Camping exploded in popularity over the last few years, with millions and millions of people grabbing a tent or camper and trying it for the first time.

In fact, 80 percent of leisure travelers in 2021 choose some form of camping or glamping for at least some of their trips, and the trend shows no signs of dropping. Shopping for tents on Amazon alone rose 33% by last year compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Outfitting yourself for a camping trip can be a confusing mission. Gear comes in so many makes, models, materials, sizes and features, and the last thing you want to do is buy something that’s going to fail you during an emergency. 

Whether you’re an outdoors newbie and unsure about what equipment you’ll need or an experienced camper who’s ready to replace a few old things, the list ahead is designed to help.

These items are among my favorite camping supplies I bought myself and can personally vouch for when car camping and family camping, from a tent to cookware to sleeping pads and other supplies.

Some will also work when backpacking, backcountry camping or RV-ing, too, but all have been durable and useful winners in my book, and well worth the money. 

1. A 50-pack of reusable cable ties

Amazon

A handy item to throw in your camping bag, these hook-and-loop cable ties are strong enough to hold up to 50 pounds each. Keep guy lines or stakes organized, hang gear from tent loops, attach a water bottle to your backpack and more. These are so versatile and, unlike plastic zip ties, can be used again and again.

Get them from Amazon for $6.99 (available in two colors).

2. An outdoor tabletop griddle for every meal

Walmart

Grilling outdoors is one of life's great pleasures and a classic move for camping. But a portable flattop griddle is great for making breakfast foods, too, and can produce equally good steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs. Throw some bacon and eggs on in the morning, toast sandwiches for lunch, heat soup in a pot on top for dinner and impress everyone with the quick cleanup. This 17-inch model is the easiest Blackstone griddle to carry to a campsite, especially in its optional carry bag, and is super simple to season before you start cooking. You can put it right on top of the picnic table at your campsite. (Don't forget to grab a propane canister or two.)

Get the griddle from Walmart for $124+ (originally $147; available in three colors), the griddle carry bag for $24.97, and seasoning and cast iron conditioner for $5.50 (originally $7.03).

3. A high-quality nesting cook set you could even use at home

Amazon

In my experience it can be hard to find a camping cook set that's sturdy and durable enough to actually cook with, not to mention one with a frying pan big enough to hold more than one egg at at time. And sure, when you're car camping, you could bring whatever cookware you normally use at home. But this 18/8 stainless steel set from Stanley all nests within the stockpot, making it much easier to pack and transport to a campsite than standard pots and pans. It comes with a 9-quart saucepan with folding handle, 8.5-inch frying pan with folding handle, 4.5-quart stockpot, vented lids that easily drain water, a collapsible cutting board, spatula, spoon, two trivets and a locking bungee to keep it all together.

Get it from Amazon for $44.95+ (available in three sizes).

4. A less-heavy extra-insulated cooler with strong ice retention

Rtic

Rotomolder coolers like Yetis can offer incredible ice retention, but they also weigh a lot even empty — a huge concern if you have to lift your cooler by yourself when it's full. This 52-quart "ultra light" cooler from Rtic is still capable of keeping ice cold for days and days, but weighs almost 4 pounds less than the smaller 45-quart Yeti. With rubber latches, a freezer-style gasket, non-skid rubber feet, two drains, rope handles and tie-down slots, it's got everything you need for outdoor adventures. Grab a chill-able divider to help keep you organized.

Get it from RTIC for $206.09 (available in seven color combos).

5. A big quick-dry towel in a plethora of cool prints

Amazon

This larger lightweight micro-terry quick-dry towel (it's 30 by 72.5 inches) is great for camping, yoga, the beach and more, and it comes in 10 cool patterns and colors. Made of post-consumer recycled materials, it's also resistant to odors, sand and pet hair. Although it's thinner than a regular plush bathroom towel, it works really well, dries shockingly fast, and won't take up as much room in your duffel or backpack as a regular towel. 

Get it from Amazon for $39.95.

6. A "grass" rug to help keep dirt out of your tent

Amazon

There are a few worse things than tracking a bunch of dirt inside your tent — getting rain inside your tent, for example — but it's still something you want to avoid. No one wants to crawl into their sleeping bag and find it sandy and gross, and grinding dirt into the tent floor isn't great for its longevity. This 22-by-30-inch artificial grass rug is perfect for plopping on the ground outside your tent door so you can take off your shoes or wipe your feet before entering. It's indoor-outdoor, so you won't have to think twice about it if it rains.

Get it from Amazon for $9.37.

7. A 2-pack of collapsible tubs for washing dishes and other tasks

Amazon

By now you've surely noticed a theme: Collapsible items can be great for camping. Between you, your gear, and your kids or buddies, you probably need all the space possible in your trunk or cargo area. This handy basin is a great size for washing dishes or clothes or rinsing fruit, but also flattens to just an inch and half high. One more bonus: You'll find all sorts of uses for it around the house, too. 

Get a 2-pack from Amazon for $23.99.

8. A rechargeable water-resistant LED flashlight from Anker

Amazon

It's nice to have a flashlight you can recharge, but this one has other really great features as well: You can focus the LED beam from wide to narrow, and set the flashlight on high, medium, low, strobe and SOS mode. The super-bright light can reach nearly 1,000 feet, and it's water-resistant so you don't have to worry about lighting your way to the campground restrooms in a storm. It's also compact enough that I can slip into a pocket when I'm not using it.

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

9. Some toasty warm slippers that can also be worn as mules

Zappos

With a recycled rubber outsole and 550-fill Responsible Down Standard-certified goose down insulation, these ultra-comfy Nuptse slippers from The North Face will help keep your toes warm and comfy on chilly camping nights. They're amazingly easy to slip into for middle-of-the-night walks to the bathroom, and the foldable heel design means you can wear them as mules, too. I find they're roomy and wide enough to easily pair with warm wool socks, and they come in multiple colors.

Get them from Zappos for $71.10 (originally $79; available in women's sizes 5, 9–11 and two colors).

10. A tumbler that'll keep you from repeatedly opening your cooler

Amazon

I grabbed this hugely viral and generously-sized 40-ounce insulated travel tumbler from Stanley before my last camping trip and its double-walled construction kept my drink cold all day so I was able to stay hydrated and stay out of my cooler's critical stash of ice. Its stainless steel frame is virtually indestructible on outdoor adventures, and the top can be rotated between a straw opening (reusable straw included), a sipping opening and fully closed to prevent spills. Both the cup and lid are dishwasher-safe. 

Get it from Amazon for $35+ (available in three sizes and 22 styles).

11. A tent pole splint to save the day

Amazon

One thing you should definitely have in your "in case of gear emergency" bag is a tent splint. Many modern tent poles are stronger than ever before, but accidents and surprise rough weather conditions do happen. When you find yourself with a broken section of tent pole that's compromising your entire setup, it's a relief to have a splint you can simply slide over the crack for a quick repair. This durable aluminum split from the experts at Gear Aid comes in both 1/2-inch and 5/8-inch sizes, so you can pick the one that'll work best on your particular tent's poles.

Get it from Amazon for $5.95.

12. An environmentally friendly soap and scrubber set

REI

It's important to follow the leave no trace principles when camping, including washing your dishes in a way that won't harm the environment. Sea to Summit's concentrated Wilderness Wash is great on food residue, but it's also biodegradable, so it's OK to use outdoors (you can do laundry and wash yourself and your hair with it, as well). The soap can be purchased on its own, but I like this little kit I bought — a small bottle of Wilderness Wash that snaps into the brand's kitchen scrubber — so that everything I need to do dishes is together in one place. The scrubber has nylon bristles and an integrated scraper, and the soap container can be refilled from a larger bottle when it runs out. It's the perfect size to take on a camping trip.

Get it from REI for $9.95.

13. A twin-pack of highly rated continuous-spray picaridin insect repellent

Amazon

Although it's very safe and effective, DEET can be troublesome for campers because it interacts poorly with synthetic finishes on clothes and gear, such as coatings used for waterproofing. But you can't risk nasty bug bites, either, so thankfully some picaridin-containing formulas are effective alternatives against both mosquitoes and ticks. This fragrance-free continuous spray from Sawyer comes in an affordable pair of 6-ounce cans and dries down quickly with no greasy feeling.

(The company also makes a handy permethrin repellent I use that's designed to treat clothes and gear for up to 6 weeks or 6 washes. You can never have too much protection from mosquitoes!)

Get a 2-pack from Amazon for $14.60 (also available as a single pack).

14. A cute dimmable lantern that's easy to hang

Moji

I have a few of these adorable palm-sized Moji lanterns from the brand Black Diamond; each packs a cute little punch and can light a tent or table with its 100 lumens. The best part (besides the sweet color) is the dual-hook feature that makes it easy to hang securely from a tent loop, or it can be placed light-side-up on any surface. You can hold down the power button to dim or increase the light output as needed; just don't forget to grab three AAA batteries for power.

Get it from Amazon for $29.95+ (available in three colors)

15. Mesh repair patches in case of emergency

Amazon

Accidentally poking a hole in your tent mesh or bug screen during mosquito season definitely counts as an emergency, so it's a great idea to grab this two-pack of patches to have on hand just in case. Each one is 3 inches in diameter and has a peel-and-stick application to keep bugs and no-see-ums from infiltrating your shelter.

Get a 2-pack from Amazon for $6.95 (also available in a 4-pack).

16. Battery-operated indoor/outdoor LED string lights

Amazon

To make your camp as cute and bright as possible, or a little more magical for kids, string up these outdoor-ready globe lights on a 33-foot cord. They come with a remote control through which you can set 8 different modes (flashing, steady, chasing, twinkle, etc.), program them to turn off automatically with a timer, or decrease or increase brightness to the level that works for you. The waterproof battery box holds two AA batteries.

Get them from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three colors).

17. A portable power station to keep you running

Amazon

Part of the charm of camping is getting away from it all, but you don't really want to get away from having a charged cell phone or being able to use an air pump or a tent fan when necessary. Since it's only a little bit larger than a Happy Meal, I throw my Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station in the car for every camping trip to stay as powered-up as I want to be. On a single charge, it holds enough juice to charge a phone 31 times or a drone 6 times (and for really long trips in the backcountry, you can even grab solar panels to recharge it without an outlet).

Get it from Amazon for $168.99+ (available in two other styles).

18. An egg holder so your breakfast plans aren't crushed in your cooler

Amazon

When I first started camping, I was haunted by the fact that my eggs could be smashed inside my cooler and create the world's worst mess. I was thrilled to run across Coghlan's inexpensive egg holder, which is virtually unbreakable and cradles each egg inside a little plastic cocoon. It comes in sizes for 12, 6 and 2 eggs, so you can grab the option best sized for you.

Get it from Amazon for $3.47+.

19. A portable fire pit and camping stove

Solo Stove

I mostly camp in Florida, so there aren't too many days I need to build a big roaring fire for warmth. But I do love s'mores, and having a campfire sometimes in general, so I grabbed this virtually smokeless camping stove from Solo Stove. It's lightweight but big enough to cook on and works with just twigs and kindling, so I don't have to haul or chop logs. The double-walled design cuts down on smoke, and the prongs on top make it possible to set a pot or pan over the flame. I bought the Campfire, the largest of Solo Stove's three camping models, and it fits into my Stanley water jug when I store it at home.

Get it from Solo Stove for $69.99+ (available in two sizes).

20. A tall family camping tent

REI

Hate crouching in small, dark tents? REI Co-Op's Wonderland 4 is a stable three-season tent most people can comfortably stand in (its peak height is 75 inches), and the near-vertical walls make it especially spacious inside. Throw the rainfly on or gaze at the stars from under the bug-proof mesh roof. I love its massive doors and the clever seam-sealed triangle windows on the sides of the tent that provide great ventilation even with the rainfly attached. This tent kept me totally bone-dry during an overnight deluge that flooded my entire campsite. You can grab an optional mudroom attachment for additional covered space.

Get it from REI for $300.29 (originally $429).