to ask you all to sort out my camping list with me please?

[Diddydollydo]

DH has just called to say we are going camping. Tonight. We are going camping TO NIGHT. We have never been camping before but he has been to Go Outdoors and bought a stupidly large tent, sleeping mats and bags and other 'stuff' as he says. He's even booked a pitch somewhere.

What the bloody hell to I take? Have to DCs 8 and 6. I love his that he's so unpredictably but sometimes he can be just plain daft. HELP!

Well if you're like me, everything except the kitchen sink. :o

Camping Checklist

Aw man, this is going to be a nightmare isn't it! We're only going for two nights but we are camping virgins and I like to make lists for weeks and be organised etc. I feel very stressy!

First on your list is a promise never to shop in Go Outdoors again, they are awful.

Are you wild camping or going to a site? Are you planning on cooking your own evening meal or going out? I can tell you what WE take on an overnight camp but we are fairly minimalist!

What Kladd said.

Take some old duvets. Sleeping bags are all well and good but even in August it gets damn cold at night.

And cider. Lots and lots of cider.

That's a brilliant, if MASSIVE list. Thank you.

He says he's bought season 3 sleeping bags. I don't even know what that means. The vodka is already packed.

Tell me what you take Welsh, I need all the help I can get.

Put the tent up before you go a) to make sure you know how to do it and b) to make sure it came with enough tentpegs for every pegging point and guy line sometimes they don't, speaking from bitter experience

Last time we went I decided I was too tight to buy camping gas when we had a perfectly good bbq butane cannister we use for the BBQ. I kind of underestimated its size/volume though its fucking HUGE and had to stifle giggles watching helping DP wrestle it into the already packed-to-the-roof car. We looked like mentalists on the campsite too with that thing.

Never ran out of gas though.

Oh dear God, he's just sent a text to say it's a 10 man tent. There are FOUR of us I think he's lost his marbles completely this time.

Sorry. Can 't help with this one. Am used to sleeping in the back of an estate car though.

How many nights has he booked for?
If you have the tent, does it have a groundsheet with it, either built in or separate? Has he got mats or airbeds for under the sleeping bags?
You will need a chair or two for the adults and a picnic rug with waterproof backing and maybe some of those little chairs or wee stools for the children. Plan on doing your cooking outside the tent, all we do inside is sleep basically, even with a huge tent there just isn't much room to do anything else.
Get a couple of those big plastic garden buckets with the loop handles to keep stuff in.
You need a stove/Cobb/disposable barbecue for each day/gas burner to cook on and a cool box to keep meat/milk in.
You need at least a plate and a mug each, and assorted cutlery. A sharp knife, maybe a pair of scissors and matches/lighter/ Kitchen roll and wet wipes and lots of them. Bin bags galore, they come in handy for lots of things, take a full roll more than you think you will need - if you have to pack up wet, they will be invaluable.
Those cupshot noodle things that are made in the mug, and sachets of soup and hot chocolate. All the odds and ends that make crap food nice, sauce, salt n pepper, marshmallows, bananas and chocolate that sort of thing. Sauce pan and a frying pan. Washing up bowl and liquid and a dishcloth and teatowel. Towels for you all and a washbag with shower gel, teethbreesh etc.
Pillows and blankets, it will be cold at night. Use the back of the car as storage space during the day to avoid cluttering the tent. If it's an estate car, sit in the boot and cook.
Get a folding table to stand your cooker and stuff on when you make meals, it's much easier, and again, store it in the car in between times.
Glow sticks for the DCs, which double as nightlights.
Torches/lamps and batteries
Bucket for emergency night wees, preferably with a lid
Clothes to a minimum but include waterproofs if you have them (Go Outdoors do trouser/jacket sets for DCs for a tenner) wellies, woolies, then a couple of pairs of bottoms, tops, loads of socks, pants. Most campsites will have a washer and a drier if you need them.

Seasoned campers are going to point at us and laugh tonight aren't they?

Don't worry too much. Camping is great fun. The most important thing to remember is enough clothing and extra blankets to ensure you're all warm enough at night. Anything else you can manage without if you have too (even the tent )

Also, make a list of anything you do find you need but have forgotten for next time and keep a note of what you take but don't need so you can leave it behind next time.

TEN? not sure two adults will manage to pitch it Oh and the camp site may turn you away or make you pay for two pitches for the beast, you're supposed to tell them how big you are when you book... We get charged excess for being a little under 16sq metres in a five man...

camping mats are crap may aswell just sleep on floor!
sleeping bags pillows and blankets
camping stove
kettle
decent saucepans
cups & plates etc
gas refills for stove
torch
loo roll
warm clothing etc chilly at night and 1st thing in morning
extra shoes
go through putting tent up before you go

No, camping has a whole different feeling to it. Seasoned campers will help you put your tent up if you are struggling and show you how to light your gas stove. We're very 'all in it together' minded.

And buy a mallet each then the DCs can help peg!

Take 3 times the amount of socks you think your children will need!

10 man tent? Meh, we have a 10 man tent and a 4 man tent for 4 of us and 2 dogs. We even have heaters for them. :o

Ten?! haha OP at least you're going to have a good laugh putting it up. I'm all for massive tents though, I love the fact that ours has a massive 'porch' area we can stand upright in and have loads of space for all my unnecessary ladystuff essentials.

I agree with Kladd, don't be afraid to ask for help :)

Thank you all so much for your lists there are things on there I'd never even considered! He says he's told the site its a 10 man tent but I just think it's going to be really embarrassing.

I am going to man up, pack some stuff, and enjoy myself! Thanks again.

We even have heaters for them

Camping is great fun as long as you are not cold or wet. Overpack on things to combat those (sleeping bags are not enough - would also advise a single duvet across two of you and sleeping jumpers plus bed socks).

Everything else is desirable but not essential. You can eat out if you forget things/ borrow neighbours mallet etc but you must be dry and warm.

Lock the doors and refuse to go camping at anytime is a no no but suprise camping a BIG NO NO NO NO.