Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you went camping this year, what are you doing differently next time?

16 replies

WhaleSharkBootySweat · 21/08/2023 07:29

No comments like 'staying in a hotel' please Wink
Every time I go camping I realise that it's something you get better at doing as time goes on. You learn more about how to make it comfortable. I'm someone who had no experience and used to just rock up with my Aldi £20 pop up tent and a sleeping bag.
Next year I'm going to get a proper air bed! Can't deal with sleeping on the ground. Also some tent pegs which don't have rounded ends that get bent.
I'm going to look out for some thicker sleeping bags as I was cold this year.
Replace fairy lights as it wasn't as magical with a big lamp thing.

OP posts:
DappledThings · 21/08/2023 07:32

Our biggest change this year was swapping the cool bag for an older style rigid cool box. Kept things tidier as well as cooler.

DH moved 2 years ago from an airbed to a proper camp bed and is much happier on that. I'm fine with an airbed.

CouldIBeAnymoreOuting · 21/08/2023 07:34

A sleeping bag with a softer, cotton inside. Hate the synthetic one I currently have.

distinctpossibility · 21/08/2023 07:37

We will be taking a sick bowl 😷and in not unrelated news, DS will be getting a new airbed and sleeping bag.

Other than that, I'll be taking a china mug for myself. It's just not the same from plastic or metal.

DIYandEatCake · 21/08/2023 07:39

We go camping often and my best buy was really good self-inflating mat - it’s a Vango Comfort 10, expensive but worth it. We take regular duvets and pillows instead of sleeping bags, and lots of layers for sleeping in. I take a set of 3 big plastic storage tubs (the kind that fit inside each other, for transport), packing stuff in the inside one and then in the tent they really help keep things tidy and clean. Sliders/crocs for at round the campsite, camping chairs and a picnic rug for outside, a big picnic rug for the floor inside the tent. Hard ground pegs are a good idea like you said. Lots of plastic bags/bin liners for dirty clothes/rubbish/random stuff. Instant hot chocolate and good instant coffee/coffee bags, lots of snacks.

asecretslob · 21/08/2023 07:41

I think there is a whole thread on this in the camping section

DappledThings · 21/08/2023 07:42

distinctpossibility · 21/08/2023 07:37

We will be taking a sick bowl 😷and in not unrelated news, DS will be getting a new airbed and sleeping bag.

Other than that, I'll be taking a china mug for myself. It's just not the same from plastic or metal.

Commiserations! Mine vomited in the car on the way there this year. He has now accepted that reading in the car is not currently possible for him.

We arrived at the campsite with him in pyjamas as the only clothes of his I could find on the tightly packed bags in a layby.

So extra pyjamas would also be a tip from me.

AnotherOneGone · 21/08/2023 07:43

CouldIBeAnymoreOuting · 21/08/2023 07:34

A sleeping bag with a softer, cotton inside. Hate the synthetic one I currently have.

If the sleeping bag is ok, buy a sleeping bag liner instead of replacing the bag. As you say, gives a nicer feel inside the bag, but also easier to wash and adds another layer of insulation on cold nights.

zebrapig · 21/08/2023 07:44

Rock pegs have been our game changer. Also, not taking too much stuff. Makes it easier to get it all back in the car when it's rain hung when you pack up!

travailtotravel · 21/08/2023 07:44

I don't need that many clothes! Warm bedding and the rest is all fine.

cakeorwine · 21/08/2023 07:45

We changed from taking our charcoal BBQ to a proper gas BBQ - a Cadac. Absolutely brilliant - and so easy to cook with.

We also got a decent fold up table and some decent chairs - we used to use a combined table and chairs set but this is so much better.

Skyblue92 · 21/08/2023 07:45

buy some more units for the kitchen tent and maybe look at a gazebo/utility tent so we don’t need to keep borrowing from family (although they don’t use it now). We got a new airbed this year - we tend to hook up to the electrics so ours now we plug it and it inflates in minutes and our cool box is now electric as well although that can go in the car if needed.

Alvinne · 21/08/2023 07:46

Thick self inflating mats are better insulated than air beds, so are warmer and personally i find yhem more comfortable than air beds. So maybe give that a go

MrsElsa · 21/08/2023 07:51

Was on the fence about portable loo but actually was a godsend to save time tramping back and forth to the shower blocks for wees. Not difficult to empty and clean on site.

Loved the vango 10 air mattresses, would have slept soundly if not for fidgety kids..

Better ear plugs, the ones I had irritated my ears. Thinking Boots might stock something better.

Maybe an extra table to make a kitchen area, but tables are tricky to pack.

MrsElsa · 21/08/2023 07:51

Vango 10 is a SIM sorry !

Wisenotboring · 21/08/2023 08:13

We didn't have a vomiting episode, but I do recommend buying the special sick bags with granules in that absorb the sick. I have those and cardboard sick bowls after years of frantically emptying plastic bins when the children are ill!
We took duvets and pillows which felt much nicer than sleeping bags. Plastic tubs for shoes and coats are always a winner.

Kilopascal · 21/08/2023 08:17

MrsElsa · 21/08/2023 07:51

Was on the fence about portable loo but actually was a godsend to save time tramping back and forth to the shower blocks for wees. Not difficult to empty and clean on site.

Loved the vango 10 air mattresses, would have slept soundly if not for fidgety kids..

Better ear plugs, the ones I had irritated my ears. Thinking Boots might stock something better.

Maybe an extra table to make a kitchen area, but tables are tricky to pack.

My camping table fits under the boot flap in the back of my car (where the spare wheel goes). Might that work?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page