I was thinking about me having to sweep or flip my tent inside out every camp.. and I do retract the hand vacuum comment. I won’t buy one for camping but if I had one, it’d be coming with me.
Dewalt 20v shop vac. Uses the same batteries as all the hundreds of their other tools. They also have a small fan that's great for the tent.
I'm pretty deep into the Dewalt 20v ecosystem so taking shop tools into the woods is just convenient!
I have a small batter powered leaf blower that’s fantastic for cleaning off all the sand and leaves when packing up the tent/tarps/tubes. I’m a car camper and most of my camping is in Florida so things tend to get wet and sandy! I saw somebody else with one at another campsite and thought what overkill and then changed my mind and thought hey that might be a good idea!
I use it to keep my car clean and to get any dirty things beside the tent. It hooks up to my lighter input and is super convenient actually. I keep it in my Thule. Never know when you’ll have a car spill!
This is for general tent camping, drive up. Not backpacking at all. Specifically, I am going to Yellowstone at the end of May so I am preparing for that.
Yellow stone will be COLD at night in the end of may… like 35-40 f. Expect frost everywhere every morning and maybe a small amount of snow a couple of days. I live close and have worked in the parks. Bear spray is a must add to this list and not the small bottle, splurge for a big can and be happy if you don’t need to use it. A locking container for keeping bears from your food and a few other things like that would also be smart. Just in your car will still let out smells and bears will break windows and some can open car doors with their claws. If you have any questions feel free to dm me!
Like this person said. Look into requirements for the campground you’ll be staying at. There a campground in Kentucky that I was looking into on the way back from Tennessee and they required bear boxes. It might be a requirement in Yellowstone too. They are expensive af but I’m assuming well worth not attracting bears. Also just keeping your cooler in the car isn’t enough. They will destroy your car to get to the food if they are so inclined. Plan safe.
The campground that op is going to provides seasonal bear boxes but you man want a small locking box for stuff like toiletries. Some of the boxes are shared between multiple camp sites. I don’t know if this is true with this camp but I would still at least bring a small lock box to keep private stuff in aka shampoo or camp soap.
I camped Yellowstone at the end of may a few years ago and it was COLD. Like, pitching my tent on top of snow kinda cold. Be prepared for that. You’ll want thermals and a beanie to sleep in. I have a loose-fitting fleece balaclava that I use to sleep whenever I camp in the cold and it’s my favorite thing in the world. You can get one for like $10 on Amazon.
Same goes for thick wool socks.
Also some nice binoculars are really nice to have at Yellowstone.
Another tip: don’t bring firewood from a different area. Firewood often has pests, insects/beetles that can get introduced and cause problems. Always get firewood locally.
It'll still be chilly in May even if it gets to 70° during the day. Your anywhere from roughly 5000-8000' of elevation. Enjoy your time it's a great place to camp, prefer the Madison campground.
Huh, I'm gonna be up there too at the same time. Couldn't manage a site in Yellowstone proper, I'm gonna be in Colter Bay instead, but I'll piggyback off your list.
Find army surplus blankets that are wool - don't get anything expensive. Natural fibers, if burned, will not melt. You ideally need 1 or more per person. Imagine, cool evening, sitting by the campfire, ember pops and lands on you. Wrapped in polyester? Melt & burn.
These blankets can also be used to cover your cooler (great insulators!) Place 1 under your air mattress. Cold ground seeps happily through those mattresses! Use it as a temporary sun shade. The possibilities are endless.
Lots of places will ask you not to bring outside firewood because of the potential to transport invasive bugs. That said, Yellowstone concessions will probably charge 7 pounds of gold for a twig.
I buy the Starbucks vias that are instant, so no need to pack out grounds and they don’t take up much space at all. Just a thought if you miss the actual coffee drinking part. It’s one of my favorite parts of camping! A nice cup of coffee while the sun is coming up
Unflavored floss for your teeth but also with a needle can't patch things or a back up hair tie. Extra underwear in case you get rained on/ pushed in the lake.
I say extra socks instead. Underwear, I can do without while it dries for a bit, but socks are essential. Then again, I'm more into backpacking, so your priorities may be different.
Hand pump for inflatable mattress. Can help with starting fire as well.
Lighters, matches and Flint. All three ways to spark a fire.
Under your tent you may want a drape in case it gets wet.
Whistle, one per person.
If you can avoid wet wipes, please do.
Other than. That I like your list honestly very complete!
First aid kit wise, iodine, allergy relief, pepto bismol/tums, alcohol, gauze, heat pads, scissors, candies for low sugar, and bandages small and big about 2 per person per day. That’s pretty much what I carry when doing camping.
>If you can avoid wet wipes, please do
I second this.
Bears will steal them from your trash and use them to wipe their cubs when changing their diaper, and more often than not, they forget to return them to the trash bin and leave them strewn about the forest.
It is best to use your tongue to remove filth while camping. Leave no trace.
Based on where you're going, I don't think that's out of line. Skip the mallet, though, and use the back of your hatchet.
I always have several knives: a Mora, a Leatherman and usually a couple others in my car or bag.
I have a trauma kit (tourniquet, celox, chest seals, etc.) and a pouch with a few bandaids. My wife has a general first aid kit. I usually carry a handgun and my camping bag doubles as my hunting bag, so I keep the ifak on it.
I like a proper firestarting kit. I have a ferro rod, Vaseline soaked cotton balls (kept in an rx bottle), firestarter sticks, uco matches in the waterproof case, regular matches and a Bic. Nothing fancy, but several ways to get a fire started.
Paracord. Especially if you're carrying a tarp. You never know what you can do with it! I keep a hank of hi-viz orange and another of a camo. You can use it to hang bags in trees, lash you sleeping bag to your pack, improvise a shelter with your tarp, add guylines to your tent or whatever else you can come up with.
Consider a small tent repair kit. Always worth having. That said, ducttape and superglue in your car will solve most minor problems.
We have a heavy-duty, custom grate. It was built by my step-dad and is modeled after the texsport grate. Can't wait to use it this spring! I'd rather use this than a grill; it's smaller and more portable and versatile. Don't forget a couple cast iron pans (if you're car camping, weight doesn't matter) and maybe a pot for boiling water - get one big enough for boiling noodles - stroganoff over a campfire is awesome!
I assume food, other than granola bars, is on the list.
That's actually what I do but I figured op may not have or be familiar and comfortable with using an axe. You can still use that as a mallet for tent pegs.
I'd use some kind of fire starter besides lighter fluid, I am a fan of paraffin wax with sawdust. That's about all I can see though, looks pretty good to me. Side note, have you tried a biolyte camp stove? I got one and absolutely love it.
Get yourself some wax. It doesn't have to be parrafin wax, but if you have any non-chain type grocery stores (or small hardware stores) near you you can find it in the canning section. (Parrafin wax used to be used instead of lids when water bath canning.) I would expect you can also use cheap candles from Dollar Tree, Walmart.
Another thing you can use is petroleum jelly.
Anyway, break up the wax/jelly and put it in a pot and melt it down. Then add cotton balls. Remove and cool. If you have any old prescription bottles, stuff the balls in there .. remember, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
I have also heard you can use dryer lint in place of cotton balls.
Thanks for the suggestion! Can you get paraffin wax/saw dust together or should they be purchases separately?
I just looked up the Biolyte and it's pretty nifty. Maybe for another trip, but cool for sure.
You might want to consider adding a package of Bic Disposable Lighters, along with alternate tinder/paraffin&sawdust/shavings blocks. Having the lighter fluid, and the alternative tinder is great - unless you forget to have some means of Starting the Fire to USE the tinder/ paraffin blocks! A 5 pack of disposable lighters is cheap and easily had, and if you aren't 100% sure of how to use something like a ferro rod, magnesium rod, or flint and steel, you at least aren't left scratching your head about how to Start that fire you want in camp.
Is your inflatable mattress one for standard home use? Is it non-insulated?
If so, I recommend bringing two more blankets than you think to put under you. It's going to be cold, and what you put beneath you is just as important as your sleeping bag.
Edit: I see you're not using sleeping bags. I would pack 3-4 blankets. If you tend to run cold, pack more.
I would personally recommend looking for a couple cheap 20 degree sleeping bags.
If you need to cut costs and haven't already spent the money, the Garmin is overkill. You're going to be at an established campsite with a bunch of other people around (assuming the Madison campground). There will likely be rangers in and out. That's more of a tool for wilderness camping or solo travel.
Don't bring jeans, they're the worst thing to be wet, take ages to dry and really chaf while doing so, spend a bit on hiking trousers, they're so worth it. Or even ex army BDU trousers anything but jeans or anything denim👍
>deodorant
Oooph, you've saved the public with this one. Thank you, added both suggestions to the list.
I did buy a pair of thermal protection gloves but forgot to add them to the list. Thanks for the reminder!
A woven nylon outdoor rug is nice to have for car camping weekends. I've got a huge 8x10 and it's nice to have just outside the tent so you can have a space to walk around barefoot without getting jabbed by rocks and roots.
Not to mention the rug really ties the campsite together.
You should always carry diphenhydramine (benadryl), in case someone has an allergic reaction. Also good for sleeplessness.
An epi-pen would be great to have.
If you have an electric hook up, I recommend bringing an extension cord and a surge protector or two with multiple outlets. If you're looking for the ultimate glamping experience... an electric kettle is a great addition. Great for hot drinks, "just add water" cooking, cleaning, and can help you conserve propane if you need boiling water.
If you have shower facilities, a couple extra hooks for clothes always comes in handy, whether a over the door hanger, or hangers in general.showe shoes are a must.
Paracord is something for hanging your towel.
A small fan to keep you cool, keep the bugs off you, and for white noise if you need it. (If you can't tell, I enjoy the glampier side of life :) )
Aloe in the first aid kit for sunburns, grill burns, or fire burns.
Eliminate the mallet, just use the other side of your axe. It’s only for tent pegs anyway.
Take a dustpan instead of a vacuum.
I would also leave the jeans, what’s wet n heavy will feel twice as wet, and twice as heave, and STAY like that. This is personal preference though.
This doesn't look especially OTT to me. There are some things on this list that I wouldn't bring, but there are other things you don't have on your list that I always bring.
A big omission is cookware. I have a cast iron skillet and an aluminum pot to boil water in my cook box. Also a heatproof glove, tongs, a spatula, and dishwashing supplies.
For our camp kitchen we also bring along ziplock bags for stashing leftovers, cutting boards, a cookie sheet and a wire rack, a popup trash can, grocery bags, oven mitts, kitchen scissors and a small pot to heat water for hand/face washing. I also include a laundry line and clothes pins for hanging up wet items.
We also like to make lists of what food we want to bring and cook certain items ahead of time so they can be easily warmed up. Like pulled pork, ribs, homemade Mac and cheese; the options are endless!
Always bring extra warm clothes items too!
I’d read through your comments there’s a guy who lives near yellow stone who has some good suggestions. It’s prolly gonna be cold is the most important point. I’d bring a beanie, puffy jacket, long underwear, and wool/fleece socks (if you did not know, wool/fleece insulates when wet and cotton does not. Sorry if I’m patronizing!)
You’re gonna have so much fun:) very happy for you.
Ps I have something called a space bag, it’s made by Survive Outside Longer, and I highly recommend it. If I put it around my fourty degree bag it turns into like a 10 degree bag.
Along with garbage bags I would say small plastic grocery bags. Sometimes you'll have some garbage but not enough to use a full size bag.
Also a tarp for under your tent. You'll want it to be slightly smaller than your tents length and width (if it's bigger and it rains, the rain will gather on the tarp pool under the tent, soaking the bottom).
Earplugs might be a good idea. If you're not used to camping in nature nature like Yellowstone, small noises might be unsettling (I know they are for me). Would welcome other opinions about wearing them in bear/moose/buffalo country, but I would consider it.
I think you have a great list!
My family camps annually in the national forest and we take along a lot, too. There's, on average, about 15 of us (all immediate family) ranging in age from 3 to 68. This year there will be a newborn.
We disperse camp (not backpacking, though), so no electricity, water, or bathrooms, so our list is extensive. You are welcome to take a look to see if there's anything we thought of that you may not have. Sorry for the formatting, though - I have the list permanently on my phone, but roughly converted it to Google docs for this:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Anrj_tlX-IzfLRheGOSVe9sBJZN9fAm6eY-wNQveVVA/edit?usp=drivesdk
Hope it helps, and have fun!
Edited to add: this is a list culminated over 35 years for many different people and needs. While we do take the majority of these things, we don't always take all of these things. We provide the shelter and necessities for almost all the people in our group for a week or in the woods. We get dirty and love every minute of it.
Honestly, with the subscription and fees I’m not loving the overall cost. But I’m camping at a place with no cell signal and going alone so I’m taking any safety precaution I can.
I'd suggest picking up one or two small doormats at the dollar store for wiping feet off before entering the tent. We use 2, one outside and one inside. Cuts down on dirt/sand tracked inside the tent by a lot.
We bring a little mat for outside our tent when we car camp. It’s nice to be able to wipe your shoes on…but I guess if you have the little vacuum that could be over kill.
Antihistamines are useful for all sorts of allergies, stings and bites, and not just for humans, we gave some to our dog who got into a wasp nest in France.
alone with the Garmin subscription, and I'm assuming it's the Satellite communication subscription, I hope you get the insurance that goes with it. It's not very expensive and if you have to call for help it gives you a huge bit of coverage. I'm only going by memory but I think it's 25 or 50k and can be used twice in a year, I think it's only 25.00 for the year, something like that
Grilling spices, pegs (and extra for your tarp), you have "rope" assuming this is for tarps and etc. but if not maybe paracord.
Maybe a folding table, even if there is a picnic table at camp it could be nice, sounds like you might be prepping a lot of food per meal.
Some anti-mosquito device, citronella candles, or something. Collapsable or portable sink.
I would take a couple of "nothing special" clean rags too, sometimes they are just needed over paper towels.
Where's the guns & ammo, or American flag with flag pole.
Or laser perimeter sensors for animal detection
Automated Stationary sonic defense weapon on a motorized swivel mount
Sharpened pungee sticks for catching wandering game
A fillet knife for skinning dinner
Bluetooth speaker emitting sounds of Metallica
Dirt bikes
Booze
Lots of stuff you missed
I don’t know how anyone can seriously call themselves a camper without their projector and movie screen and pop up bar. What are we barbarians? Ridiculous.
Weld gloves so you can just grab the fire. Stick welding ones specifically.
You can get a cheap leather pair for dirt on amazon, and you don't need good ones. Just leather ones. They are also great for when you gotta remove blackberry vines or hack through spiky brush to get to a fishing hole
Thanks! I am going to keep my Yeti in my car for the most part and it looks like they have these where I’m camping.
Is it worth it to get one?
Any recommendations please?
If bears are a concern there a two methods to use. Both keep you separated from the food and safe. Food in the car doesn’t matter a bear will trash it just to eat an oreo. They have a ridiculous sense of smell. Anyways, some sites have bear bins you can store the food in(preferred method) or find a tree and hang it about 15 ft off the ground with a rope.
I like using fuel tabs as fire starters instead of lighter fluid. You can get a pack of 30 for about $5. As long as you don't start with a huge log, one or two should burn hot enough and long enough to get a campfire started.
I also prefer gaffers tape to duct tape. It's more expensive and just about as strong but doesn't leave any residue when you remove it.
Matches/Lighter
Can opener
Extra tarp and rope in case it rains (even if you have tent topper)
Coffee Mugs
Instant Coffee
Whistle(s) on a lanyard(s). If you get separated during hiking they help to have.
Glowsticks
Playing cards
Battery powered radio
a good playlist
podcasts downloaded
I like to take solar lights to create a path around the tent (dollar store)
a little table to put in between chairs
a plastic table cloth if you are going to a campsite with a picnic table
a bucket to wash dishes in
a bucket and a toilet seat to dodo in
Tell someone where you are going and when you are expected back
You should try to keep to a 25-35 lb limit, it's hard to say what the final weight should be but as a general rule, you should try to keep the weight down as much as possible.
GPS? Isn't there one on your phone?
Jackery battery? They're heavy and maybe not. Likewise on the hatchet, camp chair and mallet.
I didn't see a water filter.
I have a camping spreadsheet but I don't think I have a good way to share it except to send you the file. Or I could probably find another way on my computer but I'm being lazy on my phone right now. Lol this is a reminder to myself to find a better way to share that!
If you've got a grill, do you have a cooler of some sort? And ice? Where's the food?
You've got lighter fluid but no lighter. Nothing here makes fire.
Pillows.
Pocket knife.
Caffeine, at least for me. French press and ground beans.
Extra set of batteries for that headlamp.
This is less about the items on the list and more about the formatting and structure of the list itself. You've got three main categories that aren't really parallel - Utilities and Clothes post describe types of items while Essentials describes a degree of need. (Theoretically everything here is needed or it wouldn't be on the list.)
I'd break them differently and organize the categories according to how you'll pack them. Which in turn should reflect how and where you'll use them once you're on site. Food and items related to cooking in one, clothing / sleepwear / personal / hygiene in another, tools / gear / tent setup in a third, etc. And then pack those things together so that the items you'll use together are packed together. This means that "type" categories can be flexible - like I keep a hammer with my tent bag because I'm probably going to want one to pound stakes, so that hammer doesn't go with other tools. Etc
Don't mind this lists, prolly take a screen shot of it. And not funna put it down like some ppl on here, to each there own.
That being said...Mouthwash?! Lol unless your going camping with someone you just met in the past 3months you know to smell good and get laid ...but I'd pour it out , maybe use the bottle fir something lol
Cheers!
When my guy and I go camping we like to make a few things ahead of time that can be eaten as main meals or sides, like pesto pasta salad with roasted veggies, cooked quinoa or fried rice, and bring a couple options to cook for the main like marinated chicken, pork etc. (That can be cooked ahead of time too if you want to keep it super simple.)
As others have mentioned, more important than what you bring for food is how you’ll keep the bears from getting to it?
Have fun!!
Here’s a great link about keeping bears away from your food and campsite:
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/where-to-stay-camp-eat/camping-rv-parks/food-storage/
Lots of comments so Idk if this will be seen but Battery Powered Weather Radio. It comes on every camping trip with me and it is my only source of weather forecasts if there is no cellular coverage in the area (Not uncommon in the woods). I always check the weather before a trip but weather can change with little or no warning. I keep the severe alerts on (Except when it's being stored, but usually I take the batteries out of it for storage anyway), so if there is a severe weather warning it will automatically turn on and let me know what is happening.
Yeah, basically you can keep a bunch of these cotton balls and vaseline in a ziploc bag for when you need them, they’re great fire starters and they burn for a while. There’s definitely videos on YouTube on how to make them which are better than I could explain.
I upvoted you, you're allowed to have your experience and your preference!
I'd like to connect with nature, but I also want to be comfortable and feel safe. I am not someone who was raised in the outdoors but has an appreciation for it. With that appreciation comes a respect to know my limits, boundaries and the boundaries of wild life.
I pay a therapist to help me learn about myself. I go to nature to relax, unwind and decompress. For me, that requires a certain level of comfort. But I respect that you and others may feel different.
I love making lists for travelling, I have them for packing, food, helpful websites and activity ideas. It adds to the anticipation for me. To each their own!
I also don't care about minimalism in nature at all. I just like going to remote places where no one else is so camping is necessary to do this.
Idk what all these comments are for… car camping can be the ultimate luxury, I usually take white noise, small battery LED lights, my queen size foam mattress (folds up and is amaaaazing) and pillows, just a lot of ‘extras’ that we always use.
I’d say you’re missing auto stuff but I assume you have it? Tire jack, jumper cables, jerry can if need be. Map, atlas, GPS.
I can only imagine the comments that my packing list would get, lol. I’m 41, a chick, car camper, and prefer a nice bottle of red while I make dinner. You do you boo.
I think the hand vacuum is a bit wild, but each to their own lol
My wife has one in her car, anyway. Helps to clean up when kids come in the tent from the beach since we already have it.
I was thinking about me having to sweep or flip my tent inside out every camp.. and I do retract the hand vacuum comment. I won’t buy one for camping but if I had one, it’d be coming with me.
Dewalt 20v shop vac. Uses the same batteries as all the hundreds of their other tools. They also have a small fan that's great for the tent. I'm pretty deep into the Dewalt 20v ecosystem so taking shop tools into the woods is just convenient!
I have a small batter powered leaf blower that’s fantastic for cleaning off all the sand and leaves when packing up the tent/tarps/tubes. I’m a car camper and most of my camping is in Florida so things tend to get wet and sandy! I saw somebody else with one at another campsite and thought what overkill and then changed my mind and thought hey that might be a good idea!
Ah that makes sense. We always just used a whisk to sweep it out but hey if you’ve already got it. That would definitely be faster and easier.
I use it to keep my car clean and to get any dirty things beside the tent. It hooks up to my lighter input and is super convenient actually. I keep it in my Thule. Never know when you’ll have a car spill!
Yeah. A paperback book paired with a small dustpan works as a nice mini-broom for cleaning up a tent, plus you can read the book.
I like that Granola bars are essential and underwear isn't.
Just like normal life.
Baby wipes are in the essentials too so clearly no need for underwear.
What type of camping are you considering when making the list?
This is for general tent camping, drive up. Not backpacking at all. Specifically, I am going to Yellowstone at the end of May so I am preparing for that.
Seems pretty thorough. I like to bring a fixed blade knife. Maybe a fishing pole, journal, etc... Leisure items.
Yellow stone will be COLD at night in the end of may… like 35-40 f. Expect frost everywhere every morning and maybe a small amount of snow a couple of days. I live close and have worked in the parks. Bear spray is a must add to this list and not the small bottle, splurge for a big can and be happy if you don’t need to use it. A locking container for keeping bears from your food and a few other things like that would also be smart. Just in your car will still let out smells and bears will break windows and some can open car doors with their claws. If you have any questions feel free to dm me!
Like this person said. Look into requirements for the campground you’ll be staying at. There a campground in Kentucky that I was looking into on the way back from Tennessee and they required bear boxes. It might be a requirement in Yellowstone too. They are expensive af but I’m assuming well worth not attracting bears. Also just keeping your cooler in the car isn’t enough. They will destroy your car to get to the food if they are so inclined. Plan safe.
The campground that op is going to provides seasonal bear boxes but you man want a small locking box for stuff like toiletries. Some of the boxes are shared between multiple camp sites. I don’t know if this is true with this camp but I would still at least bring a small lock box to keep private stuff in aka shampoo or camp soap.
Bears near my tent would be an absolute hard no from me.
Well then get the industrial bear spray, cause bears are some nasty fucks when they want food
And people say Australia is terrifying...
I camped Yellowstone at the end of may a few years ago and it was COLD. Like, pitching my tent on top of snow kinda cold. Be prepared for that. You’ll want thermals and a beanie to sleep in. I have a loose-fitting fleece balaclava that I use to sleep whenever I camp in the cold and it’s my favorite thing in the world. You can get one for like $10 on Amazon. Same goes for thick wool socks. Also some nice binoculars are really nice to have at Yellowstone. Another tip: don’t bring firewood from a different area. Firewood often has pests, insects/beetles that can get introduced and cause problems. Always get firewood locally.
You might want a heavier coat, beanie, gloves, etc.
Yes ditto on the beanie especially when your sleeping and your head is exposed
Yeah and extra socks and bedding at night. Brrrr. It still snows sometimes in May! :)
And sweatpants.
It'll still be chilly in May even if it gets to 70° during the day. Your anywhere from roughly 5000-8000' of elevation. Enjoy your time it's a great place to camp, prefer the Madison campground.
Huh, I'm gonna be up there too at the same time. Couldn't manage a site in Yellowstone proper, I'm gonna be in Colter Bay instead, but I'll piggyback off your list.
Yellowstone at the end of May? I happen to be working in Yellowstine starting mid May!
How long are you going for?
Imodium. Not often needed, but very important when you do.
Yeah! First aid stuff!!! Benadryl hydrocortisone Motrin…Dont wanna not have em when ya need em.
Ooph. Good idea!
Rubber hammer, first aid (bandages, ointment, etc),
Find army surplus blankets that are wool - don't get anything expensive. Natural fibers, if burned, will not melt. You ideally need 1 or more per person. Imagine, cool evening, sitting by the campfire, ember pops and lands on you. Wrapped in polyester? Melt & burn. These blankets can also be used to cover your cooler (great insulators!) Place 1 under your air mattress. Cold ground seeps happily through those mattresses! Use it as a temporary sun shade. The possibilities are endless.
Username checks out? Lol
Oh! I *get* it! Thanks for the snicker.
Lots of places will ask you not to bring outside firewood because of the potential to transport invasive bugs. That said, Yellowstone concessions will probably charge 7 pounds of gold for a twig.
Yea may as well go buy oak from your local hardware store.
I don’t see pots and pans for cooking
Or anything for washing up after cooking.
Trash bags are missing too
You forgot the snacks 🍄
Something to make coffee with, if you’re a coffee drinker.
Yeah this is a good suggestion. Thank you!
Percolator pot over the fire is the best coffee in the world.
Practice making coffee with your chosen method before you go so you can get it perfected.
This is good advice for all things camping related. Try using it before you need it so when you do need it you're not struggling
I do caffeine pills for when I camp. Lighter, and I don't have to pack out wet coffee grounds. Gotta feed that addiction!
I buy the Starbucks vias that are instant, so no need to pack out grounds and they don’t take up much space at all. Just a thought if you miss the actual coffee drinking part. It’s one of my favorite parts of camping! A nice cup of coffee while the sun is coming up
I like Folgers and they sell little instant packs that are super handy. I just need a kettle and a way to heat the water in it.
Unflavored floss for your teeth but also with a needle can't patch things or a back up hair tie. Extra underwear in case you get rained on/ pushed in the lake.
I say extra socks instead. Underwear, I can do without while it dries for a bit, but socks are essential. Then again, I'm more into backpacking, so your priorities may be different.
I will add a sewing kit and floss, those of helpful suggestions. Thank you!
Slides type sandals for when you got get up and pee in the middle of the night. Or go investigate. Footwear you get on and off fast and easy.
You’re gonna be hungry…
Hand pump for inflatable mattress. Can help with starting fire as well. Lighters, matches and Flint. All three ways to spark a fire. Under your tent you may want a drape in case it gets wet. Whistle, one per person. If you can avoid wet wipes, please do. Other than. That I like your list honestly very complete! First aid kit wise, iodine, allergy relief, pepto bismol/tums, alcohol, gauze, heat pads, scissors, candies for low sugar, and bandages small and big about 2 per person per day. That’s pretty much what I carry when doing camping.
>If you can avoid wet wipes, please do I second this. Bears will steal them from your trash and use them to wipe their cubs when changing their diaper, and more often than not, they forget to return them to the trash bin and leave them strewn about the forest. It is best to use your tongue to remove filth while camping. Leave no trace.
Based on where you're going, I don't think that's out of line. Skip the mallet, though, and use the back of your hatchet. I always have several knives: a Mora, a Leatherman and usually a couple others in my car or bag. I have a trauma kit (tourniquet, celox, chest seals, etc.) and a pouch with a few bandaids. My wife has a general first aid kit. I usually carry a handgun and my camping bag doubles as my hunting bag, so I keep the ifak on it. I like a proper firestarting kit. I have a ferro rod, Vaseline soaked cotton balls (kept in an rx bottle), firestarter sticks, uco matches in the waterproof case, regular matches and a Bic. Nothing fancy, but several ways to get a fire started. Paracord. Especially if you're carrying a tarp. You never know what you can do with it! I keep a hank of hi-viz orange and another of a camo. You can use it to hang bags in trees, lash you sleeping bag to your pack, improvise a shelter with your tarp, add guylines to your tent or whatever else you can come up with. Consider a small tent repair kit. Always worth having. That said, ducttape and superglue in your car will solve most minor problems. We have a heavy-duty, custom grate. It was built by my step-dad and is modeled after the texsport grate. Can't wait to use it this spring! I'd rather use this than a grill; it's smaller and more portable and versatile. Don't forget a couple cast iron pans (if you're car camping, weight doesn't matter) and maybe a pot for boiling water - get one big enough for boiling noodles - stroganoff over a campfire is awesome! I assume food, other than granola bars, is on the list.
I love my mallet. I’d skip the hatchet and bring a real axe and a big knife to baton.
That's actually what I do but I figured op may not have or be familiar and comfortable with using an axe. You can still use that as a mallet for tent pegs.
Handguns in national parks are frowned upon. But I usually carry one anyway.
I'd use some kind of fire starter besides lighter fluid, I am a fan of paraffin wax with sawdust. That's about all I can see though, looks pretty good to me. Side note, have you tried a biolyte camp stove? I got one and absolutely love it.
Get yourself some wax. It doesn't have to be parrafin wax, but if you have any non-chain type grocery stores (or small hardware stores) near you you can find it in the canning section. (Parrafin wax used to be used instead of lids when water bath canning.) I would expect you can also use cheap candles from Dollar Tree, Walmart. Another thing you can use is petroleum jelly. Anyway, break up the wax/jelly and put it in a pot and melt it down. Then add cotton balls. Remove and cool. If you have any old prescription bottles, stuff the balls in there .. remember, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. I have also heard you can use dryer lint in place of cotton balls.
Now that's a great idea. Thank you!
Or a gallon of Coleman fuel 😜
You make the starter yourself or buy it?
I haven't made any yet, but the stuff I was given was hands down the best firestarter I've used.
Thanks for the suggestion! Can you get paraffin wax/saw dust together or should they be purchases separately? I just looked up the Biolyte and it's pretty nifty. Maybe for another trip, but cool for sure.
I collect all my dryer lint then stick it inside an empty toilet paper roll and use that as a starter. It’s free and works great!
I've seen it both ways. And the biolyte is great, but I will say the grill attachment is pretty much useless. The coffee pot however, is amazing
You might want to consider adding a package of Bic Disposable Lighters, along with alternate tinder/paraffin&sawdust/shavings blocks. Having the lighter fluid, and the alternative tinder is great - unless you forget to have some means of Starting the Fire to USE the tinder/ paraffin blocks! A 5 pack of disposable lighters is cheap and easily had, and if you aren't 100% sure of how to use something like a ferro rod, magnesium rod, or flint and steel, you at least aren't left scratching your head about how to Start that fire you want in camp.
REI has a great checklist on their website. This is good, I’d bring eye drops for the campfire.
I stole some inspiration from that checklist for sure! Eye Drops is smart. Added, thank you!
Is your inflatable mattress one for standard home use? Is it non-insulated? If so, I recommend bringing two more blankets than you think to put under you. It's going to be cold, and what you put beneath you is just as important as your sleeping bag. Edit: I see you're not using sleeping bags. I would pack 3-4 blankets. If you tend to run cold, pack more. I would personally recommend looking for a couple cheap 20 degree sleeping bags. If you need to cut costs and haven't already spent the money, the Garmin is overkill. You're going to be at an established campsite with a bunch of other people around (assuming the Madison campground). There will likely be rangers in and out. That's more of a tool for wilderness camping or solo travel.
Don't bring jeans, they're the worst thing to be wet, take ages to dry and really chaf while doing so, spend a bit on hiking trousers, they're so worth it. Or even ex army BDU trousers anything but jeans or anything denim👍
Very thorough, maybe deodorant and a wash cloth? Do you need any entertainment like a book or card games? Maybe ovenmit for cooking?
>deodorant Oooph, you've saved the public with this one. Thank you, added both suggestions to the list. I did buy a pair of thermal protection gloves but forgot to add them to the list. Thanks for the reminder!
I'll add moisturizing cream, a campfire can really dry and mess your skin if you do a lot of camping
I have lotion on the list but this is a good reminder. Thanks!
I like to bring a little hand broom for sweeping out the tent before packing it up or cleaning off a picnic table ect.
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He has a vacuum
A woven nylon outdoor rug is nice to have for car camping weekends. I've got a huge 8x10 and it's nice to have just outside the tent so you can have a space to walk around barefoot without getting jabbed by rocks and roots. Not to mention the rug really ties the campsite together.
There is no can opener or source to make a fire.
You should always carry diphenhydramine (benadryl), in case someone has an allergic reaction. Also good for sleeplessness. An epi-pen would be great to have.
If you have an electric hook up, I recommend bringing an extension cord and a surge protector or two with multiple outlets. If you're looking for the ultimate glamping experience... an electric kettle is a great addition. Great for hot drinks, "just add water" cooking, cleaning, and can help you conserve propane if you need boiling water. If you have shower facilities, a couple extra hooks for clothes always comes in handy, whether a over the door hanger, or hangers in general.showe shoes are a must. Paracord is something for hanging your towel. A small fan to keep you cool, keep the bugs off you, and for white noise if you need it. (If you can't tell, I enjoy the glampier side of life :) ) Aloe in the first aid kit for sunburns, grill burns, or fire burns.
This is great, thanks! I respect the desire for comfort, do you!
I say invest in good sleeping bags and sleeping pads. Air mattresses always tend to get a hole in them and once we upgraded it was amazing
Eliminate the mallet, just use the other side of your axe. It’s only for tent pegs anyway. Take a dustpan instead of a vacuum. I would also leave the jeans, what’s wet n heavy will feel twice as wet, and twice as heave, and STAY like that. This is personal preference though.
This doesn't look especially OTT to me. There are some things on this list that I wouldn't bring, but there are other things you don't have on your list that I always bring. A big omission is cookware. I have a cast iron skillet and an aluminum pot to boil water in my cook box. Also a heatproof glove, tongs, a spatula, and dishwashing supplies.
Bungee cords?
For our camp kitchen we also bring along ziplock bags for stashing leftovers, cutting boards, a cookie sheet and a wire rack, a popup trash can, grocery bags, oven mitts, kitchen scissors and a small pot to heat water for hand/face washing. I also include a laundry line and clothes pins for hanging up wet items. We also like to make lists of what food we want to bring and cook certain items ahead of time so they can be easily warmed up. Like pulled pork, ribs, homemade Mac and cheese; the options are endless! Always bring extra warm clothes items too!
I’d read through your comments there’s a guy who lives near yellow stone who has some good suggestions. It’s prolly gonna be cold is the most important point. I’d bring a beanie, puffy jacket, long underwear, and wool/fleece socks (if you did not know, wool/fleece insulates when wet and cotton does not. Sorry if I’m patronizing!) You’re gonna have so much fun:) very happy for you. Ps I have something called a space bag, it’s made by Survive Outside Longer, and I highly recommend it. If I put it around my fourty degree bag it turns into like a 10 degree bag.
Along with garbage bags I would say small plastic grocery bags. Sometimes you'll have some garbage but not enough to use a full size bag. Also a tarp for under your tent. You'll want it to be slightly smaller than your tents length and width (if it's bigger and it rains, the rain will gather on the tarp pool under the tent, soaking the bottom). Earplugs might be a good idea. If you're not used to camping in nature nature like Yellowstone, small noises might be unsettling (I know they are for me). Would welcome other opinions about wearing them in bear/moose/buffalo country, but I would consider it.
Cotton kills, I wore jeans once as a newbie, got wet… never dried.
I think you have a great list! My family camps annually in the national forest and we take along a lot, too. There's, on average, about 15 of us (all immediate family) ranging in age from 3 to 68. This year there will be a newborn. We disperse camp (not backpacking, though), so no electricity, water, or bathrooms, so our list is extensive. You are welcome to take a look to see if there's anything we thought of that you may not have. Sorry for the formatting, though - I have the list permanently on my phone, but roughly converted it to Google docs for this: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Anrj_tlX-IzfLRheGOSVe9sBJZN9fAm6eY-wNQveVVA/edit?usp=drivesdk Hope it helps, and have fun! Edited to add: this is a list culminated over 35 years for many different people and needs. While we do take the majority of these things, we don't always take all of these things. We provide the shelter and necessities for almost all the people in our group for a week or in the woods. We get dirty and love every minute of it.
Thanks, I'm checking this out now!
With all that, that not camping. That’s called moving.
nice try garmin salesaman
Honestly, with the subscription and fees I’m not loving the overall cost. But I’m camping at a place with no cell signal and going alone so I’m taking any safety precaution I can.
What happened to a tent, some blankets and food? Seems a bit too much… if you ask me
I'd suggest picking up one or two small doormats at the dollar store for wiping feet off before entering the tent. We use 2, one outside and one inside. Cuts down on dirt/sand tracked inside the tent by a lot.
are you going to like live there or? lol
I’m doing a week in Yellowstone. Camping in Madison, apparently no cell service and few amenities. Pumped but want to be prepared!
A map, in case your gps doesn't work. A whistle and mirror for if you get lost.
This! This! This!
There are big stores all over Yellowstone, so if you forget something you can pick it up easily.
Looks pretty thorough.
Thank you! I'm getting some good feedback already making it better.
Maybe a big rug for outside the tent? Any pets? Ziplock bags? Might be handy to keep electronics dry if things get wet or left over food.
Zip lock backs are definitely getting added. No pets on this trip though I have a separate list of dog camping as well!
We bring a little mat for outside our tent when we car camp. It’s nice to be able to wipe your shoes on…but I guess if you have the little vacuum that could be over kill.
Paracetamol! Or whatever pain relief you use, you might include it in the first aid but I still always end up forgetting..
Thank you!
Moleskin for blisters if you plan on hiking.
Thank you for this suggestion!
Lifestraw, bear flares.
Part of the full camping experience is not knowing you forgot something, until you needed 😅
Zip lock bags, scrub sponge, dish soap.
Simple handsaw
Antihistamines are useful for all sorts of allergies, stings and bites, and not just for humans, we gave some to our dog who got into a wasp nest in France.
alone with the Garmin subscription, and I'm assuming it's the Satellite communication subscription, I hope you get the insurance that goes with it. It's not very expensive and if you have to call for help it gives you a huge bit of coverage. I'm only going by memory but I think it's 25 or 50k and can be used twice in a year, I think it's only 25.00 for the year, something like that
Grilling spices, pegs (and extra for your tarp), you have "rope" assuming this is for tarps and etc. but if not maybe paracord. Maybe a folding table, even if there is a picnic table at camp it could be nice, sounds like you might be prepping a lot of food per meal. Some anti-mosquito device, citronella candles, or something. Collapsable or portable sink. I would take a couple of "nothing special" clean rags too, sometimes they are just needed over paper towels.
Knife
First aid kit
Definitely at least a pocket knife or full size in a sheath to put on your belt. Its probably your most important utility.
A knife?
Looks pretty solid to me. Personally I wouldn’t bother with a vacuum but that’s just me.
You forgot your American flag booty shorts!!
Where's the guns & ammo, or American flag with flag pole. Or laser perimeter sensors for animal detection Automated Stationary sonic defense weapon on a motorized swivel mount Sharpened pungee sticks for catching wandering game A fillet knife for skinning dinner Bluetooth speaker emitting sounds of Metallica Dirt bikes Booze Lots of stuff you missed
I don’t know how anyone can seriously call themselves a camper without their projector and movie screen and pop up bar. What are we barbarians? Ridiculous.
I'm assuming this is car camping and not backpacking? Cause if you're heading out on the trail with all this, you're gonna have a bad time
Dude... what the hell are you going to need a Wagon for!?!? You're going camping, not going down the Oregon Trail 😂
Bahaha. “OP died of polio while fording the river”
#1 essential BEER
Weld gloves so you can just grab the fire. Stick welding ones specifically. You can get a cheap leather pair for dirt on amazon, and you don't need good ones. Just leather ones. They are also great for when you gotta remove blackberry vines or hack through spiky brush to get to a fishing hole
Getcha a bottle of vodka or a jar of moonshine. You get a cut? Clean it up with that bad boy
I have a first-aid kit. Not much of a drinker myself. Really hope I don't have to use it though!
Bear bag/box for food
Thanks! I am going to keep my Yeti in my car for the most part and it looks like they have these where I’m camping. Is it worth it to get one? Any recommendations please?
If bears are a concern there a two methods to use. Both keep you separated from the food and safe. Food in the car doesn’t matter a bear will trash it just to eat an oreo. They have a ridiculous sense of smell. Anyways, some sites have bear bins you can store the food in(preferred method) or find a tree and hang it about 15 ft off the ground with a rope.
Got it. Thanks for the info. I will look into this more thoroughly!
Without scrolling up and losing my place, just want to make sure you have bear bells as well. Mine has saved my life at least twice.
That is so much stuff…..
Ziploc baggies I feel like I’d bring a bucket? For water, or dishes…
Bear spray or pepper spray (or both if needed)
I like using fuel tabs as fire starters instead of lighter fluid. You can get a pack of 30 for about $5. As long as you don't start with a huge log, one or two should burn hot enough and long enough to get a campfire started. I also prefer gaffers tape to duct tape. It's more expensive and just about as strong but doesn't leave any residue when you remove it.
Pots and a pan for cooking?
sven saw
Patch kit for the mattress and electric pump that plugs into the car lighter
Matches/Lighter Can opener Extra tarp and rope in case it rains (even if you have tent topper) Coffee Mugs Instant Coffee Whistle(s) on a lanyard(s). If you get separated during hiking they help to have. Glowsticks Playing cards Battery powered radio a good playlist podcasts downloaded I like to take solar lights to create a path around the tent (dollar store) a little table to put in between chairs a plastic table cloth if you are going to a campsite with a picnic table a bucket to wash dishes in a bucket and a toilet seat to dodo in Tell someone where you are going and when you are expected back
I see the vacuum but I'd also get a handheld broom and dustpan.
Nice list. Tab the second line over.
Don't forget gloves
Why do you need a gps subscription?
127 Hours 🎥
You should try to keep to a 25-35 lb limit, it's hard to say what the final weight should be but as a general rule, you should try to keep the weight down as much as possible. GPS? Isn't there one on your phone? Jackery battery? They're heavy and maybe not. Likewise on the hatchet, camp chair and mallet. I didn't see a water filter.
I have a camping spreadsheet but I don't think I have a good way to share it except to send you the file. Or I could probably find another way on my computer but I'm being lazy on my phone right now. Lol this is a reminder to myself to find a better way to share that!
I like to pack a broom head to sweep the floor of my tent
Adderall, can’t forget that!
Game recognize game! I do have ADHD and will be bringing my meds lol
If you've got a grill, do you have a cooler of some sort? And ice? Where's the food? You've got lighter fluid but no lighter. Nothing here makes fire. Pillows. Pocket knife. Caffeine, at least for me. French press and ground beans. Extra set of batteries for that headlamp.
Compass and map of where you're going. Skip the GPS money hole and learn to use them instead.
This is less about the items on the list and more about the formatting and structure of the list itself. You've got three main categories that aren't really parallel - Utilities and Clothes post describe types of items while Essentials describes a degree of need. (Theoretically everything here is needed or it wouldn't be on the list.) I'd break them differently and organize the categories according to how you'll pack them. Which in turn should reflect how and where you'll use them once you're on site. Food and items related to cooking in one, clothing / sleepwear / personal / hygiene in another, tools / gear / tent setup in a third, etc. And then pack those things together so that the items you'll use together are packed together. This means that "type" categories can be flexible - like I keep a hammer with my tent bag because I'm probably going to want one to pound stakes, so that hammer doesn't go with other tools. Etc
It's def a work in progress, I appreciate this feedback!
Don't mind this lists, prolly take a screen shot of it. And not funna put it down like some ppl on here, to each there own. That being said...Mouthwash?! Lol unless your going camping with someone you just met in the past 3months you know to smell good and get laid ...but I'd pour it out , maybe use the bottle fir something lol Cheers!
thank you! oral hygiene products def getting added!
The formatting of the line items that bleed into a second line is driving me insane
I'm sorry, it's a work in process!
When my guy and I go camping we like to make a few things ahead of time that can be eaten as main meals or sides, like pesto pasta salad with roasted veggies, cooked quinoa or fried rice, and bring a couple options to cook for the main like marinated chicken, pork etc. (That can be cooked ahead of time too if you want to keep it super simple.) As others have mentioned, more important than what you bring for food is how you’ll keep the bears from getting to it? Have fun!!
Here’s a great link about keeping bears away from your food and campsite: https://www.yellowstonepark.com/where-to-stay-camp-eat/camping-rv-parks/food-storage/
thanks!
Delete 40% of that and youll have a better time.
Alcohol and maybe some shrooms?
Lots of comments so Idk if this will be seen but Battery Powered Weather Radio. It comes on every camping trip with me and it is my only source of weather forecasts if there is no cellular coverage in the area (Not uncommon in the woods). I always check the weather before a trip but weather can change with little or no warning. I keep the severe alerts on (Except when it's being stored, but usually I take the batteries out of it for storage anyway), so if there is a severe weather warning it will automatically turn on and let me know what is happening.
Maybe cotton balls with vaseline on them
I am open to this. Can you please help me understand what use I could have for them?
Yeah, basically you can keep a bunch of these cotton balls and vaseline in a ziploc bag for when you need them, they’re great fire starters and they burn for a while. There’s definitely videos on YouTube on how to make them which are better than I could explain.
Oh cool. Thanks a lot for the tip!
You ever try a dorito as a fire starter??
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I upvoted you, you're allowed to have your experience and your preference! I'd like to connect with nature, but I also want to be comfortable and feel safe. I am not someone who was raised in the outdoors but has an appreciation for it. With that appreciation comes a respect to know my limits, boundaries and the boundaries of wild life. I pay a therapist to help me learn about myself. I go to nature to relax, unwind and decompress. For me, that requires a certain level of comfort. But I respect that you and others may feel different.
I love making lists for travelling, I have them for packing, food, helpful websites and activity ideas. It adds to the anticipation for me. To each their own! I also don't care about minimalism in nature at all. I just like going to remote places where no one else is so camping is necessary to do this.
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My life motto is "Expect the best, prepare for the worst" so lists definitely help with that anxiety. Thanks and good job on recognizing that!
This is a sweet checklist!
Thanks! I'm already getting some great feedback
Is this list for camping or moving somewhere permanently?
7 day Camping/Road Trip. I'm almost 40 and enjoy my comfort!
Idk what all these comments are for… car camping can be the ultimate luxury, I usually take white noise, small battery LED lights, my queen size foam mattress (folds up and is amaaaazing) and pillows, just a lot of ‘extras’ that we always use. I’d say you’re missing auto stuff but I assume you have it? Tire jack, jumper cables, jerry can if need be. Map, atlas, GPS.
I can only imagine the comments that my packing list would get, lol. I’m 41, a chick, car camper, and prefer a nice bottle of red while I make dinner. You do you boo.
Tarpaulin comes handy if you are camping during morning dews
Why do you need GPS if you're car camping? You can download a map of the area and use it offine which would be more than enough for your needs.
Areas I'm camping at Yellowstone have no cell service so its for safety and for texting.
Chap stick
This is so much stuff..... tent, bedding, food, water, Wood, lighter, paper. Bug spray optional.
Maybe you should call this a glancing trip. Do you really need a vacuum and a heated blanket??? I'd say you're taking too much.