Camping Must Haves
My husband and I started tent camping when we first started dating. Not long into it, I realized I wanted a cute little camper that we could travel the country with. It's crazy to think it's been about 8 years since that all started! I have learned a TON since I first started.
I have created a list of all the things I must have when camping. Expert advice: leave as much as you can in your camper. If you don't have a camper, buy a plastic tote or something you can put all your camping gear in. Camping shouldn't be stressful. Doing little things like keeping all your gear together will save you some stress and time!
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MY CAMPING MUST HAVES
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BLACKSTONE GRILL
My parents got us a Blackstone grill about 4 years ago, and let me just say.. GAME CHANGER. It is so easy and so convenient. I love cooking over the fire, but sometimes, especially in the morning, you just don't usually have time to wait for the fire to heat up and get to the most perfect temperature. The Blackstone has helped me out tremendously and has made cooking while camping less stressful.
We have the 17" tabletop Blackstone, which is perfect for the two of us. Even if we had a couple kids, I don't see us needing to upgrade. I love the tabletop Blackstone because we can easily store it away in the camper when we are done, and get it out and set it on the table when we need it. They only make the 17" and the 22" in tabletop versions, which I linked below.
Since we keep the Blackstone in the camper, we bought a cover for it because let's be real here, it gets greasy. The cover is extremely easy to get on and off the grill. I actually have some space in there to keep a few extra things in there as well.
To use the Blackstone, you just need propane. I use a propane adapter since I have a propane line on my camper. However, you can also use propane tanks which you can buy anywhere! I linked both options below.
A couple things that I always use while using the Blackstone are the plastic squeeze bottles and the extra long spatulas. The squeeze bottles are great for filling with oil and just leaving with your camping gear. You never have to worry about brining oil that way. The extra long spatulas are so useful for your basic grilling needs. I also keep this with all of my camping gear. The less you have to remember to bring, the better!
CAST IRONS
Cast irons are essential for my camping trips. Cooking over the fire with them really enhances the experience for me.
TABLE
Most campsites have a picnic table, but the more places you can set things the better! I love to bring a little table to set the black stone and coffee maker on. It makes me feel slightly more organized. Sometimes organization goes out the window when you go camping, so any little thing helps!
The one I have is from my grandma. She passed it down to me when she was downsizing. I don't see one like this, but I linked a similar one with great reviews!
CAMERA
The camera's easy-to-use design and high-quality features make it the perfect choice for both photography and videography beginners. I personally found it to be a great investment after hours of researching beginner-friendly options.
LIGHTING
Somethings you just learn the hard way. The first time you go camping, it's hard to think about all the little things you need. Well, lighting was one of them. After dark in the campgrounds, well, it gets dark. It's a glorious thing, I am not complaining! But, be sure you have what you need to see! My parents got us this a few years ago and it is AMAZING. We have one of these and it serves its purpose well. We use it all the time.
CUPS
As people who drink coffee until early afternoon, our Yeti tumblers have been a game changer for us in keeping our coffee hot all day long.
CHAIRS
Being comfortable while you're camping is so important. Who wants to be sitting by the campfire in the most uncomfortable chair in the world? These two chairs are our FAVORITE. I use the freestlye, and my husband uses the roadtrip. Maybe because he is 6'5 it fits him better? Either way, you can't go wrong with these. They are well worth the investment.
COOLERS
Coolers are very important. When we went tent camping, I usually packed two: one for food and one for drinks. Since we got a camper, I usually just pack a big cooler for drinks and then put all the food in the refrigerator.
This is the big cooler we use for drinks. It works well and hold ice for a weekend trip.
I like to bring this cooler if we are going somewhere that has a beach area!
BIKE LOCKS
This is something I would definitely forget every single time if it wasn't for it being attached to my bike. You run into the nicest people while camping, and we've never had an issue. I just like the sense of security of locking up my valuables! You just never know. I like this one because you don't have to worry about a key.
CANOPY
I don't bring this every time, just because our camper has an awning and that does the job most of the time. However, if we are going on a long trip, this is very helpful! Putting your stuff under a canopy overnight helps protect your things. Also, if you're tent camping, it's nice to feel like you have more space to spread out!
SHOE MAT/ RUG
This is one I learned the hard way on. You are constantly going in and out of the tent or camper and you would be surprised by how much you track in each time. I got sick of feeling like all I was doing while camping is cleaning! We have multiple rugs and mat and it's made a big difference!
