Camping this weekend and you have never done it

5 things, already decided.
Work down the list. Tick off what you own. Every option opens on Amazon, where the current price and the real delivery date live — we never print a price here.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Every product link on this page is a paid link.

1. 01 of 05
   I already have this

   A sleeping bag rated colder than you think

   Being cold at 3am is the reason most people say they hate camping. Night temperature drops far below the daytime figure you looked at.

   What to check before you choose. Check the comfort rating, not the extreme rating - the extreme number is survival, not sleep. Rate it about ten degrees below the forecast low.

   Coleman Brazos 20/30°F Adult Cool-Weather Sleeping Bag with No-Snag Zipper & Stuff Sack, MachinCheck price on Amazon paid linkTeton Celsius Regular, 25F, 20F, 0F Degree Sleeping Bags, All Weather Bag for Adults and Kids, Check price on Amazon paid linkTeton LEEF Lightweight Mummy Sleeping Bag for Camping, Hiking, Backpacking; Cold Weather OptionCheck price on Amazon paid link

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2. 02 of 05
   I already have this

   A sleeping pad

   The ground pulls heat out of you far faster than the air does. A pad is more about insulation than about softness, which is why a thick blanket underneath does not fix it.

   What to check before you choose. Look for an R-value - that is the insulation number. Self-inflating pads are less faff than a pump on a first trip.

   Lost Horizon Option3 Self-Inflating Foam Camping Mattress, Full, 4.5" | Air & Foam Comfort, AdjCheck price on Amazon paid linkOGERY Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad, 3" Memory Foam Camping Mattress | Built-in Foot Pump, InsulaCheck price on Amazon paid linkFUN PAC Camping Sleeping Pad, Ultralight Camping Mat with Pillow, Built-in Foot Pump InflatableCheck price on Amazon paid link

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3. 03 of 05
   I already have this

   A headlamp, not a torch

   Everything you do after dark at a campsite needs two hands - a tent, a stove, a zip. A torch gives you one.

   What to check before you choose. Check it has a red-light mode so you can move around without blinding the tent, and note whether it takes batteries or charges by USB.

   Blukar LED Headlamp Rechargeable, 2000L Super Bright Headlight Flashlight | 8 Modes&Stepless DiCheck price on Amazon paid linkEverBrite 350LM Rechargeable Headlamp with Red White Green Light | Tail Light, White Red Green Check price on Amazon paid linkDARKBEAM Red Light Headlamp LED Rechargeable Headlamps for Night Astronomy | Redlight Only HeadCheck price on Amazon paid link

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4. 04 of 05
   I already have this

   A camp stove and fuel

   A hot drink in the morning changes the whole character of a cold campsite. It is also the difference between eating and driving to find food.

   What to check before you choose. Check the fuel type is one you can actually buy nearby, and that the fuel canister is bought separately - it usually is, and it usually cannot ship with the stove.

   Coleman Cascade 18 1-Burner Camping Stove, Portable Cooktop with 8000 BTUs & Matchless LightingCheck price on Amazon paid linkColeman Tabletop 2-in-1 Grill & Stove with 2 Adjustable Burners, Propane Grill/Stove with Push-Check price on Amazon paid linkGas One Portable Butane Camping Stove with Case: Automatic Ignition, Precise Heat Control - CamCheck price on Amazon paid link

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5. 05 of 05
   I already have this

   A dry bag or a few waterproof sacks

   One night of rain or heavy dew and a bag left in a porch is wet. Wet spare clothes turn a good trip into a short one.

   What to check before you choose. Check the roll-top closes with at least three folds. Sizes are in litres - a 10 litre holds a change of clothes.

   MARCHWAY Floating Waterproof Dry Bag Backpack 5L/10L/20L/30L/40L, Roll Top Sack Keeps Gear Dry Check price on Amazon paid linkHEETA Dry Bag Waterproof Backpack with Phone Case 5L/10L/20L/30L/40L | Roll Top Lightweight DryCheck price on Amazon paid linkFrelaxy Dry Bag 5 Pack, Ultralight Waterproof Dry Sack for Outdoor Use | Durable material, WateCheck price on Amazon paid link

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Every option above is a real product listing on Amazon, chosen by research, not by testing. We do not own these products and we have not tried them. Prices and delivery dates live on Amazon and change constantly, so we do not print them here.