It’s that time of year: Camp clothes shopping! Or more accurately, the time of year I look at the kids’ camp clothing checklist and realize we have outgrown everything and gah, where am I going to get those non-itchy navy shorts again at this late date?
If you’re in the same boat, I want to share the places I tend to do best with my kids’ own camp basics: comfy cotton tees, shorts, shoes, underwear, and durable swimwear. And of course they have to fulfill my own needs for clothes that hold up for horseback riding in the rain, tug-of-war over mud puddles, diving off of docks, and who-knows-what that’s used to launder said clothes with each week.
If the kids even remember to put them in their laundry bags at all.
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– Updated for 2024 –
Related: The best summer camp care package ideas for tweens and teens:A helpful list from a mom who’s been sending them for 8 years
1. Best shop for all camp basics: Primary Kids
Since they launched in 2015, mom-run Primary has not let us down with their super wearable, sturdy, cotton mix-and match basics. I have purchased many! Then they added high quality, UPF 50+ swimwear (at top) and that’s helped us use Primary as a one-stop shop for camp, more or less. In fact, they now have a category called The Camp Shop, which is a great place to start.
I especially love that they tell you the height and weight of the kid modeling each piece, which helps me get sizing right every time. And those cotton unisex gym shorts in french cotton (with just a little spandex for stretch) are perfection for any summer camp or summer activity at all.
PS Props to Primary for hiring such inclusive models, including differently-abled kids. It’s a joy to support a company like this.
Sale Alert: Keep an eye on the Prrimary warehouse sale section for up to 50% off, with items starting at just $9.
Runner Up: The tees and tanks at Target are also terrific bargains. Like the girls camis and sleeveless tees, which run as low as $4. In fact, this Fruit of the Loom 5-pack of girls camis are under $2 each. Whoa.
Call me old-fashioned but I prefer more athletic swimsuits for my girls that let them swim without losing half their suit! Hanna Andersson has not let me down for swimwear (above) — the suits are so well-made, both one-pieces and two-pieces, thatwe’ve passed down some suits now to the third lucky owner. And, yes, of course they have durable boys’ swimwear too. (Psst…my girls have at times preferred trunks paired with bathing suit tops or rash guards.)
I like their contemporary but classic swimsuit patterns, in great patterns like sharks and sunbursts, a decent assortment of kids’ rash guards that are great for chilly lake swimming, and right now, more than 130 mix-and-match swim separates.
Also note thatI want swimwear that’s affordable but lasts more than a single summer. If that. Since my kids have come out with stretched-out elastic straps and faded prints from the cheaper chain stores, I just don’t shop those stores for camp swimwear anymore.
Sale alert: Look for frequent sales, especially after the start of summer. Always click on their sale section — you can find up to 70% off sometimes.
Runners Up: Along with Primary Swimwear, which is fantastic, I also want to commend the Lands End swimwear department for kids. The boys board shorts are amazing, and my girls have even liked wearing them with rash guards or bikini tops.
3. Best shops for camp shorts: Target, Old Navy, Primary
For Cargo Shorts and Chinos: TargetI love that now you can find sturdy well-made, and often US-made clothes for pretty great prices, but I’m not immune to the lure of Target’s “tanks and tees from $4” sales. Cat & Jack shorts are always affordable, and well made, if not “hand it down 10 times” sturdy. One of my daughters prefers longer structured shorts to cotton gym shorts, and we find the selection of boys chino shorts and cargos (above, from Cat & Jack in brown) are perfect for that — and rarely over $15 a pair. (Though I really wish they’d get rid of those gendered sections, since there’s no reason girls can’t wear basically all the boy clothes — and vice versa.)
Sale alert: Does Target ever not have a sale? Always click on the Deals category up top, then scroll down to Kids Clothing and Accessories.
For denim shorts: Old NavyIf your kids prefer denim shorts these days, Old Navy has a great selection no matter how high the waist, how long the cut, or how denim-y the denim. In fact, the pop color high-waisted frayed hem shorts for girls (above, in green)) are not only cute, they’re on sale right now for $8!
For Cotton Shorts: PrimaryIf your kids need a classic, cotton gym short for camp, Primary (again!) is a great bet for affordable, well-made, durable cotton shorts that kids can really move in. When our camp required campers bring several pairs of navy shorts, ours from Primary got a lot of use!
There’s good reason that parents and girls alike totally rave about Yellowberry bras for tweens, which we’ve been recommending for years. That Aspen bra, above, had up to a 7,000 person waitlist when it first launched! They really are awesome and worth every penny. Their best-seller is the Ladybug bra, which is the perfect first bra for girls looking for more coverage under tees and tanks. If she needs actual support from an outstanding hybrid sports bra for girls, you’ll find it; and they now have a brand new selection of bras for more developed girls, which you can purchase by traditional band/cup size.
Also, check out their girls camisoles which offer excellent coverage.
There really are no better made bras for girls that I’ve found over many years of trying. Nothing even comes close.
Considering how girls these days (“girls these days!”) live in their bras and wear them visibly like an accessory, and considering how much confidence a comfy, proper-fitting, amply supportive bra can provide, I’d rather splurge on these for camp and save everywhere else. The quality is simply amazing, and it makes my girls feel confident, which is everything. Plus, it’s a small woman-run company I love supporting. Go Meghan!
Sale alert: Signing up for the mailing list list gets you up to 30% off your first order, plus email alerts about other flash sales and availability of wait-listed items. Worth it. There’s also a rotating sale section of last chance items and shipping is always free over $100.
5. Best shop for camp shoes: Zappos
Well of course Zappos! Especially now that you can link your Amazon Prime Account to Zappos. Benefits like free overnight or two-day shipping is a godsend when I’m yelling, “You just outgrew your sneakers? Why didn’t you tell me!” four days before camp starts. (Repeat…every single June.) Plusv they accept exchanges up to 12 months — and sometimes just a wee bit after. Ask me how I know.
While every camp has different footwear requirements, start with the athletic shoes which are always a given.
When it comes to water shoes for walks to the lake or pool, I know that Crocs are huge at summer camp (along with all those Jibbitz, laugh/cry), but if you want an alternative, I’m a big fan of Native Shoes (photo above via @nativeshoes)– they’re waterproof, and give you more of the support of a sneaker. I much prefer them to flip-flops in a canoe, on a slippery dock, in mud puddles, or in shower stall.
As far as sandals, I’m a new convert to Teva Kids, which are the best of all worlds — the styling of a sandal, the ease of a velcro strap, the rugged, non-slip sole of a hiking shoe (really!), and the water-friendly construction of Crocs. And if you need rain boots, riding boots, hiking boots or cleats –yes, of course Zappos has plenty for kids of all sizes and that return policy
Sale alert: The sales items marked boy or girl rarely include fewer than 7,000 possibilities of all kinds. Right now there are more than 3,000 kids shoes on sale. While the Adidas sneakers above are gone, there are lots of tie-dyed sneakers for kids if you like the look, plenty on sale.