Essential Camping Gear: Our Tried and Tested Favourites

We’re passionate campers who’ve been fortunate enough to camp in the USA, Canada, Uganda, and across Europe. We’ve camped with a campervan and on bikes. Over the years, we’ve figured out which camping gear is truly worth bringing along. We don’t claim to be experts, but if this article helps even one person pack smarter, we’ll be happy. Take our tips with a pinch of salt and let us know in the comments — what’s the one piece of camping gear you can’t live without?

Fire Starter for Lighting a Stove or Campfire

If you’re just getting into camping, a ferro rod fire starter might seem unnecessary. After all, you’ve got matches, right? But matches can get damp overnight. A plastic lighter can leak or even explode. That’s why it’s always better to have a reliable fire starter on hand — it works in wet conditions, even in the rain, and will likely last you a lifetime. For around 4 €, it’s an absolute no-brainer.

We went with a fire starter from the Czech brand Pinguin. The link leads to their fire starter category, as the specific model tends to sell out quickly.

Inflatable Sleeping Pad

I still remember how Lukáš talked me out of bringing an inflatable mattress when we went camping in Hawaii for two weeks. To this day, I blame him for the fact that we only brought basic foam sleeping pads. My back was killing me the entire time (yes, I’m a princess) and I could barely sleep.

Self-Inflating or Inflatable Sleeping Pad?

If you’re cycling or trying to keep your pack weight down, go for an inflatable pad (don’t worry — you won’t need to blow it up by mouth or use a special pump; you simply inflate it by stomping with your foot). Inflatable pads weigh less than self-inflating ones. You can pick up a basic inflatable mattress for around 15–20 €, but if you want proper quality, we recommend the Czech brand Pinguin. Each pad comes with a repair kit, just in case you manage to puncture it (yes, it’s happened to us).

Travel Pillow

I don’t own one yet and I long for it every single time we camp. Most travel pillows pack down into a tiny 10-centimetre pouch and weigh around 50 g. I honestly can’t believe we still don’t have one. Anyway, I’m planning to order one before our trip to Thailand — an inflatable pillow like this is useful on every trip, and prices start from around 8 €.

Browse the selection here.

Camping Lantern

Lukáš and I always carry at least three torches. We hang one inside the tent, and then we each have one for the walk to the loo so we don’t trip over anything. When we were camping in the USA in our campervan, we also brought a lantern along.

It looked similar to this Vango lantern.

Travel Toiletry Bottles

I’m surely not the only one who’s had shampoo leak all over their suitcase, backpack, or rucksack (and yes, I triple-checked the cap was on tight — I swear). I started using travel bottles pretty early on, but tried several brands and they all started leaking before long.

In the end, I invested in some fairly pricey ones from Kikkerland, and so far they haven’t let me down. The one downside? They’re hard plastic, so squeezing out the last bit of shampoo is a pain — you end up having to shake it out. Some people have told me IKEA does decent ones, but I haven’t tried them personally.

I personally have a larger set with spray bottles, but right now I could only find this one available.

Quick-Dry Towel

This is one of those items that practically every camper owns. Having an antibacterial, quick-drying, ultra-lightweight outdoor towel is a game changer — not just for camping but also for staying in hostels.

My advice? Go for the largest size you can. We underestimated the size the first time (trying to save a few quid) and ended up having to buy another one anyway. Go for a size L or XL. There are loads of brands on the market. We personally use a quick-dry towel from Sea To Summit.

Spices and Salt in Small Bags

This might be my favourite tip for any trip where you plan to cook. Pack some salt and spices in small resealable bags. They take up virtually no space, and suddenly you can turn a plain pot of red lentils into several completely different meals.

Collapsible Camping Cookware

We stumbled across collapsible containers by accident in a supermarket and took two with us to Iceland. It’s certainly not a must-have, but once you try it, you’ll wonder how you managed without. You can adjust the container size to fit its contents, collapsible mugs fit much better into a rucksack or bike pannier, and you can even get collapsible kettles and pots (though I still can’t quite picture how those work).

You’ll find a great selection of camping cookware here.

Travel Coffee Maker

We love good coffee, and we’ve been eyeing up the AEROPRESS travel coffee maker for months. If you’ve got a recommendation for a great brand, let us know! And if you haven’t heard of the Aeropress yet, definitely check it out. 🙂

Aeropress — the ideal travel coffee maker

Wet Wipes

Wet wipes are my best friend on every trip. I usually carry one pack for my hands and another for my face (cleansing wipes — yes, I’m a girl). Whether you’re cycling in 40-degree heat or you simply couldn’t find a shower, having something that gives you that fresh, clean feeling always comes in handy. 🙂

Got Plenty of Space? Treat Yourself to Some Comfort

Camping isn’t just about what you can squeeze into a backpack. More and more people are heading out to camp by car. In that case, you might as well treat yourself to proper comfort — after all, the car can carry it! Great additions include folding camping furniture (tables, chairs, or loungers), portable grills and stoves, or even compact camping cupboards and full camp kitchens.

Planning Your Next Adventure?

Don’t forget to read:

• Travel Insurance for short trips
• Long-Term Travel Insurance
• Travel Gear Essentials
• How to Find Cheap Flights