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Camping first time!!!

42 replies

TheOpalFox · 03/08/2025 19:45

Going camping for the first time for my 40th bday. Any tips lol I’m staying in a tent. Thankyou

OP posts:
Isseywith2witchycats · 03/08/2025 19:47

Look on the travel forum on here loads of tips and advice on there hope you enjoy your first camping experience

Mischance · 03/08/2025 19:51

Don't do it!!!

God I hated it!!!

5128gap · 03/08/2025 20:07

It drops very cold in the small hours. Take lots of warm stuff for sleeping even if the forecast is good. Simplify your dressing and grooming as much as you can. You don't want to be faffing around with elaborate routines in a field. Take flip flops for the shower. Wear gym wear as PJs so you can get straight up to the toilet without traipsing about in your dressing gown.

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 03/08/2025 20:07

Take plenty of alcohol.

Dartmoorcheffy · 03/08/2025 20:08

Take an immodium when you get there

WutheringBites · 03/08/2025 20:12

Invest in decent torches so you can find the toilet in the middle of the night

and I love those flippy carabiner clips that you can hook things like torches and lamps and towels and allsorts onto. Very handy and you don’t need the climbing ones

well. Unless you’re climbing…

Judellie · 03/08/2025 20:19

Stay at home instead would be my top tip. Camping is awful.

Tagyoureit · 03/08/2025 21:15

Dont!

Im a scouts volunteer and even i wont camp in a tent!!

No, never!

Lemniscate8 · 03/08/2025 21:22

I love it! But it is hardto adapt to as an adult if you have not done it before. Are your travelling by car? you need to make your bed as comfy as possible, good quality blow up mattress, and bring your duvet from home. If you are travelling by train, obviously you cant do that, and need to expect to find the nights difficult and uncomfortable at first. Dont give up! You will slepp on the third night, even if you have not slept before.

Camping with your kids is one of the best gifts you can give them. If they are used to it, you can just go anywhere in the country, use cheap sites, and it is the perfect low cost holiday. Go for campsites with playgrounds and camp to it, and kids will make friends instantly

ProudCat · 03/08/2025 21:32

Sleep is your number one friend. Airbeds are not - they conduct the cold from the ground straight into your body, and the heat from your body straight into the ground. If you have to sleep on one, put something hefty between you and the mattress, like a sheepskin or a rug.

Take a hot water bottle.

Take thermal pyjamas, the temperature can drop something awful.

Take a pillow.

Don't faff about with a million different hot drinks, herbal tea or hot chocolate, anything you can do in a cup without a fuss. Everything with as little fuss as possible. Pot Noodles, steaks you can throw straight on the grill (or disposable bbq), forget potatoes, roast corn instead. Stock up on those Innocent smoothie things, great in the morning when you feel like a badger's chuff.

Camping towels because they dry quickly. Flip flops for the bathroom. Your own toilet paper or baby wipes.

Take a first aid kit, annoying to not have a bit of Savlon and a plaster when you need it. Even more annoying to wake up with a banging hangover for the sake of a couple of paracetamol. Also useful, sachets of rehydration salts.

Wraps are easier to deal with than coats, just don't let it catch fire as you bend over a flame.

And a pretty dress. It's always nice to emerge from a tent looking like a princess in wellies.

DazedandConfused1234 · 03/08/2025 21:35

Headtorches are a good idea to leave your hands free to do other things. You can buy cheap ones at Millets or any camping shop.

Whatever you decide to sleep on - airbed, mat, campbed, whatever - make sure you have insulation below you, not just a sheet. Cold rises from the ground so a sleeping bag or blanket underneath your sheet or below the bed will make your night much warmer.

I'd say bring a bucket, plastic bin bag liner to line it and some nappies or cat litter to absorb liquid, to save leaving the tent for night time wees, but maybe that's a bridge too far for a first camping trip.

Warm clothes for the evenings and in bed. A hat in bed can be good to keep you warm on cold nights, but if you're camping soon, the weather has been pretty mild so you should be ok. Definitely bring your duvet and pillow if you're car camping.

Lots of wine and enjoy. Happy Birthday!

FortheloveofCheesus · 03/08/2025 21:37

Accept and enjoy that its all much easier if you ditch faffing with clothes/hair/makeup and go with the flow a bit. Everyone will be in tshirts & leggings and warm gear for evenings and early mornings.

Decent airbed & warm sleeping bag plus thermals as pjs if you are in the uk.

If you know you need a coffee to be civilised of a morning & the campsite doesn't have a shop or cafe, consider a little gas stove & an aeropress!!

Vodkamartini3olives · 03/08/2025 21:37

My camping essentials
Double height queen air bed
Duvet under the bottom sheet
Lots of alcohol for the evening
Shot of fireball with morning coffee
Thc gummies

Pippa12 · 03/08/2025 21:38

Electric hook up- it’s an absolute game changer. We go camping 3/4 times a year, I would not go without it- ever!!! Allows for a camping heater, kettle, electric airbeds, an air fryer… the list goes on.

If you haven’t got a pitch with a hook up, cancel it and book one with one!

FortheloveofCheesus · 03/08/2025 21:39

Oh god I'd say don't bother with hookup! What do people use them for?

We have a solar phone charger. We stopped bothering with a hookup years ago.

FortheloveofCheesus · 03/08/2025 21:40

We take a battery airbed pump, kettles etc go on the gas stove. Where the hell are you going to pack a bloody airfryer to go camping #missingthepoint

Wolfpa · 03/08/2025 21:43

Batch cook some food beforehand and freeze in a sandwich bag. This will help keep the rest of your food cool and will become a boil in the bag meal when you get there. My preference is a chilli and I will get boil in the bag rice to go with it.

Lemniscate8 · 03/08/2025 21:45

FortheloveofCheesus · 03/08/2025 21:39

Oh god I'd say don't bother with hookup! What do people use them for?

We have a solar phone charger. We stopped bothering with a hookup years ago.

you have a solar phone charge that works!! wow, link please! I've tried a couple but they have never been any good

IOYOYO · 03/08/2025 21:55

I’d buy/borrow a mattress that has an insulation foam inner - makes all the difference. I take a duvet, sheet and pillows. Have wool socks and hat for the night. A simple gas stove and kettle/espresso maker sorts the morning out. Don’t panic - camping is great! It’s not the same as staying inside so adjust expectations, enjoy the outdoors, campfires, midday beers and nice company! Bacon sandwiches are great for breakfast. Hope you have a great time

Icanflyhigh · 03/08/2025 22:12

TheOpalFox · 03/08/2025 19:45

Going camping for the first time for my 40th bday. Any tips lol I’m staying in a tent. Thankyou

Trade the tent for a camper van, eat out for every meal, take alcohol.
You'll love it!

Tagyoureit · 03/08/2025 22:32

There truly are some lovely tips on this thread, but i just cant get the advert of the cow sneezing into the tent out of my head when I think about camping!! Just, urgh, no!! Plus the toilet situation, I need 3 wees a night sometimes!

My ds is off with his camp group this week, his 4th camp and he loves it!

My DH is all for it, though ive never seen him pitch a tent in the 8 years we've been together, and my dd is a Glasto babe waiting to happen, forever partially dressed, wearing wellies and cant wait for daddy to put the tent up in the garden!!

Tagyoureit · 03/08/2025 22:36

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 03/08/2025 20:07

Take plenty of alcohol.

See, now this is can get aboard with.... til I need a pee! 😂

Hillarious · 04/08/2025 03:06

Been camping for over twenty years now. The game changer this year was taking a mattress topper for the air bed. Don’t bother with sleeping bags; take your duvet and pillows from home.

Thickasabrick89 · 04/08/2025 06:15

There are some right misery guts in this thread saying 'just don't bother'.Way to dampen someone's very fun sounding 40th.

I actually booked a last minute weekend for next weekend because i didn't want to stay at home 3 weekends in a row!!! We love it as a family but we also love 5 star all inclusives. They don't go hand in hand but we appreciate the break.

My advice is crocs or easy slip on sandals. You don't want to be faffing about with shoe laces every time you want to leave the tent!