Camping is a quintessential summer activity. Once warm weather hits, it seems like everyone starts itching to hit the road and head off to their favourite campsites. But it’s all too easy to forget something crucial when packing, only to discover when you’re at the camp, hours away from home, that you’re missing the tent poles. That’s where having a camping checklist when packing your camping gear and tools comes in handy.
The team at Morison Insurance wants you to have a fun but safe summer. And in order to be properly prepared for camping, you need a lot of tools, equipment, and gear. Our Ontario insurance professionals have put together this camping essentials checklist for your convenience. No matter if it's your first time camping and sleeping under the stars or you go backpacking in national parks regularly, you can have peace of mind knowing that you didn't forget anything and will have plenty of fun around the campfire this trip.
Unless you are going on the ultimate glamping experience, you are unlikely to find everything you need to camp with at your campsite. In fact, chances are, whether you’re heading out to a designated campsite or a secluded place in the backcountry, you are unlikely to get everything you need out there, making it important to create a camping checklist of what you need to bring with you.
Ontario is also a place of ever-changing weather, full of extremes. One day, you can enjoy a sunny, warm day perfect for camping, but the next, it could be below 10 degrees, raining buckets, or a scorching 35 degrees with humidity. In those cases, you will need to have certain gear to help acclimatize to the weather conditions, but unless they were included on your camping essentials checklist, it’s easy to miss those items.
Before going through your camping checklist, it’s important to do a little research first. Consider what type of campsite you are heading out to and what amenities, if any, it has. Also, consider what the weather forecast will be like for the time you are camping and what inclement weather events or conditions are common for the area that time of year. And remember, while you may be tempted to pack lightly, better safe than sorry when camping, so make sure to check off as much as you can off your camping essentials list so you don't forget anything.
To ensure you have an enjoyable and safe experience on your next camping trip this summer, the team at Morison Insurance has put together this camping checklist to help guide your packing decisions. Please keep in mind that the following camping checklists may differ a bit depending on your camping experience level, if you are RV camping or tent camping, your camping location, and how long your trip will be.
You should also have a first-aid kit containing:
Please note that this camping essentials checklist is dependent on the weather and is written with warm-weather camping in mind. If you are going winter camping, please adjust accordingly.
Please note that the contents of this camping essentials list will depend on the cooking amenities available at your campground, any rules and regulations, and the type of food you are preparing. Please pay attention to local fire bans in the area where you plan to camp.
Regarding the type of food to bring, make sure you can safely store it in tamper-proof containers without attracting local wildlife. While hot dogs and burgers make for great camping food, make sure to also include non-perishable items, such as granola bars, on your camping essential checklist. Additionally, ensure you don’t leave any trash from your food behind, take it with you and dispose of it properly.
The recreational items you will need to include on your camping checklist will differ depending on the type of activities you are doing. Will you be hiking? Is there a spot to fish? Ample room to play lawn games? Once you know what activities you plan on doing, write down what you need for them on your camping essentials checklist.
In addition, make sure to include personal items like:
If you plan on camping with kids or pets, you will also need to write down what they need on your camping checklist. For example, dogs will need their own food and gear, while young children will need toys to occupy them. Additionally, a current photo of each is crucial to have on hand if someone gets lost.
At Morison Insurance, we want you to be safe when camping. Whether it’s helping you with RV maintenance tips, creating a camping essentials checklist, or insurance, you can trust us to help you get there and home safely.
This content is written by our Morison Insurance team. All
information posted is merely for educational and informational purposes. It is
not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Should you decide to act
upon any information in this article, you do so at your own risk. While the
information on this website has been verified to the best of our abilities, we
cannot guarantee that there are no mistakes or errors.
