13 Camping Gear Essentials (My Core Packing List)

In this video, I walk through 13 items (or categories of items) that I take on basically every tent camping trip I go on.
This list doesn't include food (which you'll obviously need) and there are several other things that you may want to bring on your own trips, that I personally consider to be optional.
I hope this will help you as a starting point for your own camping gear set-up, and if you have questions or want to share an additional item that you consider to be essential, feel free to let me know in the comments.
Hit like if something in this video resonates with you, and join me every Wednesday for new videos like this.
And here are the other videos/playlists I mentioned in the video:
Trash bag uses: • 8 Trash Bag Uses | Cam...
Weekend packing list: • What To Pack Camping (...
Layering clothes: • What To Wear Camping /...
Camping food playlist: • How to Make Hobo (Foil...

[@Zaku186]

Having a pillow your gramma made you is unexpectedly wholesome.

[@laurabrown8886]

I LOVE that you camp with your Grandma Made Pillow. That absolutely made me happy. Grandmas are so awesome👍

[@saetmusic]

TP is essential, but you also REALLY want to bring some wet wipes! Seriously! HUGE difference!

[@stephanieh5478]

Omg you’re so cute! The pillow made me go “awww”

[@wonton_sombrero]

I enjoy car camping with my wife. Over the years we learned how to make our lives easier when camping. One thing we learned was packing everything in extra large shoe boxes. Keeps everything organized and dry. 8 gallon boxes works well for clothing and toiletries.

[@carmenmartinez2882]

I like that you cover both backpacking and car camping. I car camp, too old to backpack and not too many reviews/videos for it. A little reminder that if you use a cot you still need a pad or you’ll freeze your little tail off. Hot lips! Greatest useful little invention.

[@littlecampfires]

Unless it’s hot at night, and then the cot is nice without the pad :)

[@carmenmartinez2882]

@@littlecampfires exactly, then I just put a piece of swimming noodle on the bars by my knees for cushioning, since I’m a side sleeper it kind of bothers me, this way I’m all good for the night. Getting my gear ready to camp and enjoy the super bloom, I’m in California.

[@TheIrishBosnian]

Good man fir mentioning the first aid kit. I watched a beginners essentials video yesterday, he completely neglected that. 😂

[@jakipramos]

I like how simple it is, nothing fancy. Great content! 😊

[@jeffreybrooks4061]

Excellent content. Great video for beginners and excellent checklist for campers in general👍

[@TheHyena-ru8bz]

Great video! Straight to the point and very helpful. Thanks

[@claraschronicles8428]

You are very down to earth and make great videos. I added so much to my list that I forgot , especially a spatula. I liked the video and can’t wait to go through all your playlists. Thanks a bunch from CA. 😊

[@user-mz6mt9ee6t]

You are very down to earth and make great videos. I added so much to my list that I forgot , especially a spatula. I liked the video and can’t wait to go through all your playlists. Thanks a bunch from CA.

[@maryg65]

Thank you for you videos. I found you about a week ago. I find them very helpful. And a pleasure to watch!

[@littlecampfires]

Glad you like them!

[@edydon]

Very helpful - keep up the great work!

[@penguinvic9892]

Great list, useful too. And nicely presented YT video. I’d add a 14th. A small bag of off grid things to amuse yourself if your car breaks down or your smart phone is out of range, broken or lost etc. When travelling I have a small shoulder bag that contains a small radio, a couple of paperbacks, a couple of battery operated handheld games (from the 90s) of the intellectual type, a pocket chess / checkers set with some printed games and puzzles, a notebook and pens, etc. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve been stranded (waiting for spare parts / floods / strikes / political unrest / even aircraft crashes * etc), in various forms of travel, and believe me, I’ve been glad I packed this stuff. * Fortunately not any I have been flying in.

[@penguinvic4188]

The old Nintendo DS with game cards like chess, solitaire, scrabble, 100 classic books, etc, with back up battery unit, isn’t a bad idea either. I recommend the XL for its bigger, wider screen. For real low tech, a pack of playing cards is not a bad idea, either.

[@rashellegallegos4335]

This was helpful. Thank you

[@ronaldrose7593]

Hello 👋 my outdoors friend, thank you for sharing this informative video. Stay safe out there. 😊

[@ItsLavis]

Been binge watching all your videos lately, super awesome tips! I cannot stress enough how easy it is to forget a spatula! I told myself well over 20 times for my first solo trip to pack one. Well I forgot, but I remembered on the way, and I picked one up at the dollar tree. 😂

[@littlecampfires]

That spatula will get you for sure. My last trip I somehow forgot to bring matches. Had to pick up a lighter at a gas station. It can happen to anyone. Welcome to the channel :)

[@AbellLincoln]

@@littlecampfires Good tips and reminders. I have a can opener in my glovebox now. Any suggestions on where or how to choose a campground?

[@rangatrips]

Nice one bru! Definitely dry bags... oh boy! Cant have enough dry bags!

[@Neilson-ve9si]

Thank you for your time sir

[@chrisgilmour7238]

Really helpful mate

[@jensbjorkqvist6634]

Dont forget a camping chair!

[@beaulieuc8910]

I have a toilet/camping chair, it has a hole in it, so does 2 things rather than taking a WC separately

[@beaulieuc8910]

You can also use a vacuum sealer and vacumn pack your food etc to safe space. You can also dehydrate vegetables and them pack them up

[@dianeschmiane]

I love how simple this is, and the baggies, LOL, it's like backpacking in a car... 😂

[@littlecampfires]

Yeah - I’m a backpacker too, hence the baggies :)

[@elliceackland4439]

Me and my partner George have just ordered our first tent and other camping essentials after binging your channel. I used to love camping as a child but haven’t been for almost 20 years. We’ve decided to get a little camping trip in next week before the good old English weather turns. Wish us luck 😅. P.S we would love for you to do some camping vlogs you seem like such a nice chap and we really enjoy your channel! Thank you for all the tips. X

[@littlecampfires]

Wow - thanks for commenting! This made my day. So glad I was able to help you get back into camping. Have an amazing trip!

[@user-ud1jh7ht9k]

Hey Jon its stanford from purdue! Recently I have decided to get into hiking and such so I have definitely rewatched some of your older stuff. Your videos are getting better for sure and I have been loving the content keep it up! I got an idea for a video, gathering info. I know it can be very depent on ur goals and such but sometimes get proper beta can be challenging. I recently found peakbaggers, fastestknowntime, 4000footers, mountainforecast, etc. to help gain info on my various hiking adventures. A video on your favorite resources, practices, or places to get beta would be nice.

[@BrandinskiJ]

Funny you said a sheet, literally a necessary item for me. I run hot and it’s a nice barrier to hot sleeping bags

[@maryg65]

Thanks!

[@ians474]

The like button turned white :( Jokes aside, great video mate! Clear and concise, no fuss, and I learned a lot. I aim to build up my camping gears and do lots of camping soon and this is really helpful. Thanks mate! All the best!

[@KCtheSUNSHINE]

As a mom I can't help but sober if you're hands are sunburnt. All your tips are spot on.

[@suspiciousninja1220]

drink some more

[@shaunbarnett2972]

Headlamps are great but you wanna have a super bright flashlight on hand as well, they do have their purposes.

[@shanibromage943]

The like button went white not blue 😱

[@leahholland6272]

You forgot the chocolate! Otherwise a great list

[@penguinvic9892]

People might laugh, but packing a little “comfort” food is probably a good idea. Especially if travelling solo and for some reason things are not going according to plan. Mars bars do it for me 😊.

[@rabiesratman1997]

Ngl, I think ESSENTIALS would be a tent, lighter and stuff to eat/drink.. While I think all this stuff is nice to have when your camping, I don’t think it’s essential lol

[@briangrimes473]

No chair?

[@AbellLincoln]

❤️🌈🙏🔥📡🎶🌎 ☀️BE GRATEFUL☀️

[@buzz5969]

If I had ALL THOSE ESSENTIALS why even go camping. Camping for me is roughing it getting out in nature with minimal gear.😊

[@beaulieuc8910]

Agreed, I don't even take a car

[@auzzy89]

I get where you are coming from. I would also agree, my wife would disagree with both of us. I think to each their own.

[@GerardoTostado]

@@beaulieuc8910same here. I’ve sold all my stuff and started my life fresh 7 times already. I’m only 32.

[@ryanbriones52]

Funny how you say this but you’re also watching this so you clearly are researching what you should bring

[@auzzy89]

Different people have different ideas. I'm not smart enough to think of everything so I'll use KZbin to do that for me.

[@user-fs6uv6hm5t]

Thanks but you keep doing Illuminati Hand signals. WE that love God and not Satan, got this. He WINS.

[@lShowSpeed]

wtf where

[@user-fs6uv6hm5t]

@@lShowSpeed Your diamond and 666 symbol .I took a SS but can't post it.

[@rashellegallegos4335]

Wtf? 😂

[@rabiesratman1997]

Please tell me this is a joke..?

[@californiadreamer5968]

Creators must love this type of comment. It makes people want to rewatch the video multiple times to see WTF you’re talking about! 🤣

[@jimrat92]

Hey Jon its stanford from purdue! Recently I have decided to get into hiking and such so I have definitely rewatched some of your older stuff. Your videos are getting better for sure and I have been loving the content keep it up! I got an idea for a video, gathering info. I know it can be very depent on ur goals and such but sometimes get proper beta can be challenging. I recently found peakbaggers, fastestknowntime, 4000footers, mountainforecast, etc. to help gain info on my various hiking adventures. A video on your favorite resources, practices, or places to get beta would be nice.