What's the best kind of beginner camping equipment?

Camping may be a lot of fun—until you discover you forgot to pack water or a cup for your morning coffee. I am the sort that over-prepares (ask my spouse…), but I always find myself wishing I had packed a dish towel or a sharp knife—both of which you should bring. I’ve compiled a list of ideas for the more specific products you’ll need on your journey.

Tent At Forest

Tent

What is the most significant aspect of a tent? Set everything up ahead of time for your first camping trip. You don’t want to arrive at your location at night with poles flying everywhere and no clue how they all go together. You’ll also need a tarp underneath your tent, but make sure it’s tucked in beneath the footprint. Because it will effectively gather water in a pond underneath if it sticks out and rains. My first grownup tent was a two-person Eddie Bauer, which I still own. I like them since they are tiny and easy to put up at a fair price. The Stargazer 2 ($369) contains vestibules for gear in the front and rear, as well as steep walls (so more space inside, if you need to keep your pack in with you). Color-coded poles make it simple to put up quickly—really quickly (like five minutes) if you practice beforehand.

Headlamp

You may feel weird using a light at first, but you’ll be grateful for it on your first late-night trip to the “bathroom.” Or if your tent begins to leak in the middle of the night—not that I speak from personal experience. The most crucial thing is that your headlamp includes a red light feature, such as the Black Diamond Spot 325, which maintains your night vision and allows you to enjoy the stars.

Portable Stove

Your campground may include a fire ring, but I can tell you from personal experience that getting water to boil over an open flame quickly enough to fulfill early morning espresso needs is less than ideal. Unless you want to cook gourmet meals, a single-burner canister-mounted equipment such as the MSR PocketRocket Deluxe should suffice. It includes a push-start igniter and a wide burner head for optimum heat dispersion for simmering. Need to include a wind cover for lighting when it’s windy. It’s also suitable for vehicle camping, but since it’s so light, it’s also suitable for wilderness adventures. Carry waterproof matches—even the greatest igniters might fail at times.

Water Jugs

Please don’t be that person who goes camping with a case of disposable water bottles. I updated to the Dromedary Bag Water Reservoir last summer after years of using a two-gallon refillable plastic water jug (which gave my water a plastic-y flavor). It is drop-proof, can be frozen, folds flat when not in use, and does not transfer any taste to the water. It is made of tightly woven cloth with a BPA-free lining. Use the larger size—you don’t necessarily need to fill it all the way.

Camp Chair

This component is only intended for vehicle campers. There are other folding chair options—lightweight, heavy duty, low, and high—but I like the Kijaro Rok-It. It’s strong and comfy, and the back legs are intended to allow you to rock without fear of toppling over. It includes armrests that are cushioned, a tall mesh back, and a cup holder. Nevertheless, it folds up much longer than a regular camp chair and is rather hefty. If you’re trekking for more than a few minutes, this isn’t the chair to bring.

Coffee

The first time you sleep in the woods, the last thing you want to mess with is your morning Joe. Steeped, Inc.’s coffee bag. is not the same as instant coffee. Each individual package is nitrogen-sealed, which keeps the coffee fresh. The coffee, which is brewed similarly to tea, was created as an alternative to single-serving coffee pods, but I appreciate it as an on-the-go choice. They are available in mild, medium, dark, extremely dark, and decaf mixes and cost around $1.50 per serving. Is boiling water a little too much for you? La Colombe is a great place to get your caffeine fix. I love these because they aren’t too sweet—some of the blends are completely unsweetened, and even the sweetened ones have less than half the sugar of your average Starbucks canned Frappucino. It costs roughly $3 per can, but you can feel good about it since a recent collaboration with the National Park Foundation will produce at least $100,000 to benefit America’s parks.

Sleeping Bag

If you’re going to camp in the cold, you’ll need a “mummy bag,” which is broader at the shoulders and smaller at the feet. To keep your feet tight, the bag narrows. But that kind of wrapping isn’t for everyone, and it’s not essential if the weather stays over 50 degrees. If you don’t intend on sleeping on cold nights, L.L. Bean’s new Mountain Classic Camp Sleeping Bag is a good option. It’s light, spacious, and ideal for warm-weather camping. Oh, and it includes a pocket for storing your torch or phone (sigh!).

Sleep Pad

When a tree root digs into your hip, being one with the big outdoors takes on new meaning. Sleep pads not only cushion you from the hard ground, but they also provide insulation, which will become important as the sun sets earlier, bringing a nip to the night air. Get a sleep pad that matches the shape of your bag—so don’t get a mummy bag pad for your rectangular sleeping bag. If weight and mass aren’t an issue, the Therm-A-Rest Dreamtime is the way to go. It includes a foam cushion top with an inflatable core, so you won’t wake up with lumps in your sleep.

Insect-Repelling Clothing

With Lyme disease, Zika, and all the other nastiness spread by insects in the woods, it’s critical to wear insect repellent. Moreover, outdoor camp instructors and wildlife scientists swear by Permethrin, a synthetic type of an insecticide generated by chrysanthemums. It has no odor, kills ticks and mosquitoes on touch, and is non-toxic to people. (The CDC even advises it.) You may purchase Permethrin and treat your own clothing, or you can buy pre-treated items, which is more simpler and lasts longer. Right now, I love the Royal Robbins Bug Barrier collection, which employs special technology to bond the Permethrin to the clothes for up to 70 washings—the expected life of the product. The Bug Barrier Jammer Pant for Women includes ruching at the cuff, allowing short individuals like myself to adjust—or tall folks to wear capri pants. The Insect Barrier Tech Travel shirt is smooth and comfortable to wear.

Drinkware

Sipping wine from a red Solo cup is no longer acceptable; it’s harmful for both the Sauvignon Blanc and the environment. Instead, bring some SnowFox wine glasses with you. Made from insulated stainless steel, these tumblers keep your wine at just the right temperature, and if you like an ice cube on a hot day, it will slow the ice melting into your rosé. A 1-millimeter rim enables you to taste the wine rather than the glass. SnowFox also sells rocks glasses, as well as beer, cocktail, and champagne glasses.

Cookware

Well, you can bring a pot from home to boil water, and a huge, old-school cast-iron frying pan over an open flame is always fantastic. Nonetheless, camping cookware is often lower in weight, with components that nest together and are versatile. They are also often composed of metal that has been carefully selected to transfer heat, allowing water to boil quicker. If you’re trekking in, be picky and plan ahead of time what you’ll be preparing. Pick the lightest and most efficient cookware you can afford. You can bring a number of different pans if you’re vehicle camping. The GSI Outdoors Glacier Base Camper Cookset appeals to me (Medium). In a lightweight package weighing little under 3 pounds, you get two cook pots and a frying pan—enough to create a supper for four to six people. So you could trek with it as well.