Beginner Starter Set

Separate what you own, can borrow and can rent before buying

You do not have to buy a complete kit for the first trip. Write down what you own, what family or friends can lend you, and what you can rent, then choose only what is missing. After one trip you will know what you really need, and you avoid buying gear you never used.

A rough order for building your kit

On a limited budget, put sleeping well and staying sheltered from rain and wind first. This order makes it easier to decide.

• Sleeping: sleeping bag and mat (insulation suited to the season)
• Shelter: tent, pegs, hammer and guy lines
• Water and toilet: drinking water and a portable toilet kit
• Light: a headlamp and spare batteries
• Meals: burner, fuel and cookware (only where fire is allowed)

Choose a tent for ease of setup and room to spare

A tent used at its stated capacity tends to feel cramped, so think of one with room for your party. For beginners, a simple structure that goes up quickly is a good fit. Also check that the packed size fits in your transport.

For rain and wind, look at whether pegs and guy lines are included and whether it has a vestibule. Once you buy it, pitch it once in a yard or park. You will find missing parts and confusing steps before you leave. Needed performance changes with winter use, so decide the season too.

Bedding changes with the season

A sleeping bag's rated temperature is a guide and can differ from the temperature at which you sleep comfortably, so choose with margin. A mat gives comfort and also blocks cold from the ground, and the insulation you need differs by season. A pillow, or a bundle of spare clothes, works too.

Before heading to a free or low-cost campsite

At sites with few facilities you must prepare water, toilet, light and rubbish handling yourself. For a first trip, you can try a site with proper facilities first and move to sparser ones later. No-reservation sites may be unusable on the day, so have an alternative in mind.

The off-grid essentials page and the gear checklist article cover what to prepare for the facilities you expect.

Checks you can do at home before leaving

Once your gear is together, run through it once in your yard or indoors before you go. Pitch and fold the tent, unroll the sleeping bag and mat, and check that the burner assembles and the light turns on. Missing parts, confusing steps and a stuff sack the tent will not fit back into are easier to fix calmly at home than on site.

Also check the weather forecast, the sunset time, the travel time to your destination, and the nearest shop and fuel station. Arriving late means pitching in the dark, which raises the risk. Choosing a schedule that gets you there earlier than needed leaves room to prepare.

Common mistakes

These five are the most common.

• Buying a full kit first and rarely using it
• Pitching for the first time on site and not finishing before dark
• Too few pegs or guy lines, so wind catches the tent
• Luggage that does not fit in the car or other transport
• Packing a wet tent away and letting it mildew