What do boys actually wear and use in camp?
A while back in 2017, the team at Between Carpools put together a thorough and very helpful camp packing list for girls that we’ve already recently updated. At that time, everyone else on the BCP team had teen girls (except for me). My camp experience began, rather, with packing up boys. And as they age from elementary to mesivta-age camps, I see that their needs change too. So while the original list was a good starting point, I saw that I needed a different list for myself when packing and shopping for my boys (they gave me lots of notes to remember for future years each time they came home!).
This is the list I compiled for my own boys, with notes that detail their changing needs as they get older. Of course, every camp-going boy will have different preferences, and so you’ll adapt as needed. I did not include a list of food items.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD – (read the invaluable footnotes near the items in the post below. The download is the item list only without the notes)
Boys Camp Checklist
- Labels!
- 2 extra large duffels or 1 duffel + set of plastic drawers.
(Depends on boys preference, storage space available, and bunk space. If using drawers, you will also need packing tape and a scissor to secure it closed and open it up. You will want to label duffels VERY well with something identifiable–like neon duct tape and a Sharpie–so it’s easy to find your sons’ when the luggage truck drops them off.)Clothing
- 12-14 t-shirts
(Older boys who are wearing a white shirt for much of the day need less. In some camps, such as more Chassidishe camps, the boys will wear polo shirts instead of t-shirts.) - 9-10 sports pants and/or shorts
(This means Tiros mostly. Mesivta boys don’t wear shorts.) - 10-12 underwear
- 12-14 weekday socks
(Socks do get lost) - 4 pajamas
(Sleeping sweats/shorts and sleeping t-shirts. Abercrombie joggers are great ones when they are in stock and on sale) - 5-6 white weekday shirts
(6th/7th grade and up.) - 3-5 weekday pants for davening/learning
(6th/7th grade and up. In different camps, white shirts/pants are worn for different durations. In some camps, the boys only put on real pants for special occasions and they wear Tiros with a white shirt in the morning. Then, they’d need just 1-2.
In other camps, they wear pants for davening and/or learning groups and then change for the day; then 3-4 is good. When they reach Mesivta age, they’ll wear pants most of the day and change for sports/activities. “Stretch pants,” a more comfortable pant, are popular. This style is our boys’ favorite of all.) - 2 Shabbos shirts
- 1-2 Shabbos suits
- 4 Shabbos socks
(Keep some separate for Shabbos if he wears the same for Shabbos and weekday mornings.) - Shabbos shoes
- 1-2 ties
- Belt
- Hat/Jacket
(Over Bar Mitzvah. Don’t bring the good Shabbos hat.) - 1-2 bathrobes
(2 if he uses it as a towel also.) - 5-6 Tzitzit
- 2-4 Kippahs
- All sports equipment
- Natives/Floafers/Swims
(Some older boys like Swims because they look like loafers and they can wear them with their pants/shirts in the morning. Note that they’re expensive, but sometimes you can find deals on older styles. They also go on sale, up to 50% off, in the winter) - Slides (this one is a favorite.)
- 2-3 bathing suits
- Rashguard
- Goggles
- 2 sweatshirts
Bath & Bed
- Toothbrush & Toothbrush case
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Tissue Box
- Shampoo OR a 3-in-1 Shampoo/Condition/Body Wash saves some schlepping
- Soap (Liquid soap)
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Off Spray
- 3-4 Bath/Swim Towels
- Hand Towels
- Sheets
(2 sets of cheap linens if going for 2 halves. Preferably a dark color.) - Covers/blanket
- 2 pillows & pillowcases
Important Misc.
- 2 mesh laundry bags.
(Some camps give the kids a standard bag.) - Mesh bag for socks and underwear
(Some more orderly boys keep socks and underwear separate and throw the small bag into the big bag. Others just throw it all together.) - Siddur/tefillin bag/tefillin/sefarim
- Set of little drawers to hold misc little stuff or end of bed caddy.
- Folding chair.
(In some camps the chairs are used constantly, in others not. The bungee chair is popular and lightweight, but expensive and takes up more space/doesn’t fold up so small. There are many lightweight foldable camping chairs that cost less. This is a great one at a reasonable price. Walmart has one for $7.88 but it breaks.) - A good flashlight.
(They use this a lot.) - Netilat cup.
(The collapsible cup available at Judaica/houseware stores is practical.) - Poncho or umbrella
- Fan.
(Either a large fan for the bunk house, or a clip-on fan) - Lint roller.
(Lint gets on everything since it’s all washed together.) - Bathroom caddy. Some use, some are just fine with carrying their shower stuff each day.
- Hairbrush
Thank you!!! What company are the “stretchies” pants? Where can they be purchased?
Old navy has men’s “tech” chino pants that are slim fit, stretchie, and look nice.
Thanks for the list! Sending three boys to camp and I’m pretty organized but this is a help! Same question as Rivky- where do you buy the “ stretchies “? What brand?
AI Stone has the stretch pants
Thank you!
Also I’m sending a boy to eretz Yisroel for the first time! You did a great sem list how about one for the guys? Thanks for all your great work!
That post is coming soon!
Thank you so much!!
I know his place carries the stretchy pants in their company, I’m sure other stores carry it too.
We love the AI stone stretch pants. Not too thick. Also can you post a link for XL duffel bags?
Thank you so much for the post! It is so helpful!
Can those slides be used in the shower?
no
A few points that I want to make as a mother of an 11th grade boy:
My non chassidush son requested white polo shirts for camp this summer.
A lot of boys just walk around in undershirts and tzitzis for a good part of the day.
The boys like to bring meat for making bbq’s. I don’t send a lot because it gets expensive but I send a package or 2 of a cheaper steak type of meat. I send sauce/spices for it as well
Nail Clipper?
thanks for the post. so helpful and organized. can you make an organized packing list for girls going to sleepaway camp. thanks
thanks for the post. so helpful and organized. can you make an organized packing list for girls going to sleepaway camp. thanks
Some yeshiva people recently started buying the Plain and Plaid stretch pants on Amazon. They might not be top quality, but they are washable and look great. They do “pill” a little, so either a piece or tape or lint shaver might be helpful. They are definitely worth a try. Approx $30
Yup! We tested them out and recommended in this post: https://betweencarpools.com/stretch-pants-for-men-teens/
Sending to camp for the first time. Thank you for the great list.
I’m kind of grappling with the costs here – trying to figure out how much more this gonna cost on top of the camp fee.
I know I should have more bitachon, but how in the world does everyone pull this off financially?????
My relationship with money is clearly struggling
There is no link to download this list.
The download link is under the image below.
can you post a food list also?
don’t forget a kinos for Tisha baav.