Your camping must haves / must do's please for a complete and utter novice

[Monroe]

Our financial situation will be taking a significant hit over the next few years. DH has therefore bought a tent and thinks this will solve our problem of at least getting a few breaks away with the DC's. The problem is neither of us have ever been camping and are pretty much winging it.

So please can you tell me what your essentials would be, what we should definitely do and also what we should also avoid. It will be me, DH, 9 year old ds and 6 year old DD, thank you ☺

The warmest sleeping bag you can buy - mine is a winter bag - if anyone is cold it makes the experience very miserable. Self inflating mattress too.

Can't wait to start writing my lists later when the DC'S are in bed, I love a good list

The sims that a lot of you have mentioned, do you use them alone or with an airbed / camp bed? Also where best to buy everything? We have been very lucky, DH bought the tent as a bundle off ebay and it included a 2 ring stove, fold up picnic table and chairs, cutlery plates etc

www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70242821/

We have loads of these blankets from ikea. Very cheap and big and can be washed and dried quickly.

We have cheap sims which i need to upgrade. Aldi has some at the minute for £15 and they are supposed to be very good. I don't sleep on any thing else, just the sim with a blanket/quilt under it. Go outdoors is cheap enough but check decathlon and sports direct too as i got my three season sleeping bag from sports direct for £16 on sale. Got the kids some too for a similar price. They were gelert curve ones.

Yes to lots and lots of wipes (baby and kitchen anti bac ones)

Make sure you test the gas stove before you set off so you know it works ok and check if it is cartridge canisters or if you need a gas bottle and regulator.

Lots of snacks.

If you are going to get an electric hookup then get this one. (we don't have it but are planning on it soon). It has 3 sockets plus 2 usb chargers (for phones/consoles etc).

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/outwell-power-plus-mobile-mains-kit-p333289

However I would probably try and do a few camps without hookup just to see if you like it before spending loads of money. : )

For the first couple of years we've borrowed a camping stove and cutlery and crockery. Pretty much just had sleeping bags, and two camping chairs and the tent. We still don't have a table.

Borrow, buy second hand and buy what you need when you need it. I bought an electric hook up last year and found it useful but by no stretch is it an essential.

And I usually cook the first nights meal and freeze it, then pop it in a cool box. Chilli & tacos works well.

Just seen that you've bought a bundle. You have more equipment than us!

Don't rely on wind up lanterns. They are crap!

but I rose and sank every time DH moved! genuine lol , I was going to get a couple of doubles I don't think I'll bother now.

More excellent tips, thanks. And yes, we did well with the bundle

How good are cool boxes for storage? I'll certainly prepare the first meal to take.

About the wee bucket... not quite sure about that! Again, everyone else sleeps sound while I'm up and down like a yo-yo, does anyone have a portable toilet thingy? How do they work?

Think I'm going to just print this thread off, it's great

If you're nesh like me take duvets or thick blankets, instead of them taking up precious boot space, I lay them flat on the car seats and the DC sit on them for the journey (my DC are out of boosters etc though)

Also, if the campsite has a laundrette I have been known to put sleeping bags in the dryer to warm them up before bed

Always wear hat and gloves and lots of pairs of gloves to sleep in.

You can tell my main concern when I go camping

Our wee buckets are lined with a bin bag and then cat litter (which was a tip I picked up from here). We got a wee bucket from go outdoors which has a toilet seat style lid on. Made such a huge difference to my camping experience as I need the loo at least once, and often more than once, in the night.

Also, I started camping with a hook up but have since moved to non hook up and enjoy it so much more.

I wouldn't have camped if it weren't for austerity reasons and the kids, but have to confess that I do always really enjoy it.

Wee bucket tips duly noted, thanks

Being warm and comfortable at night is probably the most important thing, then you can cope with anything!

Traviata's tip about the plastic backed picnic blankets is a great one. We put them under our sims and it makes a huge difference to warmth.

I sleep on a 10cm Outwell Dreamcatcher sim and it's amazing!

Is the sim on the ground? Sorry to sound dim, just really have no experience of this obviously

Have just googled them, they look so slim if they're on the ground do you not feel everything through them?

A good night's sleep is my main priority so I'd go for the best beds you can afford (we have a 7cm deep self inflating mattress), lots of blankets, fleeces etc, and personally I prefer to make up a proper bed rather than use sleeping bags - then I can leech Dh's heat!

I didn't believe they'd be comfortable either because I weight over 100kg and have a dodgy back but I was very comfy. The picnic blanket insulates you and you add air to the sim after it's finished doing its inflation thingy to top it up.

I have a double sleeping bag all to myself which is toasty warm too.

I like the look of the Outwell Dreamcatcher 10cm. I might try putting two of the Aldi specials together to make a double thickness sim.

I always treat myself to one expensive piece of kit every year - last year it was a Quechua day shelter (with mesh, removable sides) and this year it was a Cadac Carri Chef 2. Maybe next year it will be the Dreamcatcher...

new question, sorry!

What do you put under your tent? I've been looking on a number of forums and lots have recommended tarp under the tent. Is this the done thing? Or something else? I love how DH thinks his job is done now he's bought the ruddy thing, meanwhile I'll try and make sure the whole experience is actually bearable

We don't put anything underneath the tent. Ours has an integral groundsheet and we put another groundsheet inside on top. Maybe they mean tarp under the tent if it doesn't have a built in groundsheet? Some don't in the living area.

(I admit I've not read the whole thread, sorry!)

We take rectangular buckets to use as wash-up bowls, as they are easy to carry when full of dishes. I also take them to the shower, so if the floor is wet and there aren't many hooks you can keep your clothes dry!

I would not be without a decent airbed and warm sleeping bag and a pillow. (We used small camping pillows this year for the first time, and they were great.)

I buy easy to cook and store food. Cans, jars and packets. Then easy to fill-up on food, fruit, maltloaf, brioche, crisps, nuts etc.

If your tent has a integral groundsheet I would recommend putting a tarp/stone protector groundsheet underneath. Otherwise if groundsheet gets a hole from a stone it is the whole tent damaged. If you have a tarp underneath it is likely that will take the damage instead.

Best to get a footprint (basically another groundsheet) for your tent so that when you are packing it away the bottom of your tent isn't wet going back into the bag. Also protects it from stones etc and prevents excess wear and tear. You can get specific ones for your tent (mine came with one) or just buy a separate one, they are pretty cheap.