Camping Checklist

To make sure you don't forget anything for your next camping holiday, find our camping checklist below with all the items of clothing you need while camping. What you pack will of course depend on where and when you go camping. For a summer holiday in France in a mobile home, you need a different packing list than for an autumn camping trip to Iceland with a lightweight pop-up tent. And if you go skiing then of course the space-consuming helmet and ski boots are added.

Of course you should not forget your swimming trunks or bathing suit when going to a sunny destination, but the weather can change, a wind can pick up or it will rain. Make sure you are prepared by bringing the right clothing.

Also important is the packing itself. If you go on holiday by car or camper, you will have more space and can take more items with you. However, if you are going by plane, you want to be smart with the space in your bag or trolley. I will take this into account in the packing lists below!

• Swimming cap: some (often Italian) campsites require the wearing of a swimming cap
• Bathing shoes: bathing shoes or water shoes are handy for rocky and pebble beaches or a hot sandy beach
• Down summer jacket: this gives you that extra layer when it is slightly colder or for on the road in the Alps (Tip!)
• Jeans: the holiday trousers par excellence! Looks good, is comfortable, wrinkle-free and it won't hurt if there's a small stain on it
• Hat or cap: on the beach with a nice book, cycling through the woods, by the pool with a drink? That hat or cap gives your eyes a rest and prevents a sunburn
• Boots: a bit depending on your type of vacation. Chance of rain or walks through wet areas? Take your boots along!
• Underwear: just like with T-shirts, the following applies here: it takes a little space and gives you the opportunity to quickly put on something clean and fresh
• Umbrella: mmmm ... not really a piece of clothing, but handy if you camp in the mountains or a lake area where rain showers are not that uncommon
• Pajamas: clean out of the shower straight into the pajamas. Ready for bed!
• Rain jacket or rain poncho: buy a thin jacket, for example the one from K-way with the colored zipper. Cool and lightweight and does not take up a lot of space (Tip!)
• Shorts: shorts are indispensable when you go on an excursion, go to a local market, have lunch at the campsite or play a game of pétanque with the (camping) neighbors
• Shoes: don't bring too many shoes! A bit depending on what you are going to do. Often a pair of sneakers or regular shoes is sufficient. Walking shoes are necessary if you have a long hike ahead
• Flip-flops: simply because you like them, because you are on vacation and it is also hygienic. Bring 2 pairs if they get wet often
• Socks: low socks for your sneakers, sports socks for tennis or running and high socks for walking or against the mosquitoes
• Sports shoes: indispensable if you are going to play a round of golf or cycling, play a game of tennis or football or go for an hour or so of running or fitness during the camping holiday
• Sportswear: You feel better in the right outfit. So just take it with you (Tip!)
• Sweater with hood: take one in a neutral color with you, matches everything and if it starts to rain you can quickly put on the hood
• Sweater: In addition to the sweater, bring a lightweight (wool or cotton) sweater with you. A great combination with a T-shirt
• T-shirts: a pile of T-shirts won't take up too much space and gives you the opportunity to quickly put on something clean and fresh. Bring different colors and make sure they're made of cotton
• Sunglasses: the most forgotten and lost item on the list
• Swimwear: take into account specific regulations that may differ per campsite. Swimming shorts are not allowed at various campsites. Bring a pair of swimming trunks, shorts, bathing suits or bikinis. If they are still wet you can change quickly!

Some additional summer tips for your packing list:

• Above all, take less with you! Save some space in your bag. Often you don't wear those extra pants or sweater. Forget those cowboy boots. If you have taken too little with you? Do some laundry at the campsite or buy something nice at a local market or in a boutique in the village or in the city.
• Bring a laundry bag for the (really) dirty laundry. You then have an overview of what is still clean and the dirty bit collected if you want to do (hand) washing.
• Think of mosquito-repellent clothing. If you know in advance that there will be mosquitoes where you are going, or if you are often stung ... think “long”: T-shirts with long sleeves, long socks, long pants.

Are you going on a camping trip in winter (see our Winter camping in the Netherlands blog or our Winter camping in Germany blog), or camping and skiing (see our Top 20 winter sport camping in Europe blog) or to a country where the nights are colder (in Sweden or the Baltic, for example), the packing list below is useful:

• Swimming cap: only if there is an indoor swimming pool nearby
• Bathing shoes: provide bathing shoes or water shoes if there is a natural hot spring at the campsite (Tip!)
• Down winter jacket: this gives you that extra layer that you need when it is just a little colder
• Jeans: the holiday trousers par excellence! Make sure to bring your winter jeans, often made of slightly thicker cotton
• Boots: certainly not to be missed in winter. Bring if you expect rain or snow
• Hat: in summer a cap or hat, in winter of course a nice warm hat. Keeps you relaxed and warm!
• Underwear: is it really getting cold? Then take your long and / or thermal underwear with you!
• Umbrella: winter camping in the Netherlands? Definitely put on the packing list!
• Pajamas: nice and warm in the sleeping bag or under the down bed
• Rain jacket or rain poncho: tip: can certainly come in handy in the fall or spring. Buy a lightweight, as it takes up the least space
• Shoes: bring waterproof shoes! Winter or snow shoes are necessary when you go on winter sports
• Slippers: indoor only. It is often too cold for outside!
• Socks: lots and warm (long) socks. If they are wet, you just have another pair
• Sports shoes: the same applies as in summer: indispensable if you are going for a run or mountain biking or indoor climbing or fitness
• Sportswear: are you going winter sports? Then don't forget your ski pass, ski socks, thermal underwear, ski boots, ski goggles and ski helmet
• Sweater: indispensable when it is cold. Bring some nice thick sweaters!
• T-shirts: Colors are less important now. Insulation (thermal underwear) and moisture removal are important in winter
• Winter jacket: the most important part of the winter packing list. Depending on the type of camping holiday, get a good winter jacket that will protect you from the cold and keep you dry
• Sunglasses: your sunglasses also come in handy in winter. If only because the sun can be treacherously low while driving (Tip!)
• Swimwear: only if there is an indoor swimming pool, hot spring, sauna or hot tub nearby!

Extra packing tips for a winter camping holiday:

• The winter jacket is often the largest part of your luggage, see here how you can best fold your winter jacket
• Be aware that your luggage can get wet from time to time. A waterproof bag, suitcase or trolley is great.

The following things or accessories may not fall under the heading “clothing” on your camping packing list but are nice and small and often too useful, practical or fun to forget: passport, driver's license, debit card, credit card, mobile phone, charger, candles or tea lights , compass, binoculars, sunscreen, aftersun, frisbee, reading glasses, headphones, E-reader, flashlight, games, cards, dice, yahtzee, mini scrabble, pen, notepad, bug spray, camera and memory cards, tire repair kit, earplugs, travel- and health insurance details, 1:25000 map of the area, water bottle, student card (if you are still a student), pocket knife and a (foot)ball.

Which item of clothing or accessory is most important to you and is not on this list? Let us know by email.