Glamping Essentials

So you’ve picked the perfect glamping site, booked it, and now it’s time to prepare for your stay. But there’s a difference between camping and glamping or luxury camping. We’re not just going to experience nature, we’re going to experience nature in style and comfort, right! That means our packing list is slightly different. 

Rule number 1: Even if the resort or campgrounds say they provide something, pack as if they don’t.

There are other things to account for, as well. Maybe they say they supply a coffee maker, but it’s a French press, and you don’t have time to figure out how to use that. You will 1000% feel more comfortable with your own stuff, anyway. 

With that said, let’s dive in!

• Lantern: You may be thinking, “Okay, but this isn’t Little House on the Prairie. I got a cabin or RV with electricity.” Sure, but what happens if the power goes out? Now you’re in the dark, in the wilderness, in a place you don’t know. That’s a scary situation that’s better to avoid. A lantern is a must-have addition to your glamp gear. I have two types of lanterns: battery-operated and oil, just in case I don’t have batteries on hand. 
• Cooler: Whether you’re toting your s’mores supplies down to the fire, plan on making some bacon and eggs over the fire (yum!), or simply can’t exist without your coffee creamer- or you’re like me and you tick all 3 of those boxes- you need a cooler! 
• Bear Canister: This is incredibly important. Even if you’re glamping in an environment free from bears, there will likely be other wildlife around. And believe it or not, there are some creatures that you don’t want to get up close and personal with, so it’s best not to attract them with your food. 
• Insect Repellant: There are some parts of nature you don’t want to experience, like insect-borne diseases. One of the fastest ways to ruin a picture-perfect moment is the feeling of being eaten alive by mosquitoes, so arm up! 
• Sun Block: This is especially important when you’re on or around bodies of water, like lakes or rivers. The sun’s rays reflect off the water and back at you. I’m Irish and I have Lupus, so I burn easily, but some of the worst burns I’ve ever gotten were from being in water. 

• First Aid Kit: Stock the stuffing out of that thing. Put everything you can think of in it, because you never know what sort of situation you’ll encounter. Add things like Tylenol, allergy medicine, insect bite remedies, and bandages to complete your kit.

Here are some items to pack that will take a good camping trip to next-level comfort and help you avoid inconveniences.

• Towels: I always bring both bath towels and beach towels with me so that I’m covered both ways. Beach towels are particularly convenient if you’re going swimming. 
• Outdoor Blanket: They actually make blankets designed to be placed on the ground, with waterproof bottoms. You’ll be thankful you brought one when you’re enjoying a peaceful picnic under the stars, sans soggy bottom! 
• Backpack Picnic Basket: Instead of lugging around a traditional picnic basket like Yogi Bear, check out some of the more modern picnic baskets. They’re more like backpacks that you can carry charcuterie, wine, and loads of other stuff in.
• Glamping Chairs: Everybody knows that for an outdoor excursion, you need camping chairs, but no one said they had to be ordinary or uncomfortable. I’m personally a HUGE fan of my zero-gravity chairs and refuse to travel without them. 
• Marshmallow Roasting Sticks: Sure, if you want to, you can go all Crocodile Dundee and whittle down a stick to roast your marshmallows on with a knife. But what happens if the stick breaks? Plus, who wants to eat off a stick when you can eat off specially designed forks for marshmallow roasting? 
• Torch: I watch a lot of survival TV, and I’ll tell you that the biggest thing that people seem to struggle with is starting a fire. Do you want to get out there and start a fire with some sticks and a rock? I don’t either. Trust me, just grab your torch and get it done in just a few seconds. 
• Cast Iron Cookware: Okay, look, you don’t NEED cast iron. But if you want to take your bacon and eggs to the next level, cook them in cast iron over the fire. Cast iron is pretty durable, which is why campers tend to love it. 
• Enamelware Dish Set: It’s all fun and games until you spend forever cooking a hot dog over an open fire, put it on the bun, get it dressed just right, and then your paper plate breaks. That food belongs to the wilderness now. But if you want to prevent that, get yourself an enamelware dish set. It’ll make your trip feel a bit more homey, too. 
• Speaker: I get that the idea of glamping is to enjoy the great outdoors, but who wants to do that in complete silence with nothing but their thoughts? Not me. I’ve been in my head, and it’s scary in there sometimes. I’m the kind of person who needs music, or a true crime podcast, or some other sort of emotional support noise going at all times, or I will straight melt DOWN. Get yourself a Bluetooth speaker and thank me later. 
• Movie Projector and Screen: This is your opportunity to have your very own private drive-in, minus the car! Break out the projector and screen, set up your glamp chairs, and enjoy fine cinema along with some fresh air. 
• Sound Machine: If you live in the city, you become accustomed to noises, and the silence of the natural world can be, well, unsettling. Some people can’t sleep without a little white noise, like me. For a good night’s sleep, get a sound machine. 
• Eye Mask: You’ll likely think this is a dumb idea until you find out what they meant by “natural lighting” in that cabin, and suddenly you’re blinded by the sun at 6 in the morning. Most “rustic” places aren’t exactly decked out to accommodate night owls, and heaven help you if you happen to indulge too much and get a hangover! 

Glamping is all about experiences, and you can’t have a good experience if you’re uncomfortable. Making sure that you have absolutely everything you need to have fun, stay safe, and create memories is essential. I hope you enjoy my list of glamping essentials. Is there anything I missed? Let me know in the comments!

What Are Glamping Essentials?

For a comfortable luxury camping experience, essentials are things like comfortable bedding, toiletries, warm clothing, a portable stove, and lots of entertainment, along with camping staples like a first aid kit and bug spray.

What Is Glamping?

Glamping is a type of camping involving accommodation and facilities that would be considered more luxurious than those typically associated with traditional camping.