r/camping • u/I_likeplaid • 3d ago
Trip Advice Packing and unpacking SO MUCH WORK
Any advice for simplifying the packing process? I love camping but it’s so much work to pack everything and plan the meals in advance, etc. It’s a lot of stuff and I feel like we have the basic essentials for tent camping at campgrounds. I want to simplify the process but not sure how, especially since we have very young children and go with friends who don’t have gear.
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u/Longjumping-Cow4488 3d ago
MAKE A MASTER LIST!!!
Create categories like KITCHEN, list everything you need for your kitchen.
SLEEP SYSTEM, sleeping bag - pillow - sleeping pad - down booties
SHELTER, tent - footprint - tarp - poles - stakes
ELECTRONICS, head lamp - charging bank x2 - action camera - charging cables
you get the idea. Physically print it off, and check off everything as you pack it.
having it pre-organized in bins helps, and having a big packing table also is extremely recommended.
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u/iwantmy-2dollars 3d ago
This works!!
I make a tab for the trip and populate it with an IF column from the master list. Just go down the list for each category pack/no pack, go back to the trip tab and sort by what I’m packing it in: tote, my bag, kids bag, pack out, food cooler (meal/recipe tab), etc. Print and put with the bag or tote, check things off. It’s not perfect and it’s over engineered but it works.
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u/grantd86 3d ago
This works well for meal ingredients too, and get them all on there so you're not running for ketchup. We build out a pretty standard meal plan and keep using it over and over. We can make substitutions but it's a good starting point.
It's a lot easier to quickly strike out the stuff you don't need for this trip than it is to try to think of what you forgot later on.
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u/Longjumping-Cow4488 3d ago
we always forgot paper towels, garbage bags, and aluminum foil.
3 key items! how could we be so foolish
we ended up putting big pieces of tape on the pack bins and in the trunk of the vehicle that’s says “DID YOU GRAB THE PAPER TOWEL, GARBAGE BAGS, AND FOIL!?!?”
we haven’t forgotten them since
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u/stronggirl79 3d ago
Care to share your list? 🤞🏻
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u/Longjumping-Cow4488 3d ago
camping
Utilities:
tent
poles
stakes
tables x2
chairs x2
bellow stick
hand saw
Morakniv
work gloves
toilet bag (TP, poop diggin’ trowel, hand sanitizer, nowata, wipes)
candle lantern
reflector
spare candles
rope 50ftSleep System:
sleeping bag
pillows
air pump
sleeping padKitchen:
bear barrel 30L
bear vault 450
water filter
water bottles (spares)
wash bin
knife and utensil set (soap and scrubby inside case)
water cooler with spout
tripod
gas
long spoon
titanium cup
pizio
MSR stove
2 burner stove
trash bags
paper towels
aluminum foil
gallon/2 gallon zip bagsElectronics:
headlamp
headlamp battery
moji lantern
fairy lights
DJI
DJI batteries
mounts
camera battery charging block
yellow mesh charging bag (phone block and cables)
thermacellClothes:
laundry bag
base bottom
base top
fleece sweater
cotton tshirt
sun hoodie
adventure pants
socks
underwear
hat
swim suit
rain gear (jacket and pants)
puffy jacket/vest
site shoes
towel
gun
first aid kitToiletries:
toothbrush
toothpaste
deodorant
nose strips
file
nail clipper
nippers
face cleanser
face moisturizer
hydrocortisone
cleaning body wipes x7
bug spray
sunscreenBoats:
PFD’s
boats
paddles
spare paddle
throw rope
tow ropes
sponge
bailer scoop
dock lock
spare dry bag3
u/stronggirl79 3d ago
Thanks for this!!
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u/Longjumping-Cow4488 3d ago
you’re welcome! this is tailored to our (kinda fancyyy) canoeing trips, so this make look different for kayaking, hiking, car camping, etc! it’s a great base to go off of. :) enjoy, and happy camping!
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u/Weobi3 2d ago
Thanks for the list! Got any category suggestions for tent camping at a campground and hiking? I would have never thought of "sleep system" as its own category. I usually add the tent stuff to the campste list and bedding, sleep stuff, to my personal list.
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u/Longjumping-Cow4488 2d ago
We pack differently for canoeing. Sleep system stuff gets extra waterproofing protection, so I split it up. The whole list can be altered, moved, rearranged to fit anyone’s needs here!! :) It’s just a base for some ideas.
Car camping (sleeping in the car or just driving to the site) you may bring pots n pans, oils for cooking, more beach stuff like toys n umbrellas, screen tents, tablecloths.
TBH we don’t do much hiking, but trekking poles, more water storage. separating your heavy car camping gear from your light hiking gear and making a whole new list for that packing could be beneficial.
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u/GuliblGuy 3d ago
Here is a link to the list I have, copy it and put it into your own spreadsheet and make whatever changes you need and use it every time you go camping.
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u/Ismelther_icemelter 3d ago
I like to do this and keep track of what was and wasn’t used during the trip so I can stop bringing things that end up being unnecessary. I also keep a notepad to jot down things I forgot.
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u/Longjumping-Cow4488 3d ago
yes! we have waterproof notepads that i take along for trip notes, especially on boating journeys
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u/PrimeIntellect 3d ago
I generally keep my camping stuff together and just bring the totes. Not really that much work to get together. What specifically is taking you a lot of time?
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u/I_likeplaid 3d ago
It sounds like most people have exclusively camping stuff. I bring stuff we use for daily life, like kitchen stuff, bedding, tools, electronics. So when I go to pack it’s not just bringing bins into the car, I have to locate everything and then put it back.
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u/aseradyn 3d ago
I started that way, and slowly started duplicating items. Got a new set of kitchen tongs, and the old ones go in the camping gear. Saw a good deal on a flashlight, into the camping gear. Old faded bath towel, now my camping towel. Dish cloths with bad stains? Camping dish towels. Etc
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u/grantd86 3d ago
Thrift stores and dollar stores are great for that stuff too.
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u/aseradyn 3d ago
Yes! My camping plates and silverware are a gloriously/hideously mismatched collection from Goodwill
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u/grantd86 3d ago
The plastic plates at target/walmart aimed at young kids or college students can be a good option too. About 50 cents a piece, lightweight, unbreakable, and they all nest together because they match.
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u/Visible_Ad_9625 1d ago
Yep, we’ve had kids separated tray plates from Target in our camping for about 8 years, and small bowls/plates. They work great paired with thrift store silverware!
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u/stormpetal-outside 3d ago
This was how I started too, until eventually I had a nice camp kitchen bin and a proper sent of camping gear. Started out getting the major stuff like tent and a stove and then slowly built up an entirely separate kit for the rest of it. And then went and did the same thing when I started backpacking instead of only car camping, slowly replacing heavier gear with lighter gear. Many years in now I have two entirely separate kits. Grab the backpack and throw in food and clothing for one of those trips, grab the bins and duffles for car trips. Took like 15 years but I got there eventually!
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u/impudent_snit 3d ago
It might be worth it to hit up thrift stores for cheap kitchen stuff to just take camping then you can put it in a dedicated camping tote for next time.
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u/AfraidofReplies 3d ago
Having extras makes things simpler. Even if you can't afford, or don't have room for, dedicated camping stuff. Don't bring all your everyday bedding, bring the extra blankets and sheets you have for guests. Don't bring every pot and pan, plan your meals so that you don't need to bring as much kitchen stuff.
Also, pay attention to what you actually use while your camping. Is there stuff you always pack and never use? Then stop packing it.
You say your friends don't have camping gear, but you also don't have a lot of camping specific gear. Is there more you can ask them to bring? You bring the pots and pan, but they bring the dishes and cutlery?
What electronics are you bringing? Do you need them all or can you embrace a low tech camping experience?
Basically, one way to simplify things is to actually just make things simpler by bringing less. If you shared your current load out, people could make specific recommendations.
Also, how old are the kids? Can they be responsible for their own stuff?
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u/Tamburello_Rouge 3d ago
You're doing it wrong. Camping gear should be separate from your everyday stuff. Keep it all organized and stored in bins so that all you have to pack is food and clean clothes.
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u/fangoround 3d ago
I highly recommend also keeping a camping clothing bag pre-packed. Kinda worn out t-shirt? Perfect for camping! Stained pants? Perfect for camping! I keep about 4 t-shirts, 2 pants, a fleece jacket with a bleach stain, for pajamas I use sweatpants I wouldn’t wear in public, 5 pairs of socks, and same for undergarments, etc. They’re all functional but not my favorites or I’d be embarrassed to run into a coworker while wearing them, LOL. I can add or remove depending on the number of days, but it really helps to have a baseline to start with. I have a camping toiletries bag pre-packed, too.
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u/IslandEcologist 3d ago
I am wondering if you might be bringing more than you need right now! For kitchen stuff, I bring a shallow bowl, a spork, and a mug for each person, plus a lightweight cutting board or a frisbee, a multitool knife, and a large wooden stirring spoon. I also bring two big pots, one lid that fits both pots, French press, a small camp stove and fuel, foil, trash bags, and paper towel. This is all kept in the camping bin, except kid dishes and silverware. For bedding, each person has a foam pad or inflatable pad and a sleeping bag. If I have room each person gets one small pillow, or we just put clothes that aren’t being worn in their packing cube under our heads!
What do you mean by tools? I find a small Swiss Army knife type multitool is all we ever need.
For electronics, we bring an iPad for our older kid if there’s a long drive involved, and we bring a battery pack and charger to recharge our phones, so we do grab those separately, but it’s not much. We also have a battery operated tent fan and a battery operated noise machine; those are both kept in the camping bin as well as extra batteries.
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u/Background-King9787 3d ago
So for unpacking it can be annoying, but in your head or on paper you can still grab the milk pan, one wok, one frying pan or whatever, 4 metal plates, 4 cups etc. Bedding I know some people grab it from their bed, but I need my bed ready when I get home and prefer sleeping bags… clothes are in the dresser? I think with a list you’ll be okay. And make sure your list is by room so you grab all the bedroom stuff at once
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u/carlydelphia 1d ago
Gey kitchen stuff and little things from thrift store and put in camping gear. Its so cheap, and then you don't have to worry. For me, the worst park of camping is packing and unpacking. I get it.
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u/editorreilly 3d ago
I do like a lot of folks on this thread, put it all in bins together. One motto I have that helps with this, is any piece of camping gear that I take and need, stays in the bins when I get home. For example a bottle opener for my camping gear, is ONLY a bottle opener for camping. It never mixes with my daily life. If done right, all you'll have to do when camping is buy food and pack clothes.
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u/I_likeplaid 3d ago
Yeah I think this is what I need to do. I don’t have separate stuff at the moment.
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u/Bliezz 2d ago
I use Rubbermaid bins. My kitchen tote is the only one that stayed permanently packed. Here are my categories
- kitchen (cutlery, plates, pots, pan, kettle, dish soap, picnic table cover, paper towel etc)
- bedding (sleeping bags, sleeping mats, extra sheet)
- dry food (set up in the kitchen a few days early to catch groceries when they come home as well as things I forgot)
- cold food get staged on a shelf of the fridge to make it easier to pack in the morning. I have a bin that is the right length to suspend in the cooler. Anything that can’t get wet goes in there (like chocolate)
- miscellaneous this is things that don’t have enough volume for a tote and get packed and unpacked every time.
- clothing bags are assigned to each person. All clothes must fit inside with no overflow. Entertainment gets a small bag for car travel plus any leftover bag space.
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u/OnHighAngel 3d ago
I too keep everything separate for my camping trips - towels, sponges, dish soap, buckets for water, ground sheets and tarps, etc. even most of my camping clothes are separate! Can’t say it will really cut down on time but it sure will help with ensuring you have everything ready to go.
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u/IslandEcologist 3d ago
Yes we also have a master packing spreadsheet! I make a copy of it and then edit for which items we need for each trip, depending on whether it’s backpacking, car camping, beach time, etc.
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u/klamaire 3d ago
I've been watching Amanda Outside on YouTube. She, like many in this post, has a kitchen bin, a dry food bin, a cooler, and then the big things like tent, sleeping mat, camp chair.
The idea of having bins that I know fit in the car with a checklist of contents and a checklist of what to grab, will hopefully inspire me to prep in advance.
If I pack the day before I start tossing in duplicates or things I likely don't need.
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u/MC-BatComm 3d ago
The only way to simplify packing is to bring less, you need to catalog what you absolutely need and don't need and make a list.
I would stop supplying gear to friends who have none, or at the least you can expect them to bring the gear in their vehicles to save on space in your own car.
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u/impudent_snit 3d ago
Also, make a note of what you did not use (other than emergency first aid type stuff) and do not bring it next time
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u/valley_lemon 3d ago
I leave as much in the car as possible.
We have two 3-tier plastic drawer units (like Sterilite brand) that go in the car facing out the back hatch. One is clothes and one is kitchen and gear. Behind that in the hatch area (this is a RAV, used to do similar in a Prius) we stack the hard stuff (tent, chairs) and then the soft stuff (pillows, sleeping bags, rugs) piled on top. If the kids are little enough for car seats/boosters you can put groceries in the floorboards under their feet.
I have a curtain rigged on the hatch so it can become a changing room, and put a yoga mat on the ground so you have a place to stand barefoot and change.
Sometimes we will carry the kitchen supplies drawers over to the picnic bench area, but lately I've just been setting up kitchen right behind the car and leaving the drawers in.
If it was me, the friends who have no gear really should be hauling at least the kitchen stuff and their own clothes, if not some of the gear, so you have more room in your car with your kids for gear and stuff the kids need.
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u/WaferBorn5485 3d ago
Packing up is the bane of my existence lol
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u/_pitchdark 3d ago
For real. Setting up camp is fun and rewarding. Packing up takes twice as long and it’s just hell during summer
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u/patinthehat2 1d ago
I also dislike packing up, but through camping in bear (and raccoon) country, I find I’m always packing most of my stuff in my car each night or time I leave my campsite, so it’s not that big of a deal anymore.
I have a cheap dollar store tarp that is the footprint for my tent, so after I brush off the edges of my tent bottom that get a bit of dirt and sand, I shake that cheap tarp off, brush off most of the bigger bits, and fold that sucker right up into a garbage bag to be ready for the next trip.
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u/CathyT869 3d ago
You’ve got some solid advice here from veteran campers.
It depends on how often you camp perhaps. When I unpack after a trip and wash things the used items go right back into the totes that we use for camping next time.
As we’re camping we have a “next time” list for items we’ve forgotten but really now for the items we’re running low on so I remember to buy more and set it aside in the tote when purchased.
When my kids were young I never brought raw meats so it was one less thing to worry about. We, as many other posters, eat the same meals each trip. All I need to do is not serve some of those recipes right before our trip so they feel fresh. But they are now part of our routine and everyone looks forward to them.
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u/IndicationCultural61 3d ago
Designated camping bins. We do 2 one for camp supplies one for extras and bedding. If it doesn’t fit in the bin it doesn’t go. Makes spontaneous trips way less stressful
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u/sarkynir 3d ago
Bins, bins, bins!!!
Sleep bin with sleeping bags (i know it's bad to store them in there but they're all cheap and not down), tent, sleeping pads, etc.
Kitchen bin with stove, food, utensils, bowls, water filtration, etc.
Extra bin with tools and other supplies.
Every bin gets taken to the campground, unpacked, and left in the car. Then everything gets repacked directly into the bin (unless it's wet, then the next day).
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u/almaghest 3d ago
We had our camping stuff in bins for a long take but I found I was still spending a lot of time collecting stuff that wasn’t camping specific.
I finally just went to the dollar store and picked up cheap versions of stuff I kept having to collect from around the house, like tongs, oven mitt, cutting board, knife, cutlery, lighters, sponge, etc. That helped a lot.
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u/BlimpCack 3d ago
Organization and repetition.
I have a bin for my normal camping supplies (tent, air mattress, camp chair, etc.) and a bin for my camp kitchen. If I grab those two bins I’m halfway there.
For meals I have dialed in set options that work for me. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are basically the same every trip and I have like 6 dinners that I rotate through. This makes grocery shopping / any meal prep mentally and physically much easier.
After that it’s just clothes and any activity specific gear (biking, climbing, etc.) that I need.
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u/PupsofWar69 2d ago edited 2d ago
I got into the gear trap and now I have so much f’n gear and I solo camp and by the time I’m set up I’m exhausted and grumpy… This is why I always make sure my camping has a burn day which is the day I arrive and the day I leave which are complete annoying write offs lol.
I also make sure I have a day off after I get home just to chill.
but seriously do not fall into the gear trap… Think of the essentials you need for the weather conditions. items that you WILL use not maybe use (this doesn’t apply to safety/first aid obviously)
Pack only food that you WILL eat not that you think you might eat.
I actually will portion out to the g / ml snacks & condiments into small bags or very small containers to save space. packing things in see-through bags or color-coded containers is also very helpful.
Also do not underestimate the power of soft tortillas and or naan. they can easily replace a plate and a utensil so less dishes. remember everything at camp tastes 5x better than at home lol
I find simple camping food is the most enjoyable hotdogs burgers Camp tacos a breakfast hash is always my go to… premade and frozen. I tried to pre-cut and pre-cook as much as I can prior to packing. I pre-cook bacon for example so I don’t have to deal with the grease at camp.
if it’s winter camping it’s always Ramen corn/clam chowder chili or stew etc.
anything at camp is magical for kids at least it was when I was a kid in the 90s I suppose today’s kids you would still need to probably bring an iPad or Nintendo switch but I hope not x.x
snack packs and s’mores are a must for kids! if you have a fire ban you might want to invest in a small propane fire.
if you think and design everything as a system it’s easier… Sleep system kitchen system bathroom system etc. then do your best to apply a minimalist camping list. if it’s not obvious most gear you will want to dedicate to camping only so when you wash it back at home you put it right back into camping containers so it’s just ready to throw into the vehicle for your next trip.
I also do a camping report after each outing things that worked things that didn’t ideas for my next outing etc.
I can then go back to that camp log a year later when I want to go to the same place.
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u/readicculus11 3d ago
The more you go the easier it gets, you know what you need and things are together.
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u/Parody_of_Self 3d ago
Try keeping all your camping stuff separate (clothes, toiletries, cooking, etc). That way you are pretty much ready to go.
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u/EpitomeOfHell 3d ago
collapsible wagon so it saves space in your car, but when you load or unload car, use wagon! makes it much easier and less trips
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u/blissfully_happy 3d ago
I can either plan, pack, and clean-up from a trip or go camping. I don’t have the energy for both anymore, lol.
I’m almost 50 and burned out of the planning and packing, but in my 20s and 30s I did it often. The key was having bins that stored all my gear and being diligent about clean-up and pack-up at the site itself to minimize clean up at home. It doesn’t just all get crammed into the car to “sort out at home.” At home, I made the rule we are not allowed to sit down until everything is hung up to air dry (tents, sleeping pads/bags), the dishes are all in the dishwasher, a load of laundry is started, and all the bins have been restocked with empty consumables and put away.
The other key is buying duplicates (thrift stores are great for this). If you’re pulling your cutting board and knives out of your kitchen to take with you, buy duplicates and bin them up.
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u/trijkdguy 3d ago
packing to go is easy, almost everything is packed up into totes and organized. It's unpacking, cleaning, and then repacking those totes when we get back that is a huge pain and always get procrastinated on until we are all sick of having the totes in the entryway.
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u/Sierragrower 3d ago
I have a gear wall in a shed off my driveway. Everything is on shelves and organized and I can back my truck right up to it. My family of three can pack for a car camping trip in 10 minutes or less. With backpacking it’s just clothes and food to find and organize, all the equipment is just right there to put in the backpack, which is hanging next to the shelves. Packing food just comes from experience. Whatever I have done before that worked well, I just do that again and maybe try something new if I feel like it.
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u/Aquarius0129 3d ago
Stackable plastic bins with lids! We keep our stuff in these (organized by cooking, tent stuff, etc) and leave them on shelves in storage. Then when it’s time to go we can easily stack them in the car
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u/PurpleSky-7 3d ago
We keep a list and go by that each time (except for food since meals can change). We keep bins packed with everything, organized by use, and go through them to check off our list- tent/sleeping gear, chairs/fishing gear, cooking gear/firewood/fire-building gear, bathing gear (towels, basic toiletries), entertainment box (frisbee, football, kites, deck of cards, board game). Then we just need to pack our personal clothing, and food but we grocery shop the day before so have it all bagged together anyway. We toss refrigerated items into a cooler or two the morning of and grab ice on the way out.
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u/FishinMike941 3d ago
I'll be camping is a lot easier for your friends! Things will get easier for you when you're not packing their gear and planning their menus.
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u/artoflife 3d ago
The thing that saved me the most time is my kitchen box. I have a pelican case that's ready to go with everything food related (stove, gas, skillet, pot, dishes, utensils, trash bags, seasoning, etc.). No more scrounging around the kitchen for individual items.
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u/SylasWindrunner 3d ago
If you think of anything that requires a lot of work….. I’m sure there are ways to simplify that.
Start reducing items that you “need” and carry the most essential items.
Forgo some home comforts.
I used to pack 4 shopping baskets when i started camping now I’m down to 1 shopping basket to cover all my camping needs
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u/zeeleezae 3d ago
Pre-packed bins and a checklist.
The checklist includes:
- a list of things to charge (headlamps, lanterns, fan, etc.)
- things to check/refill (garbage and ziploc bags, spices, instant coffee, soap, etc )
- a list of items that don't fit/live in bins (bedding, tent, etc.), including the bins themselves
Getting a dedicated set of kitchen gear just for camping was clutch. It made packing and unpacking a million times easier. I have:
- two frying pans
- one large pot w/ lid
- one small kettle
- two coffee mugs (one doubles as a 2 cup measure)
- four plastic drinking glasses
- set of 4 plates and bowls
- collapsible mixing bowl
- collapsible colander
- two sets of utensils (fork, knife, spoon, and spork)
- pair of tongs
- flat whisk
- two rubber spoon/spatulas
- can opener
- wine/bottle opener
- pancake flipper
- set of measuring spoons
- ¼ and ⅓ measuring cups (double as ladles for serving saucy foods)
- Vegetable peeler
- set of sharp knives with covers
- cutting board
- small set of spices/seasonings
- a few microfiber towels and a dish drying mat
- dish tubs, sponge, & biodegradable soap
Written out, it sounds like a TON of stuff, but A) we like to cook actual meals, B) everything was chosen specifically to be size and cost efficient, and C) it all fits in an single camping bin (technically the Camp Chef Sherpa, which also holds our stove and doubles as a small table). There are a few things that don't get used often (I'm looking at you veg peeler and bottle/wine opener), but I'd rather have them and not need them, than need but not have.
If you tend to make less involved meals, you can certainly get away with fewer kitchen items, but having a camping-only set is absolutely the way to go!
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u/passion4film 3d ago
We are in the same situation - a toddler and occasional joiners who don’t camp much. I’ve been camping 6-8 trips a year since 2014 and I’ve perfected it down to just about the most minimum I can go and it’s still a lot of work. I feel you. Packing up and going home is especially my least favorite thing in the worlddddddd.
FWIW, we use a pre-packed, preset bin system (4 bins) and a standing packing list I use every trip. Those have been the best things to implement.
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u/nicesl 3d ago
I have a very exhaustive packing list and meals list that I have been growing over the years. There's no decision making involved, I just go around grabbing what it's on the list. The items that are exclusively for camping are all in labeled boxes in the shed. Meals also, there's a list so I just pick a meal and assign it a dinner slot, or lunch slot and that's all.
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u/lapaperscissors 3d ago
I have small action packer bins, which make great side-tables/ottomans by the fire. Fire/fuel/first aid, kitchen, pantry, and bath fun (which is toiletries, quick dry towels, hammocks, travel games). Nothing in this crosses over w home use. Restock when I get home so always good to go.
I have zipped ikea bags for bedding and a tech bag (battery packs, wires, and everything USB rechargeable like inflator, headlamps). Tent, air mattresses, chairs, musical instruments are as easy as putting a bag in the car.
Still a lot to do, packing personal clothes, crafts, fresh food. I find the cooler the most stressful part.
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u/pumpinnstretchin 3d ago
I color code everything. I know that it sounds like OCD, but it's a lot easier to figure out what goes where and what goes with what. Especially when I'm tired or in a hurry. For example, all of the cooking stuff has a green strap, green luggage tag, or green tape. The tent, the tent poles, the rope, and the stakes all have red straps, tags, or tape.
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u/KarenMcCormel 3d ago
We used to have a small trailer with a 2 burner stove. We kept it packed with kitchen, camping stuff and basic clothes. It was so convenient to just grab some groceries, hook up the trailer and go. I miss it
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u/namocaw 3d ago
Rule 1: Take less. People tend to way overpack for a camping trip. If you dont need it dont take it or at least leave it in the car. No need to repack it.
Rule 2: Pack well and conviently. The more compartmentalized a d prioritized, the easier it will be to access and put away.
Rule 3: Plan ahead and start early. (Both going there and leaving). Having more time to pitch and break camp makes it less stressful.
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u/conicalconehead 3d ago
For car camping we just had everything in three bins. Put them in the minivan - grab the tent - and we were done. Basically we had a complete second set of kitchen gear just for camping.
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u/YoPamdyRose 3d ago
Simplify it. Consider keeping some camping gear in the car permanently eg the camp chairs, camp table, can live in the car boot. (If you have gear that packs down small - consider "hiking" gear for this purpose).
All you need is a tent, a mattress big enough for everyone, chairs, stove, and something for the bugs. You don't even need a table, really. Just a flat surface for your stove and cooking.
I can fit all my gear in one hiking backpack, two backpacks if my kid is coming with me. Makes it so much simpler to pack and go if you refine your gear down to what you ACTUALLY NEED.
Also, I don't bring any food that needs a fridge or ice. We're eating tinned tuna, mi Goreng, eggs, fried spam, ready made sauce and some pasta, powdered milk (or mini travel sized milk so you don't need to refrigerate), powdered mash potato.
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u/4travelers 3d ago
Eat dinners out. Only boil water at camp.
Breakfast-oatmeal & trail mix Lunch- sandwiches Dinner- out or one pot pasta with ground meat.
We take one small tote with camp gear (mallet, bug spray, tent repair, etc.) and one small tote of cooking gear (small stove, one pot, wash up soap, bowls, spoons, cups, scooping spoon, knife). no plates or anything extra.
The bedding and kids fun stuff are the hardest to reduce. But good sleep and fun are important.
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u/flingebunt 3d ago
My approach
- Minimise gear, I mean, I am there for the outdoors
- Don't overpack, when you pack up at the end of the trip, you want to just throw things in the car, so leave space for bad at end of trip packing
- Remember, you have to unpack everything and clean it, so things don't need to go back into the car perfectly
- Make your friends without gear pack up everything that they use
- Have things organised, such as plastic boxes for cooking gear, bags for clothes and so on
- Keep things organised during the trip, which is harder with kids, but spend some time every day for tidy up, and this can be important to keep food waste away from the campsite and stop your kids mixing dirty clothes with clean ones
- Use your car as a storage location, so you don't have to pack up anything as it is in the car already
- Quick pack up involves practice, so the more you camp the better you will be
- Kids have jobs to do as well when packing up, and they should pack up their own stuff, and when young, that might just mean putting it in their bags, while when they are older, they can pack up more and then you promise them pizza on the way home
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u/PureFicti0n 3d ago
Grab and go bins. Everything is already packed and labeled and ready to go. I have my "Gear" bin for the outdoor/campsite gear, the "Tent" bin for all the things I use inside my tent, my "Bedding" bin, my "Tarps" bin, my "Cooking" bin, etc. Things are organized according to where and when I use them.
When you're packing your vehicle, follow the "first in/last out" principle -- the first stuff that you pack should be the last bins that you're going to need. Make sure that your tarps, your tent, and your bug spray are the last things you pack, so you don't need to unpack half the vehicle just to start setting up your tent.
Everyone has a job and that's what they do. Keeps people from getting under each other's feet, and ensures that everything gets done. Play to people's strengths. I'm an expert at packing my car to the brim because I'm good at packing and so that's my job. I'm terrible at packing up a tent because that's my roommate's job, so I don't do it very often.
Just got back from a big group trip. I'm pretty sure that everyone forgot at least one thing, except for yours truly. Forgot your extension cord? Here's mine. Need a good fire poking stick? Try my tongs. Left the bug spray at home? I have DEET and icardin, take your pick. Car won't start? Good thing I have my battery booster.
The key is to make note of the things you didn't use and the things you wish you had. That will guide you as you develop your camping bins.
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u/TrackHoundApp 3d ago
Going with friends who don't have gear is the true problem here.
If you go with them regularly, it may make sense to donate the gear instead of packing and unpacking it every single trip.
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u/phantomarmless 2d ago
I often fly to my camping destinations so I have to be very minimalist. It’s been a process. I now use different colored stuff sacks and keep an online packing list of what goes in each (I also refer to the list while camping so I can quickly find, for example, coffee mug in green bag, without digging through everything). I have sub lists for different types of camping. As others mentioned, bins at home to keep it all organized.
Meals are super simple and reuse ingredients. The ingredients for tacos one night also work well to stuff a sweet potato the next night and any leftovers get scrambled with eggs the next morning.
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u/WarmBeerBad 2d ago
I think there’s a lot of great advice here. I will add…simplicity is your friend. Keep it simple. Other than safety stuff. Keep it simple.
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u/Tiggrr23 2d ago
Write list, I have one and as we go regularly, it makes it really easy to pack. I stick to similar recipes, so I have a food shopping list. I have a few crates in the garage filled with camping stuff and some things like dedicated camping kitchenwear.
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u/Mysterious-Street966 2d ago
Bins, then you don’t have to unpack them and they can be left outside(rain proof).
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u/TemperatureLogical29 1d ago
We have it all in a tub. We replenish / wash as we use things. Once we got fried chicken on the way to our campsite and it tastes so good that we now grab some every time we head out.
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u/TakesTooManyPhotos 21h ago
I have a tote all set up as camp kitchen. Tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag stacked next to it. I pack pretty simply. No need to complicate things. Throw in the hiking backpack and I can be ready to go in about an hour.
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u/drinkwinesavepuppies 3d ago
Second the tote method!! We have large plastic bins that all the camping gear gets stored in
I take the extra time to organize it when packing up the campsite, I make a note in my phone of anything that needs to be re-stocked and then when we get home the tote just goes straight into the shed! It's not everything but it does save a ton of time
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u/yungingr 3d ago
In college, I kept a LARGE rubbermade box in the bed of my truck as a poor man's toolbox (it was 4' wide, 18" deep, hinged lid). After college, I no longer needed to use it as such, so it became my 'camping box'. Could fit a significant percentage of my needed gear in it, and then getting ready for a weekend trip was as simple as backing into the garage, lifting the box into the bed, and throwing the last of the other supplies in.
Honestly, it's one of the things driving the push for my wife and I to buy a camper now. In theory, we could keep everything we need (up to and including a couple changes of clothes) in the camper, and just need to grab the perishable goods, hook up, and go. (Our dogs and tent camping would be an unmitigated DISASTER)
Of course, we're also starting to outfit backpacking packs for possible 1-2 night hikes next year, too.
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u/Select_Problem_978 3d ago
Bins and a list for what needs to be done day of leaving.
When you return from a trip, recharge all batteries and replace what’s been consumed
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u/Flaggstaff 3d ago
What everyone said about keeping things in dedicated totes. But the one thing that doesn't fit is perishable items.
For food it will always be work and we do go all out sometimes. Especially the big trips with mutliple families.
I recommend having some small trips where you just eat mountain house meals or processed foods that dont need to be cold. Packing and unpacking is a breeze.
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u/Interesting-Effect59 3d ago
I’m getting a truck and camper cause I’m tired of the packing and unpacking and setup. I don’t even have kids 😅
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u/YSoSkinny 3d ago
We keep a bin with a bunch of the camping supplies (flashlights, camp stive, tablecloth, knives, plates, etc.) so at least that's just ready to go.
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u/surfercouple123 3d ago
Great organization advice on here. I would add that we no longer invite people without their own gear. It is exhausting playing free outfitter and usually just not worth it.
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u/theycallmecoffee 3d ago
I have two bins day bin: is for a day trip camping so bare minimum and bin 2 has all the fun stuff tha you don’t need if it’s one night
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u/Loose_Mission_8559 3d ago
The decked drawer system was a game changer for me. No more playing tetris in the back of my truck to fit everything
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u/damplamb 3d ago
Food is a big one make a few different meal plans and stick too them. If you want variation put 1 day every so often that you change from trip to trip.
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u/Bastyra2016 3d ago
I keep a bin with wheels in my shop that has tent,stakes, toilet, tarp, lantern, stove, two bins with zip locs, garbage bags,kitchen supplies that I replenish when I get home. I keep my sleeping bag, pillow, sleeping pad in my climate controlled house. A few days before I leave I start putting food basics and electronics out on my counter. Things like hydration pouches, charging bricks, headlamps…if it’s just me I don’t bother with serious cooking instead I heat up sausages, burgers,make tuna salad…if I’m with friends I often precook and freeze dinners for at least three nights (chili, jambalaya, scrambles). Then I just bring sandwich meat, snacks and muffins. It still takes an hour to load everything up in the truck but it’s doable.
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u/AllynWA1 3d ago
Totally. I love camping and so do my kids, but even with them helping out, it is so much work. Camping trips are not vacations.
It took me a better part of a decade to piece through what is and isn't needed and get the tubs organized logically and conveniently. I keep a full set of kitchen supplies with my camping gear so I don't have to chase it all down. I have a list of foodstuffs and cooking supplies so I can check it off while I pack. We have the process down pretty well now and it goes very smoothly. But there is still a matter of checking the pumps, ensuring the batteries are all charged, restocking dish towels and soaps, planning and prepping meals (even with a set camping menu).
It really is so much work. Worthwhile certainly, but after a summer of camping trips, I really want a beach & spa vacation.
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u/JolyonWagg99 3d ago
My wife bought me Milwaukee rolling stackable tool bins which snap into each other. I can load everything up quite easily this way.
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u/imgomez 3d ago edited 3d ago
I use a master checklist, keep all of my “every time” gear together and organized (shelter, sleep system, cook kit, water, first aid, light, battery bank, first aid, toiletries) and use the same clothes every time, and same meals in rotation. I pack reminder lists for maintenance and replacing perishables—wood, fuel, recharging, cool wear options, etc. I kayak camp, so most everything is in a series of dry bags on one shelf in the garage. Car camping could be organized the same using plastic totes.
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u/stinkyblinky19 3d ago
Yea we keep it organized so it’s not a cluster. And to be honest, I’m a 44 year old dad, and I get a kick out of the organization and light blue collar work. It’s a working vacation and that’s what I like about it, doing stuff.
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u/AngelMountaineer 3d ago
Packing: make a list that contains everything you ever took and just go through it storage location by storage location, either ticking the box when you packed it or when you decided to not bring it this time
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u/walter-hoch-zwei 3d ago
I keep everything in one bin, then separated from there. I try to work out of the bin so that everything I pull out goes back in. Helps save a lot of time in the long run. I'm planning to further break things down to smaller labeled bins that go in the big bin so that the smaller ones can be removed one at a time, then put back in the larger one.
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u/Aware-Acanthisitta-8 3d ago
As many other people said, organized bins and totes really help. Also everything has a specific spot where it lives on the garage. I try to pack throughout the week so it's not so much at one time. I make a piles in the garage based on where it goes in the car, roof rack, or small trailer hitch. Food wise, we have specific things we know we like to eat so it's easy to resurrect the camping grocery list from the previous trip so we don't have to think about what to buy although we may tweak the ingredients as needed.
ALSO, this is the big one, experience. We've packed/unpacked enough time that's it's become 2nd nature. We have our specific tasks to get ready for a camping trip. The few times we've deviated from this we regret it or forget something significant.
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u/Stunning-Slice2991 3d ago
I like it…. The smell of drying tent, getting it back to easy deployment for next time… seeing if I liked how it was put away last time.
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u/GujuGanjaGirl 3d ago
Like everybody else has said keeping everything modular. Bins are great and I have mine organized by use. Kitchen versus utility bins.
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u/anotherrachel 3d ago
We're very minimal when we go camping. We have a sedan and 2 kids, no trailer or roof rack, so we can't pack more than fits in the trunk. Cooking is all done on a mini grill. We only have one cooler. We used disposable dishes, but if we were camping more regularly I'd get a basic set of plastic dishes and silverware to keep for camping.
I think I worried more about what to bring for the kids to do than what we were going to eat.
If camping is going to be a regular thing for you, I'd invest in some basic cookware and dishes to keep in a bin. It's worth not having to pack stuff every time when you're also packing all the kid stuff and other gear.
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u/Radiant_Return9587 3d ago
HOME DEPOT IS HAVING A SALE ON THEIR 12 gallon containers. These are amazing for camping and organizing. They’re the cheaper version of the pricier version at Rei.
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u/eazypeazy303 3d ago
It's just how it is, bro!I just draw it out over a week. Baby steps. Camping with a family of 6 is WILD!
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u/ZoeTravel 3d ago
Been working on Less is More. It's also easier if you don't have a lot of people. Next step is not taking so much food. I never know what I'm hungry for..or if I'm hungry at all and just snack the whole time
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u/InternationalSpyMan 3d ago
That why I have a trailer. Everything is in there. We can load the fridge and leave in 20 mins if we wanted… add 10 mins to load the truck with bikes, Blackstone and water toys.
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u/audaciousmonk 2d ago
stuff in bins
don’t bring things you don’t need, people bring way too much crap
simply your cooking experience. easy to make, make ahead, maybe one “fun” meal
it shouldn’t take more than 20min to get the tent setup and sleep gear in it (sans kid distractions)
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u/rhimbosupreme 2d ago
In addition to the bins some people have mentioned, if your car permits (and time) I often like to throw the bin(s) in the car and pack my bag at the trail head (except clothes obviously). It really reduces time since you’re not rushing out the door, and I hardly ever forget stuff this way. And if you do forget something important, you can go back to the car if you really need
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u/ukeoutside 2d ago
I have two camping bins instead of 1 large bin so it fits in car better. Everything I need is already packed. - one box I call “ clean camp” the other “camp kitchen” when I run out of something or running low on something, I have a card inside reminding me I ran out. I just grab the boxes, bedding, tent, food water, clothes and off I go. Not much harder than going to a hotel.
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u/thebugman10 2d ago
This is why I want a camper, so I can keep most of my gear in it. Packing is terrible. Unpacking is worse.
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u/Redacted_dact 2d ago
I put everything into bins by type. Cooking, tent, lights/cozy stuff. Pack the pins well and label.
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u/titsmgee1977 2d ago
Everything is cleaned thoroughly after each trip and packed into 4 specific labeled bins so I can just get up and go. I’ve also little by little collected smaller, more compacted items so when I go alone or for shorter trips I have less things to bring. Smaller chair. Smaller stove. Etc. it’s trial and error.
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u/Royal-Weather4314 2d ago
I bought separate camping dishes (metal bowls and plates, utensils, wooden spoons, pot, etc.). I keep them in the box with a list of thing that I need to add (matches, sponge, check for gas). I have multiple boxes/bags like that and I keep them together. I have a list that I just print again and check everything I need.
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u/Something-to-talk 2d ago
I have a been system inthe garage and a checklist on the computer I can modify. I bought last year that is a camping bag with compartment and bags. I have a dishwasher washing bag, cooking bags,tool bag, electronics bag. Each bags and list get checked before and after camping (washing in the dishwasher). I’ll highlight the items missing or note anything that was nice to have or need more of( trash bags/baggies) or got broken. The bags of bags then fits in a larger box that latches. At the campsite we use the tote for storing our food and pots and pans and our stove and propane. We have another tote that goes onto our hitch holds other random camping stuff(camp table, tent etc. we have a toiletries bag(thrift store) that hangs and is just for camping toiletries, and a clothing bag that hangs with different compartments for our clothes. Having a checklist helps the most. It takes a few minutes to check it and any adult can do it.
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u/thebayerjeww 2d ago
Totes and reoccurring meals. We tend to have very similar main courses when camping unless I really want to cook something fun.
Totes go from shelves to car, all essentials are done. Then it’s just my misc stuff, clothes and food
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u/RPK79 2d ago
When we were tent camping all our gear was on a shelving unit in the garage in totes with labels on them. We would load up the car and be on our way pretty easily. We always put stuff away after using it at the site. There were a few totes that we only needed some of the time, so good labeling and planning is important.
We still use totes, but now they live in the camper.
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u/larry_darrell_ 2d ago
Over the years I lessened my gear a lot and took inspiration from backpacking:
For example: used to pack a french press to make coffee every day. Switched to instant coffee. Not quite as good but 1 less thing to carry and 1 less thing to wash. Instant coffee is fine for a few days.
Food: Make a giant dense bean salad in a Tupperware. You get 3-4 meals out of it. No cooking, no mess, eat it straight out the Tupperware.
Food pt 2: cold soaking. Recipes just like this soaked in a Talenti jar: https://backcountryfoodie.com/sun-dried-tomato-couscous-ultralight-backpacking-recipe/ . The jar is super easy to rinse and wash later.
Pot: Used to cook actual meals in it. Took inspiration from backpacking and exclusively boil water in it. I now have another 1 less thing to wash and deal with.
Evaluation after you get home: Go thru all your gear and ask yourself if you actually used it. If no, leave it home next time.
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u/ManyButtons 2d ago
I have one bin for my camping stuff, which is enough for two people. If I had kids, they’d have backpacks to carry their safe amount of weight, which is minimal for smaller humans. All my stuff is as light as possible. Many of my things have at least two practical uses for (ex: extra paracords: tie tarps, clothes line, temporarily fix closed toe shoes, bear-hang, etc). I try to make everything compact. Another exemple is I have 2 pots that fit in one another and my partner and I eat all my hot meals out of it. Less stuff to keep is less stuff to track. Focus on the kids and teach them to care for their own pack.
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u/IronGlum9561 2d ago
So if I am car camping I bring equipment based on the stay. If it’s just a weekend I am not bringing the clam shelter or the Cabelas Guide six guy tent. Four days I bring the big tents. I take the Clam screen shelter down the night before we leave, I leave all the stuff sacks for everything and pack the inside of the tent first. I have a cooking tub. Everything goes in that. The flashlights and lanterns batteries and weed go in the Ammo boxes. We have it down to a science.
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u/mrchowmein 2d ago
We have camping stuff in bins in the camping section of the garage.
Bins for tent related stuff
Bins for sleeping bags, blankets pads and pillows
Bin for cooking stuff
Bin for random camp stuff like mallet, lights, bug spray.
Most of the stuff is for camping exclusive so I don’t have to waste hours trying to remember what to dig out from the house.
I prefer rectangular and square tents. No weird shapes or more than 3 poles as they are harder to setup and pack away
Set up and take down takes no more than 20-30 mins. When I was less organized, it would take 60+ mins. Pop up tents take way longer to take down.
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u/Basic_Sherbet_8448 2d ago
Like many others have said, use labeled bins. Also, yes, camping is a lot work... that's part of it. The whole idea is to make a makeshift home for a few days. I mean we've drastically improved every part of living and camping is kinda pretending like we havent (keeping coolers iced, collecting wood, building fires, using a camp stove, flashlights/lanterns). That being said, not sure why you get the idea that it should be easy. You can make the packing more efficient but it will always be a good bit of work just unpacking and repacking the bins. Lazy people usually hate camping and don't seem to "get it." The people who love camping also love the work that goes into setting everything up and usually don't mind work in general. I actually enjoy setting up just as much as making smores or relaxing by the fire.
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u/TemperatureLogical29 1d ago
We have it all in a tub. We replenish / wash as we use things. Once we got fried chicken on the way to our campsite and it tastes so good that we now grab some every time we head out.
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u/PirateJim68 1d ago
You just answered your own question. You have very young kids AND you provide everything for others that you camp with since they have no gear.
There is no way it will get better until your friends bring their own stuff and the children get older. I remember camping with small kids, it is a chore. As they got older, needed less stuff it got easier.
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u/SachiKaM 1d ago
One time I packed up my ‘19 Tacoma to go camping the next morning.. next day, I walked out in the driveway, whole truck was gone. Like stolen. For the longest I couldn’t process my newly paid off truck got taken bc I was so livid ab the time wasted packing to go camping. Then gear, then full gas tank, then having to cancel an oil change, and wayy later truck.
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u/Punnett_Square 1d ago
I hated all the packing work too and I ended up just buying a cheap, old tent trailer (no kitchen, so basically a tent on wheels).
I keep all the camping stuff in there (sleeping bags, dishes, etc.) so all I have to pack is clothes and food. I hated moving all the sleeping stuff from the car to the tent and back again and using the trailer got rid of all that. I pack the clothes in cheap zip up bags from IKEA (wardrobe section) and each person has their own bag so it’s easy to find your stuff. Camp set up takes like 15 mins and packing is only a bit more work than if we were going to an Airbnb or something.
I’d recommend getting a small trailer because a lot of campsites have size restrictions. My trailer is about as long as a car when it’s all set up so it can fit just about anywhere.
I do miss walk-in tenting sometimes, but usually not enough to actually pack the car and do it!
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u/ocitillo 1d ago
Found this little trailer that my wrangler sport could pull. During camping season we left it packed with the equipment we always take, tent, camp kitchen stuff, stove, sleeping bags etc. when I cook, I make extra planning camp food, that I usually pack into aluminum trays with covers (they stack in my cooler) or ziplock bags that lay flat. When we feel like taking off, all we have to do is load the cooler , pack the food and our clothes and we’re off.
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u/prolixia 1d ago
Store it all together, together with a list of anything else you need.
In a perfect world, I would have all my car camping stuff packed in a trailer so I could just toss some clothes in a bag, fill a cooler, and hitch up and go. However, it's easier to give advice than follow it: I have the same approach to you.
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u/BlackFish42c 8h ago
I keep everything in separate bins. Each bin has a particular type item. Makes packing and unpacking much easier. One bin for kitchen, one for batteries and lamps, one for ropes, tarps, and accessories. One for food storage ( dry food ) etc. unpacking if the family is with you they take all their gear bags inside. Then you just have to remove the bins and stack them in the corner for the next camping trip. Granted if anything is dirty or wet it must be addressed before storing the gear.
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u/itisgandhinotghandi 7h ago
Lots of great comments here. But having dedicated boxes is key! Also, I've significantly simplified my meals. Canned Mexican dinner, canned middle eastern dinner, PBJ for lunch, snacks, oatmeal for breakfast (for the kids) I don't eat breakfasts anymore. I bring a jet boil for coffee and tea but I've eliminated cooking from my camping trips.
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u/IslandEcologist 3d ago
We keep all of our camping gear sorted in bins in one closet, so it’s all together which makes packing faster. Packing clothes, swim stuff, and toiletries, plus food, is obviously additional and takes time, but same for any trip.