Experienced campers - suggestions and tips?

[3timesoccermom]

I am putting together a very basic camping package for a Christmas gift.

I have the tent and plan to get a mallet or hammer or axe and a lantern. I'll also include water-proof matches, rope, clothes pins and extra tent stakes and I'm pretty sure he already has a sleeping bag and/or air mattress.

What should I add to this?

Thanks in advance for advice and tips.

[cpaige]

Extra set of batteries for the lantern. I know I usually forget it's on and then *poof* it's dead.

[Katane]

something to cook in. A nice cast iron skillet if he doesn't have to walk far with his gear, a collapsible pot if he has to hike in

[shans3boys]

That sounds good. We always overpacked for our camping trips.

[cybilx10]

Toilet Paper....never know when you will need it

[3timesoccermom]

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. We haven't camped in ages.

[Jen1]

hand sanitizer, hand warmers for chilly nights, maybe a small sweep broom for the tent?,

[jluper7297]

Water containers! We bought the awesome containers at Walmart for I think around $7 each. They are collapsible. As you fill them up they get bigger and form to a cube, then as you use the water they collapse back down. Oh, and they have a handle to carry them and a spigot to dispense the water. I think they hold 4 gallons??

[c1cooper1]

Can Opener!

[abond0017]

You got a good start. A list really depends on the type of camping one is intending on doing, but my basic list would be:

Tent (plus a tarp to protect from holes if tent doesn't come with a ground cover)
Sleeping bag
Lantern (extra batteries)
Ax (you can generally use the non-blade side to hammer spikes so no need for a mallet)
Water containers
TP
First Aid Kit
Rope/bungee cords
Multi-tool (knife/can-opener/etc)
Small broom & dustpan
Fire starter
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Hand sanitizer/wet wipes
Duct tape (quick/temporary tent hole patch)
Extra stakes

HTH!