Essential Gear for a Family Campout

A good sized family tent is important for a camping trip. This Wenzel tent measures 14 feet by 11 feet and is very well constructed. This one will serve your family well for many years.

We have loved our Slumberjack Sleeping Bags. This one is rated to 0 degrees F and can handle most any camping situation unless you are in the dead of winter and well below 0. It is a good all-around sleeping bag and a very good bargain.

I know not all fathers are, but I am a Dutch oven camper. The Lodge 6 quart, 12 inch pre-seasoned Dutch oven is one I have used for years and have found to cook evenly and well.

A lantern is really important at the campsite after it gets dark or in the tent as people are getting ready for the night. This rechargeable battery lantern from Coleman has long life, can be recharged at home, and is just a great and durable product.

I love this flashlight for camping. It is a hand crank variety and you get about 30 minutes of light from one minute of cranking. But if you charge it at home before you leave, it will last almost all night left on. It uses LED technology, so the lamp never needs replacing.

To keep your tent clean and dry, a good tarp is essential. This Equinox nylon tarp is lightweight to transport and very waterproof. Make sure and select a tarp close to the size of your tent.

Because I like to cook and not just bring along a fast food dinner for camping, I appreciate a good folding camp table. This extra large table from LLBean is one of the best around. It's big enough to cook on and then serve on for most families. And when folded up, it takes very little space in the car, truck, minivan or trailer.

If you need to keep things cold for your campout (like food and soda), then this large 50 quart cooler is for you. A wheeled cooler is a must and this one is rugged and durable. We have loved our large Coleman cooler for many years and it has served us well.

Having a portable radio is a must for our family. There have been too many times we have been caught in a torrential rain in the Midwest or a blizzard in the mountains of Utah. This radio is operated with a hand crank so it never needs batteries. It also has a flashlight and a power port for cell phones or other electronic devices. It is an all-around good radio and has lots of other features as well.

For the Parkers, no campout is complete without a roaring UNO game or one of its many variations. UNO is for us the ubiquitous family card game. Bring it along for fun in the evening after dinner or in the tent when all but a flashlight is out.