By Allena Rissa
Camping out with friends and family is a true adventure. From day hikes to swimming in rivers to stargazing, there are countless things to do. To ensure you’re prepared for the different excursions you may end up doing, it’s important to pack the right types of clothing.
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Clothing Essentials for Camping
Whether you’re enjoying a summer camping trip by a lake or a winter trip in a national forest, there are clothing staples that are good to have for all times of the year. Here are six clothing essentials for camping that need to make it into your duffle bag.
1. Thick Jacket or Sweater
Going out to explore on a night beneath the stars may seem really serene and peaceful at first, especially during the summer. As the night wears on though, temperatures can quickly decrease and moisture can fill the air.
Regardless of the season you’re camping in, having a thick jacket or sweater is a necessity. Fleece is a good candidate because of its thickness and warmth. Other sweaters or jackets with similar material to that of fleece are also helpful in keeping you comfortable throughout the night.
2. Dri-fit Top and Bottom
During your trip, you’ll likely leave your campsite at some point to explore the surrounding area, hike up the trails, or swim in a nearby lake. Packing a dri-fit top and bottom in your bag will serve you well.
These pieces provide you the comfort and range of movement you need for physically demanding situations. Consider bringing sweat-wicking yoga pants or leggings. Not only will these help to keep you dry throughout the day, but they are also meant to keep you cool on warm days.
3. Gloves or Mittens
If you’re camping in the colder months with chilly temperature, your hands and fingers are eventually going to go stiff from the cold. To avoid that, wearing thick gloves or mittens can help tremendously. Whether you’re climbing up a mountain or lighting up a fire, gloves or mittens will be your best friend through the unpredictable climates of the forest.
An additional bonus is that you get to protect your hands from any scratches or cuts that may happen as you’re hiking and climbing rocks.
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4. Hat
Whether you’re looking for comfort or protection from the heat or cold, hats are a versatile piece of attire to have. Staying in the open spaces means you may not be protected from various weather conditions.
During day time, a hat can protect you from the harmful rays of the sun. Most of them are also sweat-proof, meaning you don’t have to worry about it getting too sweaty over time. Meanwhile, a thermal beanie can be great for night time. These beanies are also really thick and comfortable, so you can get a good night’s sleep in the colder weather.
5. Socks
Since exploring the wilderness requires a lot of physical activity, socks are going to be the perfect companion to your outdoor adventure. Whether it’s for mountaineering, walking around, or relaxing by your campsite, there are all different types of socks to cater to your needs.
We recommend getting both medium and extra thick socks for hiking and cold climate protection. It’ll also be a good idea to get those moisture-wicking or abrasion resistant ones. Since you’ll be moving around a lot, your feet might suffer the consequences if they are not supported correctly. Ensure that you get the pairs you need, and you won’t have to deal with any problems later on. You’ll thank yourself later.
6. Swimsuit
If you’re camping in an area with access to rivers, lakes, or waterfalls, bringing a swimsuit is a must. Lounging in a raft floating down a lazy river is the ultimate form of relaxation! Plan to bring at least two bathing suits. This will give each one enough time to dry before wearing it again.
Even if you don’t plan on going into the water, swimsuits are still a great piece of attire to bring. For example, you can wear a bikini top as a replacement for a sports bra, and this will also quickly absorb sweat and keep you dry.
Conclusion
There you have it! Now that we’ve laid down all the clothing essentials for camping we hope you’re all set for your next trip, wherever your next expedition takes you. Best of luck!
Hi there, I’m Allena, Founder and Editor of The Better Fit. I’ve always had a passion for finding ways to help women improve various areas of their lives, whether it be sharing ways to save money or effective fitness tips.
We always bring plenty of clothes and lots of layers for camping. There was one time in the fall that we went camping and the temps were well below freezing, and we weren’t prepared. We had warm sleeping bags and even hats, but it wasn’t enough. I’ll never let that happen again!
a good hat is always a great idea. That way if it gets cold in the evening you can put it on while you sleep. As we lose most of our body heat through our heads it makes sleeping outdoors much more enjoyable!
Some great tips here for women wating to go camping, I have never been camping so would not really know where to start
I haven’t gone camping actually, but I’ve always wanted to. I, however, get to sleep in odd places because I serve as a missionary. My “camping essentials” include: a mosquito patch, hammock, water, blanket, burner & butance, pots and pans.
I have never been into camping except during my school days. The world has changed since then but I guess the basics remain the same. Interesting post and great tips.
Such a great list for camping- pinning for later! A warm outer layer and socks are essential.
This is a great list. I agree with taking a thick jacket/sweater even if you go camping in the summer. The weather can be pretty unpredictable so it is always best to be prepared for a sudden change of temperature.
That’s a great list! I think the dri-fit clothing is really important. Nothing worse than feeling sweaty or damp during a hike!
I haven’t any experience of camping. But I think those outfits work for the hiking trip or off-season travel as well. I usually have a detachable jacket so that I can cope with at least two seasons on the road.
I no longer go camping because of health issues. But I agree with everything you have listed here. The weather can be pretty unpredictable, so it is better to be prepared with the right clothing and gear.
I have not been to camping till now but soon I will be doing it. Your list is very useful as it contains only useful items to be carried and not unnecessary stuff. Thick jackets and Hats are must for me as sometimes there is varied climatic conditions in natural places. Also carrying sweat soak pants and top are essential because after a long hike or trek, we are dripping out with soak and it is great our clothes should support this condition too.
That’s indeed a very useful list. Absolutely right about temperatures dipping in the night, even in the summers. Yes, it can get pretty chilly. And yeah, when I trekked for the first ever time I hadn’t known of stay-dry clothes and one of the co-trekker was wearing one. He was wearing the pants that have a zipper at the knees that can be worn also as shorts. I need to get that!
As someone who does not camp I still imagine lots of layers are best! This is such a great list for novice campers!
I love this list. I would also add that a thick jacket or sweater can also double as a second pillow. I always sleep on the warm side and haven’t ever really been able to sleep in a jacket, no matter how cold it is. I would always use it to wrap around my shoulders and support my neck. And you can never have too many socks either!
I am not a camper, so this list is very helpful. I would never think to pack dri-fit items, even though I have them! All these items would be great to have on just a day hiking trip as well.
Here in PH gloves is very helpful. Most summits here have rocky and edges stones when we climb – didn’t know it also really helps in camping.
Great list of things we forget while camping. I always appreciated having gloves and hat since they made the cold night air tolerable. Quick dry clothes are something I wish I’d brought more times.
Thanks Annick! Gloves and a hat are so important (and for those cold camping trips, I end up sleeping with them on 90% of the time!).
I love this useful list! I recently forgot gloves on our most recent camping trip and regretted it! A thick sweater is also a must-pack too. Even when I camp in warmer weather, I find that I get chilly at night.
Thanks Leah! I’m the same way where I get cold in warm weather. I’ve also been bringing hand warmers on the last couple of camping trips, and those have been so helpful!
socks are so important! I swear I always take about 5 times the amount of socks I need when I am heading into nature haha! I love the fact you included bringing a swimming costume, nothing more frustrating not having one if the opportunity presents itself!
I am the same way when it comes to socks haha! There’s nothing worse than having to wear cold, wet socks throughout the day!! I’ve gotten to the point where I always have a few spare pair of socks in my car trunk, just in case I’m out exploring and need a fresh pair!
I’ve been planning what to pack for a major upcoming trek and this was very helpful. I don’t think we will have any opportunities to swim but that is a good tip about wearing a bikini top in place of sports bra because it dries quickly! I definitely need to seek out some drifit shirts to bring.
Glad to hear this was helpful, Summer! Dri-fit shirts (and even shorts) are such a game changer, and I highly recommend them!
What a useful list. I must admit that its been years since I’ve gone camping. I was in Iceland in open space waiting to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights and the things you listed would have been things that I would have needed. It was freezing cold especially under cloudless skies.
Thanks Adele! That’s amazing you had the chance to see the Northern Lights – that’s definitely on my bucket list. 🙂