Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

What invaluable item would you always take camping........

144 replies

DrZeus · 10/08/2008 18:58

Just asked DH (having just returned from our 5 rainy days) and he said:

Fan heater
Separate gazebo for cooking (or at the very least a sheltered cooking area - having tried to cook in a howling gale this morning)
Adequate lighting using electric hookup
Trailer to carry all the crap stuff
Kontiki
Hymer
Caravan...........

at which point I stopped listening!

OP posts:
Overmydeadbody · 13/08/2008 00:26

loads of salt here, don't worry!

I was juct curious as to whether it was specific things you found hard and was gonna see if I could help, that's all!

I don't have the luxury of a man I'm afraid.

GivePeasAChance · 13/08/2008 00:39

They are rarely not always a luxury

expatinscotland · 13/08/2008 14:00

I don't see anything about being in the wilderness as competitive, tbh. That's never been an attitude I brought to any outdoor activity.

I find every element of it fun, even the 'hard' stuff.

A bad day out is better than a good day working, has always been my motto.

Heartmum2Jamie · 13/08/2008 14:06

Overmydeadbody, the boys DID pee in the bushes, but bearing in mind it pissed it down all day last Saturday and although ds2 is 4, he has very little bladder control, if he needs a wee, he needs a wee, no time for wrapping him up in his coat and putting his wellies back on. We tried that and ended up having to change all of his clothes as he has already wet himself and then proceeded to do the rest of his wee with his bits pointing up too much so he pee'd all over his top and jumper too.

Plus, a bucket would be handy for me, being 29 weeks pregnant, I don't want to be traipsing around in the dark if I have to answer natures call.

Not sure why I feel the need to justify myself but it bugs me when people claim we aren't "proper" campers because we take an EHU for heat and want to take a bucket to wee in for emergencies. Poor ds2, with all his medical issues and some developmental delays, perhaps we should just stay at home???

Ok, hugely crabby, anemic, heartburny, toothachey, pregnant woman stepping down off her reinforced soap box.

On a slight side note, I am not really sure a man is necessary. I could just about manage to put my tent up on my own, even in my condition and I can certainly get it down myself. Dh is handy for warming cold feet/hands/butt on though!

JuniorH · 17/08/2008 09:45

I'm not sure why anyone has to justify their answers to this thread. Or how their answer can be the wrong answer

Just for the record...one of the major things I enjoy about camping is that my DP and I almost swap roles, he basically does everything from put the tent up (although it is technically a team effort!) to cooking dinner - what is it about charcoal that makes a man want to cook dinner when the oven scares the life out of him?? I'll never get it.

Having a man to help put the tent up, taking a heater to keep the kids warm and other 'luxuries' doesn't make someone a bad person or improper camper...

Aefondkiss · 17/08/2008 09:50

kelly kettle, then we can always have a cup of tea or coffee, but sleeping bags are essential too.

Slubberdegullion · 17/08/2008 14:50

delta pegs

prunes senacot

bottle opener

PeaMcLean · 17/08/2008 15:17

Windbreak. Had to buy one once mid holiday cos we couldn't cook without it. The wind kept blowing the gas out.

Slubberdegullion · 17/08/2008 15:24

Our windbreak died Pea. Well I say died, the reality was DH in an incredible hulk rage snapped 3 of the poles trying to pull it out of the ground

Not sure I'll replace it as my new kitchen tent prevents gas blowing out scenarios.

PeaMcLean · 17/08/2008 15:28

Ooh get you with your new kitchen tent. V posh.

Sorry probably shouldn't laugh at "incredible hulk rage" but I did. That's the kind of thing my DH would do as well. Idiots.

Tidgypuds · 17/08/2008 15:32

A potty.
Was great for the kids in the night and I have to admit I used it myself a couple of times too Beats going outside at night on own though.

Slubberdegullion · 17/08/2008 15:33

Oh it's not very posh, but very useful. All crap and garbage and stuff stored inside, so the main tent (not v big) was free from clutter (staged like a Country Living Tent: matchy matchy sleeping bags, pillows, torches and wholesome books positioned at an angle at the end of each thermarest).

[camper with control issues]

DH claims he doesn't know his own strength. I have another phrase for it.

sarah293 · 17/08/2008 15:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Spidermama · 17/08/2008 15:38

A good head torch and a flag and flag pole.

keevamum · 17/08/2008 16:08

Glad to hear you don't need a man to camp OMDB as I am off tomorrow with my 2 girls on my tod. Bit nervous though as its my first time let alone on my own!

expatinscotland · 17/08/2008 16:11

we love our trangia, too, riven. we have our single burner gas stove, too, which i also like because it packs so neatly in its box.

sarah293 · 17/08/2008 16:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

sarah293 · 17/08/2008 16:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 17/08/2008 16:16

i could so go for an MN camp!

Mercy · 17/08/2008 16:18

The car.

When we went camping a few years ago it was very windy and cold in the evenings so we put all the kids in the car and they listened to cds which meant the adults could drink in peace!

We also used it one morning at about 6 am to drive round to the toilets It was chucking it down.

sarah293 · 17/08/2008 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Slubberdegullion · 17/08/2008 16:38

I'm up for a mn camp. I started a thread earlier on this year to try and work out the MN centroid (the most central point of all mners). Lapin said it was Guilford iirc which didn't fill me with much excitement I have to say.

sarah293 · 17/08/2008 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

sarah293 · 17/08/2008 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Spidermama · 17/08/2008 16:42

The New Forest is good in Hampshire/Dorset borders. Too far south?