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As the final days of the school year tick by with alarming speed, parents are shifting into summer mode. For some, that means staring down a sleepaway-camp packing list and then trying not to hyperventilate. Most camps provide a notoriously specific (and long) inventory of items and quantities but leave the brands up to the packer — a recipe for regretful panic purchasing. With so much time and money on the line, and a camp deadline looming, it can be game-changing to have a little extra guidance from parents and campers who have done this before, so you’re not stuck Googling “best _____ for a 10-year-old boy” for dozens of product categories and hoping for the best.
So, what are the must-haves to stuff in your child’s duffel bag? (And for that matter, what’s the must-have duffel bag?) I spoke to 17 camp veterans and their parents, as well as camp directors and camp consultants, to find out which daily essentials, outdoor gear, and comforting extras held up best in the wilds of camp.
While it’s tempting to try to ensure your kid doesn’t want for anything while they’re at camp, Alicia Skovera, executive director of the American Camp Association chapter in New York and New Jersey, suggests restraint. “Respect the camp packing list!” she said. “Don’t pack the things they don’t want you to have — electronics, food, whatever it is. If you do it, you’re showing your kid that the rules don’t apply to them. Second, don’t overpack. We suggest packing with your child, so they know what they have, where it is, and how to unpack it. Don’t bring items that you don’t want lost or dirty. Finally, remember: label, label label!”
Updated on June 22, 2025
We made sure everything on this comprehensive packing list is still in stock and price correctly.
Luggage
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Brooklyn middle-schooler and summer-camp veteran Lucy Satin says, “It’s important that your trunk fits under the bed.” This wheeled one does just that, according to reviewers, and also features a no-slam lid to spare your camper’s fingers. One benefit of a trunk is that if the camp doesn’t store it away, it can double as seating or a surface for playing cards. Kids also love plastering them with stickers.
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Some camps require you to send the packed luggage ahead of your camper’s arrival. New York features editor Julia Edelstein went with two of these Rockland duffels to hold all her 10-year-old’s packing list and says that because they’re so large, she doesn’t anticipate using them for anything else besides college drop-off. “Don’t get it monogrammed,” she says. “You won’t be able to sell it if your kid ends up deciding not to return to camp.”
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If your child’s cabin has drawers or cubbies available to store clothing, chances are you’ll want to use a duffel bag rather than a trunk, since they’re easier to transport and fold flat for easy storage under, say, a bunk bed.
Daily essentials
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Edelstein recommends packing extra labels, just in case. These stick-on labels come in dozens of styles, are fade resistant, and shouldn’t come off in the dryer. Name Bubbles sells smaller clothing-only packs, but this camp-specific package includes iron-on labels as well as adhesive labels in various shapes for tagging not just fabric, but every item you’re hoping not to lose.
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Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro says she’s found that these economical, write-it-yourself stick-on labels work the best for clothes.
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The current “It” water bottle is the Owala, which comes in a stylish range of colors and offers two ways to drink — a straw and a larger opening. “They’re all the rage,” says Skovera, “especially since we don’t allow Stanleys, which can tip over and spill.”
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For a less expensive and much lighter bottle, there’s this Nalgene. Made of HDPE plastic, the Ultralite is nearly half the weight of the classic Nalgene and just as easy to decorate with stickers.
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For carrying stuff around day-to-day, we like this durable, utilitarian backpack, especially for kids in middle school or older.
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A drawstring bag is also highly convenient for toting stuff around camp or for any excursions the camp organizes (to an amusement park, say).
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Some kids might find a hands-free option easier for navigating in the dark. Camp-gear expert Palma Blank of Paragon Sports recommends this headlamp with an adjustable headband and multiple light strengths. It shuts off automatically after one hour to protect the battery.
Bed and bath
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If you need to buy extra sheets, the Strategist’s best overall picks for percale and sateen are reasonably priced, and the Quince option is particularly cooling for hot summer nights. Note that many camp beds are twin-size and extra long, but check with your camp to make sure.
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“I sent this every summer to musical-theater camp with my son,” said actor and New Jersey mom Christine Weiss-Beidel. “The mattresses are so thin and uncomfortable! And I always enclosed it with a bugproof mattress protector. Lice are real!”
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Eliana Kochman, counselor-to-be at Camp Chipinaw, recommends a good shower caddy to keep it all organized. This one can be packed flat, holds a lot, and won’t crack.
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A microfiber towel, like this one from PackTowl, will dry quickly and be less prone to mustiness.
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Kochman also suggests a towel turban for the walk back to the bunk. These come in fun, kid-friendly prints.
Toiletries
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Melissa Lewis, director of Camp Chipinaw and Silver Lake, recommends a one-product routine for quick camp showers. “It’s a really good thing for kids who don’t want to bathe.” The fewer items they have to keep track of, the easier time they’ll have.
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The Strategist-preferred kids’ sunscreen is a mineral formulation and hypoallergenic. While convenient, it’s best to avoid the spray-on kind, since it may be hard for some kids to get even coverage.
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“Try this if you’ve got a kiddo who doesn’t like the feel of sunscreen creams and lotions,” says parent educator Caitlin Greer Meister, founder of Joyfully Learning. “I also appreciate that they’re no-spill and easy for kids to reapply themselves.”
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Some kids may prefer a sunscreen stick. Edelstein is sending this one to camp with her 10-year-old and says, “This is the best-smelling sunscreen I’ve ever encountered for kids.”
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For sticky faces (or anything that needs freshening), Greer Meister loves these hypoallergenic, nontoxic wipes.
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Instead of spraying her kids with sticky spray, Brooklyn mom Claire Aquila swears by these surprisingly effective insect-repellent patches.
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Blank recommends another spray-free bug-repelling option: this permethrin-infused bandana to wrap around your camper’s head or neck.
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Pack this gentle remover infused with aloe to keep your camper from tracking grit into the bunk. “They remove sand and dirt, too, which is helpful because our city kids hate feeling dirty!” says Aquila.
Clothing and shoes
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Getting some kids to wear long sleeves in hot weather can be a tough sell, but Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang says this hooded pullover with UPF50+ protection is lightweight and breathable enough that her kids don’t mind the extra coverage.
If long sleeves are a no-go, the short-sleeve and tank UPF50+ shirts from Primary and Reima will still offer some protection.
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This jacket is on the pricier side, but it’ll work well over a sweater in the fall, too. The experts at Paragon call it a “perfect, breathable rain shell.” (It also happens to be the kid version of our pick for best men’s raincoat overall.)
Primary, Hanna Andersson, Polarn O. Pyret, and Reima are all good sources of reasonably priced swim separates in a rainbow of solids and prints, including short- and long-sleeved rash guards, swim trunks and briefs, and one-pieces.
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Mom and Stroller in the City founder Brianne Mantz vouches for Coolibar brand hats. Made from quick-dry UPF50+ fabric, they stay put with an elastic strap. The neck cover gives extra protection to areas that are often neglected when it comes time to apply sunscreen.
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Waterproof and quick-drying, Crocs can work as slip-on shower shoes, but also for walking around camp.
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A mesh laundry bag can, perhaps counterintuitively, help keep your camper’s dirty laundry from stinking up the place by letting it air out.
Outdoors
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Yang has tried many pairs of goggles with her 9-year-old daughter over the years, and their current favorite is this model from Speedo, which fits well and is comfortable.
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These come in a huge range of colors, which can help your camper identify theirs. “Kids don’t reliably hang up their towels and don’t have the patience to wait for them to dry,” Aquila says, so the light, quick-dry material is a must.
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“The key to finding a good sleeping bag is making sure there isn’t too much extra room at the bottom,” says Blank. “It makes it harder for your body to heat up.” The kid-size Kelty Callisto is a good value, but for bigger kids, Blank says, “a women’s bag can be a perfect size, and they won’t grow out of it as fast.” If you’re ready for a bigger bag, the Kelty Catena is inexpensive and not too warm for summertime. A rectangular sleeping bag is more versatile than a mummy-style bag, since it can be unzipped for use as a blanket.
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Screen-free free time
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“Camp is unplugged, and it’s that way for a reason!” says Skovera. Pack some cute stationery to keep in touch offline.
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For capturing memories, you can get your camper the Camp Snap, a screen-free digital option that holds up to 2,000 photos, or keep it simple with a disposable camera (waterproof is always a plus).
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Games are great for bunk bonding time. Producer and Brooklyn dad Alex Lisowski recommends packing multiple decks of cards, since “they always seem to destroy them.”
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Okay, technically, this has a screen, but some camps do allow e-readers, which save space and weight in your camper’s trunk (just check to make sure they’re approved) and can help them work on their summer reading list.
Décor and creature comforts
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Writer and Brooklyn mom Jess Grose will be packing one of these lightweight, packable chairs for her 12-year-old daughter this summer. “I didn’t buy one for her last year, because I was ignorant, and she had to sit on the ground like a peasant!”
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Edelstein recommends a fan for humid nights. This one has wraparound legs that attach easily to a bed frame.
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This option, one of the Strategist’s favorite desk fans, can clip on or sit on a tabletop, and it runs at two speeds.
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“Kids love to write each other messages,” says Lewis. “When counselors do bunk inspections, they’ll also write notes — and sometimes parents’ notes stay there for the duration.”
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The husband pillow is on the top of most camper’s lists for creating a cozy bunk, says Lewis. This one comes in a huge range of colors and has pockets, a handle, and — importantly — a removable, washable cover.
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Abbie Bailey of the camp specialty store Bee Bee Designs recommends a clipboard for reading and writing in bed. Bee Bee makes a customizable version, but this inexpensive, plainer option can also hold paper and a pencil or pen inside.
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Yang’s daughter uses this book light, which is easy to operate, very adjustable, and comfortable to wear even while lying in bed.
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For a personal touch on her home-away-from-home, Satin says, “I like to decorate my bunk with these, and I use clips to attach family photos to them.” These come in several colors, and have a timer option for lights out. Check to make sure your camp allows these before buying.
Additional reporting by Liza Corsillo and Kitty Guo.
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