Seasoned campers: what do we need for a REALLY comfortable and happy week camping in the UK.

[flowergirl24]

We’ve got a (large) tent. Three small kids who are excited for Friday when we head to a non-electric campsite in Wales.

If you are a regular/experienced camper, please can you share what we need to be comfortable for this trip?

We’ve got sleeping bags and two double air beds. Our test in the garden wasn’t great for me as I woke up with two DC’s heads pressed tightly up against me!

Wee bucket

Oh yes - if taking a duvet we took our mattress topper and fitted sheet - it's a game changer!!!!

Ice packs for the site freezer - I started putting hair bobbles and scrunchies on mine - they were less likely to 'disappear' !
An empty 4 pint milk bottle for water - kids can go fill it and return to you.

Spray the 'door frame' of your tent with mozzie repellent, it helps keep them out.
Woolly hats for bed time, as well as thick socks.
My best purchase is the camping loo. I don't enjoy traipsing across a field at night. Catsan inside it prevents gross smells.

We have a plug in cool box, it has a micro USB so we can charge it in the car on the way down and with a battery pack charger when there to keep milk etc fresh 😊 Its amazing! Not sure how expensive they are though sorry as it was a gift. We also take fairy lights to string up as well as a camping light. We take a rug to put on the tent floor which helps keep it warm and cosy if the ground is damp. Also take an extra duvet for on top of each airbed under the sheet if you have enough space in the car, as well as a duvet for on top of you, this will also help keep you warm. And of course a pack of cards is an absolute necessity 😊 have a lovely time!

Before you buy more airbeds have a look at self inflating sleeping mats, especially if you think you will become regular campers. They are much warmer than airbeds and can be more comfortable. Decathlon have a range of prices here: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/sports/camping/camping-and-sleeping-mats

Also get the best sleeping bags you can afford if it becomes regular - as pp say, if you have a warm dry bed at night everything else is navigable.

"Indoor" thick socks for the tent, see through boxes for storage, lots of snacks, freezer blocks to rotate and a dip in standards for a few days.

Electric hook up! Then you can take the kettle. Get an electric frying pan & plug in cooler box. Hairdryer/straighteners
If you want it. Fan/heater depending on the weather. Such a worthwhile investment for a comfortable camping trip.

I take a string of solar lights to put on outside of tent, looks nice and makes it easy to find the right tent at night when coming back from toilet block.

Sticks for toasting marshmallows!
Wellies and slip on shoes.
We use a thick picnic blanket to go on the floor of the tent, makes a huge difference.
Torches, lanterns, plenty of batteries. String lights.
A bed and chair for each person.
Extra jumpers, socks, trousers, blankets for outside.
Definitely a gazebo!
Lots of insect repellent.

Take your own pillows and duvet or sleeping bag, but always take the pillows. I prefer duvets for tents too.

Pack a number of silver emergency blankets - I've been shivering in a tent in August before now. Those blankets are a godsend when it is unexpectedly cold!

A camping toilet with compostable bags if you have space - worth it in the night!

Get nice warm sleeping bags and a decent memory foam self inflating mat is much warmer and less wobbly or noisy than an airbed. We use the outwell ones and have Vango nitestar sleeping bags.

My biggest tip is take hot water bottles and hats. Get warm clothes on before the sun drops and it gets too cold.

Get a camping toilet, just one of the big bucket ones for night wees.

Nightlights for the kids, we use a very dim lantern.

Shower shoes like flip flops or sliders. Those big hooded towels for the kids so they can go back to the tent to dress rather than wrangling a wet child in puddle filled shower cubicle. Flannels for easy clean ups of kids faces before bed. I used to shower mine in the morning rather than before bed so they didn't get cold.

First aid kit - plasters, bite cream, antihistamine, paracetamol etc.

A small bottle of disinfectant - my dd once vomited all over the tent.

Good camping meals:
Breakfasts: Cereals and brioche
Pancakes- weigh out the dry ingredients before you go.
Scrambled eggs
Beans on toast.
Fry up
Lunches: Canned soups. Quesidillas. Sandwiches. Supernoodles.
Dinners: Take a fozen bologaise and pasta for the second night.
BBQ
Fajitas / Curry
Any sort of one pot on the hob meals really.

Slip on shoes
A towel inside the tent like a doormat for wet feet
Something to wee in at night (a peebol or bucket)
Cafetiere
Night lights
A dirty clothes bag
String and pegs.
More snacks than you think.
Chopping board and a sharp knife

Totally agree with putting pj's on before the temperature drops, and layering tackies and a fleece over the top - and take woolly hats and gloves even in summer - sitting out in the evening can get cold - hats and gloves really help keep you warm. Hot water bottles and layers on blankets above and below sleeping bag or duvet.

Just back from a cold and wet but fantastic trip camping in the lake district, I am a total princess usually but have discovered I love camping if I'm well prepared ! the following things kept me happy:
Shower cap, extra towels and blankets which we left in the car but could access on day 3 when ours hadn't dried), rain coat, wellies, flip flops for the shower, slipper socks for the tent, battery pack for my phone, camping led lights (usb chargeable ones) that we hung from the ceiling of the tent, solar lights for the front of the tent, smidge insect repellent, small mirror, lots of Kleenex pocket tissues, wet wipes + toilet wipes, tea towels, matches, bug spray to spray in the sleeping area about 30 mins before, bed, costa coffee instant latte sachets (I tried to go without coffee but caved on day 3 and went to the supermarket) a carton of long life milk, pastries for breakfast, tin foil, lots and lota of plastic bags, gas fired camping stove or wood fired pizza oven. We took our ooni fyra this time and loved it!, chopping board, camping table,

This 🤣

The most tedious cliche on any camping thread 🙄

An offcut of carpet for inside the door.

Wee bucket

A little mirror

Ziplock sandwich bags

Torches for everyone

Warm socks

Matches

A small camping table

One beach towel and one microfiber shower towel per person

Wetwipes and kitchen roll

I take a sleeping bag which is then opened right out and goes under the sheet! Then a duvet and thick blanket on top.
I hate being hemmed in by sleeping bags and need the ability to be able to turn over without getting stuck in my bedding.
Duvet, pillows and blanket get packed into vac bags (the ones that come with a hand pump) so they pack down small.

Battery powered air pump

Useful tips here! Learning loads. Mine are:

Thermals/layers
Waterproofs
Flipflops/sliders
Fairy lights inside and out (helps everyone find the tent again in the dark/makes inside magical when going to sleep)
Head torches - super exciting for kids… and helps you keep track of them in a dark field too 😉
Whistling kettle for gas stove - the first cuppa of the day in a quiet, dewy field is one of the best things in life
Separate airbeds for all.
Blankets, rugs, throws - maximum cosiness.
Layer up before dusk.
Keep feet warm. Lots of socks. Old UGG boots great for round the fire at night.
Minimal wash kits - just toothbrushes, paste, deodorant and one bottle of shower hair/bodywash that everyone can use
Sun cream
A spare loo roll and emergency tampons in the glove box
First aid kit, bug spray
Bottle of brandy 🥃, a commitment to letting things go/lowering usual standards, and a tiny pot of face/hand cream in just for you so you feel a bit more pampered in your woolly hat and sleeping bag.

Have a great time!

🤣🤣🤣

Remember to take cutlery and easy to warm up food and a little gas stove for tea heating soup etc

Ah, you need a duvet under you AND a duvet over you

Have everyone (of reasonable age) have their own washbasin with a bag of coins in it, always ready for the shower. If doing something which requires a shower straight after have a bag packed by the tent door (or in the car) before you go so no wet people faffing around the tent looking for clothes etc. (Incl said coins for shower)

We freeze a bolognase or chilli and sausages, bacon etc so that it keeps things cold in the cool box and lasts a day or 2. For a week I'd take 2 cool boxes, one not to be opened with meals etc, one for drinks, wine and milk that the kids will open and not shut properly!

And definitely a single bed for you!