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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.

Camping "essentials" list

33 replies

insertimaginativeusername · 23/06/2018 11:43

Who can help me write up a list of all things we'll need for camping with 2 under 5?

I say "essentials" as I'm not a wild camper so like some luxuries.

We used to camp pre kids so packing really only consisted of beers and freezing BBQ food to cook when it had defrosted on the journey Grin. Now we're planning to take the children I'm thinking things like a hook up fridge/coolbox, table and chairs etc...

What's your must have items for camping with young children?

OP posts:
Makinglists · 23/06/2018 11:51

Take lots of oudoor toys so the kids can entertainment themselves and make friends. Also take a few indoor games (uno/kids card games are good) incase the weather is bad.

Good matress/sleeping bag essential.

Lamps for evening.

Big rubber trug. You can use it to curry dirty dishes/makes a fab standing bath for kids. Fill it up with stuff when you pack and it won't take much room.

Loads more i am sure.

insertimaginativeusername · 23/06/2018 16:06

Great suggestions thanks! Especially the multi use trug Grin

OP posts:
Ricekrispie22 · 23/06/2018 17:08

A powered coolbox is adequate. A fridge is not needed if you're going away for short breaks or if you're going somewhere with a shop which stocks the essentials like milk, and especially if you plan on getting lunch or dinner off camp. Of course, some people get away with just coolboxes and just adapt their eating habits for the holiday i.e. having a breakfast which doesn't require milk etc...
Don't forget that tent sizes don't take into account luggage. With two small sprigs, I'd choose a two bedroom tent with middle area like this www.argos.co.uk/product/2903356 Each room is big enough for a double airbed.
You'll need a couple of good lanterns and perhaps a night light for the kids.
Make sure every camper has a head torch.
Duct tape- you'll be surprised what it can be used for/fix.
Earplugs
Portable toilet
Multi burner stove or BBQ. Stove is probably best, and then you can get a little kettle for it.
So far we've avoided using an electrical supply. Firstly, it's because we've got little kids and also we're worried about it getting wet. Secondly, I think one of the joys of camping is going without lots of appliances.
It's handy to take a water container.
Take two double airbeds, one for each room. Don't bother with kids ready-beds. Sleeping bags are a lot easier to wash and dry.
Take two tables: one for the stove and another for chopping, preparing etc... This is such a useful little table www.gooutdoors.co.uk/elite-3-shelf-cupboard-p152318
Take waterproof dungarees for the kids, 5x more wet wipes than you think you'll need, bin bags, washing line and pegs, washing up bowl and zip lock bags.
The pictures are of some of my favourite camping storage/carrying solutions. They're just horse grooming-kit boxes. Really useful for food, washing up supplies and toiletries.
I agree with PP about lots of toys for the kids. Really handy when you're cooking or putting up the tent! My favourites are: bubble machine, bubble wands, aquadoodle mat, sticker books, foam stomp rockets, sticklebricks, mega blocks and these www.argos.co.uk/product/7175608

Ricekrispie22 · 23/06/2018 17:10

Here are the pics of storage solutions that I forgot to add.

Camping "essentials" list
Camping "essentials" list
Camping "essentials" list
insertimaginativeusername · 23/06/2018 18:48

Thank you! Like the storage boxes and will definitely have a trip to go outdoors.

Will get a powered cool box as the kids like their cereal for breakfast so saves a trek to get some milk in the mornings.

Next thing is to figure out how it would all fit in the car Blush

OP posts:
iklboo · 23/06/2018 18:52

A hotel Grin

BorisHair · 26/06/2018 20:47

It may not be in the 'spirit' of camping but I will pack an iPad and headphones (and a charger).

At 6am when it's too early for the children to be up and running around they come in quite handy!

insertimaginativeusername · 26/06/2018 21:16

Boris that's exactly the kind of thinking I'm after! Grin although I don't know how you add YouTube videos to watch offline so that will be my first task...

OP posts:
StuntBottom · 26/06/2018 21:21

I always take a three-tier steamer. Means I can cook potatoes/rice/pasta plus veg or even fish, potatoes and veg on one ring.

When mine were little, I never took a lot of toys. We'd hit the local charity shops on day one and buy a few things. By the end of the week, when the novelty wore off, they went back to the charity shop.

Wellies or crocs are good as grass is always very wet first thing.

jellyshoeswithdiamonds · 27/06/2018 08:39

Please don't take bubble machine/wand .... any bubbles really.

Bubbles affects the waterproofing.

MrsWombat · 27/06/2018 08:42

The bbc iplayer kids app and the netflix app (if you have an account) both let you download videos to watch offline. Anker powerbanks are great for charging up phone batteries. www.amazon.co.uk/Anker-Portable-bar-Sized-High-Speed-Technology/dp/B00P8SY7HQ/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_107_bs_lp_t_1?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforum-21&refRID=BJYX0ZR91C6PXQXKZX3D

Bubble mixture damages tents so I would avoid that unless you are off to the beach etc away from tents.

Glowsticks are great for night time if they are old enough not to eat them!

TryingtobePrepared · 29/06/2018 10:40

Bubble mix will make you and the kids super unpopular and that doesn't make for an enjoyable trip. Sorry

insertimaginativeusername · 29/06/2018 11:21

Steamer
Charity shop toys
Crocs
IPlayer
Absolutely no bubbles

✅

OP posts:
BishopBrennansArse · 29/06/2018 11:22

Alcohol

insertimaginativeusername · 29/06/2018 12:54

Obviously!

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 02/07/2018 12:32

I have yet to get a decent lantern for in the tent at night. DD and I both have good head torches and some small hand torches (a combination of battery powered and dynamo powered for the latter). And at night, I put my head torch around the 5l water barrel filled with water and point the light through the water - which is adequate for background light, just not enough to read by.

Lidl recently had a solar charger - that worked well to charge my phone at this year's Cub camp.

For camping with DD, my main gear is:
Tent
Wind protection barrier thingy (oh so technical a term!)
Small square table (admittedly, I would like a 2nd table to have a cook station and a separate table to eat on - I don't have a camping cupboard, but that would probably do the trick)
2 folding chairs
2 large Ikea tubs for holding stuff (40l?) with lids
A 22l ikea tub, with "housemaids" (?) insert - to hold all my kitchen utensils, washup stuff, bags, tin foil, seasonings etc (both on camp, and during the year as it's my "self-catering/camping box" that is always stocked and has the sharp knife, corkscrew, tin opener and matches that are always needed!)

I look longingly at IcyTeks, but I only have a cheap zip up cool bag with ice blocks - that mostly works ok for the 2-3 day trips I tend to take. But it wasn't enough this year on Cub Camp with the heat (and forgetting to freeze the icebocks ahead of time! Oops).

I have a 1-ring gas stove for most cooking, a little BBQ in a travel bag (Aldi a few years ago), and a Kelly Kettle for tiny wood fire cooking. I also have a tiny stove with solid fuel tablets - really it's an emergency thing, that you'd use trekking, and smokes horribly on pots, but I tend to bring it in case I really need it as it is so small.

I also take a flask, to put spare hot water into - if I have done what I need to on a BBQ or wood fire, I will use any remaining heat to heat water and put it in a flask for later for washup, or easy cup of tea/coffee, or filling hot water bottle for bed, or not need much reheating for those purposes later.

I have a 5l (or maybe it's 10l? Certainly not massive, just enough for a small group) bottle for water. You could get one already filled from the supermarket which would do fine for a good few trips, or a proper camping/caravanning one from Halfords/similar would last longer. I also turn my headtorch to shine through it, while full of water, at night as a lantern for the tent (bright enough to see by, but not to read a book with).

My utensils are mainly:
Ikea non stick set (spatula, whisk, tongs, serving spoon)
2 sharp kitchen knives, both with covers over the blades (so safe to keep in the box)
Corkscrew, tin opener
Short handled wooden spoon
Kitchen scissors
Vegetable peeler
small chopping board
Pack of Bamboo kebab sticks (for BBQing, marshmallows, sticking things into the ground etc)
Washup brush, new J cloth, 2 tea towels, 2 hand towels, 100ml travel bottle of washup liquid (couple of laundry tablets, and handful of dishwasher tablets - these mostly for self catering rather than camping uses)
Roll of tin foil
Roll of bin bags
Matches and cigarette lighters, a couple of firelighters (for BBQ)
Handful of Ikea Ziploc bags (for marinading things, leftovers, making pancake batter for breakfast etc)
Salt and pepper mills (the glass ones with the mill in the lid that are already filled from the supermarket)
A 250ml bottle of olive oil (I refill this at home too - does the job for cooking and salad dressings)
Couple of BBQ tools and "Grandpa's fork" to put on a stick to cook sausages etc

Couple of larger bowls for mixing things and serving
Nesting pot/pan/kettle set (kettle is tiny but enough for 2 mugs of tea - I'm aiming for a larger one soon)
A fold up washing up basin (a gift - the large mixing bowl would work fine if I didn't have this)
Flask (for hot water)

Big plastic jug (for making squash to leave on the table for everyone to have plenty to drink)
Plastic French press coffee pot (I can sacrifice much for camping, but not morning coffee!)

I have the children's ikea plates and glasses for general use (plates can be used as bowls due to lip around edge). Eventually, I plan to upgrade to a decent melamine set suited to adults, but as DH is not there (he's "too old" to camp! Grin ), I can live with these in the meantime.

And plenty of torches. And batteries.

Playing cards, paper and pencil

insertimaginativeusername · 02/07/2018 20:39

Wow biddy can I just take you please? Grin

OP posts:
JoeMaplin · 02/07/2018 21:04

For those looking for lanterns, I've just bought one of these for the tent - it is brilliant:
www.decathlon.co.uk/bl-100-camping-lantern-green-id_8331218.html?_cclid=v3_1a45abf2-c048-5e9b-8a42-86dcca5be97f&gclid=CjwKCAjwmufZBRBJEiwAPJ3LpmBtC6HH9simo7pwTOz0Jw5tyEopcMi3EwVvIOvBuj_JltKUVGAwcxoC46wQAvD_BwE

They also have a smaller one for £4.99 which is also good.

Atalune · 02/07/2018 21:18

I have 2 large cuboid shaped curved boxes with lids and they are always packed and ready to go-

Box 1
Camping gaz stove,
the hose and fitting that goes with it.
The electric hookup cable and a plug extension
Candles, little jars, lighters and matches
The kids double air bed

Box 2
All our cooking and eating stuff.
1 frying pan,
1 actual sauce pan with lid
2 camping mess tins
4 mugs
6 plastic cups
2 plastic wine glasses (lovely ones from
John Lewis)
6 plates
Bread knife
fucking sharpe paring knife
2 chopping boards
Cutlery including some sporks
Bottle opener
Wooden skewers for toasting marshmallows
Tommy k
American mustard
Small square lidded tin which has- oil, salt and pepper, chilli flakes. Bin bags, anti bac wipes.
Also in this box I stuff in a cloth, tea towel and scrubber.
2 head torches
1 big lantern
Those boxes are always ready to be lifted straight into the car. Then I know I only have to get the food we want for the trip.

I also have a set of camping bedding vacuum packed and ready to go for us and the kids just have sleeping bags with a blanket on top. This blanket is then used as a rug for picnics etc.

We have 2 tables. One which folds flat with little benches. This is the one we eat from and the another which is our cooking is done on.

Trug- we stuff it full of stuff on the way there/back and use it as our dirty washing up holder on site.

Cool box- we used a plug in on last year and it was rubbish! Much better with lots of slim blocks you can just refreeeze and rotate.

Little variety packs of cereal are our kids camping treat! That’s their very early rising breakfast in bed with no milk while they read or draw or do something quiet.

Playing cards.

Onesies for the kids.

Relaxed attitude to cleanliness.

Atalune · 02/07/2018 21:20

Curver not curved!!

beltanelove · 03/07/2018 21:11

Bit late to the party here but this caught my eye as I was out grabbing some prep stuff for our camping trip on Saturday.

Last year I got a cheap craft tub full of tissue paper, stickers, beads, pipe cleaners, google eyes..etc from the toy shop, think supermarkets have them too. We had a little crafty corner in the living space which was useful in early morning and as a quiet activity.
Roll up small road mat and a few matchbox cars go down well too.
iPad family film time before bed to calm excitement of first and second night.
I bring a bath mat to put inside tent entrance
A potty!

insertimaginativeusername · 03/07/2018 22:19

Thank you all...I'm now twitching to write and laminate a check list!

OP posts:
BiddyPop · 04/07/2018 09:59

A suggestion would be to write the list now, use it for at least 1 trip, and then add things that you forgot or delete things you didn't need to bring, refining it after you return and only THEN doing a laminated copy? As what suits some families may not suit yours, or items that we haven't mentioned (as a group) may be something you realise is essential for you!

Theboldandthebeautiful1 · 04/07/2018 18:37

Thanks for this post OP, we’re first time campers, perfect timing!

What do you experienced lot do about insect repellent?

And the thing I’m dreading most... being cold at night. What works best?

Atalune · 04/07/2018 18:39

Hot water bottle in my bed!

My find takes an electric blanket and has electric hookup! Grin

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