

You may also want to bring a tablecloth, both for practical purposes and to make your site feel homier.
Rei camping checklist for family portable#
Sometimes the picnic table isn’t ideally placed and too heavy to move, in which case a portable table is great because we can place it wherever is most convenient. We personally find that an extra camp table is nice to have even if there’s a picnic table at the site.

Rei camping checklist for family free#
Most developed campsites will provide a picnic table with benches, but if you plan on free camping or boondocking, you’ll likely need to bring your own. Whether it rocks, reclines, has a built-in cooler, or is perfectly set up for snuggling, a comfy camp chair is a must at any campsite! Nothing ruins an evening around the campfire like sitting on a sap-filled stump or lumpy rock.

If you want a bed-style air mattress, the Kingdom Insulated Air Bed provides 6 inches of padding for a comfy night’s sleep for two, or the ExPed Mega Mat Duo boasts an R-value of 10 if you frequently camp in colder conditions. It’s THE most comfortable sleeping pad we’ve tried so far, provides an R-6 insulation value, and is budget-friendly. Hands down, our favorite sleeping pad is the UST Fillmatic. You can choose between full, bed-style air mattresses, or individual inflated sleeping pads.

Take a moment to watch any videos of the set-up to make sure it’s fairly easy, with the caveat that bigger tents will almost always be more complicated to set up than smaller tents.Free-standing tents are generally easier to set up and if you need to reposition it, all you have to do is pick it up (instead of disassembling it and starting all over again!). This means you don’t have to stake anything out or use guylines (though these things do help in windy conditions). We HIGHLY recommend getting a free-standing for car camping.If you want extra interior space or room for bags, size up. Keep in mind that a 4 person tent will fit 4 people when their sleeping mattresses lay snugly next to each other-leaving little to no free space. Tent manufacturers tend to be a little optimistic about how many people will comfortably fit in their tents.Here are a few things to look out for when you’re buying a tent: While there are some alternative shelters like hammocks and bivvies, for the vast majority of recreational campers, a tent is by far the most practical option. ✔️ Camping Tentįirst things first: you’ll need a tent! A tent will protect you from wind, rain and morning dew, and insects. Forgetting one or both of these items has the potential to ruin your trip (which we know from experience!), so double-check your camping sleep system is in order before your trip. Know that a lot of items can be brought from home (bedding, kitchen equipment) and you don’t have to run out and buy everything brand new.Ī tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat together make up your sleep system. If you’re new to camping, we know this list might feel a bit overwhelming. One of the biggest improvements we have personally made is to start using our own checklist. It also provides a way to keep track of what you have already accounted for. Use a checklist! A checklist can jog your memory while you pack and help you remember things you might have overlooked.This way your bottle opener is never left behind in the kitchen drawer at home. Second-hand stores can be great for this. For small inexpensive items, consider buying a duplicate camping version for things like cooking utensils, can opener, silverware, etc.You don’t want to have to go hunting around the house/garage/shed to track everything down Friday afternoon. If space allows, store all your camping gear together in a dedicated area, or in storage bins like an Action Packer.
