Family Camping Gear Recommendations

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If you are just starting off to camping, the list of what you need to get started can be really pricey and overwhelming at first. I always recommend to start off with the basics (check out my blog post Getting Started: Camping Basics), and then you can upgrade your family camping gear over time. Christmas and birthdays are great times to ask for nice camping equipment as gifts. Or you can shop Black Friday deals and Amazon Prime Day deals as well, and just upgrade a little at a time.

These recommendations are not for new campers–meaning, don’t feel like you need to start off with cream of the crop stuff right away. But if you have to buy things anyways, or if it’s time for an upgrade, these are the products I’d choose to splurge a little bit on.

And if you are a total newbie, make sure you check out my list of top 10 things to have for your first tent camping trip and the camping supplies list I created to help make packing a breeze.

Family Camping Gear: A Tent

At the top of every family camping gear list has got to be a good tent. There are a lot of really nice tent options, but I must say, nothing beats the instant-up tents. We purchased a 8-person instant tent for our family, and it was worth every penny.

Ours is a Coleman, and we got it on as an Amazon Prime Day deal. My husband can put it up and take it down completely on his own, in just a couple of minutes. It’s similar to an EZ-Up where the poles are always attached, and you just have to pull them out and lock them into place. It makes setting up and breaking down so much faster.

If a large cabin-style tent isn’t going to work for you, check out these other types of camping tents to choose one that will be better suited for your needs.

Ice Chest – One of the most important family camping gear must-haves

It’s a drag to always have to do ice runs while you’re camping. You want to just sit back and relax, knowing that your food is going to stay cold. That’s why I recommend splurging a bit on roto-molded cooler. Brands like YETI coolers and RTIC coolers have pretty much dominated the industry over the last decade, and we love our RTIC, however, you can find other brands with similar technology at a bit lower price point.

We use two coolers, one for food and one for drinks. This helps the food to stay colder because there is less opening and closing of that ice chest. Be sure to check out my tips for making ice last longer as well.

Cooking Station

We recently upgraded our cooking space to a Camp Chef Tundra 3 Burner grill and we love it. There are lots of camping grill options you can choose from, but having a free-standing grill frees up a lot of table space for us. It’s one of our favorite family camping gear purchases.

Prior to this, our set up just included a camping kitchen table, like this one, which is great for storing our tub of pots and pans underneath. And it has a spot for hanging cooking utensils and paper towels on the side. But we would still need to use a separate table for our portable grill.

Now we have the cooking table area with the free-standing grill nearby. If you’re limited on packing space, though, these items definitely aren’t a must-have, as they do take up a decent amount of space.

I have a complete list of cooking supplies for camping as well that you should check out. Plus, I make it even easier on you with this list of easy camping meals and my favorite camping desserts.

Mattress

Our family camping gear used to consist of sleeping on a camping air mattress (we liked the double-high mattresses). That worked well for us for many years. As my husband and I got older, we preferred the support that self-inflating camping pads give. They’re great for the kids too. They take up less space, and they’re not as high up if your kids roll around at night. Plus, with the sleeping pads, we don’t have to worry about them jumping on the air mattresses and popping them.

There are a lot of different styles of sleeping pads available, ranging in price from about $30 to hundreds of dollars. For the kind of camping we do, the basic sleeping pads work fine. But if you want more comfort and something that will help keep you warmer in cold-weather camping, check out this list of the best sleeping pads for camping.

Camping Chairs

Being comfortable around the campfire is important. And you want to make sure you have enough seating. I like having basic camping chairs that can also double as sport chairs for soccer games and whatnot. But I did also just recently upgrade our family camping gear to include a couple cozier camping chairs and one cushioned loveseat. There is something to be said about really being cozy around a campfire, particular during cooler-weather camping trips.

Charging Station

I know, I know. You’re camping. It’s nice to disconnect. And if that’s your style, have at it–this does not need to be your priority as far as family camping gear. But I like having my phone charged for pictures (obviously), and we have an outdoor movie projector that we use for a movie night during camping, so we like to have a camping charging station.

There are many different styles and price points when it comes to battery chargers, so definitely shop around. You don’t need to spend a lot to simply keep cell phones charged. With one charge, the portable power station we have can keep our phones and watches charged, and provide power for one to two movie nights on a 6-night trip.

Final Thoughts on Family Camping Gear

Your camping gear might change over time. Consider the things you’ll keep for several years, and choose to splurge on those. If you are a camping with a baby, for example, you’ll need some additional space and gear, but not for long. Once you have the gear you need, check out this list of my favorite family campgrounds.

Note: As an Amazon associate, I get paid on qualifying purchases.

Interested in more? Check out:

• How to Choose a Family Tent
• Camping in the Rain Tips & Tricks
• Jumbo Rocks Campground
• Camping Kitchen: What You Need