This list includes 35 Camping Items and supplies that start with A that start with A, from “A-frame tent” to “Axe”. Many entries are essential, everyday gear for shelter, cooking, hydration, lighting, and basic campsite tasks.
Camping Items and supplies that start with A are common gear and consumables you use at campsites or on trails. For example, the A-frame tent and axe show how traditional tools still shape modern camping.
Below you’ll find the table with Item, Usage, and Popular Brands.
Item: Lists the gear name so you can quickly find the specific A-word camping supplies you need.
Usage: Brief, one-line descriptions show how items are used at camp, helping you decide what fits your trip.
Popular Brands: A short list of well-known makers helps you compare options and narrow shopping choices quickly.
Camping Items and supplies that start with A
| Item | Typical use | Typical size/weight | Popular brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axe | Chopping wood and general campsite cutting tasks for firewood preparation, campsite clearing, and small construction. | 2–4 lb, 60–90 cm handle | Fiskars, Gerber, Estwing |
| Awning | Providing shade and rain protection outside tents, RVs, or over picnic areas to expand usable outdoor living space. | Several feet wide; 5–20 lb for portable awnings | Fiamma, Dometic, Carefree |
| Air mattress | Providing a comfortable sleeping surface in tents, RVs, or outdoors to improve sleep quality and ground insulation. | Twin to queen, 1–6 lb when packed | Therm-a-Rest, Exped, Intex |
| Air pump | Inflating air mattresses, inflatable tents, rafts, and other gear quickly to save time and effort at camp. | Hand, foot, or electric; 0.5–3 lb; compact or battery-powered | Sea to Summit, Intex, Bravo |
| Alcohol stove | Lightweight cooking stove for boiling water and simple meals using liquid alcohol fuel on backpacking trips. | 75–250 g; burns 50–100 ml fuel per boil | Trangia, Evernew, Soto |
| Alcohol fuel | Liquid fuel for alcohol stoves used to cook and boil water when lightweight fuel solutions are preferred. | 500 ml–1 L bottles | Denatured alcohol, Heet |
| All-weather matches | Reliable fire-starting in damp or windy conditions for campfires, stoves, and emergency fire starting situations. | Boxes or waterproof containers; 20–50 matches, a few oz | UCO, Coghlan’s, Zippo |
| Aluminum cookware | Cooking and boiling meals over camp stoves or campfires with lightweight, conductive pots and pans. | Pots 0.5–2 L; sets 1–2 lb; collapsible options | GSI Outdoors, MSR, Snow Peak |
| Aluminum foil | Wrapping food for cooking, leftover storage, and lining grills for easy cleanup at campsites and emergency uses. | Rolls 10–75 sq ft; heavy-duty options available | Reynolds Wrap, Glad |
| Aluminum bottle | Carrying water and liquids while keeping weight low and durability high on hikes, camps, and travel. | 0.5–1.5 L; 3–8 oz empty | SIGG, Klean Kanteen, Hydro Flask |
| Anchor | Securing boats or large inflatables near campsites and docks to prevent drifting while near water. | Small 1–10 lb anchors; sizes vary by boat and conditions | Lewmar, Danforth, Rocna |
| Antenna | Improving TV, radio, or cellular reception at RV campsites for entertainment and communication during travel. | Foldable roof or mast units; 1–10 lb; compact kits | Winegard, King, RCA |
| Antiseptic wipes | Cleaning minor cuts, scrapes, and hands to reduce infection risk during campsite first aid and food prep. | Packets of 10–100 wipes; small, lightweight | Wet Ones, Johnson & Johnson |
| Antihistamine | Alleviating allergic reactions, hay fever, and insect bite symptoms commonly encountered on outdoor trips safely. | Bottles of tablets, a few ounces | Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec |
| Adapter | Converting connections and fitting different hoses, plugs, or power sources to match campsite equipment safely. | Small fittings under 4 oz; various thread sizes | Camco, Valterra, Dometic |
| Airtight container | Protecting food from moisture, pests, and smells while storing meals and leftovers at camp or in vehicles. | 0.5–5 L; plastic or metal; lightweight | Tupperware, Rubbermaid, UCO |
| A-frame tent | Simple shelter for two or more campers offering quick setup and classic ridge-line protection from elements. | Varies 2–4 lb for backpacking models; larger for car camping | REI, Kelty, MSR |
| Avalanche beacon | Rapid locating device for rescuing buried avalanche victims during winter backcountry travel and rescue drills. | Handheld, 150–300 g; compact | BCA, Pieps, Mammut |
| Avalanche probe | Probing snow to precisely locate buried avalanche victims and assess snowpack during rescue or route checks. | Aluminum, 1.5–2.5 m collapsed, 200–400 g | Black Diamond, BCA, Mammut |
| Avalanche shovel | Rapid excavation tool for digging out avalanche victims, creating snow shelters, or clearing campsite snow. | Aluminum blade, 700–1,000 g; collapsible handle | Black Diamond, BCA, Ortovox |
| Alkaline batteries | Powering flashlights, headlamps, radios, lanterns, and small electronics; carry extra cells for multi-day trips and cold-weather use. | AA, AAA, C, D sizes; weights vary by size | Duracell, Energizer, Panasonic |
| Aluminum carabiner | Clipping gear, hanging cookware, and organizing items around camp or on packs for easy access. | 1–4 oz; various sizes and locking types | Black Diamond, Petzl, DMM |
| Auto-inflating sleeping pad | Providing cushioned, insulated sleeping surface that self-inflates for convenience during camping and cold-weather trips anytime. | Rests 50–200 mm thick; 1–3 lb depending on size | Therm-a-Rest, Nemo, Sea to Summit |
| Airbeam tent | Using inflatable airbeams instead of poles for fast, rigid tent setup at car camps and family sites. | 3–15 kg; packs into 2–3 cases | Vango, Outwell, Kampa |
| Aluminized blanket | Retaining body heat in emergencies, line shelters, or add reflective layer for insulation and signaling. | Compact foil sheets 1–5 oz; emergency bivvy heavier | SOL, Therm-a-Rest, Coghlan’s |
| Accessory cord | Securing tarps, hanging gear, repairing tent lines, and general utility tasks at campsites and trails. | 2–8 mm diameters; rolls 5–30 m; light weight | Sterling, BlueWater, EDELRID |
| Anchor stake | Securing tents, tarps, awnings, and lightweight structures to the ground to resist wind and movement. | 6–12 in ground stakes; 2–8 oz each varying by material | MSR, Vargo, REI |
| Anorak | Lightweight water-resistant outer layer for protection against wind and light rain during variable campsite weather. | Packable jackets, 6–18 oz depending on fabric and insulation | Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Columbia |
| Ankle gaiters | Protecting lower legs and footwear from mud, snow, water, and debris during hikes and rainy conditions. | Low-cut to knee-high; 2–6 oz per pair | Outdoor Research, Black Diamond, Rab |
| Arc lighter | Starting campfires, stoves, and lanterns with wind-resistant electric arcs instead of traditional flame lighters safely. | Handheld USB-rechargeable, 2–4 oz | Zippo, Tesla, RONXS |
| Aux cable | Connecting phones or audio sources to car or campsite speakers and stereos for music and announcements. | 3.5 mm cables 1–3 ft; light and flexible | Anker, Belkin, AmazonBasics |
| Alpine crampons | Providing traction on ice and hard snow for mountaineering and steep winter approaches during alpine camping. | 8–14 points; 400–1,200 g per pair | Petzl, Black Diamond, Grivel |
| Anchor line | Line or rope attached to anchors for securing boats, rafts, or large items to shore or dock at campsites. | 6–20 mm ropes; lengths 10–50 m; weight varies | Sterling, Samson |
| Adhesive tape | Repairing tents, gear, and tarps, creating temporary fixes, and sealing small rips during camping trips. | Rolls 5–50 m; 1–3 oz depending on type | Gorilla Tape, Tenacious Tape, 3M |
| Awning mat | Providing clean, comfortable outdoor flooring in front of tents or RV awnings to reduce dirt and dampness. | 2–4 m long, folds compact; 1–6 lb | Outwell, Fiamma, Kampa |
Descriptions
Axe
Hand tool for splitting or chopping wood; choose based on weight, handle length, balance, and transport considerations.
Awning
Can be permanent on RVs or portable for tents; creates sheltered outdoor space and improves campsite comfort.
Air mattress
Inflatable bed offering comfort and insulation; available in self-inflating, air-only, and insulated camping-specific models.
Air pump
Manual or electric pumps designed for camping inflatables; choose based on power source and portability.
Alcohol stove
Simple, quiet stove option; easy to use and maintain, but less efficient than canister or liquid-fuel stoves.
Alcohol fuel
Often sold as methylated spirits or denatured alcohol; burns clean but needs safe storage and careful transport.
All-weather matches
Matches with protective coatings or strike-anywhere tips to light reliably; keep in waterproof case for long trips.
Aluminum cookware
Lightweight, affordable cookware option; heats quickly but can react with acidic foods unless anodized.
Aluminum foil
Versatile for cooking foil packets, lining pots, and keeping food fresh; pack lightweight roll or pre-cut sheets.
Aluminum bottle
Lightweight, often single-wall bottles; some are aluminum and require liner to prevent metallic taste.
Anchor
Used when camping near water; pick appropriate type and weight for shoreline and wind conditions.
Antenna
RV and portable antennas boost signal in remote areas; choose directional or omnidirectional based on needs.
Antiseptic wipes
Convenient single-use wipes for quick cleaning; pack several for emergencies, cooking, and wound care.
Antihistamine
Useful for known allergies and sudden reactions; carry dose instructions and check for drowsiness side effects.
Adapter
Includes propane, electrical, and hose adapters; essential for using campsite hookups with your gear or appliances.
Airtight container
Reusable containers designed to seal out air and critters; useful for meal prep, bear safety, and leftovers.
A-frame tent
Traditional tent shape that’s lightweight and easy to pitch; modern versions improved with lighter materials and vents.
Avalanche beacon
Transmits and receives signals for quick search and rescue; learn proper practice and carry probe and shovel too.
Avalanche probe
Collapsible pole used with beacon and shovel for avalanche rescue; lightweight and essential in winter backcountry.
Avalanche shovel
Sturdy, compact shovels designed for snow; strong blades and telescoping handles speed rescue efforts.
Alkaline batteries
Common single-use batteries with long shelf life; consider lithium options for cold and weight-sensitive uses.
Aluminum carabiner
Lightweight non-critical carabiners useful for tasks and organization; not all are rated for climbing, check markings.
Auto-inflating sleeping pad
Pads combine foam and air; they compress for transport and offer better warmth than basic air mats.
Airbeam tent
Heavier but quick to pitch and durable; great for car camping and family setups where speed matters.
Aluminized blanket
Also called space blankets; cheap, lightweight emergency gear that reflects heat and can be multi-purpose.
Accessory cord
Thin, strong cord used for guy lines, clotheslines, and emergency fixes; pack a few meters of spares.
Anchor stake
Includes V-shaped, spiral, and heavy-duty stakes; choose based on soil type and wind conditions.
Anorak
Pull-over style jacket useful for unpredictable weather; choose breathable fabrics for comfort during activity.
Ankle gaiters
Wrap around boots to keep out grit and moisture; helpful on wet trails and snowy approaches.
Arc lighter
Rechargeable lighters that work well in wind; great backup to matches but require battery charging.
Aux cable
Simple wired audio connection for older stereos or portable speakers; keep a short cable in your kit.
Alpine crampons
Metal traction devices that strap to boots; essential for technical snow and ice travel, fit boots carefully.
Anchor line
Strong rope used with anchors; choose diameter and length based on watercraft size and local conditions.
Adhesive tape
Includes duct, repair, and tenacious fabric tapes; pack small rolls for quick fixes and first-aid improvisation.
Awning mat
Durable mats that define living space and keep gear cleaner; choose easy-clean materials for muddy sites.