What’s your top camping item?

[WhoahThereCrazyHorse]

Just back from a cracking 3 nights’ camping, and pondering on the next trip.

What’s your top recommendation for one item that will make camping easier/better? We are non-electric campers, I’m considering a car plug in coolbox....

My towelling dryrobe. I wear it to the shower so I don't have to get dressed in there (and am dry by the time I get back), throw it on in the night to go to the loo, and wear it to/from the lake.

Ear plugs.

Lots ....
A thermal long sleeved top to sleep in!
A sun dress to pop on after a shower when you don’t have much room to move in a cubicle!
Flipflops for midnight loo trips.
Our best cooking item is our large George Foreman grill.... literally can cook loads on it.

Wee bags! An awesome invention for if you just can’t be arsed to go to the toilet.

A large wind break , keeps the wind off you ( obvs ) but also privacy.

Torch
Basic 1st aid , antihistamine, sun cream, plasters, sudocream etc
If you are using a gas bbq, take a disposable one too in case you have a issue with gas / bottle/ regulator/ pipe .( check coal BBQs are allowed on site ) baby wipes.

Theres loads more but I can't think of them right now.

A hotel!

I need to look up wee bags! Can I have two? Fire pit and a bucket to wee in at night so no trips to the loo. Although perhaps wee bags will solve this?!

How do you get a windbreak to stay up? For the life of me I can’t do it.

I have wee bags in the glove box.

down sleeping bag

non stick trangia stove run on gas
thermarest x therm sleep mat

A hanging light.

O am a non-EHU Cook-over-the-fire semi wild camper and my favourite items are;
Icey Tek cool box
Dutch oven for cooking in the fire
Pioneer Grill for cooking over the fire
and
Most recently my collapsible washing up bowl with handle for carrying stuff to the sink, if there is one. www.towsure.com/kampa-medium-collapsible-washing-bowl-with-handles?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhf7vn6Lk4QIVBbftCh2SWQVSEAQYDyABEgIGPfD_BwE

Solar string lights

Can you tell me more about thermarest? What’s the big deal with them?

A petrol stove.

Self inflating matresses

CMOTDibbler how small does the towelling dryrobe squish down ? I've seen them online before and they look fantastic for campsite showering, but I often hike with all my kit, and I wonder if it would end up taking up half my bag !

I've got two - for backpacking, drybags for EVERYTHING so that when it pours with rain you actually have some dry clothes to change in to.

For Guide camp and supervising on DofE expeditions - my baby fire pit (with foldable legs so it travels nicely in my teeny car)

Jetboil.

Two smaller cool boxes if going for longer trips. You can use one for every day things and the other for stuff that needs to keep colder for longer (eg meals for later in the week)

Yes to ear plugs

It depends if the sites allow fires - I don’t like cooking with gas - but pre cooked jacket potatoes which can be put in the embers and warmed up for dinner. Also pre cooked pasta is easy to reheat in a pan with some water, instead of cooking from scratch.

Enamel plates and mugs. No worries about breaks and you don’t have to use stuff from home.

Battery powered fairy lights to light up the outside of the tent at night. Makes it easier to find on the way back from loo breaks at night!

A picnic blanket for immediately outside the tent entrance. Gives you a place to wipe feet etc before coming in the tent.

Fleece blanket to wrap around outside on cool nights or an extra layer in bed

My lovely thick tent carpet is a real game changer. For second choice I'd have my comfy futon beds with real pillows and duvets.

Oh yes blankets! I prefer pure wool to fleece - they are fire retardant (?) and hold the best incredibly well

A hotel 😂

Sorry, tried camping and wasn’t for me, I always suggest having a room booked somewhere in case the tent leaks 🤣

*heat