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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

The absolute essentials of camping

59 replies

Loonytoonie · 19/04/2012 22:24

We've been camping squatters for years, so have our own air beds (complete with puncture Hmm and sleeping bags. And that's it. We just doss in our friends mansion spacious tent.

DH has booked for us to go camping in the summer. In France.

We don't yet own a tent.

Erm.... help?

Hello. This thread is a little old - for more up-to-date tips, take a look at our round-up of Mumsnetters’ top camping advice or check out this list of their 10 favourite UK campsites. MNHQ.

OP posts:
Metbird · 19/04/2012 23:26

Get a tipi, you are never alone in a tipi. (and they come centrally heated which is a bonus

Metbird · 19/04/2012 23:26

ment to add a Smile but mars bar hands pressed the wrong button.

ifeelloved · 19/04/2012 23:34

Sunshine

Metbird · 20/04/2012 00:30

Too right sister Smile

Migsy1 · 20/04/2012 08:16

Get a bell tent. I love mine. You will also need a camping stove, camping "kitchen" which is a table thing with storage underneath, camping table, melamine cups and plates, a windbreak, camping cutlery, sleeping bags, washable mats to stop mud getting all over the tent, and torch / lights.
Don't spend a fortune in camping shops. Go to B&M stores and Aldi to see what you can pick up first and check out ebay. Use camping shops as a last resort!

Original poster
Loonytoonie · 20/04/2012 08:25

Centrally heated tipi's??? Fantastic! Sign me in!
OK, another question. What are B&M stores? Do Aldi do Online? The only one in my county shut down years ago...
LOVE eBay, so will check out stuff there.

I'm v excited but know I'm going to be skint before I even go....

OP posts:
hillbilly · 20/04/2012 09:50

Wine :0

CarolynR · 20/04/2012 10:11

Go to one of those campsites where the tent is pitched for you and you don't need to strike it at the end of your holiday.

Much easier! We did that as a family when I was little - it was fab!

redrubyshoes · 20/04/2012 10:12

A wind up torch and radio.

SucksToBeMe · 20/04/2012 10:29

Im still laughing at 'mars bar hands'

Grin
Migsy1 · 20/04/2012 12:06

www.bmstores.co.uk/products/camping

Voidka · 20/04/2012 12:13

Can you point us in the right direction to one of those Carolyn :)

Migsy1 · 20/04/2012 15:36

Loads of glamping (pre-erected) on here www.coolcamping.co.uk/campsites-home

Also, check out Eurocamp for some British sites and this nice site (I've been to) does pre erected www.masonscampsite.co.uk/rent-a-tent.html

Slubberdegullion · 20/04/2012 15:54

I suppose the only real essentials for camping are something to protect you from the elements (doesn't even need to be a tent, could be a tarp or a bivvy bag) and something to keep you warm at night (sleeping bag, duvet, extra clothes, hot hairy man).

Backpackers/wild campers would prob also have something to heat water/a meal on/in and a spoon.

Some sort of light also useful.

Anything else are luxuries Grin

For a camping holiday in France my list would be
Tent.
Good pegs (in case you have to pitch on a surface that isn't soft luxuriantly yielding British turf) and a mallet.
Something to sleep on.
Something to sleep in/under.
Torch/lantern/head torch
Stove & appropriate fuel.
Pots, bowls, cutlery etc
Something to sit on and something to eat at (optional, you can just sit on a picnic rug)

Erm...
The ever contraversial washing up bowl
First aid kit
Fire bucket/extinguisher/blanket

Quenelle · 20/04/2012 17:08

Washing up bowls are controversial? Shock

ChippyMinton · 20/04/2012 17:29

Slubbers, you have reminded me, with your emboldening, I need to get some pegs for my new pop-up. Oddly it didn't come with enough for all the guys. Was thinking maybe insetad of bog-standard, I should get something super-duper in the event of wind (weather-type rather than baked-bean-type). Any reccys?

Quenelle · 20/04/2012 17:34

Oooh, interesting question Chippy. I have the same pop up as you.

ChippyMinton · 20/04/2012 17:39

Slubbers, you have reminded me, with your emboldening, I need to get some pegs for my new pop-up. Oddly it didn't come with enough for all the guys. Was thinking maybe insetad of bog-standard, I should get something super-duper in the event of wind (weather-type rather than baked-bean-type). Any reccys?

ChippyMinton · 20/04/2012 17:40

And so here's the same question from quenelle Blush

Slubberdegullion · 20/04/2012 17:59

Washing up bowls are very contraversial yes Grin. On a thread much like this I dared to say they were essential and was beaten to a pulp [hyperbole] by the lovely omdb and her eye rolls.

Pegs, well deltas are the dogs cojones for wind. Even if you have a couple they are the biz. We got some rock pegs last year for Germany (in a natty little case that pleases me greatly) and they are pretty grrrr [pec clench]

MrsMc82 · 20/04/2012 18:41

would be very happy to share my camping checklist - it has a total of approx 80 items on it which i think are totally essential, dh has othr thought on the matter - i reckon i'm packing light!!!!!!!!!

picnicbasketcase · 20/04/2012 18:42

Wet wipes

VillaEphrussi · 20/04/2012 18:54

I'd love to see your camping checklist please MrsMc Smile

usualsuspect · 20/04/2012 18:56

Hot water bottles

loubielou31 · 20/04/2012 19:16

Please share your packing list.MrsMc
My mum has a list that I think came from the caravan club called the got it list. It is LONG.