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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

Tell me about your camping luxuries

38 replies

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 26/08/2018 21:18

We’ve just come back from our week away camping and loved it as usual! We try to upgrade or buy a few new bits each year and are currently trying to decide what to get at the end of the camping season when things should be cheaper.

So tell me all about your favourite camping luxuries! I want some good ones, tried and tested! Thanks.

OP posts:
hillbilly · 26/08/2018 23:58

Good quality SIMS although I think a necessity not a luxury. Our stove top espresso maker. Proper pillows. And when in France we always take duvet (can only bear a sleeping bag in the UK) with lovely cotton sheets and thick mattress protector for extra comfort 😀

hillbilly · 26/08/2018 23:59

Oh and my kitchen unit. Keeps everything organised and in one place. Packs pretty small and I feel like I'm in chaos without it!

Kahlua4me · 27/08/2018 08:05

Same as hillbilly with proper pillows and duvet, especially in France. I can’t be doing with trying to get in and out of a sleeping bag even though it keeps dh amused watching me!

I also love my metal insulated cafetière for morning coffee as it keeps the coffee warm for much longer and is easy to clean.

Original poster
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 27/08/2018 16:23

Pleased that the two things we are thinking of fretting for next year have been mentioned. I want a really high, proper bed! Plus some more kitchen storage would be super useful.

Any more tips?

OP posts:
Stupidusername1 · 27/08/2018 16:36

Get electric hook up. This opens a whole new world. We have a trailer tent and take: a proper little fridge, led strip lights, toaster, fan heater (bought from Argos last August holiday), and it obviously charges all the gadgets etc.

We also take quilts & pillows.

Original poster
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 27/08/2018 16:38

The place we go to doesn’t have electricity.

Interesting that people are saying quilts and pillows. I’d have thought the sleeping bags were warmer?

OP posts:
crrrzy · 27/08/2018 16:40

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

Apanicaday · 27/08/2018 16:41

This. It's the best thing I've ever slept on whist camping (i think it's comfier than my bed at home). It's hideously expensive but as I camp lots it's well worth the expense. I love it.

www.thermarest.com/mondoking-3d

MIdgebabe · 27/08/2018 16:42

Proper coffee for dh. Pretty woolly hat fir me ( all year camping)

Original poster
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 27/08/2018 16:49

We have a large 9 man tent with one bedroom pod for 5 of us. We can separate in to individual pods but we choose not to.

We have blow up beds on the ground and pillows and sleeping bags.

Carpet in the living area. Gas stove and bbq. Reasonable adventurous cooks when we go. Chillis, curries, risotto, pasta dishes etc.

By trying to recreate a hotel room but a good nights sleep and a more organised and therefore more pleasant tent would be great.

OP posts:
Original poster
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 27/08/2018 16:49

Not trying to recreate a hotel room....

OP posts:
FabLaura · 27/08/2018 17:26

I love this thread!
We brought an off the ground double camp bed this year and I was warm for the first time, so would definitely recommend that. We do take a duvet to lay on, then one on top, plus blankets and a hot water bottle.
Our luxury this year was a £10 fake sheepskin rug from IKEA. The joy that silly thing brought my hubby and I is embarrassing Smile we have it at the end of our bed.
Last years new luxury was a toast maker which I got from Go outdoors in the fishing section. It goes on the normal camping stove nicely and hubby likes to also make cheese toasties with it.

zebrapig · 27/08/2018 21:03

Our new luxury was a kingsize air bed. Hubby hates the SIM, I love it but it takes up too much space now we have two kids. Just been away for three nights, every night we had a child in with us. It was so much more bearable with the space of the kingsize!

Beeblot · 27/08/2018 22:07

Definitely our SIMS. They are just so incredibly comfortable, although they were about £170 each (!). We have Thermarest Dreamtime XLs. It's like sleeping in an actual bed.

But agree with a PP that this is a necessity rather than a luxury these days! (we are over 40!)

Beeblot · 27/08/2018 22:08

PS: I have just bought, and am disproportionately excited about, a Kampa Khazi toilet.

And I suppose our tent, a polycotton inflatable thing, is quite a luxury in itself...

hestia2018 · 27/08/2018 22:17

Hillbilly - which kitchen unit do you have? Mine is quite bulky when it packs down so I am looking for a more space efficient one.

hestia2018 · 27/08/2018 22:25

I agree about proper coffee! DH is grumpy without coffee so we got insulated cafetière mugs.

Better camping chairs - we had those cheap £10 ones for a while but I wanted something with head and neck support so we got ourselves better quality chairs.

A collapsible water carrier with a proper tap on it so the kids can help themselves to water.

Proper cutlery - I hate using plastic cutlery and metal cutlery doesn’t take up any more room!

Like you every year we assess what we took, what did / didn’t work and what needs replacing Smile

hestia2018 · 27/08/2018 22:29

Is this the toast maker Fablaura?
m.gooutdoors.co.uk/ngt-toastie-maker-p394474

DoJo · 27/08/2018 22:35

I always order more s-hooks whenever I've been camping. I prize hanging storage out of the reach of the kids and any moisture, so I have a selection of hanging storage options and lots of spare s-hooks to hang coats, hoodies, towels, bags and anything else that you can dangle off the ground and out of the way.

MrsPworkingmummy · 27/08/2018 22:36

Ours is an aerobed full height inflatable double bed with flocked mattress, sheet and valance. Makes for a very comfortable night's sleep x

BeautifulPossibilities · 27/08/2018 22:47

Separate beds means no rolling in to each other!

shockedballoon · 27/08/2018 23:00

I'm not exactly a seasoned camper - only been a few times, but I love it as does DS (DH less keen), however my best buy by far was a small flushable camping toilet. It's strictly for wees only but has saved many a cold, dark walk to the toilets at night, particularly welcome if we've also bought wine...

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 27/08/2018 23:03

Our luxury this year was an inflatable corner sofa. It's fab and made the rainy days so much more pleasant.

Cornishmumofone · 27/08/2018 23:07

I think I may be on the wrong thread as my exciting new luxury this year was hard-ground pegs!

Mumshotel · 27/08/2018 23:08

Somewhere to sit in bad weather, either an awning or a bigger tent.
Speed boil for coffee. Emily hat. Earplugs. Eyemask
Wind up lights that double up as phone chargers