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.

Thanks @Talipesmum - I think I'll go ahead with the lights you linked to, in that case!

I'm off to investigate Wonderbags...a chef I love has used one before on Insta but she's a campervanner so for some reason I thought they were more aimed at that.

Purchased a kitchen tent last year complete game changer for us. No more cramming our home from home in the porch it now all has a dedicated tent.

solar lights for outside cheapo ones off Amazon only when on sale, I know some hate them but for late night walks coming back or even the 1am to the toilet tent those little twinkly lights on the main guys and windbreaks are a life saver from tripping and the children think it looks pretty.

You’ll find you use this more often than just for camping:
https://www.kochkochin.com/products/victorinox-camper-swiss-army-pocket-knife?variant=39957324103863&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2021-06-10&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7Zuvw52qgAMVBO7tCh1EGAwiEAQYASABEgJov_D_BwE

Ooh @BiddyPop would you mind letting me know which tent you’ve got please? I’m a solo camper and currently have a little pop up one because it’s easy to pitch on my own but being able to stand up in my tent would by great.

This year I bought a little bedside table from Decathlon which is great for my book, keys, lamp etc.

Next year I think I’ll invest in a Dry Robe as trying to get properly dressed in a tiny shower cubicle is a nightmare.

i just bought each of us one of those 'really useful' boxes to use for clothes instead of the black holdalls we used this year. i hate not being able to find my stuff and raking about in the dark, even in the light the inside of the bag was always so dark. and they can double as wee tables.

I never quite know when we can use solar panels though

We set up ours facing south when we arrive and just leave it to charge the battery. If we are at the campsite we do sometimes move it to face any sun directly. That will really only work if you are using the panels to charge a leisure battery. I suppose you could use it to keep your car battery charged and use that to charge phones etc.

It’s waterproof and 100W.

We do this too. They are really handy as (wine) tables in the tent, bedside tables for kids or emergency stools. Being see though you can see what’s in there and if not needed I just stack them in a corner of the tent. It also stops everyone trying to take too much stuff - they all get a box and they can fill it how they like but get no more room.

Do all you maximalist campers have garages and large cars? I can't work out what I'd do with all the suggested stuff and how I'd transport it.

I’ve got one of those little folding Decathlon bedside tables, I love it, a little touch of luxury 😂

Last year I also bought cotton rugs from IKEA. Big flat weave rugs, really inexpensive, and fold down small. Like this, but there is a range, some huge https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/tiphede-rug-flatwoven-natural-black-40456757/#content

However I have been trying to downsize my kit and set up.

We have a trailer. Everything lives in the shed or attic.... except the Big Tent which summers in the conservatory and in our bedroom in the winter (as we can't be bothered hauling it up and down the stairs every few weeks between April and October)

We have a large car but no garage, we have a massive Keter box in the garden next to the shed that houses all the camping equipment (except for the bedding and SIMs, they live on top of a wardrobe in the house)

This is what I lie awake at night worrying about when I’m camping! So maybe I should take chocks.

We don't take half this stuff. Partly small car problem and partly as it would turn it into quite a chore. We have storage issues too. O guess if you have prepacked crates in your garage you can just throw in your car that would be ideal.

We've never done EHU and avoid sites in general with them if we can /with facilities as cant cope with large nosiy groups.

We never quite get food right. Either over cater and no space in car or forget soemthing key.

We also don't take food when we go camping for more than a couple of days to save space in the car. We find out where the nearest supermarket is that does click and collect, pre order the food for the afternoon of the day we're arriving and pick it up after we've unloaded and put the tent up

I am coveting this one after seeing it recently

https://www.google.co.uk/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwjd8KTEsqqAAxVDYeYKHfKoCukYABAMGgJkZw&sig=AOD64_1_q9Sr3E6Wpyvsw38J-7b9NmPMZA&ctype=46&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiVgZ7EsqqAAxWJLsAKHaTuDV8QzzkoAHoECAYQDA&adurl=

I came here for tips, but given that we camp in the 23 year old tent I did my DoE in, it’s possible that we might be a bit under-equipped for this thread 😂 And the dog takes up all the boot space for any extra kit we might want!

Loving hearing about others’ setups though, and you have all reminded me to take the bottle opener 👍

We have a 7 seater and roof box. Going to get a trailer. Most of camping stuff lives in the spare wardrobe or inside shed.

Things not yet listed that I always take:
hammocks
fire pit/brazier as some places do not allow camp fires
go anywhere clothes line & pegs
Yes to a kitchen tent. Mine is a big gazebo that has zip in walls and windows for cooler or wetter weather.
collapsible kitchen table,
folding camp chairs
gas camping hob
coleman ice box
card games
incognito bug spray, body wash and citronella candles
first aid kit

Oh, forgot the axe. Take a woodmans axe to chop wood, reverse to pound tent pegs.

Do all you maximalist campers have garages and large cars? I can't work out what I'd do with all the suggested stuff and how I'd transport it.

We have a folding camper/trailer tent so most of the stuff lives in that year round. We still manage to fill a largish 4x4 with other stuff and there’s only two of us. This year we have a boat too.

This is what I lie awake at night worrying about when I’m camping! So maybe I should take chocks.

You could leave it in gear if you want a bit of extra reassurance.

My DH bought me this cooker for my birthday last year and I bloody love it!! We camp in a 5m bell tent and always take a double toilet tent as two of my kids are wheelchair users, we also take a kitchen tent and have a dab table with benches that aren't attached so wheelchairs can wheel right up to it.

I am a Vango girl. So my original is a Beta XL 450 and that is grand to put up solo - but no covered outdoor space and I can't stand up to get changed.

I just got the Harris 350 this year and it's lovely! I had an Avingtom 500 which is a very similar tent just much more massive and too big for just me or 2 people (my main group size).

My Trangia is 32 years old, and I was using it two weeks ago. It still has all its original parts, although the kettle has gone walkabout. I known older ones!

IceyTek cool box was a game changer for me

Do all you maximalist campers have garages and large cars? I can't work out what I'd do with all the suggested stuff and how I'd transport it.

Nope, I fit all my stuff in a Fiat 500! Tent, chair, camping cupboard, SIM, windbreaker, Yeti cool box, sleeping bag, blankets, tent rug, sheepskin rug, bedside table, lamps, cooking equipment, bbq, food and clothes. And it all lives under my bed or in my hallway cupboard when not in use.

@BiddyPop Thank you so much, I will take a look at the Harris 350.