Common tent camping equipment includes:

• A tent, lean-to or other shelter device
• A sleeping bag for warmth
• A sleeping pad or air mattress is often placed underneath the sleeping bag for cushioning from stones and twigs as well as for insulation from the ground
• A portable stove to prepare hot meals and/or drinks where campfires are forbidden or impractical
• A lantern or flashlight
• A hatchet, axe or saw for cutting firewood (where allowed; see campfire) or constructing camp gadgets
• Various types and sizes of ropes and tarps for stringing clotheslines, sheltering dining areas, and other purposes.

Some campers may prepare food by cooking on a campfire, sometimes using such equipment as a Dutch oven.

Much of the remaining needed camping equipment is commonly available in the home, like dishes, pots and pans. Lists of what to take are available in many camping books and websites. Many people opt not to use their home items but equipment better tailored to camping, such as heavy plastic tableware and salt and pepper shakers with tops that close to keep out rain. Backpackers use special lightweight and highly portable equipment.