Getting started - Your What to Bring List

[LadyHarrietDeSpook]

I would like to get started with camping but need to figure out what equipment is really essential. We are a family of four - DDs are 7 and nearly 4.

I've been on various websites including Amazon. My head is starting to spin.

When I saw a deep fat fryer for sale in one outdoor shop online I finally thought: WTF???? I'm trying to find out about camping not redo my sodding kitchen.

Would anyone be willing to share their TO BRING lists with me, of everything they make sure they don't forget before setting off so I can get an idea of how to narrow my focus so to speak???

partic interested in the sort of sleeping bags you bought the DCs - can my four year old go in a Youth one (she is little) or more baby?

Thanks for your help....!

It's me again...obviously I know TENT is on there but I realise this can be a huge discussion in and of itself....

It's just that I am sure that we can end up in some store spending loads, go on one trip and discover half of it is useless or not quite right...so any wisdom from MNers would be great...

What kind of camping do you think you'll do? Wild / no EHU types, or are you planning on using electrical items too? That would make a difference to a lot of things.

For example, we go where fires allowed, so my favourite item is our Storm Kettle, but it would be rather pointless if you're not able to light it.

Any chance you could borrow someone's kit (maybe excluding tent, I'm not sure I'd like to lend out my tent) for a weekend and see what you use? Or otherwise go somewhere where you can rent a ready-pitched tent?

I've wasted spent so much on camping kit that I really do use, that you don't want to buy items that just sit in the garage forever.

Sal thanks for your message.

I just found the Mumsnet check list that they had so kindly prepared. Still had things like cookers on it though.

I might run some items by you later to see what you think...

Im in the same boat as hope to buy our first tent next month and was hoping for a bare minimal list as i dont want to take anything unessisary and will add thing as we get going.

Where do i find the Mumsnet check list please?

its ok, found it!

:) LadyHarriet. Ooh, exciting to start from scratch. All the new things you need...

Basically, you need something to sleep on, something to sleep under and something to boil water. And wine.

Gelert xl 10cm self inflating mattress has been my best recent purchase, WAY more comfy and warm than an airbed

well, far be it from me to criticise MN but that list is still EPIC. Several buckets?! spare tent? Doormat? gazebo? little fridge??? My wedding list had fewer items on it...!

I didn't envision myself wild camping initally but it would not be worth it for me to HAVE to take all of that stuff. I am assuming it is possible to have an enjoyable time with more limited supplies. Or am I not entering into the spirit of things...

I camped very minimally years ago in Czech - the tent was set up.

Sal - you said what sort of camping. Well, trad family camping...and possibly some festivaling. It would be good if it were possible in principle for me to take the girls on my own. I don't drive so doing this might be just for example to a festival can't bear to attend (with maybe a lift from a friend.) So mostly family camping. We do have a car we could fill with all that stuff but I still think it sounds a little extreme.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0046GA3CE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A31JII93FKQ3I4

Thinking about this tent above.

Sleeping bags? LIners? sleeping mats? Ground sheet thingies?

My essential list is:

Tent (including pegs, groundsheet, potentially a mallet)
Bed - airbed, camping mats or self-inflaing mats
Bedding - sleeping bags or duvet and pillows
Stove
Cooking equipment to match what you plan to make - we need a frying pan for cooking brekkie, 1 or 2 pots and a kettle
Plates, cups, cutlery, sharp knife, wooden spoon, tongs
Bbq if allowed on site - either a little portable one or a disposable one
Ice box and cool packs
Bottle opener/corkscrew
Lighters
Torches
Lantern
Spare batteries
Camping chairs
Water container
Washing up bowl, liquid, sponges etc.
Bin bags
Playing cards or other games
Frisbee, football etc.
Toys for dd
Bed, food, bowls for ddog
Food and drink
Paper and pens
Book for everyone
Washbag and hairbrush
Towels (we use camping ones)
Map of area for walks/info on local attractions
Car mobile phone charger
Backcarrier for dd
Rucksack and waterbottles for daytrips/walks

It looks like loads but very little is special camping stuff, it's mostly our normal day-to-day stuff.

Ladyharriet, if you are anywhere near Uttoxeter you are welcome to borrow our spare tent; its an Urban Escape Himalaya which would sleep 4 comfortably. Let me know.

Attheends list is pretty similar to mine but I would add,

Ikea bags, both small and large to use as shoe bags, storage, somewhere to put your clothes while having a shower, shopping bags etc.

I have a folding crate for carrying the washing up to the sinks and to store clean/dirty dishes in.

A couple of picnic blankets to put on the floor of the tent, we have a no shoes in the tent rule so its nicer to put your feet on a blanket rather than the groundsheet. Can also go outside for sunbathing/picnicing.

Hope you have fun shopping.

When we first went camping, we went to a site with a cafe onsite and a supermarket a drive away. This meant we did not need any cooking gear at all. We ate in the cafe in the day, and chippy or sandwiches and pasta from the shop in the evening. Plenty of cold drinks/crisps/biscuits.
We just took the tent,pump, blow up beds and sleeping bags, battery lanterns. Thats it!
This was to see if we actually liked it before shelling out on other stuff which we did.
I did find that first trip so much easier. Less to pack in the car, set up/take down, and put away once home. it taught me that you should only take stuff you really need.
You are not trying to recreate your kitchen at home. So, while the latest gadgets may look useful in the shop, just remember - more to pack!

twattock - thanks so much for the offer. we're in London.very very kind of you to offer though.

DH wants to go to a place where you can hire a tent first. I thought I could see his point until he said that he didn't think the GBP 159 tent I linked to above would be enough, that we needed a massive one like his friends have. There are only four of us and I don't think we'd camp for weeks at a time the way they do more like long weekends.

Would anyone be willing to look at my link and say what they think about size, etc.

The tent you've linked to is fab - perfect for weekend camps. We've got one as well as a frame tent that we use for longer stays. It might be a bit cramped if the weather was bad and a tarp would also be a good idea for cooking under. Buy it, he'll forgive you when he realised how simple it is to put up and take down.

We,ve got that tent, it's fabulous. So easy to put up and down. You will be done drinking tea whilst all around you people are still fiddling with poles.

The bedrooms fit a double airbed perfectly.

That tent is 'the one', we love ours and have never used our bigger tent since getting it. Soooooo much easier and quicker to put up and down and perfect for a family of four if you have a tarp or a normal 'base seconds' to use as a porch/cooking area. It is well made and stands up to a lot of weather. Lots of good reviews of it on ukcampsite website.

The rest of our list is:

Tent carpet (the coleman one fits perfectly)
Fat Airics x 2 (self-inflating mats)
Duvet
Sheet
Pillows
Airbed for DD plus sleeping bag and blankets
Two burner gas stove with grill
Gas bottle
Matches
Kitchen stand
Fold-up Table
2 fold-up chairs
Notebook barbecue (great where barbecues are allowed and you can put logs on after cooking and have a lovely campfire to sit round)
Folding crate with cutlery/plates/mugs/utensils
Stacking pan set
Camping lantern
Wind-up radio
Coolbox
Kitchen Roll
Basin
Surface spray and washing up liquid

If we are going somewhere with electric then also:
EHU
Fan heater
Travel kettle

As well as all the tent and camping gear you will need clothing (layers are good), towels, toiletries and food. We take a minimal amount of food (i.e. tea bags, milk, cereal, bread) and buy whatever else we need when we get there.

For most of our trips we also need large amounts of midge-repellent and citronella candles (we are in Scotland!)

To fit all this in our average family saloon we also need a roof-box!

Depends what type of camping you are thinking of doing but if you do end up taking cooking stuff I would suggest you get hold of a large rolling toolbox to store things in.

Useful because you can stick large stuff in the bottom, cutlery in the top tray, and use the whole thing as a small table or chair (is v. stable so good for chopping things like onions without slicing your fingers). Depending on your stove it would make a good base for that too. Wheels so that you don't have to lift the thing, and if you leave it out in the rain all your stuff stays dry. If you are paranoid about people nicking stuff they even come with little bits you can attach a couple of padlocks to provide yourself with a bit of security.

Hey - am at work and can't do a detailed post but I couldn't not reply with thanks for the people who looked at my tent and provided their lists. thanks so much.

Carrier bags for wet/muddy clothes and shoes.......
I agree those folding crates are very handy!

Ok. I think this tent is the plan. I am relieved because I really didn't think we needed a massive one for hundreds.

One question -and it's weird-- is there any risk the children, sleeping in the other part of the tent to us, will get out, unzip and be on the loose? If they were in the same room with us, we'd know what they were up to. Or really aren't we going to sleep that well anyway...would we know if they were on the move?

It is usually very expensive to go 'glamping' where the tent is set up. The one you have linked should be fine, it doesn't have a huge amount of space for sitting in if the weather is terrible, but otherwise there is no need for the ginormous tents that some people seem to favour. IMO.

You can start very basic and then decide what sort of thing suits you. I have a two burner stove and grill and gas bottle, but I also have one of the very cheap one ring 'briefcase' stoves with small gas canisters that I use if I just take DS for the weekend. And we have a small fold-flat portable BBQ and that does us for cooking, no problems. I take general kitchen stuff - my 'not for best', fold up chairs, and now we have a folding table but managed for a couple of years without. Self inflating mats are good to sleep on. Youth sized sleeping bags will be fine for both girls. I use an empty 4l water container for water.

Oh, and you can usually hear the zips being unzipped - some people put a bell on the zip. Also, you can usually move the zips wherever you want on the door so you could make sure the zippers are at the top, out of reach.

Otherwise look at some of the tunnel type tents where you have the option of having an all-in-one compartment or can put up a divider like this one

BLU
That bell idea is a good one. I guess I could do that in combo with a lock - like a suitcase lock - might work. Or do you think that would be a bit dangerous?

What make two burner stove do you use? I was thinking about a Hibachi for grilling but would be interested in your fold up portable BBQ.

Do you go for three season sleeping bags?

Thanks for your help.

I think a lock would be dangerous (what if you needed to get them out in a hurry?) and a bit OTT. Are your kids really likely to unzip themselves from their own compartment and then out of the tent without you hearing and scarper? My two (5 and 2 at last camp) might unzip their own compartment but only to come as far as ours and, it being a tent, we're hear them at pretty much the first movement anyway. I would say a bell if you're worried, but not a lock.