Who says there’s no food in the tents? In fact, if you follow the advice of the person who wrote the website listed above, here’s the list of things to take along. I get the feeling this guy does not backpack. (I dare you to TRY taking all this with you to a bed & breakfast!)

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MY (DADS) DUFFEL BAG
Based on a 2 night Maine summer weekend For longer trips we pack for 4 days and launder as needed

Socks, white athletic, 3 pr.
Undershorts, 3 pr
“Good” tee shirts, 2
Old tee shirts for sleeping in ,2
Jeans, 1 pr.
Shorts, 3 pr.
Shirts, short sleeve polo, 3
Shirt, long sleeve, 1
Hard sole slippers
Extra pr. of shoes
A decent sweatshirt
Top and bottom sweats for late night “excursions” and early mornings
A drawstring laundry bag
A belt if I’m not wearing one
A smaller duffel for shower trips and daytrips
Bath towel
Wash cloth
“Baseball cap” For sun and bug protection
Rain coat
Rain hat
My shaving kit, including:
Soap in a case
A small shampoo bottle in a zip lock, just in case
Comb
Deodorant
Shaving cream
Razor
Styptic pencil
Tooth brush
Tooth paste
Dental tape
Mouth wash
Nail clippers
Neutrogena
Blistex
A travel clock (mostly for non camping trips)
Any daily medications
Some quarters for metered showers, a 35mm film container makes a nifty coin container
For cold weather we adjust towards long sleves and jeans, add a hooded sweatshirt to the sleepwear and carry long johns
MY WIFES DUFFEL BAG
UNDERWEAR
BRAS
SOCKS
SHORTS
PANTS
SWEAT PANTS
SHORT SLEEVE SHIRTS
LAUNDRY BAG
SWEAT SHIRTS
SWEAT PANTS
SWEATERS
HOODED SWEAT SHIRT
HEAVY SOCKS
LONG UNDERWEAR
SLIPPERS
BOOKS
TOWEL
WASHCLOTHS
SHOWER BAG
DAUGHTERS DUFFEL BAG (2)
UNDERWEAR
SOCKS
SHORTS
PANTS
SWEAT PANTS
SHORT SLEEVE SHIRTS
SWEAT SHIRTS
HOOD SWEAT SHIRT
LONG UNDERWEAR
HAT
LONG SLEEVE SHIRT
T SHIRTS
TOWEL
WASHCLOTH
SHOWER BAG
COSMETIC BOX
I carry my toiletries in my duffel, this stuff is for the Gals. It all fits in a plastic tool box that’s a little bigger than a shoe box.
A POUCH FOR THE DENTAL ITEMS
3 TOOTHBRUSHES
3 TOOTHBRUSH HOLDERS (We’ve had good luck with the type that is made of 2 mating cylinders)
TOOTHPASTE
KID’S TOOTHPASTE
MOUTHWASH
CHAP STICKS
FLOSS
KID’S FLOSS
SHAMPOO
CREAM RINSE
HAIR SPRAY
SPRAY CONDITIONER
BRUSH
COMB
DEODORANT
RAZOR
RAZOR BLADES
SHAVING CREAM
FACE WASH
WASHCLOTH
SOAP CASE
SOAP
LIQUID SOAP If the site has a spigot this gets bungeed around the tree, along with a hand towel. Germs don’t take a vacation, neither should hygiene.
GOLD BOND POWDER
Q-TIPS
SAFETY PINS
HAIR PINS
CHANGE PURSE, (With quarters for metered showers)
BLOW DRYER
SMALL KLEENEX PACKAGE
MIRROR
TYLENOL

JACKET / RAIN GEAR DUFFEL
We keep them in a separate bag because we often go on entire trip without needing them. This saves a lot of wear and tear on these garments.
Spring weight jackets
Rain Coats & hats/hoods
“DRESS CLOTHES”DUFFEL
On long trips we will bring some casual but nice clothes in case there is someplace halfway fancy we would like to visit.
FIRST AID KIT
In a “red plastic toolbox” that stays in the van all year.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Rubbing Alcohol
Calamine lotion
Solarcaine spray
Sunscreen
Antibiotic ointment
Gold Bond cream
Instant cold compress
Oral thermometer
Scissors
Tweezers
Antiseptic wipes
Bandage tape
2 good-sized gauze bandage rolls
An ACE bandage
Assorted “Band-Aids”
Rubber gloves
Imodium AD
Tylenol
Children’s Tylenol
Tongue depressor
Q-Tips

FLASHLIGHTS

3 D-cell MAG_LITE (2)
4 A-A cell flashlight with variable beam (Yellow Eveready) angs from the peak inside our tent and illuminates things nicely.
4 D-cell lantern with variable beam
2 D-cell flashlight
All of the above have RAYOVAC “RENEWAL” rechargeable batteries
Little Tikes 2 D-cell light (with automatic shut-off)
BEDDING
4 sleeping bags
Therm-a-Rest pad for my wife
Ridge-Rest pad for me
2 Foam pads for the kid’s
Pillows, we treated ourselves to a new set for home and keep our 6 old ones in a big duffel for camping.
An old comforter for cooler weather. Also good for extra padding on a rough site.
2 old blankets for picnics, play space for the kid’s or whatever
A few old towels for moping up wet tables or whatever.
BACKPACK
Don’t get all excited you bigtime hiker types. Our idea of a hike is usually about a 1 hour excursion. Nonetheless we do bring a few things along. We just have a small pack, not unlike what the kids wear to school.
A small first aid kit
Some insulated bottle slings that take regular water bottles.
We throw a few snack items in.
Toilet paper, just in case
The game bag is kept in the pack when we are not using either.
GAMES

FOOD COOLER

BEVERAGE COOLER
Obviously what you carry has a lot to do with your tastes. As a starting point here is what we carry in the beverage cooler. We always bring along extras of those 12oz spring water bottles. If something like milk is getting low we will transfer it to 1 or 2 small bottles and save cooler space. We also wash and refill the water bottles with either bottled water or the campgrounds water if we trust it.
Milk
Water
Orange Juice
Lemonade
Soft Drinks, usually cans
Mountain Dew, the caffeine content helps keep the driver alert on long driving days
Apple juice
V8
KITCHEN TOTE
Gas stove, 2 burner
Propane bottle
Matches
An old propane lighter that makes a great stove igniter.
Large stock pot, for Corn on the cob, heating dishwater, popping popcorn, etc.
Small sauce pan
Medium Sauce pan
Small skillet
Medium straight side skillet with lid
Griddle
Cooking spray, we like the non aerosol spray can
Toaster, The popup wire frame type for the stove or fire
Pot holders, one square, one mit
Colander for pasta etc., it also nests into our big pot and makes a great steamer
Silverware container
Knives
Spoons
Forks
Steak knives
Several “chip clips”
Scissors
4 corn holder spikes
Paring knife
Dish towels
Dish cloths
2 wash tubs, wash & rinse, rectangular!
Rescue scouring pad
Squeeze bottle of dish soap
6 Blue porcelain plates
4 plastic “soup” bowls
2 big insulated mugs
2 small insulated mugs
Paper towels (squeeze flat)
A flat Tupperware container good for marinating a few steaks
Tablecloth
6 tablecloth clips so you don’t have to argue with the wind
2 cup measuring cup, plastic
3 assorted stainless steel mixing bowls
6 plastic cups, Like fast food places give with kid’s meals
A zipup bag with assorted ziplocks and trash bags
Straws
Plastic spatula for cooking at the stove
Metal spatula for hot cooking
3 big spoons
Vegetable brush
Cheese grate
Straining spoon
Measuring spoons
Jar opener
Big fork
2 butter dishes with lids for leftovers
Wisk
Twist ties
Can opener
Tongs
Cutting board, solid plastic
Long fork
FOOD TOTE
PAM (non aerosol pump can)
Squeeze bottle of olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Celery salt
Chives
Other spices in small containers; mustard, ginger, oregano, lemon herb, marjoram, cinnamon
“White sauce” mix
Vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Teriyaki sauce
A-1 sauce
Soy sauce
Tea bags
Equal
Sugar
Powdered sugar
Brown sugar
Swiss miss hot cocoa
Non dairy creamer
Spaghetti
Small jar of Prego spaghetti sauce
Spaghettios
Macaroni & cheese
Rice
Stove top stuffing
Ginger ale (can)
Bisquick (pancakes)
Pancake syrup
Snack bars
Popping corn
Oreo cookies (one sleeve)
Graham crackers (smores)
Crackers
Chips ahoy cookies (one sleeve)
Small cans of fruit
Dinty More beef stew
Mixed veggies (canned)
Canned mushrooms
Spam
Corned beef hash
Cereals in plastic containers
Canned corn
Canned peas
Canned green beans
Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
Sloppy Joe seasoning
Peanut butter
Marshmallow fluff
Assorted breads
Clear wrap
Assorted zip lock bags in a zipper pouch
Marshmallows
Waxed paper
Heavy duty aluminum foil
Napkins
MAPS
Under the drivers seat in a canvas briefcase.
Brochures for the trip
Confirmations of any reservations
Gazeteers or atlass of states we will be in
Pen & paper
TOOLBOX Jumper cables Webbed tiedowns Bungee cords Spare vehicle fuses

PICNIC BASKET
Everything we need for a roadside lunch except for the food. Also our disposable dishes when we want to break camp early and don’t have time for dishes. It’s a case for a years worth of TIME magazines. It’s a soft zippered case and slips right under the kid’s seat in the van $2. at a yardsale.
A canvas tote for the food
Each in ziplocks
9″ thin paper plates
Styrofoam bowl
Paper cups
Plastic cutlery
Napkins
Small plastic cutting board
A good slicing knife in a hard plastic box.
A paring knife
Plastic table cloth….. You really need this at some rest areas!
Table top clips in case it’s windy
Straws
Matches
Chip clips
SOFT COOLER
Just a softside cooler big enough for 6 soda cans. Handy when going somewhere at the campground like the beach or a dance. Just enough to keep the heat away from a round of drinks.
NEWSPAPER
A canvas tote with a supply of plain black & white newspaper. For fire starting as well as wicking moisture from wet footwear when the sun’s not shining.
DRINKING WATER

BEACH DUFFEL
Swinsuits for all, 2 for each of the kid’s
A towel for each of us.
Sunscreen
A T-shirt of cover up for each of us, for cool breezes or to escape some of the sun.
Insect repellent
WATER SPORTS DUFFEL
Assorted masks /snorkels
Fins
Anti fog for the masks (yes the stuff does work)
Tissues for the anti-fog stuff
Water wings…These may be history judging by the girls swimming skills.
ODDS & ENDS
CHAIRS
2 Folding chairs for my wife and I
2 Resin chairs for the kid’s
A small plastic table to go between us by the fire
RADIO…We carry a GE Super Tuner AM/FM radio. It pulls in the stations wherever we are. What’s a Saturday night campfire without “A Prarie Home Companion”. And we always play it at a private volume.
LAUNDRY SUPPLIES In a liquidlite tote
Liquid detergent
Pre-spotter
Fabric softener
WATERSHOES…In a tote bag. Watch where you stow them. They can reek.
CAMERA BAG
STASHED IN THE VAN ITEMS
Duct Tape
Extra bungee cords
Extra batteries
A Box of baby wipes
Binoculars
ON OUR CAMPING TRAILER

The forward dock locker
Our old tent as a backup & for guests
The dining shelter
2 ground cover tarps to fit the tents
3 assorted larger tarps for various shelters as needed
2 square pails
Coleman propane lantern
20LB propane hookup post/lantern support
Propane hose to connect the post to the Coleman stove
Several citronella candles
A sack of tent pegs
1/2 gallon bottle of bleach for sanitizing the next item
Empty Hershey syrup jug (for late night bladder relief)
2 bottles of charcoal lighter fluid (for briquettes and hopeless firewood)
Several standard propane bottles (in case we come up short on the 20LB tank or for excursions away from camp and for the torch
2 50 foot hanks of rope (for clotheslines and/or supporting tarp structures)
Dustpan and foxtail for sweeping out the tent and brushing dried mud from the gear after a rain
2 umbrellas
5 foot garden hose with a nozzle (just enough to rinse off mud splattered gear if that’s what happens),
Pump bottle of glass cleaner a clean windshield is a nice treat!
Hatchet
Camping maul
Wood splitting wedge
Frisbee.
A nice sign I made that tells folks who we are and where we’re from
Then in the top of this box the tray up top contains the following;
Standard claw hammer
Tent stake puller
Plastic jar of nails (sometimes you end up on a tent platform)
Grommet repair kit (for all those tarps)
Set of those snap on instant grommets
Bundle of ready to use tiedown ropes (3/16 nylon with the ends melted solid to prevent fraying)
Several Bic lighters as a backup ignition source
7/8 wrench for the propane distribution post
Spray can of WD-40
Silicone spray
Leather work gloves
Small bottle of fast orange hand cleaner
Handfull of bungee cords
Propane torch for belligerent firewood, finishing rope ends and lighting stubborn citronella candles
Jar of lantern mantles vTube of Seam Grip seam sealer.
The Cage
20LB propane tank
Fire extinguisher
Garden rake (so we can groom the spot where our tents will go)
Camp shovel (used mostly for fire tending, also handy for ditching if needed and permitted)
Small plastic table that sits between our chairs in front of the fire
Bucket of beach toys
2 pool noodles
Fireplace grate
2 plastic chairs for the kids
Baseball bat,
A “kick” ball,
Jugs of bottled drinking water
Spare tire for the trailer
Crossbar lug wrench (the van’s jack works fine
The Rear Dock Locker
Our 2 tents
Inflatables for the beach
Extra softdrinks
On shorter cold weather trips it might serve as a secondary woodbox.
Out In The Open
4 bicycles
2 jackstands for the back of the trailer
Support boards (painted orange) for the jackstands and the front dolly jack
A wooden post for when we form a vestibule fly on the tent
2 sealed pails of charcoal briquettes
2 wheel chocks
Vinyl covered cable and padlock that I lace through all of these items if we have to park in an unsecured area as we journey between campgrounds.