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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.

What to take camping

25 replies

jaychops · 23/03/2021 18:18

I've booked camping in a pod at the end of may. There's me, my husband and our 2 DC aged 5 and 2.

We've never been camping so have nothing at all yet! What are your essentials for camping?

OP posts:
FlyingByTheSeatof · 23/03/2021 18:22

Look in the travel section as PP have written some great lists

MrsFin · 23/03/2021 18:35

At the end of May it can still be quite cold at night, so something you can put been you and the ground when you go to bed - if the beds are on the floor.

If it's a camping pod, I'd assume everything is supplied.

jaychops · 23/03/2021 18:40

No nothing is supplied just an empty pod

OP posts:
MrsFin · 23/03/2021 20:03

Ah well then. For starters:
Sleeping bags
Something to sleep on - air bed or roll mat
Something to cook on - gas cooker
Something to cook in - pots and pans, kettle
Something to eat with - cutlery and crockery
Something to keep your food cold - cool box
Something to eat
Something to eat off - table
Something to sit on
Something to wash up in/with - bowl, liquid, tea towels
Something to put your rubbish in
Something to clean the place with before you leave
Something to occupy your time - books, cards, games
Something to see by in the tent - gas lamps
Something to see by outside the tent - torches

Are you sure it's worth getting all that for just one weeks camping?

Easterbunnygettingready · 23/03/2021 20:06

Travel cot for the youngest...

Muchtoomuchtodo · 23/03/2021 20:10

All of the above, plus more changes of clothes than you can possibly imagine you’ll ever need!
Is there electricity in the pod?

Chicchicchicchiclana · 23/03/2021 20:12

You have to take everything when you go camping. This is what makes me find it too much effort. The packing is endless.

jaychops · 23/03/2021 20:13

Thank you! Yes there's electricity in the pod. And it's our first time, but we are hoping to do it more regularly so need to stock up!

OP posts:
Crockof · 23/03/2021 20:15

Hats, Brandy, gloves, hot water bottles . Whisky. Ear plugs. Wine.

Frankley · 23/03/2021 20:19

Matches. Tin opener.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 23/03/2021 20:22

I wouldn’t have a gas lamp in a pod, take electric/battery lighting and an electric fan heater too, it can get really chilly at night.
Do your kids need the loo during the night? Have a plan for that.

Chimeraforce · 23/03/2021 20:27

Alcohol and drinking vessels or tankers.
Earplugs
A stake and reins or a dog lead
Swingball or football
Cash for mcdonald's and chippie.
Bottles of water

MirandaMarple · 23/03/2021 20:48

All of the above.

Get a kit together, keep it well organised and replenish as soon as something runs out. Makes packing for camping much easier.

ChateauMargaux · 23/03/2021 20:55

Do you have any friends who have camping gear, could you borrow some for your first trip to see if you like it and find out what things you would want to buy?

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 23/03/2021 21:23

When you say pod, is it wooden, or tent material?

MrsFin · 23/03/2021 22:41

Do your kids need the loo during the night? Have a plan for that

This too - also for when you need a wee during the night - the toilets will be a long way off, especially if it's raining!

Pieceofpurplesky · 23/03/2021 23:34

Wine. Nothing else will matter then.

Fivemoreminutes1 · 24/03/2021 06:09

Hot chocolate sachets and mini marshmallows
Instant coffee sachets (so you don’t need milk)
Breakfast foods that don’t need any crockery or cutlery - think bacon butties and a banana!

Are you going on any day trips whilst there? If so, don’t forget a day bag and lunchboxes/sandwich bags

MirandaMarple · 25/03/2021 21:52

@MrsFin

Do your kids need the loo during the night? Have a plan for that

This too - also for when you need a wee during the night - the toilets will be a long way off, especially if it's raining!

A bucket.
idontlikealdi · 25/03/2021 21:56

More blankets than you think you need. It can be bitterly cold even into late June

moofolk · 25/03/2021 22:01

Camping pod isn't really camping, so check with site owner what's there.

It can mean anything from an empty shed to a cozily decorated chalet with fully stocked kitchen.

LadyCatStark · 25/03/2021 22:41

I don’t think some of the pps have actually stayed in a pod. We stayed in one a couple of years ago and like your, it was an empty space but it had a little heater that put out plenty of heat, a proper light and a picnic table outside. It’s worth checking what there is already before splashing out.

You’ll need air beds and sleeping bags. A gas cooker or BBQ. Plastic plates, bowls, cups, cutlery etc. Definitely a cool box. Maybe Oodie style hoodies to keep you all warm in the evening/ at night. Tons and tons of clothes for the children. Crocs/ flip flops/ sliders for the shower and a fully stocked wash bag and lots of towels. Games for if (when) it rains.

BiddyPop · 31/03/2021 11:29

Spare socks. Lots of spare socks!

Pack of cards - regardless of any other games you bring, always bring a pack of cards as lots you can do with them.

Think through what you will want to eat and drink (and how you can cook). Easy meals, preferably ones that only need 1 pot if any cooking required. Can you pre-cook a meal for 1st night so you are just reheating it? Perhaps a rotisserie chicken, crunchy french stick and some salad bought en route to the pod from an outing as another evening meal. Wine in a box/pouch is useful rather than a bottle. Sachets of hot choc (can add boiling water and cool down with milk). Maybe make up the dry ingredients for pancakes in a ziploc bag or a clean plastic milk bottle, to add milk to when away and shake up for a fun breakfast one morning. And snacks- you will be hungry in the fresh air. With Cub Scouts, I put out a bowl of fruit cut into portions for when they come back from activities, and jugs of squash made up to pour out (or fill water bottles when smaller groups). On family camping, there is usually a fair amount of crisps while dinner is cooking, or things like carrot sticks and a tub of hummus.

Spare shoes is good - as someone else mentioned, something like crocs or flipflops that can get wet, or wellies to walk across wet grass.

I have a policy of putting one complete change of clothes, from the skin out, and including a pair of shoes, in the footwell of the passenger side of my car - it doesn't come out on camp, but is there and easily accessible at the end if weather has been awful and I am soaked/filthy at the point of driving home, so i can change if need be. (I learned after an awful camp and dreadful pack up on Cub camp 1 year when I had to drive home absolutely exhausted, totally soaked and covered in mud - and it took a full service valet for my car to recover, let alone me! and it has been useful on a number of other trips since!).

BiddyPop · 31/03/2021 11:30

(And bags for wet dirty gear!)

1 other Scout Leader uses the blue Ikea bags for his DCs on family camps, 1 each - they can rummage themselves and find what they need, and easy to throw everything into them to clean up. And squashable for travel.

Pleasedontputthatthere · 31/03/2021 11:44

I always take a washing up bowl for night-time wees.

Lots of layers, pods are usually quite warm but I find my kids are outside much later than usual so layers are essential.

Ipads for early mornings (I know this is contentious) but my son used to wake at 5am and I wasn't up for a wander at that time.

If you have electric then consider a Teppenyaki. Best and most used bit of kit I have, I can cook most things on it. Gas is so unreliable in the wind and runs out etc.

Pillows from home, none of your shite camping pillows, they're shite.

Collapsible washing up bowl, usually they have holes in the bottom so you can leave pots to air dry.

Organisation is key. I like to keep all groups of things together to help find them. Toiletries bags, electronic bag, clothes bag, food, utensils etc.

God, I LOVE camping!

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