The Ultimate Checklist For Family Camping Essentials [+ eco sleeping bag review]

When I reminisce about being a child and a teen on family trips away, my thoughts are filled with camping memories. As far as I remember, we used to go camping a lot. I remember the car being filled to the brim with stuff, and those fun times spent with my little brother causing havoc with the other kids around the campsite. We used to make so many friends and be genuinely gutted to say goodbye to them at the end. We used to play football and swingball, it and 4040!

Even though I am a late adopter of this camping thing as an adult, I want to make similar memories with my three children, so I am now all in! Some may say, all the gear, no idea… but after a very steep learning curve, we’ve learned a lot over the past year, and consider ourselves pretty seasoned now.

We camp without electricity, for maximum adventure, and we love those sites around the UK where you can pitch where you like, and make your spot into your little home from home. Think bunting, fairy lights, kitchen area, washing area, sleeping area. We do make sure our trips are as comfortable and hygienic as possible, so we always take a few home comforts like a portable toilet and nice bedding.

However, we do not have infinite car boot room, so we have to be clever with what we take, and everything has to have a purpose!

First things first, how do you create camping comfort?

This brings me nicely to a wonderful 3-in-1 sleeping bag we were kindly gifted by The Fine Bedding Company. Now, hear me out, because this is not a shameless plug, and I only spend time reviewing things I actually love. And this sleeping bag is no exception.

Firstly, I LOVE practicality. As a family of 5, you have to quickly find those things that work for you and that serve you well. This sleeping bag is an example of this. Not only is it eco-friendly (They are a fourth-generation, UK-based company with a 100% zero waste eco-factory – how awesome is that!) there are 3 ways to use it.

With the Night Owl 3-in-1 sleeping bag, you have the choice of two single sleeping bags or a double. Due to the shape of the pieces, you can also unzip the sleeping bags completely and use them as one huge or two blankets. The 7.0 tog 3 season warmth rating is ideal for autumn, winter and spring seasons. We last used it in about 10 degrees and it’s absolutely perfect.

When you take the sleeping bag out of the bag, you can easily unzip it all and create your own config of options. My kids absolutely loved the softness of it (as did I – I was a bit jealous they bagsied the bag before me!) and they had their bags with them during daylight, car trips and for sleeping. It also all squashes down into the matching carry bag, so it is a luxurious but versatile bit of kit for us.

The filling is made from 100% Smartfil® Polyester from Recycled PET Bottles. Better still, the sleeping bag can go in the washing machine, come out fresh as a daisy and not lose any of the quality time and time again.

The Ultimate Checklist For Family Camping Essentials

Ok, so we’ve covered sleeping bags, but what other absolute essential items do you need on a camping trip? Instead of you having to think of your own list, this is mine that I use time and time again to make it easier to pack! So, let’s get stuck in…

Setting up your camping spot

1. Tent
2. Tent poles (if they are in a separate bag to the tent – easily forgotten!)
3. Tent pegs
4. Mallet
5. Tent Carpet/Rug
6. Awning/Porch
7. Windbreak
8. Doormat
9. Dust pan & brush

Overnight camping essentials

1. Sleeping bags
2. Pillows
3. Spare blanket per person
4. Your beds of choice (i.e airbed, camp bed, self-inflating sleeping mat)
5. Air pump (the ones you can plug into your car are good, and save some sweat!)
6. Equipment repair kits

Camping furniture

1. Camping Chairs
2. Folding Table
3. Storage Unit
4. Toilet (I don’t go anywhere without my portable loo! They are so handy when camping with a family – who wants to treck to the toilet block at 3am?)

Cooking essentials for camping

1. Kitchen
2. Water carrier
3. Thermal flasks
4. Stove
5. Fuel (gas, coal, wood, etc.)
6. Matches or lighter
7. Plates and bowls
8. Cutlery
9. Kitchen foil
10. Paper towels
11. Bin bags
12. Washing up liquid
13. Containers for food
14. Tupperware boxes for leftovers
15. Pots and frying pans
16. Kitchen knife
17. Wooden spoon
18. Seive/colander/sieve spoon
19. Serving spoon
20. Tin opener
21. Bottle opener
22. Corkscrew – we used tent pegs and a mallet to un-cork a bottle of wine last time when we forgot the corkscrew – so unless you want to look like a desperate alcohol-swigging crazy person, don’t forget the corkscrew 😀
23. Scissors
24. Vegetable peeler
25. Oven glove
26. Mugs/cups
27. Salad/Mixing bowl
28. Cutting board
29. Cool box
30. Ziplock bags
31. Washing up bowl
32. Tea towels
33. Scourers
34. Cooking oil
35. Seasonings/spices/condiments/sugar (I find small sachets or tiny pots very handy – I save them up over the year for our camping trips!)
36. Hot chocolate/tea bags/coffee

Don’t forget these clothing essentials

1. Wellies
2. Flipflops or sliders (for the showers!)
3. Sun hat
4. Rain gear
5. Swimming kit

Toiletries for camping

1. Towels
2. Face cloth (get one that removes dirt and makeup with only water – very handy indeed.)
3. Normal Shampoo
4. Handwash
5. Shower gel
6. Toothbrush
7. Toothpaste
8. Deodorant
9. Comb/brush
10. Razor
11. Sunscreen
12. Lip balm
13. Toilet paper
14. Hand/baby wipes
15. Nappies

Other camping essentials

1. Camping towels (the ones that are thin and dry really quickly)
2. Water bag with a tap (great to set up a hand-washing station)
3. Portable potty
4. Medication
5. Supplements
6. Cards/games/toys/balls/frisbee
7. Tablet
8. Device chargers
9. Bluetooth speaker
10. Bikes/helmets
11. Electric hook-up cable
12. Battery power packs
13. Notepad/pen
14. Torches/Lanterns/solar fairy lights/head torches (I find you can’t take too many lighting solutions!)
15. Extra batteries/bulbs
16. Insect repellent/candles
17. Water filters/purification
18. Rucksack
19. Washing powder
20. Clothes Pegs
21. Collapsible clothes drying rack
22. Rope/clothesline
23. Safety pins
24. Sunglasses
25. First aid kit
26. Pocket knife/multi-tool
27. Water bottles
28. Umbrella
29. Pocket sewing kit

Can you add anything to the list? What am I missing? Also, what are your favourite items to take? Let me know in the comments, and I will update the list! Thanks for reading, and enjoy your camping trip!

Last Updated on October 26, 2025 by Lucy Clarke