The Ultimate Camping Pack List for Camping in Ontario

The Ultimate Camping Pack List for Camping in Ontario. Camping in Ontario is one of our favourite things to do. Whether enjoying the long sandy beaches at Long Point, Sandbanks or Pinery or taking in the stunning Canadian Shield landscapes at Algonquin or Killarney. Our beautiful province really provides endless opportunities to enjoy the wonders that nature has to offer.

Below we’ve put together a camping pack list for camping in Ontario. These items are in addition to your clothes and food for your trip. The main thing to take into consideration is if you will be going to a drive-up site, car camping or need to carry your gear in, backcountry camping. This will determine not only what items but what type of items you will need for your camping pack list.

The Ultimate Camping Pack List for Camping in Ontario

The Basics

These set of items we would consider the basic items you should have in your camping pack list. At a bare minimum, you should have these items if you are planning a trip camping in Ontario.

First Aid Kit

The first item you need to add to your camping pack list is a good First Aid Kit. Safety first, always. Especially if you are camping with children, it’s always better to be prepared than not. There are plenty of complete kit options available, be sure to pick one that is compact and comes in a waterproof case.

Tent

A quintessential item to add to your camping pack list, a tent. Unless you’ve elected to sleep under the stars, have your own trailer or a cabin booked, a tent is an essential item in your packing list.

Tents come in all shapes and sizes. The main factors to determine what tent you use are how will you be transporting the tent, how many people you would like to fit and what seasons are you planning to camp in.

Transporting

If you are car camping, then you are only limited by the size of your car. But, if you are going backcountry, then you will need to find something that is easier to carry. Tents come in light and ultra-light varieties, with each made with carbon fibre and fibreglass components to make them lighter.

Number of people

Tents can come anywhere between single person hammock tents to massive “condo tents” that can house over a dozen people. Some even interconnect to create small villages. If you have a large group that is going backcountry camping, it is easier to bring several smaller tents, than attempt to bring a Condo Tent. Sometimes, everyone brings their own single person tent.

Seasons

Each seasonal tent is rated for different temperature ranges. A one-season tent is usually only used for summer and offers very little insulation. A three-season tent can be used in spring and fall as well as summer. These typically have a thicker fly that keeps in the heat. With the thickets flys, winter tent sometimes comes extra ventilation or a separate fly for summer, as a winter fly would keep the heat in too much,

Sleeping Bag

Another essential item to add to your camping pack list. Although you could bring your blankets camping, a sleeping bag is much easier to transport and built for the outdoors, a much better choice.

Similar to a tent, you need to consider what season you will be camping in and how you will be transporting it. Most sleeping bags are built for one person, although there are some double sleeping bags as well.

Transporting

Similar to a tent, if you plan on carrying in your sleeping bag, you will be looking for a bag that is both lighter and more compact. Some summer bags are quite small and fit into surprisingly small stuff sacks. Winter sleeping bags can compact well too. Just be sure to store them open, as their insulation works by being airy.

Seasons

Each sleeping bag has a temperature rating, here you will get a range of what temperature the user can feel comfortable in, what temperature, the user will feel cold in and the coldest the bag can be used in. Be sure to pick a bag to suit the season you will be camping in. A winter sleeping bag will be much too hot for summer camping and vice versa.

Sleeping Mat

Although not an essential item for your camping pack list. A sleeping mat will make a world of difference in your camping experience. Sleeping off the ground is much more comfortable and warmer. Sleeping mats come in 3 basic types, a foam mat, inflatable and a full cot.

Foam Mat

The cheapest, easiest to use and most durable is a foam mat. These are simply designed to keep you off the ground and provide some padding. Some are designed, with special dimples and special layers to provide extra insulation.

Inflatable Mattresses

The next step up would be an inflatable mattress. These come in two main variations. Either a full inflatable mattress or a smaller self-inflating foam. If you’ll be carrying your mattress in, a self-inflating foam mattress is the best option. Even overall, we feel a thicker self-inflating foam mattress is more comfortable than a full inflatable. Plus having the self-inflating option is great, as you can leave your mattress to inflate, as you work on something else.

Full Cot

If you really wanted to sleep well, there are many cot options as well. These work the best as they keep you fully off the ground, and collapse relatively small. Be sure they fit in your tent, as most 3-4 season tents have lower ceilings to keep in the heat.

Flashlight

If you plan on staying overnight, a flashlight is a must-pack item. After the sun sets, it does get very dark as most campsites don’t have any sources of light. Even under a full moon on a clear night, wooded areas remain dark.

A few things you will need to consider when buying a flashlight, what type of flashlight you will be getting, the number of lumens, power and features.

Flashlights come in many shapes and sizes, but we recommend bringing a headlamp. This will keep your hands free while using the flashlight. Plus the light will shine where you look.

Lumens

The number of lumens will determine the brightness of your flashlight. Flashlights can go up as high as 12000 lumens. The lumens will also affect how far you will be able to see. Higher lumen flashlights being for running or biking when you would need to see further in front of you.

For camping, a flashlight in the 50-200 lumens range should be more than enough. Unless you plan on being active at night, then you can opt for a brighter light. For higher lumen flashlights, be sure not to point directly at someone’s eyes, as it can cause damage.

Features

Your flashlight’s features will depend on whether you get a handheld or headlamp version. One nice feature of some handheld flashlights is the ability to change them into a lamp. This is something you can also do with a headlamp with this easy hack.

Headlamps will come with varying degrees of dimmability. Some come with a single light that is fully or step dimmable. Others have 2 sets of lights depending on what type of light you need. A nice feature most headlamps have is a red or coloured light. This allows you to see around you and not have the light affect your ability to see the stars.

Water Bottle

Water, one of humans’ basic needs. Thus having a good water bottle is definitely an essential item for your camping pack list. Water bottles come in an endless variety of shapes, sizes and different materials.

The main things to look for in a camping water bottle are durability and weight. Your water bottle will most likely be banged around, so be sure to pick a bottle that can withstand a bump or two.

A nice to have is a wide mouth. Many connectors for water filters or jugs are made for a wide mouth water bottle. Plus you can better control the water flow if you want to drink a lot at once.

Towel

A towel is definitely an essential item for your camping pack list. Not only if you plan on swimming or getting wet, but you will also need a towel if you plan to bathe.

A normal towel from home could suffice as a towel, but a good camping towel works much better. Built from various materials, a camping towel is much thinner, so it packs away well. Not only that camping towels are usually extra absorbant, quick-drying as well.

Matches or Lighter

Nothing says camping like sitting by a warm campfire. That being said, be sure to add either matches or a lighter to your camping pack list, so that you have something to get the fire started.

There are other fire starters that you can use as well, that are specifically designed for camping. Just be sure you know how they work before leaving.

For the Elements

Camping in Ontario is great. It is one of our favourite things to do and being out in the wilderness feels like paradise. Unfortunately, our human bodies are actually quite frail and there’s a lot of things in the wilderness that can adversely affect them. So there are some items to add to your camping pack list to make sure you are well protected.

Sunscreen

As with any outdoor activities, sunscreen is a must. Even during cloudy days, the sun’s UV radiation shines through and can affect your body. We recommend using a good waterproof sport sunscreen with an SPF of 35 and above.

Rain Gear

On the other end of the spectrum, you should always be prepared for rain. A rainy weekend can ruin a camping trip, but with a good set of rain gear, you can still make the most of it. A good rain jacket and rain pants can keep you mostly dry, even if it is pouring.

Insect Repellant

Camping in Ontario can feel like paradise at times. Especially during the summer. But as with all things, everything comes at a cost and for camping in Ontario, it’s the bugs. Mosquitoes, ticks and all sorts of flies, black, deer, horse etc. All these bugs are out for your blood and bites not only itch, some actually hurt.

We recommend a good repellant with 25-30% Deet. For younger children, we recommend a family bug spray made with natural ingredients.

Bug Hat

Along with good bug spray, a bug hat is also a great item to add to your camping pack list. Especially helpful in situations when you are in a particularly buggy area and still require the use of your hands. A bug hat will keep bugs away from your face, so you won’t need to continuously swat them away.

Tarp

The last item to protect you from the elements is a good tarp. A tarp, whether classic blue or ultra-lightweight parachute, a simple tarp has tons of great uses. You can tie it up to a few trees to protect you from sun or rain, or just place it on the ground to protect yourself or your gear. It’s amazing what you can do with just a piece of material and ropes.

Cooking

Camping Cooking Set

Having a good camping cooking set is essential. Yes, you can bring your pots and pans from home, but they will get dirty and covered in soot. So it’s good to have a cooking set aside specifically for camping.

There are also tons of great cooking set specifically made for camping. These pack very well with all the pots, pans and other accessories fitting into one another. We recommend getting a specific camping cooking set if you are going backcountry camping.

Cooking Utensils

Some cooking sets come with ladles and spatulas, but double-check to make sure. Make sure to bring any cooking utensils you may need. An extra set of tongs or two, are quite useful, especially if you plan on cooking over the fire.

Camping Tableware

You wouldn’t want to bring your fine china camping with you. So make sure to get a good set of camping tableware. There are many combination spoon, fork and knife utensils to save space in your camping pack list. Be sure to get a durable plate and bowls set, to withstand any bumps and falls. Our recommendation is to get a mug/bowl combination and a plate.

Water Jug

When car camping in most parks in Ontario, the water supply is usually shared among several sites. One spout will be set among 8-20 sites, depending on concentration.

Rather than having to head to the spout every time you need water, adding a water jug to your camping pack will improve your experience greatly. Just fill the jug at the spout and bring it back to your site. Now you will save yourself the trip.

Camping Stove

Camping stoves come in 2 main types, stoves for car camping and stoves for the backcountry.

Car camping stoves

Car camping stoves work similarly to regular tabletop butane stove. Running on various fuels, most car camping stoves have 2 burners and sit on a tabletop. There are versions with legs as well if you plan on doing some major cooking.

Backcountry camping stoves

A backcountry camping stove is more streamlined and is only comprised of the fuel tank, burner and connectors. These can be trickier to light, so be sure to light your camping stove at home first and understand how it works. That way you don’t run into issues when at camp.

Camping Soap

Once you are done with your meal, you will need to do your dishes. Please be sure to use a biodegradable camping soap. Regular soaps contain a lot of chemicals that can adversely affect the environment.

Comfort

Camping doesn’t have to just be about roughing it. Nothing beats sitting by the campfire and enjoying a nice hot beverage after a long day of adventure. Here are some of the items to add to your camping pack list to make your camping experience just a little more Hygge.

Camping Chair

You would be surprised how amazing a good sit can feel while camping. Especially being able to lean back onto something. If car camping, a simple camping chair is great. There are chairs that come with canopies and side tables. You can even get them in rocking or moon chair versions. If you are hiking in, there are lots of great options that fold up super small and are very lightweight.

Camping Pillow

As with a good sit, it’s surprising how great it is to have an actual pillow when going to bed. Yes, you are able to sleep on a bag of your clothes or a jacket, but it doesn’t come close to having a nice soft pillow to rest your head after a day out exploring.

Dry Bag

Dry bags come in many shapes and sizes for many different purposes. We would recommend bringing a smaller dry bag for any electronic devices you may want to bring. As well as larger compression dry sacks for your clothes and sleeping bag. This will ensure that you will have dry clothes and your electronics will stay safe.

Camping Shoes

As well as dry clothes, having nice dry, comfortable shoes to change into at camp is really comforting as well. You can even go a little extra and get little camp booties that act like little sleeping bags for your feet.

After Bite

As we mentioned above, the one disadvantage of camping in Ontario is the bugs and bites. That being said, bringing something for the bites like a good After Bite is great to have. Once you’re comfortable at camp, tending to your bites is one of the best things to do.

Coffee Maker

We’ve added a Coffee Maker to the list, as we are coffee drinkers. Although waking up and having any hot beverage. Whether tea or coffee or hot chocolate. Just enjoying the quietness of nature. Is one of the most comforting experiences of camping.

Camping Coffee makers come in many forms, you can buy a simple press, percolator or one of the pour-over options. If you don’t want to bring a whole item for coffee, you can also try this hack to make coffee bags for your trip.

Backcountry

If you plan on going backcountry camping, there is an entire set of items to add to your camping pack list. Additionally, you will want to go with the lightweight compact versions of your tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and cookware. Here is a list of the item to add to your camping pack list if you plan on going backcountry camping.

Backpack

The first thing you will need to add to your camping pack list is the bag itself. If you are going backcountry camping, you will be carrying all your gear in. A good backpack is essential if you plan on going in backcountry camping.

We recommend getting a good 40–80L pack. Look for a bag with hooks and straps on the outside. This will allow you to clip things on the outside that you can’t fit on the inside.

Compass and Map

Having a compass and map are essential when going backcountry camping. Unfortunately, there is no Google Maps out there, so be sure to have a plan and know where you are going.

This is especially important if you plan on canoeing. There is no set path on the waterways. So you will need a compass to orient yourself on a map to find your way around.

Water Filter

Instead of a water jug, bring a water filter. Living in Ontario we are lucky to be living on top of 20% of the world freshwater. We could stick a cup in any of the provinces lakes and have a drink. That being said, this is probably not a good idea, as we don’t know where the water is coming from and what has gone into it.

In general, the water in the backcountry lakes is pretty clean, except for a few micro bacteria and parasites. The most common of which being Giardiasis, sometimes called “beaver fever“.

The simplest way to make the water safe to drink would be to boil it, but boiling all the water you need to drink would use up all your fuel. There are tablet and lifestraw options, but again would be resource-intensive to treat all the water you need. The most efficient way to make the water safe to drink is to use a water filter.

Water filters come in 2 main varieties. A hand pump or gravity fed. We recommend investing in a gravity-fed filter. Hand pumps take a while and lots of effort to pump. Also, the filter needs to be cleaned often. Whereas you simply need to fill the feeder bag for a gravity filter and let the water flow into the collection bag. The filter still needs to be cleaned but can be done so just by reversing the flow of water.

Bear Bell

A Bear Bell is not only an essential item for your camping packing list, it is a mandatory one. When heading into the backcountry, there is a lot of wildlife including bears.

For the most part, the wildlife is safe and is more afraid of you than you are of it. That being said, there are a few occasions when bears can attack. When food is involved, when their young are involved and when they are startled.

Be sure to always wear your bear bell and make lots of noise when moving around the backcountry. This will ensure that animals hear you coming a mile away and know to avoid you.

Ropes and Carabiners

Ropes and carabiners are essential items to add to your backcountry camping pack list. Not only will you need to tie or clip things to your backpack during your hikes. You will need ropes to hang various things at camp, including your food bag at the end of the day.

Hatchet and Camping Saw

When backcountry camping, one of the toughest jobs can be to keep a fire going. If you don’t have a hatchet and saw, you will be limited to the branches that you can carry and snap off. These will burn very quickly and the fire will need to be added too often.

If you bring a hatchet and saw, you are able to saw off larger pieces. Then use the hatchet to split logs as needed. That way you can have a campfire you don’t need to tend as often.

Multitool/knife

The last item to add to your camping pack list if you plan on going backcountry camping is a good multitool or knife. There’s no telling when a piece of equipment breaks and needs a Philips head screwdriver or you need scissors or a set of pliers. Having a good multitool, that contains a decent set of screwdrivers and wrenches is essential. It’s always better to have the tool and not need it than need it and not have it.