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.

We have a solar panel to charge our battery. The panel is surprisingly big and heavy, even when folded in half.

We do quite a lot of festivals and have found the easiest way of transporting and storing clothes is in those plastic storage boxes that fit under beds. The lowish long ones with the plastic lids. One box per person, everything stays neat and folded, and it's easy to find what you want. They can be stacked out the way in a corner or pushed under a camp bed. Also keeps things dry if the weather is a bit dodgy or damp. Much easier than rummaging to the bottom of a rucksack or bag.
Decent power bank. Instant cappuccino/Latte sachets. I also collect sugar/ ketchup/ sauce sachets and the little long life milk sachets from cafes beforehand.

This year, I upgraded my tent by buying a smaller one (from 5 man to 3.5 man) but tall enough to stand up in, has a covered porch area for rainy cooking/getting out of wet gear outside and also small enough I can put it up alone (5 man is also tall with pitch but needs at least 2 competent people to pitch, my previous 4 man had no pitch, too short and is so old it's starting to fail badly so reserved for Scouts events as we have a marquee so I only need to sleep there).

I am looking at a trolley and a pressurised shower (both decathlon). I had a non-pressurised shower bag before which was great but DH put it away still wet one autumn and it was non useable come spring with mildew/mould.

I also upgraded this spring to a fire pit - which was tested on Cub camp and is fab! Campfire at the tent, up off the ground, and while we didn't test the grate, it seems possible I could cook on it too.

Last year, I went from a 4 season mummy sleeping bag to a 2 season envelope style. Sleep sooo much better when not melting and able to turn around in it!

And 3 years ago, I got the Decathlon 3 panel solar panel to recharge my power bank for phone, lantern and ipad. TBH I use it at home as well now. DSis has the 2 panel version which is fine for phone and lantern.

I know that sounds extravagant, but I do pretty minimal camping - no ehu, no "proper" kitchen (1 ring gas stove on the table to cook that is cleared off to eat, 1 plastic tub holding everything else for kitchen), a chair, decent sleep set up, couple of lanterns, hard sided cool box which uses ice blocks). Bring hiking boots and swimming gear and come home mucky and tired 😁

I know that sounds extravagant, but I do pretty minimal camping

I have, but don’t now. No EHU, but we literally take the kitchen sink with us.

@rowbotham

I make a bean cassoulet type dish often (have vegetarians) it's chop onion, carrot, celery, leeks and garlic small and sauté (or cheat and buy frozen, Waitrose sells it) add herbs de Provence, paprika, a can of tomatoes, 2 cans mixed beans and any leftover red wine or a little balsamic vinegar works, add stock cube, season add a little water to loosen if not using wine. Bring to boil to put whole pan in the wonderbag. Chop parsley and put in a bag ready to add at the end, serve with crusty bread. Works great next day too with bacon

I thought it was do it better next year, as in the title?

@PyongyangKipperbang

Great user name!

I agree, my DD's said they would prefer not to go on holiday than camp after one notoriously wet trip to Cornwall, my parents live in a holiday area and the kid's preferred to just go there. I go camping with dp though we go on a motorcycle so whilst I can read about your gadgetry, the only thing I'm investing in before my forthcoming trip is an inflatable pillow - any suggestions???

I thought DIBNY (do it better next year) was an actual thing. It sounded mumsnetty! 🤔

We have the decathlons beds that have been mentioned up thread With a vango 10cm SIM. We aren’t taking it this year as it’s massive, the SIM might be comfortable but it takes up so much room. There are 5 of us so space is a premium. We are taking a log burner to put in our tent thus year, but that only works with canvas tents.

and the beds aren’t wide enough. The sim is only 130cm. Makes me want to throttle my husband but I need him to pack the car.

I thought it was do it better next year, as in the title

I think my reading and comprehension is lacking.

I’ll do it better next time.

We are taking a log burner to put in our tent thus year, but that only works with canvas tents.

Are you taking a CO alarm?

Yes. It is a proper camping log burner.

For good coffee, a jet boil and an aeropress.
If you drink a lot of tea & coffee, a thermos to put excess hot water in so you're not always boiling from cold.
Dryrobes or the equivalent - game changers for nights sitting out.

We like campsites with minimal facilities, so the Joolca portable shower was a game changer. It does take up space, especially the gas canister, but worth it for being able to have hot showers and washing up water. Remember to take environmentally friendly washing stuff.

I think I’d find it a pain to have to take them down all the time and line them up with their bottoms facing the sun. I did get a solar enhanced power pack about 6 years ago but it was useless (“trickle charge” or something- i left it for ages and it hardly charged at all) - so intrigued by these competent functioning solar panel kits. But we are usually at campsites which, although fairly basic, often have a room with freezers for ice packs and where you can leave a power pack to charge for a while. So we just do that.

Also agree with the coffee bags person - they’re great for camping. Also I bought good large insulated mugs - not the tall travel ones but nice stumpy ones that don’t fall over. My tea and coffee stay hot for ages now - big improvement.

Which are the solar panels you use? Decathlon have quite a few options - which wattage are yours? The 10-15W £35-£55 ones or the 100+W £120+ ones?

My panels are the Forclaz trek 900 - not sure what that means in W's but they were the best available when I bought them 3 years ago.

Just looked at website - mine are 15W. 50W are new since then - but may be my next years list starter.

I laughed at yours, @Rogue1001MNer ! We forgot our bedding once, too. And the poles for the tent on a different occasion!

Best things I ever bought for campervan:
Duvalays - best nights sleep ever
Collapsible clothes dryer (you can't always find somewhere to tie a line)
Quick-dry travel knickers (I only ever take 3 pairs with me now, one on, one in the wash, one spare. They dry overnight)
Packing cubes.

Hot water bottles. It’s often freezing when you go to bed, but if you put lots of clothes on you wake up boiling in a hot sunny stuffy tent.

Thanks, v helpful. Don’t want to get something too puny but also don’t really want to spend hundreds of pounds!

I never quite know when we can use solar panels though. We are always out during the day, doing activities or going in places - not necessarily trekking around with the ability to attach solar panels to the back of the rucksack. And if we leave them at the tent and it rains, lots of them say don’t get them wet. Never quite figured out the logistics!

I always freeze a chilli to take with me. Keeps stuff cool and an instant meal the next day.

I wouldn’t camp if I didn’t have a facility to wee as I always have to get up in the night.

I take a strapless dress for the shower. Go over to the shower block with no underclothes on and flip flops, and it’s easy to slip back on to walk back to the tent. I can’t stand struggling to dry myself and getting dressed again, often in less than spotless, wet shower cubicles.

Been there, done that for many years, through tents, touring caravans, and finally a motorhome. Enjoyed them all, but they were of their time and place, and now that the kids have flown from the nest, it's hotels for us, thanks. Yes, we've become pampered softies, but we're worth it. :-)

Why do people insist on coming on a thread, just to do that?

OP: "Give me your camping tips"
Poster: "Oh, I hate camping. Don't do it. Wouldn't do it."

How is that in any way helpful to the OP who has posted on the camping forum? Is your opinion on the OP's choice of holiday that important that the OP just has to hear it?!

Thanks for this thread OP. We are - regretably - lapsed campers, as I have a disability that makes it difficult, but am getting some great ideas here that could make it more manageable.
I never even knew of the existence of car roof bags!!

This is such a useful thread! We're obviously not the only ones just sticking all our kitchen stuff in a big plastic tub and scrabbling around for the salt and pepper at the bottom of it every time 😁

Had anyone got a specific kitchen cupboard they'd recommend? Conscious that they probably take up a fair amount of space in the car - of course the plastic tub does too, but at least it can be filled whilst in transit.