Anything missing from my 'essentials' list?

[PaddedRoomForOnePlease]

We now have a tent and had a practice camp in September but I would like to get everything up together so we can use it lots this year. Are there any glaring omissions from this list?

tent
footprint
poles
pegs
mallets x2
peg remover
roof protector
carpets
repair kit

lantern
windup torch x4
head torch
room bulbs x4
fairy lights
glowsticks
spare batteries

tubs x2
bin & bags
broom
feather duster
pegs & line
dettol wipes
cloths
sponge
wash up liquid
tea towel x2
paper towel

chairs x2
kids chairs x2
table
stick tables x2
waterproof blanket

stove
fuel
lighter / matches
pans
tongs
spatula
knife
grater
opener
scissors
chopping board
oven gloves
cutlery
plates
bowls
beakers
thermal mugs
2L bottles x2
cool box
ice blocks

double mat
double bag
single mats x2
single bags x2
pillows x4

tubs x2
first aid
handwarmers
loo roll
tissues
baby wipes
sun lotion
aftersun
insect repellant
towels x4
toiletries

I haven't put clothes down as we just layer up but I've tried to think of everything else. I've got a little drawer unit from wilko for the cooking stuff, torches etc and a couple of hanging pouch things for shoes, coats and all that.

I haven't got all of these things yet but I'm off to the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show next month so might get some bits there. Just planning ahead so it can be all packed ready to sling in the car and go last minute should the weather be nice.

Oh, I forgot to say it's me, DH and two children aged 2.5 and 4.

Spare, extra strong pegs for hard ground where standard ones might just bend rather than go into the ground properly,

Hmm: you need hook up for a slow cooker.... and I don't see hook up connector thingy on your list. (We don't do hook up)

OMG velvet lined leggings? They are definitely being added to my essentials list. I'm also not a minimalist camper. Used to take the 5L water bottles but last year found this fab really good quality water carrier that twists down to flat. Has a handle and a tap. Must find out the name and report back. No plastic tasting water either. Oh and the best thing is its bright yellow 😀

colapz.co.uk/collections/all-products/products/liquid-carrier

Washing up bowl? And what's the feather duster for?!

Why are you taking carpets? Wouldn't bother with that.
Why take all the kitchen if you aren't planning on cooking ?
Get some camp beds. They are better than blow up beds ( once up they are up don't have to blow them up every day)
Coins for onsite washing machines

Roll of kitchen towel - kids are great at knocking drinks, meals etc over in tents. Ditto couple of old small towels.
Couple of warm blankets. Warm clothes for evenings.

Kids will need wellies and plenty of socks. Also wellies for adults. Any UK campsite can be muddy on any day of the year.

Camping showers - take a reusable plastic bag for life with you. Then you hang the bag on the tiny coat hook and put your stuff IN it - rather than trying to hang 6 items of clothing plus your washbag and towel on tiny hook. This is especially useful if you are trying to shower a small person at the same time.

Agree a 5L bottle is a good water carrier
Big umbrella in case of horrible weather - of course you will have waterproof but why get wetter than you need to?
Game your DC can play without running off or annoying other campers. (Whilst you are setting up/down).

Have to say that sounds plenty of stuff. Have you got a trailer?

Ear plugs in case of noisy neighbours. Kindle in case of difficulty sleeping.

OMG hillbilly, how have you kept that a secret?

Do you promise no plasticky taste?

I have to get one.

But what colour? Red, orange...

I take several packets of cheap baby wipes and use them for everything.

And some tips:
Do not use aerosols inside / around your tent. Take solid/ roll on deodorant or use in shower block. Aerosols can leave a residue on your tent that massively increases the flammability. Even weeks later.

Don't take bubbles for the kids: bubble mixture on tents compromises the waterproofing.

Be careful with Glo sticks ( we do take them) if they break and leak the liquid melts thru anything synthetic, including, for example, your groundsheet, or the surface of your SIM.

It's a great list. I'll be stealing it too.

Do you have plasters? We usually take a ball and frisbee. A friend took a pop-up tent with books and toys for her 4-year-old but he was happy just running around. I don't think he used it at all.

We went camping for a week with our neighbours this summer and they gave us their list to help us pack (we always forget things!). Their list was quite similar but included a chainsaw and axe. Possibly not an essential for English camping though!

Yes sorry Blu - I really should have shared that gem last year when I bought it. I have yellow cos it's my fave colour :-)

....and in my opinion no plastic taste. It's not made from the same kind of plastic as the usual water carriers.

We take an axe! Campsites often sell far-too-big logs of wood, so DH chops them in half, and even further for kindling.

Must add chainsaw

And, not so much something to buy, but use a big piece of brown cardboard, flattened out at the door of your tent. Great for absorbing water from shoes/coats, plus mud, then you recycle at the end of your trip/its demise.

Thank you for the leggings link I'm definitely putting those on my list !

Our archery set has become an essential. Mostly for my benefit 😀

We store all of our camping stuff in large clear stackable containers. They stack into the boot and I know that if I have all of them we have everything we need. I can load the car by myself in an hour.

You want some hammam towels. They are huge but are thin and dry super quickly.

I always take a wide mouthed flask so I don't have to boil water for my second cup of tea in the morning (wide mouthed so I can brew the tea in there and fish the teabag out). Also useful for drinking hot chocolate out of by the lake or other cold places. This may have been replaced by my lovely new Contigo mug, or maybe just supplemented

Folding colander is v useful - we often have shelf stable gnocci, rice noodle or filled pasta when away

My camping washing up bowl is a folding one with handles and pockets on the outside for sponge/washing up liquid/ brushes which is v useful, as you can wash up in it or just use it as transport to the sinks

Small container of clothes washing liquid or a few liquitabs in case you need to do some washing

Sorry, I have been reading on my phone but I can't bear typing replies on it as the autocorrect is terrible.

Fabulous ideas, I'm off to the camping show very soon so I will make sure my shopping list is updated.

Thanks for the aerosol advice Blu, I knew about bubbles but will tell DH to keep his choke inducing deodorant habit to the shower block. Win win

We will have to put the bigger car plans on hold though, the boiler has died. It will be interesting how we are going fit it all in, we did consider a trailer so we wouldn't have to keep unpacking into the attic, don't fancy towing one all the way to Cornwall this summer though

Collapsible colander is a must-have I'd say. We use a collapsible washing up bowl but that's not as critical.

I agree with pps that blow up beds are crap in the UK unless your tent is very small. They just get too cold. Folding camp beds are much warmer esp with fleece blankets and/or SIMs on top.

We then use IKEA bags as personal wardrobes shoved under our beds. Vastly space saving.

We also put the foam flooring tile things in the porch to reduce crap being walked in. All our shoes and wellies live on cheap shoe racks in the porch then we pad to the tent door in socks. We get ours from Aldi in the camping event - worth looking out for btw.

Take a million spare pegs. Proper storm pegs, not the piddly little things that tend to come with tents nowadays.

Yes must get spare pegs, hoping to get some delta anchors as well.

I'm also getting some tenacious tape for rent repairs, has anyone used it?

We have an inflatable roof rack and holdall which is great for all the bedding and clothes