When it comes to overlanding, having a well-stocked and organized camp kitchen is essential for a successful and enjoyable trip. Whether you’re planning a multi-week excursion or a weekend getaway, having the right gear and equipment can make all the difference. 

From portable stoves and cookware to food storage containers and cleaning supplies, creating an efficient and functional overland camp kitchen requires careful planning and preparation. Let’s explore the essential gear and equipment needed for an overland camp kitchen, as well as checklists and shopping lists to help you get started.

The Camp Kitchen

Building out a camp kitchen can be one of the most rewarding aspects of creating an overland and car camping capable vehicle. There is something deeply satisfying about taking the time to prepare a meal after a full day of adventure travel. And sitting around a campfire and eating your meal under the stars is an added bonus. 

Camp Kitchen Gear

The best off-road camp kitchen kits are both compact and versatile. Thanks to the design and innovation of outdoor gear makers, this is easier to achieve than you might think. And it is possible to hit all the outdoor kitchen marks on a budget. 

Camp Kitchen Gear Checklist

Here’s a list of considerations as you pack out or revise your set up:

• Stove and fuel: A portable stove is a must-have for any overlanding trip, as it allows you to cook your meals on the go. There are many different types of stoves available, ranging from compact backpacking stoves to larger, more powerful models that can handle larger pots and pans. Make sure to bring enough fuel to last for the duration of your trip. Consider the weight of the stove and how many burners are available to use.
• Cookware and utensils: A set of pots and pans, along with basic cooking utensils such as a spatula, ladle and tongs, will enable you to prepare a wide range of meals on the road. Consider investing in lightweight and durable cookware that can withstand the rough conditions of overlanding.
• Cutting board and knives: You’ll need a sturdy cutting board and at least one sharp knife to chop vegetables, fruits, and meats. Opt for compact and portable options that won’t take up too much space in your storage bins.
• Plates and cups: Don’t forget to pack plates and cups for serving your meals. Lightweight and stackable options are best for overlanding.
• Cooler or fridge: A high-quality cooler or fridge solution is essential for keeping perishable foods fresh during your trip. Consider investing in a heavy-duty cooler that can withstand rough terrain and extreme temperatures.
• Food storage containers: You’ll need a variety of food storage containers to keep your dry goods and snacks organized and easily accessible.
• Cleaning supplies: Dish soap, sponge, and towels are essential for keeping your kitchen clean and hygienic. We keep alcohol wipes in our kit when water needs to be conserved.
• Don’t forget to pack a small trash can and garbage bags for proper waste disposal. Leave it better than you found it.

A favorite piece of camp kitchen gear we use is the Escape HS 3 L Pot + Frypan from GSI. It is a pot and pan combo that packs down flat and is an absolute game changer for a camp kitchen packout. 

Advice if you are just starting out: Use what you already own, and focus on bringing in one or two pieces of new camp kitchen kit at a time. Get to know your cooking style outdoors because it can vary from your usual recipes and routines. 

Once you feel like you have a handle on your go to meals and preparation styles, invest more in the kitchen accessories that will make meal creation the most enjoyable to you. 

Camp Kitchen Pantry & Perishables

Once you have your checklist of necessary gear and equipment, it’s time to stock up on the supplies you need for your trip. Here’s where creativity and planning come together. The camp kitchen is best served by versatile ingredients that can be used across many different meals. 

One example of this would be packing perishables that can transition from dinner to breakfast. Cherry tomatoes and mushrooms can be mixed together and sauteed with precooked rice to go with a protein at dinner, and then can be used the next morning to cook in with your eggs. 

You can use eggs for both breakfast and as an ingredient in a stir fry. A camp stir fry is a great way to use leftovers from previous meals. 

A Tembo Tusk skottle is a great investment for those who cook for their family or usually find themselves feeding everyone on a trip. At $395.00 it’s not an inconsequential investment; however, every single person we know who uses one reports they will never go back to pan and burner. 

Once you get going it’s easy to create meals with overlapping ingredients. This will make you pack out simpler and more efficient.  

Camp Kitchen Pantry Checklist

Here’s a shopping list of food items to consider for your overland camp kitchen:

• Dry goods: Pasta, rice, quinoa, and other grains are great options for a filling and nutritious meal.
• Spices and seasonings: An important element to any meal! You’ll need your standard S&P plus consider bringing chili powder, garlic powder, an herb blend, a dry rub, hot sauce or any other favorite you use regularly in your kitchen.
• Canned goods: Soups, beans, and vegetables are easy to store and can be heated up quickly on your stove. Don’t underestimate the power of a can of tomatoes to add flavor and depth to a meal.
• Perishables: Fresh proteins, vegetables, cheese and fruits are the ingredients that will make your meal feel special. Consider marinating protein and packing out in a ziplock or tupperware container. Harder cheeses can last longer and be used for just about any meal. Fruit can be turned into a dessert with a few cookies and powdered sugar. 
• Dried fruits and nuts: These are perfect for snacking and can provide a quick burst of energy during a long day of driving.
• Jerky: A protein-packed snack that doesn’t require refrigeration and can be stored in a food container.
• Dehydrated meals: Pre-packaged dehydrated meals are a convenient option for a hot meal on the go. A Jet Boil works great if you’re planning on filling your meals with this option. 

Camp Kitchen Wrap Up

By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to create a functional and efficient camp kitchen that will allow you to enjoy delicious meals while on your overland adventure. So start planning your next trip and happy overlanding!

The Overland Gear Store has a wide range of camp kitchen gear. Head on over to checkout the full collection.

What’s the one tool in your camp kitchen you can’t live without? What ingredients do you always carry? Let us know in the comments. 

Car camping has become a popular way to explore the outdoors without having to venture too far from civilization. However, many people who enjoy car camping are often interested in taking their adventures to the next level by venturing further into the wilderness. This is where overlanding comes in. Overlanding is essentially car camping on steroids – it involves traveling to remote destinations for an extended period of time, usually in a specially equipped vehicle. Let’s explore how to turn car camping adventures into overland adventures.

A Quick History of Overlanding

The term “overlanding” originated in Australia in the early 20th century, where it referred to the practice of driving cattle across long distances. Over time, the term evolved to encompass a broader meaning – traveling overland to remote destinations for the purpose of exploration or adventure. Today, overlanding has become a global phenomenon, with enthusiasts around the world seeking out new and exciting destinations to explore.

Similarities Between Car Camping and Overlanding

While there are certainly differences between car camping and overlanding, the similarities at the core of each are many. Both involve traveling in a vehicle, often with a focus on outdoor recreation. Both typically involve staying in campsites, and both can be done with a variety of vehicles, from compact vehicles to fully equipped SUVs.

Overland Bound member with a full overland set up in their car. Mojave National Preserve. Photo by Brett Siegel.

The biggest difference between the two is the level of preparedness required. While car camping can be done with little more than a sleeping bag and a cooler, overlanding requires a higher level of planning and preparation. This includes equipping your vehicle with the necessary gear and supplies to travel to dispersed campsites and remote destinations for an extended period of time.

Steps and Gear Needed for Overlanding

If you’re interested in turning your car camping adventures into overlanding trips, there are several steps you can take to get started. 

The first step is to assess your current vehicle and determine whether it’s capable of handling the rigors of overlanding. If not, you may need to invest in a vehicle that is better suited for off-road travel.

Once you know your vehicle’s capabilities, the next step is to equip it with the necessary gear and supplies. This could include things like a roof rack, storage bins with tie downs, recovery gear (such traction boards and recovery straps), a fully equipped First Aid Kit, and spare parts and tools for your vehicle.

You’ll also need to stock up on essentials like food, water, and fuel, as well as camping gear like a tent or a flat space in your vehicle to sleep, sleeping bags, and cooking supplies.

Another important aspect of overlanding is navigation. Unlike car camping, where you can rely on cell phone signals and sometimes remote connectivity like campground wifi, overlanding often takes you to remote destinations where these technologies may not work. You will need a combination of pre-downloaded maps on your phone for GPS navigation, and if possible, a satellite communication device like a Garmin InReach or Zoleo or cell signal booster. 

Are you just getting started? You can read all about some off-road travel basics here.

Advice for Camping in Remote Destinations

If you’re new to camping in remote destinations, it’s important to start small and work your way up. This means choosing destinations that are within your comfort zone and gradually increasing the difficulty level as you gain experience. 

With a little research, it is possible to find dispersed camping in a stock 2WD vehicle, however, research in advance is highly recommended, if not absolutely required. Well maintained Forest Service roads are a fantastic place to start, and one or two nights camping away from a maintained campground will give you a feel for the remote aspects of overlanding.

Be especially aware of any potential hazards or challenges and know your limits. There is no shame in the turn around game. 

When it comes to packing, it’s better to err on the side of caution and bring more supplies than you think you’ll need. Storage bins that are easy to pack and access are awesome to start building out your kit and keeping everything organized and visible. 

Packing includes things like food, water, and fuel, as well as spare parts for your vehicle in case something goes wrong. It’s also important to pack for the conditions you’ll be facing – this means bringing warm clothing and gear for cold weather destinations, and lightweight, breathable clothing for hot weather destinations.

We started with three Plano cases off and ran with that setup for years. It served us extremely well. Here is a checklist we created for a three case set up. 

Finally, it’s important to respect the environment and leave no trace. This means packing out all your trash and being mindful of your impact on the natural world.

And, yes, please pack out human waste. It’s not as gross as it might seem at first. There are many methods and strategies to make this easy and sanitary, and this is mission critical to keep the environments we enjoy open. 

It’s also important to be respectful of other dispersed campers, land managers and follow all posted rules. Don’t be the person who ruins it for everyone else. 

Making the Leap from Car Camping to Overlanding

The main takeaway we hope you get from this article is that the overlaps between car camping and overlanding are many, especially when you start to explore beyond the activities of traditional camping. 

More often than not the shift between the two comes from a shift in your mindset and how you plan and prepare. A word of warning… Making the mindset crossover from car camping to overlanding can have long lasting effects. Who knows? You just might find yourself roaming the world full time. 

Additional Resources: This article on how to sleep in your vehicle while car camping is a great checklist for anyone making their vehicle their shelter.

Chelsea and Blake, Overland Bound Ambassadors

Power Bank

Storage Solutions

Roof top storage allows for easy access.

A Well-Stocked First Aid Kit

Taking long journeys through remote destinations, we had to prepare for unforeseen incidents, minor and life-threatening. A well-stocked first aid kit
can be invaluable for insect bites, scratches, and minor to major emergencies.

Our first-aid kit contains some of the following items:

● Tourniquet
● Gauze roll
● Medical tape
● Scissors
● Different sizes of adhesive bandages
● Antiseptic ointment/cream
● Cotton balls
● Sterile wipes
● Antibiotic ointment
● Allergy medicines, Benadryl/Epi-pen ● Duct tape
● Sunscreen
● ORS Oral Rehydration Solutions

Layers of Clothing

During our overland adventures we need to be ready for changes in temperature. Despite learning weather patterns and staying up to date on the forecast, we could never guarantee Mother Nature moods.

Traveling thru the desert has huge temperature swings, it would be beautiful and sunny during the day, and as soon as the sun went down behind the mountains it would be blistering cold. Layering with Vertx clothing that is sweat resistant helped us prepare for moments like this out on the trail.

TIP: Having drenched feet is never fun! Changing our socks was a huge morale booster. And look for moisture wicking fabrics.

Head Lamps

We are always getting to camp after dark! Using head lamps allows us to use our hands while setting up camp, prepping dinner, etc. Using a red light helped keep the bugs away.

What we don’t bring Overlanding

Words and Photos by Jorge & Jessica Gonzalez

After three years of living on the road, multiple purges of the items that we carry, and a constant refinement of what we currently have, we think it’s safe to say that we kind of have a handle on what it means to travel light in our overland vehicle. We want to share with you our approach, some of the questions we ask ourselves regarding what stays and what goes, and some of the products we use that help us stay sane and organized in a small space.

We went from living in a 2,500sq.ft. townhouse to living in an 80sq.ft. van and we’ve learned a lot about our needs, our wants, and our priorities along the way.

Sure, having a 60 inch flat screen TV to watch Monday Night Football or binge watch Game of Thrones is awesome, but living in a small space demands sacrifices.
So, that blender, the nice washer and dryer, the Sleep Number bed, the art hanging on your wall, the love seat, and boxes in the attic filled with memories have to take a back seat if your desire is to live on the road for any extended amount of time. Plus, all those things would probably break on the trail.

What follows is a practical synopsis of how to simplify. This post will be short on commentary about “minimizing one’s footprint”, “small is beautiful” and other en vogue notions that too often shoehorn an ideology into overlanding. Our advice is not to use a rock as a pillow or to brush your teeth with tree bark. If granola is your thing, grab yourself a Cliff Bar ‘cause that’s pretty much the only granola you’ll be encountering here.

Let’s make this as simple as possible: You need food, a way to cook it, water, some shelter and a way to stay warm. One of us is a former Infantryman and we assure you that other than a rifle and a few other combat essential things, our needs as humans are quite spartan. Luckily, we’re packing a vehicle for overlanding and not a rucksack for field exercises so we can carry a considerable amount more. The amount you ultimately carry will vary greatly depending on the vehicle and the length of your journey.

Because we live on the road full time, we will be writing from a perspective that takes into account long term functionality and efficiency. Feel free to subtract or substitute based on your needs and vehicle space.

Simplify Simplify Simplify

At this point, it’s a good idea to start making a list. It’s helpful to divide the things you’re bringing along into categories such as Clothing, Cooking, Cleaning, Sleeping, Tools, Leisure, and if you’ll be working from your vehicle, Work. Once you’ve compiled a list or perhaps gathered all these items on the floor in your living room, assign a value to each: Must-Have, Nice-to-Have, and Luxury. Go ahead and set those luxuries aside for later. Now, take your Nice-to-Haves and try to cut them in half.

No really, half ‘em. Now, those Must-Haves, take a hard look at each one and ask yourself the following questions:

• Is it cost effective?
• Is it light weight?
• Does it work or is it some gimmick
• What’s the quality/will it last?
• Is there a better option that can do the same thing?
• Is there room?
• Can I live with out it?

Chances are if it’s not food, water, or shelter (or a vehicle specific tool), then you can live without it and if that’s the case, go ahead and move that into the Nice-to-Have pile.

Save Space

Once you feel like you have a good handle on what you’re taking with you, these are the questions we like to ask regarding efficiency:

• Does the item have more than one use?
• Can you nest it?
• Could it be compressed?
• Can it be rolled, strapped, stuffed into something else or stored outside?

Space is at a premium so priority is generally given to items that meet at least one of the criteria mentioned above to make our use of space as efficient as possible. Another thing to think about is how you will pack your vehicle and what you will put where. Think first about accessibility.

• How often throughout each day will you be accessing that particular item?
• How important is it that that item be near the top or near the bottom or somewhere in-between?
• Is it a daily, weekly, or seasonal item?

Example: We access our camera on a regular basis so it’s kept within arms reach at all times, but our winter coats stay tucked away until it’s time to fish them out of whatever recessed abyss they happen to be stuffed.

Cut Weight

Overpacking leads to being overweight. Overweight leads to worn or broken parts on your vehicle. Overpacking also leads to clutter, frustration, and inefficiency. Being able to get to things you use often quickly will make your life on the road substantially less frustrating. Live by the credo: Everything Has a Place. Stick to that like white on rice.

Look back through your list and ask: Is this is the lightest possible item available for this purpose? If not, there should be a good reason for it.

This is How We Do It

Here are some items we have found to make life easier on the road, maybe these can inspire you to find some of your own. This list is by no means exhaustive because we’re simply not going to bore you with every little gadget and doo-dad in our vehicle but we think it might help you start thinking creatively about how and what to pack.

Clothes

Look at yourself in the mirror. Is Kim Kardashian staring back at you? I didn’t think so. Now that you know that, prepare to cut way back on your wardrobe. When overlanding, wearing the same clothes for a week or..dare I say…two, happens. You ain’t out to impress anybody with your fancy clothes combo so cut way back on all those precious garments. Dirtbag is the New Black.

We used to have a walk-in closet full of clothes, now our clothes fit into a carry on bag. Versatility and functionality are the key. Carry clothes that layer or work as a system so when combined can function in cold weather or be used alone in warmer weather.

We pack all of our clothes into packing cubes. Why? Because packing cubes compress bulky clothes into cubes that are easy to organize and fit into tight spaces. Think of them like legos only with clothes inside them and less devastating were you step on them barefooted.

Something we’ve learned in our time on the road is to find clothes that are multi-purpose, look fly, and can pack well. Jorge uses these pants from NorthFace exclusively. They are great for hiking, walking around a city, wearing to work when we have to go into an office to perform our duties, and they can become shorts which means hot days are less hot because pant-leg-air-conditioning. Oh, and you can also use them as swim trunks. Boom. These are pretty much the unicorns of the trouser world.

We pack t-shirts as well. Probably 3 or 4 a piece. Roll these puppies and save space. No really, rolling instead of folding saves huge amounts of space in the packing cubes. Do it.

As far as shoes we both carry four or five pairs of them. Jorge has one pair of flip flops for summer gallivanting and showers in unspeakably gross places, one pair of high top Chucks that are pretty much the definition of sex appeal, a set of water shoes for walking in the ocean and creeks and rivers oh my, and one pair of hiking shoes in the event we’re feeling froggy enough to take a walk in the wild.

Jessica also carries flip flops which means her toes are always perfectly pedicured, she has a pair of boots made for walking, a pair of trail running shoes that double as hiking shoes, water shoes for rivers, creeks, the ocean etc and then one pair of Chucks ‘cause she’s a straight baller.

We kind of have a lot of shoes. You could probably get away with flip flops and a sturdy pair of hiking/running shoes. We just like footwear though so…yeah, we go a little overboard on it.

We also carry a handful of winter clothes. When your house is on four wheels you can mostly avoid the cold but from time to time we like to check in with Father Winter and see what’s crackin’ (usually our lips), in which case we both have a heavy winter coat and some Long-Juans™ (the hispanic version of long-johns). We manage to pack those into a pretty small space as well. We like the NorthFace jackets because they compress down into small ball of cute space savings.

Cooking

Nesting pots, a spatula, some tongs, a knife, and a stove of some sort. Our fine friends at Overland Bound sell the skottle but other options abound. We’ve had good luck with stoves from Coleman. Currently our rig has a built in stove which makes our rig pretty much cooler than Vanilla Ice in 1990.
The nesting pots have been a godsend meaning they take up very little space and have been up to the task for 3 whole years of overlanding. These pots are teflon coated and some of our compadres on the road don’t dig on teflon because cancer but we’re immune to all forms of weakness so we use these pots to show off our super natural resilience. Also, we can store bowls inside the nesting pots thus saving even more real estate.

Real talk though, if you want to use a cast iron skillet because you like the baked in flavors of left over food and grease then get the smallest one you think will work for your needs. Oh, and get one cutting board. We like wooden ones because they look like we have class and they are lightweight, but you can find uber thin plastic cutting boards that take up less space, weigh less and have less class.

Cleaning

Check it out, we use store bought real cleaners you get from Walmart and not the Trader Joes or Whole Foods crap that is pretty much scented water in a bottle made from mud and polar bear dreams. Specifically our main go-to cleaner is the Windex MultiSurface cleaner. It cleans windows, dog poo, grease after cooking two pounds of bacon, and it wipes away sadness caused by seeing too many forest road gates closed. One bottle to rule them all. Take that Sauron.

Other cleaners we use are bio-degradable dish washing soap from Mrs Meyers that’s safe enough to feed to a baby seal* and brake cleaner when things go terribly wrong with the vehicle. We’ve heard brake cleaner is the safest product known to man. We aren’t sure that’s entirely true because after each use we seem to die a little bit on the inside. Use sparingly.
*Don’t feed soap to baby seals. They don’t like it. Fact.

Sleeping

Minimal is better, but many folks including ourselves like to splurge on space a bit in the sleeping department. We use full size pillows, blankets, and foam mattress toppers because we can spare the space. But others choose to use sleeping bags and inflatable pillows. Go with whatever option works in your space and affords you the good night’s sleep you need on a regular basis. Our good friends over @Bound.For.Nowhere were genius’ and just cut their fancy memory foam pillows in half to save space AND keep it comfortable. Sleeping is awesome, make it comfortable. Feel free to use that line if you’re in advertising.

Tools

Because we don’t have a garage to head back to when things go sideways, we carry an ungodly amount of tools, each of which has thus far come in handy, mind you. In our opinion, carry tools that can change a CV, a belt, and a hose. Beyond that we think it depends on your vehicle and where you’re going. If you’re in a VW Vanagon, consider having a mechanic on retainer to live with you. If you have a Toyota, you probably have no idea what the engine compartment looks like because you’ve never had to open the bonnet.

Here’s another pro-tip: Use a tool roll. It’s tempting to get a tool bag but we have found after 3 years of tool bags that a tool roll or two saves an inordinate amount of space. Something else we do is we have a little bag that contains often-used tools like screwdrivers, allan wrenches, an adjustable wrench and a cutting tool. That bag lives in a different more easily accessible place than our “oh shit” tool rolls. Also, consider having a multimeter. Buy a good one. Don’t skimp on that.

Leisure

Do you have a hobby like photography, drawing, knitting, or fishing that you’d like to pursue while on the road? You’ll need to plan for space for these items. Ask yourself all the same questions you did before with your essential items:

• Is there space?
• Is there something smaller or lighter that would work just as well?
• How often will I need to access these items?

We like to read and we used to carry a stupid number of books with us. Now we have switched to using the kindle app on our Apple device and have nearly unlimited space for things we want to read. Yes, we still carry some books but it’s vastly fewer than before. Bound books are like the missionary position of consuming content these days but there’s just something about holding a real book in your hand, ya know?

We also like to photograph and shoot video meaning we carry an assortment of cameras, mounts, and stands. We have managed to whittle our camera gear down substantially and to find ingenious places around the van to attach accessories using a combination of Quick Fists and velcro straps. Get creative with how you attach things, get even more creative with cutting down on what you take in the first place.

Work

This category will obviously vary widely depending on the type of work you choose to pursue while on the road. That being said, use the same sort of thinking here and ask yourself what is the minimum amount of gear you can get away with and still get the job done. Keep in mind that security is key for valuable items like computers or other valuable gear and you should think about secure storage when building out your rig.

Wrap Up

Living on the road doesn’t have to suck but it does require sacrifices. Going from a huge house to a typical overland vehicle like a Syncro or Land Cruiser or Defender is going to entail cutting way back on the stuff you have. That’s totally ok. You decided to hit the road because you’ve reached a crossroads where enjoying vehicle dependent travel is now more important than enjoying a life of flat screen TVs and a Sleep Number Bed.

No, there isn’t anything wrong with having things and enjoying them, but if you’re like us, what you happen to be in love with at the moment simply doesn’t include the things one typically fills a house with. If that’s you, welcome to Overlanding. We’ll see you out there!

This overland checklist is for those planning, or starting, an off-the-beaten path adventure. It was created with the assumption that some people might not be able to live full time on the road, but are working to create a lifestyle that will support that dream.

For those who only have 3 days here and there to give, we got you.

Here are some ways to help you get started.

 Note: We have not received compenstation for any of the products listed in this article. 

A few items to consider before you start:

1. This overland checklist is to help prepare you for longer adventures. This list will give you a great starting point for the supplies you need to consider for your journey.

2. This basic supply list assumes you have a capable rig for what you want to do.

3. Know before you go! Do your research on the terrain/weather of your destination. You’ll need to adjust your equipment and provision amounts depending on the duration of your trip, but with this setup you are good for many days.

4. Bring a journal to help fine tune your overland checklist! Each time you go out make a note of:

The things I had that I don’t need
The things I needed and I didn’t have

By doing this, your list gets better and more refined every time you go out.

The Foundation: Three Cases Method

Your list will naturally consolidate and improve over time, and for us, the pack list consolidated to three prepacked cases. The advantage of a prepacked case method is that you can get out of town and into the great outdoors in 20 minutes!

The overland checklist three categories are:

1. Dry goods
2. Kitchen and camp utilities
3. Comfort

This configuration packs tight. And remember… Organization will keep you sane.

The Starter Overland Checklist

First things first. Let’s go over the basics needed.

Water (1-2 gal. per person per day depending on environment)
Cooler/Fridge (cold foods according to your meal plan)
First Aid
Tent/Sleeping Shelter
Map/GPS/Tablet or Satellite Comms
Clothes
Bedding (pads, sleeping bags, pillows)
Camp Kitchen
Table
Chairs
A tool kit for your vehicle
Recovery Gear (winch, straps, traction boards)

Once you have the basics covered you can drill down into the case method.

Case 1: Dry Goods

The dry goods case is our pantry. This list is the easiest to change up and make appropriate for you. Our shopping trip before heading out of town is for fresh items like fruits, pastry treats for a ‘special’ breakfast for kids, vegetables of all sorts, cheese, proteins, etc.

Canned Soup
Canned Black Beans
Canned Kidney Beans
Canned Tuna
Canned Chili/Hearty Stew
Canned Whole Tomatoes
Canned Tomato Paste

Dry Pasta
Spaghetti Sauce

Spices: Salt, pepper, steak rub, garlic salt
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Steak Sauce
Sriracha Chili Sauce
Cholula Hot Sauce

Coffee

Cereal
Instant Oatmeal
Almond/Soy Milk
Dried Fruit
Energy Bars
Nuts

Peanut/Almond Butter
Small jar of jelly
Hot Chocolate
Hersey Bars
Marshmallows
Graham Crackers

Tortillas
Chips
Salsa

This list is the framework we shop from when we take inventory of our “pantry”. We always try to pack things that will pair well with fresh vegetables and protein.

Case 2: Hardware

This is the ‘nuts and bolts’ of a base camp set up case, plus your cooking supplies. Consider how compact and packable you can make these items.

Lantern/Lights
Compact Stove – We highly recommend Fore Winds single burner stoves
Trash Bags
Propane
Insect Repellent
Eating Utensil Sets – Cliff Set is our go to
Wet Ones
GSI Pinnacle Camper Kit (pots, pans, plates, cups)
Thin Plastic Cutting Board
Coffee Filters & Pour Over Kit
Water Purification kit
Fire Bag (lots of ways to start a fire – wet, dry, strike, lighter, fuel, gels, etc.)
Cooking utensils
Knife X 2
Paper Towels
Boo Boo First Aid Kit
Bottle/Can Opener
Aluminum Foil
Napkins
Kleenex
Paper Plates
Toilet Paper (Mountain Money)

Case 3: Camp Comfort

This is our case for all the things that make campfires memorable.

Folding Chairs
Stuff sack blankets
Extra beanies and gloves
Pocket warmers

A general reminder: Pull from the resources you have and make sure the resources you pack are right for your needs. Meaning, you don’t have to go out and buy this entire list. Many of these items can be found around the house. You’ll be surprised at what you do and do NOT need.

Additional Inspriation

And for those really looking for a starting point, here’s how we typically plan meals assuming a three day excursion.

Day 1

Dinner

Chips & Salsa
Easy to heat up canned chili/stew
Saltine Crackers
Carrots/veggie with hummus

Day 2

Breakfast

Cold Cereal w/ Almond Milk
Apples w/ Almond Butter
Coffee

Lunch

Flour Tortilla rolled with lunch meat, cheese, veggies & Cholula (or PB&J!)
Chips & Salsa
Trail Mix
Apples w/ Almond Butter

Dinner

Hunk of meat
Red Potatoes in Foil/with canned tomatoes, can of beans, veggies and seasoning
Broccoli w/ garlic salt and pepper

Day 3

Breakfast

Fruit
Instant Oatmeal
Pastries

Lunch (on the road)

Create Your Own Kit

We have used Plano cases in the past, and are a great solution for our pack three cases method. They offer an incredible value. You can get them here.

Any advice based on your experience? Let us know in the comments.

Updated October 24, 2022