Congratulations!
If you’ve made it past three trips, you’re officially hooked on camping! Now it’s time to upgrade with a few new essentials:
Foam Camping Pads for Sleeping — Foldable Closed Cell Foam Camping Mattress, $32.99 each on Amazon. These aren’t perfect, but they’re easy to fold and unfold and provide a layer between you and the ground. They add warmth and protection against rocks and limbs, and they don’t need to be blown up. We’ve used them for four years running!
6-Pack 12 x 9 ft Extra Large Painter’s Drop Cloth — $9.99 on Amazon. Big Paul recommended this, and it works great! The tarp goes under the tent. These are disposable, so you don’t need to worry about drying or cleaning the tarp when you break down the tent.
Try cleaning and drying a tarp in an apartment!
Camping Cookware Set with Bag — $33.99 on Amazon. The tools are all metal and hold up well when cooking over a campfire. The set includes a cutting board, tongs for pulling things out of the fire, a spatula, and a spoon. It all fits in one bag!
Odoland 29-Piece Stainless Steel Camping Tableware Kit — $28.89 on Amazon. This all-metal kit serves four and includes bowls, plates, cups, forks, spoons, and knives. I like that it’s all metal—our plastic kit gets marked up by the knives.
Dishwashing Options:
- 2.4 Gal (9L) Collapsible Dish Basin with Drain Plug — $16.99 on Amazon.
- AceCamp Multifunctional Collapsible Water Basin — $22.99 on Amazon. This one has two sections, which makes it easier to have soapy water and clean-ish water.
At campgrounds like Ward Pond, where you need to do dishes in the bathroom sink, we bring compostable plates and forks and aim for one-pot meals.
In addition to dishes, you may need a quick clean-up! Bar-D Biodegradable Wipes are great for freshening up after meals or before bed.
