I’m a Lifelong Camper, and I Never Head Into the Woods Without These 14 Safety Products (2024)

Knowing my parents’ penchant for the great outdoors, I was probably conceived on a camping trip. My family loves sleeping under the stars so much that we do it year-round. When I was 14, my dad even made me complete a Bureau of Land Management winter survival camping course in Montana’s aptly-named Snowy Mountains. I was so cold that I didn’t go to the bathroom all weekend. But it definitely prepared me for camping on the world’s second largest ice cap in Greenland, which I did many years later while on one of my first assignments as a travel writer.

Of course, I’ve also camped in warm climates. Last May, I was among the first to experience Natural Selection’s new cycling safari in Botswana, where we rode bikes in the Moremi Game Reserve all morning before crashing on cots under the shade of the Mopane trees. Every day we had to worry about elephants drinking our water supply, and one morning we woke up to lion tracks uncomfortably close to our tents. From curious cats to nearly freezing to death, I’ve encountered it all while camping. But I’ve always enjoyed myself — even when it was Type II fun — and gone back for more.

The secret to a successful camping trip, in my opinion, is packing the right camping gear, especially safety essentials. Most of the time you won’t need these items (I’ve never had to use my bear spray, and there’s a thick layer of dust on my first aid kit), but just knowing that they’re with you can provide serious peace of mind. And if you do need to use them, they can save your life. So, whether your next camping trip involves backpacking in Glacier National Park or vacationing in your 40-foot-long RV at a KOA resort, these are the 14 camping essentials that this lifelong camper recommends having on hand.

Amazboost Cell Phone Booster

Contrary to what you see in those T-Mobile commercials, cell phone coverage isn’t everywhere (yet). While the serious campers that I know have all invested in expensive satellite phones, if you can’t afford one or don’t want to pack a second phone, consider a cell phone signal booster. This relatively affordable model from Amazboost may be designed for home use, but it’s also great for camping. According to the brand, it enhances any cell phone signal by up to 100 percent and has more than 1,100 five-star ratings from Amazon shoppers, many of whom are campers.

While the goal is to have it in case you need to call 911, or Google “how to apply a tourniquet,” it works well outside of emergencies, too. One satisfied shopper found that, despite camping at an elevation of 6,000 feet deep in the mountains, they were still able to get decent enough reception to watch YouTube videos. Don’t have an RV? No problem. They mounted their antenna on a tree.

Panasonic Portable AM / FM Radio

For really remote destinations, I pack a portable AM/FM radio because radio waves travel farther than LTE signals. While it doesn’t allow me to contact the outside world, I can still get emergency broadcasts and weather updates. I like this model because it can run on AA batteries, and it has no bells and whistles that would make it bulky or heavy. But don’t just take my word for it; I’m far from the only person who appreciates the simplicity. It has more than 22,000 five-star ratings, and it's earned the coveted best-seller title at Amazon.

In their review, one camper said, “I am very pleased with the service I get so deep in the woods," and another avid adventurer added, “This thing has been hiked in 20-plus times, has ridden around willy-nilly in the trunk of my car between trips, has been accidentally dropped in a creek, and it just keeps on tickin'."

General Medi Mini First Aid Kit

There are tons of great travel-friendly first aid kits out there, including this mini 110-piece kit that is perfect for camping since it’s so compact (it's about the size of a book), and its contents are kept safe and dry in a durable, water-resistant bag. Pro tip: I learned the hard way, while camping during a mini monsoon in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, that wet bandages don’t work.

Thanks to the carabiner, it’s also easy to clip onto your backpack and bring on hikes, too. It has nearly 6,000 five-star ratings and more than 6,000 units were sold last month, according to Amazon. “The one big thing that made this kit appealing was that for the price, it came with scissors, normal saline and an emergency blanket,” explained one shopper, who got theirs specifically for camping and hiking.

First Aid Only 442 All-Purpose Emergency First Aid Kit

If you’re not limited on space and weight or you’re camping with a larger group, I recommend this 298-piece kit, which my parents keep in their RV for us kids and the grandkids. In addition to the usual suspects like bandages and gauze, it has extras like ibuprofen, aspirin, sting relief wipes, and even a mini thermometer. In fact, this kit is so well-curated that it comes out on top of Amazon’s list of best-sellers in first aid kits.

What's more, the retailer notes that more than 10,000 units were sold in the last month alone, and it has more than 61,500 five-star ratings. “This has all my bases covered,” wrote a nurse, who purchased it for a backpacking trip she was leading for 12 women. “Plus, had I bought everything individually, there’s no way it would have been as cheap as this kit.”

Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer

Because a few days' worth of plaque isn’t deadly, you don’t always have to brush your teeth in the bush. But you should always wash your hands, especially if you cook with raw meat or swim in lakes and rivers when you camp. Even the hikers at Everest Base Camp, where it’s so cold that most bacteria can’t survive, keep hand sanitizer in their coat pockets.

I like these 2-ounce bottles from Purell, which have more than 13,000 five-star ratings since they’re so easy to carry. Plus, all it takes is one drop to kill 99.99 percent of illness-causing germs. According to one reviewer, they're “great for on-the-go hygiene," and they like to keep one in their car and one in their backpack at all times.

Sabre Frontiersman Bear Spray

In Big Sky Country, where I grew up and currently live, we have to worry about grizzlies (they can be found in at least 40 of the 50 states). That’s why I never camp or hike without a can of bear spray on my hip — because bears are so fast, bear spray is useless if it’s in your bag or car. Most shops here in Montana and at the national parks that I’ve been to carry Sabre's best-selling bear spray canister, which comes with a handy holster.

It has earned stamps of approval from travelers, including one who dubbed it a "possible lifesaver" and wrote, "We're frequently camping or hiking in the forest and there are a lot of black bears in the area. Most of the time, they head the other way when they see us coming, but it's nice to have something to use as a backup just in case."

Note: You can’t fly with bear spray, it does have an expiration date, and you’re best off carrying two cans in case you have to use one and still hike out.

BearVault BV500 Journey Bear Resistant Food Container

I usually car camp, which means that I can store my food in a vehicle. But this summer, when I did the Fjallraven Classic, a two-night backpacking trip in the Colorado Rockies, I relied on this bear-resistant container. It’s bulky and can be a pain to carry and hide (make sure that it’s at least 100 yards downwind of your site). I recommend getting the largest size that you can because not only are bears attracted to food, but they’re also attracted to scented things like bug spray, sunscreen, and toothpaste, so you’ll end up needing lots of storage space.

Plus, if you get the larger size, it can double as a camp stool. “It works,” summed up one shopper, who watched a bear try, and fail, to break into it; they were able to store eight to nine days’ worth of food in it.

Kidde Fire Extinguisher

I don’t always build a fire when I camp (lots of places have fire restrictions these days). However, when I do, I make sure that I have a fire extinguisher at the ready. At 2.5 pounds and 13.75 inches long, this mini fire extinguisher isn’t the smallest or lightest on the market, but that doesn't mean that it's not good to have around.

My parents, who have one in their RV, love that it comes with a mounting bracket, and Amazon shoppers appreciate that it’s often on sale. Currently, it’s 25 percent off, and one camper raved that it “worked great" when they had to put out their campfire after it got too windy. Another shopper chimed in: “It was super intuitive to figure out on the fly,” adding that they used it to put out a grease fire when their attempt to reverse sear steak went awry.

RTIC Ultra-Light 52-Quart Hard Cooler

One of the easiest ways to get sick while camping is by eating spoiled food. Even if your RV has a fridge, you can find yourself in deep doo-doo (literally) if you lose power. That’s why it pays to have a cooler like this sturdy RTIC version, which is so well-insulated that ice stays frozen for days. I’ve tested dozens of coolers for KOA, and this one stands out because it weighs 30 percent less than other coolers its size and it comes in fun colors.

What's more, it can hold up to 76 cans, or 51 pounds of ice, and it’s big enough to double as a bench or table if needed. In a rave review titled “Better than the fridge it replaced,” a camper, who swapped out their van’s DC-powered mini fridge for this more convenient cooler, highlighted that it takes up less space.

Yeti Hopper M15 Tote Soft Cooler

Of course, if you’re backpacking or car camping for just a day or two, you don’t need a huge cooler. In that case, I recommend the soft-sided M Series one from Yeti. The Apple of coolers, Yeti products aren't cheap, but they consistently come out on top. According to one shopper, it's “well worth the money." They got the M15 Tote for their daughter to use as a fish cooler while camping.

I personally use this model because I appreciate features like the hitchpoint grid, shoulder strap, exterior kangaroo pocket, and magnetic MagShield access (which means that I don’t need to mess with a zipper or prop it open). I’m also a big fan of the look, and this spring, it’s coming out in two new colors: Agave and King Crab Orange.

Thermacell E-Series Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller

Mosquitos are not only annoying, but they can be dangerous, especially if you’re camping in areas affected by malaria, Zika, and West Nile. In addition to sporting bug spray, or in lieu of it if you don’t want to smell like chemicals, it’s a good idea to use this mosquito repeller from Thermacell. The popular model (it has more than 12,300 five-star ratings) creates a 20-foot-wide mosquito-free zone for up to 5.5 hours. After that, all you have to do is recharge it and refill it.

The repellent cartridges it uses are free of DEET and don’t have any odor. “I love how lightweight and compact it is for travel,” said one content camper. “It doesn’t make any sound and can sit by you undetected, making for a much more enjoyable camping/outdoor experience.”

Keen Women's Targhee 2 Mid Height Waterproof Hiking Boots

According to Thibodaux Regional Urgent Care, sprained ankles are one of the top five most common injuries associated with camping. I used to wear Crocs or Chaco sandals around camp, but after a recent scare where I almost twisted my ankle in a gopher hole, I’m committed to wearing these sturdy mid-height Keen shoes because they offer way more support and are waterproof. Currently, they come in 10 colors and have more than 3,800 five-star ratings.

One shopper commented, "I'm so happy with these boots, and that’s saying a lot since I have so many foot problems,” adding that the built-in ankle stabilization was “very helpful.” Similarly, another happy camper, who hiked in them, said, “My feet were protected [and] never got hot, and back at camp, I wasn't quick to get out of them as I have been with other boots in the same price range.”

Hydro Flask Stainless Steel Wide Mouth Water Bottle

Dehydration is another reason why campers, especially backpackers and those camping at high elevations, end up in the emergency room. To keep me hydrated, I rely on my beloved Hydro Flask. Unlike cheaper plastic water bottles, this practically indestructible bottle, with an impressive 4.8-star average rating from more than 27,000 shoppers, is made with BPA-free stainless steel (i.e. I don’t need to worry about it leaching chemicals into my beverages). It’s also vacuum-insulated, so it keeps my cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours.

If I’m camping in the heat, I’m far more inclined to drink water if it’s cool and refreshing. Alternatively, it also keeps hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours. Plus let’s get real: it’s a fashion accessory. I’m obsessed with the new Cascade collection for its trendy look, and shoppers agree. One reviewer quipped, “You know what really sets this water bottle apart? The colors. I mean, have you seen the colors? They're so bright and bold, it's like carrying around a little ray of sunshine with you wherever you go.”

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

When I’m backpacking and using natural water sources to refill my water bottle, I rely on this popular filter, which removes 99.99 percent of bacteria, parasites, and microplastics. Unlike other portable filters I’ve tried, it doesn’t require batteries or pumping, and since it’s basically a straw — albeit with microfiltration membranes — it’s very intuitive to use. About the size of my electric toothbrush, it’s also super lightweight and fits easily in most pockets. (If you want an even more compact filter, get the new Peak Solo Series, which is about half the size and comes in much cooler colors).

One adventurer called it a “lifesaver for traveling” after having used it in India, China, Thailand, Brazil, Colombia, and all over the U.S. For me, the best part about buying this straw, which has more than 94,000 five-star ratings, is that for every one purchased, LifeStraw gives a student in a developing nation safe drinking water for a year.

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