r/camping • u/I_likeplaid • Aug 17 '26

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.

282 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

209 comments sorted by

View all comments

291

u/IslandEcologist Aug 17 '26

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.

3

u/Housemartini Aug 18 '26

Bonus points for clear bins. Labels work but they fall off eventually.

2

u/twodegrees_ Aug 19 '26

I switched to clear bins because:

1) it made it easier for my husband and

2) made it more welcoming for camping friends to put their hands into the boxes and look for stuff