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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

your top 5 camping items...

78 replies

thisisyesterday · 21/02/2011 20:28

what five things could you not do without? or, do you lust after?

i've already been brainwashed into a dutch oven... does anyone use one?? if so i'd love some recipes Wink

but what else do i reeeeeeeeeeally need?

I should add, that I am not a camping virgin, we camped all the time when i was little, and we've camped a few times over the last few years but we seem to need to take everything we own with us and I am looking to replace certain things with more user-friendly (smaller) alternatives

and I also just want to peruse camping websites

OP posts:
Jojay · 21/02/2011 20:31

Ready Beds, esp for young kids who fall off airbeds.

Proper camping saucepans that nest inside each other.

Fold up cooker / kitchen stand. Takes up hardly any space in the car, and saves trying to cook on the floor.

A decent lantern for evenings.

Umm, can't think of a fifth Grin

plonkerr · 21/02/2011 20:35

Snug-warm-as-toast sleeping bag

Heater Blush

Hot water bottle

Thermal socks/thick fleeces

(can you sense a theme ...?)

Kettle

Original poster
thisisyesterday · 21/02/2011 20:39

ok gimme makes as well if you can! lol

decent lantern is a good idea, we had issues with that last time... dp is insistent that we have LED wind-up ones Hmm but i need one that actually gives some light out

plonkerr, what kind of heater do you have?

OP posts:
plonkerr · 21/02/2011 20:48

We have three.

Two portable gas heaters with gas canisters (left one at home then discovered that I cannot camp without one so sent longsuffering dh on a 20 mile round trip out to find another one) and an electric low wattage one for when we go ehu. Not sure of the make, it's one of those flat square ones that cut off if it falls over.

ThreeBubbasAndManyBumps · 21/02/2011 20:50

headtorches
dry socks
two-hob cooker
insulated tea cups
woolly beanie

(btw couldn't help but :o at dutch oven 'cos that to me means farting under the duvet and keeping it in and putting said duvet over DP's head!! Blush :o)

sassyTHEFIRST · 21/02/2011 20:51

Silk liner for my sleeping bag
flask - we put boiling water in after tea then don't have to faff about with re-boiling kettle for cocoa at bedtime
headtorch for reading in bed
alcohol
corkscrew

LimeJellyforBrains · 21/02/2011 20:56

  1. Tent
  2. Poles
  3. Pegs
  4. Mallet
  5. Sleeping bag

Sorry! Couldn't resist! Grin

I have found that gas lanterns give out a much nicer toned light (warm, yellow) than electric ones (cold, blue). LEDs very bright white.

Something I would lust after would be a trailer so I could fill it with even more lovely camping fripperies necessities!

Original poster
thisisyesterday · 21/02/2011 21:06

threebubbas "(btw couldn't help but at dutch oven 'cos that to me means farting under the duvet and keeping it in and putting said duvet over DP's head!! )"

THAT'S what I said last night on the thread when someone first mentioned them"!!!

OP posts:
ThreeBubbasAndManyBumps · 21/02/2011 21:34

:o :o [very childish emoticon] :o :o

pongonperdy · 22/02/2011 08:18

Head torch
Toilet roll
Warm socks and hats
Matches
Spare batteries

These are things we have forgottwn in the past which have led to rows.

GooseyLoosey · 22/02/2011 08:19

A hotel room.

(I hate camping with a passion)

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 22/02/2011 08:30

Lovely thick sleeping bags

Thermal everything: undies, socks, hat, gloves, coat.

Portaloo.

Decent headtorches with spare batteries.

A really big car!! We have just bought a Ford Galaxy which hopefully should see us alright without the ds's drowning in luggageGrin

ivykaty44 · 22/02/2011 08:37

cafetiere
ground coffee

towelling dressing gowns for each person in camping party - use these to go to shower block and shower as then you just hang the gown on the hook whilst you shower, dry and slip back on the gown and walk out. You don't spend ages in small shower with one hook and no where to put your clothes trying to balance said clothes and getting wet knickers when they drop on the wet shower floor. Then dress back in the comfort of your own zipped up tent.

One shower bag with big hook stuffed with shower gel and shampoo and deodarent - everyone can use this then have anyother one bag with everyones tooth stuff tooth brushes

Grumpla · 22/02/2011 08:39

Proper pillows
Gas lantern
Cooler that plugs into the car / runs off a battery
Thermal shower and a washing up bowl big enough to sit DS in.
Comfy folding chairs!

flatmouse · 22/02/2011 08:48

Bit off topic - but saw a film a while ago - can't remember details - but one of guys in it worked doing advertising and he had this inflatable sofa.

We actually had to rewind the film to watch it again - and thought it'd be hysterical to take one camping when we go with friends to inflate sofa and sit on it watching them put their tent up! (obv joking about as we do help each other!)

So - where can i get one???

For me:

  1. toasty sleeping bag
  2. enough storage - can't abide having things "out" in tent
  3. little toaster - saves messing with grill (we tend to go EHU)
  4. extra blankets (see 1)
  5. hot water bottle (see 1)
Slubber · 22/02/2011 09:34

Argh

Only 5

mmm

Delta pegs
Clingons
Spare guys
Thermarests
Down sleeping bags

The clingons and spare guys pretty much never come out of the box but I'm a happier camper knowing I have them.

Slubber · 22/02/2011 09:35

Flatmouse ta daaa The Inflatable Loveseat

Slubber · 22/02/2011 09:37

AND it has a convenient cupholder

MisSalLaneous · 22/02/2011 09:56

That must be one of the ugliest things I've seen in ages. Followed closely by moonchair.

My five essentials would be:
Self inflating mattress
Storm kettle
Firelighters (not essential really, but makes everything else so much easier)
Old blanket to drape around me when sitting at fire for ages [old woman]
insulated mug for coffee

As 3) and 4) not new equipment purchases, I'll cheat with two other:
Good lantern to hang in tree / tent
Those squashable bucket things you get at hardware stores. Works for everything from washing dishes to impromptu toddler bath / pool. Obv disinfect in between! :)

Slubber · 22/02/2011 10:26

Sal, you can only boil water in the storm kettle can't you? Can you cook anything in it?

sassyTHEFIRST · 22/02/2011 10:30

Sal are you sallystrawberry? If so your new name rocks! (If not, your name rocks anyway Wink)

PoledrathePissedOffFairy · 22/02/2011 10:31

Spare guys, Slubber? I'm not sure DH would be too happy if I brought along some spare guys Grin

And you don't even let them out their box! Shock

MisSalLaneous · 22/02/2011 10:42

Thanks sassyTHEFIRST. No, I'm not sallystrawberry - she's a more oldtimer, more proper. :) When I chose my name, I obviously didn't know about her - I don't think we posted on same topics then, as I only realised she's got a well-established name after I've been on here for a year or two. If it helps, it's actually part of my name.

MisSalLaneous · 22/02/2011 10:44

Slubber, I only boil water in it. You're supposed to be able to grill and cook stuff with these accessories, but to be honest, I'm not convinced, so haven't bought any. I guess if you were going into the mountains, it would be useful as won't add much weight, but for camping I think there are better options.

Slubber · 22/02/2011 10:49

Poledra heh heh I must start putting the word ropes after guys as you are the second poster who thinks I have said I need extra men to assist me on a camping trip.

pah!

Just to clarify dh is allowed of his box on holiday and is generally very helpful.