So, you’ve decided to take up long-distance hiking. Or perhaps you’re a seasoned bushwalker who wants to branch out from pre-packaged dehydrated meals and cook some real food.

Either way, you may need to invest in a bit of basic equipment for preparing, cooking and eating your camping meals. We take the following gear on all our overnight hiking trips.

Camping stove, fuel and lighter

If you want to cook when you’re hiking, you will usually need a camping stove and fuel. We use a Trangia stove, which runs on methylated spirits and is simple and reliable. However, you’ll find many other types of stoves at your local camping store, with a variety of mechanisms and fuels. Make sure you pack enough fuel for your trip.

With most camping stoves, you will also need a lighter. We usually just take a disposable cigarette lighter, but we also take a flint and steel as a backup.

Cooking pots

You will need lightweight cooking pots big enough for your hiking group. Our Trangia stove includes its own bowls (photo, right), and is fine for 2-3 people. If we’re walking with a larger group, we generally take one or two bigger enamel pots (photo, left).

Chopping mat, knife, spondicle and oil

You’ll need a sharp knife for cutting up ingredients before cooking. We would also recommend that you get a lightweight chopping mat – you won’t regret it.

The nifty tool shown at the front of the photo – affectionately known as a spondonicle – is very handy for moving your pans on and off the camping stove. And almost all recipes need oil, so a small plastic bottle with a tight lid is a great investment.

Water bottle with volume markings

We have tested the recipes on this website, to work out how much water you need. To avoid dry couscous or watery pasta, we recommend that you take a water bottle with volume markings on it, so you know you’re using the right amount.

Cups, bowls and cutlery

You will need lightweight cups: for tea, coffee, and perhaps for a bit of port or Drambuie around the campfire. Cups with lids are also great for storing food that is easily squashed, like avocadoes or fresh tomatoes for hiking lunches.

You’ll need some lightweight, strong cutlery – most of ours is plastic or polycarbonate. We generally just take a spoon and a fork – or a spork, as is shown in the photo.

When you’re bushwalking, you can often just eat out of your camping stove pots. But it’s nice to take a lightweight bowl if you have room in your backpack.

Washing up

Don’t forget about the washing up! We usually just pack a small sponge (ideally with a scouring pad) and a bottle of dishwashing detergent with a tight-fitting lid. We don’t worry about a washing up bowl or portable camping sink – we just wash up in a cooking pot. You might also want to take a small napkin or tea towel.

Always make sure you wash your dishes well away from rivers, creeks and other water sources, to avoid polluting the water with detergent and food waste.