There is nothing like packing up the camping supplies to enjoy the outside air, the crackle of a fire in the fire pit, a dip in a lake, and late-night marshmallow roasts. Camping is one of the simple but amazing things in life. You can share the beauty of nature with friends and family. It allows you to step away from day-to-day life and focus on the basics (nature, food, friends, and fun). Being a Poshy Peep, I have learned that I like to camp with a bit of flair. I enjoy living minimally while I camp but let’s be serious, I glamp. Glamping essentials (and some not so essential) is a list of camping comforts that elevate basic camping to glamping.
Our ” glamping essentials” toolkit evolved after my first camping trip. I only had the basics: tent, air mattresses, portable BBQ, etc. (what I consider the bare minimum). To be honest this first trip actually could be categorized as a complete and utter disaster! We made the most out of the situation and have a fun story to tell, but it was terrible. That trip alone was the reason I have switched from camping to glamping. After that trip, my glamping essentials list was soon created.
Glamping Essentials:
Before reviewing the glamping essentials here is the background story of my “not so awesome” first camping trip which was the inspiration for glamping (I hope you get a bit of a giggle reading)….
I took my children camping for a week without my husband (he had to work and I was convinced I could do the trip solo). We packed up the SUV and went to a National Park with some great family friends. On Day 1 when we got there I setup up our new tent and campsite (exhausting). We had a fantastic rest of our first day. We swam, we made a meal on the fire, we roasted hotdogs, we told stories in our beds with flashlights. Once it was bedtime we had a great sleep. It was truly the perfect camping day. I felt like supermom and went to bed that night feeling like I had this camping thing totally under control. I had mastered camping!
On Day 2 we were not as fortunate, this is where it all went downhill. At noon it started to get cloudy but it wasn’t a big deal. , By mid-afternoon, it was suddenly raining harder than I recall ever seeing before. The rain was blowing sideways and being outside was like standing in the shower. Our new, wonderful tent (which was perfect the day before) started to severely sag by the weight of the water. A small river began to flow around the base of it and it began to leak in EVERY SINGLE SEAM (note to self: next time waterproof the seams of a new tent before camping, complete rookie mistake). Our cozy tent was quickly turning into a swimming pool.
My friends thankfully came to my rescue and helped me re-support the tent, hang additional tarps to divert some of the monsoons of water. We moved what supplies we could to the car. By evening everything was soaked including all people, our clothes, our bedding, and our pillows. I luckily had one set of dry clothes and a dry blanket in the car to give the children. The kids had a much-needed warm shower in the park facilities and cozily went to sleep in their dry P.J.’s and the dry blanket, putting the traumatic soggy day to rest.
I however was not as comfortable. With wet hair and cold fingers that looked like prunes I slept in my wet clothes and the wet bedding. It was absolutely the worst sleep of my entire life. It was like being covered with a cold, wet towel all night long. I shivered and tossed/turned just waiting for the first sign of sunrise. I was awoken all night with shivers and chills, only sleeping 10-15 minutes at a time. All I can say is that mother nature truly kicked my butt that night.
I vowed the next morning over a much-needed cup of warm coffee that I would never be in that situation again. Holding back tears I felt frustrated and defeated. I knew I was going to be a glamper from that moment forward. I don’t care if people say I overpack, I don’t care if people say “camping should be roughing it” or ” you don’t need all the comforts of home”. That experience taught me that camping should not have to be miserable. You should not have to suffer when camping. No matter the weather or situation, next time I would have all the supplies we needed. We would be comfortable. I would not let mother nature get the best of me again.
I now am a glamper and darn proud of it! I am now prepared, I am comfortable and I love feeling like I never have to do without. This is how I developed my glamping essentials checklist for future trips. I figured out what I needed to feel comfortable and enjoy my time in the great outdoors.
The list below of glamping essentials doesn’t include basics like a tent, sleeping bag, pillow, clothes, cooking supplies, air mattresses, etc. People camping are going to need to bring the basic camping items as well as the glamping items. This glamping essentials list goes above and beyond the minimum supplies. There are lots of great basic camping supply lists online (if you are a first-time camper and need to know what basic supplies you should have). I have linked one here but there are many available: Basic Camping Checklist
You can get many of the glamping essentials supplies listed below at a fraction of the cost through thrifting. I have saved A LOT of money by thrifting our camping/glamping supplies.
Read our Top 10 Thrifting Tips for additional thrifting advice to live a Posh Life for less.
What to Bring- Glamping Essentials:
- Lights
When evening comes you want good lighting as your site. I stick with lighting that does not need to be plugged into power (so battery and solar). Solar lights around your site make it easier to navigate (and find your site) at night. Not to mention add a bit of fun. I also use a lantern in the tent to ensure that we have light in the middle of the night.
You can also get fancier and get a remote-controlled battery light for your tent, we have one and hang it from the center of the tent. It is great to be able to turn off the light when you are already tucked warmly into bed without getting up. The price of solar lights and low-power LED lights have drastically reduced in the last couple of years making it a very affordable option. You can even find many lighting options at Dollar Stores. Lights are glamping essentials must-have to elevate your experience from basic camping. - Insulated Mug or Cup
This is must-have glamping essential, It keeps coffee warm in the mornings and cold drinks cold during the day (much longer than the typical cup). When camping coffee can cool down quickly once made on a chilly morning, this makes sure you get to enjoy your mug of java piping hot. Later in the day, a cold beverage is also great. Insulated mugs not only keep things cold but keep pesky insects from getting in your drinks when they have a lid. - Storage Bin (for pantry)
Using a storage container as a pantry is game-changing. It keeps all the food centralized (to deter animals), and you can keep it in your vehicle. Instead of moving food to and from your car daily, you can keep it in the vehicle and just back your car up to your cooking area if possible. Purchasing a storage container with drawers also keeps the food items organized. No need to organize food or unpack food when you get to your site. Organize the food and label the drawers so things are easy to find before your trip and it makes food prep much easier. An organized food space is a glamping essentials must. - Tarp for Cooking Area
Having a place to stay dry while cooking makes the whole experience more enjoyable. Who wants to stand in the rain trying to cook? Hanging a tarp over your cooking area (or purchasing a collapsible awning of some sort) to make sure you and your food stay dry.
- Plastic Tablecloth and Tablecloth Clips
Most sites have picnic tables but they can be pretty dirty and gross. Animals climb on them and they usually are pretty dirty from campfire smoke etc. The easiest way to deal with this is to buy a thick plastic tablecloth from the dollar store and outdoor tablecloth clips. This gives you a surface that you can easily wipe down and make certain it doesn’t blow away on windy days.
If there is no picnic table at your site you can use the tablecloth for an area to sit on the ground to eat picnic-style or take it to the beach to use as a mat in the sand. To go truly glamp you can get plastic containers to hold napkins, plates, cups, and utensils on the table. Many dollar stores have plastic cleaning containers that organize cleaning supplies (with handles). These work great to organize table supplies (as well as toiletries). - Outdoor Mat
I cannot say how much I love my plastic outdoor mat (a glamping essential MUST). I find plastic to be better due to the fact it can handle any weather and rinses off easily. Place it outside of your tent (or camper) as this is where people should take their shoes off. It keeps the inside clean and ready for sleeping (nobody wants dirt in their bed). Many sites are compact dirt and if you are directly walking in and out of your sleeping area without taking off your shoes your tent (or camper) will get dirty very quickly. A mat also indicates to others to take off their shoes and gives them a place to leave them outside. - Seating
Comfortable and portable camping chairs around the fire make for a fun evening. Ensure that you have a chair for every person that is going camping, and bring a couple extra for guests that may pop by your site. Hammocks are also a nice addition as well as chairs to a campsite. They can act as extra seating if needed or a cozy place to curl up in for a mid-afternoon nap. Kids’ inflatable toys for swimming can also be additional seating outside if needed (just make sure to put a towel or mat under them so they do not get punctured). - Hand Broom/ Dustpan
This may seem a bit extreme, but bringing a small hand broom and dustpan for sweeping up the floor of the tent or camper is another glamping essential must-have item. If you are camping for more than one or two nights (especially with kids constantly coming in and out of the tent) the floor with eventually get dirty. On rainy days it only takes one or two people going into the tent to track in a bunch of dirt. It takes only a couple of seconds to sweep the dirt on the floor into a dustpan and keep the dirt from getting in the beds or your clothes. It is well worth it to bring a broom to keep your sleeping area tidy. - Handy Supplies:
When setting up your site you will need basic tools, as well as to maintain your site throughout your trip. Many people forget to bring basic tools (they also make setup MUCH easier). You will quickly see when camping that many people forget these supplies and needed to ask others.
Tool Kit:
Hammer/ mallet, jackknife, screwdrivers, extra tarp, rope (for clothesline and rain tarp), clothespins, bungee cords, duct tape, extra tent pegs, batteries, scissors, zip ties, air pump for mattress
Other Essential Supplies:
Sun lotion, bug spray, tick spray, lint roller (gets ticks of clothing), utensils, can opener, corkscrew, spatula, metal tongs, mixing bowl, tinfoil, dish soap, sponge, dishpan, paper towel, garbage bags, baby wipes, roasting sticks for the fire - First-Aid Kit
This really should be on everyone’s list for camping, it is important to mention. Bringing a basic first aid kit and basic medications helps you be prepared for any situation. Hopefully, they will not be needed but it is important to have them to camp safely. You never know when you may need something, and it is safer to have all the basics on hand in case of an emergency. Scraped knees, sunburns, blisters, bug bites, and splinters are common occurrences.
- Extra Blankets
Extra blankets are essential for cold nights. You can add them to existing bedding as another layer if you get cold, and you can also wrap up with them around you at the fire (as long as you are careful). Using them as additional padding for an air mattress also helps to remove the chill from your bed during the night when mattresses can get quite cool due to ground temperature. An extra blanket can also be used at a beach for a place to sit or for a picnic during a hike. - Bin for Shoes
If you have a large group or number of children this helps things from being all over the place. Keeping children organized can make for a more enjoyable trip. A plastic laundry hamper (or bin) with holes in the bottom for shoes outside of the tent/camper keeps shoes in their place. Keeping shoes outside the living space reduces dirt entering where you sleep. Bins are also great for kids’ toys and sports equipment. The holes allow for water to drain out if you get an unexpected rain and the kids know where to find things. Bins also make for easy packing and unpacking at your campsite. - Hanging Shoe Organizer
Surprisingly not for shoes, even though it could be used that way, I hang one in our tent to organize our basic supplies in the pockets (headlamps in one, shampoo in one, sunscreen in another, etc.), it is an easy way to keep things organized instead of searching for items all the time in a bag. You can label the outside pockets and keep things organized and accessible.
A shoe organizer is also great in the kitchen area. You can keep cutlery, soap, spices, napkins, utensils, etc. all in one location at arms reach. Organizers save lots of time when trying to locate something. You can also use material organizers (packing cubes) for clothes. It keeps things dry and easy to find. If you pack your organizers at home you reduce the amount of time you need to set up and take down your campsite, so you can relax and enjoy yourself when you get there. - Small Folding Table
Not an absolute must but it is a very nice item to have. When sitting by the fire it is nice to have a small table to put your drink on or keep snacks on instead of the ground. A tray table is an ideal size. I also use a small stool in our tent as an end table. It is a place to set a lantern, phone, or book at bedtime. Folding tables also add additional space for cooking and food prep if needed, or to play a game outside. - Entertainment Kit
Rainy days can be long days if you are huddled up in a tent or camper (glamping). Packing a bag with entertainment can help pass away the time. A deck or 2 of cards, a crib board, and any family-favorite board games are a must. In addition for smaller kids, we pack craft supplies, activity books, coloring books, markers, and paper. You can create endless games of fun yourself with paper and a marker (scavenger games, X and O’s, drawing, writing stories, etc.). Pinterest has a lot of camping craft and entertainment ideas for kids as well. It is always better to prepare and have entertainment items on hand so if you are stuck inside you have fun things to keep you busy. - Organized Meals
Planning, creating a menu, and preparing your food in advance can make for a more restful camping trip. You also end up with much nicer meals than regular camping grub for the most part if you plan. There is nothing wrong with the basic hot dog or hamburger but it is nice to have something special to eat.
Make-ahead meals can include things like Philly-Cheesesteak tinfoil wraps with potatoes and fresh veggies, creamy lemon dill sauce on salmon with basmati rice, Cajun garlic shrimp and peppers on fingerling potatoes, omelets mixed and ready to put in the pan, breakfast burritos ready to heat on the fire.
Prep in advance of your trip is more work, but very nice once you are glamping. I usually plan my meals, grocery shop, and do all of my food prep in advance. Meaning chopping all my veggies and individually packaging them in freezer bags for each meal. Cutting meat and freezing it in freezer bags (stays colder in a cooler for longer). Cracking my eggs into a container that seals to ensure they do not break.
Planning also makes it easier to pack the cooler properly. I put frozen items on the bottom (like my meats- I freeze in advance so they stay colder longer), then layer the fruits/veggies and dairy items. This way the items that need to stay frozen the longest are in the coolest spot of the cooler.
A bag of two of ice emptied into the cooler as you layer also keeps all items cold. Freeze water bottles in advance to also help keep things cool (they work just like a freezer pack). You can pack them on the different layers in the cooler. We drink the waters as they thaw. There are LOTS of great articles on camping meals, make-ahead meals, tinfoil meals available online. I recommend doing a search and finding some that would appeal to you and your family. Fancy/fun meals take the basic camping experience to a whole new level. My kids say the best meals I make are when we camp! - Coffee
This really should be on anyone’s list for camping. If you are at all like me, you just need a cup of good coffee in the morning to get going (or tea). I cannot survive without caffeine when I wake up and am jealous of anyone who wakes up chipper and energetic. There are many ways to accomplish a good cup of java. A kettle for boiling water on the fire (and adding instant coffee), a camping coffee perk, drip coffee, espresso perk, or a coffee press. No matter which way you prefer to make your coffee, it is a great way to start the day of glamping. If you make really good coffee make sure to have extra mugs, as the smell may attract your neighbors. If you have a power supply you can even bring a coffee maker. Waking up to freshly brewed coffee is a glampers dream. - Bluetooth Speaker
Speakers don’t require much explanation, it is great to have music at your campsite (just ensure to be respectful of others around you). You can quickly play music from your phone to a Bluetooth speaker (if you are prepared you could make a few playlists in advance). Sitting around the fire with friends and great music is a glamping essentials must. - Chargers or Portable Power
It’s terrible to get away from civilization and realize that you cannot charge your phone or any other essential items that require it. Most people rely on their cell phones and other technology even when camping. Keep a charger in your car at all times, and a converter that charges regular plugs in your car, it is a good investment. You can get adapters that fit in a car cigarette lighter port and power regular appliances. We also have battery packs to charge for our phones/ iPad etc.
If you have a lot of items that need charging you can also invest in a portable power station. There any many different types and sizes (and a large range of prices) depending on what you are looking for. Some power stations can be charged via solar which means you easily have power at hand as long as you have a sunny spot to charge it. Portable power stations are a glampers best friend. You can power whatever you need at your site. IT’s my most recent glamping must-have item. - Glow Sticks/ Headlamps
For anyone with children, this is a really good idea when at a campground. Putting a glow necklace or glow bracelet on your kids helps you quickly see where they are in the dark as well as ensures others can see them. As soon as the sun is setting we place glow bracelets on the kids as well as headlamps. We also make sure that their bikes have a light (if you don’t have a light place a couple of glow sticks on the bike frame and tires). Not only do the kids love it, but it is also safer if they can be seen. Our kids get so excited about the dark and love playing outside with their friends.
In Summary…
Glamping essentials is a comfortable but fun way to enjoy the outdoors. Glamping is a little extra prep and packing but provides great returns in terms of comfort. Spending quality time with friends and family camping is one of the best joys in life Hopefully the list of glamping essentials will inspire you to camp with a bit of flair and add comfort to your camping adventure.