It never fails. During every camping trip there is ALWAYS something that I have to run back into the house to get after we’re ready to go. Here is my list of things that you might not think about but are SUPER handy when you go camping!
1. Pillows.
Honestly, I almost always forget these. We don’t really have room to store these in our pop-up so we just pull them off of our beds.
2. Camp Chairs.
Most camping sites have a picnic table but those bagged camp chairs are really useful for sitting around the fire, or at the beach, or at the parade or wherever else you might need a chair. Don’t forget them!
3. Bath robe.
Bath robes are useful when you have a baby and are using camp showers. Last year, I would shower with the baby & put on the bathrobe to hand her out to daddy (wrapped in a big towel/blanket, of course). Useful for the beach, too, if you don’t have a cover-up.
4. Matches/Lighter.
It’s really hard to light the propane, fire or gas stove without it. ‘Nuff said.
5. Can Opener
It’s also really hard to open the beans without one. I nearly always have something in a can at camp. And don’t settle for a crappy one because you use it twice a year — you will be swearing like a sailor both times ;).
6. Shower Shoes
Unless you have a rockin’ RV, you will probably be using the public showers. Shower shoes are essential to keeping foot fungi at bay. Have a pair for each family member, even the baby.
7. Tarps.
These are useful for all sorts of things. You can put them over top of your tent or camper if it leaks in the rain. You can carry things in it. You can sort things. You can make a clean(ish) kids play area for a non-mobile baby. Infinitely useful!
8. Flashlights.
Totally necessary for evening bathroom runs or finding things while kiddo’s (or parents) are sleeping without waking everyone up. I found some great small LED ones for $1.00 at the Home Depot last year.
9. Bug Spray
The only time you can camp without bugs is winter. Bring the bug spray.
10. First Aid Kit
No one wants to have sick kids (or adults) while on vacation. Keep a first aid kit with anything you might want if you got some sort of minor illness. I include things I don’t normally keep at home, in my camper, like antibiotic spray, alcohol, etc, since scrapes and cuts are more frequent and they are dirtier.
Most other things live in our camper.
Do you camp in a tent or an RV?
This post will be linked to Top 10 Tuesday at Many Little Blessings.
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