Here’s our guide to 10 essential bits of camping gear that every camper should be carrying! The better equipped you are, and the wider your range of camping gear, the better your camping experience will be.

1. JERRY CAN WITH WATER TAP

Righto, so we all know to carry water as part of our camping gear, and jerry cans let you lug big amounts easily, but unless your jerry can has a tap on the bottom you’re either going to struggle or lose a lot of water when you decant it into smaller bottles. Keep all plastic bottles as you empty them, then fill em back up of a morning before you leave camp.

2. CAMERAS

Ideally two types – a good one to get those cracking campfire photos, but a cheapie $50 point and shoot will keep the kids amused and generally out of trouble around camp. The cheaper the better – they won’t know the difference but you will when it invariably comes time to rescue it from the creek or mud hole. We all go camping to make memories, so adding a camera to your camping gear is an excellent investment!

3. COMFY CAMP CHAIRS

One of the best parts about going camping is spending time around a campfire, which makes comfortable camp chairs one of the best investments in your camping gear that you can possibly make! Look for a camp chair that has good padding on the arms and the back, and if it’s got a drink holder then you’re looking at a winner.

4. TENT FAN

Get a little battery powered tent  with an LED camp light and a hook to hang it off the roof, and you’re set for a comfortable sleep whenever you keep this with the rest of your camping gear. They’re rated to run at about 30 hours on high speed off a single set of batteries, so keep some spares for longer camping trips and you’re laughing.

5. CAMPFIRE JAFFLE IRON

Who wouldn’t love a tinned spagetti toastie around a campfire on a cold night? Get a couple  with the longest handles possible so you don’t have to lose an eyebrow in the name of cooking dinner. Good for breakky too – stuff in a croissant with a bit of ham and cheese and you’ve got breakky cooked in five minutes that needs no cleaning up! Definitely a must-have bit of camping & cooking gear.

6. Awning lighting

LED camp lighting can be installed almost anywhere. However, if you’re after uncompromised convenience, an awning with an inbuilt LED strip light is an ideal bit of camping gear. The trick is to strategically position your vehicle for an even spread of light, then set your awning up.

7. OCCY STRAPS

Occy straps are one of those things that are cheap as chips, but can be highly versatile out in the bush – so grab a few and keep them with the rest of your camping gear. Use them to help tie-down gear for the trip out to your favourite camp spot, and then utilise them as a clothesline that you can string between tree branches to dry off the swimming gear. There really is 101 uses for the humble occy strap!

8. PORTABLE STEEL FIREPIT

A portable steel fire pit is one of those things you just don’t appreciate until you have one. The Adventure Kings Portable Steel firepit for camping gear is an absolute winner! It packs away flat so it doesn’t take up much extra room, plus with the ability to maintain a consistent temperature for longer means a simple fire pit will have you cooking the juiciest camp roast you’ve ever tasted.

9. CANVAS CAMPING BAGS

Whether you use them for your first aid kit, your tools or your cooking gear, canvas camping bags are a brilliant bit of camping gear. Not only that, but they keep everything tightly bundled together which means they won’t be banging around in a box or loose in a drawer getting all mixed up.

10. SHOVEL

Whether you can fit a long handled shovel on your 4WD, or if a space-saving fold-up shovel is the go, it’s a necessity when you’re out in the bush. Whether you’re digging a fire pit, digging out a bogged 4WD or a making hole for when nature calls, you’ll get plenty of use from an old shovel as long as it’s in your camping gear kit!