Pack This Essential Gear for Your Fall Camping Adventures

Some folks like to pack everything they can and just wing it. I’m not like that. Whether I’m traveling overseas or going camping, I obsess over packing. I travel as lightly as I can without compromising any essentials. I also like to sort items, so they’re easy to locate.

Following are some of my recommendations for fall camping gear. (If you already camp in the summer, you already have most of the equipment you need.)

Let’s start with where you’ll sleep

To camp in the fall, you need a good 3 season tent (if you plan to winter camp, you might opt for a 4 season tent). Choose one with a full rain fly. A rain fly is a waterproof outer wall that keeps moisture out of your tent.

If you car camp, consider a tent that’s a little bigger than what you need. Our family of 4 uses a 6-person tent. This added size affords more room for dogs, getting dressed, and lounging around “inside” if the weather turns ugly. A vestibule is also handy for keeping shoes, plastic storage bins, and wet garments under cover.

Get a footprint (or groundcover) that fits your tent. A footprint offers a few benefits. It keeps moisture from seeping into your tent. It protects the bottom of your tent from abrasion and punctures (from rocks or twigs). A footprint also keeps your tent clean.

Get some help from above

Rain is tolerable if you have adequate cover. For this reason, you should always have a tarp (or a few of ’em) with you. Tarps are inexpensive and allow you to make better use of your campsite—while staying dry.

You can extend a tarp above your tent for added protection from the elements. Hanging a tarp over your picnic table (and cook area) makes meals more comfortable. It also gives you room to play cards during light rain.

Be sure to consider how you set up the low point on your tarp, so that water is directed away from you. It’s important to avoid allowing water to pool in the middle of your tarp as the tarp could buckle under the weight and leave you drenched. Here’s a handy video on how to tie your tarp so you don’t tear through it.

Pop-up tents are also useful. These start at around $100, and Eric Shelkie (the guy who keeps Campnab running) considers the one he bought a game-changer. Pop-up tents are easier to set up than tarps and fold down into convenient carry cases. Some even have mesh sidewalls that keep bugs out.

Awnings offer similar utility and are easily deployed. That said, they can cost a bit more than a tarp. Awnings must remain affixed to your vehicle. This locked position makes an awning less adaptable than a tarp, as you can’t just move it anywhere. Also, you’ll need to disassemble it if you have to drive into town, or to the trailhead.

Your sleeping kit

Wherever you sleep, you’ll need a sleeping pad. This pad works as a (typically not that great) mattress. It also creates a buffer between you and the ground. In colder temperatures, you’ll want a thick inflatable pad (compact, comfortable) or a good closed-cell sleeping pad (inexpensive, durable, multi-function).

Consider the conditions of where you’ll camp, and check R-values to determine the pad’s ability to resist heat flow. You can also double up with a foam pad for added comfort and protection from the cold earth.

You have countless sleeping bag options. In fact, there are so many that can make your head spin. Just know that your summer one won’t cut it. You need one that’s adequately insulated to keep you warm in cold weather. Choose a winter sleeping bag that’s rated for temperatures lower than you expect. If you’re generally cold at night, opt for one that has even more insulation.

Mummy bags limit motion, but this clinging design makes for a smaller area to insulate. This is good! (If camping with kids, buy them their own sleeping bags, sized to fit their smaller bodies.) You can also cinch the hood tight on these sorts of sleeping bags to prevent heat from escaping. I encourage you to visit your local outfitter to look at all of your options and get advice from their staff on what’s right for you.

Also consider packing some spare sleeping bags and blankets. You never know when a zipper sticks or you need a little extra insulation. One more thing: A sleeping bag liner can offer you a bit of extra warmth for a nominal cost.

Light is your friend

You can do a lot more at camp if you have adequate lighting. This statement is even more true in the fall and winter when the days are so much shorter. At a bare minimum, you need a headlamp. Unlike a flashlight, a headlamp keeps your hands free for cooking, digging through bags, or navigating through the bush to take a midnight pee. Have a headlamp for each member of your party, and bring some extra flashlights along, too.

Your lighting options ought to be rechargeable (most are). That said, I’m torn on whether to opt for removable batteries or built-in ones that are recharged via USB. USB rechargeable devices can be recharged while driving to and from camp. Conversely, ones with removable batteries can be replenished with pre-charged ones, without missing a beat. I guess you’ll need to make your own call on this one.

Lights around camp add a lot of utility—and also make your campsite feel cozy. I have a few LED light strips. One of these goes on the back of my sauna trailer. This light helps me locate my soap when I wash, and towel when it’s time to dry myself. My other light strips go into our rooftop tents for nighttime reading.

I also use a couple of LED touch lights over our cooking area. These are magnetic backed, allowing them to cling to our utility trailer, where I have a fold-down cook surface. $25 will get you two of these, and they throw a fair bit of light.

A lantern for your picnic table allows you to eat an evening meal without knocking over the ketchup. It also illuminates any card games you have planned. These lanterns often include hooks that allow you to hang them in your tent, too.

Adapting some items for the season

Just like in the summer, you’ll want camp chairs for sitting comfortably around the fire. Perhaps add in some sit pads or cushions. These’ll make your chairs feel warmer—and you can transfer them to cold picnic benches as required.

Pick up a cheap entryway mat for your vestibule. This small addition keeps dirt from your shoes from sneaking into your tent. I use this when camping in the summer, but it’s even better in the fall—given the added debris (dead leaves and general-purpose muck).

With night falling earlier, you’ll spend more time around the campfire. If the park is operating at partial capacity, they might not have firewood for sale, on site. So, bring your own and pack a little extra. Also, make sure it’s dry… because wet wood burns poorly. Some extra fire starting material is also worth packing. I like birch bark, but cotton balls also work.

Pack it up!

I don’t love gear. That said, I love how the right gear allows me to load up my truck quickly, set up efficiently, and simply do what I want to do. A big part of this relates to how these items are stored.

I have contemplated the perfect camping bins at great length. I’m partial to containers that are strong, stackable, and fit nicely in my truck. These are reasonably shallow (~12"), so I don’t need to dig around, searching for things. Currently, I use storage bins made by Plano, but the Front Runner Wolf Packs look good, too.

Each bin contains items grouped by type (kitchen, camp, bath, stove), allowing me to find items within them quickly. I write the content type on the outside of the bin (e.g. “KITCHEN” in marker on a piece of masking tape) so I can easily identify the appropriate one. These bins are particularly useful in wet/muddy conditions as they are durable and water-resistant. This means whatever I have inside remains dry, clean, and safe. These bins also perform double-duty as make-shift benches for seating.

Consider housing your clothing in a water-resistant duffel bag. (Wet clothing in cold conditions is a recipe for grumpiness at least, hypothermia at worst.) If you’re unsure of which bags to get, I think The North Face duffels are worth considering. They’re made of thick material that takes a beating, the zippers are burly, and the flap opens up nice and big.

Bring a daypack for carrying some food, water, and extra clothing on hikes. A rain cover will help keep this dry. Another option is to line it with a plastic bag. I also find Zip-Lock bags useful for shielding electronics, documents, and other valuables from rain.

You do you

My family and I camp in a tent. As such, I can’t speak to the RV and trailer experience as others could. So, this post is probably incomplete.

There’s a lesson in this, though. It’s that everyone’s camping setup is unique and requires gear suited to their activities. Use the suggestions above as a starting point and adapt them to meet your needs.

Pitch Camp Like a Pro in the Fall Season is the next installment in our Fall Camping Guide.

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That photo at the top of the page? 👆 It’s courtesy of Martin Jernberg. See his other photos 📸 on instagram: @martin.jernberg.

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