I kicked off this decade by going off the grid with my boys. Meyer and I (along with Bailey the Cockapoo, our little bundle of energy!) swam, snuggled, snacked, and camped our hearts out on trip after trip.
Connecting with nature inspired is one of the best ways to relax, rejuvenate, and remind me of what’s most important.
Wherever you live, I’d highly recommend packing your bags, turning off your phone, and simply breathing in some fresh air. However, while it sounds idyllic and laidback, there is definitely some preparation to be done before any camping trip. When you set off on your adventure, it’s crucial to have all of the basics.
Ready to disconnect and get back to nature? Here is what you need to make “roughing” it comfortable and cozy for even the most luxe-loving traveler.
Here is the ultimate campsite packing gear guide!
My Current Campsite Setup
Just for context, our camping setup in Cape Town is basically for two people—me and Meyer, and our pup, Bailey.
But I have provided recommendations throughout this blog post in case you’re packing for more than two people. We have a rooftop tent on our Defender, but I do provide other tent recommendations for setups, including our own.
And most of our trips are between two and four nights, so this is for weekend warriors and those who camp to getaway on the weekend. It might not be everything you’ll need for living out of your car or camping—this is more recreational camping.
But it should include pretty much everything you’ll need, so hopefully, this helps prepare for your epic adventure!
Kitchen + Cooking
While you are probably used to always having a backstock of food, it’s essential to ensure you don’t bring too little or too much when you are camping.
We travel with a Jetboil Mini Mo and a Cobb grill, it’s nice to have the option of a quick single burner if we’re just heating up a little bit of water or something small. But we absolutely love the Cobb for full meals and use it for pretty much every single meal.
Our Stovetop (1-2 people):
Our stuff is geared toward cooking for one to two people. Here’s what we use:
- Jetboil Mini Mo: An easy to transport burner.
- Pot Support: We pop one of these on top of the burner to support pots and pans.
- Small Fuel: Lastly, just stick one of these in to fuel the burner.
Stovetop Option 2 (3+ people):
If you tend to travel in a larger group, go for something a bit bigger:
- Jetboil Genesis Base Camp: For a bigger group, you’ll definitely want two burners.
- Large Fuel: Upgrade to a larger fuel container so you don’t worry about running out.
Coal Cooking (For Any Amount of People):
- Cobb: We love this for a good old fashioned BBQ!
- Cobb Coal: Opt for the eco-friendly option that fits into a Cobb
- Pizza Stone for Cobb: While Italian wood-fired pizza is good, this is my new fave.
- Cobb Cutting Board: Bamboo keeps things hygienic and you can use it as a serving board too.
More Cooking Items:
Every true coffee lover knows that most of us have a coffee prep method very near and dear to our hearts. You’ll have a few good quality options while you’re camping. And, luckily, the Jetboil will boil water super quickly so you don’t need a big pot, even if you’re brewing for a few people.
Here are a few good options for brewing coffee:
- Pour-Over Coffee: This is an ultra easy-to-pack drip coffee option.
- Aeropress: A great option for ground coffee.
- Staresso: This works for both Nespresso pods or ground coffee.
- French Press: A travel-friendly French press.
The Ultimate Camping Meal Plan + Packing List
I like to plan out meals so we don’t bring too much and we have adequate space for any perishable items!
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Utensils and Dishware:
It’s all about durable and easy to transport supplies. The last thing you need is a trunk full of shattered plates! Here’s how to keep it simple:
- Front Runner Kitchen Utensils: This is a dream! Everything we need all together so we never have to worry about not having an essential.
- Plates (x2): BPA free and totally indestructible.
- Bowls (x2): Another safe and sturdy pick.
- Stanley Thermos + Cups: I adore the old school look of these and you can literally pass these down to your grandkids.
- Stainless Steel Wine Glass w/ Lids: Treat yo’ self! Nobody wants wine from your thermos.
- Grill Tongs: These are ultra-handy for cooking and barbequing of all kinds.
- Extendable Marshmallow Sticks: It is NOT, I repeat NOT, a campfire without marshmallows.
Kitchen Cleaning:
Things can get messy quickly when you don’t have the right supplies. Here are a few camping-friendly essentials:
- Wilderness Wash (for dishes, surfaces + clothes)
- Kitchen Sink: Yes, bring the kitchen sink!
- Collapsible Basin (for washing/drying)
- Drying Mats
- Eco-Cleaning Cloths (for surfaces/dishes)
- Loofah Scrub (for deep cleaning)
- Dustpan + Brush
Kitchen Extras:
Here are a few basics you can use while camping, and really at any picnic:
- Tablecloth: Compostable: If you want to just make a mess and toss it. Re-usable: These are handy for keeping long-term.
- Tablecloth Clips
- Fly Fan
- Food Tents
- Aluminum Foil
- Reusable Storage Bags
- 2-3 Storage Containers
- Medium-size Mixing Bowl (for meal prep + serving)
- Small Bio Trash Bags for Food Scraps
Cool Storage for Food:
- Snomaster Fridge: You’ll need a dual battery system or a generator, otherwise it will drain your car battery or not work…and then it’s kind of pointless to have.
- Insulated Cool Bag for Food/Day-Use Ice: A true must-have! Alternatively, if you’re going for a night or two and don’t need to keep things super cold, you can use a cooler box or a cooler bag.
Furniture
The longer you are camping, the more you’ll want to bring. While roughing is already for one night, it’s essential to have some basics if you really want to settle in. If you plan to camp regularly, which I’d definitely recommend, it’s worth investing in good quality gear that’ll last a lifetime.
Tent Setup:
- Front Runner Roof Tent: If you’ve got a big vehicle, this is a very cool option. It includes a mattress so you’re ready to hit the ground (or rather, the roof!) running.
- 2-Person Tent
- 4-Person Tent
- 2-Person Sleeping Bag: Conserve heat together!
- Camping Pad: We use this on top of the tent mattress for extra comfort.
- Camping Pillow (x2)
Chairs:
You’ll want at least one chair per person so plan accordingly. We always bring two front runner chairs because they’re small and easy to pack. We also have a big saucer chair that is incredibly cozy and perfect if you’re cuddling up with a dog or kids.
Collapsible (Space-Saving):
- Front Runner Camp Chair (x2): We’ve got two of these along with a convenient storage bag to carry them both in.
Recliner (Most Comfy):
- Zero Gravity (x2): SO comfortable!
- Saucer Chair: A must if you have dogs or kids cuddling on your laps.
Tables:
Elevate the whole experience—literally! Having a few surfaces around the campsite makes it so much nicer. I like to keep a small multipurpose table by the chair and then a stainless steel table for cooking and eating.
Kitchen Shelf System:
If you camp a lot, having a little kitchen on-the-go is incredibly useful. It’s far easier to find things when you can get them out of boxes, and you can create another surface for cooking.
Outdoor Mat:
While I love being outdoors, it’s annoying to feel like you’ve always got a layer of dust on you. Using an outdoor mat lets me walk around barefoot and stay relatively clean while keeping the whole space less dusty.
- RV Mat: This large mat is ideal for creating a more comfortable outdoor living space.
- Outdoor Rug: Take things to the next level with a gorgeous outdoor rug. Best of all, you can use this in the patio or yard year-round rather than store for camping only.
Storage and Organization
Storage is crucial for keeping things organized. If you camp regularly you can save yourself a lot of lost time by creating a place for everything.
- Front Runner Wolf Pack (x4): These are SO durable and endlessly useful. Create more surfaces and seats while stashing your gear.
- Front Runner Cub Pack (x2)
- Front Runner Flat Pack
- Front Runner Labels
- Reusable Zip Ties: You’ll always find countless uses for these. I always use them for hanging lanterns and lights.
Bath + Toiletry Essentials
Of course, roughing it doesn’t have to mean doing without the bathroom basics. Here’s how I keep things hygienic!
- Biodegradable Wipes: Wipes are worth their weight in gold when you camp. To reduce waste, eco-friendly is a must.
- Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper: Many campsites don’t supply their own tp so it’s best to pack some.
- Bath Towels: Having a little hanger hook on your camping towel makes drying a breeze. I especially love this one because they throw in a smaller towel you can use for your face or hands.
- Biodegradable Body Wash: Go eco-friendly to ensure you leave no trace in the campground. This stuff is especially good because it’s concentrated so you don’t need to bring much with you.
- LUSH Godiva Shampoo Bar: I LOVE Lush solids for travel of any kind. Not having to deal with the mess and weight of liquids is awesome, plus it’s another way to reduce plastic.
- LUSH Big Conditioner
Camp Lighting + Gadgets
Another essential piece of camping gear, you’ll want to have a few different lighting options to make it easy to get around.
Because we don’t camp for long periods of time and it’s just the two of us, our Defender is set up with a dual battery system so that we can use a refrigerator in the car.
Pretty much everywhere we cape in the Western Cape of South Africa does not have power points at the campsites. So this setup is geared toward people going off the grid without electricity. But this would also imply that you have water and toilet facilities available at the campsite.
Lighting:
- Solar Lanterns (x4)
- Compact Gas Lantern + Tall Fuel Canisters
- Solar Large String Lights (x2)
- Solar Copper Wire Fairy Lights (2 pack): These create such a magical effect!
Camp Gadgets:
- Hanging Fan: Traveling in literal hotspots, I’ve been out camping in 100+ degree weather and things can get seriously uncomfortable. To keep my cool, I hang this inside the tent at night then charge it daily with a solar panel.
Solar Power
- 100W Solar Panel: Perfect for all your charging needs.
- Solar Generator: This is great for storing power.
When you’re off the grid and there’s no way to get power, solar is the best and most efficient way to run things. We use a small solar panel which is good for charging your phone—but you need to keep it plugged in and let it charge in the sun. It doesn’t store power.
There’s also a higher wattage one—it is more expensive—but you’ll get a lot more bang for your buck and it will give you a lot more energy. And you can charge bigger items like your laptop, camera, or multiple things at once. But again, it doesn’t store the power, so keep that in mind.
And then the solar generator is specifically for storing power. So with the solar generator, you’ll want to use the 100 Watt solar panel to store power.
Games + Entertainment
One of my fave things about camping is disconnecting. Ditch the screens and go for some old school fun with these.
- Travel Rummikub
- UNO Wilderness: A nature lover’s special edition!
- Yahtzee National Parks: Keep ‘em themed!
- Trivial Pursuit National Parks
- Ultimate Ears Wonderboom Speakers—It’s great because it’s got a hanging loop, so use one of your ties to clip it to a tree. They’re also waterproof and it floats, so it’s super durable and camp-friendly.
And there you have it! That is my ultimate campsite packing gear guide.
Wondering what I pack for food? Check out my Ultimate Camping Meal Plan + Packing List!
What are you must-haves when it comes to camping? Or camping meals you love to make? Let me know in the comments below!
I truly appreciate this post. Very well written with excellent information.
You’re most welcome! 🙂
Hey, I love your set up but was just wondering if you have any pictures of inside the defender (both in the cabin and in the rear)? We live in Scotland and wouldn’t have the luxury of always being outside due to the weather so wondering if the back of the defender is big enough to sit in.
Hey Matt! I don’t have a ton of pictures, but you can kind of get an idea here. https://theblondeabroad.com/outdoor-winter-outfit-from-backcountry/ It would be pretty cramped to spend all your time in there, so I don’t know if I would recommend that.