Top tips for camping virgin (with someone I rather fancy)

[Incipit]

Haven't ever been proper camping, and now going this weekend, for 6 nights. The friend I was to share a tent with has had to pull out, but she's lending me her gear. I still want to go because it's with a friendship group which includes a man I've been lusting over and have had very few opportunities to spend time with. So I don't want to look a complete incapable eejit. specially as I've got to drop DC off for their far more exciting holiday with my parents first, so will be arriving way later than everyone else.

I'm collecting the tent etc this evening and will practice putting it up. What else can I do in advance?

The weather forecast is for 23 degrees most days, but thunderstorms some days. Usually I pack light for holidays but I'm guessing I need plenty of layers and getting things dry will be difficult? Does it get chilly at night? Do people go to the showers/toilets in a dressing gown or a coat?

Basically any top tips will be gratefully received, and don't assume anything is too basic to need to be stated

Kitchen stuff - mini bottle of oil, ketchup, salt and pepper etc, sugar for porridge. Washing up liquid, cloth/sponge and tea towel or two.

Bag or box to pop your shoes in at the door, as you’ll be constantly taking them off and putting them on!

For the end of your trip use your towel to dry off the tent before putting it away so it doesn’t go mouldy. Or take an old towel you don’t mind getting a bit mucky.

Handy hints for putting up tent and putting away. Keep the zips closed when you put it up, to make sure it’s all taut and properly straight. Then open up the tent to air it out on the last morning and keep doors and vents open when you’re folding it down to pack away to let all the air out. I tend to lie down on it and roll around to push all the excess air out!

Tomato ketchup (or brown sauce if you must), essential for camping breakfasts.
Dustpan & brush - I can’t stand bits of grass all over my tent floor.
Bag of pegs - loads of uses.
Try to be organised with what you put back in the car once you’ve got your tent up - you can spend ages looking for the little tent peg bag when it’s time to pack up.
Large plastic box (ideally with lid) for storing anything that isn’t clothing. I don’t like an untidy tent !

Haha, of course MN is the place for sex-in-tent tips
I now have a massive list, headed by “find a big bag - not suitcase” and “condoms or not??” Those are tomorrow’s dilemma’s.

I apologised on the group chat about my late arrival and camping inexperience and the man I like was the first to reply so between that and all the advice I’m going to bed feeling a lot less anxious than I did earlier.

@StarryStarrySocks Any other time I’d have taken that advice, but I’ve not been anywhere but my house and my workplace for well over a year so even a camping holiday feels exciting right now

I'm now a seasoned camper (caravan in last few years, though) and my essentials are coffee, good pjs (tend to spend a lot of time in the morning messing about with breakfast in my PJs), good chair, alcohol, and snacks are really important as pp have said. Be the hero by cracking open a big bag of chips and dips while the bbq is being lit.

Oh and try not to let yourself get cold. Once you lose the heat in your body, it's hard to get warmed up again. Layers, hoodies, hats (hats also great for hiding 3rd day camping hair).

Music?

Op, there’s a gorgeous book called The Happy Campers by Kat Hayes, filled with lovely ideas. Inexpensive on Amazon.

The pop up tent will probably fold by twisting it in a figure of 8 shape. I’d definitely go for space if you can though.

These are brilliant. Insulated mug and cafetiere in one. Use mine every day, whether at home or camping. Also, I always take loads of eggs and bread rolls, ketchup and brown sauce when I camp with friends. Pretty much everybody is pleased to see a fried egg roll after a night outdoors, it's dead quick and easy like a production line, and all your work for the day is done by about 9am. And only 1 pan to wash.

www.amazon.co.uk/Bodum-Travel-Press-Coffee-Maker/dp/B0042RU4X0/ref=asc_df_B0042RU4X0/?hvlocphy=1006565&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=256191362105&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-349937163825&hvrand=2906936563391814967

Fair enough Incipit! . Don't say I didn't warn you. I mean, have a great time and I hope you get your man!

As other posters have already mentioned, fairy lights are very important. I would also add glow sticks to this as they are great fun of an evening - you can usually pick them up in the Poundshop. I never go camping without them. You can also get glow in the dark tent pegs but that might be an investment for a future camping trip if this one is a success.

I also like my walking sandals when camping as we usually end up doing loads of walks and it's nice to be comfy.

Estimate how much booze you will need and then pack extra just in case. There's nothing worse than running out of alcohol, especially if up chatting until the small hours!

Ooooh and Magic Fire is quite fun if it's a site where you can have campfires. Spare lighters and matches too as these always go missing in the dark.

A pack of cards or game for the evening too.

Port and a cheeseboard is also amazing if there is a big group of you . . .

And I love my Swiss army knife! Obviously not essential but it's the only time I get to use a few of the tools except the scissors and tweezers!!!

Have fun! I have total camping envy right now.

Someone mentioned keeping valuables in the car... any that aren't in your car, and the car keys, put under your pillow when you go to bed. The one time I forgot (at a festival) I woke up to find all of my cash for the weekend had gone

Shut the box! Always take shut the box.

And tape to tape the glow sticks to your body like a stick man for dark dancing drunken games

Port and a cheeseboard is also amazing if there is a big group of you

Nicking that idea, thanks @VonWeasel

www.bellababy.co.uk/potette-plus-grey-white.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIscj765v18QIVyJrVCh2RywKlEAQYBCABEgKDYPD_BwE

Designed for toddlers but they have removal disposable bags in them just wee into them and get rid and the pottette just folds up with the pack of liners - job done

Also battery operated tea lights/ fairy lights might make it nice along with some nice wine 🍷

Immodium, no one wants the shits in a tent.

Your own pillow makes all the difference
A little table too.
Sun hat and sun cream
Hammam towels really big and soft dry really quick.
And embrace the reality that you're bound to have forgotten something!

The only absolute essentials apart from tent, sleeping stuff, food, clothes etc are chair and torch/lantern. I’ve had such a bad back from backpacking and camping with no chair and obviously it gets very dark.

Best things I’ve ever taken camping -

1. A maaaaasive hoodie or 3 to wear with leggings as pjs and sit out in at night
2. Fixings to make margaritas or whatever your favourite cocktail is
3. Deck of playing cards and travel scrabble
4. Folding table for bedside
5. Filter coffee and a cafetière
6. A cosy blanket big enough to wrap you and a ‘friend’ in
7. A pair of cheap flip flops for night time toilet trips and going to the shower

My tips:
• Engineer a way to get Mr Shagworthy to help you put up the difficult tent.
• Take wellies for early morning/middle of the night trips to the loo (keeps your feet & the bottom of your PJs dry in the dew!). Crocs or similar in the day - they also protect your toes from being stubbed on tent pegs
• Take a proper pillow and duvet though these are a bit lightweight camper. I felt like I was cheating the first time I did this which is ridiculous! Sleeping bags are usually warmer than a duvet, but it's SO much nicer, and easier to get out in the night.
• Take marshmallows. Not just for kids
• Take a coffee plunger. If it's big enough, you'll be everyone's friend when you share it around.

• Head torch = free hands
• Swiss army knife!

Have fun

This game is brilliant for a group.

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/compact-finnish-skittle-game//R-p-326791?mc=965493&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=SurfacesForGoogle&utm_content=965493-4094187&iv=iv_p_1_g_64518333258_c_316344235439_w_pla-329717981462_n_g_d_c_v__l__t__r_x_pla_y_15177021_f_online_o_965493-4094187_z_GB_i_en_j_329717981462_s__e__h_1006565_ii__vi&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIz9KOyqD18QIVSAsGAB1SMArrEAQYASABEgLayvD_BwE

Do not....I repeat, do not take a guitar. It seriously pisses other campers off.
I always pee round the back of the tent at night.
Flip flops for the showers.

@TheFoundations - that's the best camping game! I recommended it on a camping thread the other day.

Coffee bags for coffee - as easy as tea bags, and the coffee tastes really nice like cafetière coffee.
Can’t make the link work but I like these bones:
Moreish Coffee Bags - Smooth Colombian Fairtrade (50 Single Origin Coffee Bags)

Ones. Not bones.

Dont go mad with coffee. I went camping with a tent stove so kept getting coffees on, didnt sleep for 2 days. On that subject dont be a sleep matyr, tthings like tiredness/hangovers/illness seem amplified when camping so sleep plenty, even in the day if you have to.

Def the large tent, helps with keeping the wall between dry/damp & clean/ grubby.

Def take proper pillows and duvet, my first camping trip with then dB was magic!

Can you beg borrow or steal a rucksack. I don't give a toss what anyone thinks, but could not go camping with a suitcase. Just no.

Start training your bladder now! I had no idea so many women got up in the night to wee?! Then make sure you go twice before sleep, maybe once when you first think of going to bed, and then again just before you sleep?

Music, chocolate, book etc. You really want to be able to enjoy a couple of hours off from everyone if you've not had much peace recently.

Have a lovely time

Hmm. Lusting. You might need to read through this

www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=3&TopicID=153928