Weekend camping kit checklist for trips from Bengaluru
In short
For a two-night camp near Bengaluru, rent a two-person tent with a rainfly, a sleeping bag rated to about 10 °C, a sleeping mat, a gas stove with cartridges and a headlamp each. Pitch the tent at home before you leave, and carry 2 litres of water per person for the trail.
Where people camp from Bengaluru
Within two to five hours you have river camps around Bheemeshwari and Kabini, private campsites in Coorg and Chikkamagaluru, and overnight Western Ghats treks such as Kudremukh and Kumara Parvatha. Most Karnataka Forest Department treks now need an online booking with a daily cap, and pitching a tent inside a forest is not allowed, so camp at a permitted or private site.
From October to February nights in the Ghats and hill districts drop to around 10–15 °C, and colder on open ridges. From June to September expect rain and leeches on the western side.
Rent the bulky things, bring the personal ones
A tent, a sleeping bag, a stove and a power station are expensive, bulky and used a few weekends a year, which is exactly what renting is for. Bring what touches your body or is cheap to own: socks, a rain jacket, a first-aid kit, sunscreen and a water bottle.
Shelter and sleep
- Tent: a two-person tent for one or two people, three-person if you want room for bags. It must have a rainfly that reaches the ground, and count the pegs (usually 8–12).
- Sleeping bag: look for a comfort rating around 10 °C for October–February. The 'limit' rating is the survival number, not the comfortable one.
- Sleeping mat: the ground takes more heat than the air, so a mat matters as much as the bag.
Cooking, light and power
- A butane or isobutane stove with two cartridges for two nights, a lighter and a pot. Cartridges cannot go on a flight.
- A headlamp per person with spare batteries, and one lantern for the campsite.
- A power station or a large power bank if you need phones charged for navigation; there are no sockets at most sites.
Leave nothing behind
Forest check posts on several Western Ghats treks look through bags for plastic. Carry a bag for your rubbish and bring all of it back to the city.
Pickup checklist
- Pitch the tent once at home: poles, pegs, rainfly and zips all work
- Unroll the sleeping bag: zip runs end to end, no tears in the shell
- Light the stove with one of the cartridges
- Headlamps and lantern switch on
- Power station shows its charge level
- Everything packs back into its own bag
Typical prices in Bengaluru
| Type | Per day | Deposit (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Tents | ₹120–500 | ₹500 |
| Sleeping bags & mats | ₹20–100 | ₹300 |
| Stoves & cookware | ₹30–150 | ₹300 |
| Lanterns & headlamps | ₹20–50 | ₹300 |
| Backpacks & trekking poles | ₹30–150 | ₹300 |
| Portable power stations | ₹300–1,000 | ₹3,000 |
Lumo catalogue ranges for Bengaluru; each owner sets their own price, and the deposit is held by Lumo. All rental prices
Questions
What camping gear can I rent in Bengaluru?
Tents, sleeping bags and mats, stoves and cookware, headlamps and lanterns, backpacks and trekking poles, coolers and power stations are all listed by owners on Lumo Bazaar.
What temperature should a sleeping bag be rated for near Bengaluru?
A comfort rating around 10 °C covers most October–February nights in the Western Ghats and hill districts. Add a mat underneath; the ground is the bigger heat loss.
Can I camp anywhere in the forest near Bengaluru?
No. Pitching a tent inside a forest is not allowed. Camp at a permitted or private campsite, and book Forest Department treks online where required.