If there’s one thing I hate about camping, it’s packing. If there’s one thing I hate more than packing…yep, you guessed it, unpacking! Because of this, I have tried over the years to master the art of packing as efficiently and quickly as possible. But let’s face it, we like to go live out in the woods, but we also want all the comforts of home. So how do you decide what to bring? And is there a way to streamline this process?
Well, let me share some of my packing tips and tricks and see if it helps you become a packing ninja too!
3 Tips
First we will start with some things to think about before you even start packing. This is the stuff that you might already be good at, or maybe it’s something you think about after you’ve started. Either way, your best packing practices depends on these 3 things:
- Length of stay
- Weather
- Type of site/camping style
Length of Stay
Is this a quick weekend getaway or a 2 week, I-need-a-break-from-the-world kind of trip? We will obviously approach packing differently between the short and long trips.
Short Trip
Pack less! I know that’s obvious, but really it’s harder to do than we would like. So my suggestion here is just keep reminding yourself, it’s only a weekend and I really won’t need that waffle maker. Keep it to the basics, only pack what you feel like you will really need. Because remember, whatever you take, you will have to unload and put away or wash when you get back!
Long Trip
Ok, this one is obviously more complicated and requires you to think ahead quite a bit more. You will need to plan for the “what ifs” and have an idea of the types of things you will be doing while you’re in the great outdoors. Are you going zip-lining? Spelunking? Sasquatch tracking? Try to think through what activities you’ll probably be doing because you will want to make sure you are prepared adequately.
Also, are there things that you just can’t live without for 2 or more weeks? Maybe you really will go through waffle withdrawal, so that might be something you pack on this trip versus the shorter one.
Weather
This tip is kind of obvious, but sometimes we don’t think to check the weather before we leave and just kind of assume we can pack for anything. But really, pull out that weather app and look ahead. This will help you from over-packing if it really isn’t going to get super cold, or there’s going to be a heat wave and you need to pack tank tops instead of long sleeves. Just don’t skip this step.
Type of Site/Camping Style
Usually when we book our camping site we go for the electric sites first. Sometimes we book a Yurt or stay in a cabin. This drastically changes what I pack. Or maybe you’re bringing the RV and don’t need to think about tent stakes and rain flies. If I’m not at an electric site I have to rethink my entire plan of attack. So all that to say, knowing what type of site you’ll be at will help you be the most prepped for packing.
Will you be grilling? Do you have access to a stove? Is there a bath house close by? Or are you going rugged? Will there be running water at your site? These are all necessary questions to ask yourself before you start packing.
3 Tricks
On to the tricks of the trade! So we’ve thought through how long we’re staying, what the weather’s going to be and what type of camping we’ll be doing. Now what? This next section will cover my go to, time-saving tricks that never fail me. They are:
- Meal Plan
- Packing list
- Camping Bins
Meal Plan
While this might seem like something that just takes up extra time, it’s actually quite the opposite. Not to mention it also helps prevent forgetting all kinds of things. So I keep a Word doc saved on my computer that has days of the week and underneath I have a section for each meal. Each time we go camping, I simply pull up the document and look over it to see if I want to make any changes, need to add or take away any days and otherwise just use the same meal plan over and over.
So here’s a quick example of what my meal plan looks like:
Monday
- Breakfast – hashbrowns, eggs, bacon, OJ
- Lunch – Tuna salad, fruit, chips
- Dinner – Hot dogs, broccoli foil packets, baked beans
Once I’ve planned out my meals, it’s so much easier to do my grocery shopping and also know exactly what I need to pack from my kitchen. I usually have a snack list too for just when we’re chilling and want to munch on things. If you help getting started click here for some easy camping meal ideas.
The other thing I will do with my meal plan is decide how we are cooking or preparing the meals. This helps me decide what utensils, pans, appliances, etc. I will need/use.
Packing List
Similar to the meal plan, I also keep a Word doc saved with our camping packing list. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel every time you go. My list is probably at least 5 years old and whenever I open it I will quickly look it over and just make sure I don’t need to add anything. I don’t usually take things off the list, even if I don’t need them for this specific trip, because I might need it next time. I just print out my list and first cross off the things I know I won’t need.
Here’s a really great ready-made, general packing list you could start with if you don’t already have one: http://www.packinglistplace.com/campinglistpdf I like this one because it has everything sectioned out. This is really helpful and makes things go quicker because it’s compartmentalized for you. Much easier than just walking around the house trying to think of everything at once.
So because I have my meal plan already, I will just cross-reference between the two lists and make sure I add things that are specific for those meals. And obviously you will make changes to your list based on the 3 tips we talked about earlier.
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Camping Bins
This last trick is probably my favorite. Years ago I decided to buy a few of those 15-gallon bins specifically for camping. This has made all the difference in packing for me. What goes in those bins generally stays there and I do not unpack these when we get home. It’s all the things you pretty much need for every trip, no matter the length, type or weather.
Here are some things I always keep in my bins and never have to worry about packing for each trip. I just grab the bins and load them in the truck!
| Sunscreen | Bug Spray | Wipes | Paper towels |
| Can opener | Paper plates | Plastic utensils | Batteries |
| Trash bags | First Aid Kit | Dish soap | Skewers |
| Dust pan/brush | Grill utensils | Lighter fluid | Picnic tablecloth |
| Toilet Paper | Flashlights | Mallet/hammer | Rope |
Some of these things you have to replenish, but the idea is that you have a set of all these things that just lives in the bins. You might find that there is more stuff that you use consistently that could live in the bins to save you time. Maybe you have a little propane stove you love, or a coffee percolator. So just pay attention to the stuff you feel like you pack regularly and maybe that’s something you could actually keep in a bin and not have to think about next time.
Wrap Up
I hate that feeling that I’m forgetting something, especially when we’re going camping. I always act like we’re leaving all civilization and will have no access to a gas station or stores of any type. Usually this is just not true. If anything it’s just slightly inconvenient to have to drive to find the nearest place. So if you do forget something, it’s not an apocalypse drill. You can just pull out that handy GPS or maybe the campground store has you covered.
However these tips and tricks have yet to fail me. I rarely get to our site and realize I forgot stuff. I think with experience too, you just get into a groove and know what you like to have with you in the wilderness. So be sure to keep the length of your trip, the weather and the type of camping you’re doing in mind before you make your meal plan and your packing list. And then just try to stock up your bins to make it easier on yourself next time.
For more tips check out this list of over 100 tips and tricks
Now as far as the unpacking goes…don’t ask. That’s just not fun no matter who you are!
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