A camping gadget packing checklist is a short list of the power, light, navigation and safety devices to bring so a trip doesn’t stall over a dead phone or a missing headlamp. The list below draws on the gadget sections of Coming Home magazine’s camping list, Anaconda’s camping checklist and Felicia Fullwood’s dispersed camping gear list, with water guidance from the CDC and a university extension. Print it, pack power and safety first, and check the wattage and battery rules for each device before you leave.
This is desk research. It compares what these lists and the makers’ own statements say. This page has not tested or used any of the products named.
Printable camping gadget packing checklist
The table groups the gadgets by job and notes why each list includes it. Tick them off as you pack.
| Category | Gadget | Why it’s on the list |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Portable power station | Felicia Fullwood’s list brings one to keep essential electronics and appliances charged when there’s no power access. |
| Power | Portable solar panels | For longer stays, to recharge the battery bank. |
| Power | Small power bank | For phones, tablets, headlamps and other small devices. |
| Power | Battery charger or power bank | Anaconda’s list suggests one for your phone, laptop or digital camera. |
| Power | Generator and extension leads | Anaconda’s list says if you’re bringing plug-in electrical devices, you’ll need an appropriate generator, and a few extension leads help if you bring one. |
| Light | Headlamps (more than one) | Felicia Fullwood says she never goes camping without multiple headlamps. Anaconda notes their impressive battery life. |
| Light | Lantern and torch | Anaconda’s list uses a lantern for ambient light and a torch for lighting only what you want. |
| Navigation | Paper map and GPS | Felicia Fullwood keeps a paper map as a backup because it never runs out of battery. Anaconda lists a GPS to prevent you from getting lost. |
| Communication | Garmin InReach | Felicia Fullwood’s list says it lets you send messages without service, and send an SOS in an emergency. |
| Safety | Carbon monoxide detector | Felicia Fullwood calls it a simple but essential safety item if you’re camping in a vehicle or cooking in your tent. |
| Safety | Fire extinguisher | Felicia Fullwood’s list has a small one for a campfire or kitchen mishap. |
| Safety | Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) | Anaconda’s list includes it among eight essential survival items. |
| Vehicle | Jump starter | Felicia Fullwood’s list uses a NOCO Boost for a dead vehicle battery. |
| Comfort | Portable fan, tablet with downloaded maps, speakers | Felicia Fullwood lists a rechargeable fan and a tablet loaded with movies or downloaded maps. Anaconda lists portable or Bluetooth speakers. |
How do I check battery, output and generator limits before I pack?
Power is where camping gadget trips go wrong, so check it before anything goes in the car.
- Add up what you plug in. Compare the total wattage with the output rating in your power station’s manual or listing. This is the simplest way to see whether the station can run what you bring.
- Bring extension leads only with a generator plan. Anaconda’s list pairs extension leads with a generator.
- Run a generator only where its manual allows. Never run one inside a tent or vehicle.
- Carry a carbon monoxide detector if you sleep in a vehicle or cook in a tent. Felicia Fullwood’s list makes this its safety item for those setups.
- Pack spare batteries. Anaconda’s list warns that having no spare batteries when you need them most is a common camping miss.
- Check your carrier’s rules for spare batteries and power banks before you travel. Rules differ by airline and carrier, so check yours before you fly or ship.
Do I need water gadgets too?
Most camping lists treat water as a supply, not a gadget, but the CDC’s CDC emergency water supply guidance says to store at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day for 3 days. The Mississippi State extension guide adds that purification tablets are sold at camping and sporting goods stores and are for emergency use only, not regular use, according to its Mississippi State Extension drinking water guide. Read the label before you pack any tablets.
Where the lists differ
Anaconda’s list is a general camping checklist that covers most gear from tents to coolers. Felicia Fullwood’s list is for dispersed camping, where, she writes, there are no amenities at all. If you camp at a set site with power, Anaconda’s power items fit best. If you camp off-grid, her power station, solar and safety gadgets fit better. Her blog also says it contains affiliate links, so she may earn a commission on purchases made through them.
If you’re deciding whether a power station is worth the money for your trips, read is a portable power station worth buying before you add one to the list.
Are Black Friday and Cyber Monday camping gadget deals worth it?
Holiday offers can make a power station or messenger look cheaper than it is, so run the same checks each time. Confirm the device works with the accessories you need, such as extension leads or solar panels, and that the deal includes them. Add up the full cost, including any accessory the deal leaves out. Then read the seller’s returns and warranty pages before you pay. Prices change, so check today’s price at checkout. Our Cyber Monday gadget deals checklist walks through the same checks.
Packing tips for gadgets
- Keep chargers, cables and spare batteries together in one pouch so you can find them in the dark.
- Carry a paper map and a physical backup for any digital map you rely on.
- Check your list the night before, and again before you leave the car.
Before you order
- Check the output rating of any power station against the total wattage of what you plug in.
- Confirm the warranty and returns terms on the seller’s pages before you pay.
- Check today’s price and what is included at checkout, since prices change.
- Read the device manual for generator placement and battery rules before you travel.
Disclosure: Some of the lists named here are blog posts or magazine features that may include affiliate links. This page is not a test of any product.
By InfinitePowerSolutions.com Technology Desk
