may I shove my oar in?
This is our basic weekender list for 2 adults 2 kids this weekend (ie not hot weather) going festival camping, so away from tent most of day and no hot water expected on site;
Absolute minimum:
Tent. Pegs. poles.
Sleeping - 4 sleeping bags, 4 thermarests (or similar), 4 fleece blankets.
Picnic rugs (2 or 3 cheap ones with waterproof backing).
Sitting - some kind of folding chairs for adults. Kids can usually sit on a rug, but harder if ground is wet.
Cooking - single burner stove & fuel, 1 saucepan with lid, 1 kettle. Sharp knife, chopping board, tin opener, all-purpose cooking things (ie we have an old plastic spoon and a wooden spatula) corkscrew, spare corkscrew. Knife, fork, spoon, plate, bowl, mug, beaker - 1 for each person. I small washing up bowl, sponge, w/up liquid. Rubbish sacks. torch.
Clothes.
1 towel - use baby wipes for freshening up.
Food - go very simple, ie beans, pasta & sauce, bread, flapjacks, peanut butter. eat fruit rather than preparing veg.
Nice extras - Some kind of table unless you don't mind sitting on the floor to cook. If you will have your car right next to the tent perhaps you can cook out of the back of the car. Pillows, blow-up air beds. Coffee pot, frying pan, colander. Cool box (with frozen juice or milk). tea towel. wee bucket with lid. Collapsible crates/ baskets for putting everything in.
We find that we don't use lanterns - our kids are quite young so will be asleep before it is really dark, and we don't need them to cook outside.
Top tip for wet weather - wear flipflops on the site rather than boots, it is easy to dry your feet.
Here's to everyone camping this weekend!!