Checklist for Camping

If you're a first time camper, there's a campers check list of must have thing's you're going to have to buy before you hit the road. Weather you're traveling with a tent, or a trailer there's basic supplies every camper needs make the best of their vacation.

For beginners most of the suggested camping checklist gear is available at your local Canadian Tire, Wal-mart, Sears or other large retail stores that carry outdoor sporting products. If you're looking for more specific products for your trip, specialty outdoor stores such as Bass Pro Shop, Sail or MEC have a large variety of products for everyone's needs.

Depending on the Camping season your camping checkilist can be quite different. Winter tent camping can be a bit more of an adventure for experienced campers, who have invested in more expensive and weather proof tents and camping gear.  Your winter camping checklist will often requires more quality brand name equipment that can with stand the cold season and keep you warm. The summer is the best time to start tent camping, summer tent camping weather is much more pleasant during the night and day. 

The kind of car you have is going to determine how much, and what size of equipment you can bring. It's important to know the towing capacity of your vehicle if you're going to pull a trailer. Most people start out tent camping, because it's usually the cheapest way to start out camping.  So lets talk about the camping checklist you'll need to get ready for your trip!

Camping Check List:
-Tent - they come in all colours and capacity sizes ranging from 1 to 10 people. 
  Pick the one that best suits you're camping plans & budget.
-Sleeping Bag - Choose one that will keep you warm through out the whole season (May - October). Different sleeping bags offer different levels of warmth.
-Cooler 
-Camping Lantern 
-Flashlight
-First aid kit
-Foldable Chairs
-Axe (appropriate size for chopping blocks of wood)
-Matches & Lighter 
-Rope
-Tarpaulin(polyethylene) -something big enough to hang over your tent to create shade and shelter from rain using rope

-Campers Stove & appropriate fuel (unless you plan on doing all your meals over the fire!)
-Water container
-Cooking utensils
-Cutlery/plates/bowls/pots/pans
-Table cloth & table cloth clamps  
-Pocket knife (multi tool)
-Bug spray, don't forget the bug spray!

Other things to consider for your camping checklist which can make tent camping a little more comfortable and enjoyable:
-air beds (though piling a few blankets under your sleeping bag can do the job!)
-screen house - great for keeping flies and misquotes off the picnic table, you and your food. 
-games (badminton, bocce ball, cards etc)
-marshmallows 

Don't forget to pack extra outdoor camping essentials for a great day at the beach, on a boat or for taking a hike on a trail. Other things to add to your camping checklist can include towels, beach blankets, hiking shoes, sunscreen lotion & anything else to get you through the days.