If you are a seasoned camper, what would you recommend to a complete novice?

[AmbivalentCamper]

I'm very new to the 'great outdoors' thing. But my DH is very pro the idea of camping and wants the experience for the kids, and I'm happy to accommodate his desire, so I have agreed to a weekend where we go camping (providing it's not throwing it down.)

We have a tent, a stove and a kettle (given rather than bought, which is what's kicked off this whole episode.) . Cooking/eating apparatus, folding garden chairs and an air bed.

But as a camper, what would you recommend? (Either buying or adapting etc)

I feel like camping is probably one of those things where you upgrade and find your groove over time and experience, but I also would like to be prepared.

Any help gratefully appreciated 😁

A large luxury motorhome or caravan. Failing that, a large box of wine.

Always get electric hook up.
Get the best beds you can afford. We binned off air beds years ago and now have camp beds with 10cm SIMs which are super comfy.
Take pillows from home.
If you plan to cook in the tent batch cook things like spaghetti bol or chilli etc and freeze then take them with you frozen. They will keep the cool box cold and thaw for you to reheat.
Take plenty of bin bags and toilet rolls
Leave shoes in your porch so you’re not trailing mud in the tent
Take layers for night time. We take fleecy pjs and fluffy socks, sleeping bags and extra blankets incase it’s cold

Get electric hook up and take a heated blanket.
A bin liner inside a bucket lined with nappies for night time.

Pegs to dry towels swimming costumes to guys ropes to dry.

Tea towels

Windbreaks around your cooking area you can also throw towels over them

Swing ball for the kids

Walkie talkies so kids can go to the on site shop for milk say

Plain digestive biscuits

First aid kit

How much space do you have in your car? We dont go now but we had a bell tent, wood stove, awning, carpets, sunloungers to put the mattresses on so that you're not right on the floor, hot water bottles, folding kettle, folding washing up bowl, folding storage for inside the tent, toilet and pump action shower thing (water heated by stove)

We were incredibly comfortable, however its heavy stuff and hard work and none of it stopped the rain and mud getting everywhere no matter how careful we were and when it was really windy the awning is a nightmare.

Sold it all in the end.

theboudiccaofsuburbia I absolutely swear by the tins from Lidl Greek week! One of my camping staples is jacket potatoes in the fire, halloumi and a tin of the green beans in tomato sauce.

You are right that wood on campsites is very expensive, and isn't that why the Good Lord provides Forestry Commission plantations? 😉

I go to bed in my hooded dressing gown with the hood up as my top layer. This saves waking up at 2am with a freezing head/face, and means I'm ready to go if toilet trips are required. I also prefer taking my duvet and pillows rather than a sleeping bag.

2 tarps one for ground and 0ne for lean to
ropes for wet clothes and leanto builting
small cast iron skillet small pan for liquids

2 metal coffee cups use as soup bowls
cooking spoon or chop sticks
my dog in case there are wild animals dog will tell you

no not plug in ears or cover eyes
you need to hear and see quickly
fish hooks and some line for fish
headlamp and torch and matches or a lighter

in the states there are wild animals and you need to know if they are there
change of clothes bbots and lots of sox
why take pjs ??
these are not actual campers
sleepovers🙄

first day put leanto first
put up line to keep sleeping bags off the ground until used
one inside the leanto and one outside for wet stuff

gather wood built fire pit set up a big rock to cook on
bottle of water 1liter minimum per every day per person
dry food like rice cakes coffee

trail mix small bottle oil cooking fish ,chunk cheese for protien
pieces of foil fold up for other cooking over fire
it it does not fit on my motorcycle saddlebags it goes not go
dog sits on the back in a plastic box she carries her own food and water
atleast one book no screens
i know that you not going to do but someone needs to school people about actual camping
are loud
first aid kit
period pants
duck tape extra batteries
whistle we use the boat ones very loud

taking little ones each get their one whistle and teach it is not a toy

I think it's important to understand that "actual camping" can mean different things to different people (I'm also aware this may be somewhat tongue in cheek, and if so, I apologise).
I used to be a "the wilder the better, if I can't carry it on my back it's not coming" expedition campers. Then I got ill and became an ambulatory wheelchair user, and now camping involves an electric hookup, a camp bed, and camping chairs. There are still things that are unnecessary to me, but may be necessary or even desirable for others. It really made me reevaluate the "harder is better" mindset of outdoor pursuits and consider that it's best that people can enjoy the outdoors in a way that works for them, as long as they are respectful of the environment and other people.

Surely there is more areas of grey than that even, we were often viewed as 'glampers' with our set up but we never went anywhere with electric or toilets/showers, so although we had the massive tent and all fancy furnishings/shower/toilet/carpets/stove etc etc, it was all necessary because we were literally just in a field, we didnt like places where there were any mod cons.

Yes!
And what about Scout camps?
We used to set up in a field, hire a portaloo and bathe in the lake (or sometimes visit a nearby campsite for an activity midweek and get permission to use their showers). But we had tents plus dining shelter plus marquee with benches and tables and gas stoves and a generator etc etc. A lot of people would take Scout Camps as a sort of blueprint of youth camping, and we definitely used a lot of kit.

Absolutely! I have 2 sets of camping kit, which generally don’t mix… one for family campsite, long stay comfort camping. The other for wild, walking in to the hills, carry everything on my back camping. I would NEVER have a fire in the 2nd option as the uk wilds is too fragile.

petermaddog is bang to rights actually.

We had a hedgehog invade our tent in Cornwall once.

Still traumatised 😆

A she wee and or slip on shoes for everyone for loo visits

If you are partial to a vino don't drink too much as waking up in a tent feeling hung over is hell

My only advice would be don't.

But I hated everything about camping so I acknowledge that I am not the person you want to hear from. 🤣🤣

Of you are in the UK, you 100% do not need a dog or any other measures to be notified of wild animals.
Worst case scenario, you wil have fox sniffing around your tent at 1am or a crow picking your litter at 5am.

If it is your first time camping go for 2 nights so you can see how you manage.
And get food that can be eaten as is or reheated (cans, aldi meatballs etc) in case it is raining you don't want to starve bcs you cannot cook.
And yes, get extra clothes as you will be cold and/or it will get wet.

You will be surprised how little you can pack in normal car btw

Electric hookup for charging phones and a heated blanket.

oodies

Flip flops for the showers.

Yip indeedy,nice comfy bed, shower, breakfast...I hated camping with a passion.

Earplugs to block out the wood pigeons incessant cooing at 5am

A mat for whenever your air bed develops a slow puncture and you wake up lying on hard ground on a deflated air bed.

The only wild animals I’ve had problems with are New Forest ponies - there ar some great Forestry Commission sites down there but they do warn you not to leave food out. Waking in the early morning to hear something chomping grass a few inches away from your ear is quite unnerving.

I helped at Cub Camp for many years and it’s nothing but happy memories. This thread is making me want to get my tent out again!

If you are wanting to ease yourself into camping try a youth hostel site. Use of the kitchen and fridges but can still have a campfire in the evening and a dry lounge if it is chucking it down. It's a hybrid version of camping and when we were complete novices a great way to get started.

Get a campervan!
The hassle of getting your gear set up just for a weekend, and then packing it away damp, is honestly not worth it. I say this as a seasoned camper.