The Beginner's Guide to Camping Gear

Jun 24, 2025

This beginner's guide to camping gear gives you all the tips and tricks you need to start camping, including some of the best camping gear to get you started!

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There's a personal satisfaction that you can only get from camping. Yes, I love a secluded cabin and the comforts of a fully-stocked kitchen and an air-conditioned space, but few things fill my cup more than waking up in a tent where there's nothing but nature in every direction. If you're thinking about embarking on your first camping adventure, you've come to the right place. We've created a beginner's guide to camping gear that covers all of the basics you'll need to begin this next chapter of your life.

This is a bare-bones camping list. Once you’ve acquired the basics, you might want to get some camping gear that will make things easier and more comfortable. The following list isn’t necessarily required for camping, but you will be glad you have them:

There are so many camping tents on the market, it’s overwhelming for a newbie. Narrow down your search by asking yourself what type of camping you’re doing. If you’re going to be hiking all day and backcountry camping, then a lightweight backpacking tent is the way to go. If you’re driving to your campsite and you’ve got all the time and resources on your side, then a larger, two-person or four-person tent may be the best tent for you.

Make sure you read the tent reviews to see how easy the tent can be assembled/taken down before you buy. You want a tent that’s easy to put together—the last thing you want to deal with after a long day of adventures is struggling to get your tent set up in the dark.

This lightweight tent clocks in at 5 pounds 7 ounces. which is light enough to be considered for a good backpacking tent, too. It’s easy to set up and also includes a footprint (a small tarp) to protect your tent from the ground. There are two doors, and they roll up for a clear view of the sky and added ventilation. The tent also includes a rain fly for added protection should the weather take a turn.

If you want a little more space, consider the Half Dome tent by REI. It’s a three-person tent with all of the same features, just a little bit bigger. Perfect for parents with a little one!

With a packed weight of just north of nine pounds, this four-person tent is perfect for families looking for a fun weekend of camping. A footprint and rain fly are included to protect you from above and below, and this tent even has color-coded clips and poles, so putting it together is quick and easy. It’s not built to withstand strong winds, but it’s more than enough to handle the average campsite.

Bonus option: The Wawona 4 Tent by The North Face. It’s easy to set up, has a double-wall construction, a peak height of 63 inches (shorties could stand up!), and a color-coded pole system for an easy set up.

The most important thing about picking the perfect sleeping bag is knowing what conditions you’ll be sleeping in. Sleeping bags have a temperature rating that tells you how warm they’ll keep you in certain temperatures. Choose a sleeping bag with a temperature rating below the lowest temperature you expect while camping.

There are four main sleeping bag shapes (rectangular, mummy, semi-rectangular, and double). Generally speaking, you want to be able to move around in your sleeping bag. I wouldn’t recommend a mummy-style sleeping bag unless you’re winter camping, but everyone has their own preference.

This is a solid rectangular sleeping bag—just like the one you used at sleepovers as a kid. We like this sleeping bag for a few reasons. First, it has a temperature rating of 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so its 100 percent polyester fiber batting will keep you nice and warm. Second, it packs down small and comes with its own stuff sack. Finally, there’s even a little inside pocket in this sleeping bag for you to keep your phone or headlamp with you.

Sea to Summit has become a favorite brand for nature lovers, and for a good reason. Not only do they make a good product, but they also give back to the environment. Part of your purchase goes to the 1% for the Planet global movement. This sleeping bag has a tapered rectangular shape (great for side sleepers) and includes a full-length zipper through the footbox so you can convert this into a quilt if you want.

Both of these sleeping bags are made with synthetic material, which is perfect for beginner campers. If you decide you like the lifestyle and want to upgrade your gear, I’d recommend looking into down sleeping bags. There are pros and cons to each side, but the pros of down sleeping bags are that they are more compressible, offer more warmth, and tend to be more durable. The cons to down sleeping bags are that they drastically lose their insulating ability when wet, they take forever to dry, they require special cleaning, and they’re more expensive.

A good camping pillow and sleeping pad are worth the splurge. As we get older, our minds love the idea of sleeping outside in the fresh air, but our bodies aren’t all that impressed. When it comes to choosing the best sleeping pad, consider how you’ll be using it. Weight and packability play a factor, and you’ll want something lighter if you’re going to be backpacking.

There are three different types of sleeping pads: Air pads, semi-inflating pads, and closed-cell foam pads. Closed-cell foam pads are the cheapest option, and they’re practically indestructible, but they’re not comfortable. I’d recommend an air pad or a self-inflating sleeping pad, depending on your needs.

This is one of the best-selling camping pillows on the market right now. It has a baffled air cell and a layer of thick luxury foam that cradles the head and won’t give you that “balloon” feeling that so many inflatable pillows do. We love that the fabric cover can be removed and washed, and the micro-adjustable valve allows you to really fine-tune your perfect pillow. Plus, it packs down to the size of your phone.

This sleeping pad is an investment, but if you’re planning on many camping trips in the future, your back will thank you. It’s got a 4-inch thickness with polyurethane foam for excellent insulation (it’ll keep you warm in cold-weather camping). It’s durable, so you won’t feel like you’re going to break it, and it packs down small enough for you to attach to your backpack. Available in three sizes: regular, long, and double.

This award-winning sleeping pad checks off all the boxes, plus some. Its lightweight design (1 pound 9 ounces) packs down into its convenient stuff sack, it comes with a pump sack for easy inflation, and you get a lifetime NEMO warranty. One nifty feature of this sleeping pad’s design is that the headrest is ever so slightly elevated, and it’s got a curved design to ensure you’re always centered. Available in three sizes: regular, regular wide, and long wide.

For a first-time camping adventure, I recommend staying at a campground (no backcountry camping). Websites like Hipcamp are great for finding hidden campgrounds around the country. State parks are also a fabulous option. This ensures that you'll have access to water, bathrooms, and, depending on the campsite, possibly electricity. After a few of these nights, you can graduate to more adventurous backcountry camping.

Check out some of our favorite campsites in the United States for inspiration and this camping accessory list that includes accessories like bug repellents, quick-dry towels, and other items that make camping much more manageable.

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