I went camping and I took...help for new camper

[funtimewincies]

...
a tent (thanks for the help )
1 double airbed
1 single airbed
1 readybed
a pump

all of which I already have.

As a camping newbie, what else do I need. Dh isn't sure that camping is his thing yet, so don't want to fork out too much.

My list so far is...
a table
some deck chairs
a stove, kettle, etc.
plates, cups and cutlery
a big torch and a lantern
a mallet
some sort of cooler

And that's about where I'd got to. It's for dh and I, a 4 year old and a toddler and needs to fit into a Ford Focus and a Wynnster Faro 5 tent .

What would experienced campers say that I need/don't need?

Already left off sleeping bags

Do you really mean deck chairs or do you mean fold-up camping chairs? I'm not sure you'd get a real deck chair in a Focus.

I'd add:
Pillows
Chopping board
Washing up bowl, washing up liquid etc
Tin opener
Bottle opener and corkscrew
Citronella candles
First aid kit
Dustpan and brush

None of the above is stuff that I buy specially for camping. I just raid the house before we go

If you're unsure about whether camping is for you then you might find a friend or family member who can lend you the stove etc so you can make up your mind without paying out too much in advance.

Thanks, yes I did mean folding chairs, they were always called deck chairs in my family for some reason .

I'm thinking of getting a trangia or something similar for boiling kettles. I'm nervous of gas bottles but used spirit burners when camping in my teens.

A new car

We traded in our Ford Focus last year as simply couldn't fit all our camping gear in. Not before we bought a roof box too and still didn't have enough room for all our stuff

I agree with snorbs, would try and borrow some items off your list because it can be a lot to shell out if you don't end up going again.

i hate being cold,so hot water bottles are on my list

Make sure you buy a sleeping bag for your child - ready beds are only good for indoor camping.

Blankets are a good idea- it can get nippy.

water carrier...you can buy ones that fold flat

plastic wine glasses are fairly essential....

Oh heck ABitBatty, I knew that we'd have to travel light but ! I was a bit at someone driving in front of me with an estate care and a larger boot !

Water carrier and blankets, good points . Ds1 has spotted a nice 2-season sleeping bag he likes which isn't expensive and ds2 will either be in the travel cot or the ready bed with his fleecy bedtime all-in-one on over his pjs.

No-one to borrow from, I'm afraid. Keeping an eye out on Ebay but nothing listed from my neck of the woods.

UK? a fleecy blanket that can be wrapped round your shoulders while sitting outside drinking wine.

Europe? pop up crates so that your wine doesn't roll around the boot on the way back from the hypermarket and a tarp to keep the sun out of your eyes when drinking said wine.

mmm lots of wine drinking there

To add to what others have said, my recommendations would be a cool-box, a sharp knife and red wine (doesn't need to be chilled).

Tis super easy to get carried away buying camping kit and then not being able to get it in the car. Even with a large roof-box we only just manage to get it all in our family saloon. Our friends have a ford focus with a roof box and last time we went camping with them we couldn't actually see their children in the car when they left for all the stuff piled round them!

Maybe try to keep it all to a minimum for your first trip and see how it goes. You will soon realise what is really essential and what you can easily do without.

Happy Camping!

Is the roof box for the wine? I mean, a box of wine is essential, but a box of wine is hardcore !

Cool box size, what's the mimimum I can get away with for 3 or 4 days away?

Windbeak and a gazebo for an outdoor kitchen. You can get away with just the windbreak. Power adaptor.

Whats the power adapter for ?

1 person, IOW festival '08, on the ferry...

Tent
Groundsheet (tent went to the original on in '68 with my dad )
Sleeping bag
Roll mat
Blanket
Single ring gas burner
Small saucepan
Whilstling kettle
Plate, bowl, knife, fork, spoon (tin), wooden spoon, small sharp knife
2 short and 2 long sleeved tshirts
1 pair jeans
4 pairs socks
2 pairs pants
1 Hoodie
1 waterproof coat
1 pair wellies (unworn as didn't rain) plus wellie pegs
1 pair Doc Martens
1 pair very warm long sleeved/legged pyjamas
Solar powered shed light
Violin
Wine box minus box so it fitted in
Colourful bunting

All this (apart from the violin) fitted in a canvas rucksack that used to be my school bag and a small wheelie suitcase. The bedding was wrapped in the groundsheet Girl Guide style.

That's bare minimum for comfortable survival for 3 days

we have peugeot partner and one small child, last year we were packed to the hilt going away for 3 weeks. It's going this year and we are getting an estate (have dog now too lol) and a trailer, dedicated to camping gear I may go mad with what I can take now, but sssh, don;t tell DH