1. Camp Stove & Fuel
A simple two-burner stove can take on majority of your meals when you’re camping. They’re portable, easy to clean, and give you plenty of control while cooking – camp cookouts don’t get much easier than this. Most models have adjustable dials to control heat output, removable grills and built-in windscreens, so you can customize your set-up to be like your stove back home. Before you hit the road, be sure to stock up on propane canisters. Once you’ve got everything ready to go, pancakes, tacos or burgers are all fair game.
2. Pots & Pans
You’d be surprised how far a single pot and pan can get you. If you have extras at home, this is a great chance to give them a second life outdoors. However, if you’re looking to splurge a bit for something more portable and compact to improve your set-up, it’s worth considering a lightweight cookware set. Many sets are made of anodized aluminum or titanium to be classified as “ultra-light”, but their lightweight construction and durability come at a higher price tag. For your typical front-country trip, or if you’re just beginning to build out your camp kitchen, your everyday pots and pans will get the job done just fine.
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3. Cast Iron Pan
Alright – let’s bend that “one pot and pan” rule just for a second. A cast iron path is worth the weight and space in your camp kitchen. It’s not ideal for a back-country trek, but for all you front-country campers out there: a cast iron pan is your best friend for campground cooking. Cast iron is durable, versatile and can be used on your camp stove or over the fire. To get the most use out of cast iron, be sure to maintain the seasoning and ensure you’re properly cleaning it after each use. If you do this, it will last for years’ worth of breakfast skillets, seared veggies and hearty camp stews.
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4. Roasting Tools
What’s a camping trip without roasting marshmallows and hotdogs over the fire? Whether it’s the taste of grill marks or a little friendly competition over whose marshmallow is roasted to perfection, one thing we can all agree on is that food cooked over a campfire just tastes better. Coghlan’s Telescoping Forks and Toaster Forks are a campfire classic. They’re easy to use for all ages, so even the kiddos can get in on the action. For a little extra peace of mind around the fire, the Coghlan’s Safety Fork has a unique design to tuck the sharp ends of the fork inwards. It adds a bit of extra safety for you while also providing a little extra support for your smokie – just in case.
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5. Water Jug
Having a good water supply at camp makes life much easier. You’ll use it for filling water bottles, washing dishes, cleaning up after meals, and even rinsing your hands and face – you’ll be surprised how quickly you go through water at camp. Before you start filling up at the campground taps, or better yet, before you hit the road, check that the water at the campground is potable (safe to drink). If it is, hooray you can drink that water right out of the tap! If it isn’t, be sure to bring along a water jug filled with drinking water. Most jugs are quite rigid, bulky, and take up a lot of space in your car. If you plan to fill up once you arrive, a collapsible water just can save you valuable cargo space for other gear.
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6. Dishwashing Setup
If we’re being honest, doing the dishes at camp is already a hassle, and finding someone to be on dish duty is arguably even worse. There’s no need to make it more difficult than it needs to be, and with the right set-up it becomes much simpler. Bring a bucket or large basin that will fit your pots and pans – bonus points if it packs down when not in use. Coghlan’s Collapsible Sink holds 9L of water and handles a full round of dishes after dinner. Once dishwashing duties wrap up for the day, it collapses flat until the next meal.
One more thing: leave your regular dish soap at home. Household soaps can harm ecosystems and nearby water sources. Coghlan’s Biodegradable Soap can take on dishes, clothes and your hands all while being an easy, environmentally friendly swap.
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7. Cooler
Coolers don’t get the credit they deserve. Responsible for keeping your food fresh and your drinks cold, they make every meal a little better. As one of the larger items you’ll pack along, you want to be sure that you’re not taking one that serves beyond your means. If it’s a quick weekend trip for two, you don’t need a 60L cooler. A handy trick to get more out of your cooler is to freeze a few water bottles to use as icepacks. Not only will they keep your food cold, but you’ll also have cold drinking water once they thaw. Whether you opt for ice packs or bags of ice is up to you. Just be sure to keep an eye on melting ice, any potential leaks, and that you’re draining the excess water and replenishing melted ice on a regular basis.
8. Coffee Maker
For many campers, ourselves included, coffee is a non-negotiable part of the morning routine (otherwise we’ll have some very unhappy campers). It doesn’t matter how you make it, but the good news is that you’ve got plenty of options. You can keep things quick and simple by just boiling water and throwing in some instant coffee, or you can level up your coffee game with a camp percolator or a French press. These methods do take a bit more time and attention, but they’ll get you closer to that rich cup of coffee you’d enjoy at home.
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9. Tableware & Cutlery
Tableware is another simple, essential component of your camp kitchen. If you have extra cutlery at home, bring it along. It’s lightweight and easy to pack; only if you’re going ultralight should you really consider other options. Reusable plastic plates, bowls and cups are all you really need to round out your set-up. They’re durable, easy to clean and lightweight – you don’t need to get fancy here. One last thing: don’t forget a camp mug. A lightweight metal mug is a great option. Not only can you eat and drink out of it, but it can double as a small pot to be used on a portable stove too.
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10. Trash Bin
Say it with me now: Leave your campsite better than you found it. Pack out what you pack in.
That means no stray wrappers and no food scraps left behind. Besides being messy, trash left behind can attract wildlife to the campground and pose a safety risk for the current and future campers. To keep things tidy, bring along a dedicated trash bin. Coghlan’s pop-up garbage bins are a sturdy and portable way to keep your trash contained. The heavy-duty polyester fabric helps prevent those unexpected rips and tears, and the large capacity gives you a full-sized trash can wherever your adventure takes you.
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A little kitchen clean-up before your next trip can make cooking at camp much easier. With a few reliable pieces of gear packed and ready, you’ll spend less time digging through that mystery bin and more time enjoying good meals around the fire. Now please pack your knives and go (outside!)
