Camping - how to do it better next year (DIBNY)

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Before we even set off this year, DH and I were discussing how we could do it better next year, and it occurs to me that this is one of the great (and many) pleasures of camping.

So what will you do better? What’s your DIBNY?

Our first thought was that we would get a load of boxes that exactly fit the boot of the car and pack into those. And bring a bottle opener.

Things that I improved on in my most recent trip were... The purchase of a stove top espresso maker so I could have good coffee in the morning.
Vaccum bags with deflation pump as we also like to take duvets and pillows and this saved lots of space.
Microfiber towels, they dry so much quicker and i also took a fold flat drying screen.
I built up supplies of kitchenware by visiting charity shops and picking up utensils, pots etc to be soley used for camping then packed away so I wasn't taking my house items. I also picked up some second hand old style wool blankets which have been great between the groundsheet and the airbed for extra warmth.

Sorry that’s full of typos but you get the point. My boxes fit inside a frame that can be dismantled so on arrival we build the frame and then have off the ground storage towers which fit under the stove table - accessible and tidy.

When I camped in Australia lots of the sites had a kitchen area with microwave etc and a seating area with tables etc for people who only had a small tent.

Like the idea of solar panels. I'm afraid my do it better after a particularly annoying camping trip next to noisy neighbours was a caravan. Not soundproof but infinitely better than a tent.

Book a hotel.

Seriously!

Sorry, posted too soon.

Camped years ago and was not impressed. Recently convinced to give it another go and no.....it was not good!

I paid money to have less facilities and comfort than I would if I had paid nothing and stayed at home and have to wear wellies to have a wee, that is not a holiday. I said that if he wants to go camping again Iwill cheerfully wave him off. I suspect camping is Marmite!

Camping loo!!!
Decent inflatable bed
DH invested in solar type stuff to charge things
Good lighting / head torches
We have downsized our stuff a lot as have 3 kids and space is tight as they are getting big!
Bring food for first night/ takeaway plus breakfast in morning then go shopping next day.

I plan on buying a small trailer for the car second hand that is just used specifically for camping…pack all the gear in there for the trip and use it as camping storage (with a cover over) when we get back home.

That way we can just hitch it up when we want to go and not spend the entire day before looking for equipment only to find we’ve got there and forgotten the bottle opener.

It’s also handy for campsites where you park in a different area to the pitches because you can unhitch it and use like a giant wheelbarrow (we have been to a couple of beautiful woodland ones where this was the case)

These are amazing replies - thank you!

Is a SIM a self inflating mattress?

We have the air pump tent @Wheredowekeepthehoover A bit of a cheat, and I am starting to eye up the caterpillar ones BUT they are so easy, and we have just had to put up / take down in driving rain, and one person can do it on their own.

You have sold me on the powerbank @Notateacheranymore I was going to say that the solar stuff wouldn’t have been much use this week but, actually, there is always a bit of sun. This is the rainiest trip that I have been on, but the sun has come out for a bit each day.

Yes! @Belmondo I am totally in the market for a kitchen set up, too. The ultimate play kitchen!

My favourite camping stuff is Quechua and oh! how civilised they make the great outdoors look with their kitchen videos.

I remember camping in Italy and seeing a woman tending her camping garden of a basil plant and a chilli plant. So kitchen cabinets, with sink (and water supply), place for chopping, stove and hanging bin, please! And a camping kitchen garden 🪴 to service it!

There are many of us who cannot afford a hotel. I don’t much like camping but it is the only way we can afford a change of scene

so, that said

the best beds for you - we can’t fit in sims but a blow up is fine

we prefer a sleeping bag, find it warmer, but personal preference

seats - we use cheapy folds ups and they are fine for us

something to cook on - we use a cobb. It becomes a bit of a focus for the day cooking a nice meal

a good ice box if you don’t EHU. We have an Icey tek which was £££ but in its 8th year and I hate warm wine. Keeps things choked for a good 4/5 days

lots of small solar lamps so there is always one to hand

turkish / hammam towels take up far less space and dry quickly

sleeping / seating / eating/ showering. Cover those off and you’re golden

@PyongyangKipperbang It must be like marmite, as you say, because I just love camping!

I loved it pre-kids but, my God, I love it with kids. DC just have fun - they become independent, sleep well, learn stuff like the word for ‘cow’ and get to hang out at a slow pace with their parents.

I don’t know what it will be like when they are teenagers but it is way better than a hotel. And I agree, @Handsnotwands , it is affordable. Our pitch in an empty field with a compost toilet cost us £10 last night!

Game changer for us this year is a roof bag with non slip mat. Bought hastily as couldn’t get roof bars for our new car that worked with ancient box.

Gave us so much extra space, even with a new air tent that is smaller but even bigger packed than our old 8 man 😂

Camping kitchen, table, 5 chairs, a weekend tent, all the clothes and bedding for 5 went up top and could have probs got more up there, probably in ikea bags for size but squashable-ness

Much easier then to stack all the plastic crates in the boot around the other tent!

Cadac dual burner stove has been my other fave buy of the last few years!

I like taking a tea cosy for boiled kettles or keeping food warm for seconds. It’s the simple things!

And do you knit it yourself @Schmoana? I wouldn’t know where to buy one! But it does sound very civilised.

We have a tea cosy! And a tablecloth. It always makes people smile.

Taking note as would love to give camping a go but please can someone enlighten me on what DIBNY means?
Thanks!

coffee bags. Seriously game changer if like me you hate instant coffee and are used to a coffee machine.

Camping toilet for night time wees.

A decent SIM. We used to have air beds then camp beds and now we have 15cm SIMs. Expensive but totally worth it for the comfort

I have a van with chests of drawers, so am pretty nearly always packed with the necessaries.
I also have a folding foam bed and get a good night's sleep on it.
Over the years I have bought very pretty melamine or similar plates, etc and I have brightly coloured Polish enamel teapot, milk jug and mugs. They cheer me up and don't break.

This year I bought a metal wine bottle holder that you stick in the ground. Brilliant!
The number of times I've had a bottle tip over round the campfire, grrrr.
There are wine glass holders as well. (for my plastic skull wineglasses from B and M or somewhere for £1 each at Halloween)

I also bought one of those very fast water boiling stove and pot for that essential early morning tea. Expensive, but does the job.

I also bought a floral shoe hanging storage thing, which is invaluable for all the tiny things you need and lose: lighters, string, hooks, clips, pens, etc.

After my latest trip, I realise that I need more S hooks, a better light and a more powerful power pack.
And I will get a van tea cosy!

@peachypudding ah I’m afraid I didn’t knit it myself. Amazon do a good selection😂

can someone enlighten me on what DIBNY means?

Do it before next year. It took me a second or two.

It’s a list you make and forget about until just before you go next time, when it’s too late to do anything it, except make a list for next time.

Too late to do anything about it

Consider me influenced, @Talipesmum!!

(Although actually, should I look for solar ones equivalents?...)

@Polis Thank you!

We use folding canvas camp beds with a SIM on top and then a teddy fleece fitted single sheet stretched over the SIM and the top of the bed. It stops the SIM sliding around and adds a layer of warmth. Also, real pillows. We have a vacuum bag set that comes with a little vacuum that plugs into a usb so we can compress all of the bedding for packing into the car. The next thing I'm planning on getting is a tarp that attaches to the side of the tent so we can have the kitchen and dining setup outside even if it's raining