast and easy.

[05Kingquad700]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

didn't know the claw hammer trick, but I will pick one up

[NYCgrrl]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

Thank youse for reminding me to get another mallet! Nope not taking a hammer cuz the old one has a loose head and the newer one doesn't want to be near the salt laden air of where I camp. Gonna squander some bucks and get another cheapo rubber mallet dedicated to living w/ the camping gear so I don't have to remember to remove it from the house tool chest. I'll keep the fairly useless plastic Coleman mallet for removing stakes:D.

[tplife]

Re: What do I need to take with me?

TP....everyone is entitled to their own opinion and no one should make fun of the other person if they choose to camp differently than you. Let's tone down the barbs towards one another. Enough said.

From the post above:
"Don't take my experience as fact! The Junk Science Theorist says I died of hypothermia years ago. :cool:"

RDF, That's a personal attack on me and I won't sit by and tolerate people calling the laws of science "Junk". I think anyone would react in the same way. If you think I should ignore comments like that please say so, it's your call, it's your forum and you make/interpret the rules.