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Camping Essentials

55 replies

Oysterbabe · 23/02/2023 19:42

I haven't been camping since Reading Festival 20 years ago. All the families at DC's schools are obsessed and go all the time. We've swerved it until now but have agreed to go on a camping weekend in a few months with 30 (!) other families from the school. DC are 5 and 7 and I know they'll have so much fun spending a weekend in a field with their friends. Seasoned campers, help me. What do I need to buy?

OP posts:
Whambamthankumam · 23/02/2023 19:44

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FrenchTrellis · 23/02/2023 20:10

I love camping!

Good thermals for night-time, plus a beanie hat. I always take a hot water too. I would rather wake up too hot than too cold! Any eye mask if you're not taking a beanie.

A little camping stove and kettle so you can fill said hot water bottle/have a brew.

Cool bag for drinks/food. I usually freeze a 2L bottle of water and that keeps contents cool for a couple of days, depending how warm the tent gets in the day

Lollypop701 · 23/02/2023 20:21

Porta loo (loo roll!), good sleeping bags, blow up beds, stove kettle and pans. Beans, hot dogs, pasta in a cup. Table n chairs

sliders /crocs for tent and shower so shoes don’t make a mess. Clothes that will layer . Waterproofs .

dry hair shampoo, face wipes and baby wipes, mirror and ALCOHOL (plus complete don’t give a bugger attitude)

enjoy!

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RedCarsGoFaster · 23/02/2023 20:33

30 families...... OMG.

Well, assuming you are starting from scratch - tent with a large enough central area for you to store all the crap you'll take / space to get dressed in.

Decide whether you're buying sleeping bags or just taking bedding. For a first trip, I'd just take duvets and pillows. Add blankets - it can get cold even in summer, but you'll be sweating as soon as the sun comes up unless your tent has blacked out bedroom areas. Layers are good.

Beds - some sort blow up bed is usually good. I put normal fitted sheets on ours.

Something to sit on - chairs become a luxury after a few days if you only take blankets to sit on.

Keep cooking simple. I have a small gas canister-powered single hob, travel kettle, frying pan and one pot to cook in. I can still manage a fry up on it and make a brew. Portable or disposable BBQs are good, but check the rules for the site you're going to as the rules do vary - sometimes you have to use a centralised BBQ area.

You'll want plastic plates etc for food. A bowl or bag to carry washing up to and from the wash up place (assuming there is one).

Drinks - keep plenty on hand along with easy snacks etc which take minimal preparation.

Whiskers4 · 23/02/2023 20:47

You might be able to borrow some things so ask around. Definitely air beds to keep you off the ground. A torch, tealights. A camping stove for hot drinks - hot chocolate goes down with children in the evening. If you have any blankets, handy for wrapping yourself in, putting over legs or bedding if cold.

Sun lotion. If wet, wellies are handy for children and extra pairs as ours always seem to get wet.

Crossiants/brioche/fruit are great for a simple breakfast that does require icebox or heating.

PizzaPastaWine · 23/02/2023 20:57

Coffee bags.

Own pillow.

Electric hook up.

emmathedilemma · 23/02/2023 21:05

Gin, ear plugs and a blackout eye mask

mindutopia · 23/02/2023 21:07

Tent, sleeping mats, sleeping bags unless you can bring duvets. Maybe small gas hob to cook breakfast/make coffee on. Some chairs. That’s really about it. We camp a lot including hike in/out wild camping with small dc and you really don’t need much. I would assume you’ll be doing dinners as a group but maybe ask what you can bring.

StillMedusa · 23/02/2023 21:08

Borrow everything that you can, in case you hate it.

As a seasoned camper, who isn't a natural camper...

ELECTRIC HOOKUP!!
That way you can take a little fan heater (leave it on low all night.. no damp and a nice warm tent) and plug ins.. lamps, toaster, kettle, microwave (no I'm not kidding Grin

Decent sleeping bag . Something to cook on unless you take the microwave!

Warm layers.. we always have throws for sitting out in the evenings.

Something to sit on, eat and drink out of.

It's fun if you are warm and dry!

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 23/02/2023 21:10

What kind of camping? Literally in a field with no services or at a campground with toilets, shower-block and close to shops?

mickybarrysmum · 23/02/2023 21:24

Wine, baby wipes, cook and freeze things like chilli that will slowly defrost in your cool bag and keep your beer cold 🙌 eye mask painkillers lots of spare socks corkscrew proper wine glass big snuggly jumper and blanket.

bravotango · 23/02/2023 21:31

Big pot of something like chilli to heat through on your first night
Extra layers for everyone
Stove - preferably two burner
Proper coffee! Caffetierre or stove top
Baby wipes
Small bin bags and one large one for the last day
Gardening clogs for in the tent
Outdoor games - Finnish skittles or boules are good
Then the usual gear - sleeping bags, beds, torches, hanging washbag

Slimjimtobe · 23/02/2023 21:32

marshmallows and chocolate biscuits and Skewers /steel bucket to make a fire pit .. yum

we take uht milk and a flask / camping stove and gas if we’ve no electric

blow up beds and sleeping bags

I usually take wellies (ankle ones)

earplugs - it can be noisy at night

dry shampoo (as said) quick dry towels

bunting and fairy lights if that’s your thing

little radio or Bluetooth speakers

Slimjimtobe · 23/02/2023 21:33

Oh yes a bat and ball
cards or uno

Napmum · 23/02/2023 21:36

Don't bring duvets loads of people do and normally it's fine but they spread and touch the sides. If it rains hard and the sides of the tent are touched, the rain comes straight through, and a duvet takes ages to dry.

Do try to borrow stuff if you can it can costs hundreds to buy everything.

Torches and laods pf spare batteires. Camping lantern or battery powered fairy lifts to light up tent. Sleeping bags stay wrapped up and are water resistant on the outside, so even if the tent leaks they're normally OK.

You'll need a cook box for food that needs to be cold. Some frozen meat for the 2nd pr 3rd day (you might still need to defrost so be careful). Meat for first day, dry food stuff, milk, and stuff that's easy to snack on (some good suggestions above).

A camping stove and fuel. Tent, inflatable roll mat or air bed depending on tent height. Camping Chairs, camping kettle, saucepans or frying pan to cook on. A flat surface, either a table or at least a cheap tray, to chop food on. Trays have lips to stop the food rolling away when chopping so better than a chopping board. Something to do the washing up in (some sites have a sink you can use but check). Washing up liquid and tea towel. Clothes and washing stuff for you and everyone, go for stuff that can be layered it cma be freezing at night. I have worn multiple tops and two jumpers before. Blankets for extra warmth and to sit on or put toys on for kids to play with. Entertainment (books and travel games etc) and possibly a battery-powered charger for phones depending on how often you need to charge yours.

Dry food and instant coffee/tea bags.

Spare toilet roll if your using the toilets on site, although you might prefer a porta Potty at night. And if you drink booze and lots of it.

I also suggest asking the other parents what they would bring and what they end up doing.

EyesOnThePies · 23/02/2023 21:38

Sit down with your best friends from the camping group and ask them about the site, how they do it and what you need.

Essentially it is tent, something to sleep on, stuff to keep warm, and a means to feed yourselves.

Think through your likely day, and what you need.

Is there a washing up sink? Take a washing up bowl with a selection of your plastic / picnic ware.

A folding table if you have it. Picnic chairs.

A supermarket 5l flagon of water, to keep refilling.

Wipes. Lots of wipes.

Lanterns and torches.

If each family does their own catering plan simple meals for now. Brioche rolls and fruit. Tinned food. Pouches (microwave rice can be heated through in a pan).

Towels. T towel.

I take a cafetière and fresh coffee and a bottle of red wine.

Frankley · 23/02/2023 21:41

Don't forget matches. And keep them dry.

Itisbetter · 23/02/2023 21:41

Torches
water bottles for the kids, gin/beer or you
pop up chairs and picnic blankets
blow up paddling pool for all the kids toys
a utility tent with a kampakazzi or don’t go too far from the toilet block because you have to walk them back and forth all night
a gazillion snacks
bin bags
tracksuit for sleeping in
first Aide essentials particularly plasters and calpol
a flag/fairy lights so you can find your tent
hot choc and squirty cream
park so you can get out and remember fish and chips are allowed

DifficultBloodyWoman · 23/02/2023 21:43

Are you insane???

Sorry, that’s probably not helpful but it is my first reaction. 30 families is my idea of hell. Although, I suppose it would mean the kids are entertained.

I’d bring booze. Lots of it. The good stuff. Then you can barter/bribe/borrow anything you need from the other families.

Trust me when I say there will be a lot of people who are in your shoes in terms of experience and absolutely dreading this.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 23/02/2023 21:45

A mud mat for wellies etc
Lanterns as well as torches (beanie torches are great).
Power banks with loads of charge
Ready beds with pumps
Bin bags or carrier bags for rubbish
Cooler box
Plates/cups etc
Glowsticks (kids love em!)
Chairs
Picnic blanket
All the loo roll!
First aid kit

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 23/02/2023 21:45

Wellies/sliders/crocs for late night wees

NeedSomeSpace · 23/02/2023 21:46

Easy to get out of PJs for the kids and easy to slip on shoes. Both required for quick toilet trips in the morning. Onesies are a pain for this. Plus a torch. Keep them all near the door so you can go go go quickly!!

You want layers to wear in the evenings including warm coats. It can get cold quite quickly. Hats can be useful at bedtime in the spring and definitely bed socks.

Boxes for kids crap are also helpful (we have cheap pop up fabric ones). You can then just sling everything in to stop it getting lost. Consider some sort of box/hanging pocket to put your car keys, wallet and phone in. These are also very easy to lose. Pick a place and use it.

Oinkypig · 23/02/2023 21:47

Wine/alcohol/snacks/tent/more blankets/duvets/sleeping bags than you think possible. Bring only one change of clothes for children, either it’ll be so soggy and wet you end up with a still damp child and 10 sets of clothing if you bring more so what’s the point or they refuse to change from what they arrive in so what’s the point.

Torch and power banks for phones so you can Amazon anything else. I do love camping but I find you never really bring what you need no matter how much you plan…. Warm at night and snacks are the most important!

MrsRobinsonsHandprints · 23/02/2023 21:49

Alcohol, more alcohol and some more for good measure.

MyBloodyMaryneedsmoreTabasco · 23/02/2023 21:49

Dustpan and brush.

Bloody hate camping, best of British Flowers

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