This is a great question, and I’ll go over the list below. But this question really deserves to ask the question of the type of camping you are going to do. If you are camping out of a car, bring all the creature comforts. If you are doing a hike through, you may want to minimize what you bring to make the hike a bit easier.
Let’s look at the key requirements for survival.
- Water
- Shelter
- Fire
- Food
- Tools
Here is a list of things you absolutely need for each of those categories.
Water
- Water filter
- Pot to boil water
- Container to carry water (or bring gallons of water)
Shelter
- Tent
- Tent footprint or tarp
- Rainfly
- Stakes
- Guy lines
- Sleeping pad
- Sleeping bag
- Clothing (think layering)
- Extra socks and underwear
Fire
- Lighter
- Firestarter
- Tinder
Food
- Camping food that just requires hot water
- Snacks and bars
- Jerky
- Can or two of chili
- Utensils (I use a spork)
- Plate (I have used a flat stone)
Tools
- First aid kit
- GPS device (preferably with Satellite messaging)
- Compass and map of the area
- Knife – full tang
- Knife – multitool
- Axe
- Mallet for tent stakes
- Bail pot handle hook
- Shovel to dig for catholes (for pooping)
- Soap
- Can opener
- Flashlight, headlamp
- Radio (at minimum an emergency radio with NOAA channels, preferably HAM or GMRS)
- Whistle
- Paracord
- Duct tape
- Towels
- Toilet paper (in Zip Lock bag)
- Cell phone
- Battery bank with appropriate charging cables
- Small solar panel
- Backpack to store all of this
Some creature comfort items are listed below. I am sure there are more, but I rarely bring any of these items except maybe a few.
- Hammock
- Camping chair
- Cooking utensils
- Camp kitchen
- Camping table
- Pillow (you can roll some clothes for a pillow)
- Fresh food
- Base camp lights (my emergency radio also serves as a base camp light)
- Speakers (my emergency radio also serves as Bluetooth speakers)
- Large power bank
- Large solar panel
- Outdoor shower
- Long skewers (Smores anyone?)
