What is your essential item?

[Pinkjenny]

We camped for the first time last year, and we've not been since. We were total novices, staring at each other completely unsure of what we were doing, whilst the tent opposite had an amazing BBQ on the go, fairy lights on their parasol, and Sky tv in the tent.

So, we are going again at the end of this month. What is your essential item?

A caravan :)

sky tv?????? ffs!

um, i guess an absolute essential for me would be a bucket or something! so useful. can wash up, wash the kids, carry stuff...

Flipping - I'm trying to get into the spirit, here!

Well it used to be a corkscrew but most wine bottles are screwtop nowadays...

It's got to be the mattress. I still haven't found one that I can sleep on comfortably all night. Been reading about Fat Airics and Aerobeds today and wondering if the recent Coleman dual chamber purchase was a mistake.

Alternatively, I could just drink lots of the aforementioned wine and I'll probably sleep ok

for me its coffee cant function with out. for my lo it will be all of his bedtime toys. For other half booze no doubt after putting up the tent haha

a stunt kite

beats having sky TV!

Wine.

Did they really have sky tv?

Baileys- a slug in my hotchocolate works wonders for sleeping- plus earplugs or the bloody wood pigeons wake me up at 4am.

My cadac. It works so well and I love using it!!

Second to that would be my new chair. it actually has adjuters so it can recline, like a deckchair, or garden chair!! So very comfy.

Quenelle - we use the Costco self inflating mats. I too had problems finding something comfy to sleep on. These ones are fab, very thick and only £15.00

For me: earplugs and a big fat soft pillow each for resting head on in car/when sleeping (or trying to) and for sitting on the floor of the tent/camping chairs comfortably.

For DH: coffee, filter paper and flask, plus stupendous quantities of red wine for the evening. And a bucket at night :)

For the DC: A plastic toybox filled with card games, playmo, books and, ahem, a portable DVD player for emergencies. And the wind-up torch, which they love.

mm

Essential is tricky. Lots of dull but essential things like pegs and a mallet and the tent obv.

Toss up between good sleeping bag and the thermarests. Would not camp if I couldn't sleep or got cold at night.

pack of cards
jam jar (to put candles in which is far far coooler than fairy f'lights on your parasol) ( go citrenella for bug beating)
def ear plugs - get bio ears i swear they are so comfy and totally the best ever
thick socks!
a huge jug with a lid you can wee in when you totally cant be arsed to get dressed and go outside for a pee in the middle of the night (all that wine you see!)

A hotel.

ear plugs
hot water bottle
cheap fleecy blankets from IKEA that can be used to wrap around for prolonging outdoor evening chatting, or to sit on, or as an extra layer in bed
table
boxes with lids- store stuff, then sit on them
little bucket BBQ, cook on it, then keeps you warm.

second jam jars- fairy lights...pffft!

Thanks Kahlua. If the Coleman lets me down (so to speak) I'll try those next.

Portaloo
Decent 3-4 season sleeping bags
Thick sleeping mats
Insulated mugs
Comfy chairs
Ear plugs

Corkscrew.

Duck tape for when the windbreak rips through the side of your tent, with gusts of wind and fleece blankets for keeping warm and tucking in to keep out all of those draughts.

Ikea bags, for storing anything and hiding the mess.

Agree with duck tape it mends most things.

Oh and a comfy bed I have just bought a gelert 10cm thick self inflating mat, it is bulky but seriously comfy.

a thermarest self inflating mat :)

Wind up torch
Thick socks
Woolly hats for cold nights
Something to wee in at night (we have a potette :o)
Comfy chairs or cushions or something that isn't sitting on a hard floor
Fleecy blankets for late night chatting and early morning cuppas
Fold up bbq, pile with wood after eating to keep warm
Bunting

Insulated mugs
Fat Airic
Ear plugs
Sleeping Mask
Particularly when abroad we have a cheap lightweight tarpaulin from Decathlon that we put over the table - much smaller to pack than a Gazebo.

Pillows from home
Proper canvas tent
Self inflating mat
Kettle

really useful/nice are
Canvas Tarp
Solar fairy lights

my wonderful one ring burner. Not just for cooking meals on, but for making coffee the second the tent it up and then at 20 minute intervals - I just love sitting outside, messing with it and sorting out my little kettle, mug and coffee - bliss!

quenelle we bought the coleman dual chamber last year - was in the bin this year - sorry not what you want to hear.

We've bitten the bullet and got an aerobed dual chamber - so far so good. DH not pleased at teh cost (bought it without telling him!) but after a fab nights sleep was strangely fine with it all.

Don;t know why its different but I am keeping the receipt just in case....