The pull of the great outdoors tugs on my heart constantly. If you’ve ever gone camping, you likely understand this all too well. And I have to admit – I’m a sucker for a good deal. Camping for free is the best of both worlds – surrounded by nature at a price I love to pay: FREE! I suspect you are probably the same – otherwise, why would you be here? And what better way to experience the rugged beauty of the Wild West than to be immersed in it: wild camping in some remote corner of the desert, miles from your nearest neighbor? And did I mention that you can camp for free?
In this follow up to our comprehensive post How to camp for free: where and when to wild camp, we address another crucial element: your equipment. Without the proper equipment, your wild camping adventure could quickly turn into a nightmare.
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Dispersed Camping Equipment Checklist
- Camping Gear
- Cookware
- Food Storage
- Clothing
- Other Supplies
Want to know how to find great wild camping locations? Click HERE
In order to safely camp for free, you’re going to need to be relatively well equipped. The desert is not to be trifled with – it is still very much an untamed landscape – and you will be several miles from help should an emergency arrive. I won’t bore you by repeating the full disclaimer list on the “When and Where” post, but I will reiterate one thing before we get started:
Do not wild camp if you are not an experienced camper
A few of the suggestions below are things that we had to learn about the hard way – we either didn’t have the correct gear, or we simply didn’t bring what we needed and had to buy it along the way. Learn from our mistakes by being fully prepared ahead of time. A few are items that you hope you never need to use, but are extremely wise to have with you just in case.
Dispersed Camping Gear
The Most Important Piece of Camping Equipment – Your Tent!
Tent – MyQuest four person tent (which appears to have been discontinued; this is a comparable tent) that we used was perfectly fine for virtually all nights and conditions – even nights when it dropped below freezing. The tent has plenty of room for two to three people plus their gear (what you aren’t storing in your vehicle, of course). Anyone up to 6’ tall or so can comfortably stand in the tent, and it’s water and insect proof. It was when powerful winds whipped up that we had an issue. It only happened to us once, but that night was a memorable one! The tent poles didn’t break, which impressed me, but the boxy shape of the tent meant that we were lifted up off the ground several times that night… even with two fully-grown men and our gear inside.
Update!We’ve switched tents! After trying a couple different tents over the multiple camping trips we took during and after the pandemic, we settled on a Coleman Four Person tent with a Screened-in Porch. With tons of additional space and several storage pockets inside the tent, the covered and enclosed “dry space” out on the “porch,” and the great airflow within the tent, we’re thrilled about our new “home” in the great outdoors!
If you’re already in the market for new gear and are considering an extreme weather tent, here are some great options to consider. Also, the two-person tent from REI that we used on the cross-country road tripwas phenomenal – it kept us clean and dry during one heck of a downpour in the Ozark National Forest.
The Second Most Important Piece of Camping Equipment – a Great Sleeping Bag!
Sleeping bag – This is another area where I learned the hard way. Not all sleeping bags are made equal, and some don’t truly qualify for the temperature range on the packaging!
Temperature can drop precipitously at night, especially in the desert or at higher elevations. You need to be prepared to experience overnight temps that might drop below freezing. You’re going to need a good sleeping bag to be prepared for this. I used to have a Coleman bag that was theoretically rated to 30 degrees, but in my experience it was unpleasant when temps dropped below 40.
After that experience, I opted to cover my bases and get this bag: Coleman Mummy bag. Several of the nights on our cross country trip in the Porsche dropped into the 30’s, and I wasplenty warm! It can get a bit toasty inside on warmer nights, so if you want more flexibility, you should consider Coleman’s All Weather Multi-Layer Sleeping Bag instead. Yes, it’s expensive, but you’re essentially getting two sleeping bags – one lightweight and one heavy bag – plus a fleece blanket for the price. If you’re looking at camping within a broad range of climates, this is the bag for you!
Pro Tip: On a cold night and especially without the appropriate sleeping bag, you do have an alternative option to try to keep warm. Once you’ve put your campfire out, (carefully!) wrap one of the large rocks from the outer edge of your fire ring in a heavy cotton or terry cloth towel. The rock should be too hot to touch, but not so hot that it will melt your towel. It should be large: roughly the size of a watermelon. Put the rock inside your sleeping bag, either down by your feet or near your waist. If done right before going to bed, this should keep you comfortably warm for most (if not all) of the night.
Sleeping pad – I used to live cheaply and get inflatable pool loungers with pillows. However, the time (and effort!) required to inflate and deflate the pool lounger every time we moved was exhausting. Additionally, the comfort simply wasn’t there for me, especially as I’ve gotten (a little!!) older… After struggling with this far too long, I spent a couple bucks extra and got a proper sleeping mat. My word, what an upgrade that was!! Super easy to inflate and deflate, and incredibly comfortable – my sleeping mat was worth every penny!
Worth noting, Amazon keeps discontinuing or changing the listing for my sleeping pad, so if you need help, simply go to the search bar at the top of the Amazon page and search “Sleeping Pad for Camping” –This will get you several options to pick from. My rule of thumb is pick something with at least 1,000 four and five star ratings.
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Important Camping Tools & Equipment
Rather than discussing each of the following items individually, I’ll just say that they are good things to have with you – whether for safety, repairs, or site maintenance – on any camping trip, wild or otherwise. Packing these tools, plus the knives and tent, was the primary reason why we checked bags on our flight. A few of the items were bought on arrival. Some essential items follow the list.
Safety First! Especially if you are going to be in the far reaches of the “back country” – you need to plan accordingly for potential mishaps, accidents, animal encounters, etc. Here are just a few things I recommend you keep handy!
- Vice Grip
- Ratchet Set (and a bit set, including torx, screwdriver, and allen bits)
- A long flathead screwdriver – or even better, a Multi-bit driver!
- Multi-tool – even though it won’t go well in your pocket, it’s definitely good to have one in the dashboard.
- Utility shovel
- Machete (should be kept in conjunction with a hatchet, not to replace one)
- Bear spray
- Bug spray / sunscreen / lip balm
- Flashlights and batteries
- Headlamps (cheap or quality)
- Stick lighter, Bic lighter, and matches
- Gas Cans and Gas Can Holders (when you are dispersed camping, you don’t want to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere!!)
Fire extinguisher– This is such a crucial piece of equipment that it might make sense to have two. You should always have one in your vehicle – both at home and while traveling. The other one can be kept with you at the campfire, in case it gets out of control.
Comfortable Camping – Great Gear for Upgrading Your Life Outdoors
Camping Chairs and Table –Like the sleeping mat, this is an area where I suffered far too long with inexpensive, inferior products. Traditional straight-backed camping chairs are ridiculously uncomfortable. They’re heavy and take up a lot of space … and they’reuncomfortable.For the cross country road trip in the 911, we didn’t have the space for bulky chairs. My friend introduced me to his “van life” chairs: the Kelty High Back Chairs he brought along were unbelievable.
Yes, they’re expensive, but they are worth every single penny. They’re insanely comfortable, durable and strong, easy to set up and break down, lightweight and compact…. and did I mention how comfortable they are? The matching table was of similar quality and worth the money. I was surprised how useful having the little side table actually was.
UPDATE: After the most recent cross country road trip, we’ve upgraded and fallen deeply in love with the Nemo Stargazer chairs! We ponied up after a long period of deliberation over whether it was the right thing to do… and we couldn’t love them more! They are incredibly comfortable, super easy to put together and break down, and most importantly… THEY LEAN BACK! You can simply lean back and look up at the night sky! I can’t stress how much Ilove these chairs!
Knives and Hatchet – This is a good segue between cooking and tools, because if there’s any item that covers both topics, it’s a good pocket knife. I nearly always have two knives on me: the stainless steel (which resists moisture and corrosion) Opinel #8, and a carabiner multi-tool. A Leatherman is also a classic option, but takes up more space in your pocket and the blade is shorter. I recommend getting a hatchet that has a hammer or mallet head on the non-blade side, which is useful for driving tent stakes.
First Aid Kit– As I’ve stated a number of times, you are going to be several miles from help if an emergency arises. Having a well-stocked first aid kit – and knowing how to use everything in it – is acrucial part of wild camping.Don’t leave home without one!
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The Best Camping Cookware
This is an area where you will be grateful that you have a vehicle, as you are not limited by size or weight like you would be on a backpacking trip. To a degree, this list can be adjusted based upon personal preference or vehicle size, but in my experience, these are items that you’ll be grateful to have:
- Enamelware Coffee Percolator and mugs (oddly, the red pot is more expensive, but the blue mugs are more expensive….)
- Folding Campfire Grill – Get the extra large. Even with 3” longer legs, it’s still going to sit low to the fire and cooks very hot. You’ll be grateful for the extra height… and if you’re like me, cooking over an open flame built from ponderosa, mesquite, or other native woods is going to be one of your favorite parts of wild camping.
- NOTE– if you need a more compact grill, as we did on our trip in the Porsche, the Wolf & Grizzly set is worth every penny. It’s well-built, compact, very easy to use, non-stick, and quite effective.
- Alternate idea – I’ve always been intrigued by stake grills, but I’ve never used one. This option has great reviews, and seems like it would be a good alternative to consider.
- Cast Iron Skillet – at least 6” or 8” diameter, and the older and more well-seasoned, the better. If at all possible, it should be either a Griswold or a Wagner Ware, and if all else fails, a scrubbed and reseasoned Lodge is acceptable. Head to your nearest antique shop or garage sale and start searching!
- If you are lucky enough to have a Cast Iron Dutch Oven, by all means – bring it. With potatoes, onions, peppers, broth, and the other items needed to make the most delicious stew you’ve ever had. Pro Tip: once hot, the flat surface of most cast iron dutch oven lids can double as a small cooking area, OR you can stack hot coals on it for a more uniform cooking temp inside the oven. An excellent alternative is a deep skillet with a lid, which combines the benefits of a skillet and a Dutch Oven.
- Any sort of sauce pot for broths and stews and soup, to be used in addition to your skillet.
- Propane Stove or Bottle Top Stove (don’t forget your propane bottles!)- these make handy backup cooking equipment, and are essential to have with you if fire restriction levels are high in the area where you’re camping. An excellent (albeit pricey) alternative is a WhisperLite Gasoline Stove – which is what we carried. A hand-pressurized tank filled with regular gasoline at the pump, a WhisperLite is typically for backpacking adventures. It’s light, compact, and lasts for several days. Add in that it’s cheap and easy to refill, and it becomes a critical piece of gear if you’re planning on hiking or backpacking frequently.
- Long-handled Tongs, Spatula, Large Spoon, Ladle – silicon & aluminum if weight is a concern (for future backpacking trips), or steel if not. Long handles will save your fingers from burning. And, of course, don’t forget your spork!
- Seasoning – Charlie Vergos Rendezvous seasoning is my go-to spice mix for all camping adventures, but it’s especially great for motorcycle or hike-in camping (and the limited storage space you’ll have on each)! Since it’s fantastic on any and all grilled meats, it will be the only thing you need in your bag for your trip – it’s even great on potatoes, eggs, or veggies!
Food Storage
Five Day Cooler – A five day cooler is another critical piece of your equipment, and is not an area to cut costs on. The Coleman Extreme cooler is one of the most battle-tested pieces of equipment in my camping gear, and it has never failed me.
It says it keeps ice for five days in hot (90*F) temperatures, and it does exactly that. You can pick from a couple sizes and shapes, but I’ve found the 70 quart rectangle cooler to be the most useful for camping. Square coolers make up for the volume lost in length by adding depth, so you really have to dig to get to the items at the bottom – no thanks!
Pro tip: Make your life easier at night by getting a cooler light. If you’re a beer drinker, the bottle opener is another convenient accessory. Also, don’t open one of your bags of ice if it can be helped, and you can use the separate cubes within for your drinks!
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Clothing for Dispersed Camping
The very short version of my advice for how to pack your clothing: dress in layers and expect a lot of variation in temps. As I mentioned in the section about tools, you’re not backpacking, so space and weight aren’t a significant concern here.
Bring a variety of clothing you can wear in layers so you can adjust as the temperature fluctuates. Make sure to have at least two pairs of jeans (in case one gets wet or dirty). I love hoodies, so I always bring two or three on every camping trip – I have a variety of “weights” of hoodies, so I can pick and choose which to wear depending on temperature. Have a good waterproof jacket (see options below), just in case it rains (or snows!). Ankle or higher boots and/or hiking shoes, preferably leather, both for the stability they provide and the protection against nips from critters. Have a good pair of gloves to keep your hands warm on nights where you’re not able to have a fire, and get a nice warm hat as well.
Men’s waterproof jacket: Good Best
Women’s waterproof jacket: Good Best
A significant recommendation:
Merino wool base layers: Top, Pants, Socks, Beanie (knit cap) – Yes, merino costs more, but I’ll never go back to traditional long johns or other base layers. Comfortable, soft, breathable, and warm – Merino wool checks all the important boxes, and the best part is that it’s not going to make you too hot when you wear it. I’ve worn my Merino long johns at work after riding the motorcycle in on a chilly day, and am comfortable all day long.Merino wool is the best!
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Dispersed Camping Supplies and Other Provisions
Food:
- Have a couple kinds of meat in your cooler to cook over the fire… or do like we did and stop for food every day or two. Only buy enough for each meal. You don’t want to waste, and leftovers are a real pain on road trips. Buy meats that are sealed in packaging so they don’t contaminate the other food in your cooler – or have a separate small cooler only for raw meat.
- Fruits and veggies that are easy to store, wash and eat – apples, peaches, pears, peppers, corn, etc. If you’ve never roasted corn over the fire – now’s a great time to try it out!
- Snacks – a couple bags of chips or pretzels are handy, both for munching by the fire, and while you’re on the road. Munchies Cheese Fix was hands down the favorite snack of all the trips!
- Jerky – a convenient and filling source of protein on the go. Try to get local sourced jerky – lots of different kinds of meats and preparations are out there!
- Trail mix – another convenient and filling source of protein and carbs, a good option for those wanting healthy snacks.
- We always had a loaf of bread and peanut butter handy, and hard boil eggs early in the trip. Keep the eggs in the cooler.
- Coffee, Creamer, and sugar
- Seasonings – you won’t need much. Cooking over a campfire adds a lot of flavor. What we often do is buy local seasoning mixes, or a comparable national brand, and use that on all meats. BBQ, taco, or ranch mix all go well with fire-roasted meats and veggies.
- Charlie Vergos Memphis Dry Rub – this stuff is truly a game changer. Of all the various spice mixes and seasonings that I’ve tried over my many years of camping and travelling, this one is by far my favorite for cooking food over the fire. Not only does it give great flavor that pairs well with the natural wood smoke, if you dash a little extra down onto the hot coals, it will add a unique tang to the aroma and flavor of your smoke!
Great Meals for Camping in the Wilderness
Our typical dinners were meat, baked beans, and bread toasted over the fire. We occasionally roast peppers, corn, onions, or other veggies as well. Breakfast was boiled eggs or peanut butter with toast and coffee. We usually did not re-start a fire and cook bacon or sausage, because we would only spend one night in each location. Coffee was brewed over the propane stove.
If you’re spending more than one day at a site, though, cooking breakfast is a great option – and there’s nothing like breakfast meat cooked over a fire. Treat yourself to it at least one morning of the trip – it’s especially good after a really cold night!
Other provisions:
- Toilet paper (and make sure you know how to properly dispose of it in the wilderness)
- Paper towels
- Paper plates (as a precaution against animals, we burn our plates and napkins after each meal, and wash the utensils near the fire)
- Hand sanitizer – you’re going to need lots of it!
- Metal utensils
- Camping towels (which are designed to dry much faster than normal terrycloth – I went with the largest size, 40×72)
- Large bottles of water – we bought several gallons every time we stopped. Use it both to drink and also for washing your other equipment. (Pure Life is our favorite!)
- A quality bottle of scotch, bourbon, tequila, or whatever else might be your spirit of choice. There’s nothing like a hearty nip to warm you by the fire.
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Where to Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping
If you are looking for information on finding great wild camping locations, click HERE.
If you’re looking for a list of gear you’ll need for night sky photography, click HERE.
If you are looking for information on taking a cheap cross country road trip, click HERE.
Lastly, for a list of the best back road by state, click HERE.
